Engineering art

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Tags: Alumni Events, art, engineering, winter-2011

Artist Bryan Besly and his portrait of current Head of the School of Civil Engineering Professor Peter Dux

A close-knit group of engineering alumni continue to pay tribute to their alma mater in a unique way.

The group known as Civil 55 celebrated their 55-year reunion in February with the presentation of three portraits of past and present civil engineering professors to the University.

During the event, Civil 55 unveiled paintings of the current Head of School Professor Peter Dux and predecessors Professor Colin Apelt and Professor Raymond Volker.

The three works add to the existing collection already produced by the group, who have
remained close friends since undertaking their engineering degrees and have met each year to celebrate their graduation.

At their 50th anniversary celebrations in 2006, Civil 55 presented UQ with a portrait of the school’s first Head of Department, Professor John H. Lavery.

Two years later they produced a portrait of Professor Colin O’Connor, before presenting a likeness of Professor Gordon McKay in 2009.

Civil 55 member Philip Breene said all of the educators honoured with portraits were greatly respected by Civil 55 and were acknowledged for contributing to the success of their students’ careers.

The artist behind the portraits is none other than Civil 55 member Bryan Besly, who has worked abroad as an engineer and is also an exhibiting member of Portrait Artists Australia.

Since childhood, Mr Besly has maintained an interest in art and has been able to focus on his passion since retiring in 1994.

Alumni are welcome to view the portraits at the School of Civil Engineering on Level 3 of the Hawken Building at St Lucia.

By Madelene Flanagan

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