The Melbourne Graduate November 2007

THE

MELBOURNE

The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc.

GR ADUATE

GRADUATE UNION RECIPROCITY IN ITALY

Periodical newsletter of the graduate union of the university of melbourne incorporated Print Post approved pp337834/00022 registered association no.

AA0023234B November 2007 Volume 60 No. 4 www.graduatehouse.com.au

Head Of College Overseas Trip

Contents CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2 NEW MEMBERS

2

LETTERS

2

VALETE

2

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

3

EVENTS

4

LUNCHEON SPEAKERS 4 RESIDENTS NEWS

5

RECIPROCAL CLUBS

6

Office Bearers President: The Honourable John Cain Vice President: Dr Robert Gibson Chairman: Mr Andrew Binns Vice Chairman: Ms Cheryl Kidston Head of College / CEO Mr Eugene Spanti

Eugene Spanti with DirettoreGenerale Alberto Scuttari of ESU.

Universita’ degli Studi di Sassari

The Reciprocal Agreement is signed by Rettore, Prof Alessandro Maida with Prof Piero Cappuccinelli and Prof Giorgio Pintore in attendance.

O

ur Head of College returned from his three week trip to Europe and Dubai in mid-August. One purpose of the trip was to visit our reciprocal clubs in London, Goodenough Club and College and the Oxford and Cambridge Club, where he stayed. Following his week in London, Eugene continued on to Italy where appointments had been arranged in Padua and Sardinia.

The meeting at ESU di Padova with Direttore-Generale Alberto Scuttari was very successful with agreement being reached as to the terms and conditions of reciprocity with The Graduate Union. A formal Reciprocal Agreement was signed and a copy will be on display in the Library in the new cabinets designed for this purpose.

Direttore-Generale Scuttari and his staff were overwhelmingly welcoming and helpful. They organised tours of the ESU student and visitor residences, the University of Padua and its Faculties, going out of their way to ensure our Head of College’s visit to the beautiful city of Padua was informative and enjoyable.

From Padua, Eugene travelled via Rome to the Universita’ degli Studi di Sassari, Sardegna (Sardinia) where he was met by Professor Piero Cappuccinelli from the Department of Microbiology. Contact had been made with the Professor several months earlier through his cousin, Dr Claudia Falco of the Italian Consulate in Melbourne who had met with Eugene over lunch. It was this luncheon meeting with Dr Falco which led to discussions about potential reciprocity in Italy. Over the months of planning, Professor Cappuccinelli’s cooperation and advice were invaluable and this continued upon Eugene’s arrival in Sardinia.

Professor Cappuccinelli met Eugene at the Alghero airport where he announced, much to Eugene’s dismay, that the Rector of the University was to commence his holidays that day and wished to meet with him in half an hour! While a meeting with the Rector was very welcome news, Eugene was definitely not in the proper formal attire. However, he quickly rallied to the occasion, met with Rettore, Professor Alessandro Maida and a formal Reciprocal Agreement document was duly signed. For the remainder of his stay in Sardinia, Eugene was entertained by the Professor and his family whose warm hospitality and kindness will be remembered with gratitude.

Eugene broke his return journey to Australia with a visit to the University of Wollongong in Dubai where a meeting had been arranged with the Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nicholas van der Walt. Dubai is experiencing an influx of students and with insufficient accommodation to house them, visitor accommodation is not available at present. However, Eugene’s meeting with Professor van der Walt was productive in that communication has been established between The Graduate Union and the University of Wollongong in Dubai. There are plans to build accommodation facilities attached to the University at which time it is anticipated a reciprocal agreement will be entered into.

Eugene with Goodenough Club Director, Maj. Gen. Andrew Ritche CBE & Manager, Noelle Vickers, trying out the Queen’s Chair.

