A Year in Review 2020 PHIL A NTHROPY AT THE UNIV ERSIT Y OF TA SMA NI A
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, students like Charlotte Jones are helping address the challenges of tomorrow, today.
Contents
The power to transform
The power to transform
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Thank you
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Heads above water
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Paying it forward
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A climate for change
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A slice of university life
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Maths saviour honoured
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Silent sentinels of climate change
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Jewel in our creative crown
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Island of hope to the world
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Celebrating a life on the land
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A friend to all bids farewell
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The impact of your generosity 22 University Foundation Committee
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To our donors, thank you 25 Banjo has a certain ring
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YOUR GENEROSIT Y IS BRE AKING DOWN BARRIERS TO EDUCATION Graduation season always provokes a moment to look back at my own experience studying Combined Honours in History and Drama. University was the place where my academic and personal interests collided in ways I had not anticipated: my deep involvement in the annual community fundraising effort is where an interest in mobilising others to help those in need all began; my dissertation focused on how the arts in the UK were funded. Ultimately both led directly to a highly rewarding career in advancement. Many years later, here at the University of Tasmania, I am passionate about enabling the widest possible range of students to have access to the rich and varied opportunities a university experience offers. The reality is that too many Tasmanians face extraordinary challenges that get in the way of benefiting from the transformational experience that higher education provides. That’s why I am so committed to doing all I can to make sure we have sufficient funds available through our access scholarships program to ensure cost is not a barrier to a university education. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the students in need of support and the funds we have available. The benefits to Tasmania and beyond will be exponential. It is wonderful to see how increasing numbers of you share this view, and never more so than during the challenges of the past year.
grateful that you held firm and that donor scholarships and research programmes continued uninterrupted, providing an enormous, additional emotional boost to staff and student morale. Industry forecasts for philanthropic support indicate that significant challenges lie ahead: wealth commentators warn that a decline in markets and continued employment uncertainty in key sectors – including those that are critical to Tasmania’s prosperity - puts growth in charitable support at risk, even when the need remains high. But I remain optimistic. Our collective concern for each other – the very essence of philanthropy – will sustain us through any of the bumps that may still lie ahead following the most extraordinary of years. We must never lose sight of the power of a gift to transform the lives of others. We must never take for granted those that put the needs of others first, as you have done. Thank you. Kate Robertson Executive Director, Advancement
We feared the impact the pandemic would have on support for our students and researchers, but we need not have worried. The way in which donors upheld their charitable commitments during the crisis was heart-warming. We are tremendously
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Thank you GR ATEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNIT Y As the world continues to navigate through this awful pandemic, I think we all feel grateful to be in this special place not least because of the extraordinary way the community responded to the challenges we all faced here. The COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us to change the way we do even the most basic things. As a University, almost immediately we had our students migrating online to continue their learning, and staff working from their homes.
Tasmanian philanthropist Dr David Warren set up a new honours scholarship to honour University of Tasmania Applied Mathematician and distinguished researcher Professor Larry Forbes, while the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre’s world-leading ISLAND Project helped us further understand who is at risk of dementia and how we can manage our chances of developing it.
However, I think the best way to remember a year that confronted us is from a place of gratitude.
And amidst a pandemic, a tiny school halfway between Hobart and Launceston won a national science competition thanks to their teacher – Tarnith Kelly – a past recipient of The George Alexander Foundation Relocation and Living Support Scholarship.
To have deeply committed friends who were willing to support our students overcome the pandemic’s many hardships spoke to the heart of what our University community is all about.
Thank you for making the University a priority. A complex and challenging year is behind us, and your goodwill has allowed us to begin 2021 in a different and far more positive place.
This support made a genuine difference to our students’ welfare, and in many cases was the difference in their ability to continue studying.
Professor Rufus Black Vice-Chancellor
The University community’s support also had an enormous impact on our research efforts in what was an unparalleled year. I want to sincerely thank you all for your commitment to our academic aspiration and excellence during this time. Your generosity is supporting an unprecedented number of students through scholarships, prizes, and fellowships. And this support bore fruit. I am pleased to share with you that despite a year of physical and social restrictions which included a period of lockdown, our students were able to continue with their studies, and we maintained a high level of research output with some terrific results. For ours is a community that responds in hard times. In 2020 we experienced an incredible growth in donor numbers. Our alumni, friends, and staff assisted more than 4,000 students facing financial adversity to survive one of the toughest years of their lives. Thank you. Your support for students in need contributed to one of the most vibrant philanthropic years in the University’s history. Despite the tough year, there were some other remarkable highlights.
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Heads above water WHEN THE DOWNTURN THRE ATENED STUDENTS’ WELFARE, OUR COMMUNIT Y STEPPED UP In an incredible show of support from donors, staff and alumni, more than $200,000 was raised to assist University of Tasmania students suffering hardship caused by COVID-19.
The Appeal, which launched in May 2020, formed a key part of the University’s response to ensuring students were safe, well, and supported. Alumni also gave generously, demonstrating to the future generation of graduates what a compassionate community they will soon be welcomed into.
This followed Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black and the University’s Executive Team making significant personal contributions of their own.
Stephen, a University employee who donated anonymously to the Appeal, said he felt compelled to give after hearing about the plight of students.
More than 340 generous donors have given to the Student Support Appeal.
“I thought that this was a time when everyone needs to pitch in and help each other out, so our family started to think about what we could do to support others,” he said.
Their generosity helped the University provide more than 4,000 grants to students to support their living and learning expenses. Laura Jewell, a final-year nursing student, was struggling to make ends meet when she contacted the University for help. “I was pretty desperate; unable to work, my family couldn’t support me, and I wasn’t able to afford both food and rent,” Laura said.
“Working at the University meant I was aware that there are some families who have cobbled together whatever money they can to support their children to gain a tertiary education, and COVID impacted many of these support channels. Many students also have to work to support their studies and when that work dried up, they were struggling. There is often a fine line between swimming and sinking.”
Laura received a $350 grocery voucher, which she said provided enough food for one month.
Paige-Raewyn Agius, a Master of Social Work student, lost her job in 2020 and the bills began mounting, putting her at risk of physical, mental, and emotional burnout.
“The money meant that I could afford groceries and keep my head above water,” she said.
Thanks to $400 worth of grocery vouchers, Paige-Raewyn was able to feed herself and stay on top of her finances.
Laura, who studied straight through summer and has started a job as a nurse at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), is incredibly grateful for the kindness shown to her during a tumultuous time.
“Being a university student is stressful on a normal day, because of COVID it became something unimaginable,” she said.
“Thank you to everyone who donated,” she said. “I will remember your generosity and hopefully someday I am in a position where I can help someone in a similar state to mine.”
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“Students like me were confined to their rooms worrying how they would get through the next day and couldn’t see a way forward other than scraping through. “We were surviving, but I wouldn’t say we were living.”
