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THE GRADUATE UNION

NEWSLETTER AU G U ST 2 0 2 2

IN THIS ISSUE GU Collegiate 4 August Monthly Luncheon 5 Monthly Luncheon Speakers September to November

GU Promotions 6 End of Year Traditional Christmas menu 7 End of Year Christmas Barbeque menu

Reciprocal News 8 The University Club of Toronto

60 years a Residential College 10 Interview with DS Magid

Review 14 AGM Dinner with Peter McMullin 16 June Monthly Luncheon with Sister Brigid Arthur

Member’s Contribution 19 Poem by Life member Louis A Coutts

Graduate House News 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

The 110th Annual General Meeting Christmas In July Lunches Reciprocal Club Drinks Night Our new piano GHSG Table Tennis Competition Seen at Graduate House Organisation Groups 2022 Mid Year Annual Appeal

Editor: Shirley Ho Email: shirley.ho@graduatehouse.com.au/ publications@graduatehouse.com.au All images used in this publication are the resources of The Graduate Union and public sourced domains.

MONTHLY LUNCHEON Wednesday, 3rd August 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Guest speaker Annalise Jennings’s topic is The 4 Ancient age-old principles of ‘the making of community’ and its application to the corporate and the mainstream. Dine In: Members $37, non-members $42. Virtual attendance: Members $10, non-members $15

BRIDGE NIGHT

Wednesday, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st August 7:15pm – 9:30pm A fantastic opportunity to play social bridge. All levels of bridge players welcome. Player fees: Members $2, non-members $5. Food and beverages at bar prices.

SPECIAL MORNING BREAKFAST Tuesday, 9th August 7:30am – 8:30am Members and their guests are welcome to join Resident Members for a hearty breakfast at Graduate House. Free for Resident Members, Members $12, non-members $20.

WOMEN’S FORUM Wednesday, 17th August 10:00am for 10.30am start The topic of this forum is How do we see the new government performing? The Women’s Forum group extends invitation to new members and welcomes new ideas. Discussions are held in an informal and friendly atmosphere. The group then adjourns for lunch in the dining room. The forum is free. All are welcome.

AUGUST EVENTS

BOOK NOW: (03) 9347 3428 admingh@graduatehouse.com.au www.graduatehouse.com.au

GU COL L EGI ATE

Monthly Luncheon (Hybrid event)

W E D N E S DAY, 3 R D A U G U S T

Annalise Jennings Award winning business and community strategist, dedicated to transforming and maximising human potential.

Topic:

“The 4 Ancient Age-Old principles of ‘the making of community’ and its application to the corporate and the mainstream.”

ABN 55 610 664 963 | IARN A0023234B

G U CO LLEGIAT E

To help you plan better, here is the list of Monthly Luncheon speakers for the rest of 2022. 7th September - Sainab Sheikh Sainab Sheikh is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Zainab Sheikh Foundation, chairperson of the Somali Women Development Association (SWDA), a business owner, a postgraduate student, and a mum as well as president of the Rotary Club of North Melbourne. A refugee from Somali 20 years ago, Sainab left her home-country of Somalia in 2001, which was in the grips of a horrific civil war. She arrived in Perth and thence to Melbourne. At the September Monthly Luncheon, Sainab will be talking about herself, who she is and the work she does in the community locally and internationally.

5th October - Professor Milé Terziovski Professor Milé Terziovski joined Swinburne University of Technology in January 2018 as professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and director of the Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEI) program. He was appointed Department Chair Business Technology and Entrepreneurship during July 2018. He is a visiting professor in the Centre for Innovation at the University of Versailles in France.Professor Terziovski worked at The University of Melbourne as a senior lecturer and associate professor and held the position of executive director of the Centre for Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship for a period of 10 years. He also worked at Monash University as a senior lecturer for four years. At the October Monthly Luncheon, Professor Terziovski will discuss the role of digital innovation in SMEs during and post-pandemic

9th November - Dr Ross McMullin Ross McMullin is an award-winning historian and biographer who has written extensively about Australia’s involvement in World War I. Dr McMullin’s biographies include the award-winning Pompey Elliott and Will Dyson: Australia’s radical genius and Pompey Elliott at War – In His Own Words. Pompey Elliott was awarded the Christina Stead Award for biography and the Melbourne University Press Award for literature. His multibiography Farewell, Dear People: Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History and the National Cultural Award. Look out for more details on the topic for the November Monthy Luncheon in the coming Newsletters.

GU PR OMOTI O N

It’s never too early to plan your End of Year Christmas party! Choose between a Traditional Christmas menu or a Summer BBQ menu.

End of Year 2022

Function Menu Traditional Christmas Menu Available from 7th November to 19th December.

