University of Newcastle Sports Union
Following the granting of autonomy on 1 January 1965, Newcastle University College became the University of Newcastle, and Newcastle University College Sports League became the University of Newcastle Sports Union.
About the Profile Photograph (Provided by Adrian Iakin)
It is the photo of the 1992 Sports Union Executive which included those persons who contributed most to the Sports Union particularly with respect to the development of the majority of sporting facilities that exist on campus. The key contributors were Hugh Floyer, Bernie Curran and John Fryer. Hugh, as Treasurer for an amazing 20-year period, worked extremely closely with the Executive Officer not only on financial strategy and direction, but also on every detail of planning of facilities and general SU policies. Bernie was President for 8 years from 1985 to 1993 followed by John as President for 6 years from 1993 to 1999. Both were members of the SU Executive for a total of 12 years. Secretary John Lowry later created financial models for the operation of The Forum and wrote the brief for the engagement of consultants to prepare a business plan for The Forum as required by the University, and he was central to the selection of the firm that was engaged. Lindy was the first editor of Back Page.
The first sports association on campus was the Newcastle University College Sports League which was formally constituted in December 1960. The students referred to it as the Sports Union, but the NSW University of Technology (which was later renamed the University of NSW) Council, the supreme governing body for Newcastle University College (NUC), determined that the name would be the “Newcastle University College Sports League”. (Blood and Bandages p39)
Prior to the formation of the Sports League, sport on campus was controlled by the Newcastle University College Students Association (NUCSA). In 1955, NUCSA set up a Sports Committee to coordinate the “activities of various clubs within NUC”, (Blood and Bandages p23) with its main function being the distribution of funds to clubs from the budget it received from NUCSA.
Following the granting of autonomy on 1 January 1965, Newcastle University College became the University of Newcastle, and Newcastle University College Sports League became the University of Newcastle Sports Union.