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Final-year nursing student Laura Jewell will never forget the generosity of the University community. Image: Peter W. Allen
Paige-Raewyn said she was grateful for the support, which meant she could continue her studies and her placement. While many donors wanted to meet the immediate needs of students like Paige-Raewyn and Laura, others chose to support Southern Lights Access Scholarship, which is part of the University of Tasmania’s Access Scholarships.
With the support of donors and the University, more than $2.7 million was provided to students for living costs, study resources, and emergency assistance during 2020. Find out more about how you can support students at utas.edu.au/giving/areas-to-support/people
Since they were introduced in 1995, access scholarships aim to help eliminate cost as a barrier to higher education.
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Paying it forward TARNITH KELLY ’S STUDENTS ARE THE ULTIMATE BENEFICIARIES OF HER SCHOL ARSHIP A cheer erupted in the classroom as the principal made an announcement over the intercom: their tiny school in the middle of Tasmania had won a national science competition, beating 35 entries from high schools around Australia. For the first time, the group of students from Oatlands District High School, who were used to measuring their success by their sporting prowess, not their scientific skills, believed that they could do anything. It’s a mindset encouraged by their teacher, University of Tasmania alumna Tarnith Kelly. “I am a big believer in putting in maximum effort,” Tarnith said. “It was so rewarding when they won the Science Week Kids Hackathon; their confidence grew when they saw they could compete on the national stage.” It’s moments like these that reaffirm Tarnith’s decision to become a teacher, instead of pursuing a career in accounting. But it is the smaller, quieter moments that keep her passionate about the profession. Such as when a student finally understands a complex concept or completely changes their attitude towards maths and science and begins to reap the rewards. Like so many Tasmanians, Tarnith faced twin barriers to pursuing a tertiary education: distance and dollars. Born in Longford, the 24-year-old studied in Launceston before moving to Hobart to complete a combined science and business degree. Her studies were supported by The George Alexander Foundation Relocation and Living Support Scholarship which provides students from remote and regional Australia who must relocate to study with financial support of up to $24,000.
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Since 2013, 51 Tasmanians studying courses ranging from fine arts and pharmacy, to environment and education at our University have benefited from the generosity of The George Alexander Foundation (GAF). In 2020, there were 24 students being supported by the scholarship. GAF continues to be a significant and very welcomed philanthropic partner. George Alexander AM (1910-2008) set up the independent philanthropic foundation in 1972. He wanted to use his wealth to help others. The English immigrant knew all too well how life could be a lottery of financial fortunes and misfortunes. Forced to leave school at 13, George’s family could not afford to pay for his motor mechanic apprenticeship, so he took a job in a bicycle shop before travelling to Australia to work on farms. He wound up in a garage in Geelong, Victoria. Here, his drive to become a mechanic was reignited, and George worked by day and studied by night to complete his training. A believer in the benefits of lifelong education, he continued his studies, becoming a lecturer and a successful businessman. Tarnith said the scholarship helped set her up for success. Without it, she would have had to work to pay for her accommodation and living expenses in Hobart. “I’m so grateful, the scholarship allowed me to work less, so that I could focus on studies more, and it also meant I could continue volunteering in the community, including running camps for young people and washing clothes for the homeless,” she said. “When you are given an opportunity like that it motivates you to make the most of it and that’s what I am doing.” Read more stories about University of Tasmania students who have been supported by scholarships at utas.edu.au/giving/why-give/your-gift-changes-lives
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Oatlands District High School teacher Tarnith Kelly. Image: Phil Biggs
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A climate for change WESTPAC SCHOL AR CHARLOT TE JONES IS FOCUSED ON THE NE X T GENER ATION “Take all the chances you can, go further, learn more, change lives.” These are the words that University of Tasmania postgraduate student and alumna Charlotte Jones carries with her as she embarks on an exciting new chapter as a Westpac Scholar. They were uttered to her by a girl in Kiribati, a nation made up of 33 low-lying islands in the Pacific Ocean, which is recognised as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. “Her words remind me of my responsibility to use further education and research to empower others,” Charlotte said. Her determination to deliver social change and fight injustices was first fostered as a child when her grandmother encouraged her to crochet blankets for the local women’s shelter, and she collected books for a school in Vanuatu. At every opportunity since, Charlotte has sought to use her skills to support others. Now her focus is turning to young people and the everpresent threat of climate change. There is growing evidence that young people are deeply alarmed, anxious, and angry about the future environment. “Climate change is an environmental, economic, and social crisis and young Australians are at the precipice of that,” Charlotte said. “My research will explore the role of emotions in shaping understandings of and responses to our global futures. “It will help inform policies and empower communities to participate in shaping their collective futures.” Her research received an extraordinary boost when she was awarded a prestigious Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship.
The opportunity, afforded to young people who are committed to finding creative ways to solve problems facing our community, provides $120,000, a bespoke leadership development program, and a lifelong membership to a network of like-minded individuals. For Charlotte it will enable her to complete her PhD at the University of Tasmania’s School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences in her hometown of Hobart, whilst tapping into a global network of Westpac Scholars. “Being located in Tasmania can, at times, be isolating — particularly during a global pandemic. The opportunity to be part of the Westpac 100 Scholars Network [will] be invaluable in being able to bring new ideas to my communities,” she said. Charlotte will interview young people and community leaders to gain a deeper understanding of people’s lived response to climate change to inform policy, planning, and mitigation action. She will also travel overseas to undertake an internship at an international sustainability non-profit organisation. “I will contribute a unique understanding of how nature and culture interact and how these interactions can be better managed to serve more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable futures,” she said. Charlotte said the scholarship offers the invaluable opportunity to learn in a community with diverse minds, to grow her understanding about her own skills and abilities, and to give generously to those around her. CEO Westpac Scholars Trust Susan Bannigan said the opportunity to build strong leadership skills was one of the key components of the scholarships. “We’ve worked closely with our university partners and Westpac to deliver transformational programs that not only challenge the Scholars’ thinking, but also increases their access to new networks and opportunities.” Ms Bannigan said. The University of Tasmania is grateful for the incredible partnership offered by the Westpac Scholars Trust.
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PhD candidate Charlotte Jones has climate change mitigation squarely in her sights. Image: Li Lai
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A slice of university life DOMINO’S REGISTERED CHARIT Y IS BACKING OUR FUTURE GENER ATION OF LE ADERS Whether it’s raising livestock, or trading on the stock market, rural students striving for a career in agriculture and business are being given the chance to study at the University of Tasmania, thanks to Domino’s registered charity, Give for Good. As the charity celebrates the graduation of the first two Tasmanian scholarship recipients— Amy Madsen and Georgia Griggs— it has signalled its support for the next generation of scholars by generously providing an additional six scholarships to Tasmanian students.
