New&Old Ormond College Magazine No.91 December 2015
Medical research and Ormond
Snapshots
Graduate Invite Dinner The Graduate Invite Dinner provides Ormond post-graduate students an opportunity to further develop their professional and academic relationships. Each student is asked to invite a mentor, academic or professional contact to Ormond for a formal dinner and night of lively discussion. This year an overarching theme was set for the evening; tax reform in Australia. While not immediately a topic that springs to mind for an evening of lively discussion, it was expertly brought to life by Mr John Daley, CEO of the Grattan Institute. It was no small feat to stand in front of a hall full of doctors, lawyers and successful professionals and convince the room of the pressing necessity of superannuation reform but Mr Daley did so ably and with good humour. Ganesh Jegatheesan (2nd year, Master of Laws LLM) replied on behalf of the graduates and called for better engagement, on tax and other areas of political debate, from all young people. The evening is always a highlight in the graduate calendar. Henry Holm Middle Common Room Chair 2015
Visiting MONA In early October, the students Visual Arts Society ran its inaugural MONA trip. Fifteen students caught the first flight to Hobart and spent the next three days enjoying both the museum and the city. We stayed centrally in Salamanca, within walking distance of the ferry terminal, the famous Saturday markets and a vibrant dining scene. The first two days were spent almost entirely at MONA, while the last was left free for an exploration of Hobart. The museum building’s dark spaces, labyrinthine corridors and intertwining walkways make covering the whole collection in one visit impossible. Then there are the magnificent grounds to explore and wonderful installations like James Turrell’s ‘Amarna’, which we stayed after hours to witness against the sunset of the second day. The weekend of our trip also fortuitously coincided with the final days of Marina Abramovic’s exhibition. Martha Swift (Arts 2)
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Contents
A Taste of Ormond on Picken Lawn. See page 24
4 6 7
Medical research and Ormond
Editorial team
The promise of a generation: Clunes Mathison
Di Bambra Clare Chudacek Louise Curran Peter Edwards Kate Higgins Rachel Toovey Bree Turner Ethan Ziv
Leading medical research today: Prof Geoffrey Donnan AO (1967)
8 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19
To infinity and beyond
20 22 23 24 26
Vesti stonework restoration
Pioneering women doctors Rural Doctor of the Year Award 2015 An industry insight for our students Inspiring young engineers
Photographers
The Wade Institute for Entrepreneurship Music at Ormond
Marcel Aucar James Grant Hayden McMillan Victor U Daniel Xu Ethan Ziv
Pulling through Our commitment to rural students Sir Robert Menzies (1913): A rural student who changed Australia Balfour painting restoration
New & Old is published twice a year by the College Advancement Office for the Ormond community.
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No.91 DECEMBER 2015
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3
From the Master
Medical research and Ormond
Rufus Black Master Frank Macfarlane Burnet (back row, second from left) with Ormond College’s Honours group of 1918
Parkville is home to one of the great medical clusters in the world.
entirely by lecturers, with no practical work or tutorials. With an enthusiasm for modern subjects and modern teaching, Ormond
Within a short walk are the Royal Melbourne, Royal Children’s,
built laboratories and ran practical classes and tutorials to fill
Royal Women’s and Dental hospitals. Some of these hospitals
the void. These were so valuable that they were very nearly
are recognised as among the world’s best and all have doctors
recognised as credit towards a medical degree.
who are at the forefront of medicine. These hospitals will be joined by the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, which opens in
The teaching in those early years was commonly provided by
2016.
Ormond medical graduates. The standard for this teaching was set by Thomas Peel Dunhill, who graduated with three
Alongside the hospitals are world-leading medical research
first-class honours and exhibitions, and became famous for his
institutes including the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of
development of world-leading techniques in thyroid surgery.
Medical Research, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and
Later he earned a distinguished war record and became well
Mental Health, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
known in Britain, where he was knighted and served as surgeon
and the new Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, in
to four British monarchs, from George V to the current Queen.
addition to the University’s Medical School and Science Faculty. There were other tutors like Dunhill who In this remarkable cluster, around 10,000 scientists are
were also deeply interested in medical
pursuing biomedical research supported by $1.5 billion per
research. They began the tradition that
year in funding.
connected the College with medical research and the institutes of the
Ormond’s connections with this precinct run deep and it is
precinct. The first of these was Gordon
important to our future that we continue to nurture them.
Clunes Mathison, a much-loved tutor
From the College’s earliest days, medical students have been
whom the College counts among its
a defining part of Ormond. In the 19th century, when there
war dead, who was appointed the first
were no medical schools in Western Australia, Queensland or Tasmania, many students came to Melbourne and found their home at Ormond. In the first 100 years just on a quarter of
Thomas Peel Dunhill, taken from the Ormond Scholars and First Class Honourmen 1903-4
Director of Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and whose full story is told in this edition.
all Ormond students were medical students and in the earlier years they comprised around one-third of the College.
He was followed by Frank Macfarlane Burnet, who came to the College from country Victoria on a scholarship. He recalled what
With a significant number of medical students in those
a difference the College made to him as a shy country boy. His
early years, the College saw the opportunity to add to their
wealthier friends invited him to additional private tutorials that
education. At that time the University’s teaching was done
they had paid for and when he went to London, it was through
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Our first step to is to strengthen our relationship with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, with which we have had so many links during its 100-year history. Ormond is joining with the Institute to associate the Thwaites and Gutch Research Fellowship in Physiology with the Institute so that the next Thwaites and Gutch Fellow will also be one of the Institute’s Centenary Fellows. Given that we do not have research labs anymore, we need a place where this Fellow can do their work while still being a part of the College. They will be in residence as a tutor so that they can support students interested in biomedical research to pursue research careers. It is vital to the success of the precinct that it continues to attract the very best scientific talent from around the world. To support that mission and our links with the precinct, we want to create two scholarships for students pursuing PhD work in medical research at the Institute. We will name them after our first two Directors of the Institute, two of Australia’s greatest scientific talents: Gordon Clunes Mathison and Macfarlane Burnet. the Ormond network of doctors there that he found rooms. As is well known, Macfarlane went on to do ground-breaking research in virology and then immunology which won him a Nobel Prize. Among his many contributions, the techniques we still use today to mass-produce influenza vaccines are the result of his work. Like Mathison before him, Macfarlane went on to become the Director of the Institute. Later in life, after the death of his first wife, he returned to live in the College at Davis McCaughey’s invitation. The importance of medical research and the role the College could play in supporting it have been understood by generations of doctors, but none more so than in the mid-20th century when Dr Alexander Hopkins Thwaites and Dr Kaye Scott endowed medical fellowships. The Alexander H. Thwaites and Richard C. Gutch Endowment supports medical research, being for a Research Fellowship in Physiology.
