Class reunions

Physio friends for life

As University of Otago School of Physiotherapy alumni – you belong to a rich and diverse world wide community.

While catching up in person may be on hold for a time under COVID-19 restrictions two groups of former Otago physiotherapy classmates met before lock-down.

Physiotherapy Class of 2009

Getting a bunch of fellow Otago graduates together in one place can be as easy as starting a Facebook group.

Nine months before the School of Physiotherapy Class of 2009 greeted each other in Dunedin earlier this year, Otago graduate Shane Meys created an online group and signed 79 fellow graduates on as administrators. Once connected online they could all have input into what turned out to be “a great weekend in Dunedin where the sun was shining and memories were shared”

Physios now working all over New Zealand and overseas decided to keep the event casual with as much time as possible to share stories and compare careers.

In the sunshine at The Cook are Olivia Bleakley, Shane Meys, Tommy Ralph and Louise Thayer

The renowned Captain Cook public house is now a pizza franchise and music venue, but Dunedin now offers a wider range of entertainments than in 2009 and after walking familiar North Dunedin streets and taking in the sights, the team met at the local Smokehouse eatery for drinks and a shared dinner.

Shane tells us that while ten years has gone quickly he had no problem recognising faces and familiar smiles. One ex-classmate is now studying dentistry but otherwise most of the Class of 2009 are well along their physiotherapy career paths and promised to get together in person again as soon as possible.

Physiotherapy Class of 1957

The class of 1957 holds the award for having staged the most reunions. They held their most recent reunion in Wellington in February 2020

Here they are seen after lunch at the Botanical Gardens. The group enjoyed pre-dinner drinks, a dinner, and a high tea with much laughter and reminiscing. Kristin Arthur (née Dearsley) again dusted off her original Physiotherapy School blazer.

Joan Walker, Nan McDougall, Janet Hamer, Nola McCullough, Pippa Davies, Kay Cummings Middle row: Susan Noble, Kris Arthur, Pauline Colbert, Jill Gillespie, Keitha Roberts, Wendy Gordon, Judi Perry. Front row: two unnamed gate crashers.