From a student who has been working on a dairy since she was 14, to a humanitarian refugee who wants to forge a career in business, there are now eight new students benefiting from their scholarships. Domino’s Give for Good scholarships, under the charity’s education focus of giving, are concentrated on building a future generation of leaders. The scholarships provide $5,000 a year for up to four years to students who demonstrate financial need and academic merit, and come from a rural area. Meet the first Give for Good scholars to graduate from the University of Tasmania.
Domino’s Give for Good scholarship recipients Georgia Griggs, left, and Amy Madsen.
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Image: Peter W. Allen
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AMY MADSEN
GEORGIA GRIGGS
Graduated from a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture and Business) 2020
Graduated from a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture and Business) 2020
Looking back, how did the Domino’s Give for Good scholarship support you during your studies?
Looking back, how did the Domino’s Give for Good scholarship support you during your studies?
“Growing up on a merino sheep farm located in a small rural community on the East Coast of Tasmania meant I had to relocate to Hobart for the duration of my degree. For this reason, the Give for Good scholarship has helped immensely with the major financial pressures involved in this transition including rent, stationery, text books, furniture, household bills, food, and petrol expenses.
“I’m so thankful to have been awarded this scholarship. It helped immensely during my studies. Ultimately to me, it meant I didn’t have to stress about finding a part-time job and then juggle my workload, as I was able to remain living at home.
“The Give for Good scholarship also allowed me to participate in two short-term study abroad programs in Peru and Indonesia, as it helped cover the major travel expenses including flights, accommodation and spending money.” Long-term, what is your dream job or area to move into within the industry? “Long-term my dream position would be to open up my own agriculture sustainability consultancy business in Tasmania with the concepts of biological/organic farming, regenerative practices, holistic farming and agroforestry central. “I would like to share my knowledge and passion with farmers, and other people interested in sustainable farming practices. Integrating automation and technology on-farm will be a major focus of my business. Incorporating global travel into my career would be my lifetime dream. “Long-term I see myself moving home to my family farm on the East Coast of Tasmania and establishing a vineyard and opening up a cellar door and/or an Airbnb tourism experience and building my very own home next to the beach looking over across to the Hazards in Freycinet National Park.”
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“I was able to focus solely on university, and because I didn’t have a job to get to, I was able to take breaks for my mental health. For example, I used a small portion of it to take myself on a small trip between semesters to Cradle Mountain – which was an amazing reset for my brain. I don’t think I could ever adequately thank Domino’s Give for Good for the support I’ve received over the past three years, it’s an amazing initiative.” Long-term, what is your dream job or area to move into within the industry? “I have two dream positions. My first and foremost one is to do Agronomy consultancy/ sales Agronomy. But one day I’d also love to give fruit marketing a go. That’s the main reason I elected to do the Ag Science/ Business degree, I didn’t want to lock myself just into one avenue.”
The University of Tasmania’s 2020 recipients of Domino’s Give for Good Scholarships are; Jordan Burr, Nellie Gillespie, Hayley Doohan, Alice Baty, Ben Spinks, Lesley Mitchell, Jordan Talbot, Ghulum Abbas Rajab Ali
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Maths saviour honoured THE CONTRIBUTION OF AN INSPIRING PROFESSOR WILL LIVE ON Physics and mathematics stalwart Professor Larry Forbes’s immense contribution to the University of Tasmania will endure, thanks to the establishment of a new scholarship in his name. It was a fitting way to mark the retirement of this highly influential applied mathematician, teacher and researcher, who is credited with reinvigorating the disciplines, inspiring students and conducting world-class research. The endowed scholarship was established through a gift made by alumnus Dr David Warren (BSc Hons 1981, Hon DSc 2008), which attracted a matched gift through the University. The Forbes and Warren Honours Scholarship in Mathematics and Physics provides students with financial assistance of $10,000. Dr Warren studied Mathematics and Physics at the University in the 70s, the “heyday of post-war physics”. Following this exciting period of invention and experimentation, the subjects fell out of favour in the late 80s and enrolments began to plummet across the tertiary education sector. Some universities decided to stop offering both subjects. Dr Warren was invited to be part of a committee to consider the future of the subjects at the University of Tasmania. “In my view, when you have a University that serves the State, there is a minimum card of subjects you have to carry otherwise you’ll be regarded as a tinpot university with meaningless degrees, so I fought hard to retain both subjects,” Dr Warren said. A decision was made to amalgamate the subjects and the first head of Mathematics and Physics was the dynamic Professor Forbes, who arrived at the University in 2000. “He really reversed the tide and cemented Tasmania’s position on the map, and I want to make sure Professor Larry Forbes’s contribution isn’t forgotten.” Prof Forbes remembers resisting the pressure to close the Physics Department, which had a strong focus on Astronomy.
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“With the tireless support of Dr Warren, we set about revamping and modernising the course material in Mathematics and Physics, and re-establishing a strong research culture in Mathematics too,” Prof Forbes said. “Today, both Mathematics and Physics have a suite of good, internationally benchmarked subjects that I think we can all feel proud of, and our top Tassie students can match it with the best in the world. “We have a terrific group of collegially minded academics in Mathematics and Physics, who carry out innovative research programmes in Astronomy, Mathematical Biology and Fluid Mechanics, and mentor research students working in these fields.” Prof Forbes said he was proud of what was being achieved in the two disciplines. “I am enormously grateful to Dave and Michelle Warren for all their wonderful support and encouragement over a sustained period, and it really is an enormous honour to share a named Honours Scholarship in Mathematics with them.” Dr Warren said he decided to establish an Honours scholarship after reflecting on his own experience as a scholarship recipient and a student who flourished in his Honours year. An Honours-year trip to Alice Springs as a Balloon Payload Orientation specialist, and electronics/microprocessor tech was a crucial moment in his career, providing exposure to experts and potential future employers from around the globe. “I got back from that expedition and I had offers to work in the USA, Germany and London,” Dr Warren said. Even though he didn’t take them up, this formative experience elevated his professional standing and he became highly sought after in his home state. “Many people do their undergraduate degree and once they have that piece of paper they leave, but for me, Honours was a turning point,” Dr Warren said.
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“It’s a further commitment, it’s rightly challenging, and you have to delay getting an income for another year, but it gives you a richer view of your discipline and opens you up to opportunities, particularly the chance to connect with other people from around the world, which is really important if you live in Tasmania.” Through this new scholarship, Dr Warren hopes to provide other students with the same opportunity he was afforded through his Honours studies: the year that ultimately set him up for success. While Dr Warren is perhaps best known for co-founding an ASX 200 software company, his passion and commitment to philanthropy and his University is palpable. His support, both as a donor and serving on the University Foundation Committee enables him to continue to shape the future of the University and the State. In 2016, he generously donated $2.6 million to the University to establish the David Warren Chair of Astrophysics, a position taken up by renowned French researcher Dr Jean-Philippe Beaulieu. He also supports the FSAE Electric Research Project, Honours Scholarships in Optical Astronomy, the Waterworth Optical Collection and the Greenhill Observatory.