November 2007 Volume 60 No.4 –

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE CALENDAR OF EVENTS 25 Oct Wine Appreciation Dinner 7 Nov Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Mr John McCutchan Topic: An Electric Fence for Kangaroos

13 Nov Italian Conversation Dinner (1st Tues November closed for Cup Day)

16 Nov Members’ Cocktail Party 21 Nov Women’s Forum Topic: “Your call is important to us”

21 Nov Film Matinee The Last King of Scotland

4 Dec Italian Conversation Dinner 5 Dec Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Dr Piero Genovesi, Italian-Australian Research Centre

14 Dec Women’s Forum Topic: A lighthearted meeting

14 Dec Film Matinee A Christmas Carol

14 Dec Members Christmas Party Santa, Entertainment and Prizes The Melbourne Graduate is normally published four times a year by The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated.

It is edited by Eugene Spanti and Lyn Weston, under the direction of the Graduate Council and its Executive Committee.

The Melbourne Graduate welcomes letters from readers and reserves the right to edit them for publication. Please keep word count to a maximum of 250 and address to The Editors, The Melbourne Graduate.

Registered Address: The Graduate Union 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia Telephone: (03) 9347-3428 Facsimile (03) 9347-9981

LETTERS

NEW MEMBERS

From Norm Bury, Probus Club of Forest Hill I know this sounds like rhetoric but we had one of our most fascinating and interesting mornings during our visit to the State Library yesterday and this was complemented by a very enjoyable and relaxing lunch with you at Graduate House. At the end of the day I received compliments from all our members on our selection of Graduate House for lunch, for the quality of the food, its very reasonable cost and also the ambience of the venue. Of course the complements belong to you and your staff who attended to us in such a friendly and patient manner. Thank you Martin, we look forward to the opportunity of seeing you again next time we organize a day in and around the city. We will display the Graduate House brochures and membership folders at our next general meeting in August.

July 2007 From Dept of Economics & Commerce, Corporate Members Thank you for helping to make the MBIT Cocktail Party on 3 August a great success. We really appreciate your friendly and helpful service.

August 2007

DONATIONS A special donation of $5,000 has been received with appreciation from the William Berry PostGraduate College Trust. The gift has been used for the naming of Room 304 in the new building in honour of Bill and Vera Berry.

Building Fund: $50 C Hughes $100 P Colville Appreciation to Dr Cecily Close for her donation of $100 towards the refurbishment of the Graduate House Library .

VALETE Since publication of the August 2007 edition of The Melbourne Graduate we have been notified of the deaths of the following members: Mr J H Champness, Life Member joined 1953 Mr W P Drews, Life Member joined 1956 Mr J C Habersberger, Life Member joined 1944 Mr HRC Pratt, Life Member joined 1981 Mr R J Rawlins, Life Member joined 1957 Mr J Salvado. Life Member joined 1975 Mr N E Winckle, Life Member joined 1949 Mr J H Wright, Life Member joined 1974 The Graduate Union appreciates the support of these members and extends condolences to their families. We regret that space constraints do not allow individual acknowledgement of each deceased member.

www.graduatehouse.com.au email: sec@graduatehouse.com.au Printed by: FSG Design & Print 1 Argent Place, Ringwood.

Tel: (03) 9873 5144

– November 2007 Volume 60 No.4

Don’t forget our Members Christmas Party on 14th December.

Book Early - 9347 3428

The following new members joined the Graduate Union in the period August to November 2007. We welcome them and look forward to their participation in our members’ programs.

Life Members Rev Dr A D Hanlon, BA(Ballarat) Mr J Salvado, BA(Deakin) Mr N Salvado, BA,GradDip(Deakin) Corporate Members Dental Health Services Victoria Associate Members Mrs E Trigg, Faculty of Medicine All degrees are from University of Melbourne unless otherwise noted.

Degrees are stated as presented on members’ application forms.

Ordinary Members Ms J Anderson, BAHons Mr D Beswick, BA(Wollongong) Ms S Bottrell, BAppSc(LaTrobe) Dr D Brumley, MBBS, MSc(Flinders) Ms C Elias, BA(Monash), GradDip(Deakin) Postgrad Dip Dr D Hann, LLB(Monash), PhD Mr R McGauran, BArch Dr A Niall, MBBS(London) Mr N Prodger, GradDipBus Mr D Rogers, MEd Ms A Seach, BSocSc(Charles Sturt) Mr A Zadnik, BEng(WA), MBA

NEW CORPORATE MEMBER Trinity College Foundation Studies Staff The Trinity College Foundation Studies (TCFS) program has existed for nearly 17 years, and grown over that time to being a very well established preparatory program that readies approximately 750 international students for undergraduate admission each year (about 85% of those students gaining an offer of a place at the University of Melbourne). There are around 95 teaching, administrative and welfare oriented staff who operate this very successful educational program.

