THE GRADUATE UNIONÂ
NEWSLETTER JUNE 2018
Contents / GU Newsletter
CONTENTS GU COLLEGIATE
SEEN AT GRADUATE HOUSE
4
AGM and Dinner 2018 Guest speaker, Ms Anne Robinson AM
17
Happy Birthday Nancye!
5
June Monthly Luncheon Ms Caitriona Fay and Ms Chantelle Georgy
17
Welcome to Ms Audrey Mhandau
6
Coming Monthly Luncheons
FEATURES 7
Universal Basic Income: What is it and why does it matter? Professor Shelley Mallett
RESIDENT MEMBERS NEWS 18
MEMBER CONTRIBUTION 19
Conviction Mr Mac Nicoll
20
Life Mr Louis Coutts
REVIEWS 9
10
Star Carnivale at Docklands
April Women’s Forum The importance of recycling and sustainability, and the value of op-shops
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS
May Monthly Luncheon Mr Paul Briggs OAM Investing In our Futures - Repositioning Value
OTHER SECTIONS
GRADUATE HOUSE NEWS 12
Influenza Vaccination Day
13
College Table Review
14
Opening of The Sir John Monash Centre Villers-Bretonneux, France
14
Leadership in action An Evening with Hillary Rodham Clinton
15
Rotary Club of Carlton Special Lunch
16
Oaktree lunch highlights the challenges of poverty
17
Our new Club chairs
22
April 2018 Listings
21
Discovering Melbourne
24
How to look after your gut bacteria
25
Animal selfies - is it worth it?
26
Feedback
27
Diamond Jubilee Campaign Contribution Form
2 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
GU Collegiate / GU Newsletter
GU COLLEGIATE AGM and Dinner
Italian Conversation Dinner
English Conversation Corner
The annual General Meeting (Members only), followed by the AGM Dinner (open also to nonmembers) with guest speaker Ms Anne Robinson AM.
Come along to dine while learning to speak Italian with an experienced teacher.
Practise your English conversational skills in a relaxed and casual environment.
Members $17 non-members $25
Free for Resident Members
Meeting: 5:30 pm Dinner: 7:20 pm for 7:30 pm start Thursday, 31st May
6:00 pm Tuesday 5th and 19th June
7:30 pm Monday, 4th and 18th June
Bridge Nights
Monthly Luncheon
Special Morning Breakfast
Join in a game or learn to play the card game Bridge. Enjoy biscuits, tea and coffee.
No misgivings: how to ensure your giving goes as planned.
Non-resident Members are welcome to join Resident Members for a hearty breakfast at Graduate House.
Members $2 non-members $5
Resident Members $10 non-resident Members $30 general public $40 concession $35
7:20 pm for 7:30 pm start Wednesday, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th June
12:00 pm for 12:30 pm start Wednesday, 6th June
Women's Forum
7:30 am to 8:30 am Tuesday, 12th June
Christmas in July
The topic for June is The Importance of Colour
BOOK NOW
Forum is free Lunch is at Member and non-member prices
via our website, by phone (03) 9347 3428, by email to admingh@graduatehouse.com.au or at Reception.
10:00 am for 10:30 am start Wednesday, 20th June
Free for Resident Members non-resident Members $20
Join us every Wednesday in July, for a Christmas-themed lunch.
12:00 noon to 2:00 pm Wednesday, 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th July
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 3
GU Collegiate / GU Newsletter
Annual General Meeting and Dinner 2018
Guest Speaker Ms Anne Robinson AM Founder and Principal of Prolegis Lawyers
Ms Anne Robinson AM is Founder and a Principal of Prolegis Lawyers, Sydney - a provider of legal services to the not-for-profit sector. Anne has advised on corporate law, governance, charitable trust structuring and tax issues for a wide range of Australia’s charitable institutions, and has acted for independent schools for over 20 years. Anne has more than 30 years’ experience in governance of not-for-profit organisations, and has sat on the boards of independent schools, hospitals and international aid organisations, including being a Director and then Board Chair of World Vision Australia for 12 years, until 2012. She is now Chair of The Bible Society Australia. Anne was Deputy Chair of the not-for-profit Sector Reform Council and a member of the NFP Tax Concession Working Group. Anne has been a director of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand from 2009, and is now a member of the Law Council of Australia Not-forProfit and Charities Group Executive Committee and the ATO not-for-profit Stewardship Group.
Thursday, 31st May 2018 AGM (Members only) 5:30PM – 6:30PM Dinner 7:00PM for 7:30PM – Members, guests and non-members.
Ms Anne Robinson AM will speak about her ‘Graduate pathway’.
BOOKINGS RSVP by Monday, 28th May 2018 Telephone: (03) 9347 3428 Email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au Venue: Graduate House 220 Leicester Street, Carlton
PRICES $10 Resident Members $30 Non-resident Members $35 Concessions $40 non-members ABN 55 610 664 963 | IARN A0023234B
4 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
GU Collegiate / GU Newsletter
Monthly Luncheon ‘No misgivings: how to ensure your giving goes as planned’
Graduate House 220 Leicester Street, Carlton 3053
Wednesday, 6th June 2018 12 noon arrival for a 12:30pm start
Ms Caitriona Fay
Ms Chantelle Georgy
National Manager Philanthropy and Non-Profit Services, Perpetual Limited
National Manager Estate Planning, Perpetual Limited
Caitriona Fay is a senior philanthropic leader in Australia with 15 years of private family and institutional grantmaking experience in Australia and Europe. At Perpetual, Caitriona oversees more than 1,000 charitable trusts and endowments, more than $3 billion in community funds and the distribution of more than $100 million annually through philanthropic trusts, estates and endowments.
