The newsletter for alumni and supporters of UNE Volume 2, Issue 2 / December 2015 / ISSN 2203-8000
unique R u g b y Re
2 union
6 01
Educating the educators Jennifer Star in India
Oorala turns 30 Feeding the world Climate change Going Bush
UNE Office of Advancement
1
Chief Scientist of Australia, Professor Ian Chubb, visited the University to share his thoughts on the importance of Australia investing in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and to open UNE’s Virtual Institute for Teaching and Learning (VITAL)
2
UNE Office of Advancement
Caption goes here
Creating new knowledge
vC
Given the release of the 2015 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), and
UNE’s exceptional results in this, it is timely to outline some our recent research achievements and future ventures. ERA is the national assessment of research quality across all Australian universities and is conducted by the Australian
Research Council (ARC). Since the last assessment in 2012, UNE has continued to build its research capacity in key areas such as in agricultural, biological, environmental and health sciences, and sustained world standard excellence across the social sciences, humanities and creative arts. UNE has achieved the highest rating of 5 (well above world standard) in a range of areas including Geology; Soil Sciences; Ecology; Zoology; Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences; Agriculture, Land and Farm Management; Animal Production; Human Movement and Sports Science; Other Medical and Health Sciences. I am delighted by these results; they demonstrate UNE’s success in developing top-tier research portfolios of international excellence in recent years. While these results are hugely encouraging for UNE, it is important not to lose sight of why universities are funded to do research. Our researchers are addressing the most challenging threats to the health, sustainability and prosperity of regional communities, which underpin the national economy, Annabelle Duncan
throughout Australia and abroad. Our objective is to harness these strengths to ensure regional development remains a key feature in the Australian research landscape. Our researchers have also continued to attract recognition for their outstanding achievements in their chosen field. Associate Professor John Paterson was recently awarded the 2016 Anton Hales Medal by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS). Named after the founder of the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University, the Anton Hales Medal recognises distinguished research in the Earth Sciences. Similarly, Professor David Lamb received the 2015 Research Excellence Award at the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Spatial Information annual awards ceremony in early December Prof Lamb is chief researcher of the Precision Agriculture Research Group (PARG) in the School of Science and Technology, which specialises in applied optics and sensors for farming use.
4
ANNABELLE DUNCAN
UNE has continued to build its research capacity in key areas such as in the agricultural, biological, environmental and health sciences, and sustained world standard excellence across the social sciences, humanities and creative arts.
He received the coveted award for his leadership in improving water and fertiliser efficiency and effectiveness, and in developing biomass sensor technology. Professor Lamb and his team have been pivotal in building UNE’s international reputation in agriculture and farming research into practical farming solutions using remote technologies, as well as optical fibre and satellite communication. The University of New England has been awarded funding across four research projects as part of the inaugural round of the Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme. The scheme encourages universities and research institutes in Germany and Australia to provide matched funds for established and up-and-coming scientists and researchers to undertake collaborative research in their partner country. UNE researchers will be expanding their work with their German counterparts on projects concerning agricultural economics (Professor Gary Griffith), mathematical aspects of relativity (Dr Stephen McCormick), animal production (Dr Isabelle Ruhnke) and soil chemistry (Associate Professor Chris Guppy). The expansion of Australia’s international research engagement with Germany, one of the world’s research and innovation powerhouses, presents opportunities for building new partnerships and an enhanced capacity for research outputs. We are pleased to be at the forefront of such exciting opportunities.
UNE Office of Advancement
5
2013 Watching the game
2013 Playing the game
6
UNE Office of Advancement
RUGBY REUNION
2016 New England Rugby reunion Three years ago, a throw-away line in a group e-mail about organising a golden oldies rematch of the 1988 New England Rugby Colts Grand Final between St Albert’s and Old Boys, snowballed into the largest alumni gathering ever seen in Armidale. For those who missed it, hundreds of players and
The 2016 Rugby Reunion will be especially important for
supporters returned to Armidale for the 2013 New
Wright, as it will be held in conjunction with the Wright
England Rugby Reunion held at Bellevue Oval on the
College 60th Anniversary Reunion. Two years ago Wright
October long weekend. They were joined on the day
put in a spirited performance despite having no college
by hundreds of current UNE students and locals for a
or club. Next year they will return to see the new Wright
spectacular celebration of the strong rugby and college
College and meet the members of the reborn Wright
culture of the New England and UNE.
College Rugby Club.
UNE rugby powerhouses, Robb and St Albert’s Colleges,
Planning for the weekend (1-3 October 2016) is underway,
entered strong squads. Wright were there in numbers;
so if you would like to be involved please contact Scott
Armidale's oldest tertiary student club, Teachers’ College,
Williams at either contact@sports-think-tank.com,
reappeared for the weekend; and United Colleges
0439 259 775 or facebook.com/2013rugbyreunion for
surprised even themselves by rounding up the largest
information on the 2016 New England Rugby Reunion.
numbers on the weekend with an impressive 80 alumni from Austin, Duval, Wright and Drummond making it to town for their reunion. Joining the UNE clubs to renew old rivalries, were Armidale City, Old Boys, TAS, Glen
For information on the Wright College 60th Anniversary Reunion, contact Bruce Driver: bld@netspeed.com.au, 0418 675 350 or facebook.com/groups/6174089266.