A number of lectures and classes are held on the Trinity College original Royal Parade site, with many also held in a group of Trinity-owned buildings opposite the College in Royal Parade. Additionally, there are a considerable number of classrooms and office spaces in Swanston St, just south of Grattan St, in Grattan St itself and also in Lincoln Square North. About 50 of the TCFS staff are located at this “south end” of the University. Whilst “north end” staff of the TCFS program are able to gain good access to College dining facilities and meeting rooms and to the North Court eateries, it was felt that the “south enders” were at some disadvantage when looking for a pleasant, reasonably priced place to sit, meet and eat with colleagues. With them in mind, Dean of International programs at Trinity, Dr Barbara Cargill, arranged a corporate membership to Graduate House that all TCFS staff could potentially use, but most especially the “south enders”. Many staff are actually graduates of the University of Melbourne and would have been eligible for individual Graduate Union membership, but they are delighted that the College has arranged the group membership so they can dine, meet and relax together in such pleasant surroundings.

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

A

t the Annual Meeting in May our President, the Hon John Cain undertook to have all questions raised at the meeting responded to. These considerations were deferred at the June meeting of Council as the President was unable to attend. At the August meeting of Council the President made a written submission with seven recommendations.

Council agreed unanimously to accept all of these recommendations, as follows:

3. Affirmed that Council does not fund canvassing of support for those nominating in Council elections nor will it consider doing so.

4. Affirmed the importance of the integrity of the mail-out for elections and the Annual Meeting. It should be recognised that volunteers carry out the mail-out process under the direction of the staff of The Graduate Union. There has not been evidence of any attempted interference in the past decade.

1. Affirmed, in accordance with the Act and the Rules of The Graduate Union, access should continue to be available to the list of names and addresses of members subject to the provisions of the privacy laws and the payment of a reasonable fee.

5. Affirmed the Returning Officer be requested to increase the allowed number of words in Council candidates’ statements.

2. Affirmed that canvassing support for those nominating in Council elections is a private matter for individuals concerned and Council has no capacity to intervene in such matters.

7. Affirmed that Council will make an active contribution to assist the staff in securing the best possible program of speakers at Graduate Union functions in the coming year.

6. Affirmed a function to be held for members to meet the candidates prior to elections.

VICE CHANCELLOR’S REPRESENTATIVES ON COUNCIL Jenny Stephens Jenny is currently the University of Melbourne’s Director of Advancement. Prior to this she was Director, Student Programs with responsibility for many of the University’s student services areas. Having worked in universities in Australia and England for over twenty years, Jenny came to Melbourne from Victoria University, where she was Senior Lecturer and Head of Sociology and Policy Studies, with a strong research interest and publications in the areas of gender, cultural diversity and the labour market. Prior to this, she worked as Research and Policy Advisor to the Victorian State Government in areas of employment and training, and in social research in the community sector. She has also for many years been a member of several Boards of Governance of nonGovernment organisations.

Carolyn O’Brien Carolyn O’Brien is Co-Manager of the International Relations Office at the University of Melbourne, where she is responsible for the University’s formal linkages for international academic cooperation and exchange, and advises on the University’s international relations. She completed her undergraduate degree in the UK and following extensive travel in SE Asia, migrated to Australia in 1985. After five years in marketing at IBM Melbourne, she returned to postgraduate study in Australia and during the 1990s taught in the Departments of Political Science at Monash and Melbourne Universities, specialising in comparative European politics and the European Union. She completed her doctorate on contemporary French politics in 2002, and joined the University’s International Relations Office in 2003.

OBITUARY – DR H.R.C. (Clive) PRATT Clive Pratt was born in England in 1911, and after schooling at Harrow and Birkbeck College he read chemistry at university and graduated in 1931 with distinction. During the war he worked in ICI, where an industrial accident brought about the loss of his left leg. In 1949 he became Deputy Chief Scientific Officer with the Harwell Atomic Energy Research Establishment, and while working there completed his PhD in 1950, and DSc in 1957.