Chantelle Georgy has practiced as an Estate Planning Lawyer for five years and brings a different perspective to an often complex and dreaded conversation. She advises her clients on all aspects of wealth succession and works closely with her clients to help them obtain the best possible outcome through their Estate Plan.
Prior to her time with Perpetual, Caitriona has worked in government and philanthropy via The Ian Potter Foundation and The Heritage Lottery fund in both Scotland and England. She is a leader in genderwise and LGBTQIA+ philanthropy in Australia, a founding board member of The Channel, Australia’s first sexuality-, sexand gender-diverse giving circle, reflecting her passion for marginalised communities and the power of democratised philanthropy. Caitriona is also a founding member of Melbourne’s Women’s Fund, and an Australian member of the International Women’s Forum.
At Perpetual, Chantelle manages a team of Senior Estate Planning Lawyers across the country and directly services the clients in the Victorian office. Chantelle and her team provide a suite of Estate Planning products ranging from Wills of all different types of complexity to Powers of Attorney and superannuation death benefit nominations. By focusing on what her clients live for, and the legacies they have built during their lifetimes, Chantelle draws on the real purpose behind each individual’s priorities and shapes their Estate Plan around those specific goals.
Bookings
Cost
Tel: (03) 9347 3428 Email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au Website: graduatehouse.com.au RSVP by Monday, 4th June 2018
$10 Resident Members $30 Non-Resident Members $35 Concession $40 General Public ABN 55610664963 | IARN A0023234B
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 5
GU Collegiate / GU Newsletter
Coming Monthly Luncheons Graduate House
To help you plan ahead, here are our Monthly Luncheon guest speakers from August to November, 2018. (Please note that there is no Monthly Luncheon in July.)
220 Leicester Street, Carlton 3053 12.00 noon arrival for 12:30pm start
1st August
5th September
Professor Alan Pert Director, Melbourne School of Design
Mr David Lea ‘Principal, Politician and Poet’
3rd October
14th November
Dr Ted Crawford AM Specialist Orthodonist
Dr Ross McMullen Historian and Biographer
BOOKINGS
COST
Telephone: (03) 9347 3428 Email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au Website: www.graduatehouse.com.au
$
10 Resident Members 30 Non-Resident Members $ 35 Concession $ 40 General Public $
6 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
ABN 55610664963 | IARN A0023234B
Feature / GU Newsletter
Universal Basic Income: What is it and why does it matter? Professor Shelley Mallett recently gave a talk at Graduate House on 'Basic Income' in Australia. Here, we look at how universal basic income is defined and the value of this idea in Australia. Professor Shelley Mallett is the first to acknowledge that Australia has changed in the last 20 years. Professorial Fellow of Social Policy at The University of Melbourne, her other role as General Manager, Research and Policy Centre at the Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) has seen her develop her knowledge in the areas of homelessness and housing research, enabling her to be more proactive in alleviating poverty. Addressing a Graduate House audience in April, Professor Mallett's talk began by identifying the economic factors contributing to growing economic instability, and conditions leading to a reexamination of a basic income in Australia. Australia has seen turbulent economic changes which have increased economic instability, creating a system that simultaneously has had 26 years of economic growth and low unemployment (5.5%), but that continues to have a persistently high poverty rate. Poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion in Australia is concentrated in five groups: indigenous people, people with disabilities, individuals with low educational attainment, public housing tenants and lone-parent families. Most striking of all is that approximately 400,000 children are living in poverty - that is, 10% of children under 15 years of age. Disparity of poverty in different ages groups, particularly among older people - where rates are highest and with the smallest reductions in the young people category, are stark, too. This disparity also applies to the rising income and wealth inequality seen in Australia.
Studies into income and wealth have seen inequality in Australia increase from the mid-1990s, and the average wealth of the richest 20% of households (approximately $2.5 million) being more than 70 times higher than the average wealth of the poorest 20% of households. Home ownership has been a central inequality driver in the community. The labour market has been changing, too. By 2018, the employment levels of people working in manufacturing have dropped to 10% with the service sector employing almost 80% of the population. The technology sector has seen a hollowing out of middle income roles, those leaving to work in the service and knowledge sectors. Demand for flexible labour markets has seen a rise in contract and part-time roles and the emergence of the 'gig economy'. Industrial relations have also been affected, with declining union memberships and a drop in the use of Enterprise Bargaining Agreements putting more people onto lower paid awards. These working conditions are only beneficial for some, with an overall drop in full-time roles. Youth unemployment rates have remained high at 12.2%, and greater than the national unemployment rate (5%); and casual employment is 20%-25% of the total labour force. The social security system has seen an erosion of adequate ‘allowances’ provided by government. This erosion points to a distinction between ‘deserving’ (pensioners) and ‘undeserving’ (youth, unemployed, single parents) beneficiaries within these groups. The system has also become increasingly conditional and
stigmatised, with harsh conditions like ‘robodebt’ (automated debt collection), drug-testing and legally binding documents for single parents, making the obtaining of benefits difficult for new users. In these economic conditions, the idea of a universal basic income has been revisited as a solution for these concerns, says Professor Mallett. Basic Income is defined by the Basic Income Earth Network, the peak body promoting and researching the universal basic income as a “periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement.” The definition has five characteristics: (1) the income is periodic; (2) it is a cash payment; (3) it is individual; (4) it is universal; and (5) it is unconditional. The Basic Income tries to solve the problem of basic economic security, provide reform and simplification of social security systems and reduce the stigma of social security by applying universal unconditional benefits. The Brotherhood of St Laurence is one of several welfare groups interested in the idea of the Basic Income. Seeking new solutions to the problems of persistent poverty, growing inequality and changes in the labour market, it identifies the challenges young people face in the current labour market and the inadequacy of social safety nets. Fostering debate on a range of policy mechanisms to protect the economic security of people, the organisation has produced a Working Paper titled, 'Basic income: trade offs and bottoms lines'. Examining questions on the idea of a Basic Income, it asks