Innes, Guyra, Uralla and even the 1984 New England Under 12 rep team. In addition to the many entertaining golden oldies matches, other highlights of the day included a 7's competition involving current New England clubs; a great game between the St Albert’s and Robb women's rugby teams; a moving memorial ceremony for Wallaby John Hipwell; a grand parade of all participating clubs; the inaugural Guy Fawkes Cup 100 metre golden oldies sprint; and the sensational mass EBOR chant from all participating golden oldies players. The good news is that Rugtoberfest will be back for the October long weekend in 2016. All of the previously mentioned clubs are expected to return. United have already warmed up by having a run in this year's Camden Golden Oldies, and there are high hopes that four time New England Rugby Premiers, Earl Page College, will enter a squad.
UNE Office of Advancement
7
RESEARCH
Evaluating the effects of changing environments “This is a great result for research at UNE,” Professor Duncan said. “The funding from the ARC will allow these researchers to continue with their work in areas that are of vital significance on both a local and global scale.” In what is a critical research area for Australia, Associate Professor Andrew’s research will assist in more clearly understanding the impact of climate change on ecological communities.
The University of New England has been allocated research project funding of more than $1 million by the Australian Research Council (ARC). The successful research projects will examine the survival strategies of mammals in rapidly changing environments; the impacts of climate change on Australian ecosystems and explore genotypeenvironment interactions, including human genetic response to changing environmental factors and adaptations of farm and wild animals to changing environments. Two of the research projects were successful in their bid for funding through the ARC’s Discovery Projects scheme and the third through the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award scheme, awarded to Dr Clare Stawski. UNE’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Annabelle Duncan congratulated Associate Professor Nigel Andrew, Dr Sang Hong Lee and Dr Stawski who are the lead researchers on the projects.
8
Dr Lee’s research will deliver statistical models and software programs which will broadly benefit the field of complex trait genetics, addressing fundamental questions in biology, expanding Australia’s knowledge base and increasing our international competitiveness. Dr Stawski’s work will determine how individual mammals cope behaviourally and physiologically with a rapidly changing environment by revealing important habitat and climatic characteristics that are vital to the survival of Australian mammals. “We have many truly wonderful researchers here at UNE but these funding grants will go a long way to assist Dr Lee, Dr Stawski and A/Prof Andrew continue with their valuable work.” Professor Duncan said. The ARC’s Discovery Programme provides funding for research projects that can be undertaken by individual researchers or research teams. More information about the scheme can be found at arc.gov.au/discoveryprogramme
ANNABELLE DUNCAN
The funding from the ARC will allow these researchers to continue with their work in areas that are of vital significance on both a local and global scale."
Dr Stawski tracking in Guy Fawkes National Park
UNE Office of Advancement
9
JUDITH CASSEB
CASSAB J. Prof Nicol
CASSAB J. Sir Robert Madgwick
Judith Casseb CBE AO 15 August 1920-3 November 2015
Judith Casseb CBE AO Judith Cassab is an internationally recognised Australian painter whose portraiture work is included in the University’s art collection. She was born in Vienna but moved to Hungary with her mother in the late 1920s. She started to seriously study art at the age of 12 but her art career came to a halt during the Nazi occupation of Hungary. Members of her immediate family and husband’s family died at Auschwitz, and by the early 50s she and her family had emigrated to Australia to a calmer environment . She held her first exhibition in Sydney in 1953 and subsequently exhibited more than 80 times. Her work is highly regarded, for example, she was the first female artist to win the Archibald Prize twice and her work is held in major collections in Australia, Britain and Europe. The University is privileged to own four examples of her work: portraits of Sir Robert Madgwick, Professor Lawrence W Nichol, Miss Mary Bagnall, and Mr Paul Lamb.
10
UNE Office of Advancement
Jack Hobbs, Mudher Hassib, Sura Alani and Helen Edwards
What makes me tick?
expedition, when he opened the new Geography building in 1960. Future events will also focus on distinguished graduates and staff of UNE. At the last event for 2016, Dr Lorina Barker discussed her documentary, “My Grandmother’s Country”, and the new Director of the Oorala
Earlier this year the UNE Alumni Association, Armidale,
Aboriginal Centre, Greg Davison, reflected on
hosted a presentation by the UNE ENACTUS group.
the Redfern All Blacks Football team and their community.
ENACTUS are a volunteer group in which
The Armidale Chapter is very pleased to be able
students work on such diverse projects as
to offer three annual awards to support students
improving the financial literacy of young
at UNE.
indigenous students, encouraging change to policy governing the issuing of birth certificates across Australia, promoting career opportunities within the agricultural industry for our graduates,
2015 award recipients • Jim Pollard Memorial Award -Mr Conrad Rees,
and assisting local businesses to establish a web
who is enrolled full-time in a Bachelor of
presence. The UNE group has twice represented
Economics
Australia in the world championships.
• UNE Alumni Association Members Award- Mr
In July, UNE’s involvement over many years with
Darrel Roche, an external student enrolled in a
Antarctica was the focus. Guest of honour was
Bachelor of Arts
Dr Tony Fleming, a UNE graduate, and, until his recent retirement, the Director of the Australian Antarctic Division. Other guest speakers included former and current UNE staff with Antarctic experience: Jeremy Smith, Barrie McKelvey, Nick
• Inaugural UNE Alumni Association Members Award for International Students-Mrs Sura Alani, who is undertaking full-time PhD study on campus at UNE.