In 1958 he accepted the invitation to head up a Chemical Engineering Section in the CSIRO Division of Chemistry; by 1962 this section had grown to a Division, with Clive as its Chief. Since then he worked tirelessly to establish the place of Chemical Engineering in Australia, and its status in the engineering profession. He founded the Victorian branch of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, which later became IChe Australia, set up the Chemeca annual conferences, and helped found the Chemical Engineering School at the University of Melbourne. On retiring from CSIRO in 1973 he became Honorary

Professorial Fellow at Melbourne University and continued supervising many doctoral students until final retirement in 2002, at age 91. His publications include a book, “Countercurrent Separation Processes” as well as many research or review papers in the leading journals and numerous patents. He won many professional awards and medals and was clearly the father of the Chemical Engineering Profession in Australia.

As well as a love of classical music, developed while learning piano at school, he was fond of attending plays, but his abiding passion was driving his Jaguar car. He claimed to be a “very fast but safe” driver, and continued until his eighties.

A Life Member and long-time benefactor of the Graduate Union, he will be remembered by old-timers as a regular attender at our Monthly Luncheons or evening functions until recent years, usually with wife Phyllis, or son Robert. One of the bedrooms at the front of the new building in Leicester St is dedicated to him. Ron Davey November 2007 Volume 60 No.4 –

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE TWILIGHT LECTURE SERIES Ted Baillieu, the inaugural speaker of the new lecture series, has been a member of the Graduate Union since 1980. He assured the audience that through the years he had followed the fortunes of Graduate House and the Union. In fact, he said, he felt as though he had come home again having worked for some years across University Square in Barry Street.

His address, as he promised, was amusing and not heavily political, but it did touch on some areas where Ted Baillieu’s ideas for Victoria differ from those of the incumbent government. With humour he introduced politics by telling the story of his recent encounter with former premier Steve Bracks at the AFL preliminary final. Both passionate Geelong supporters, they happened to be standing alongside each other during the very close game. At the final siren with a five point victory to Geelong over Collingwood and their heart rate soaring they impulsively embraced. Ted said it was difficult to say who was the most embarrassed! Victoria is falling behind the other States in terms of its economy, infrastructure, employment and manufacturing and it is important to not only catch up but get ahead. Ted said many of Victoria’s assets had been compromised, including transport, energy production, agriculture and manufacturing. Investment in Victoria has languished in recent years and Ted stressed the importance of innovation, motivation, flexibility and the pursuit of excellence to redress this situation. Governments should step aside, he said, be flexible, remove obstacles and support, promote and celebrate champions. Ted Baillieu came across as personable and sincere.

A mild-mannered and decent bloke, although as one member put it ‘I don’t think I would have liked to have played football against him’. His slogan remains ‘Get Victoria Moving Again’.

LUNCHEON SPEAKERS AUGUST Professor Ian Harper, an accomplished public speaker with a beautifully modulated voice opened his address by recounting the history of minimum wage setting in Australia. The Fair Pay Commission, of which he is inaugural Chairman, is a Federal Government initiative and an element of the new Work Choices industrial relations system. It is a consultative body supplemented by independent research and analysis and the Commission’s overarching objective is to promote the economic prosperity of the people of Australia. In the Australian economy, along with interest rates, minimum wages influence important issues such as employment, inflation and competitiveness, as well as labour supply and demand. Workforce participation is one of the key drivers of our future economic prosperity and having a job is widely recognised as a guard against poverty and disadvantage.

In reply to questions about whether the recent minimum wage increase had actually benefited the low paid after taxation etc. Professor Harper replied that overall 74% had been retained by workers in real terms, so they benefited from the increase. Professor Harper concluded his address saying the work of the Commission could be considered successful if in five years time the Fair Pay Commission had earned the same degree of respect accorded to the Reserve Bank.