Professor Larry Forbes, left, and Dr David Warren.
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Image: Peter W. Allen
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Silent sentinels of climate change TASMANIA’S GIANT WHITE GUMS ARE PROVIDING A VIEW INTO THE FUTURE For hundreds of years, stands of white gums in northeast Tasmania have been left to grow. Their distinctive pale trunks now tower above the landscape, seemingly invincible. Locals call them the ‘white knights’, but lately the eucalypts look battle weary, as they strain under prolonged droughts and increasingly frequent heat waves. Scientists are beginning to wonder—can we save them? The fate of our forests during global change is being put under the microscope by University of Tasmania researchers, who are eager to understand whether the white gums have the capacity to adjust to a hotter, drier Australia.
A $446,000 grant from Eucalypt Australia, a charitable trust set up to support the conservation, education and research of eucalypts, has provided the project with a significant boost that will enable the team to uncover knowledge to help restore, conserve and manage native and planted forests during climate change. The white gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) covers large swathes of south-eastern Australia and provides a vital habitat to many animals, explains Dr Dorothy Steane, an honorary researcher and former senior lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences. “Across Australia and the world there are increasing reports of forests dying,” Dr Steane said. “In Tasmania and NSW, a large number of white gums — tall trees that have beautiful, smooth, white trunks—have been dying; this includes the ‘white knights’ in Tasmania’s Evercreech Forest Reserve, which are among the tallest known flowering plants in the world.” Before the white gums die, the trunk cracks and oozes a red sap, causing the trunk to turn a ginger colour. “The death of white gums is particularly concerning because it is the main food source for many species, including the Forty-spotted Pardalote, an endangered bird that uses its specially adapted beak to scratch the tree and make a small hole that exudes a sugary syrup, which it eats,” Dr Steane said. “If these trees die out, it could also signal the demise of the Forty-spotted Pardalote and other dependant species.” Dr Steane and a large team of researchers at the University, together with colleagues at CSIRO, are committed to improving our understanding of forest dieback. “Over the past decade, there has been a rapid decline in the health of E. viminalis across its distribution following pest outbreaks and climate stress,” she said.
Dr Dorothy Steane
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Tasmania’s white gums are under sustained pressure from climate change.
“The extent to which this species has the genetic capacity to survive and adapt to a hotter, drier climate is a key question.” Dr Steane said it is suspected that in Tasmania at least, drier, hotter weather is the culprit. “We think the water pipes [xylem] in the trees are breaking because of the prolonged droughts and heatwaves. In NSW it appears that insects may be killing drought-weakened trees, but it is not completely clear,” she said. “But we want to work out the precise climatic factors triggering the death, the physiological mechanism that is causing them to die, and understand if there is any genetic variation in their susceptibility.
The team will use field, glasshouse and laboratory trials to identify adaptive genetic diversity related to native tree dieback, in order to better understand the genetic potential of eucalypts to adapt to environmental change. Dr Steane, who retired from the University in December but continues to support the research project in an honorary position, said financial support from organisations like Eucalypt Australia provided valuable assistance to the team in continuing their important work to conserve Australia’s iconic eucalypts. “We are extremely grateful for the support that we have received from Eucalypt Australia,” she said.
“We know that some trees die, and nearby others live, so it’s vital to understand if there is genetic variation in their adaptive capacity.”
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Jewel in our creative crown THE FUTURE IS NOW, AS TASMANIA’S WORLD-CL ASS CRE ATIVE HUB COMES ONLINE After more than a decade in the making, the heart of Hobart’s creative precinct, The Hedberg, is beating.
“We are seeing this reflected in our courses, for instance in music and video collaborations between the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Media and the interdisciplinary Creative Curriculum student cohorts.
Visionary donors played a fundamental role in delivering one of the State’s most ambitious cultural and arts infrastructure projects — the University of Tasmania’s new world-class learning and teaching space, which is designed to foster creativity and contribute to positive social change.
“In terms of industry engagement, we are able to invite
Music and creative arts students were welcomed onto campus in 2020 and preparations were underway for an official opening when COVID-19 changed the course of events for all of us.
and orchestrated a piece of music, which Classical
Prior to the pandemic, a small group of donors were privy to a curtain raiser, enjoying a bespoke private event to thank them for their generosity and to unveil the facility’s named spaces — The Ian Potter Recital Hall, Claudio Alcorso Foyer, and Vanessa Goodwin City Room and Vanessa Goodwin Roof Garden. While the main official opening is yet to come, the transformative effect on students and staff is already underway. Professor Kate Darian-Smith, Executive Dean and ProVice Chancellor, College of Arts, Law and Education, said the University was thankful and incredibly proud of The Hedberg and all it has to offer students, staff, the Tasmanian creative industries and the community. “The Hedberg has taken us boldly into the creative future, giving our music and creative arts students a world-class learning space that brings teaching and research together with industry and community,” Prof Darian-Smith said. “Generous philanthropic support has been critical to this magnificent project becoming a reality for us. “It has enabled us to evolve our curriculum and equip our students with the agility needed for contemporary creative careers and leadership.
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cultural and creative professionals into our spaces, opening up more opportunities for work-integrated learning and for performing and recording with the creative industries.” Commercial Music Creation student Kenny King composed Performance students performed in The Ian Potter Recital Hall in 2020. “It was mesmerising to hear what the space sounds like, to sit in the room with the orchestra was a special experience that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck,” Kenny said. In the future, Kenny is looking forward to tapping into the state-of-the-art music technology, particularly the complex speaker array, which he said could make a small, intimate space sound like a cathedral. The Ian Potter Recital Hall is set to feature a variable acoustic system and is one of a handful in the world capable of reproducing a reverberation field between 0.6 and 15 seconds. When it is installed, this technology will recreate the perfect sonic environment for the widest variety of performances, and opens possibilities for space to form part of cutting-edge compositions. The $110 million project was delivered through a collaborative partnership between the University, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments and the Theatre Royal. It is also supported by a $5 million gift from The Ian Potter Foundation and other cultural and arts leaders who have had their generosity acknowledged in the following named spaces:
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The Ian Potter Recital Hall The professional performance venue seating up to 289 patrons is named in honour of The Ian Potter Foundation. Sir Ian Potter was a philanthropist with a keen interest in supporting the development of Australian cultural life. In 1964, Sir Ian Potter set up The Ian Potter Foundation to enable him to distribute funds for philanthropic purposes.