Brett Kagan Over the years, the College has continued to produce an extraordinary range of medical researchers. The connections with the precinct remain strong, with two of the Parkville medical research institutes currently headed by people with Ormond connections. The Director of the Florey Institute is Professor Geoffrey Donnan, an alumnus who still returns to inspire the next generation of Ormond medical and science students. The other is Professor Doug Hilton, Director of
Brett Kagan, resident member of the graduate community and a tutor in Neuroscience at Ormond, is currently studying a Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience) and is researching at the Florey Institute in the Neurogenesis and Neural Transplantation Laboratory. He is most interested in the field of regenerative medicine and neuroscience, in particular Cell Therapeutics for Neonatal Brain Injury.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, who lived in residence as a tutor. The College’s links with the precinct are important. Medical research, including its interface with engineering and the commercial products it produces, will be a very important part of Victoria’s and Australia’s future. Retaining and
Brett and Geoffrey Donnan (1967), Director of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, are pictured on the front cover of this edition of New & Old discussing medical research in the laboratory at the Florey Institute.
strengthening our connections with this work will enable our students to contribute to that future and to benefit from it.
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
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The promise of a generation: Clunes Mathison
Ross McMullin (1972) Clunes Mathison
Clunes Mathison, a brilliant medical scientist and former
to Starling, Mathison produced a “mass of original work of the
Ormond tutor has appropriately been at the heart of the
highest importance” that was published in “a rapid succession
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s centenary commemorations
of masterly papers”. Charles Martin, the director of London’s
this year.
renowned Lister Institute, was another admirer: “No man I have ever known possesses the genius for research so highly
Not only was the Institute founded in 1915; Mathison was
as Mathison”. Awarded the degrees of Doctor of Medicine
appointed its inaugural director in April 1915 — which he
and Doctor of Science, Mathison also received one of the
did not know, being away with the AIF and preparing for the
first Beit Fellowships for Medical Research, an outstanding
landing at Gallipoli — and he never took up the position, as
accomplishment that underlined his growing international
he died in May 1915 while serving as a battalion doctor. In
reputation.
2015, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is commemorating the centenary of both the appointment and death of its inaugural
Mathison returned home in 1913 to a research position
director, as well as its own centenary.
created for him at Melbourne Hospital. Reginald Webster, who researched alongside him, captured Mathie’s essence: “a
The position would have been tailormade for Mathison.
man of brilliant attainments, radiant promise and endearing
He was the Macfarlane Burnet or Florey or Gus Nossal that
personality”.
Australia lost at Gallipoli. Of all the 60,000 Australians who died in that ghastly war, no one exemplifies our lost generation
Enlisting immediately in August 1914, Mathison landed at
of outstanding talent more than Clunes Mathison.
Gallipoli on the first day and served with conspicuous bravery: “Wherever I am wanted, just tell me, and I will try to go”, he
Born at Stanley near Beechworth in 1883, Mathison studied
said as he toiled devotedly in the open to care for Australian
medicine at the University of Melbourne. His degree was
wounded before being fatally hit on 9 May.
studded with honours. After graduating, he resided at Ormond as the College’s popular Medicine tutor. Legendary
The tributes after his death were remarkable. Professor Starling
Ormondian ‘Barney’ Allen was impressed: “He never flagged:
said: “For the science of medicine throughout the world, the
the variety of his interests was remarkable. I have been with
loss is irreparable”.
him on all sorts of occasions — yarning, cricketing, camping, canoeing, fishing, ski-running — and it was always the same:
A statue of Mathison was unveiled at the Walter and Eliza Hall
whether it was a question of scientific knowledge or of
Institute earlier this year.
academic diplomacy, or the value of a book or a picture or a piece of music, or the fastening of a ski-binding, it was always
Dr Ross McMullin, author of Pompey Elliott, included a
‘Ask Mathie’.”
biography of Clunes Mathison in his latest book, Farewell, Dear People: Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation,
Mathison went overseas in 1908 and worked with Professor
which has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for
E. H. Starling, an eminent British medical expert. According
Australian History and the National Cultural Award.
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Leading medical research today: Prof Geoffrey Donnan AO (1967)
Prof Geoffrey Donnan AO (1967), Director of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Neurologist, Professor Geoffrey Donnan AO, is the Director of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience
do our best and they prepared us for the demanding role we
and Mental Health, home to 450 researchers in the
would later face in the hospital environment.”
Parkville precinct. Friendships formed and after graduation, long-term When a young Geoffrey Donnan made the trip “up to
professional relationships developed. Geoffrey still keeps in
Ormond” with a cohort of friends from Geelong College back
touch with many of them. “It has been fascinating to see
in 1967, they had a sense they were embarking on a long-term
where various career paths have taken them all.”
venture of great significance. Geoffrey was pleased to welcome Brett Kagan eighteen Geoffrey knew, all going to plan, his journey would involve
months ago and to hear mentoring is still a priority at Ormond,
a six-year stint living in this awe-inspiring college while
as it is at the Florey. “Throughout my career, there has
undertaking a medical degree. They were halcyon days with
definitely been a connection when you come across someone
Master Davis McCaughey and his wife Jean at the helm. “Davis
from Ormond. You do tend to look out for each other and
was one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. He was
take a particular interest in each other’s welfare.”
low key and understated but when he spoke to us, we really listened because he provided such wisdom and a framework to
The Florey’s 600 staff are trying to understand the brain
guide us,” Geoffrey recalls. “And Jean was a brilliant academic
and some of the young star researchers, including Brett, are
in her own right. Because of the high level of expectation
doing extraordinary work. Geoffrey reflects the he quite
created by those around us, we really did want to excel. Davis
often pauses and thinks for a moment and marvels at the
inspired me to go on to try to do something worthwhile with
changes in neuroscience during his 40 years in medicine.
my life.”