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 7
Feature / GU Newsletter
if it could lead to better economic security for those on low incomes and if a flat social security payment would weaken or strengthen Australia’s system and what effect it would have on poverty or inequality. This Working Paper includes an overview of the key questions on how social security might improve via the use of a Basic Income model. Professor Mallet's talk outlined the Basic Income trials and proposals from around the world, particularly in the US, Canada and Europe, with emphasis on the different problems and solutions in each model and their respective trade-offs. Professor Mallet also discussed trials and proposals in Australia, such as the Henderson Poverty Inquiry proposal (1975) and the BSL Family Centre Project trial (1972-1975) which looked at the best method to provide financial resources to low-income families. The results here lacked clear outcomes. The talk identified the obstacles to a Basic Income in Australia. Most
noticeably, the fact that such a system is very expensive, with an ANU study costing up to $350 billion on top of the existing welfare system ($160 billion) and requiring steep increases in taxation, and cuts in other services. Other obstacles include negative attitudes towards welfare recipients. Clearly, a full Basic Income in Australia is not feasible, but one that is restricted one, possibly to young people, might be an option, Professor Mallett says. A ‘participation income’ where young people might have an income conditional on their participation in education/training, volunteering or work, might be an option. The BSL seeks to trial a new approach to support young people, with human development rather than punitive features, while drawing on its experience and capabilities in youth programs and research. This trial would incorporate three policy angles: (1) the reformed youth payment; (2) the vocational education reforms; and (3) labour market programs.
Committed to finding a more viable Basic Income solution for young people, Professor Shelley Mallett is certain there are no easy solutions for such a complex problem. See the BSL’s Working Paper on basic income: https://www.bsl.org.au/ research/browse-publications/basicincome-trade-offs-and-bottom-lines/ vvv
The BSL’s Working Paper on Basic Income, 2017.
Emma Dawson Executive Director, Per Capita
There is a cost to the policies which entrench privilege and inequality in Australia The Cost of Privilege Progressive organisations and public intellectuals are speaking out against increasing inequality and the policies which result in privilege for the wealthy. Emma Dawson takes the analysis a step further. There is a cost to the nation of policies which benefit the few. Join us to discuss this important topic.
Date: Wednesday, 20th June, 12:30pm – 2:00pm Venue: Graduate House, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton Price: $40 | Concession $30 pensioners, full time students
Emma Dawson has a strong history of academic achievement and policy advice including on digital inclusion at Telstra and as Executive Director of the Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society at The University of Melbourne, where she is currently an Honorary Fellow in the School of Social and Political Sciences. She is a frequent commentator and panellist on Australian media including on ABC TV and Sky News programs.
For bookings Email: secretary@johncainfoundation.com.au Phone: 0439 993 097 or book online: https://www.trybooking.com/VULX
8 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Review / GU Newsletter
Women’s Forum The importance of recycling and sustainability, and the value of op-shops Wednesday, 18th April 2018
1. Opportunity shops have been operating in our society throughout the decades, providing many and varied opportunities — from volunteer work, to social connection, to recycling and fundraising for local community groups and churches, and low cost opportunities for clothing, furniture, books and brica-brac. Op-shops are a wonderful resource for those with limited funds. 2. Op-shops provide an excellent source of interesting, unusual items, providing fun and entertainment for those who are collecting. 3. Work experience opportunities exist for those seeking employment. 4. However, many op-shops are overwhelmed with excess donations — particularly clothing — and their donation bins are often overflowing not just with donations, but with rubbish, off-loaded by irresponsible people. Disposal of excess and rubbish has become a real problem for op-shops.
6. Whilst op-shops provide a great service to society — recycling and sustainability — it is important to be consciously aware and responsible about what and how much is donated. 7. Although efforts are made within our society to recycle, more needs to be done to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and sustainability. 8. The wastage is having a horrendous effect on the environment. 9. The dumping of rubbish and the continued use of plastic (bags and soft plastic) are problematic, despite the efforts of local councils, supermarkets and community groups. 10. The resources of this earth are finite. We should all be turning off power points and taps, stopping our use of plastic, composting our food scraps, saving water, etc. vvv
5. Often it is possible to find real treasures in op-shops — from original paintings to furnishings once owned by the rich and famous.
The next Women’s Forum Wednesday, 20th June 2018 The importance of colour The forum is free Lunch is at Member and non-member prices
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 9
Review / GU Newsletter
May Monthly Luncheon Review Mr Paul Briggs OAM Investing in our Futures - Repositioning Value Wednesday, 2nd May 2018 Mr Paul Briggs OAM is someone who understands the value of people. Describing himself as a Yorta Yorta man, he is the son of several Aboriginal lineages, but it is his knowledge of this legacy and his approach to changing the outlook towards his people, that he is most passionate about. The presenter at our May Monthly Luncheon, Mr Briggs, spoke on the topic of 'Investing in our Futures - Repositioning Value’ and went straight to the heart of identifying and combating ideas in the community about Aboriginal people. “In recent history, we have seen the lack of ability to construct dialogue with people. We need to construct and maintain this dialogue, as a way of sustaining ourselves into the future.” A long-term supporter of indigenous causes, Paul Briggs was the first Indigenous man to join the Council of The University of Melbourne in its 150-year history. Paul was the Founding Chairman of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Heath Organisation (VACCHO) and a founding member of the Koori Economic Employment and Training Agency Committee. His experience also extends to being the Founding Chairman of the First Nations Australian Credit Union, and he works closely with the Indigenous Leadership Network. Yet Paul is probably best known for being the Founding President of the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club in Northern Victoria. Accumulating a wealth of corporate governance experience, he has been an agent for change in the wider community, since the 1970s.
