The Cup comes to College

December 2011

Students laugh and cheer during the staff and student Melbourne Cup celebrationBy: Diploma of Arts Journalism students: Al Muhairi Rashed, Cheung Shuk Hang, Gemma Clarke, Dytta Gustin, Ryan Inyat, Hiu Fang Lam, Winnie Loo, Maggie Tang, Lisha Xu, Ji Zhang.

Horses, hats, hoorahs and heaps of fun! Staff and students celebrated a time-honoured tradition last month when the historic Melbourne Cup at Flemington Race course stopped our nation – and our classes.

While the whole of Australia was captivated by the country’s internationally renowned event that dates back to 1861 most of us got into the spirit as we watched broadcasts of the race in lecture theatres at both Caulfield and Clayton campuses.

Some of our teachers really dressed for the part as Melbourne enjoyed its famous day for high fashion and high stakes. There were jockeys serving us popcorn, fairy floss and drinks. The ladies wore fascinators and hair ribbons and the gents were festooned in fedoras and bright colours.

Says Dytta Gustin, who watched her first ever cup race, “it’s fun because the teachers and the students were so excited”.

People cheered loudly during the race and really got into the spirit of things as international entrant Dunaden edged out Red Cadeaux in an extremely close, photo finish.

“No one knew who won until the photos were reviewed,” said Arts student Rashed Al Muhairi who witnessed his second Melbourne Cup race, “it was very exciting.”

“We were all waiting for the photo finish,” said Arts Academic Manager Darci Kleverlaan-Taylor, who admits she was more preoccupied telling stories about Halloween trick or treating with her two children the night before.

There is a great sense of community with the Melbourne Cup, according to Arts teacher Donald White who was inspired to dress in such dapper fashion for the big event by Melbourne’s weather and convention.

“My parents used to take us to the cup as a social gathering,” Donald recalled pointing out the significance of the yellow rose on his lapel – race goers traditionally wear different colour roses to mark specific days during the carnival.

Thanks everyone who made it such a successful and exciting event.