Set menu for lunch or dinner - Table service is 50/50 Entrée • Seafood salad (gf ) • Herb crusted beef with dijon cream sauce • Spinach and mushroom quiche (v)(vegetarian option) Main Course • Seasoned turkey breast with cranberry and chestnut stuffing served with roasted vegetables and gravy • Grilled salmon with pineapple salsa served with green pea and pumpkin puree (gf ) (df ) • Spinach and ricotta ravioli with creamy mushroom sauce (v) (vegetarian option) Dessert • Plum pudding with custard brandy sauce (v) • Mixed berry pavlova (gf ) (v) • Summer fruit salad (v+) (gf ) • (gf ) gluten free (v) vegetarian (v+) vegan (df ) dairy free 2-courses $62.00 per person 3-courses $72.80 per person 6

Minimum 15 guests

G U PRO M OT IO N

It’s never too early to plan your End of Year Christmas party! Choose between a Traditional Christmas menu or a Summer BBQ menu.

End of Year 2022

Function Menu Christmas Barbeque Menu Available from 7th November to 15th December.

Set menu for lunch or dinner In the Graduate House courtyard Main Course

• Porterhouse steak (gf ) (df ) • Lamb chops (gf ) (df ) • Gourmet sausages • Honey mustard chicken (gf ) • Vegetarian burgers (v) • Grilled haloumi cheese and summer vegetable platter (gf ) • Onions (v+) (gf ) • Selection of summer salads (v) (gf ) Dessert

• Mixed berry pavlova (v) (gf ) • Fruit salad and cream (v) (gf ) (gf ) gluten free (v) vegetarian (v+) vegan (df ) dairy free $65.00 per person

Minimum 25 guests 7

REC IPROCAL NEWS

Advantages of using Reciprocal Clubs One of the advantages of making use of a Reciprocal Club is that you will find yourself in familiar surroundings very similar to the Club of your own. You may not know the country or city that you are visiting well, and don’t want to go wrong; with an affiliate you are assured that the standard is one that you will feel comfortable with. Next is the cost; Clubs in general charge well under local hotel rates as most operate as notfor-profits and exist for the benefit of their membership – and as long as we have the benefit of reciprocity.

The University Club of Toronto Located on Toronto’s prestigious University Avenue and in the downtown core of the financial district, The University Club of Toronto is the perfect place to stay on your next trip to Toronto whether for business or pleasure. It is within walking distance of major arts, entertainment, sports venues and transit. Guests can experience the ambiance of a prestigious private club whose history dates back to the early years of the twentieth century while still enjoying the conveniences of the twenty-first. Each room is

adorned with works from a particular Group of Seven artist or Group contemporary. The University Club of Toronto is housed in a cherished heritage building that is a retreat for members to dine, socialise, entertain, be entertained and to do business. With an elegant ambiance and superb service the Club is warm and welcoming, collegial and engaging. It is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Canada, inspired by the rich legacy of London clubs.

R EC IPR O CAL NEWS

Among the many features that Club members enjoy: • • • •

a private retreat in the heart of downtown. Exclusive dining in the casual bar or elegant library. access to a treasured wine cellar. a boutique fitness centre with cardio equipment, machines, free weights, classes, squash and a golf practice facility with access 24/7. • modern accommodations for members or sponsored guests. • access to an international network of over 300 private clubs, many with overnight accommodations. • golfing privileges at a number of nearby private golf clubs. • various private rooms for corporate and personal functions. • access to an ever-changing calendar of special club events. • access to special wine offers through the UCT’s Wine Club. • network of like-minded individuals. The Club houses a North-American style squash court, a state of the art fitness centre, weight room and aerobics and pilates class studio, a golf practice facility and steam facilities. Accommodation rooms are located on the top floor of the clubhouse, where members and guests can book their choice of rooms from king, queen, and twin rooms. These overnight facilities are open throughout the year. Facilities in these rooms include: • •

high-speed internet service (hard-wired and wifi). en-suite bathrooms (modern glassed walk-in showers in queens and twins, and showers and bathtubs in the Kings). • air conditioning and individually regulated heating. • flat-screen cable television. • clock radios. • beverage making facilities. • telephones with direct-dial long-distance capabilities. More details are available at: http://www.universitycluboftoronto.com/ The University Club Of Toronto 380 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5G 1R6 CANADA General Inquiries & Reservations 416-597-1336 Reception@UClubToronto.com

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Celebrating “Graduate House: 60 years a Residential College” Continuing our interview series with residents, Councillor of The Graduate Union, Emeritus Professor Martin Comte OAM sat with Resident member DS Magid recently, to hear about her career in music and theatre; playwriting and her collegial life at Graduate House. 10

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You’re here from the USA to undertake research. I’m always delighted when I meet academics, artists and researchers like yourself who have chosen to stay at Graduate House for short or longer periods. Tell me about your background and your studies in music and theatre. When I was eight years old my eldest sister wanted to be an actress and found a summer school for kids attached to a local theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. She talked my Mom into letting her go – and Mom sent me along. Quite a few of us eventually went on to Broadway and some went on to television; it was an extraordinary place.

And this early experience presumably led to you studying music? Yes, and I decided I wanted to be a classical singer. During high school I auditioned for Cleveland Institute of Music – which is part of Case Western Reserve University – where most of the teachers play with the Cleveland Orchestra which, as you know, is one of the five top in the world. I was accepted and completed two years there before moving to New York and going back into musical theatre (and singing classical music on the side). From there on all of my training in music and theatre was practical and professional. Some years later, in 2004, The University of Melbourne kindly accepted me to do a Masters in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy based on my 25year career (to that point) of singing mid-to-late-20th century American art songs. The wonderful Merlyn Quaife supported me in this and became my principal teacher. (As an aside, she gave a 70th birthday recital this week at the Recital Centre – and her magical voice still sounds like that of a 40-year old.)

