PhD besties, mum-daughter grads, free degrees: 10 great stories to mark Deakin’s 50th anniversary year
Deakin’s 50th year is well and truly in full swing – and if you’ve ever wondered what wonderful stories lie behind the uni you study at, you’re in for a treat. We’ve been digging through jam-packed archives, chatting with legends (past and present) and collecting memories from across five decades of Deakin history.
From PhD besties to family graduations, trailblazing scholarships to secret library recording booths, here are 10 must-read/watch stories to mark the big 5-0. Expect laughs, a few happy tears and serious pride for the university ranked #1 in your hearts.
PhD besties who became research stars
Meet Professors Jo and Anna, friends since their PhD days at Deakin, and now global leaders in physical activity and nutrition research. Jo’s all about getting kids moving in schools, while Anna explores how our streets and parks shape how active we are.
From humble beginnings to being in the top 1% of researchers worldwide, this friendship-slash-research-partnership is #goals.
A rural health legacy
Michelle Goy (Bachelor of Health and Medical Science (Honours) ’20) was a Deakin medical student, adventurer and lover of horses, slopes and 4WDs.
Her life was tragically cut short, but her dream lives on through the Michelle Goy Rural Medicine Scholarship, which will support rural Deakin med students from 2026 and beyond. A beautiful legacy, helping future doctors change the world.
First uni to centre inclusion? Yep, Deakin.
Back in the 80s, Deakin was the first Aussie uni to hire a Disability Resource Officer. Now, the Disability Resource Centre, established thanks to a donation from Alfred Deakin’s youngest daughter Lady Vera White, helps one in 10 students smash their tertiary goals.
PhD student Telisia Smith credits the DRC for her uni success, saying its support was ‘encouraging, uplifting and empathetic.’
Like mother, like daughter
Graduating is like nothing else. Graduating with your mum? Epic.
In 2025, Deakin finance academic Dianne Thomson completed her PhD (after juggling work, life and the pandemic), while daughter Cianan scored the top mark in her Master of Marketing course. Graduation day was a family affair walking across the stage together.
We championed distance ed, long before Zoom
Long before Zoom lectures and online learning, distance education meant yellow envelopes and cassette tapes with a range of voices, including Robyn Birrell.
From a soundproof studio deep in the Waurn Ponds library basement, Robyn recorded lectures that travelled across Australia to students learning from home. It was progressive and innovative for the time – and gave thousands of people access to uni when it wasn’t the norm.
Want to go to uni for free?
Do you know someone who wants to study at Deakin in 2026 but life is making it a bit hard? Well, they could get their degree for free thanks to a scholarship on us.
To celebrate turning 50, Deakin’s giving 50 full scholarships to students starting in 2026. It’s called the 50th Anniversary Excellence Scholarship and it’s aimed at high-achieving students from underrepresented schools.
The lit journal built by students (for students)
It started under a veranda in 1986. Now, the Verandah Literary and Art Journal is a Deakin institution. It’s a creative outlet where students can publish their work, build portfolios and bring fresh ideas to life every year.
From fiction to visual art to poetry, Verandah is where Deakin talent gets its first break. (Writers, editors and dreamers – get involved.)
Making campus a vibe since 1985
Waurn Ponds used to be bare paddocks. Today? It’s leafy, peaceful and calm. That’s largely thanks to Spiro Fatouros, who’s been shaping Deakin’s green spaces for nearly 40 years.
He’s planted thousands of trees, designed iconic gardens and created those chill study spots that students love. Next time you find yourself under a shady tree between classes, thank Spiro.
A scholarship that celebrates a fierce local journalist
Deakin Bachelor of Arts ’04 graduate Allison Murphy was passionate about Geelong and spent a decade championing her hometown as it grew and evolved. When she passed away in 2014, aged just 42, the community created a scholarship in her honour.
The Allison Murphy Memorial Scholarship now supports women studying politics, media or marketing – and helps them build the future Alli once dreamed of.
Before off-campus study was the norm, there were study centres
Off-campus study in the 70s and 80s wasn’t easy, especially for working parents in remote towns. Enter: the study centres. Quiet, community-focused spaces across Victoria where students could learn, connect and just be students.
These centres were more than just classrooms – they were lifelines. Proof that access and support matter, long before today’s online learning.
Want more Deakin stories? Head to our 50th anniversary website and get ready for some serious nostalgia.
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