Stephenson, and Brian Sindel. On display was some of UNE’s archive of Antarctic memorabilia, originally presented to the University by Professor Griffith Taylor, a member of Scott’s Antarctic
UNE Office of Advancement
11
In 2016 Oorala Aboriginal Centre will celebrate its 30 years in higher education, as the University of New England’s teaching, research and study support centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Oorala Oorala Aboriginal Centre
Leading up to this important year for the
was officially opened on 14 April 1986 and Ms
University and the Centre, Oorala would like
Riley became its founding Director. Oorala’s
to be in contact with Aboriginal and Torres
initial role at UNE was to offer Aboriginal and
Strait Islander alumni and communities
Torres Strait Islander students at UNE ‘a place’
interested in participating in the upcoming
on the University campus for study, academic
anniversary events.
and peer support, services and an Aboriginal
The anniversary will commemorate Oorala’s longstanding support services and programs, also celebrating the learning experiences and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
access and participation programs, academic teaching and research activities and inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives into UNE courses.
Islander students and graduates at all levels
Oorala’s name comes from the local Anaiwan
of study at UNE. Key to Oorala’s 30 years in
language; its logo also reflects both the
higher education has been its connections
word’s meaning of a ‘camp’ or ‘a place where
with Aboriginal communities in the northwest
people come together’ and its role as a ‘place
region of NSW and beyond, where current
of learning’ within the University. In 2008
students and alumni live, study and work in
the Centre’s current building was officially
their chosen professions.
opened with new learning and study facilities,
Following the establishment of the ‘Aboriginal Resource Unit’ at UNE early in 1986 and appointment of the Aboriginal Research Fellow, Ms Lynette Riley, the ‘Oorala Centre’
12
resource room. The Centre also implemented
UNE Office of Advancement
leading to expanded support services for on campus and online students and the recent introduction of undergraduate units along with continuation of its award winning
OORALA ABORIGINAL CENTRE
TRACKS Tertiary Preparation Program. Today Oorala remains ‘a place where people come together’ at the University for more than 600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled at UNE, as much as it was for the 20 students supported by the Centre when it opened in 1986. Oorala’s place on the map with Aboriginal communities and within the education sector has also supported the success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates from UNE, which now exceed 740 since 1990. Alumni and others can contact Phillipa Trelford (P: 02 6773 3105, E: ptrelfor@une.edu.au) about the upcoming anniversary. Event details will be announced in due course.
(From left) Lynette Riley, Aboriginal Research Fellow at UNE, with UNE graduate Cheryl Ahoy and Mr Bill McCarthy, NSW Government Member for New England, with the Oorala logo design at the official opening of the Oorala Centre, 1986.
UNE graduate Cheryl Ahoy and Sharon Moore (front row), Warren Mundine and Romlie Mokak (middle row) at the 1986 official opening of the Oorala Centre with Professor L.W. Nichol, Vice-Chancellor, Mr R.C. Robertson-Cuninghame, Chancellor, Mrs Robertson-Cuninghame (back row), Ms J. McIntyre, EO Officer and Professor J.S. Nalson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (middle row).
UNE Office of Advancement
13
14
UNE Office of Advancement
Kirsty McCormack at the Farmers’ Co-operative
SYNGENTA CONNECTIONS
Feeding the world ERS students Kirsty McCormack (Country Scholarship 2012), Claudia Vicary (Equity scholarship 2012) and Sarah Hain (Joblink Plus scholarship 2014) joined a group of 20 students from universities around Australia to travel to the Philippines this year. This trip was part of the Syngenta Connections Experience.
□ UNE students were able to meet with small landholder farmers and agricultural university students, as well as visit Syngenta’s corn processing and rice research partners.
Syngenta is one of the world’s leading companies with more than 26,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to their purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Syngenta’s Crop Protection and Seed products help growers increase crop yields and productivity. The company contributes to meeting the growing global demand for food, feed and fuel, and is committed to protecting the environment, promoting health and improving the quality of life. The Syngenta Connections program was first launched in 2010 to provide an opportunity for students taking up agricultural science degrees the future leaders in the food production industry to be exposed to the issues of farming communities in developing countries where the challenges are more pressing. UNE students were able to meet with small landholder farmers and agricultural university
Sarah Hain with fellow Connections participant, Michael Wellington, at the Agricultural Research Centre
students, as well as visit Syngenta’s corn processing and rice research partners. Previous tours have been to India, Indonesia (twice) and last year’s tour was to China.
UNE Office of Advancement
15
RESEARCH
Dam the mosquitoes
has been known for some time but no systematic examination of the extent of the problem had been done until PhD student, Solomon Kibret, and four coresearchers, analysed the problem.
Research centred on 723 dams in the Sub-Sahara
“Dams are important for economic development,
where malaria is found. They estimated that at
but it is unethical that people living close to them
least 1.1 million cases of malaria each year can be
pay the price of that development through increased
attributed to the stagnant reservoir water and
suffering and, in extreme cases, loss of life due to
shoreline puddles around the dams and that this
disease” Mr Kibret added.
number will increase if more than 60 proposed dams in the region are built. Current investment in large dams in the Sub-Sahara is increasing to respond to the need for urgent economic development. The researchers recommend intensive measures to mitigate malaria in the vicinity of the reservoirs created by existing and planned large dams.