“It’s worth thinking about the brain and the elusive nature of this spongy 1.5 kilo mass of tissue. It’s the most complex
Others also paved the way for the ambitious country boy who
living structure with the capacity to store more information
is also proud of country origins at Wangaratta High School.
than a supercomputer. It creates a network of connections far
“The environment was incredibly supportive and the tutorials
superior to Facebook or any other social network.”
immensely helpful. I was always so grateful that I was right on the university campus and over the road from the Royal
Geoffrey can’t imagine what the future researchers in this area
Melbourne Hospital.” The tutorials were instrumental in
will see in 40 years’ time but he knows that it will make an
developing confidence and memorable for the talent of the
enormous difference to our future health and the way we live.
tutors. “Robert Burton was fabulous and specialised in surgery. Robert Moulds was also inspiring. He went on to become Dean of the Fiji School of Medicine in Suva.” The senior students were admired as talented mentors. “They really did help us to
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
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To infinity and beyond
2015 Science Faculty Coordinators. From left: Michael Patterson, Eily Schultz, Ana Dow and Victor U
Sitting with the Science Faculty team, comprising Leading Tutor Michael Patterson, Resident Tutor Ana Dow and student
really into science and maths, you may have been the only one.
representatives Eily Schulz (Sci 2) and Victor U (Sci 3), you
But at Ormond, you will find others who share your specific
get a feel for how significant their passion and commitment
interests. Science here isn’t just a collection of subjects you
to Science is. Michael and Ana work each year with the
do at university. It is a way to view universe, a talking point, a
students who volunteer to be the Student Club’s Science
hobby: a way of life”
Representatives. Michael who has degrees in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering is an active science communicator
Eily came on board two years ago as student representative
with organisations such as Future Crunch, Laneway Learning,
and has noticed a change in people’s interest in science since
and at schools. He comments that in “high school if you were
Ormond’s Science program has expanded to include more
Learning about aerospace engineering at Lethbridge Airport
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Observing Jupiter with the new Sky-Watcher
events. She says, “I think science is really cool and I wanted to
science-based news and current affairs. Eily then started a
host more events to get people talking about it. If you have an
Science Book Club to get people reading some of the great
idea for an event and are happy to do the work, the College
science communicators in non-fiction and fiction. When
really supports that.”
asked what changes they have noticed in students, Ana and Michael agree that before, they only ever saw students in
Science events this year have included the Science Symposium,
tutes, while now they have the opportunity to get to know
which is facilitated by Michael. Each week they discuss
them as people and build meaningful relationships. Ana also
something new from ‘life on Mars’ to ‘the real science of
added that ‘The stigma of the science nerd has disappeared.
superpowers’. The Symposium has hosted special guests
People can openly love their science degrees and once they
including astronaut James F. Reilly and Rubik’s Cube world
have used their knowledge outside of class, they seem to
champion Feliks Zemdegs, to whom attendees listened with
value it more.’
awe. The Symposium is one of the varied Ormond Forums which offer ‘learning for learning’s sake’ – weekly gatherings
When asked ‘What next?’, Victor responded: “Keep the
open to students of any faculty, with no prerequisites and no
momentum going”. It’s clear to see that the Faculty team’s
assessment.
efforts to prove science is fascinating, accessible and affects us all have been well received. While continuing with the
The Faculty also hosted two major ‘Faculty Nights’ each
recent successful initiatives, in 2016 the team will also offer
semester, which offered a range of guest speakers and fun
weekly tutorials in coding, further investigation into new
science quizzes and activities.
technology and more advocacy for women in the sciences.
To support the passion for science the College purchased a
Science is broad, diverse, inspiring, enriching and an integral
Sky-Watcher telescope, which then inspired the inaugural
part of the student learning program at Ormond.
Science Camp where they used the telescope to view Saturn. Victor, one of the students on the camp, describes captivatingly: “The celestial body we can usually is see the Moon. Actually seeing Saturn with your eyes is really beautiful and complex.” The campers also dabbled in botany and engineering. “We went to Lethbridge Airfield to see how the planes work. One of our students got to ride in one, everyone was pretty jealous”, laughs Michael. The students on the Faculty team also began a lunchtime discussion group called Science@1 which delves into
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
9
Pioneering women doctors
Dr Merrilyn Murnane (1954) at her book launch
On a sunny Sunday afternoon in late September, 125 guests
at the age of 46, so we can only imagine what she would have
of Dr Merrilyn Murnane (1954) gathered in the College Dining
gone on to achieve had she not succumbed to this disease.
Hall to celebrate the launch of her book – Honourable Healers. Merrilyn’s book shares the difficulties and the hurdles overcome Tables were set with the finest crockery, guests mingled
by women in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to have a
over tempting treats, student musicians played quietly in the
career. How very hard those women fought to become doctors
background and Max Griffiths (1949), Merrilyn’s husband, was
in a world where they weren’t even allowed to vote. They are
Master of Ceremonies.
certainly inspirations for us all.
Professor Sam Berkovic launched Merrilyn’s book, which addresses the battles and determination of three pioneering women, Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Garret and Constance Stone. These women lived in different places at different times, but all had one thing in common: the fight for the right for women to become doctors. Of special significance to Merrilyn is Australia’s Constance Stone, who strove to break down social barriers and stigmas and paved the way for all future female doctors in Australia. The path to Constance’s success was not an easy one, as she was forced to undertake her study overseas because at that time women were not permitted to study medicine at university in Australia. So Constance travelled to America, Canada and England, before returning to Victoria and finally being registered in February 1890 as the country’s first female medical practitioner. While she was abroad studying, the University of Melbourne at last decided to let women into its medical school. Constance went on to establish the Queen Victoria Hospital for Women with the help of her dedicated peers and their supporters. Unfortunately, she died prematurely of tuberculosis
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ORMOND COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Rural Doctor of the Year Award 2015
Jeff Robinson (1986) and Libby Garoni (1987)
In winter he tends to injured patients carted off the ski
Albury Base Hospital Emergency Department and supervises the
fields and in summer he fights bushfires in the same rugged
running of the department for one day each week. Additionally,
mountain terrain. In between, Dr Jeff Robinson (1986)
at Mount Beauty Medical Centre he coordinates the provision of
runs two busy medical practices, mentors young doctors,
allied health workers including a podiatrist, diabetes educator,
directs medical services at Alpine Health and supervises the
dietician and two mental health workers.
Emergency Department at Albury Base Hospital. Jeff’s expert teaching skills are used in the Radiology for GPs At the national conference of the Rural Doctors Association
course which is run by Monash University every year. He has
of Australia (RDAA), Jeff was named the Telstra Health RDAA
also recently qualified as an Advanced Life Support instructor.
Rural Doctor of the Year for 2015. The humble medico and his
He formerly taught as an instructor for the Australian Ski Patrol
wife, Libby Garoni (1987), who is also a rural GP, have been
Association and remains involved with the Falls Creek Ski Patrol.
part of the Mount Beauty and Falls Creek communities for the
Other roles include providing services in Albury-Wodonga,
past 17 years. Jeff and Libby have three daughters and prior
where there is a large Indigenous community, and as a CFA
to moving back to Libby’s family farm near Mount Beauty,
Training Officer.
worked in remote Indigenous communities in the Top End. In North East Victoria, Jeff Robinson’s name is synonymous with Upon receiving the award, Jeff said: “None of this is possible
the highest qualities of a specialist rural GP. And in their spare
without the support of my medical colleagues, nurses and
time, Jeff and Libby run a small farm, with a mixture of olives,
staff at our practice and local health service. Above all,
beef cattle and natural revegetation projects.