SEPTEMBER Professor John Langford, as the Project Leader and Director of the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Water Research Centre, Professor Langford specialises in water resource and catchment management, urban and irrigation water supply and research management. He plays a prominent role in the wider water debate, including speaking at major internationally sponsored forums. We were fortunate enough to catch him after only returning to Melbourne from an overseas trip the day before. With Melbourne being in its 11th year of drought with the year 2006 recorded as the worst ever accounted, Prof John Langford offered a very interesting and informative presentation on Australia’s Water Future. Amid the highest level of CO2 recorded with over 600,000 years of data, the level of CO2 in our atmosphere has increased causing the temperature to increase and consequently sea levels to rise. However with the rise in temperature, there hasn’t been the rise in rainfall as we all know. This all leads to the changing extremes that we are experiencing in our daily lives. Professor Langford expressed his opinions on this highly vulnerable situation. We need to be smarter with water use. We need to have action. We need to build diverse water resources such as a desalination plant and to start recycling more of our water. A successful luncheon with energetic discussion.

– November 2007 Volume 60 No.4

E V EN T S Melbourne University Postgraduate Expo The Expo was held on Wednesday 5 September 2007 in the exclusive Woodward Conference Centre on the Law Building’s top floor. It was an event for all prospective graduate students and 800 attended between 3.30-8.30pm. With the launch of the ‘Melbourne Model’ the Expo predominately provided information on many of the postgraduate qualifications needed to equip students with leadership and management skills and significantly improve their career opportunities. The event also included an interactive research showcase, faculty presentations and a graduate study exhibition.

All University Faculties and Departments were represented and, as the only postgraduate college affiliated with the University, Graduate House was invited to attend. Throughout the Expo, our dedicated staff were on hand to give details of the benefits of membership, answer questions and hand out information about the many facets of the Graduate Union, including accommodation, catering and conferencing and the lunch time bistro. The event really had something for everyone. We look forward to welcoming new members to Graduate House.

September Postgraduate Cocktails Enthusiastic chatter filled the Ian Potter Room on 5 September at the bi-annual Postgraduate Cocktail Party held to establish a wider awareness of what the Graduate Union is, and what Graduate House has to offer. Attendees enjoyed a variety of drinks and delicious finger food as they listened to a short presentation. A spirited discussion followed about the Graduate Union’s reciprocal arrangements with various universities and colleges, particularly overseas. The CEO informed guests about his recent European travel experiences and his wish to increase reciprocity worldwide.

Many guests were interested in reciprocal arrangements as they plan overseas travel to enhance academic qualifications.

Graduate House has seen several return over the ensuing weeks to experience for themselves what is on offer at the lunch time bistro.

Refurbishment of the Johnston Library and Anderson Room The enthusiastic group making up the Library Working Party are making rapid progress towards its stated objective: ‘To consider the renovation and refurbishment of the current Library in order to offer members and residents an up-to-date and relevant recreational library’.

In line with these objectives, the initial step was to seek expert opinion on the book and record collections from the State and Baillieu Libraries. Culling followed, concluding with a book and record sale in September. To replenish and update our stock, Melbourne University Publishing (MUP) has kindly offered to donate a selection of publications to the Graduate House Library.

The Working Party is currently working on a stylish look for the Johnston Library with new high-back chairs being considered to add to the elegant old world atmosphere. Five additional glass fronted display cabinets have been created which will display historical memorabilia and pay tribute to benefactors and members who have played a part in the history of The Graduate Union. Honour boards are also being considered which will record Office Bearers of The Graduate Union over the decades.

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

R esidents N ews Jessica Ritchie In 2006 I completed my MA in English Literature at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. I will be moving to Melbourne in early 2008 and will be staying at Graduate House while studying for my PhD in History. My thesis will be about the position of women in military and paramilitary forces in the late-20th and early-21st centuries. Over the past three years I have worked as a tutor and lecturer and hope to gain further teaching experience at the University of Melbourne. I recently visited Melbourne and think it will be a fantastic place to live and study for the next few years. I hope to explore the many artistic and cultural experiences on offer and make the most of the (probably mostly window) shopping! I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know everyone at Graduate House next year.

Inbal Brauner I was born and grew up in Israel. I went into the army at the age of 18 and served for 5 years in one of the most important computer divisions in the Israeli army as a programmer, system analysis and a team leader of 5 programmers. I did my undergraduate in economics and finance.