It is important for those building dams to invest effectively in measures to prevent malaria transmission. Solomon began his PhD at UNE in early 2013, examining the impact of dams on malaria incidence across rural Ethiopia. His research is being supervised by Dr Glenn Wilson and Associate Professor Darren Ryder from the School of
“Adopting dam operating schedules to help dry out
Environmental and Rural Science. http://edition.
shoreline areas where mosquitoes tend to breed;
cnn.com/2015/09/11/africa/africa-malaria-dams/
using pesticides to stop larva growing on reservoir shorelines; and distributing bed nets to houses in close proximity to open water sources would all be effective solutions in curbing rates of malaria”, Mr Kibret said.
Distribution of existing (E) and planned (P) dams in subSaharan Africa in relation to malaria stability
16
The link between dams and malaria
UNE Office of Advancement
NEW ENGLAND AWARD PROGRAM
NEW ENGLAND
award program The New England Award program has been a feature of UNE graduation ceremonies for almost a decade, with recipients recognised as high–achieving, proactive, communityspirited citizens who, through participation in the program, have developed a broad range of personal and professional skills while studying at UNE. Since the program’s inception in 2006, more than 300 UNE graduates have been awarded the New England Award. There are now more than 2,500 UNE students participating in the NEA program, with around half those being students studying by distance. In December this year the New England Award program itself was recognised through the Australia Awards for University Teaching, being awarded the highly prestigious award for Programmes that Enhance Student Learning. In
The Hon Simon Birmingham, Dr Robyn Muldoon and Ms Alicia Zikan
his letter to the Program Manager, Ms Alicia Zikan, Senator The Honorable Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, said that the program had "made an innovative
The New England Award was a very positive experience for me during my time at UNE. The
and outstanding contribution to the quality of student
program fostered a sense of belonging, to both UNE
learning and the student experience". Ms Zikan, and Dr
and Armidale communities. I now know myself better
Robyn Muldoon, Program Founder, were presented with the
as a person, feel more sure of where I am going, and,
Award in a ceremony in the Great Hall of Parliament House.
importantly, have developed a better understanding
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Annabelle Duncan and Professor
of the best ways to get there. Aside from the obvious
Catherine MacKenzie, UNE Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic,
enhancement to employability stemming from the
also attended the dinner.
extensive development of personal and professional
The New England Award (NEA) program is designed to encourage, recognise and reward students’ personal and professional development through participation in extracurricular activity. It is open to all UNE students, and is targeted at ‘whole person’ development.
attributes intrinsic to the award requirements…the New England Award acts to foster a lifelong orientation toward positive, progressive development both at the level of the individual participant and the wider community. (UNE Graduate and NEA recipient, 2011).
We are interested in hearing from New England Award recipients for a research project we intend to conduct in 2016. This project will be about the outcomes for NEA recipients in the years following their graduation. If you would like to be included in information about this project please contact Alicia Zikan azikan@une.edu.au, or Jennifer Miller alumni@une.edu.au.
UNE Office of Advancement
17
“Learning English literacy is just the most recent adaptation we have had to make, to enable our survival.�
18
UNE Office of Advancement
LITERACY FOR LIFE
Yo! Si Puedo (Yes, I Can!) comes to Brewarrina
The Literacy for Life adult literacy campaign began even further west along the river, among the Bakindji people of Wilcannia, in February 2012. From there it spread east, to Bourke and Enngonia, before reaching Brewarrina a few months ago. To date, 89 low literate community people have graduated from the campaign classes, and another 20 have now joined in Brewarrina. The campaign utilises a Cuban model called Yes I Can, (Yo! Si Puedo in Spanish) which has been deployed in 28 countries around the world and taught more than 8 million people the basics of reading and writing. Project management during the pilot stage of the campaign was carried out by UNE’s Associate Professor Bob Boughton and he continues his involvement in the program as academic adviser. PhD student Ruth Ratcliffe, who won an APA scholarship and is also supported by the CRC for Remote Economic Participation, is researching the longer term impact of the campaign in the communities where it has run. In western NSW Aboriginal communities, over 40% of the adult population has low or very low
Located on the Barwon River in far-western NSW, Baiames Ngunnhu, known in English as the Brewarrina Fish Traps, has been an Aboriginal gathering place for millennia. It was fitting, therefore, that over 100 local First Nations people of Brewarrina and the surrounding region met there earlier this year, to launch the next stage of the Literacy for Life Aboriginal adult literacy campaign. Acknowledging the continuous occupation in this region by the Ngemba and other First Nations, Ms Pat Anderson, an Alyawarra woman from Central Australia who chairs the Lowitja Health Research Institute, and is a Director of the Literacy for Life Foundation (lflf.org.au), told the crowd: “Learning English literacy is just the most recent adaptation we have had to make, to enable our survival.” She joined campaign leader and Ngemba man, Mr Jack Beetson, in welcoming the local Ngemba and Murruwarri men and women who have come
English language literacy. This creates a major barrier in almost every aspect of daily life, and in particular makes it very hard for parents and grandparents to get actively involved with their children’s schooling. In a recent interview with Adult Learning Australia, Mr Beetson talked about his role and the effect of the campaign: ‘I think it’s one of the most extraordinary and rewarding things I’ve been involved in in my life. I play a very hands-on role in community engagement. I bring together the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in town. It’s a peace building role in some ways. No one can disagree that learning to read and write is a good thing so it’s a matter of finding ways of working together. You just have to attend one of the graduation ceremonies to get a sense of how important literacy is to people…When graduates read their story out at this very public event there isn’t a dry eye in the house.’ (ALA Quest, Sep 2015, p.6)
forward to lead the campaign in their town Grace Gordon, Chair of the Ngemba Community Working Part; Mary Waites, Campaign coordinator; and Janelle Frail and Norman Coffey, campaign facilitators.