I recognise the support of my wife and family, who are understanding enough to share me with my work as a rural
Libby adds: “I think that we are very lucky to have each other,
GP. I am very lucky to have Libby as my partner — together we
and we work together to have a rich and satisfying life in what
share the demands of work and family, while living a life which
I believe is the most beautiful location in the world. It’s an
is truly rewarding.”
asset that we are both rural GPs, as we understand the stresses and demands the job puts upon us and the need to have a
As Director of Medical Services at Alpine Health and
varied life outside work. I think Jeff does an outstanding job
Chairman of the area’s Medical Consultative Committee,
in all the areas he works in, and I’m proud and excited that his
Jeff is committed to improving the quality of care provided
commitment to high-quality primary care has been recognised.
at the region’s hospitals and the range of health services
I’m also lucky that he understands that I have to have a horse to
available to the local communities. He coordinates the area’s
be happy – as anyone who attended our wedding at Ormond
Grand Rounds Programme, which provides teaching from
will remember. He now supports this by installing lights on my
local specialists to GPs and nurses from Mount Beauty, Bright
dressage arena!”
and Myrtleford. He also works as a Senior Medical Officer at
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
11
An industry insight for our students
Dr Rob Leach Vice Master
Julia Despard (Comm 2) and George Threadgold (Arts 2) Students visiting the ABC as part of the World of Work program
World of Work is one of Ormond College’s learning programs.
a seminar by Sherah Bloor on postgraduate study options and
The aim of the program is to expose Ormondians to as many
Geoff Adams from GradAustralia discussed graduate jobs.
vocational experiences as possible, so that we can make informed judgements about our future direction. The program
The third area of the program is external workplace visits, where
also provides students with general workplace skills, regardless
a group of current Ormondians visit a workplace and are toured
of what vocation we end up in. In addition, it gives students
around by an Ormond alumnus who works at that particular
an insight into the working worlds of all disciplines. Under
company. Julia says: “The workplace visits were an opportunity
the leadership of the World of Work Coordinator, Andre
to connect with alumni with similar passions”. We’ve had a
Louhanapessy, and students George Threadgold (Arts 2)
brilliant variety of visits this year, seeing McKinsey & Company,
and Julia Despard (Comm 2), it provides a program of both
Ernst & Young, Siemens, the ABC and Goldman Sachs. These
breadth and depth. George says: “What makes World of Work
visits offer an insight into the daily life of the organisation and
different is where its focus lies; for our program we target
also the recruitment process and student offerings. The visits
students at the beginning of the career process, so they can
this year have been very successful and we are very appreciative
figure out what their interests might even be.”
to the alumni for showing us around!
This year the program also provided timely information to
In addition to the events organised by the World of Work
students about internships, resume writing and networking.
team, other occasions also have greatly contributed to the
To do so, we drew on the vast knowledge of our community,
broader careers and pathways discussion at Ormond. These
making the most of the extensive Ormond network. George:
include the Four Coffees and a Dinner mentoring program and
This year the program has been divided into three key areas.
career-related faculty events. Our alumni’s contributions make a
The first is developing skills that are applicable to any work
very real difference to the World of Work program’s success.
environment. In first semester, Peter Edwards, the Associate Director of Advancement, ran a seminar on CV building and written communications.
We are looking for more World of World opportunities for our students in 2016. To find out
The second area of the program is internal events, focused
more about how you can support the program,
on exploring different industries. On a casual level, this has
please contact Andre Louhanapessy, Learning
occurred with the ‘Meet a Major’ program running throughout
Program Manager & World of Work Coordinator
the year. In this program, current later-year students in a
alouhanapessy@ormond.unimelb.edu.au
particular major have coffee and a chat with first and second
or 03 9344 1126
year students who are deciding what to major in. We also had
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ORMOND COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Inspiring young engineers
John Woodside (1962), John Hasker and Rob Milne (1963)
Engineering students who lived at Ormond between 1962 and
In honour of John and the invaluable role he played in helping
1972 warmly remember their Engineering tutor, John Hasker.
engineering students during their studies, Rob Milne (1963),
Davis McCaughey approached John, and others from a range
John Woodside (1962) and others have endowed a new
of disciplines, with the objective of attracting a tutorial team
scholarship, the John Hasker Scholarship, to help engineering
that brought with them maturity and life skills which would
students who do not have the financial means to come to
help prepare students for their working careers and life in
Ormond. Their objective is to build the endowment to a
general. As John Woodside (1962) remembers: “John Hasker
$500,000 fund so that a $20,000 scholarship can be awarded in
at the time worked in the city at John Dohrmann and Partner
perpetuity. With this in mind and to catch up with friends from
consulting engineers and tutored us at night in a small room
their student days, Rob and John co-hosted a lunch for those
on the ground floor in the ways of engineering, and hopefully
Ormondians who studied engineering during John Hasker’s time
some of it stuck to us. To me as a young undergraduate, he
at the College.
was a breath of fresh air, always ready for a joke and always interested in what we were doing. He was forever training at
When approached by Rob to join him in supporting students
athletics, but I did not realise how good he was at it. John has
through this new scholarship, John felt it was: “a wonderful
had a very distinguished career in engineering management,
opportunity for our generation to contribute something back to
with many board appointments over many years. I took over
Ormond College for the future, in recognition of the wonderful
John’s job as tutor in engineering several years after he had
time we all had here as undergraduates”.
retired, so we both have a long association with Ormond College and teaching young engineers.” John Hasker won the Victorian hurdles title, was the Victorian Athletics team captain and participated in the Perth Empire Games in 1962. His diverse career included leadership roles as Managing Director of ARC Industries and Faulding Pharmaceuticals, CEO of Kemtron and General Manager at ICI Australia (now Orica). John was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on the Queen’s Birthday in 2005. In retirement, John has been a board member of more than 30 companies and Chair at Aurora Energy, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and Melbourne Grammar School. He currently chairs the board for Seafood Industry Victoria. John Hasker with the University of Melbourne’s Athletic Club c.1958
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
13
The Wade Institute for Entrepreneurship
Rufus Black Master Architect’s impression of the Wade Institute
The Wade Institute for Entrepreneurship is taking shape and
Industry engagement is also essential. The Wade Institute has
looks forward to welcoming at the start of next year the first
already received strong support from industry committed to
cohort of students for the University of Melbourne’s new
supporting the start-up sector and key players in the sector
Master of Entrepreneurship degree.
itself.
The Master of Entrepreneurship Earlier this year, the University approved the new Master of Entrepreneurship degree. Every unit of the degree has been designed from scratch by a team from the Faculty of Business and Economics, the School of Engineering and Ormond. It has been tailor-made as a highly practical course that within a year will give participants the skills, experience and connections they need to succeed in the start-up world. The degree will be taught by great teachers drawn from across the University, with regular guest entrepreneurs and people from the sector contributing to the program.
