Bringing back the 80s: Massey grads celebrate decades of friendship in Palmy
A group of 60 former Massey students retrace old haunts and hostels as they mark 40 years of friendship formed in the 1980s in Palmerston North.
They returned in early March, weaving in a visit to campus and to Tui Brewery ahead of live music from bands formed within their friendship group.
The group got their old bands back together – Iceland Bars, which featured on the Meltdown Records label in the 80s, along with The Rough Diamonds.
“Music has played an important role in keeping us connected since the 80s,” recounts Richard Bourke, guitarist for Iceland Bars. The bands first played at 21sts and later weddings and New Year celebrations.
“We named the band after old ice block signage we found out the back of a flat on Linton Street.”
Most of the friends started at Massey in 1984, meeting in hostels like Walter Dyer, the Courts, and Pink Hostel.
Richard recalls Palmy simply being a great place to be in the 80s. The city was dominated by affordable cafes, regular food and flat crawls, champagne breakfasts on roundabouts, orientation pranks and great music.
“We really embraced the concept of being a student and I think Palmy embraced us too.”
Places like Sage Café in Square Edge were popular haunts – as was the ‘Central Nervous Station’ for meat pies, Costa’s for special occasion Mexican dinners, Hawaiian Takeaways at the end of a big night and Sunday evenings at the Fisherman’s Table.
With a rent freeze imposed by the then Government, students living on campus had certainty of pocket-money for essentials like a $2 jug of beer at the Fitz.
Massey grad Jo Jalfon remembered a lot from 1984. “I remember being dropped off by my parents at Walter Dyer aged 19 and feeling nervous that I knew no one.”
“It turned out to be the start of an amazing journey with friends that have shared everything with me from backpacking through Europe to parenthood.”
“There is a sense of closeness, connection, and camaraderie from my time at Massey that I haven’t experienced in other aspects of my life.”
Bridget Lampard agrees, saying a last-minute decision to study at Massey left her without her usual network, but it scored her lifelong friends and a partner.
“Meeting other people in the same situation created a unique environment to forge enduring friendships, and a marriage, that remain central to my life 40 years later.”
The friends have moved on to have great careers as vets, business owners, social workers, and working overseas. This may be their last get-together with numbers dwindling due to age, life commitments, ill health and sadly, the loss of several friends. But their friendship will always be treasured and remembered all the same.