Claudio Alcorso Foyer Named in honour of Claudio and Lesley Alcorso, who have made a significant contribution to the state’s economic, artistic and cultural development. In Tasmania, Claudio is perhaps best known for founding the Moorilla vineyard in Berriedale. He also founded Silk and Textile Printers and was known through association with the Elizabethan Theatre Trust, and as founding Chairperson of the Australian Opera.
Vanessa Goodwin City Room and the Vanessa Goodwin Roof Garden The Vanessa Goodwin City Room is one the key University of Tasmania teaching and meeting spaces inside The Hedberg. Dr Vanessa Goodwin was a much-admired criminologist, lawyer and former Attorney-General of Tasmania, Minister for Justice, Minister for Corrections, and Minister for the Arts. A portion of a bequest received in 2018 from the Estate of Dr Goodwin was allocated to the Hedberg project. The Dr Vanessa Goodwin Law Reform Scholarship was also established.
The Ian Potter Recital Hall, The Hedberg, Hobart CBD.
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Island of hope to the world THE WICKING CENTRE WILL RECRUIT 20,000 PARTICIPANTS FOR A WORLD-FIRST STUDY Tasmania is a small island that thinks big. This is no more evident than in its world-leading approach to tackling dementia, one of the main causes of death and disability in Australia. An ambitious, world-first project aims to use the population of Tasmania as a “test bed” for reducing the incidence of dementia in the entire population. The Island Study Linking Ageing and Neurodegenerative Disease (ISLAND) project aims to illustrate how we can ‘self-manage’ behaviours that can increase the risk of dementia. While the most significant risk factor associated with dementia is ageing, international research indicates that behavioural changes, such as adjusting diet and exercise routines, improving social contact or pursuing further education, could prevent one third of dementia cases.
The Wicking’s Director Professor James Vickers said it was the first dementia study in the world to target a whole population through a public health and educational campaign. “We’re really looking at using the entire state of Tasmania as a test bed to see if we can reduce the risk of dementia,” Professor Vickers said. “If this approach proves to be successful in engaging a substantial number of participants, the ISLAND approach can be extended nationally and internationally. “The ISLAND includes a focus on factors such as blood pressure, smoking and physical activity, important factors for a range of health conditions in addition to dementia, so there may be wider benefits for being involved in the program, especially in the area of chronic illness.”
The ISLAND project, run by the University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia and Research Centre, will recruit 20,000 participants. Tasmania is ideally placed for the bold experiment that could result in improving the health of current and future generations. It has one of the oldest populations in Australia and high rates of known modifiable risk factors. The ISLAND project offers participants free evidence-based education, via the highly successful Preventing Dementia online course. The Wicking Centre Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are recognised as world class, and so far more than 450,000 people have enrolled in them.
Tania Nelson Image: Peter W. Allen A YE AR IN REVIEW 2020
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The ISLAND project, run by the University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia and Research Centre, will recruit 20,000 participants. Image: Osborne images
Philanthropy is crucial to this mission. The University of Tasmania’s generous donor community has shown this is a health challenge close to their hearts. In 2020, MOOC participants were asked if they would like to support the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre’s efforts. Almost 500 individuals, most of whom were giving for the first time, donated $30,000 to the Wicking Appeal. Tania Nelson has seen first-hand the positive impact of exercise. She teaches Zumba Gold® fitness to older, active adults enthusiastic about maintaining their brain health, physical, emotional and social health, and wellbeing. To support the Wicking, she held a fundraiser with her Kingston Beach and Huonville classes where they “danced around the world” for a good cause. “I participated in the MOOC last year and wished to give back to Wicking as I am passionate about prevention of chronic disease and health promotion,” Tania said.
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“I trained and worked as a behavioural scientist, psychotherapist and rehabilitation counsellor and now as a personal trainer and fitness instructor.” Tania also holds Zumba chair sessions in residential aged care facilities with people living with dementia and their carers. “The joy and connectivity I witness is beyond words!” she said. “It is a beautiful and inclusive way to encourage people with limited mobility and neurological impairment to express themselves and to reminisce (using music that they know, can sing along with) and also to move in respect to their capacity.” With the help our wonderful community of donors, the ISLAND project will continue its important and impactful work that could become an exemplar for the rest of the world, driving global efforts to turn the tide on dementia. To find out more about the ISLAND project, or how you can support the Wicking Dementia and Research Centre, please visit utas.edu.au/wicking
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David McEwan AM, is still giving back to Tasmania at age 97. Image: Phil Biggs
Celebrating a life on the land ONE OF OUR OLDEST DONORS IS CULTIVATING THE NE X T GENER ATION OF FARMERS
survive on the land but to thrive, using the latest research
In the 1930s, there were no school buses in the rural
Even now at 97, Mr McEwan has a thirst for knowledge
Tasmanian township of Cressy. And so, at the tender age of
and an optimism for the future of the agricultural industry
nine, David McEwan left home to study.
in the state.
The third-generation farmer recalls his time in Launceston
While the first seeds in what would grow into a life-long
at boarding school as challenging, both for his parents
contribution to the agricultural industry began on the
as they bid him farewell, and for a boy from the country
family farm, Mr McEwan’s forward-thinking leadership
finding his feet in the city.
was cultivated through his extensive involvement in the Tasmanian Farmers Federation.
“I think it taught me self-motivation and confidence,” he said. But his school life was cut short; the sudden death of his father forced him to return to the family farm. He admits he was “thrown in the deep end”, but with the help of neighbours and the government, he learnt to not only
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and farming methods.
Over the years, his hard work, enthusiasm and expertise earnt him accolades aplenty. He held senior positions off-farm, including within the Australian Wool Corporation and CSIRO’s Division of Animal Production in Sydney.
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A friend to all bids farewell He describes becoming the first Tasmanian farmer to be awarded the Medal of Agriculture by the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science (Tasmanian Division) as a career highlight. He was the 39th owner-woolclasser in the country and in 1992 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the Australian wool industry. Mr McEwan has always strived to give back, whether through his deep commitment to the community, sharing his passion for music, or in the agricultural industry. One of the most powerful manifestations of his generosity and commitment to the future generation of farmers was the establishment, in 2017, of the David McEwan Scholarship in Agriculture. It provides an opportunity for aspiring agriculture students to attend the University of Tasmania. “It’s my way of giving something back to the industry that has given me a wonderful life,” he said. “There are huge challenges ahead and it’s going to take a certain amount of hard work and dedication, but there are wonderful opportunities in Australia.” Over the years Mr McEwan has met many of his scholarship recipients, a special experience for both parties. Febey Peace, the inaugural scholarship recipient, said she was proud and honoured to learn about Mr McEwan’s achievements. “Mr McEwan seemed very humble after all he achieved from his hard work throughout his life,” she said.