Benefits, scholarships and prizes Partnerships
Ensuring those with great entrepreneurial potential can realise
Working with others who are committed to creating a vibrant
that talent is critical. Members of the Ormond community and
entrepreneurial ecosystem in Melbourne and around Australia
our partnerships have created a set of scholarships to help fulfil
is central to the Wade Institute’s approach.
that goal.
The foundation of the Wade Institute project is the
The Ormond Entrepreneurs’ Scholarship (up to $85,000)
collaboration between the University and the College and
will help students of the Master of Entrepreneurship with living
especially the partnerships with the Faculty of Business and
and learning expenses. Ormond College won’t let financial
Economics and the School of Engineering. Through this
need stand in the way of dreams.
collaboration, it has been possible to create the Master of Entrepreneurship in a very short period of time.
The Neville and Di Bertalli Scholarship ($50,000) is for two aspiring entrepreneurs with a demonstrated commitment
In building the ecosystem at the University, the Wade Institute
to the agricultural sector. The scholarship aims to inspire
and the Melbourne Accelerator Program have been working
entrepreneurs to develop new ideas and technology to
closely together as core partners.
change the future of Australia’s agricultural practices and food production.
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3 Day Startup program Even before the buildings are ďŹ nished, the Wade Institute has been busy helping to develop entrepreneurial skills. In September the Wade Institute teamed with the 3 Day Startup program from the USA to deliver a three day program for university students interested in creating their own start-ups. With only 40 places, the program was many times oversubscribed with students from not only Melbourne but across Australia. The strong interest in the program is an indication of the enthusiasm among students for starting their own enterprises. Students pitched ideas for new enterprises and selected the most prospective to work on. They formed into teams to develop these ideas using the Lean startup methodology they were taught across the three days. It was a very intensive weekend that involved the full range of start-up activities, from getting out and about to talk with prospective customers to developing business models. The teams rapidly evolved their ideas until on the The Naomi Milgrom Scholarship ($25,000) is for a woman
Sunday night they pitched their start-ups to a panel of
entrepreneur studying the Master of Entrepreneurship in
judges.
2016. The scholarship will eliminate ďŹ nancial barriers to study and help create a future in entrepreneurship.
Very encouragingly, a number of the start-ups developed over the three days have continued down their
The Corrs Chambers Westgarth Scholarship ($25,000)
development path. A number of participants from the
will ensure that entrepreneurs with the greatest potential are
program who discovered how exciting it is to be involved
able to participate in the Master of Entrepreneurship. Corrs
in creating a start-up have enrolled to undertake the
Chambers Westgarth are also our expert legal advisors and
Master of Entrepreneurship next year.
will teach the legal components of the degree. The Credit Suisse Scholarship ($15,000) and Best Business Case Prize ($10,000) will get students of the Master of Entrepreneurship started on their path to becoming successful entrepreneurs. The Australia Post Scholarship ($20,000) will inspire a talented student from regional or rural Australia to pursue their dream to be an entrepreneur. Preference will be given to a student interested in E-commerce. The CMB Prize for Best Business Case ($10,000) is for a graduate of the Master of Entrepreneurship who can effectively pitch their start-up idea to a panel of investors and leading entrepreneurs.
Buildings Both the building for teaching and learning and the graduate accommodation to enable the Master of Entrepreneurship students to be in residence are making fast progress towards their February completion dates.
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
15
Music at Ormond
In 2015 music at Ormond is as active as ever. The directors of
musicians. Jazz was also well represented and our Composition
music have collaborated to host events including the Battle of
students shared their work through laptop presentations.
the Bands and regular open mic nights, as well as facilitating the live performance of a range of ensembles including the
Everything culminated in Pickenfest: the final celebration of the
Ormond College Big Band.
year was a vibrant audio experience. Performances extended from original pieces early in the day to covers from bands
The 2015 Battle of the Bands was a tremendous success,
such as the Mitt O’Hallorans with a range of members from
featuring 7 bands and enjoyed by over 230 Ormondians, but
second year and third year. This was followed in the evening
would not have been possible without the creative support of
by a short electronic performance by resident DJs before the
the lighting and sound team. This year’s competition was of
event was rained out in the final half-hour. Overall the day was
particularly high quality, making it difficult for the judges (a
a huge success, with over 30 Ormondians taking to the stage.
panel of three alumni) to select the winning band.
Pickenfest was a perfect forum to showcase the wonderful musical talent that this year’s community brought to the table.
The Big Band, in its inaugural year, featured heavily in the music scene at Ormond as well as performing at Bennetts Lane
The directors of music would like to thank everyone who
Jazz Club. Its all-star line-up enjoyed playing jazz classics and
contributed to our events, in particular the performers, the
funk at some events on the Ormond calendar, including the
lighting and sound team and those who cheered the loudest!
Master’s Dance. Open mic nights have continued to provide a casual live platform for musicians to perform their preferred style of music. This year featured a broad range of both original music and covers from undergraduates and graduates, as well as fire twirling and stand-up comedy. Music academic and performance tutes/workshops, covering history and theory and practical subjects, also supported our students throughout their year. Ormond’s Music Students gave Allen House Soirées at the end of each semester in preparation for their practical exams, with strong attendance at both, Associate Prof Stephen McIntyre and Associate Prof Linda Kouvaras providing accompaniments for our classical
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Pulling through
Vicki Powell (Sci 3) Morning training on the Yarra River
This year the Ormond College Boat Club women’s 1st VIII
also fortunate to have an incredible support team, including
had a much longer season than usual. After a successful
John Michelmore and other coaches who helped out along the
intercollegiate regatta, we thought we were loading the boat
way.
back into the sheds for the last time or at least until next year. However, I think the most memorable parts for the crew were That was until early August, when it was confirmed that we’d
the tight bond that was formed through the trip and the
be rowing against the St Andrews crew from Sydney Uni as a
amount of fun we had over there together. It’s rare to get an
curtain raiser for the Australian Boat Race on 25 October.
opportunity to represent the University and Ormond at such a high level and not something we’ll forget for a long time yet.
A week later Ed Monteith, Youth & Junior Coach at Melbourne University Boat Club, contacted the team and said they were
Coming into SWOTVAC for the race against St Andrews was
short on women rowers to send to a regatta in New Zealand
tough with all the extra study commitments. However, our
and would we like to go! It was a 3.8 km race up the Waikato
consistent training and high team spirit on race day saw us
River against a strong current. Most of the crew signed up
blitz the 2 km race, crossing the finish line over 8 boat lengths
but a few had to pull out due to work and uni commitments,
ahead. With most members of both crews returning next year,
so two of the women from last year’s Ormond crew filled in.
the future of Ormond rowing looks bright.