So you came here to do a Masters degree having had a wealth of experience as a singer and performer more generally. I’m very interested in your early career leading up to this. When I was at Uni and only studying music I was missing theatre – so I founded a little theatre company! Things were so much more ad hoc then, organisations would lend me their theatres and I would talk licensors into charging me basically nothing! We did the The Fantasticks, and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, among other works. I was full-time at university and also producing, which meant costuming and directing and all of these things at only 16. You have such confidence at that age, and I had already been eating and drinking theatre for half my life. And

Photo credit : Keliy Anderson-Staley then I hit 18, moved to New York, and worked my way up to Broadway.

What were some of the Broadway productions you appeared in? Camelot, with Richard Burton (Lady Sybil and occasionally the nymph Nimue), and The King and I, with Yul Brynner. Singing, dancing, and acting, I learned so much just by standing on a stage with those people. I did the first national tours after Broadway as well, and also went on the road with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with the Tony Award winner, Alexis Smith.

When you eventually came to Melbourne to enrol in the Masters degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, was this because you wanted to do more work in coaching? Just prior to coming here for the first time, during the Christmas holidays in 2003 – parenthetically, I stayed at the International House on Royal Parade – I had been offered a job teaching the History of

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Musical Theatre at The University of New Mexico. I would have loved the position, but it was rescinded because I did not have a terminal tertiary degree. In the meanwhile, I found family here in Melbourne whom I had not previously known existed. My ‘new’ cousin’s wife turned out to be a gourmet chef and an executive coach. We would cook together and she would coach me, asking ‘What do you really want in your life?’. I told her the story about having a dream job offer withdrawn because I did not have that degree and she said, ‘Well, you need to come here and do a Masters so that you can teach in a university. So I did! Since receiving my degree in 2005, I’ve returned a number of times: I brought a one-woman show to The Fringe of the Melbourne International Arts Festival in 2010; in 2015 I participated in an International Directors’ Lab; and I’ve also come back on other occasions to see my beloved ‘new’ family.

Have you been doing much vocal coaching in the years since graduating? After I graduated, I realised that while I’m good at it, my best strength isn’t teaching studio voice. What I am particularly good at – because of all of the years in theatre combined with my specialisation in midto-late 20th century American music – is coaching. Not only the vocal line, the arc of the music, and understanding the theory, but the acting. And it is a thing that I’ve noticed here: classical singers are technically, incredibly well-trained but their ‘presence’ lacks something. By contrast, it was such a pleasure to see Merlyn Quaife perform, not only is it a gorgeous voice, but she also always relates fully with her audience. My coaching includes that relationship, plus a performer’s understanding of where the music is doing your work for you, for instance, and how to tell a story that connects personally, to touch and move your audience. I think this is something that is sometimes missing from Australian classical performance, which I could develop and ‘teach’, and not only to singers. So I earned my degree in Melbourne and went back to Cleveland and started auditioning for theatre companies. But I could not get hired because I was coming ‘from out of the blue’ and there were some fabulous musical actresses in my demographic who were already well established. Then fate intervened. While studying in Melbourne I had somewhat spontaneously composed a fugue, the beginning of a work for voice and acting relating to the candy, Mars Bars! Then when I was back in Cleveland, Cleveland Public Theatre put out a call for a new workshop series.

So I made up a synopsis based on that fugue about a mythical land of candy bars where choice of a favorite was an allegory for sexual preference, and sent it in; I’d never done anything like this before. The Artistic Director called me up and said that he needed a little more so I got five friends together and we recorded my fugue (with a metronome ‘accompaniment’!) a capella. I sent it in and they gave me the grant. And then I had two-and-a-half months not only to write and compose, but also to produce this chamber opera in which I had written myself a role so that I could get on stage, be seen by the directors who weren’t hiring me, and get work as a performer. And that was the first of seven grants CPT gave me. They helped me become a playwright. Next I wrote a musical based on someone who had completely broken my heart and that led to my becoming a member of the Playwrights Unit of the Cleveland Play House. The group is usually for mid-career playwrights, but they felt that my work showed mid-career maturity and tendered an invitation. About half of my plays are whole-cloth creations, the other half are about historical women. I do perform occasionally, but creating and composing plays fills the majority of my time. That’s how I became a playwright, and I’ve never looked back. I normally have several works on the go at once but I was unable to create during Covid; the work simply wouldn’t come out. But suddenly here in Melbourne, the floodgates have opened and I’m not only working on the piece that I especially came here to research, but also another work – a musical about a weaver which has been seven or eight years in the making. Some works I can finish researching and within a matter of weeks I will have a first draft; others can take years. One morning a few weeks ago the weaver musical organised itself in my mind in an exciting, viable new way. When I have a draft I’m going to read through it with some friends here at Graduate House. This came about because one of my regular dinner companions is Sarah, who’s in veterinary school, and is on the student planning committee that arranges things like ping pong and movie nights. I mentioned that I might finish a draft quite soon and that a playwright works in private, but for a very social medium needs to hear their play ‘on the breath’ to know what works and what doesn’t – so to fix it. It can be better not to have professional actors the very first time because the actors may try to make something of their roles and I need to hear exactly what’s on the page, so it’s best to have sympathetic, smart, ‘regular’ people, and Sarah and others expressed interest in being my first group of readers!