RHONDA EWART RE TIRES AF TER AN INCREDIBLE SIX DECADES OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE After serving and supporting the University of Tasmania for 63 years, our longest-serving employee and cherished philanthropist, Rhonda Ewart is celebrating her retirement. During Rhonda’s career, which began in 1958, she has made outstanding contributions in student administration, examinations, public relations, scholarships and fundraising. Since 1999, she has been a vibrant and valued part-time member of the Advancement Office. In addition to her professional services, Rhonda is a generous donor, as well as being a Foundation Governor, Member of the Vice Chancellor’s Circle, and a Friend of the University. Rhonda set up the Zoe Ewart Scholarship in Law to honour the memory of her mother. The scholarship encourages talented students to explore legal and justice issues at tertiary level. The Rhonda Ewart Honours Scholarship in Dementia Care provides an honours scholarship in perpetuity to be awarded to a student undertaking Honours in Dementia Care with the Wicking Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania. Upon her retirement, Rhonda was awarded the distinction of becoming a Professional Fellow in recognition of her exceptional and sustained service to the University of Tasmania over more than six decades. It recognises her deep commitment to the University and continuing support of its students.
The 2021 recipient of the scholarship, Bachelor of Agricultural Science student Tomas Thiessen-Delaney, thanked Mr McEwan for his immense support. “I will use this to allow myself to have the greatest impact I can on the agricultural industry,” Tomas said. Tomas’s goal is to find economically and socially efficient practices that are also environmentally sustainable. “As an Indigenous person, I also hope to be involved in creating opportunities and resources in the industry that benefit communities and aim to close the gap of Aboriginal disadvantage,” he said. Rhonda Ewart
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The impact of your generosity NEW DONORS SURGE DURING HARDEST OF YE ARS Last year was a year of constant change, but one thing remained constant - the generosity of our donor community. In 2020, almost $10.9 million was donated to the University of Tasmania, an increase of around $1 million on the previous year. In total, the University manages philanthropic funds, including bequests and endowments, with a total value of $93.6 million in 2020. This support is changing lives, enriching an extraordinary array of research, and supporting innovation and teaching excellence. The care our community demonstrated towards students during a difficult and disrupted year was inspirational. A record number of staff and alumni answered the call to help us address the needs of students suffering financial hardship due to COVID-19. In addition, it was wonderful that so many donors continued - and in some cases extended - their generous support of the University scholarship program, providing the opportunity, encouragement, and inspiration for our scholars to thrive. In 2020, 616 new and continuing students were supported through philanthropic scholarships, prizes and fellowships. Last year the University received 7,651 gifts. This is an incredible effort that we can all be proud of. Whether it was $10 to help save the world’s rarest fish from extinction or $10,000 supporting students through scholarships, every cent is used as the donor intended. With your help we are finding new ways to protect endangered flora and fauna, mitigate the impact of humans on the environment and solve global health challenges. Thank you. For further information visit utas.edu.au/giving
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616
$93.6M
New and continuing students supported by philanthropic scholarships, prizes and fellowships
Philanthropic funds under management across the University
2,935
$10.9M
Total donors whose generous contributions are transforming the lives of students and enriching research at the University
Total donations
545
$2.8M
Domain Society Members – donors who have supported the University for five consecutive years or more
received from bequests
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in 2020
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University Foundation Committee We would like to acknowledge the time and effort of the University Foundation Committee (UFC) members in providing governance and guidance for philanthropic activity at the University. Reporting to the University Council, the UFC oversees the University’s philanthropic policies and practices. We were delighted to welcome Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black to the role of UFC Chair in 2020. Key areas of focus in 2020 included a major review of philanthropic funds under management, and the introduction of a new annual report for donors about these funds.
Thank you to UFC members for leading and supporting philanthropy. Their efforts ensure donors’ interests and the highest standard of philanthropic management are upheld. Pictured from left to right: Dr Damian Bugg AM QC, Kate Robertson, Yvonne Rundle, Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black, Susan Gough, Dr David Warren, Peter Worrall, Associate Professor Ashley Townsend Image: Peter W. Allen
To contact the UFC, or to find out more about the Committee members, please email: UFC@utas.edu.au
To our donors, thank you Thank you to our wonderful community of donors. Together, we are making a difference to the lives of many. We’d like to acknowledge our new donors, who are listed in bold on the following pages.
I N D I V I D UA L S A N D F O U N DAT I O N S Asher Abrahams
Helen Baxter
Janelle Brent
Konstanze Ackermann
David Beca
Kay Britcliffe
Teresa Ahane-Ahane
Maryanne Bennett
Andre Brooks
William Alderton
Brendan Berne
Catherine Broun
Eva Alegre
John Berry
Edwina Brown
Naomi Allchin
Keith Berry
Elizabeth Bull
Christopher Allen
Betty Ward Foundation
Dorothy Bullen
Janelle Allison
John Binfield
Roger Byard AO PSM
Stephen Alomes
Tom Black
Lyndal Byrne
Anne-Maree Amies
Rufus Black and Catherine Anderson
Hayden Byrnes
Daniel Ang
Allison Cairnduff Dawn Blackwell
Fiona Arrowsmith
Cape Hope Foundation Jeff Blake
Patricia Ashhurst
Antony Carey Mark Bormann
Conrad Axelrod
Shannon Carey Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky
Adrian Baddeley
Roger Carrington Kellie Boucher
Jane Bamford
Dean Cashin Kim Boyer
Craig and Jane Barling
Claire Cattigan Fleur Brazier James Catuara
Karenne Barnes Marlise Brenner David Battin
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Bethany Challen
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Deanne Chalmers
Mary Davidson
