Family members and friends lined the streets of Launceston yesterday as University of Tasmania graduates marched from Civic Square to the Albert Hall.
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Hundreds of graduates joined a police escort and marching band for the traditional Town and Gown procession, which preceded three graduation ceremonies at the Albert Hall.
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About 1280 students from the Australian Maritime College and five University of Tasmania at Launceston faculties graduated yesterday.
Speakers included Governor Peter Underwood, Launceston General Hospital chief executive John Kirwan and Professor Marie Sierra, of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
Chancellor Damian Bugg said there was a big sense of occasion throughout Launceston's central business district, with shoppers and passers-by getting caught up in the excitement of the day.
``You just walk through the city and all the people are on the footpath applauding the graduates - which is just so fantastic for them, and it makes the university and the college seem to be a part of the community and brings them into the community,'' he said.
Mr Bugg said it was important that graduation was treated as a big occasion, as it was an important rite of passage for all students.
``For me it is the true rite of passage for those who have gone on to study at university and I think it's important for their families as well, to see such a moment after what they helped their children achieve, because it is a joint effort,'' he said.
``To have the formal acknowledgment that you have qualified and to have your family there to celebrate it with you is great, and I will continue to make a fuss of that while I'm chancellor.
``This is my eighth graduation ceremony in a week and I've got two more to go today, so I will shake something like 2400 hands in the week - but I would do it all again tomorrow because it is just for me such a pleasure to see this next wave of the world's leaders coming through.''