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I’m so pleased to hear that you’ve not only made friends in your short time here, but that you have people who are willing to help you try out a new play. What a new and exciting experience this must be for them. Yes, what I love the best is that there are all of these people from different walks of life, ages, genders, nationalities, disciplines, interests – and I get to have one or two meals a day with these fascinating people. I’m already thinking quite seriously of booking next year here, partly because, for me, it’s perfect. The collegial nature of being here is great, we’re together for meals, and if we decide to be social, but then I can go back to my private space! It’s an extraordinary experience if you’re open to it. Some whose English is not so good are not always comfortable with new people, but the rest of us seem to circulate easily and get to know each other.

What is the play that you came out here to research? I was last in Melbourne briefly in 2018 and was walking along a street when the story of a play just ‘dropped out of the sky’ into my head, fully formed. I went into the restaurant I was heading for and pulled out my little notebook, and for the next hour-and-a-half I wrote the character’s story and backstory. It’s set during the Victorian gold rush period though is not about the gold rush per se. Researching from the States was difficult. Aside from Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, there was not a huge amount on the Internet about the world of the gold rush. There’s a lot about Eureka, but my play occurs the year before, so it doesn’t even factor. There were many references to books on the Internet – but I was unable to readily access them from the US. I’m also trying to research authentic Australian music from the era and this has not been possible from such a distance. So coming back to Melbourne to do my research was the only choice (and one I happily made). Perhaps it’s because of my performing background, but I also need to physically be where my characters live. My main character is a woman who has been very hard done-by, who ends up going into the goldfields around Clunes and staking a claim, and living as a man.

It's a story line not confined to the gold fields. Indeed, there are so many true-life situations in different times and contexts where this did happen. It really did.

Of course, I know you have won several awards for your writing and I’m already excited at the thought that this play – that in part at least you will be writing from Graduate House – might have its premiere in Melbourne. What else can you tell me about it at this stage? It will be a play-with-music, as opposed to a musical play. By that I mean, when a character in a musical has so much emotion that speaking isn’t enough, they sing, so the songs advance the story the way monologues and dialogue do. But a play with music is just that: music is part of the world of the play, the way it can be part of real people’s lives. I have a sense that it will come to fruition maybe this year, possibly next year. And because everyone in it is Australian in one way or another, I would very much hope to be here for its development – and, ideally, the premiere performance.

I certainly hope this will eventuate. Finally, you’ve said how much you are enjoying staying at Graduate House: how did you come to choose it? As soon as Australia re-opened following the Covid lockdowns I got my visa and began looking around. Graduate House came up in my searches and the more I looked at it the more I was interested. But it’s hard reading something online without any other information, and I emailed an enquiry because I couldn’t figure out how to join the Graduate Union; it said you had to be a member to live in Graduate House. This was the beginning of ongoing correspondence with Priya. She is amazing! I put her through the wringer with my enquiries and she was always warm and informative. I eventually arrived here completely exhausted because my town in New Mexico was about to be evacuated due to encroaching bush fires so I had left sooner than planned. The days leading up to my departure were insane; in addition to evacuating, my car was “totaled” with me in it! I finally arrived here with the taxi leaving me at the bottom of the street, and with the help of a stranger I managed to get my luggage into the lobby, and sank into a chair. Una furtiva lagrima was playing and there was Priya behind the desk, and she made me feel so very welcome that my whirlwind travels faded away.

We truly do have the most wonderful staff – all of them. I’m sure you agree that this is the secret behind a successful residency. It certainly is for me!

REVIEW

The GU AGM Dinner Thursday, 26th May

We were honoured to welcome distinguished Australian lawyer, businessman and philanthropist, Peter McMullin who was the guest speaker for The Graduate Union AGM dinner. Here are some salient points from Peter’s presentation on The University, Human Rights and Philanthropy. At the outset Peter made the point that it all began here at The University of Melbourne, an institution for which he has a great affection. He expressed his strong belief in what the university is able to do and will continue to do in the future. Rather than speaking of ‘giving’, he prefers to use the expression ‘giving back’. Peter stressed the importance of philanthropic support for this and other universities which, he suggested, are under threat, having been neglected by government for too long. Peter offered a personal reflection on the recent inauguration of an old friend, President José RamosHorta in Timor Leste, who has been elected for a second time. They first met in Melbourne in 1974 when José was advocating for his people, and Peter subsequently saw him at the United Nations where he was the sole voice for East Timor in the international arena, becoming East Timor’s de facto ambassador to the United Nations. José spoke out against human rights violations by the occupying Indonesian military forces and promoted a peace plan to end the violence in his country. During that time he struggled to get others to believe, but he demonstrated the power of persistence. To have seen José Ramos-Horta at