Passionate about advancing Aboriginal Community Development since these times, Paul’s presentation acknowledged where he grew up — on the banks of the Dungala (Murray River), Cummeragunja, NSW. He identified his family lineage, which is varied and includes a long list of past Yorta Yorta leaders such as Sir Douglas Nicholls KCVO OBE (1906-1988) and William Cooper (1861-1941). Knowledge of this strong lineage and family ties were central to his talk, which featured a family photo of his grandparents, aunts and uncles in the early 20th century. Identifying who he is helps the audience identify who his family are and where his motivations come from. Yet more broadly, Paul asks — what is it about Aboriginal culture that we can identify with?
Guest speaker, Mr Paul Briggs OAM
Assessing the recent history of Aboriginal people, he says that collectively, indigenous people have been in survival mode for the last few generations and have been working to maintain and preserve as much of their culture as possible. One example of this is the growing number of extinct languages in Aboriginal culture, including the fight to revive the Yorta Yorta language. Today, the emergence of Aboriginal voices is much more about
10 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
challenging the wider community ideas that enable the inequality between mainstream Australia and Aboriginal communities to continue. Identifying key ideas like terra nullius (land belonging to no-one), recognition of Aboriginal ownership and treaty, Paul says that people are now working towards a future beyond the point of parity and achieving indigenous empowerment through two main goals. "Our plan has two main focuses: to 'Close the Gap on Social and Economic Disadvantage' and to address the 'Economic Disadvantage and Cultural Recognition and Determination of Indigenous Australians'.
Review / GU Newsletter
In the Goulburn Murray, there is a drive to go beyond ‘Closing the Gap’ reaching economic parity, to cultural affirmation and self‑determination.” Outlining the three stages in the progress towards these goals, Paul feels that Victoria is currently in a good position towards advancing these goals. “We are currently in conversation with the Daniel Andrews’ government about treaty with the Yorta Yorta people.” Paul sees this as foundational work, as it begins to create dialogue with a people that has lived here for the last 60,000 years. Discussing the three stages of this progress as turning the corner, closing the gap and beyond closing the gap — the benefits of reaching these goals creates an entirely new future for Koori people. Alongside these stages, the re‑evaluation of Aboriginal knowledge is key, he says. Advancing knowledge in the wider community means that today Paul expects graduates will be culturally competent. His work with The University of Melbourne has for the last 14 years been to encourage conversations and connections with the wider community to organise financial and economic gains for Aboriginal students. Research into valorisation of economic parity, saw Deloitte Access Economics estimate that a further
468 jobs and $150 million would be generated in additional revenue for the region, if economic parity was achieved, Paul says. These gains speak more about the longterm cultural affirmation and selfrealisation occurring than shifts beyond the closing of the gap. “We are working with our community-driven policy development (model) and collectively reaching an agreement with leadership as to how to progress (on policy).” Identifying six regional priority areas: culture, health, economic development, education, housing and employment, — these goals are beginning to deliver outcomes that communities can be proud of.
“We are now looking at generating reciprocity within the community and getting constitutional reform and buy-in from the wider community. We aim to build a ground of respect toward Aboriginal knowledge that has been disrespected.” Outlining the working Business Plan and the regional approach taken through the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence, this group is actively working towards repositioning the value of Aboriginal contribution in social worth and attracting the best talent to go to the region and advancing the area. “We are working with the Commonwealth government to develop policy that is implemented at the regional level and finding new ways of developing our people.”
Shifting towards policy-driven change determined by the vvv community is also accompanied by the creation of their own definition of prosperity, and the Kaiela Institute has produced its own ‘data scorecard’ rating its own progress and seeing a curb of future prosperity Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence (MCRE) in the developing.
Goulburn Valley will create a meeting place that allows Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to come together to support and celebrate Aboriginal art, culture and science.
A wall of photographs from many generations at the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club, Shepparton, Goulburn Valley. www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 11
Graduate House News / GU Newsletter
Another great Vaccination Day! The sixth annual Influenza Vaccination Day at Graduate House Thank you to the Immunisation Coalition and Vaccin8 @ Work for all their great work on the very successful sixth annual Influenza Vaccination Day at Graduate House on Tuesday, 17th April. A total of 449 people were vaccinated — 350 confirmed bookings and 99 walk-ins. So much work goes into Vaccination Day: the management involved in the lead-up to the day, appointment bookings, room set-up, the coordination of all the wonderful nurses, the delivery of vaccines to Graduate House, logistics, marketing, communications between all involved, provision of information and flyers for patients, among many other things. “It is a privilege to be involved in this event,” said Vaccin8 @ Work Director, Ms Kerryn Lajoie. “I am very grateful to the group of nurses who consistently donate their time and skill to support events like this. It is a very busy time for immunisation nurses and they often give up the opportunity of extra paid work to support such events. It was a great team effort. I could not articulate better than in the following two quotes.”
appreciative of Kerry, Priya, Shirley, Rosie, and all of the other Graduate House staff, who make us feel so welcome when we invade your premises! Now we need to start thinking about 2019.” The Graduate Union CEO/Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett, was most appreciative of the Tissue packs and hand efforts of all involved. “The sanitisers were among the gifts amount of work that goes provided by the organisers. on behind the scenes — the time, energy and effort spent volunteering not only on Vaccination Day, but in the lead-up, for the greater good of the community is highly commendable, exemplary and inspirational,” she said.
