The plaque marks the site where native trees have been planted in honour of the lasting contribution each founding Legacy Society member has made to the University.
 

The Edith Winstone Blackwell Centre was the venue for the annual luncheon on Wednesday 7 December, much to the delight of all those who attended. 
 

Several lazy snapper, filmed in the marine reserve below, wove across large wall television screens as Professor Montgomery spoke to guests about the June opening of the Centre on the redeveloped Marine Campus and the generous donations that have made this new education facility possible.
 

Tianyi Lu, a recent Bachelor of Music (Honours) graduate of the University, gave an enchanting flute performance and spoke of her many inspiring achievements, which she says would not have been possible without the support of scholarships funded by donors. 
 

This support has enabled her, among other things, to perform as a soloist at the Auckland Town Hall and travel to Australia for orchestral conducting master classes. 

"I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the generosity of people such as yourselves, people who are willing to invest in the passion of another individual," Tianyi said. "To know that there are people who believe in me, who understand my passion for what I do and are willing to help me to achieve my goals, has been a most cherished source of hope and encouragement for me."
 

The Legacy Society was established in 2009 and recognises alumni and friends who have pledged a bequest to the University. 
 

Along with the unveiling of the plaque, this year the Legacy Society Book of Recognition was launched. The book records the names of University bequestors, and is updated each year as a living history and an on-going tribute to their generosity and foresight.