Our Alumni gathered on our Lake Macquarie campus for Homecoming 2025 (August 22-23) – a time to reconnect with one another.
On the Friday night, alum had the opportunity to get together and reminisce. With 100 in attendance, they looked through nostalgic images of their time at Avondale and opened the Sabbath with popular worship songs throughout the decades with Dean Banks (1995). Avondale University Chancellor and SPD President, Pr Glenn Townend (BA Theol 1985), was also in attendance and closed in prayer over the University and Alumni.
The Sabbath morning program was run by Dr Leigh Rice (1975), with over 110 people in attendance who enjoyed the devotion with provided morning tea.
University Church overflowed for the 11am service, with more than 800 people in attendance. Amongst the numbers were over 300 alumni from our honour years, including five from the graduating class of 1955, one of whom was Dr Allan Lindsey. Dr Aleta King conducted the orchestra and choir made up of 80 in total alumni and community members.
During the service, Avondale University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Malcolm Coulson honoured three specific alumni for their dedication to service in their respective fields. These recipients embody our call: a greater vision of world needs. Our motto is more than a slogan, it’s a daily expression of faith and deed; of recognising a need in the world and running full steam ahead at serving their world for good.
Alumni of the Year was awarded to Dr Brendan Pratt for his passion and service to building communities of faith. Dr Pratt holds three degrees in theology, initially graduating with his Bachelor of Arts (Theology) in 1995. He has led churches and worked throughout the South Pacific and for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Pratt’s work is intersectional; his work with the General Conference centred around secular and post-Christian mission. He believes that the Local Church matters: “It really is the Jesus story, and it really is the revolution our culture needs” says Pratt. For him, church is not just about programs or structures but about authentic community. His advice for young alumni: ‘it's not about success, it's about significance’. We also want to recognise that on September 2, he was appointed the new President of the Australian Union Conference (AUC) of the SDA Church.
Alumna of the Year was awarded to Dr Dawn Grant-Skiba for her dedication to providing equitable education. Grant-Skiba was born and raised in Jamacia where she received her undergraduate degree, in Business and Accounting. She soon recognised her true calling, teaching. Grant-Skiba then moved to the UK where she completed her Master of Teaching. Relocating to Poland, she lived and worked there for 14 years. Along with her family, she moved to Australia to be close to an Adventist community and education for the children. In Australia, Dr Grant-Skiba completed her second Master of Teaching (2015), this time through Avondale. She has taught within the Adventist and public education sector, where her passion is providing accessible education to children with disabilities and various learning backgrounds. Her personal journey and cross-cultural experience have also enabled Dawn to connect and support indigenous students and educators. This year, Dawn completed her PhD through Avondale, celebrating with a bell ringing ceremony at College Hall (previously the Chapel) on August 22.
Young Alumni of the Year was awarded to Anna Lindbeck (née Beaden) for her passion for serving others through teaching and music. Her time on a Ministry of Teaching Overseas (MOTO) trip made a profound impact on her worldview. While at Avondale, she also released her debut EP Simple Joys in 2013. In 2015 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching. Anna has taught within Adventist and public schools throughout the last ten years and has also taken intermittent breaks to focus on her music career, which has taken her across Europe and the US. A recent career highlight was performing at the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church meeting in 2025. She is also currently completing a world first. Anna and three other women are riding from Perth to Sydney to raise awareness and $500,000 for suicide prevention. Help them reach their goal here.
Professor Malcolm Coulson also made special mention to Julie Jackson (Dip Tch, 1975), and Jarrod Cherry (BA/BTch (Sec), 2015) for their service in the education sector, and Pastor Norman Young (BA Theol, 1965) for his lifetime of service to theology and teaching.
The weekend closed on Saturday night with Sing Praise: The Gospel Edition. The ensemble filled the church with their singing of beloved tunes of the Gaithers, Voice of Prophecy, and Heritage Singers. The event featured musicals guests Sandra Entermann, Ma’a Togipau, and more, produced by Avondale alumnus Benjamin Milis.
Our new Alumni magazine launched over the weekend, Legacy. The annual publication includes a university updates, research impact, alumni spotlights and feature articles about things that matter.