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” — Aristotle, Greek philosopher “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead, American anthropologist Immunisation Coalition Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kim Sampson said: “We are fortunate to have such a wonderful team! We are eternally grateful to Kerryn Lajoie who arranges the clinical side of things and provides a group of such wonderfully competent volunteers. We are equally
Luqman Rachman, School of Public Health, and Vina Darisfureyya, Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne.
From left, Resident Members Mayu Sasakura, Mohamed Muzaffar and Bonnie Yu.
The fantastic teams from Immunisation Coalition and Vaccin8 @ Work worked tirelessly to provide free vaccinations.
Life Member, Dr Richard Harcourt, preparing for his flu shot.
12 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Joshua Rhee (left) with Nouman Daud Sharif.
Graduate House News / GU Newsletter
“The giving of vaccines without charge for the benefit of the community, shows an amazing level of commitment and selflessness." "We are honoured to have had this opportunity again to work with the Immunisation Coalition and Vaccin8 @ Work in ensuring that our community is vaccinated." "We thank you on behalf of all of our Members and all those in the Carlton community.” Also grateful was the President of The Graduate Union, Dr Ken V Loughnan AO, who said: “Could you please convey my appreciation to the whole team at Graduate House for their commitment and hard work — it is very much appreciated.” vvv
College Table Review Friday, 20th April 2018 by Mr Ian McMahon Guest speaker at the April College Table, Associate Profressor Ian D Rutherfurd from The School of Geography at The University of Melbourne, lucidly explained current issues in fluvial geomorphology, and in water and river management. Ian is Chief Investigator on four Australian Research Council grants, and has advanced the study of water and river management in Australia, Asia, North America and Africa. Ian shared many insights, from work on the South-North Water Diversion Project in China, where vast quantities of water were transferred from wetter southern provinces to the dryer northern areas, to the impact on water level control, hydroelectric power generation, the ecology and human life (flood deaths) from natural and sometimes
man-made diversions of the Yellow [Huang He] River. He gave the example of the two million citizens who died and the four million who lost their homes as a result of Chiang Kai-shek’s 1938 diversion of this river to “halt the progress” of the Japanese invasion. In his many visits to China, Ian expressed gratitude for the warmth of his welcome, the climate of mutual respect and the need for all visiting participants to understand the contextuality of their concept of freedom of speech. Regarding Australia, we learnt that only 20% of rivers flowed continuously, that only two rivers did not have dams, and that fracking to search for hydrocarbon fuels in a country now committed to renewable
Associate Professor Ian D Rutherfurd
energy, and nuclear waste dumping were a threat to underground water tables. We also became more aware of the intertwining between irrigation politics, business, water evaporation and salination issues; and that Australian gum trees planted in South Africa may be causing 30% of the water shortage in one city there. vvv The Association thanks both Ians for the conversation and this review.
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 13
Resident Member News / GU Newsletter
The Sir John Monash Centre First President of The Graduate Union The Sir John Monash Centre in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, northern France, was opened on Anzac Day, 25th April 2018. The Centre tells the story of Australia's experience on the Western Front during the First World War (WWI). Drawing on the incredible Australian archive collection, the story of Australia’s involvement on the Western Front battlefields during WWI is told directly from the personal diaries, letters and service records of the men and women who were there. This amazing insight into the events that helped shape a nation is delivered through a highly intuitive, interactive system that combines the latest in large scale interactive touch screens and tables with a specially designed ‘app’. At the heart of the Centre lies a 360-degree theatre that puts the visitor right into the battles of Villers-Bretonneux and Hamel — to experience the Western Front as never before. A little-known fact is that General Sir John Monash GCMG KCB VD (1865–1931) was the founding President of The Melbourne University Graduates Association (now The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne) from 1911 to 1912, before he commenced his war service in 1914. His name is proudly listed atop our honour boards of all Presidents/Chairmen of our Association. For more information about the Sir John Monash Centre: https://sjmc.gov.au/ vvv
Leadership in action
CEO/Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett attended An Evening with Hillary Rodham Clinton in Melbourne to hear Mrs Clinton speak to her experience as the Democratic Party's nominee and general election candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 election and her 2017 book, What Happened.
Former Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Julia Gillard AC and Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton. Image source: Australian Financial Review.
Former Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Julia Gillard AC and Mrs Clinton then engaged in a fascinating discussion about Hillary's formative years and the deeply instilled values that guided
14 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
her through her extraordinary life and commitment to education, human rights and the protection of women and children. Dr Bennett said that the strong example set by both women illustrated many strategic approaches for application when faced particularly with oppositional challenges. You can find out more about An Evening with Hillary Rodham Clinton at: http://www.abc.net. au/news/2018-05-11/hillaryclinton-discusses-the-us-electionwith-julia-gillard/9749236
Graduate House News / GU Newsletter
Rotary Club of Carlton Special Lunch Hosted at Graduate House We thank the Rotary Club of Carlton for generously subsidising nine Graduate Union Members and Resident Members to attend the Rotary special lunch at Graduate House on Tuesday, 24th April 2018. The special guest speaker was Mr Peter Duncan AO who spoke on the topic of ‘Mistakes — How Important are they to Management’. “Peter's illustrious management track record and the topic he addressed was absolutely fascinating to Members, students and residents of Graduate House and the Melbourne Business School,” said past President of the Rotary Club of Carlton, Mr Casey J Tan, who helped organise the lunch. Peter is a British-born, New Zealand-raised, Australian citizen who was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2016 for his services to business across a range of sectors. He had a long and distinguished corporate career with Shell, and has been the Chairman of Orica, and a director of the CSIRO, National Australia Bank and GasNet. Peter is a member of the Global Foundation, the Melbourne Club, the Wellington Club in New Zealand, the Kew Golf Club and the Rotary Club of Melbourne. He is a member of the foundation board of the Very Special Kids Foundation.