his second inauguration as President of his beautiful country was really moving, said Peter, who stated that stories like this inspire him to keep going. Peter’s work with refugees has led him to advocate strongly for stateless people — who live in all parts of the world, including Australia, and are often denied basic human rights due to their lack of legal status. As a consequence, in 2018, Peter McMullin and his wife Ruth established the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness within the Melbourne Law School through a generous philanthropic donation – one of the most significant gifts in the history of the Law School. The couple’s generosity resulted in the world’s only academic research centre dedicated to the issue of statelessness. It reflected their great humanitarian concern. With the guidance of international refugee and statelessness law expert, Professor Michelle Foster, the Centre has undertaken research, teaching and engagement activities aimed at reducing statelessness and protecting the rights of stateless people in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. The Stateless Children Legal Clinic, established in 2021, is a proud partnership between the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, the Refugee Advice Casework Service and the Melbourne Law School Clinics at The University of Melbourne. This offers a unique service providing legal education and aid to eligible stateless children in their application for Australian citizenship. There are an estimated 10–15 million stateless people in the world, approximately one third of whom are

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children. Without nationality, stateless children face barriers in accessing education and health care; and in Australia, the threat of prolonged and indefinite immigration detention. Peter and Ruth McMullin also support most generously The Science Gallery Melbourne, which plays an important role in exploring the nexus between science, art and innovation. In announcing their gift of $4 million during the 2019 National Science Week, they said that the Science Gallery Melbourne is a vital and important new addition for young people and they hope to encourage more women to enter the world of science. Peter spoke of The University of Melbourne’s very successful “Believe” campaign, launched publicly in May 2013, with a dual target of activating and engaging 100,000 alumni and friends in the life of the University, and raising $1 billion to support people, facilities and research that will change the world. He reminded us that universities today still maintain a high degree of trust in the community and the strength that they hold needs to be recognized and supported. Social disharmony is on the rise and the universities have a role to play: “We believe there are solutions; we need to find a way forward.” As a board member of many organisations Peter acknowledged that they are all — in their respective ways — tackling their

issues. At the same time he underscored the integral role of universities in supporting these organisations by coming up with solutions and addressing pressing issues — not least those relating to climate, decarbonization, renewables, etc. He underscored the real capacities within universities for their researchers to engage in all such debates. In stressing the importance of philanthropy, Peter stressed that it is deeply embedded in systems of networks in our immediate community and more broadly, and as such has the power to influence debates. He strongly encouraged people to be philanthropic whenever they are able to do so — whenever they are in the fortunate position of being able to give. And he sees this as being the basis for further giving and involvement across the generations. The values of philanthropy, he said, are positive values — and ones he would like to see more entrenched in society. In this respect he highlighted the difference between Australia, the United States and parts of Europe and expressed the hope that we in Australia will increasingly be inclined to give – and give back. The Chairman of Council of The Graduate Union, Mr Vincent Mirabelli, expressed his gratitude to Peter McMullin for sharing with us his insights and involvement with The University with respect to his work in Philanthropy.

REVIEW

June Monthly Luncheon Wednesday, 1st June

Sr Brigid Arthur CSB AO Justice for the people seeking asylum in Australia

Sister Brigid Arthur gave a presentation on the topic “A reflection on Australia’s response to asylum seekers” at the October 2011 Monthly Luncheon. We are pleased welcome her back again to Graduate House. At the June 2022 Monthly Luncheon, Sister Brigid shared her ongoing work in seeking justice for the people seeking asylum in Australia. Let me start by reminding us all of a quote from Malcolm Fraser who said that “As long as there is war and persecution anywhere in the world, there will be people fleeing to safety no matter how or when it happens”. It is the inalienable right to seek safety which was recognised after World War II, though Australia has never enforced that right in our domestic laws, and as a result, we are unable to bring cases to court on the basis of the rights of people being here. How did I came to be doing this work? I have always been a teacher, teaching in primary and secondary schools in Country Victoria (Horsham, Kyabram) and Mebourne (Hawthorn, Albert Park, Geelong, Sunshine West). I loves teaching and would find ways to engage with kids. At the time when I was working in Sunshine West, new waves of different people were coming and immersing into our racially diverse community and I was interested in these new arrivals. Within the ethnic mix, mainly dominated by Greeks, Italians and Maltese, the Vietnamese started arriving in the 70s, many working in textile factories. A few decades later, the Vietnamese were accepted into the community because they have been here long enough. And now, new groups of people are arriving, some from wartorn countries like Bangladesh, Afghanistan or Syria. I was living in nearby Ardeer which was full of older women who had survived the 2nd World War. They were Ukrainians, Russians and Polish women, mainly