We began training with 3–5 sessions on water each week, while a lot of the crew were also playing football, netball and basketball for the College. After three weeks of preparation we jumped on a plane, excited about what the regatta had in store for us. We went knowing we were well and truly the underdogs and the small chance we had of winning would be Steven Bradbury style. For us, the trip was about experiencing the regatta and racing against some of the best rowing athletes in the world. (The stroke of the winning crew had actually just come back from breaking a world record in France.) Cultural welcomes and ceremonies, the gala ball and social events where we met and talked with world-renowned rowers were just some of the great opportunities on the trip. We were Ormond Women’s 1st VII training in New Zealand
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
17
Our commitment to rural students
Rob Leach Vice Master
Connection to rural and regional Australia is deep in the
Ormond alumni with one of their students at the Stawell Secondary College. From left: Jono Pollock (2010) from Bendigo, Samuel Wardlaw (Year-10) and Jesse Poulton (2011) from Leongatha
College’s DNA. After all, Francis Ormond made his living
Ormond is committed to supporting students from rural
through Western District pastoralism. And indeed, many
Australia. We actively seek them out, frequently visiting regional
illustrious alumni have had rural origins: from John Flynn, who
schools, where we encourage students to aspire to study at
came from Moliagul, to Weary Dunlop from Major Plains,
Melbourne University and live in Ormond. This year, 117 rural
and “Pompey” Elliott from Charlton, to name just a few.
students enrolled in the College, making up almost a quarter
For students whose origins are a long way from Melbourne,
of the College. It is important to recognise the needs of our
Ormond has been a second home, rather than an institution.
rural students: they live far from home and many need financial
Its gardens and surrounding parkland provide not only security,
support. In 2015, Ormond committed half a million dollars in
but also space, natural beauty, and seclusion from the bustle
Financial Assistance to rural and regional students.
of University life. Ormond’s capacity to support rural students has recently The value of College for rural and regional students has not
increased. The Fielding and Menzies Foundations have
decreased over the years. Scott Nelson (1981) says: “Ormond
combined with the College to offer two students the Fielding
was enormously important in my development. Freedom of
Menzies Tertiary Scholarships. These will be awarded to high
thought and action were encouraged and tolerated, and that
achieving students from the Wimmera. Sarah Hardy, CEO of
freedom helped me mature and learn to take responsibility for
the Menzies Foundation, explains: “The late Sir Robert Menzies
myself. The experiences I shared with my College-mates gave
was born and grew up in the Wimmera. He came from humble
me a sense of belonging and community, and that mattered
beginnings and benefitted greatly from scholarships – and went
a lot as I was a long way from Cressy. I will always be proud
on to become Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister. Who
to be identified with Ormond’s traditions and ideals, and it’s
knows what the young people of the Wimmera can achieve
commitment to helping young people learn and grow.”
when given the opportunity.” Two scholarships will be offered each year for the next three years (2016-2018), and will cover
More recently still, Jesse Poulton (2011), who was 2013
residency costs at Ormond.
Students’ Club Chair, and who came from Leongatha, comments: “Growing up in a small town, I had no idea what
Melbourne University is now very big, totalling around 50,000
Ormond was. Then when I moved in, I thought I was only
students, of whom 9,000 are first years, so the supportive
going to stay for a year … College provided me with so many
environment of College is more important than ever, especially
opportunities that I ended up staying three – I came across
for those who come from a long way away. And of course
new people, new ideas and experiences, and I made life-long
Ormond benefits from having a good cohort of rural students.
friends along the way.” Jesse is now living in Halls Gap, and
They are an important part of the diversity that makes living in
teaching in Stawell, along with fellow ex-Ormondian, Jono
College a rich, rewarding and developmental experience.
Pollock (2010), who was originally from Bendigo.
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Sir Robert Menzies (1913): A rural student who changed Australia Lesley den Hartog Curator of Cultural Collections Sir Robert Menzies at the opening of the McCaughey Court building in 1968
The new Fielding Menzies Tertiary Scholarships have special
time. However, one of his articles from 1915 is interesting for
significance as Sir Robert Menzies was himself a rural student
its perspective on the University and College experience, which
at Ormond.
is still relevant today. Observing that, unlike at school where the student cohort is cohesive, university students become
Although not wealthy, Robert Menzies’ parents believed in
segregated according to their subjects, he commented on the
the transformative power of education and they supported
absence of a unified community. This prevented the broad
their children to achieve the highest standards possible.
debating of views that he saw as a necessary element in the
Significantly for the time, this included their daughter. Robert,
informal education of future leaders: “The devotee of cricket
their youngest son, was to become one of the leaders of his
moves in another world from the oarsman, and knows him not.
generation, a prominent constitutional lawyer, politician and
The Law Student poring over musty tomes is separated from the
statesman, and Australia’s longest serving prime minister; a
pickled horrors of the Medical School by an almost impenetrable
first step towards this was winning a series of scholarships that
barrier of interfaculty prejudice and misunderstanding.”
enabled him to obtain a first-class secondary and university education. This culminated at the age of 18 in a highly sought
This “esprit de corps” did, by contrast, exist in the University
after Senior Public Examination scholarship, which substantially
colleges, he acknowledged. But there it tended “towards
paid his university fees and enabled him to study law at the
exclusiveness and a type of mild snobbery that can only
University of Melbourne, then a four-year course. His first
be regretted”. The expansion of scholarships redresses
two years were spent studying Arts subjects and Menzies
exclusiveness both at the University and in the colleges, and
chose English, History, French and Latin. In first year, as a
adds diversity to the conversations and debates that flourish
non-resident student at Ormond, he obtained first-class results
within them. This diversity was significantly enhanced at
for English and History.
Ormond in 1968 when McCaughey Court was built, providing residence not only for more postgraduate students, but also for
Although Menzies was not a sportsman and therefore not
the first time at a university college for married postgraduate
a member of any College teams, he liked cricket and his
students. It is fitting that Menzies, then Chancellor of the
support of students who did play took literary form: he would
University, who had done much as prime minister to support
regale them with appropriate Shakespearian verses while they
higher education, officially opened this building.
practised at the nets. His continued interest in the Arts at that time is evidenced in his involvement with the Melbourne University Magazine (MUM), becoming a board member in 1915 alongside other Ormondians (such as Katie Lush, Ormond’s Philosophy tutor) and its editor in 1916. His literary contributions to the magazine took the form of conventional declamatory prose and poetry in the Georgian manner of the
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
19
Vesti stonework restoration
Thanks to the generosity of the Ormond community through
Cathedral Stone project manager and stonemason, Andrew
last year’s Annual Giving program, the entrance to the
Barsby, says, “It’s a delicate balance with the aim of returning
Vestibule has been restored.
the entrance to what was intended to be its original look.”