When I finished the army I joined the third largest Israel’s investment company as a mutual manager. At first as an intern and after finished my internship in investment management as a mutual fund manager. I worked there for 5 years and then decided to do my MBA at Melbourne Business School. I started in August 2007 and plan to finish in May 2009. For my first term I’m planning to live in Graduate House.

Dr. Ram P. Bharti I came from India in May’07 for post-doctoral research fellowship in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Melbourne. My research interests lies in microfluidics, bluff bodies, non-Newtonian fluid dynamics and rheology of complex fluids. I did my B.Tech./ M.Tech./ Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Punjab Technical University Jalandhar/ I.I.T. Bombay/ I.I.T. Kanpur, India, respectively. In my spare time I like to sleep, watch TV, read newspapers, web browsing, walking. It is my pleasure to reside in Graduate House and enjoy intellectual, multicultural and friendly society. I plan to stay at Graduate House for two years and thank the Graduate House community (staff & residents) for maintaining the wonderful environment.

Roelof van Ewijk As part of the fifth year of my medicine course there is the opportunity to do a small research internship of 3 months. As I will be spending a lot of time in the hospitals in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to go ‘down under’. The University of Melbourne arranged my stay at the Graduate House, where I will be enjoying the next couple of months.

Besides playing field hockey, tennis, cycling, going for coffee, being a tourist, meeting new friends and more, I spend a lot of my time doing research (although some people are still not convinced, I am actually spending a lot of time on my research). I like Melbourne a lot and have a lot of fun with friendly people enjoying the Melbourne life just like me, especially of course all the nice people staying and working at Graduate House. I am really looking forward to the next couple of months.

RESIDENTS COOKING COMPETITION

With nine participants competing for the title of Graduate House’s “Best Cook”, the atmosphere within Graduate House during the months of June and July was frenzied with many residents reporting to the kitchen to commence cooking their signature dish. With such indulgent and scrumptious mouth-watering delectable treats such as Bak Kut The - Pork Rib Soup (Yuchun Liu) Thai Beef Salad (Chan Manonom) Marinated Chicken Wings (Ubon Sanpatchayapong) Teriyaki Chicken (Allan Madoc) Chicken Schnitzel (Christian Strauss) Sweet and Sour Pork (Li Liu) Apple Crumble (Nicholas Cutler) Hazel Nut Chocolate Cake (Helen Szuster) Pineapple Cobbler (Dominic Carolan) Who would reign supreme and win the week of free rent?

The challenge was on. Their dishes for over 100 residents were to be prepared for dinner. The results were announced at the Graduate House monthly resident “Meet & Greet”. Chef Peter Wills talked briefly about the experience generally following which the Catering and Conference Manager, Martin Rule announced the place getters. With such a successful competition, a BBQ Cook-Off will be held in Summer.

Rhonda Teoh Winner: Helen Szuster – Second Prize: Allan Madoc – Third Prize: Dominic Carolan

November 2007 Volume 60 No.4 –

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

RECIPROCAL CLUBS Oxford and Cambridge Club, London In London recently, life member, Heather Kudeviita dined at the Oxford and Cambridge Club. She was so impressed with the club she wrote to Graduate House as follows: “Earlier this year I decided to use the Oxford and Cambridge Club as a luncheon venue. I took my two London friends with whom I was staying to the club for lunch. The three of us were absolutely delighted. The club is in a beautiful building in Pall Mall, the ambience is dignified but welcoming and the food was delicious. The service was exemplary. I warmly recommend it to fellow Graduate Union members visiting London. I hope to go there again next year and also to try the newly acquired University clubs in Italy.”

CLUB CLOSURE - The University of Edinburgh Staff Club has closed The University of Edinburgh recommends the following accommodation in Edinburgh. Members should contact these hotels direct. For members travelling to the University of Edinburgh as university visitors, the relevant department will organise accommodation for you.

Edinburgh First The University of Edinburgh, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH16 5AY. Website: www.edinburghfirst.com/.

Tel: 44 (0) 131 651 2007 Fax: 44 (0) 131 667 7271.