UNE Office of Advancement
19
YOUNG DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Jennifer Star
Jennifer Star grew up in a small town near Bowral in NSW. She now lives in New Delhi in India which has a population greater than all of Australia! She first travelled to India as a World Vision Youth Ambassador in 2004, and again in 2007, where she lived and worked in the slums of Jaipur. Subsequently she founded Tara.Ed, an education NGO, which grew from a pilot project working in one school in 2009, to a sustainable organisation, functioning in 23 schools, impacting the
□ Jennifer’s outstanding work in India has been recognised with a number of awards such as the 2014 Westpac 100 Women of Influence Award and the 2012 NSW Young Australian of the Year Award.
lives of 300 teachers and more than 8000 children in rural and remote areas of India and Bangladesh. By focusing on teachers rather than students, Tara.Ed aims to promote sustainability in education and increase the quality and value of education in rural communities. Jennifer’s outstanding work in India has been recognised with a number of awards such as the 2014 Westpac 100 Women of Influence Award and the 2012 NSW Young Australian of the Year Award. Jennifer is also an elite sportswoman excelling in judo. She was part of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) National Talent Identification Squad from 2004-2006 and went on to earn a Bronze Medal in the Youth Olympics in 2005. She represented UNE at the world university games in 2011 in China, where she was selected from over 8000 athletes to light the Universiade Cauldron. More information about Tara.Ed: taraed.org
Jennifer Star
20
UNE Office of Advancement
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Grant Hehir came to UNE in 1979 to study economics and subsequently completed honours with the financial assistance of a cadetship with the Commonwealth Department of Treasury.
Grant Hehir
Significantly, his Honours thesis was themed around aboriginal economic and social disadvantage – the creation of a level playing field for all of our community; an underlying passion and enduring philosophy that continues to drive his contribution to his public service career. This career has seen him working for the Treasury, EPAC (a government economic research body), and various government ministers such as Stuart West, in the Federal Government and, later, Rosemary Follett, in the ACT’s first year of self-government. Following on from this, Grant served the governments of Kennett, Bracks, Brumby, Bailieu and Napthine as a senior public servant in Victoria where he demonstrated he was a person with vision and capability. During this time, he led government sector reform and was responsible for advising on and delivering leadership in economic, financial and resource management for the State. In 2013 Grant was appointed as the NSW Auditor General. He ran financial and performance audits across the public sector in the state of NSW, including the university sector. This year, he was appointed Commonwealth Auditor General, a prestigious appointment made by the Prime Minister. He is valued most for his passion, experience and skills in performance management, conduct of efficiency and effectiveness reviews and ability to determine whether government agencies are delivering value for money from a
Grant Hehir with his wife, Leanne Brown
public perspective. Grant’s mantra is about “making a difference” for communities and the state which he serves. And he has done this in a quiet and exemplary way from a very unassuming beginning. He has made an extraordinary contribution to the betterment of governance and, through it, the lives of all Australians.
UNE Office of Advancement
21
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Sean Grimmond
Professor Sean Grimmond originally trained in biochemistry, graduating with Science and Science Honours degrees from UNE. During his undergraduate years he was also a passionate and dedicated amateur historian, focusing on the European medieval period. Sean’s natural talent for leadership attracted an expanding living history group together in Australia some decades before this type of activity gained the acceptance that living history enjoyed in Europe or the Americas. He obtained a PhD in Human Genetics and completed postdoctoral studies at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research and the MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit & Mouse Genome Centre in Harwell. He returned to Australia in 2000 and established the Institute for Molecular Bioscience’s Expression genomics laboratory and later, with a $5 million grant from the Queensland State Government, led the establishment of the Queensland Medical Genome Centre. Assisted by a $27.5 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council, research is being carried out on the genetic causes of pancreatic and ovarian cancers. The Centre also contributes to the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), a worldwide effort to sequence
Sean Grimmond
the genomes of 50 different types of tumours from 25,000 individuals. Over the last 20 years, Professor Grimmond’s research has focused on surveying genomes & transcriptomes and discerning the underlying genetics controlling biological processes and pathological states. He is currently Director of the Queensland Centre for Medical Genomics as well as Chair of Medical Genomics (Translational Research Centre) at the University of Glasgow. He will return to Australia in 2016 to continue precision medicine and cancer genomics research at the University of Melbourne. Sean’s achievements have been recognised with a number of awards such as the Australian Eppendorf Medal for Genomics (2003), the Millenium Science award (2004) for early career researchers and the Royal Society Wolfson Merit award (2013-2017) .
