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February 19, 2025

Alumni celebrate 40 years of human movement science at UOW

Forty years on, the first human movement science cohort's pioneering spirit endures in their memories and the program’s lasting impact

Former students and lecturers from the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ of ¾«¶«´«Ã½’s inaugural Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement) degree gathered for a milestone celebration last weekend, marking 40 years since the program’s launch in 1985.

The reunion, which coincided with UOW’s 50th anniversary, brought together 16 former students and three lecturers for a weekend of activities celebrating their shared university experience.

“The main highlight was getting to see people that we haven’t seen in such a long time and to reconnect with them all these years later,” said Gareth McKeen, a member of the Human Movement Reunion Committee.  

“Having three of our original lecturers in attendance, plus two that sent in video messages was very special. Another highlight was just the good-natured banter that went on, and feeling like I was back in 1985 alongside like-minded and lovely people.”

The weekend kicked off with a sports afternoon at UniActive on the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ campus, where alumni relived their sporting glory days through badminton, table tennis and basketball.

The main celebration was held Saturday evening at The Steelers Club in ¾«¶«´«Ã½, featuring interviews with former lecturers and an open-mic session where attendees shared memories and amusing anecdotes from their university days.

The evening took on a poignant note as the group paid tribute to four students and three lecturers from the course who have passed away.

McKeen reflected on the unique nature of the reunion: “Rather than celebrate the completion of the course, we were celebrating 40 years since we first started. We were the inaugural intake of students into the new degree course of Human Movement Science, and so it also served as a homage to the creation of the degree and the pioneering spirit that we all felt.

“That’s why it was very special having (former lecturers) Harry Fuller, John Gross and in attendance, along with video messages from Vince Nethery and Peter Milburn, because they were pioneers, and in some ways risk-takers, in setting up and then lecturing in a brand-new degree. Forty years later, we wanted to recognise their efforts and their vision.”

“The excitement of being part of a new degree focused on the science of sport, exercise and recreation, was one of the highlights for most of the students in that first year. There were 33 students in 1985 and this small cohort meant that we were a close-knit group and, generally speaking, we all got on well with each other.

“At the time, the science of sport was still emerging so we probably all felt an element of uncertainty about our future career prospects. But as sporty people, we were excited to learn the scientific principles underpinning sport, exercise, psychology and recreation.”

Today, the discipline continues at UOW through programs such as the Bachelor of Exercise Science and Bachelor of Exercise Science and Rehabilitation.

The celebration continued Sunday morning with a walk up the Ken Ausburn track, recreating part of the historic Summit Run event that was a longtime tradition for both Physical Education and Human Movement students. The weekend concluded with breakfast at the Ugly Duckling Café on campus.

Reflecting on the program’s impact, McKeen noted that while some graduates went directly into sports, exercise, or recreation management roles, many used the degree as a springboard to diverse careers including medicine, physiotherapy, clinical psychology, radiography, paramedics, facilities management, fitness training, rehabilitation and occupational health.

McKeen himself went on to become general manager of the Illawarra Academy of Sport and worked with the Australian Equestrian Team at three Olympic Games.

Looking to the future, McKeen acknowledged the evolution of sports science and offered advice to today’s students.

“Exercise science and its role in injury management and prevention will continue to grow as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to human well-being,” he said.

“Sports science and psychology play a prominent in professional teams, but there is a lot of competition for these roles. My advice is to leave the door open to pursuing other opportunities once and use your degree as either a direct entry into your preferred field or as a platform for further study or a career in associated areas.”