SCOTLAND'S OLDEST UNIVERSITY PAYS TRIBUTE TO AUSTRALIAN BENEFACTOR WHO HELPED SAVE IT

The University of St Andrews, Scotland, the present day home of Prince William, recognises the Australian who saved it from financial ruin over 100 years ago.

A Scottish link in NSW will be highlighted in August, when a representative from one of Britains oldest universities honours a
fellow student- albeit from two centuries ago.

Young undergraduate James North, from the University of St. Andrews on
Scotlands east coast, will be visiting the Coolangatta Estate near
Nowra to pay tribute to its founder, Alexander Berry.

Berry was a scholar at St. Andrews in 1796 and on his death in 1873 he
left over $12 million in todays money to the University, saving it
from financial ruin. Today the University is known as the home of HRH
Prince William, who is completing a History of Art degree there.

North, who is Chairman of the Students Association at St Andrews, says
he is delighted to be able to come and recognise Alexander Berry. He
was a significant figure in the fortunes of the University" said North,
who is spending his summer vacation from Scotland working for the
Federal Government in Canberra. His donation, in the form of bequest
in his will, saved St Andrews from certain financial ruin, as it was in
severe debt at the time."

James will present Coolangatta Estate with an inscribed silver Quaich --
a traditional Scottish whisky-drinking dish - and with a bound copy of
the Matriculation Role from 1796, the year Alexander Berry entered the
University.

It is fitting that almost 120 years since the Berry bequest 'saved
St. Andrews we are now able to recognise the role he played in making
the University what it is today, said 21-year-old North. He was
Scottish born and bred, and a successful entrepreneur when he came out
to Australia. The size of the settlement at Coolangatta is a testament
to the success he achieved in his lifetime."

The Coolangatta Estate has been carefully restored by Colin Bishop and
his family and is now a successful holiday resort and wine-producing
centre. It keeps the memory of Alexander Berry alive through tours and
museum exhibits.

James added: It is also significant that this year Alexander Berry has
been commemorated in St Andrews by his inclusion in the Kate Kennedy
Spring Procession -- an unique annual parade where students dress up in
period costumes, taking the roles of historical characters connected to
the history of the University and Scotland.

In this way, University students of today are able to commemorate the
man who was the single biggest benefactor to their University" he said.
Other notables in the Procession include Robert the Bruce, Saint Andrew
and Field Marshal Haig, who was Chancellor of the University in the
1920s.

With the inclusion of Berry in the Procession in St Andrews, and
this presentation in Coolangatta, we want to highlight the real sense
of 'living history both here in NSW and also in Scotland, with the
memory of Alexander Berry being kept alive on both sides of the world."

Further information from: The Coolangatta Estate
            1335 Bolong Road, Shoalhaven Heads NSW 2535
            Tel: 61 2 4448 7131       Fax: 61 2 4448 7997
            Email:   coolangatta@shoalhaven.net.au
            www.oztourism.com.au/coolangatta/
            mallarray@aol.com
   alanwclark@yahoo.com