Cardinal Pell opens Sydney Campus\u27 newest building

His Eminence Cardinal George Pell has officially opened The University of Notre Dame Australia\u27s newest building on the Sydney Campus before an audience of distinguished guests from the fields of Law and Business, including Attorney General of New South Wales and Minister for Justice, the Honorable Greg Smith; members of the federal and state judiciary; and Governors of the University. Constructed in 1908, the Shepherd Street building has had a myriad of tenants and uses, including clothing manufacture, goods warehousing and offices. The structure has been sensitively restored by Notre Dame to retain the distinctive character of its Chippendale location. The building now houses Notre Dame\u27s Sydney Schools of Law and Business. Vice Chancellor, Professor Celia Hammond, announced the University has plans to build a state-of-the-art electronic moot court on the ground floor, which will be named after renowned Australian barrister and former politician, the Honourable Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes AO QC, who, along with his wife, was a guest of honour at the event. Earlier this year, Notre Dame awarded an honorary doctorate to Mr Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes and we are delighted that he has agreed to allow us the privilege of calling our new moot court after him, Professor Hammond said. It is our intention that this building will now be for the education and training of lawyers, and the moot court will be fitted out with the most up-to-date electronic equipment so that our students can learn the ancient tradition and art of advocacy, coupled with the skills of operating in a modern electronic courtroom. Following a brief liturgy, in which the Deans of Law and Business, Professor Gerard Ryan and Associate Professor Geoff Morris participated, His Eminence blessed each classroom and office in the new building. Chancellor of Notre Dame, Mr Terence Tobin, said the liturgy acknowledged Notre Dame\u27s approach to education, which looks to God as the beginning of wisdom. In tonight\u27s brief liturgy we capture our indebtedness to God and the Gospels and recognise that the work of men involves something more than merely the material. It involves a higher reality in which justice and equity are the expression of God\u27s presence, Mr Tobin said. For further information please contact: Communications Officer, Elizabeth Fenech The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney Campus T: 02 8204 4407 E: elizabeth.fenech@nd.edu.au W: www.nd.edu.au