Salisbury Green Edinburgh’s newest hotel and conference centre - a truly top quality, distinctive and elegant location for your break or event. Set in beautiful surroundings, close to the heart of the city and in the shadow of Arthur’s seat, Salisbury Green offers 36 en-suite bedrooms exuding richness and reflecting the atmosphere and architecture of this 19th Century building. All rooms have internet access, television with Freeview and free car parking. A full Scottish breakfast is also included.

For further information, please view the website. Tel: 44 (0) 131 662 2000 E: bed.breakfast@ed.ac.uk www.salisburygreen.com

Kenneth Mackenzie Suite The Kenneth Mackenzie Suite at Richmond Place offers a comfortable and affordable bed and breakfast accommodation at any time of the year.

Situated close to all of Edinburgh’s main tourist attractions, including the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Dungeons, this is an ideal base for festival-goers, tourists and party groups. The rooms are all en-suite and consist of 18 double and 20 single rooms, all with televisions and tea/coffee making facilities. Please note that limited parking is available nearby.

Tel: 44 (0) 131 651 2007 E: bed.breakfast@ed.ac.uk

Christmas Greetings The President, Chairman, Head of College and Staff extend best wishes to all members for the coming Christmas Season and for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Library Sale In response to the call to members and residents, a large number of books and records were sold in the two week sale from 27 August. Proceeds will go towards current updating of the library. Several long time members came to buy the old books and records, many who had not ventured to Graduate House in a long time. David Bottomley, who said he had not been to Graduate House since he joined in 1964, bought many books in the educational category and these will become part of a student library, where he works in a part time capacity. Thanks go to the members of the Library Working Party who volunteered their time to supervise the book sale over the two week period. Special thanks must go to Norma Long who spent many days clearing shelves and categorising the books.

Companies offering discounts to Graduate Union Members

Australian Unity, Hertz, Pathfinder Coaching, Pickford Pharmacy, Non-Profit Purchasing, DeBortoli Wines

Open for Lunch and Dinner - 7 Days Private Room Available 10% off meals for Graduate Union Members Tuesday to Thursday on presentation of card. (Discount applies to groups of 6 or less) 766 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert, Vic. 3127 Tel: 03 9898 5188 Fax: 03 9898 5348

Advertising in The Melbourne Graduate Publication of any advertisement does not constitute endorsement

by The Graduate Union of any product nor warrant its suitability.

Advertisements are publised as submitted by advertisers.

Mooncake Festival Celebrations

Mooncake Festival Celebration September 25th was a beautiful full moon night. The Mooncake Festival is the second largest festival, after the Chinese New Year, and is celebrated by Chinese and Asians all over the world. Our Head of College kindly agreed to sponsor the celebration and I quickly gathered some help from resident, Emmiline, who came to Chinatown and assisted me in carrying the mouthwatering mooncakes. Sujata helped by decorating the courtyard with colourful lanterns. She is an expert in decoration and organising, Jyotika also kindly helped out in cutting up all the mooncakes. There are various kinds of mooncakes, and all are ‘finger licking good’. Chinese tea accompanied the mooncakes tasting. Dominic was having fun helping the girls decorating the courtyard which was transformed into a Chinese garden. With the full moon shining it felt just like at home. Other residents joined the celebration and were amazed at the array of mooncakes available and the tantalising tastes it imparts on the tastebuds. Emmiline told us the origin of the festival. There are two versions, one a legendary sentimental one, which we all were told when we were children. The story goes that an Empress, named Chang Er, stole the Emperor’s potion for eternal life and took too much which resulted in her flying to the moon. A second and probably more practical version is that the festival arose due to civilians plotting an uprising on a full moon night. Instructions were inserted into cakes and distributed to neighbours urging them to support the movement and act on full moon that night. Whichever version is true, modern Chinese celebrate this tradition and give mooncakes to friends on this night. It was lovely to see our German, Belgium, Danish, Spanish, and Australian residents also enjoying the celebration. All were fascinated by the colourful array of lanterns creating a soothing atmosphere in the garden. We all enjoyed the moon gazing too. Residents are very grateful to Eugene for sponsoring such a wonderful night. We are thankful that Graduate House cares for resident welfare in organising events such as this.

Residents’ Representative: Sieh Ng

– November 2007 Volume 60 No.4