widows who came with their husbands and later died. The women had then been forced across borders or lived under the houses of German farmers with their animals. Because I lived among new migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, I learnt about the difficulties that many faced and I got to know them and was fascinated by their stories. I was part of a justice group who worked on social issues where one of the group people was a refuge, and it was then that we began to realise that there were actually refugees here in Melbourne. We decided to visit the MIDC (Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre), to offer help and find out more. However, we were refused entry unless we had a particular person to visit and by sheer chance, a member of this justice group met the cousin of the cook at the MIDC, and through that cook, we obtained a spreadsheet list containing the names of the detainees, their country of origin and their occupation before they got here. I wrote to some of them, mainly to those from Pakistan in the hope that they understand English, and eventually managed to get hold of one contact who was still in detention. I went to the centre in clutches because of an accident and he met me and was using the exact same clutches as me and we had a good laugh. He told me that I was the first person he spoke to in six months, except for the guards and he made me promise to come back to visit, which I did and I got to know him until today. We also learnt of another young Pakistani detainee who was psychiatrically disturbed and was falling apart and that this young man had the opportunity to be released if he paid money. It was later learnt that those who came by boat had to be detained but those who came by plane — and had been in the community for a while, and then put back into a detention centre — could be let out with a fee! I approached immigration and was told that it would cost AU$3000k to have

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him released and then later, I realised that with this loophole, we could get more detainees out. By then, the amount was hiked up and the amount had eventually reached AU$50k per release! This man was finally released and we housed him (we were fortunate to find a house in between rentals) and it became apparent later that more was needed to be done for him. He needed care and he was lonely (24 years old) — and that was when we decided to house more people — not with the idea that we would be looking after more people but that was one need that had to be satisfied. By that time, the Brigidine Asylum Seekers project was housing 300 people, and that was where the huge gap was — these were people who were destituted with nowhere to go unless they got housing and housing was the first step for them before they started looking for employment. So that was how it has grown. As I gradually evolved away from teaching, asylum seekers became my focus. The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project, which does four things: 1. Provide hospitality and practical support for people seeking asylum;

I would like to share some stories of the people I have met while doing this work.

2. Actively network with like-minded individuals and groups who are working for justice for asylum seekers;

I first met Ali at MIDC. He was released from detention and had returned to Afghanistan, and when he came back, he was put into detention again, and this time it was in the MBDC (Maygar Barracks Detention Centre) in Broadmeadows. On my first visit, I thought he didnt look that bad, but on this visit, he was shuffling across the room and was barely remembering that he has met me even though it hasn’t been that long ago.

3. Promote advocacy for the rights of people seeking asylum; 4. Engage in education about asylum seekers’ issues Australia has a system of mandantory detention which means if anyone picked up is staying illegal here, they will be put into detention. We are the only country in the world with mandatory detention. We now use remote places like Manus Island, Nauru and Christmas Island. In the past, most were sent to remote places in north of Queensland and Western Australia.

I had tried to arrange for a health service for him from IHMS (International Health and Medical Services). IHMS is a health service system contracted by the Australian government to provide primary and mental health care to people in immigration detention in

REVIEW

Australia, and to asylum seekers and refugees residing in Nauru. IHMS also manages the health care of people in community detention through its network of community providers. He was then sent to the Broadmeadows Medical clinic, which I realised was a mistake. His condition will not improve there, and that of the other 15 detainees sent there weren’t either. Most asylum-seekers were given Panadol to treat every ailment with no real consultation. I then advocated very hard for him to be returned to the MBDC as it was a little better for him than the clinic, and we eventually managed to get him released. Another story is of a man who managed to move his wife and 3 children (a daughter and 2 sons), from Afghanistan to Quetta, Pakistan, thinking that it would be safer there and he was desperate to be reunited with them. He was first granted a bridging visa, and then a TPV (Temporary Protection Visa). TPV holders are not allowed to bring their family along with them. He was in the community, trying to survive with bits of work, and was excited to one day receive a call from his daughter who said that she is “here” in Australia. “I don’t know where she is but I know she is not in Pakistan. Can you find out where she is?” And so we traced that call and found that she had been in Indonesia and had got into a boat from there to Christmas Island. So the first “’here” was in Indonesia and the second “here” was when she rang again from Christmas Island. She had told her father, “They told me this is an island and you can come to see me because its in Australia” and he had to say, “No, its not really Australia and I can’t come but you can ask them to send you to Melbourne.” She did eventually ended up in Melbourne, in a detention centre and I accompanied him to see her and saw that she was the smartest little kid - she was 14 at that time, and had come by herself. We learnt that she tagged behind a family and pretended to belong to that family. That girl went into Year 9, finished school and went onto Deakin University. She finished a Biomedical Science degree...and she never got anything less than a distinction…and if she didn’t get a high distinction, she thought she failed! She was doing a Masters in Clinical Research and working in clinical research at St Vincents Hospital. In the meantime, his wife and 2 sons, while still in Pakistan, survived solely on the money sent to them by their father from here which was hardly enough for them to get a room on their own. The family where they were staying with treated her like a slave but she put up with it and did all the hard work. Being an enterprising person, she eventually applied for an American tourist visa, and had ended up in New