Beth Cheney
Greg Davies
C H Miller Foundation
Paul Dawes
Simon Clark
Janine Dawson
Alison Clark
Moya Deigan
Andrew Clark
Nicola Dempsey
Clean Ocean Foundation
Hugh Denny
Susanne Clemens, Gabriele Clemens and Johannes Hackenberg
Harry De V. Gilbert
Estate of the late Margaret Annette James Estate of the late Mary Winifred Maxwell Estate of late Susan Wendy Nuttall Estate of the late Dr Peter W Smith Estate of the late Gregory John Walker Estate of the late Bruce Wall
Devil’s in Danger Foundation Inc
Gail Edmonds
Thomas Donnelly
Elsie and Pam
Jane Doran
Sarah Epskamp
The late Robert William Eccleston
Christopher Erett
Adam Coffin Jeremy Cole
Richard and Claire Eccleston
Dean Coleman
Estate of the late Beryl Bennett
Clifford Craig Foundation Linda Clow Elizabeth Cobbold
Richard William Eveleigh Roderick and Beverley Ewins Stephen Felmingham
Anthony Collis Rob Colwell
Estate of the late Clifford Caldwell
The late Michael Fenton Barry Ferguson
Brendan Condon
Estate of the late Harold W Carroll
Anthony Contoleon Saran Cook Mary Cook
Estate of the late Dr Daphne Cooper Estate of the late Nancy Turnbull Frederiksen
Robert Fergusson Family Foundation Marie and Stephen, In memory of Kate McPherson Michael Field AC
Timothy Cook Kirsty Cutter
Estate of the late Dr Vanessa Goodwin
Shea Finnegan Annie Fok
Patrick Daniels d’Antoine Family Foundation
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Estate of the late Hedley Lux Gregg
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
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Roger Frampton
James Hartigan
Derek James
Susan Friend
Brian Hartnett
Jean-Marc Jaquier
Karen Frost
Richard Harvey
David Jardine
In memory of Malcolm Leslie Elliott
June Hazzlewood OAM
Beverley Jefferson
Peter Heerey AM QC
Traci Jennings
June Heilman
JM Roberts Charitable Trust
Jeremy Hembrough
Andrea Johannessen
Nicholas, Peter, Mark and James Heyward
Euan Johns
Nicholas Gerber Stephen Gibbon
Jane Hildebrant
Daniel Goulding
Ho Sheng
Paul Gray
Rory Hobbs
Michael Gray
Brad Hobbs
Richard and Anna Green
William Holbourn
John and Anna Groom
Nicholas Hope AM
James Groom
Ann Hopkins
Mark Habner
Terry and Maureen Hopkins Foundation
Philip Keenan
Peter Howell
Mark Kelly
Sarah Jane Hughes
Huey Lee Sharon Kem
Briony Hutton
Martin Kennedy
In memory of Dr Peter Mitchell
Paul King
Yasutaka Fukuoka Leonard Gebhart Sydney Jane Geikler
Dayne and Alice Johnson Sarah Johnson Susan Johnston Dawn Jordan Tsubasa Kato Kaye Cussen Foundation Kelly Family Foundation Benjamin Kearns
John Hamilton Stuart Hamilton AO Hamish the Handfish Paint n Sip Fundraiser The Hand Family Jonathan Harper
Jane Kitson Irene Phelps Charitable Trust
Michael Harries
Shin Ching P Ko Woo MBE Michael Irving
Edwyna Harris
Lili Koch Roger Jaensch MP
Terry Hart
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Amy and Adam Kok
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Leanne Krosch
Christopher McDermott
Doug Parkinson MLC
Ian Lackey
Max McGrath
Chris Partridge
Amelia Langston
The McKeown Family
Pamela Powell
Chris Latham
Judith McKernan
Roderick Prange
Alec Lazenby AO
Roxley McLennan
Michael Priest
Mikyoung Lee
Andrew and Tess McNeill
Robyn Pryce-Jones
Kwong Lee
Zoe Merritt
Virginia Pursell
Pip Leedham
Shane Miller
Ursula Radzikowski
Simon Lewis
John Milton
Peter Ramshaw
Matthew Lindsay
Victor Moore
Jean-Pierre Redestorff
Caroline Long
L C and S E Morrell
Jane Reid
Kelvin Lord
Amelia Morris
Jarmila Reznicek
Ann Lovell
Camille Mortensen
Andrew Rhodes
Lung Foundation Australia
April Muirden
Rosemary Richardson
Benjamin Lynch
Anita and Michael Murphy
Glen Rickwood
Tim Lynch
Anne Murray
Timo Rieckborn
David Mackey AO
Peter E J Murray
Jeanette and Claude Rigney
David Macnaught
Robyn Nandan
Sharon Ritchie
Heather Maddock
Suzanne Neumann
Daniel Ritz
Stuart Madeley
Maree Norton
Michael Roe
Dan Mahoney
Gregory Oaten
Lisa Rosenthal
Karen Sullivan
Roz O’Connor
Robert Marshall
Helen and James Odell
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Foundation
Masonic Centenary Research Foundation
Simon Oldham
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation
Penny and Lee Palmer
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Caron Rozek
Elaine Smith
The Ian Potter Foundation
Bob and Terri Ruddick
Rick Snell
The Wicking Trust
Susan Rummery
Christopher Spiegel
The Merridew Foundation
Yvonne Rundle
Anthony Stacey AM and Jeanette Stacey
The MPST Foundation Ltd
Ann Ryan
The Sylvia and Charles Alice Stapleton
Viertel Charitable Foundation
Felicia Mitchell
The Tall Foundation
Emily Stewart-Reed
The TreadRight Foundation and AAT Kings
Ronnie Sammut Peter J Sands Catherine Saunders Christian Stoermer Karen Savage
The Whitehead Family Janet Stone
Susan Sawyer
The Yulgilbar Foundation Byron Sullivan
Louise Schaufler
Barrie Thistlethwayte Sussems Family
Matthias Schlesewsky
In memory of Ralph Thomas Christine Swainson
Roland Schock
Wendy Thomas David Swift Tony Thurstans
Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation Inc
Paul Sykes
Timothy Seekamp
Greg and Dianne Tempany
Julian Shaddock
The AW Howard Memorial Trust Inc
Jose Tongzon
The Geoffrey Evans Trust
Brian Triglone
The George Alexander Foundation
Lisa Turner
Mark Short Mark Shuttleworth
The Gilbertson Family
Medine Simmons
The Dick and Joan Green Family Award
James Valentine
The Halifax Foundation
Stuart Valentine
The Harris Estate Charitable Foundation
Francesca Vechi
Carol Timbrell John Tinnock
Sara Sharif O’Sam Shibeeb
Judy Turner Frances Tyler
Sirius Foundation Limited Raymond Smee Robert Smith
Marcello Verrocchi
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T Vincent and family
John Woods
Brighton Council
Samuel Vine and Robyn Stonell
Lesley Wright
British Ornitholigist’s Union
Alan Wyburn
Bruny Island Coastal Retreats
Robyn Wade Henry Yip Mark and Ani Walker
Burnie City Council Masafumi Yoshida
Catherine Ward
Burnie Emu Bay Lions Club Xinyuan Zhang
David and Michelle Warren
Business Northwest Jiuhua Cherrie Zhu
Carey Watson Simon Watson and Tom Celebrezze
Cambridge Primary School Zumba Gold dancers of Kingston Beach and Huonville
Campus Community Builders Committee
O R G A N I S AT I O N S
Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty Ltd
Albuera Street Primary School
Cement Australia Pty Ltd
Anglicare Tasmania Inc
Cheeky Devil Coffee Roasters
ANL Container Line Pty Ltd
City of Launceston
Antarctic Science Ltd
Colony 47
Apex Club of Deloraine Inc
COS
Aurora Energy
Costa Group
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (Tas Branch)
COVA Thinking Pty Ltd
Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women (Burnie Branch)
Delta Hydraulics
Rebecca Webb Ken and Jeanette Webb Geoffrey Weekes David Wheeler Lee and Jane Whiteley Wendy Whitham Wendy Williams Paul Williams Bill Willis Meredith Wilson Maria Wilton AM Donald Wing AM Ross Wischusen Mary Wong Lily Wong
