鈥淢y time at UC had a huge impact on my life,鈥 he says. 鈥淚f had stayed on my original path I听probably would听have been a parish priest somewhere. But my vocational goals changed, and my studies set me up for a different career. I also met my wife Elizabeth while we were both students. We still have wonderful friends who we studied with in the Clinical Psychology programme.鈥
Dr Gray left New Zealand in 1966, a year after graduating, and went on to carve out a distinguished career in the field of mental health in Canada. He usually makes a return visit to New Zealand every two years but decided to come back earlier than planned so he could join the听upcoming听University of mini传媒听Alumni and Community Weekend, 27 - 29 October.听
鈥淚鈥檓听getting a little bit older, and my brother and lots of听my听friends are here, so I thought, 鈥榃hy not come back sooner?鈥,鈥 Dr Gray says.
He remembers having a lot of fun during his years as a UC student. 鈥淚t was so different from my time at high school in Whanganui. It was exciting and a challenge and there was a lot of learning - more than just book learning.听听
鈥淚 was in听College House hall听for three years and it was听a great experience, very social. We had meals together and we had fresher days. There were lots of sporting activities.鈥
Dr Gray says studying at UC opened his mind to new possibilities and he enjoyed the challenging practical work experiences he had during his Clinical Psychology diploma.
UC听Amokapua听| Assistant Vice-Chancellor Engagement Brett Berquist says听the Community and Alumni Weekend is one of many听events听celebrating the University鈥檚听150th听anniversary听this year听and听will be a great听chance for people to听reunite听with classmates and friends.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e听thrilled to welcome back alumni from abroad, like John, as well as from across NZ.听听In particular, we听invite the Christchurch community to听take a look听at the many events we have planned - lectures, lab tours,听booths explaining our research听into the UN鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals,听music,听and,听most importantly,听good听food.鈥澨
Graduates听and听members of the听community听are encouraged to register for听any of听the听nearly 50听events over the weekend. The weekend will wrap up with a community picnic at the University.听
Dr Gray is now retired but his career in Canada included being the director of a psychiatric hospital and director of the British Colombia mental health service. As a volunteer, he was the President of听the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and the Secretary General of the International Association of Gerontology.
He still swims and goes walking regularly and returns to Aotearoa regularly to attend the New Zealand Masters Games.
- UC鈥檚 Alumni and Community Weekend is听being held at the Ilam Campus听from Friday October 27 to October 29.听All听activities are听free听but听most听require听registration.听听