York. Both their sons attended school, and with the eldest now nearly 18, the family is closer to obtaining a “Number”, which means, a legal permit to work. Ali was relieved with the news because his daughter and him had been sending money over, and his daughter had been working and studying masters at the same time. With the new government, Ali holds much hope that the TPV he currently holds will be automatically converted into Permanent Visa so that his family can be united with him here. For the first time, there was a spark in his eyes. So in conclusion, detention is a disaster, and in my opinion, unnecessary. Why do we get so much red tape about people coming by boat? I believe detaining people solely due to their immigration status is harmful, expensive and ineffective as a deterrent to migration and the Australian government should stop punishing those who have fled violence in search of a safer life. While the ALP (Australian Labour Party)’s refugee policy includes some positive and welcome changes, such as ending temporary protection and increasing the refugee and humanitarian program, the ALP continues to support the offshore processing policy introduced under Kevin Rudd’s leadership in 2013, and the new government’s plans do not include any change to the cruel offshore processing policy for people seeking asylum. Thank you, Sister Brigid Arthur for a wonderful presentation. Thank you also, for your ongoing support for refugees and asylum seekers. The Graduate Union congratulates Sr Brigid Arthur who was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to social welfare, particularly asylum seekers and refugees, and to Catholic education in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. If you are interested in supporting this worth cause, please direct your donations via direct transfer to the BASP bank account below. Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project BSB: 083-004 Account Number:56-924-6603 For more details on the BASP projec, go to: https:// brigidine.org.au/new-brigidine-asylum-seekerproject-website/

M E M B E R S CO N TRIBUT IO N

AUGUST There are wild days in August. Winds that wring the last breath of winter cold that pierces the sunshine and imprisons spring. A month that says that summer shall never come, that camelias and blossoms are but frauds when winter clings to bursting blooms and icy hands and defies the sun to make those fingers thaw. A month when firesides are friends and embers burn warm messages across the hearth creating tiny enclaves from the autumn cold while stories from the fire side are told. But August is a month whose time has come and at the end its final chilly tale is spun, it’s last cold breath is breathed across the earth when nature to the beauty of a flowering spring gives birth. - by Life member, Louis A Coutts

110TH ANNUAL GE NE R A L ME E T I N G

110th Annual general meeting (AGM) The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne held it’s 110th annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 26th May 2022. The general manager took the chair of the Meeting, declared the 110th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Association opened at 5.30pm and welcomed all members and members of Council.

Election of Council members The report from the Returning Officer indicated that for the annual elections to Council in 2022, as a result of the rotating retirement of Council Members, three vacancies had been advertised in February and at the close of nominations on 10th March 2022, three valid nominations had been received; they were from: • Mr Lawrence Grima, • Mr Vincent Mirabelli • Professor Max Stephens Since there are three vacancies to be filled on Council, a ballot was not necessary and that the above-listed successful candidates were declared elected and the term of office for these appointments will be until the annual general meeting in 2025.

Retiring Councillor The chairperson of the meeting extended gratitude to retiring Councillor, Mr K Ryall, noting that he had first been appointed to Council in 2011 and elected in 2012, and that over the past nine and half years on Council, Cr Ryall had also been on the Membership and Marketing subcommittee as a member and chair of the Subcommittee, vice-chair of Council for the past two years and contributing particularly to the governance, fundraising, membership drives, the GU newsletter and partner relationships Membership and Marketing subcommittee. An award was presented to Cr Ryall at this time. The chairperson of the meeting extended gratitude to retiring electoral officer, Mr Ron Ritchie for his

governance contribution and long service to the Association noting that he has been the Returning Officer for the Graduate Union since 2002 and a Life member since 1980. His contribution has been immense and not only to the Election process but for the assessment of the rules, regulations and Procedures around the election of members to Council.

Appointment of the auditor The appointment of Wayne Tarrant of JTP Assurance to undertake the independent audit for the financial year ended 31 December 2022 was received.

GU Master Plan The Graduate Union Council updated members on the work and progress on the Master Plan Stage 1 project. Council had identified that a partnership, with a likeminded organisation, would be the best option for the project to become a reality within the planning permit timeframe. To that degree, Council conducted a dedicated meeting to discuss what the association and residential college required from the project and thus commissioned the Graduate House Summary Report. The report outlined the minimum requirements needed from the project by The Graduate Union. This report, which will be made available to any prospective partner, was circulated by email to members prior to the AGM; and hardcopies were available to members at the AGM. Members at the meeting identified the need to ensure that The Graduate Union, and not just Graduate House, was being looked after. Highlights of the report showed many of the minimum requirements are specific to enhancing the association. Council is dedicated to getting the best outcome for our membership and will continue the work on this project.

Date of next AGM The Chairperson of the meeting advised members that the next AGM is scheduled for Thursday, 25th May 2023.

G R A D UATE H O USE NEWS

Christmas In July Lunches

Thank you for joining us at our Wednesday Christmas-themed Lunches!