22
UNE Office of Advancement
□ Over the last 20 years, Professor Grimmond’s research has focused on surveying genomes & transcriptomes and discerning the underlying genetics controlling biological processes and pathological states.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Michael Smith AM
Professor Mike Smith has devoting his working life to unearthing Aboriginal histories and reconstructing past environments in Australia’s arid regions. He is one of UNE’s most distinguished archaeologists, having graduated in 1988 with a PhD supervised by the late Professor Mike Morwood. Professor Smith’s seminal research at the iconic desert site of Puritjarra, and more recently at Parkupirti, at Lake Gregory, has revolutionised our views on the timing of human occupation across the arid zone, which now extends back more than 45,000 years. His contributions, in association with others, produced the earliest evidence of human
□ Professor Smith’s seminal research at the iconic desert site of Puritjarra, and more recently at Parkupirti, at Lake Gregory, has revolutionized our views on the timing of human occupation across the arid zone...
occupation in Australia. He is a collaborative researcher, both with archaeologists and specialists in associated disciplines, and has published on a wide range of topics including past desert environments, the demise of megafauna, the dating of rock art, trade in ochre, Indigenous family histories and the dynamics of desert life over the last three millennia. His work in understanding human and environmental interactions is vitally important in conversations about global warming. Professor Smith has been recognised by his peers with the Rhys Jones Medal in 2006, the highest award offered by the Australian Archaeological Association, and the Verco Medal in 2010, the highest honour that the Royal Society of South Australia can bestow on one of its Fellows. Nationally, in 2013, his significant service to archaeological scholarship was recognised with an Order Australia. Apart from field research, Mike held a number of senior positions at the National Museum, including Director, for more than 15 years. Visitors to the museum were able to explore blockbuster exhibitions such as Tangled Destinies: Land and People in Australia, which was the first major
Mike Smith with his daughter Moshumi Smith
environmental history exhibition anywhere in the world; and Extremes: Survival in the great deserts of the Southern Hemisphere. Mike is concerned about the ‘big questions’ facing archaeology, and is passionate about the discipline of archaeology. He is unstinting in sharing this enthusiasm with students, fellow researchers and the public.
UNE Office of Advancement
23
BOOK
Going bush For over a decade nine academics from the University of New England have been researching the lived experiences of rural teachers, recently publishing their findings in a book called Bush Tracks: The Opportunities and Challenges of Rural Teaching and Leadership. Bush Tracks covers the personal and professional challenges of living and teaching in isolated, small communities. It looks at the supports needed for teachers to continue working in rural contexts, as well as the opportunities for leadership roles whilst living in the “fishbowl” of a rural community. According to co-editor, Associate Professor Judy Miller, Bush Tracks offers innovative ways for rural teachers to cope with Australia’s increasingly city-centric education policies. “The book appeals to the interests of all teachers who have ‘gone bush’, or are planning to, and to teachers who want a text that is nuanced in discussing the challenges and opportunities of teaching in rural schools,” Associate Professor Miller said. The book is very timely as the prime minister and the federal government considers new policy on education in rural settings. “Commonwealth and state governments generally recognise the need for better support to our teachers. A number of incentives for teachers to work in rural and remote locations have existed for a long time, but there has generally been little understanding of what challenges lie ahead for such choices. “Working in rural, remote locations offers great professional experience, and something many young teachers will do to begin their careers. It is to them in particular that this book is directed.”
24
UNE Office of Advancement
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Damasa B. Magale-Macandog
Professor Damasa B. (Demi) Magcale-Macandog came to UNE in July 1989 as an Australian International Development Program (IDP) PhD student. She had previously been awarded an MSc in Soil Science at University of the Philippines (Los Baños College) under a Ford Foundation Fellowship. She energetically set about starting her research and learning about the particular Australian environment that she was to focus on as soon as she arrived in Armidale. Apart from her research, Demi also undertook demonstrating to first year students in biological sciences who enjoyed her expertise and teaching manner.
□ Demi’s subsequent career has been marked by a large number of training programmes at community, national and international levels with the result that she has made major contributions to her profession both in the Philippines and internationally. to the extent that she was awarded the Philippines National Academy of Sciences Technology, Outstanding Young Scientist Award in the field of Botany in July 1997. Demi’s subsequent career has been marked by a large number of training programmes at community, national and international levels with the result that she has made major contributions to her profession both in the Philippines and internationally. The extent of her participation is indicated by membership of a number of professional
Damasa B. Magale-Macandog
organisations related to research in agriculture and biology in the Philippines and other parts of the world. She has
On her return to Los Baños College her outstanding
wide research interests in many fields of biology, agriculture
leadership and professional skills were evident, particularly
and the biological impacts of human activities. Demi was
with respect to research conceptualisation, research
awarded the 2015 Most Outstanding Australian Alumna by
conduct and synthesis, and integration of research results
the Philippine Australian Alumni Association.
An Archaeological Perspective Graham Connah is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at UNE, and a Visiting Fellow at ANU, Canberra. His earlier book Three Thousand Years in Africa (1981) won the Amaury Talbot Prize. Other publications include The Archaeology of Benin (1975), The Archaeology of Australia’s History (1993), Kibiro: The Salt of Bunyoro, Past and Present (1996), Transformations in Africa (1998), Forgotten Africa: an Introduction to its Archaeology (2004), also translated into German, French, Italian and Portuguese, and Writing about Archaeology (2010). He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2000 for his contributions to African and Australian archaeology.
UNE Office of Advancement
25
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Ronny Noor
Ronny Noor
Dr Ronny Noor has first-hand knowledge of being an
All these experiences of living and working in other
international student and lecturer in Australia, Japan,
countries have prepared him superbly for his current role
Germany and Sweden. He lived in Armidale for seven years
of Indonesian Education and Cultural Attaché in Australia.
during his Masters and Doctoral studies in quantitative
He has overarching responsibility for more than 17,000
and ecological genetics at UNE. He then undertook
Indonesian students studying in Australia, whether short or
post-doctoral studies at the National Institute of Animal
long term, as well as improving Australian’s understanding
Industry, Tsukuba, Japan in DNA technology, and later in
of Indonesian culture. Amongst his other duties, he is
1998 and 2002 at Martin Luther University, Halle Germany
a Board member of The Balai Bahasa Indonesia (ACT),
in population and quantitative genetics. In 2002 he
which promotes the teaching of Indonesian language and
represented Indonesia in sustainable use of animal genetic
understanding of Indonesian culture, specifically in the ACT
resources in developing countries sponsored by the UN’s
but also throughout Australia.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Livestock Institute (ILRI) and Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences (SLU) Sweden.
