RELAY!

One of Cancer Council’s largest fundraisers, Relay for Life at North Ryde took place over two days, 26th - 27th September. Golden Key Macquarie created a team to take turns walking around the oval continuously, throughout the two days. As Saturday afternoon came closer, Golden Key’s campsite gradually came into full view whilst the tents were being built and signs and banners were proudly displayed. After the opening ceremony for Relay, cancer survivors and their carers started the first lap around the oval and after their finish, everyone joined in. The Relay had begun.

The Golden Key Macquarie team battled the strong winds when stepping around the oval, especially during the early hours of the morning where it came near impossible to continue without freezing. However as the sun rose for Sunday morning, more faces emerged on the field to once again start the laps until one of the last laps, Fight Back took place. Everyone grabbed a flag for Relay and marched around the oval once, remembering why they were there and walking for a good cause.

As the nineteen hours of walking came to a close, a shouted countdown from the participants rang across the field and finally, the laps ceased to an end. The closing ceremony brought everything into perspective as inspiring speeches from survivors and prominent figures from the community were spoken on stage. The total number of fundraised dollars was calculated, which amounted to more than approximately $35, 000 altogether! A more than respectable amount! From sponsors, friends and family, Golden Key raised more than $565 for Relay for Life.

Tents were dismantled, friends waved goodbye and one last look around their home for a day and a night allowed everyone to move back to their real homes for a day of well deserved sleep.

Our Honorary Members' Breakfast

To celebrate their newest and long-standing honorary members, Macquarie Golden Key hosted a lavish breakfast, complete with hot beverages, an array of baked goods and a beautiful floral centerpiece.

The members of Macquarie’s executive arrived in the morning’s early hours to prepare the breakfast and readied the room. Even before the preparations were complete, an eager honorary member, newly inducted this year walked in, keen to network. Quickly, other honorary members walked in and everyone sampled the laid out breakfast, in between chatting to all around the table. Even academics in the same building were drawn in by the cosy atmosphere and were invited to join the fun.

The event was an incredible opportunity to meet distinguished figures within Macquarie University and outside in the community. Ideas to more closely involve the honorary members fermented whilst the executive showed the face of the Golden Key chapter at Macquarie. The conversations were so charming that the breakfast ran a half hour over time before the crowd started to dissipate and the executive started to dissemble the breakfast table.

Macquarie’s Honorary Members’ Breakfast was a complete success, due to the efforts of all the executive members and the participation of Macquarie Golden Key’s honorary members.

Understanding Biology: A Macquarie Museum Tour

Monday August 31st was the date of the Macquarie University Biological Museum tour, a combined effort of the Macquarie Museum Appreciation Society and Macquarie Golden Key, enabling students to discover one of the university's best kept secrets and most fascinating exhibits.

An enthusiastic contingent of students gathered in the Biological Dept. foyer in front of Frank the stuffed bear (who has to be seen to be believed) and the tour commenced at 1pm.

Led expertly through the tour by the approachable host, Dr Andrew Simpsons, unit convener of Museum Studies, the attendees were guided through the new biology department rooms, given an insight into the history of the department and the study of biology at Macquarie University, all before reaching the museum proper.

The museum itself was full of amazing exhibits, buried away until now, including taxidermy, skeletons and as always, "things-in-jars". The story behind each of the exhibits was explained in a casual yet informative manner by the tour host, with plenty of science and biology jokes flying in all directions, including a spirited discussion about the future and how a mobile human skeleton could actively attract visitors to museums.

All who participated in the Biological Museum Tour came away having fully enjoyed the experience and certainly returning soon, bringing others who can also enjoy this hidden treasure within the E8B building at Macquarie University.