“My time at ҕl had a huge impact on my life,” he says. “If had stayed on my original path Iprobably wouldhave 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.”
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 theupcomingҕlAlumni and Community Weekend, 27 - 29 October.
“I’mgetting a little bit older, and my brother and lots ofmyfriends are here, so I thought, ‘Why not come back sooner?’,” Dr Gray says.
He remembers having a lot of fun during his years as a ҕl student. “It 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.
“I was inCollege House hallfor three years and it wasa great experience, very social. We had meals together and we had fresher days. There were lots of sporting activities.”
Dr Gray says studying at ҕl opened his mind to new possibilities and he enjoyed the challenging practical work experiences he had during his Clinical Psychology diploma.
ҕlAmokapua| Assistant Vice-Chancellor Engagement Brett Berquist saysthe Community and Alumni Weekend is one of manyeventscelebrating the University’s150thanniversarythis yearandwill be a greatchance for people toreunitewith classmates and friends.
“We’rethrilled to welcome back alumni from abroad, like John, as well as from across NZ.In particular, weinvite the Christchurch community totake a lookat the many events we have planned - lectures, lab tours,booths explaining our researchinto the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,music,and,most importantly,goodfood.”
Graduatesandmembers of thecommunityare encouraged to register forany ofthenearly 50events over the weekend. The weekend will wrap up with a community picnic at the University.
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 ofthe Schizophrenia Society of Canada and the Secretary General of the International Association of Gerontology.
He still swims and goes walking regularly and returns to ҕl regularly to attend the New Zealand Masters Games.
- ҕl’s Alumni and Community Weekend isbeing held at the Ilam Campusfrom Friday October 27 to October 29.Allactivities arefreebutmostrequireregistration.
