Peter Meijer

I was one of the first graduating Engineers back in 1971! There were only about 12 of us when we started in 1966 (even before the official opening) and we split our time between the old TAFE College in Bolsover Street and the new site at Parkhurst. It was so new there was only one building!

Following graduation I was employed by CREB (forerunner to Ergon Energy). Three years later, my Bachelor qualifications were recognised as suitable for acceptance into MSc and PhD programs at the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in England. With thanks to a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rockhampton Rotary Club, my wife, 6 month old son and I started the first of several overseas engineering-based adventures (Carpe Diem). I thank Toastmasters for giving me the confidence and skills in public speaking without which I would not have won Fellowship selection. I have since worked in many Australian and overseas locations, from the jungles of Borneo measuring aileron vibration on powerline river-crossings, project managing infrastructure works in mining communities, to telecommunications cabling systems using copper and fibre.

Industry asked me to become part of Standards Australia's CT-001 committee dealing with communications cabling and also chair the optical fibre committee, which continues today. I am also an expert member of the International Standards Organisation and International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC)

All of these things have involved CQU's ‘Doctrina Perpetua' or as first campus boss Dr Skirtchly encouraged "SAIL through life as Sustained Adaptable Independent Learners". I strongly recommend today's students do the same no matter what course or what age they start.