Steve Roman was among the first students to enrol at Flinders in 1966. Sixty years later, he has returned to Bedford Park with a collection of posters, programs and other keepsakes from the University’s earliest days. 

Steve, who now lives in the United Kingdom, donated the materials to the Flinders University Archives in July during a trip to Adelaide to visit family. They include arts, drama and political posters, leaflets and menus that offer a glimpse of student life in the late 1960s.

His student number, 660003, marked him as Flinders’ third student. He was there when the Queen Mother officially opened the University in March 1966 and helped organise a group of Flinders students to attend the first Australian Universities Arts Festival in Sydney the following year. 

Flinders is part of Steve’s family story. His older brother and two nephews studied here, and in 1970, Steve and his wife became the first couple to marry on campus. Their wedding was held at the Religious Centre, now known as OASIS. 

“My time at Flinders was formative as I moved into adulthood and independence,” Steve said. 

“It gave me the opportunity to try new experiences and develop skills in organising the extra-curricular activities which I have been utilising throughout my life.” 

Steve has maintained his connection to Flinders across the decades. He returned for Flinders’ 50th anniversary in 2016, bringing his original University jumper and donating other mementos.

His latest gifts help preserve a rare first-hand record of student life in Flinders’ earliest years, giving future generations a clearer picture of how the University began.

Steve graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Diploma in Education in 1970.