From left: Mr Peter Duncan AO, Cr Molina Asthana, Ms Parisa Shiran (Resident Member and Rotary Club of Carlton Honorary Member) and Cr Keith Ryall.
“The most satisfying part of my career has been dealing with people,” says Peter. “I’ve had a very international career, with Shell and other boards, and I’ve always been fascinated by dealing with people of different cultures. It’s those people issues I’ve always found most interesting and, alternatively, most dissatisfying, when I haven’t done it really well.” From 2001 to 2005, Peter was President of the Australian German Association, and continues to be a member. Peter speaks German, Danish, French and Spanish. He is soon to be undertaking a PhD at The University of Melbourne. Also, at the lunch, our community-minded Resident Member, Ms Parisa Shiran, was awarded Honorary Membership of the Rotary Club of Carlton in recognition of her service to Rotary projects and ideals. Parisa has immersed herself in Graduate House Friends of Rotary (GHFoR) and volunteered for the Rotary BBQs at Bunnings, activities for the Carlton Rotary Book Fair and other Rotary activities. vvv The Association extends gratitude to the Rotary Club of Carlton and congratulations to Resident Member Parisa Shiran.
From left: Mr Alan Pettitt and Mr Casey Tan of the Rotary Club of Carlton with Mr Peter Duncan AO.
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 15
Graduate House News / GU Newsletter
Oaktree Foundation lunch highlights the challenges of poverty Graduate House was proud to host its second annual Oaktree ‘Live below the Line’ luncheon on Wednesday, 9th May 2018 Organised on behalf of the Oaktree Foundation, the luncheon aims to raise awareness of global poverty and the difficulty of living below the $2 a day poverty line. Oaktree’s Partnership Director, Patrick Hwang, says that the Foundation relies on organisations like Graduate House to raise awareness of the issue. “The 'Live Below the Line' campaign in May is Oaktree's biggest fundraiser, though we also run the 'It Takes Two' campaign earlier on in the year, and other events throughout the year in response to different changes in government policy.” “Graduate House has been a great supporter of the Live Below the Line campaign for the last two years. Initially, it was actually Graduate House who approached Oaktree, and wanted to get involved in the campaign, which is absolutely lovely, and a testament to Graduate House's emphasis on social justice.” Working to raise awareness of extreme poverty, the luncheon gives the opportunity to experience a typical meal of people living below the $2 poverty line.
“As an organisation, we’ve had over a decade of leading youth participation in development. We are the largest youth-run organisation in Australia and we’ve emerged as one of the best places for enthusiastic and engaged young Australians to volunteer and work at. In 2018, we’ll be focusing on our strengths as an organisation committed to empowering young people to become central to all levels of the decision-making process.” The ‘Live below the Line’ campaign began in Melbourne in 2010. In its first year, $1 million was raised, and by 2013, $2 million had been raised. Oaktree Foundation was founded in 2003 and had its first overseas partnership in South Africa in 2006. Since then, Oaktree Foundation shifted its entire focus to the Asia-Pacific region in 2011. “Fundraisers like today’s 'Live Below the Line' event are a great way to engage people about the realities of poverty, and how we can all be a part of the solution.” vvv
This year’s Oaktree luncheon menu consisted of a vegetable rice noodle soup, chicken or vegetable noodle stir-fry and jelly. The menu aims to reflect the limited options that people on this budget have in terms of food. Patrick explained that $2 is the Australian equivalent of extreme poverty, so an event where people eat for $2 a head presents a good opportunity to start a conversation about the issue. In May last year, Graduate House hosted its first ‘Live below the Line’ luncheon and raised more than $1,100 from participation and donations from attendees. Oaktree is one of Australia’s largest youth-run organisations with over 150,000 supporters. Patrick is proud of the unique nature of Oaktree Foundation. “The thing that really drew me to Oaktree was the sheer audacity and bravery of a completely youth-run organisation to tackle such big issues of poverty, wealth inequality and Australian overseas aid.”
From left: Oaktree Marketing and Fundraising Director, Mr Patrick Hwang and Oaktree volunteers Ms Shannon Mann and Mr Jack Fryer.
16 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Graduate House News / Seen at Graduate House / GU Newsletter
New Look to our Club Chairs! Part of the donations from the 2017 Annual Appeal was allocated to the refurbishment or replacement of furniture - chairs and tables - in the Phillip Law Members' Lounge. Photographed here is Mr Chris White, one of the first patrons to take a seat on the newly upholstered club chairs, which though comfortable, had begun to look tired and worn against the new carpets.
Our 'new' club chairs
Mr Chris White attended the 2018 Auspiced Training Industry Partnership (ATIP) Seminar.
Chris was at Graduate House for the 2018 Auspiced Training Industry Partnership (ATIP) Seminar which was convened in the Stillwell Room.
