Professor Goulter, the university’s vice chancellor for the past 10-and-a-half years, has contributed significantly to its development.

He said the achievements he is most proud of include the transfer of the Orange campus from Sydney Univers

ity, the development of the dental program across all campuses, the establishment of veterinary science and the significant expansion of student accommodation on the Bathurst campus.

Professor Goulter has a real passion for region-based education and feels he has also contributed to the clarity and purpose of the university in providing a workforce for regional and rural Australia.

During his time as Vice Chancellor, Professor Goulter has also worked hard to make CSU a leader in health education.

“We need to ensure that regional Australia has equitable access to health professionals,” he said.

Professor Goulter said one of the biggest changes he has witnessed is the way in which students use technology and the way the facilities have been refurbished to accommodate that.

“Technology is leading the way students expect to interact with the university,” he said.

He said perhaps his greatest pleasure at the Bathurst campus was the introduction in 2000 of the first Learning Commons, a vibrant 24/7 computer/library facility that epitomised the new generation’s aversion to quiet library time.

“I loved going there. I would just smile,” he said.

Professor Goulter was born in a village of 500 in New Zealand and began his career studying civil engineering in that country.

He obtained his Masters and PhD in America and spent 11 years working in Canada.

He came to Australia in 1990 and went to work in Rockhampton as a lecturer and researcher.

Moving into senior university administration was a natural progression.

“It was a really exciting challenge, but I do miss teaching students and doing research,” he said.

“In the end we are judged by the quality of our students and it was nice to be on the coal face in the formation of those students.

“I miss that, yes I do.”

Professor Goulter is planning a long holiday in Central America before moving to Brisbane with his wife Julie so they can be closer to their children.

He said he will miss many things about Bathurst – the places where he can get a really good long black, runs down by the river on a cold winter morning and taking visitors on tours of Abercrombie House, Chifley Home, the Courthouse, Sofala and Hill End.

He fully intends to start looking for new opportunities once he is settled.

“I’m a great believer in opportunity,” he said.

“I never look over my shoulder, I’m always looking for the next opportunity and there are opportunities everywhere.”