The College engaged the services of leading Melbourne
The Vestibule entrance consists of three different types of
stonemasons at Cathedral Stone, who have completed major
stone: Barabool Hills sandstone for the walling or rockface,
projects at Newman College and St Paul’s Cathedral, to restore
Waurn Ponds limestone for the pinnacles, and Oamaru
the Vestibule facade.
limestone from New Zealand for the window trimmings. In a process that took over three months to complete, the
In carrying out the work, the stonemasons followed the Burra
stone was cleaned with biocide. Any loose material was then
Charter, which defines the principles for the management and
removed and the aesthetics of the stone were assessed. Large
conservation of cultural sites in Australia. The Burra Charter
holes were filled with mortar and a shelter coat applied over
advocates a cautious approach to change: do as much as
the top, while decayed stone was replaced with better quality
necessary to care for the place and to make it usable, but
stone.
otherwise change as little as possible so that its cultural significance is retained.
It was discovered that 30 pieces of the Barabool Hills sandstone walling had to be replaced, along with two
Before restoration
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After restoration
ORMOND COLLEGE MAGAZINE
“From doing this project, we’ve learnt a lot to move forward with in developing methodologies for future restoration works on the building. A lot was found out and a lot of off-site samples were done for the shelter coat, mortar repairs, crushing up stone and sieving to see if we had to add in another sand.” Barsby explains that the donors who contributed to what appears to be a small project should be proud to know that it is actually part of a bigger picture. “It wasn’t just a one-off fix-it job, but part of a process of developing methodologies and learning the best way to move forward from here on in with the conservation and restoration of Main Building.”
The 2015 Annual Giving program supports the restoration limestone caps and four knobs on the pinnacles. As Barabool Hills sandstone is of poor quality and the quarry no longer
of the heavily weathered pinnacles on the front of Main Building. If you would like to give to this project, please
exists, a comprehensive search for a replacement stone
call the Advancement Office on +61 3 9344 1269 or
was undertaken. Many different stones from England,
donate online via the Ormond College website.
France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia were tested for their appearance and durability, until it was decided that Englishtown sandstone from Launceston, Tasmania, would be best to replace the Barabool Hills sandstone. Limestone from Murray Bridge, South Australia, was used to replace the limestone caps and pinnacle knobs. Barsby is pleased that the work has not only extended the life of the Vestibule by decades, but also shed light on how to look after the rest of Main Building.
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
21
Balfour painting restoration
Lesley den Hartog Curator of Cultural Collections
As part of the College’s program to ensure the preservation
using reversible techniques and the portrait was rehoused in its
of its heritage, the Balfour painting was restored this year. It is
frame in line with current conservation standards.
one of two portraits by one of the few early Australian female artists, Josephine Muntz Adams, who was active as a painter
Muntz Adams paintings are appreciated for their sensitivity and
from about 1896 to 1940 and whose work is recognised as
charm, and for her bold brushwork and vibrant colours. It has
a significant contribution to the development of Australian
been commented that although the sitters for her portraits were
portraiture. One is of the Hon. James Balfour (1908) and the
still, her brushwork never was. We see this in the newly conserved
other is Professor M. MacDonald D. D. (1906).
Balfour portrait, which unveils the psychological presence of its sitter previously hidden behind layers of dust. The details of
The Conservation of the Balfour portrait was undertaken by
his sombre clothing, appropriate for a Victorian gentleman, are
the University’s Centre of Conservation of Cultural Materials
brought into relief by colourful, swirling brush strokes that hint at
in second semester this year as part of the College’s ongoing
the emergence of a bouquet of flowers.
conservation program. A leading figure in Melbourne’s Presbyterian and mercantile elites in the decades around Ormond’s beginning, Balfour became a member of the first College Council in 1877 and continued until his death in 1913. In 1888 he gave £1000 for the establishment of the Balfour Scholarship. At different times he was a member of both the Victorian lower and upper Houses of Parliament and served for some years as a minister without portfolio. While his strict Calvinism entailed unpopular political and social views, he undertook the Calvinist responsibility for the stewardship of wealth for divine ends and followed a personal rule of setting aside ten per cent of his income for “the helpless and the defenceless”. Descendants of James Balfour, Andrew Holmes, Jenny Holmes, The portrait was in relatively good condition but suffering from
Aileen Natera, Graham Brown, Peter Harkness, Felicity Harkness,
the effects of time on a painting of its age. There was a build-up
John Hurley and Julia Hurley were pleased to be invited to the
of dirt and grime, an overall darkened yellow surface due to
unveiling of the newly conserved portrait. Andrew Lemon, the
the ageing of its original natural resin varnish and generalised
author of Balfour’s biography The Young Man From Home
craquelure with some flaking of the paint caused by a gradual
(1978), gave a lively account of his character, life and work. Lesley
loss of tension in the canvas. It was removed from its frame and
den Hartog, Ormond’s Curator of Cultural Collections, explained
both were cleaned. Areas of loss in the surface were infilled
the conservation process.
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The value of literacy
Fiona Luth (1992) with Sammy the village chief at the official opening of Vunisei District School library and Computer lab, Vunisei village, Kadavu, Fiji
Fiji Book Drive is an organisation run by Fiona Luth (née Ingram, 1992). It is focused on sending books to remote
said: “The passion for reading has begun to develop” and “What
Fijian schools and also sends laptops, stationery and
you have done for us is incredibly amazing”.
kindergarten supplies. All schooling in Fiji is compulsorily conducted in English.
A freighting company, WCBM, freights the goods from Australia gratis, but there are other costs including storage, customs and
Four years ago, while on the Fijian island of Kadavu, Fiona
handling agents. Fiona’s goals in the next twelve months are to
discovered that the schools were lacking books. There were
acquire corporate sponsorship and the use of a warehouse.
no books in the children’s homes either. A former English teacher, Fiona knew the value of literacy and education as potential ‘game changers’ in people’s lives. She decided to
Fiona would be very interested to hear from anyone
collect donated books from her children’s primary school
who may be able to help. Her contact details are:
and send them to a needy school in Fiji.
feeingram@hotmail.com and www.facebook.com/Fijibookdrive
Since that first book drive in 2012, Fiona has sent approximately 21,000 books to Fiji. She has helped 15 schools to establish libraries and helped to resource 7 kindergartens. There are 29 schools on the island of Kadavu. She has assisted 12 of these schools and 3 schools on different islands, and she wants to give all 29 schools on Kadavu libraries within the next two years. After helping all the schools and kindergartens on Kadavu, Fiona aims to help the very remote Lau group of islands. The incredibly positive feedback she gets from the parents, teachers and students fuels her to keep working to help improve the educational outcomes for these school children. One school that is classified as an underperforming school said that the donated books were the first library books the school had ever had in its 50-year history. The head teacher Fiona with teachers at Namalata Central school, Kadavu, Fiji. These are the donated books
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
23
A Taste of Ormond on Picken Lawn
Artisan foods, farmhouse ales and boutique wines attracted
farmhouse ales and ciders: “I really enjoyed being at
almost 300 alumni, their families and their guests to Picken
Ormond again and seeing a few familiar faces as well as
Lawn on a glorious Sunday afternoon. The Inaugural Alumni
meeting new Ormond faces too. I was also able to informally
Pickenfest celebrated the achievements of our entrepreneurial
show our daughter Prue around the College, visiting my old
alumni in the food and beverage industry, offering their
room and the memorable Dining Hall.”
produce and warm hospitality to create a real sense of community and a festive atmosphere.