26
UNE Office of Advancement
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Paul Brock AM
Throughout his long career, Dr Paul Brock AM has been
Eighteen years ago Dr Brock was diagnosed with motor
a school teacher, a deputy principal, an academic who
neurone disease which has progressively reduced his physical
has worked in Australian, British and North American
capabilities. Throughout this time, he has continued to
universities, a policy advisor to Commonwealth
contribute significantly to education as well as support
governments, an author, editor, and public speaker. He has
others with this disease. In all his endeavours he pays
researched and published extensively, particularly in the field
tribute to the loving and continued support from his wife
of English literature, language and literacy, but also in the
Jackie (also a UNE graduate) in making it possible for him to
areas of professional teaching standards and in the history of
continue with many of the day-to-day activities that able-
educational policy and practice.
bodied people take for granted.
He is currently Director of Learning and Development
He was recognised with an AM in 2006 “for service to public
Research in the Office of the Director-General, NSW
education, particularly as an adviser and author in the
Department of Education and Communities and an Adjunct
areas of strategic policy development, to maintaining high
Professor in the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Education
standards of teaching and professionalism, and to people
and Social Work, as well as an Honorary Associate in the
with Motor Neurone Disease”.
Centre for Values Ethics and Law in Medicine within the University’s Faculty of Medicine. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at UNE and has delighted audiences with addresses at such occasions as graduation, the 75th anniversary celebrations, and a NSW Council of Deans of Education Conference held at UNE. Dr Brock has been inducted as a Life Member of both the English Teachers Association NSW and the Primary English Teachers Association Australia, and he is the inaugural Honorary Life Member of the NSW Secondary Principals Council recognising his outstanding commitment to secondary school students and his unswerving support of public education. He is a Fellow of both the Australian College of Educators and the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.
□
Dr Brock has been inducted as a Life Member of both the English Teachers Association NSW and the Primary English Teachers Association Australia, and he is the inaugural Honorary Life Member of the NSW Secondary Principals Council recognising his outstanding commitment to secondary school students and his unswerving support of public education.
Paul Brock. Photo: Graham Jepson for INTHEBLACK magazine
UNE Office of Advancement
27
SACUNE
Tickle Tank Recently alumni in South Australia met at ‘Tickle Tank’ Mount Barker for a tour of the property and the SACUNE Alumni Association Annual General Meeting. Tickle Tank was formerly a 50,000 gallon (227.000 litre) water tank constructed in 1944 and which served the, then much smaller, town of Mount Barker. The tank was decommissioned in approximately 1972 and sat idle for many years. A number of people were interested in the block of land but the cost of removing the tank was prohibitive. Along came Irene Pearce in 1998 who purchased the land and tank for $22,000. Irene had previously sought planning permission to convert the tank to a dwelling and was told that, subject to all health provisions, she could do so. Irene and a few female friends then started work on the tank and were surprised to find that it was half full of water. They used garden
After 4 years’ hard work, Irene agreed to open her home and
hoses to siphon out the water as much as
garden for the national Open Garden Scheme, something she has
possible, taking three days, and then resorted
continued to do. This year 830 people visited over one weekend;
to buckets, which took another three days.
all were served a Devonshire Tea or cake and $6,000 was raised.
She now admits that she did not even think
This money was shared between the South Australia Open Garden
about hiring a pump!
Scheme, the Fred Hollows Foundation and a reforestation project
Once a builder was found, work commenced and doors and windows were cut into the
At the AGM, Jennie Teasdale gave an update on her progress with
tank, all off-cuts being used in the future
the history of the SA Chapter of the UNE Alumni Association.
garden. Six months of hard work saw the tank liveable. Hundreds of tonnes of soil had to be removed from the site, with all top-soil being retained for later use. The result of all this work is a most fascinating structure and ‘quirky’ garden. All of the internal fittings are recycled elements, including the use of jarrah shearing-shed doors as a cupboard to conceal the television set.
28
dear to Irene’s heart.
UNE Office of Advancement
SACUNE Facebook facebook.com/Sacune-150638125137383/?fref=ts
Examining exhibits in the Museum of Antiquities
UNE Office of Advancement
29
DONOR PROFILE
Nick Vournazos - a passion for lifelong learning
Nick Vournazos was born in 1924 in the small village of Chrysanthio in the Peloponnese, Greece. He became a resistance fighter during the German occupation in Greece and was eventually honoured with a Medal of the Resistance 1941-1945 for his participation in the combat ranks of EAM- ELAS (The National Liberation Front and The Greek People’s Liberation Army). In 1955 Nick married his wife, Anna and set sail for Melbourne, Australia a week later,
□ An active philanthropist, in 2004 Nick established the Nicholas Vournazos Travelling Scholarship to Greece in the Classics discipline at UNE.