Cromarty & Co
Department of Communities Tasmania
Australian Mariners’ Welfare Society
Department of Education
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Blundstone Pty Ltd
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Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
Launceston Airport
Detached Cultural Organisation Ltd
Lions Club of Westbury Inc
Royal Flying Doctor Service TAS Inc
LGAT ASSIST
Maria Island National Park DIF Management BV
Royal Over-Seas League Tasmanian Branch RSL Women’s Auxiliary - Tas State Branch Inc
Marine Designs Benni Dodoland MONA - 24 Carrot Gardens
RxSafety, Techcoat and RxDive
Driscoll’s Australia Early Childhood Australia (Tasmanian Branch) Environmental Health Australia-Tasmania
Mountain Valley Wilderness Holidays & Private Nature Reserve
Salvation Army DHQ Services Australia Community Staff Fund
MyState Bank Smitten Merino New Staff Solutions Pty Ltd
Eucalypt Australia
Somerset College Norske Skog Australasia
Extractas Bioscience Nyrstar Hobart Pty Ltd
Soroptimist International of Hobart Inc
Forest Practices Authority OMC International
Squidinki
Fundación Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos
Perth Baptist Church
Suncorp Group
Give for Good Limited
pitt&sherry
Tasmanian Community Fund
Glenorchy City Council
Programmed Facility Management
Tasmanian Gas Pipeline
Granville Harbour Wind Farm Pure Foods Eggs
Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company
Red Parka Pty Ltd
TasPorts
Rio Tinto Aluminium (Bell Bay) Ltd
Tasmanian Softies
Hagley RV Farm Stay Huon Valley Community Bank Hydro Tasmania Roaring 40s Kayaking
Tasmanian Suppliers Collective Bargaining Group
J&B Plumbing Rotary Club of Burnie Jarakoo
Tasmanian Wine Show Society
Rotary Club of Wynyard Lady Gowrie Tasmania Latrobe Council
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Tassal Limited Royal Aust & NZ College of Ophthalmologists (Tas Branch)
TasWater
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The Cat Protection Society of NSW Limited The Devil’s Own Ice Creamery The Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment and The Ecological Society of Australia The Merchant Navy War Memorial Fund Ltd The Spotted Quoll Studio Pty Ltd ThylaSwing - Musicians for Endangered Animals Tokyo Zoological Park Society Tourism Brochure Exchange University Club Waverley Primary School West Tamar Council Westlink Logistics Westpac Scholars Limited WiConnect Wild Scrubs Woolnorth Wind Farm Holding Pty Ltd Zonta Club of Hobart Derwent Inc
S TA F F
Kelly Davis
In addition, we would like to recognise University of Tasmania staff who have donated
Kellie Dean
Duncan Abey Robert Alderson Natasha Andrews Richard Angus Janine Arnold Chris Arnold Leanne Arnott Craig Barling Anna Beattie Mandy Bennett Rufus Black Paul Bloomfield Peter Boyce AO Heather Bridgman Janette Burke Patrizia Carr Andrew Chan Louise Clark David Clerk Stuart Crispin Rebecca Cuthill Kate Darian-Smith
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John Dickey Margaret Dorey David Durdin Richard Eccleston Saul Eslake Rhonda Ewart Denise Fassett Roger Fay Larry Forbes Simon Fraser Moya Fyfe Jessica Grant Melanie Greenwood Martin Grimmer Brett Harris Tania Harvey Jane Hawkeswood Nathalie Henning Kate Huntington Rick Inglis Chris Johnson Debra Jones Byeong Kang
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Jo-Anne Kelder
Debra Ploughman
Melody West
Nisha Kendall
Lynda Prior
Lee Whiteley
Dayna King
Tina Psereckis
Ben Wild
Matthew Kirkcaldie
Jason Purdie
Anne-Marie Williams
Anthony Koutoulis
Jillian Ribbons
Rob Wilson
Gemma Lewis
Jane Richards
Tania Winzenberg
Michaela Lightfoot
Kate Robertson
Louise Wood
Anne Lloyd-Jones
Elizabeth Ruthven
Jessi Woodroffe
Jane Long
Jenn Scott
Annabelle Workman
Regina Magierowski
Sonia Shimeld
Jacob Workman
Costan Magnussen
Miles Smith
Brian Yates
Erin Mahoney
Natalie Stoeckl
Rob Youngs
Cathie Makin
Janelle Tamlyn
Fiona McCarthy
Stephanie Taylor
Darlene McLennan
Brendan Theodore
Andrew McMinn
Ashley Townsend
Sebastien Meffre
Rod Tremayne
Steve Nicol
Susan Turland
Margaret Otlowski
Janine Uhlman
Karla Peek
Rene Vaillancourt
Irene Penesis
Lucie van den Berg
Sarah Pestrucci
Alison Venn
Corey Peterson
James Vickers
Jane Pittaway
Maggie Walter
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Banjo has a certain ring A WILD TASMANIAN DE VIL IS HELPING AID THE LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF HER SPECIES A reclusive Tasmanian devil who roams the foothills of Mount Wellington now has a name. Meet Banjo, pictured here with University of Tasmania disease ecologist, Dr Rodrigo Hamede. Banjo is one of 172 devils captured and released by our team of researchers monitoring the impact of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) on wild populations of the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial. In December, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal set out to raise $10,000 to monitor a wild devil population for the year. This new event in the Appeal’s fundraising calendar was a part of Giving Tuesday, a day where people are encouraged to come together to help transform their communities and the world. Donors went into the draw to name a wild devil, and Barbara May from South Australia was the lucky devil who won. When it came to choosing a name, she opted to stick to the adage: ’it’s better the devil you know’. The alumna, who graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Nursing in 2012, had several reasons for choosing ‘Banjo.’ She’s a fan of Banjo Patterson, it was her puppy’s nickname, and it reminds her of “a couple of blokes in the bush.” Thanks to the kindness of Barbara and 144 other generous donors, the Appeal raised almost $20,000 and monitoring the devils in the Huon Valley and Kingborough has begun. The research will provide crucial information about the wild population, breeding, infection rates and the spread of the disease. Dr Hamede said the researchers would like to thank donors for their support. “The response from the community was remarkable. They were full of enthusiasm, generosity, and empathy for this important conservation challenge,” he said. Find out more about how you can help the Tasmanian devil: utas.edu.au/devil
Dr Rodrigo Hamede with Banjo the Tasmanian devil.
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For more information about philanthropy at the University of Tasmania, contact us: utas.edu.au/giving university.giving@utas.edu.au +61 6226 1920 University of Tasmania Private Bag 40 Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
Cover image: University of Tasmania alumnus Li Lai | CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