Seen at Graduate House Happy Birthday Nancye! On Thursday, 26th April, four lovely ladies met for lunch in the dining room to celebrate the birthday of Member, Mrs Nancye Smith. Known as The Golden Girls, the ladies, who have been friends for more than 70 years, have been gathering regularly for reunions and catching up at Graduate House for over 30 years. Clockwise from from left: Mrs Muriel Johnstone-Need, Mrs Nancye Smith, her daughter Mrs Narelle Dwyer and Mrs Beryl Davis.
Welcome to Ms Audrey Mhandau! Graduate Union Life Member, Ms Jo Elvins invited Ms Audrey Mhandau for lunch at Graduate House on Monday, 23rd April. For the past two years, Audrey has been undertaking recruitment work with the Australian Red Cross after having gained a Master of International Business and a Bachelor of Commerce. Thanks are extended to Jo for introducing Audrey to Graduate House and for assisting before lunch with the very large mail out of the April Newsletter, Annual Report, AGM papers and election material. Ms Audrey Mhandau (left) and Ms Jo Elvins. www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 17
Resident Member News / GU Newsletter
Star Carnivale at Docklands A starry, starry night on the Melbourne Star Ferris Wheel Thank you to the Rotary Club of Carlton for it's generosity in sponsoring five lucky Graduate House Resident Members — Ms Merium Kazmi, Ms Attiya Malik, Mr Muhammad Mossavir Ahmed and his wife Ms Amna Mossavir and Ms Parisa Shiran — plus our CEO/ Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett, for the Star Carnivale, a fun (pun intended) raising event at The Melbourne Star at Docklands on Sunday, 22nd April 2018. The event was run by the Rotary Club of Albert Park. Fun was had by all and money was raised in support of The Rotary Foundation which, among other goals, is working with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio from the world. The Melbourne Star Ferris Wheel is considered one of the best ways to enjoy night-time vistas of Melbourne, the skyline extending in every direction from inside the cabin. The Melbourne Star was lit up in Rotary colours for the evening, framing the wheel in royal blue and metallic gold in celebration of Rotary’s 100-year anniversary. Before getting on the observation wheel, the audience, which included families and friends of all Rotary Club members in Victoria, were treated to a lively presentation on astronomy and cosmology by British astrophysicist, Dr. Rachael Livermore.
From left: Ms Merium Kazmi, Ms Parisa Shiran and Ms Parisa Afshar on the Melbourne Star.
Specifically, the Association would like to thank Rotary Club of Carlton members,
Mr Norman Tickner (current President of the Rotary Club of Carlton) and his wife Susan, Mr Casey J Tan, Professsor Tony Jorm, Professsor Betty Kitchener AM, Mrs Ann and Mr Ian Ada, Cr Keith Ryall, Mrs Gabrielle Butler and Mrs Maureen O'Dwyer. Dr Bennett said: “On behalf of all of us here at Graduate House and of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne, I extend our gratitude for last night’s event. This will long be remembered by the lucky Resident Members who attended and by me. The speaker was sensational, and the experience of a night rotation in the pod on the Star simply incredible.” “The people – you – are what made it. You are always so welcoming and friendly, and again, so generous. You not only made this opportunity available, you made our international Resident Members, as well as the two other postgraduate students, Ms Parisa Afshar and Mr Matt Ghaznavi (Australia Award Scholar from Indonesia) feel comfortable, included and integrated.” “[The evening was] another example of our building of a team to foster good in our communities here and globally.” “It was breathtaking at the top,” enthused Resident Member, Ms Amna Khan. “I didn’t want the ride to end!” Resident Member and newly awarded Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Carlton, Ms Parisa Shiran said: “I also want to thank you all on behalf of Graduate House Resident Members for the wonderful time we had last night. Everyone said they had a super fun time and are so grateful to the Club for the generosity and kindness in sponsoring our attendance. Thank you so very much for an amazing time, experience and memory. Congratulations and great thanks to Rotary Club of Albert Park for a very fun, very well-organised event.” vvv
18 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Member Contribution / GU Newsletter
Conviction Submitted by Mr Mac Nicoll, Life Member They were both early for that Presbytery committee meeting and there was nothing for it but to engage in conversation. Alan had just completed a hard day at school and last night’s Federal budget speech had him feeling ready for a fight. “Bloody conservative government, rattling on about families and justice and ignoring the growing gap between the haves and the have-nots,” he had been mumbling to himself as he trudged up the old and wellworn stairs of the Presbytery office building. “Why can’t people see what’s happening to our society, why can’t we take seriously Jesus’ teaching about loving one another and caring for those on the edge?” Nigel, who was standing by the window, gazing out over the afternoon fog, turned to greet him. Alan had met Nigel briefly only last month and had already summed him up. In Nigel, Alan saw a contented, wealthy, private school-educated snob. His cultured accent, elegant clothes and smooth style were an affront to all that Alan had decided was important in the world. “That’s what’s wrong with this church,” he thought, “full of self-satisfied wealthy passengers who haven’t a clue about the real world.” “Hello, Alan,” began Nigel in a friendly tone, “have you had a good day?” Alan, interpreting the question as patronising and feeling ready for a fight, plunged in. “Not really,” he replied. “Six periods teaching, yard duty at lunch time and three kids in detention after school for swearing at a young teacher. A typical Friday, I guess, and I don’t see our government caring two hoots about the problems in high schools. And the trouble is our church is so busy supporting its precious schools that it couldn’t care less about the state system.” And then, going on with a full head of steam, he added, “But I guess you sent your kids to the Grammar School. So, you wouldn’t know much about this sort of thing.” “Well, I am a bit out of touch,” Nigel responded, “because we had to send our three off to boarding school. The farm was too far from the nearest high school for them to commute. And that’s a while ago now. Makes me feel pretty old when I think about it, having three kids in their twenties.”