determined to create a better life for his family. Having previously been a milk bar owner and factory worker in Greece Nick always had a desire to contribute to the community. Anna recalls him standing in Swanston Street Melbourne shortly after their arrival and telling her that one day he would build the kind of big buildings he saw around him. She thought he was mad! However, without any prior building qualification or experience he slowly built up a successful building and construction company. He remains heavily involved with this family business even today. Although he had previously been enrolled for tertiary study in Greece, his financial circumstances prevented him from completing his studies. Nick enrolled at UNE in 1995 and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree at age 78. "Learning always chased me, I had this mania to learn," he says. An active philanthropist, in 2004 Nick established the Nicholas Vournazos Travelling Scholarship to Greece in the Classics discipline at UNE. Recently we had the great pleasure of visiting Nick and Anna in their home with their nephew, Arthur, where Nick generously presented the Vice Chancellor with a cheque for a further $100,000 donation to endow this scholarship. Nick has a great desire to support the promotion of Greek language, culture and history in Australia. “He is extremely grateful for the opportunity to complete university studies that UNE presented him and takes a great deal of pleasure in being able to give back in this way”, Nick’s nephew Arthur explained. Nick has written several books with his autobiography, Dancing Solo, the only one having been translated into English at this time. His next book which is almost finished will also be translated. We look forward to its publication next year.
30
UNE Office of Advancement
Anna and Nick Vournazos with VC Annabelle Duncan
WRIGHT COLLEGE
Wright Alumni news
Wright College is planning its 60th reunion for 2016. The date will coincide with the Rugby reunion “Rugtoberfest” weekend which is 1-3 October, 2016. More detail will be provided in forthcoming
The Wright Village and the new Wright College
newsletters. Similar to the 50th reunion in
have come together under the capable
2006, we are planning activities around the new
management of Caroline Pflaumer-Winter and a
Wright College and the University during the day,
new Senior Common Room was established mid
watching the returning Redmen scrummaging
year. The SCR will assist in the development and
it out on the football field, and a dinner on the
direction of the Village and College. The new SCR
Saturday night.
is keen to link the Wright College Association,
To register your interest, and/or to give us suggestions for activities, please contact: Ian Price iprice@une.edu.au 02 6773 2653 Bruce Driver bld@netspeed.com.au or 0418 675 350. facebook: facebook.com/ groups/6174089266/ Because of the number of visitors expected in Armidale that weekend, we recommend you consider accommodation options now if you are intending to come to the reunion. You will find links here: armidaletourism.com.au/ accommodation
and ex-Redmen and women more generally, into the new college and village identity. The original Martlet crest is now proudly displayed on the chests of the oh-so-young Resident Fellows. What’s more, the rugby team has been resurrected with John Anderson as lead coach. And, there’s more, with the Wright College Association being reconstituted (contact Des Bowlay at dbowlay@bigpond.net.au). See the following link for information on the college and village: une.edu.au/campus-life/uneaccommodation/colleges/wright-collegeand-village
UNE Office of Advancement
31
EVENT CALENDAR
What's on For more details about these and other events, please visit: www.une.edu.au/connect/events or www.alumni.une.edu.au/events
1-3 October 2016
Wright College 60th anniversary Armidale
bld@netspeed.com.au
1-3 October 2016
Rugtobertfest Armidale
contact@sports-think-tank.com
2016 tbc
Oorala 30th anniversary
ptrelfor@une.edu.au
SCHOLARSHIPS AT UNE Do you know someone thinking about enrolling at UNE next year? Find out about scholarships available at une.edu.au/scholarships
Dr Richard Frank Passey 30 May 1924-23 October 2015 Many Wright College and Rural Science alumni will remember Dick Passey. He came to UNE in 1956 and was very much involved in the establishment of the Faculty of Rural Science, starting out as a lecturer in biochemistry in 1956 and retiring as Sub-Dean Rural Science in 1979. While he was famous for memorising every UNE regulation and was also a timetable expert, he is remembered as being self-effacing and modest. He was involved with Wright College as Master 1970-1972 and as a NonResident Fellow associated with Gamma Block. He was often available to students after hours, assisting with both academic and pastoral care. Apart from his UNE connections, Dick was involved in community organisations and will be missed by all those who knew him from many facets of his life.
32
UNE Office of Advancement
ATC
50th anniversary ATC
The auditorium at the Bowling Club was the scene of much laughter and reminiscing when students of the former Armidale Teachers’ College met in Armidale recently for a 50th anniversary celebration dinner. Friends of the Old Teachers’ College provided refreshments on the verandah of the College in the morning and many took the opportunity to tour the building to see what changes and renovations had been carried out. The main organiser, Tom Cassin, was delighted that so many people travelled from many areas of Australia to catch up. More photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsko9sAW7
UNE Office of Advancement
33
FROM THE ARCHIVES
TR FORSTER UNION OPENING
Union opening 1956
Opening 1956
34
UNE Office of Advancement
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Union Book page
T.R. Forster, was the son-in-law of the original owners of the historic house, Booloominbah. In 1936, he offered to purchase the house from the White estate and give it to the University of Sydney as a University College. Legislation was passed in 1937 to establish the New England University College. This substantial donation of house and land, worth at least ÂŁ30,000, was followed by other donations, and subsequently Forster was recognised by the naming of the T.R. Forster Memorial Union.
UNE Office of Advancement
35
Office of Advancement Ground Floor TC Lamble Building University of New England Armidale NSW 2351 P: 02 6773 2870 alumni.une.edu.au Publication Information Published by the University of New England ABN 75 792 454 315 Published May 2015 ISSN 2203-8000 If you would like to contribute to future editions of 'Unique’ we would love to hear from you!
une.edu.au