Connections were made across the decades, as Jasmine Tremblay (2009) said: “I was surprised at how far and wide
Ed and Sally Meggitt (1987), serving their smoked trout,
Ormond alumni had stretched to build inspiring businesses.
alongside John Thomson’s (1966) Crawford River riesling,
Despite the age differences and diversity of our Ormond
commented: “It’s nice to showcase our business and product
experience and adult journey we were able to connect
to Ormond alumni and to be part of an event that people
about our mutual time at College. It was also fun to just
were really enjoying.”
stretch out and chat with old friends on Picken lawn under the sun”.
The relaxed feel of the day appealed to Jane Huntington (1988), who was pouring her Tasmanian Two Metre Tall
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No.91 DECEMBER 2015
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Alumni news
Greg Foletta (1990) has recently returned to Ford Australia as an engineering supervisor in suspension development. For the past 20 years Greg has worked as a professional rally co-driver for Subaru Rally Team Australia and as a race engineer in V8 supercars. He still competes in the Australian Rally Championship with Polaris in an SXS off-road rally vehicle. Greg is married to Jennie and they have three children, Gustav, Oscar and Maja, who are all growing up on their farm near Anakie in Victoria. Ashiq Hamid (2004) has been awarded the Cleary Memorial Prize from the New Zealand Law Society. This award is given to the most promising young lawyer in New Zealand. This year the finalists were all Fulbright Scholars. Stephanie Hickey (2008) and Nathan Pong (2007) welcomed baby Theodore Mingzhi Alexander Pong to their family on 1 May 2015.
Paul Burgess (2009) has recently taken on the role of Assistant Director, International Admissions for Tulane University in New Orleans. He works with international students from Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Andrew Fairley AM (1968) has been in agriculture for most of his life. His father, Sir Andrew Fairley, developed a significant fruit property in Shepparton before founding SPC and developing it into one of the largest fruit-canning plants in Australia. While continuing his work as a superannuation lawyer at Hall & Wilcox, Andrew has now gone back to his roots with the purchase of Yarra Valley Cherries on 100 acres of what
Sarah Martin, Ormond’s Development Director 1996 - 2005, has not stopped writing since finishing her biography of Davis McCaughey and her first novel When Is Forever? has recently been published in the USA. Not yet available in Australia, it can be purchased via amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. It is a gentle but nuanced portrayal of family relationships where the points of view of three generations are explored, and will resonate with both young parents and grandparents. An enjoyable read, it could be an inexpensive and unique Christmas present for friends or relatives.
has been a premium cherry farm for the past 15 years. The property has over 16,000 trees, which each year produce 100 tonnes of cherries covering 22 different varieties, including 30+ cherries, the jumbo variety. Alumni enjoyed these premium cherries at A Taste of Ormond. Andrew is a board member of Tourism Australia and Tourism Victoria and chairs the Sir Andrew Fairley Foundation. On the Queen’s Birthday 2015, Andrew was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community through contributions to and support for a range of organisations, to the law and to philanthropy.
Herb Moore (2009) is completing his Masters in Electrical Engineering at the University of Melbourne and is heading to India in January to volunteer with Pollinate Energy. Herb will work with Pollinate Energy to help provide energy-efficient solutions to meet the needs of urban slum dwellers.
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Mark Moshinsky (1986) has been appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. The profession extended a Welcome to His Honour at a ceremonial sitting of the Full Court on 11 November. Mark acted as counsel assisting Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence this year and is a former
Queen’s Birthday Honours 2015 Ormond extends its congratulations to the following members of the Ormond community who have been recognised for their substantial contributions to society with 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours:
chairman of the Victorian Bar Council. John Spence (1964) has been elected to a Foreign Membership of the Royal Society earlier this year. We congratulate John on this most deserved and distinguished honour. Virginia Spring (2005) and Campbell Johnson (2004) were married on Saturday 28 March 2015 at St John’s in Toorak. We wish Virginia and Campbell every happiness in their lives together. Allan Watson (1950) has recently had his book Me and Germaine published. It features several stories set in Ormond College and is available through roundhousepress.com Stephen Whiteside (1974) and Maggie Somerville (1969) have recently completed recording a CD, The Two Bees. The CD is a collection of songs and poems by C. J. Dennis. The words are from the pen of C. J. Dennis. The CD is in the folk genre and features guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, tin whistle and percussion.
The College has learned of the following deaths in our community. Our sympathy is extended to the families of these Ormondians. Peter E Campbell (1949) Adrian Wallace Douglas (1937) William (Bill) H Edwards (1950) Julian Robert Frayne (1957) Gordon Goldberg (1956) Michael Donal Grounds (1948) Peter Donald McFadden (1970) Charles Michael Shugg (1947) Alexander (Sandy) Spiers (1955)
No.91 DECEMBER 2015
Mr David Sydney Abraham AM (1965 and Chair of Ormond Council 1994-2004) for significant service to the community through health and medical research, education and corporate governance organisations. Emeritus Prof Terence Ross Carney AO (1966) for distinguished service to higher education as an academic, researcher and author, to the law and social welfare, and through leadership roles with national and international legal organisations. Mr Andrew Edwin Fairley AM (1968) for significant service to the community through contributions to and support for a range of organisations, to the law and to philanthropy. Mr Roderick Douglas Fraser AM (1968) for significant service to secondary education, to national and international learning development organisations and to the community. Prof Emeritus Philippa Eleanor Pattison AO (1974) for distinguished service to higher education, particularly through contributions to the study of social network modelling, analysis and theory, and to university leadership and administration. Dr Neil Roy AM (1962) for significant service to medicine in the field of paediatrics, particularly through the development of neonatal transport services.
We would be delighted to hear from other members of the community who have received an award and are not listed above.
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49 College Crescent Parkville VIC 3052 Australia T: 61 3 9344 1100 F: 61 3 9344 1111 E: advancement@ormond.unimelb.edu.au W: www.ormond.unimelb.edu.au 28
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