GRAD UATE HO USE N EWS

Reciprocal Clubs Drinks Night At the Reciprocal Club Drinks Night held at Graduate House on Friday evening, June 10th, we were entertained by Emma-Mae and Nelson Rufatt. The performance over two hours of this most talented musician couple was a delight from beginning to end. So much so that some people could not resist dancing and others just foot tapping! Emma-Mae is a classical and jazz singer, as well as a chorister at St Peter’s Eastern Hill, and music tutor at the King David School in Armadale. She graduated with honours from the Melbourne Conservatorium in 2017, having completed her degree in classical voice. She also has a Masters of Instrumental Music Teaching from that institution, and in addition to performing hopes to be a full-time classroom music teacher and choral director. Nelson is her husband and piano accompanist. He has composed and arranged for choirs and other ensembles, including his former jazz-rock group, The Alpha Experiment. This band was an award winner in his teenage years at the Sydney Fringe. He has also made several recordings. Nelson has a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is an honours graduate in English and philosophy from The University of Melbourne. His poetry has been published in Quadrant Magazine, and he is the host of Counterturn — a podcast about humanism and the arts. He is also an occasional presenter on 3MBS Melbourne for the show Morning Classics. Together, the Rufatts perform jazz standards and modified classical and folk repertoire under the name E & N Music. They are the musical directors for the National Braille Music Camp, held each year in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. An added treat on the night was that they also graciously responded to requests. They call Brunswick East home, but are increasingly in demand for gigs in Melbourne and Sydney. Their superb musicianship combined with their engaging personalities will undoubtedly see them performing even more widely.

G R A D UATE H O USE NEWS

Our New Piano With this edition we announce the arrival of a lovely Yamaha Grand Piano. Those who have already heard it can attest to the beautiful quality of its sound. The recent singing-piano performance by duo artists Emma-Mae and Nelson Rufatt left us in no doubt that we needed to invest in a quality grand piano. Within a few weeks we had raised the money from very generous Graduate Union donors.

We have no doubt that this beautiful instrument will be the source of musical entertainment for many years. It opens new possibilities not only for high quality performance, but also piano ensemble activities and just having fun.

GRAD UATE HO USE N EWS

GHSG Table Tennis Competition Graduate House Student Group organised an in-house table tennis competition on 29th May 2022. Promotions for the event started in early May to provide ample time for Graduate House resident members to sign up. Various forms of advertising platforms such as emails, posters, Facebook Resident Society messenger group and Word of mouth were used to reach out to as many members as possible. Fourteen people signed up, including Jian, the sports coordinator, who was the main person in charge of this competition. Players were divided into four groups and the top two participants in each group advanced to the quarter finals. Kicking off the first match at 10am was the eventual champion, James against Chutong Wong. Unfortunately, some participants who played one game (the first game) did not show up for the next stage, thus, the group stages were completed quicker than expected. James, Jian, Gota and Gaoli won their quarter finals match in straight sets (2-0) and proceeded to the semi-finals. Both games turned out to be a tightly contested affair with James and Jian needing 3 games to defeat Gota and Gaoli respectively. A pulsating final saw Jian and James fighting neck to neck and James eventually won the competition with the tightest score of 9-11, 11-7, 12-10. The winner received a mystery bag as the first prize, the first runner up received a footy ball and the semi-finalists were all rewarded a box of chocolates each. Spectators and participants also received chocolates as a token of gratitude for participating and supporting this competition. And with that, the very successful in-house competition ended at 1pm. To the kind staff (anonymous) - a big shout for your sponsorship of prizes! Also, for the purchase of new table tennis bats and balls. You have been most kind and generous!

G R A D UATE H O USE NEWS

Seen at Graduate House Congratulations to Darcy and Bronwen! Darcy and Bronwen Seller celebrated their wedding reception with 37 of their closest family and friends and it was held in the combined Stillwell and Ian Potter room, We are grateful for your patronage and pleased that you have chosen to hold your special event at Graduate House. The Graduate Union team wishes you much love and happiness!

Women’s Forum ladies at Lunch

Melba Group in the Johnston Library 25

GRAD UATE HO USE N EWS

Organisation Groups We thank the following groups for their event bookings at Graduate House in May - June 2022 Advancement office Asia Institute Australian Society of Music Education (ASME) Victorian Chapter Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) Victorian Division Committee Australian Calabrese Cultural Association

Melbourne School of Professional and Continuing Education (MSPACE) Melbourne University Alumni Bushwalkers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia Michael Quin Mr Douglas Marshall

Australian Psycholgical Society

Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller Incorporated

Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) VIC

Parkville Conference of St Vincent de Paul

Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN)

Paul Harris Society

Barry Dance Bob Slater Business Services Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Manufacturing Division Committee of Convocation Department of Infrastructure Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Graduate House Student Group (GHSG) Indigenous Health Equity Uni Institution of Civil Engineers Marilyn Cobain Melba Group Melbourne Medical School (MMS) Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Per Capita Inc. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Probus Club of Carlton Richard Thwaites Ripponlea Institute Rotary Club of Carlton Royal Australian Chemical Institute Rulethirteen Sandy Bennet Social Education Victoria (SEV) Stroke Association of Victoria The Graduate Union GU Collegiate Events and Meetings Trinity College London Turkish Teachers Association of Victoria

2022 M IDYE A R A N N UAL APPEAL

2022 Midyear Annual Appeal Funding Graduate House Residential Scholarships My Contribution $25,000

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220 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia Telephone: +61 (0)3 9347 3428 Australian Business Number: 55 610 664 963 Incorporated Association Registration Number: A0023234B