Macquarie University in its early years

The six years that Chris spent at Macquarie made him the man he is today. Therefore, he has decided to leave the University a gift in his will.

Chris Joyce sitting on a couch.

Memories of Macquarie from an early alumnus

Chris Joyce first matriculated to Macquarie in 1967 during the University’s infancy. He has memories of walking onto a campus of just one academic building and of the Vice-Chancellor, professors and students alike eating lunch in the same cafeteria.

The Macquarie University of Chris’ era only awarded a Bachelor of Arts, with the expectation that the 600 to 700 members of the student body would have a well-rounded education, taking courses in a range of different subjects. Chris’ two fields of study, chemistry and economics, have served him well throughout life. At Macquarie, Chris gained both critical thinking skills and useful business acumen.

But Chris’ Macquarie experience was not solely academic. He also served as chairman of the first student council. This title led him to sharing committee tables with heavy-hitters such as then Chancellor Sir Garfield Barwick AC, Sir John “Jock” Phillips KBE, and Macquarie legends Peter Mason, Bruce Mansfield and Blue Barclay. Chris even had a professional stint with the National Union of Australian University Students (NUAUS) before returning to his degree.

Chris believes in providing philanthropic support to the people and places who have helped shape him. He has left a bequest to Macquarie University in the hopes that future students will have the same positive experience here as he had.