Last year the Advancement team took a creative approach to raising money with the launch of the ‘Buy a Seat’ campaign to give our community the chance to literally buy a seat in Macquarie Theatre.

“It was hoped the campaign would provide our community with a different way to give, by offering potential donors the opportunity to honour a family member, a classmate or even a favourite lecturer,” says Bruce Mortimer, Director of Alumni Relations. “Unlike a traditional donation, a donor can have their name, or the name of a loved one inscribed on a plaque forever immortalising them in Macquarie history.”

Bruce says the majority of the plaques purchased were by alumni, but many staff members have gotten involved too. “Several were purchased in memory of family or friends who passed away, and some as gifts from parents to their graduating son or daughter.”

“My father had an immeasurable impact on my own education and career,” says TV presenter and alumnus Peter Overton. “This is a wonderful way to acknowledge the support you have received, whilst giving a helping hand to the future generation of students.”

The campaign that began as part of the teams’ 2014 Annual Appeal raised $44,000 . The funds raised are being used to support four important initiatives.

“Two of these include travel grants to give students hands-on experience at the Australian Carsulae Archaeological Project in Umbria as part of the new Bachelor of Archaeology degree, and to help students travel internationally to compete as part of the University’s FIRST Robotics team,” says Bruce.

The funds will also support a prize for current HSC students interested in pursuing ancient history studies at Macquarie and funding for visiting scholars as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Visiting Fellow program.

Remaining seats are selling fast – secure your place in history today.

Learn more about the Ancient History Carsulae Dig.