“What are they doing now?” asked Alan, expecting to hear that they were successful stockbrokers or lawyers or whatever. If he had been honest with himself, he was rather hoping this would be the case, not out of a generous spirit, but because it would just confirm his convictions about the unfairness of the system, and it would give him a chance to tell of his own son’s failure to find work since leaving the local high school. “Well,” Nigel responded, “Paul is up in the Territory jackerooing for a couple of years, Robert is starting an apprenticeship and Jane is living in assisted accommodation in town trying to cope with her bipolar illness. It hit her in her second year at Uni and it has been a rotten time for us all. We’ve spent lots of time blaming ourselves, wondering what we did wrong. Life’s not simple, is it?” There was no time to go on because at this point they were interrupted by the arrival of other committee members and it was time to get started on the meeting. It was a special meeting, called to help the Social Question Committee confront the morality of the war in Iraq, and there was a hush of expectation as they all pulled in their chairs and waited for the Chair to open the meeting. Alan glanced around the table. “I guess I’ll be fighting a losing battle,” he mused. “Farmers, ex-servicemen, a couple of local businessmen, some well-meaning, middleaged women and those three fundamentalist clergy from the city. They’re bound to be supporters of this rotten war. How come they’re so blinkered and out of touch?” “Before we start our discussion,” said the Chair, “I have a verse to read to you from Saint Luke’s Gospel. It’s an introduction to Jesus’ parable of the tax gatherer and the Pharisee. Let us listen for a word from God for us at this time: Luke, Chapter 18 and verse 9". Alan liked the Chair, and approved of her approach to ethics and justice, so he settled back in his seat thinking, “I bet she’s chosen a reading to stir these others up.” Picking up her New Testament, and turning slowly to the Gospel of Saint Luke, the Chair read “And he spoke this parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who despised others.” vvv
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 19
Member Contribution / GU Newsletter
Life Submitted by Mr Louis Coutts, Life Member Life is the most precious of possessions and to lose it prematurely is such a waste of the potential of the human spirit. The clock ticks for all of us, but until we are confronted with some mortal diagnosis we go along as though life never ends. I have just had an experience that stirs in me feelings of guilt for the huge amount of time I have wasted with this precious gift of life. I take each day for granted and squander it because there is another tomorrow. But the tomorrows are becoming less and my aged limbs are not as capable as they once were to take advantage of whatever time I have left, and there is another day of wasted time. The other day I travelled to an Australian war memorial near the village of Villers-Bretonneux, about one hundred kilometres north of Paris. There were over a thousand crosses dedicated to Australian soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the region in 1918, but the records, to the extent that they were reliable at the time, tell us that there were 11,000 more young men not accounted for. The war memorial has been in place since the 1920s, designed by a British architect despite proposals by Australian architects and, while impressive, it really doesn’t evoke the dimension of the tragedy of the event. The shrine in Melbourne is much more evocative and never fails to convey the sombre mood of the disaster of war. Four years ago, the Department of Veteran Affairs in Australia decided to enrich the memorial by building an information centre and selected an Australian architect to do the job. He is a friend of my dear niece, who herself is an outstanding if not world authority on Australian war monuments, and he met us at the Amiens station to take us on a tour of the Centre a day after it was officially opened. Unlike the original memorial, this information centre is less conspicuous, being submerged beneath the earth that acted as the sponge for the endless supply of blood that was spent in bloody battles. But the interior is an incredible integration of modern architecture, materials and building construction that overwhelms the visitor. The central feature is an auditorium that provides a massive surrounding audio-visual record of the terror that these young men endured in the catastrophic event in which their blood ran as freely as water from a spring. It was awful in its reality and while I have always been a pacifist, I never really knew until the other day how unforgivingly evil war is. The display spares nothing and there is a terrible moment where an Australian
soldier kills a German with his bayonet. Afterwards the battlefield is a patchwork quilt of the dead and dying. These young men, with their lives before them, were slaughtered for nothing. They were doing the bidding of Generals who had no conception of their soldiers as individuals with their lives before them. They were simply cannon fodder to the Generals and so long as the supply of this blood could be maintained, it ensured the continuity of the war. Thankfully, conscription was defeated in a referendum in Australia, and it put an end to the indiscriminate waste of precious young human lives. And when it was all quiet on the Western Front (using the words of the novelist, Erich Maria Remarque) the politicians met in the glorious surroundings and comfort of the Palace of Versailles to divide the spoils. I can’t imagine how much richer our society would be had these young men lived to achieve their potential, and I have this enormous sense of guilt that they died in vain. What a scandalous inheritance. Death is the end of life and yet we still go on as though squandering the lives of young men is an essential element of our society. My goodness, I came away from Villers-Bretonneux with a heavy heart, asking myself “Have we learnt anything in these last 100 years?” Life is so precious, and its early end is a catastrophe for humankind. So, I must look to tomorrow and make effective use of the few seconds remaining on my clock, otherwise those young men will certainly have died in vain. vvv
Villers-Bretonneux War Memorial in France. Photo source: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/44986745026331 9473/?lp=true.
20 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Discovering Melbourne / GU Newsletter
Discovering Melbourne We share with you some interesting things to do in Melbourne during June of 2018.
Art for art’s sake
To market, to market!
MoMA at NGV International:130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art 9th June – 7th October 2018
The Night Market at Queen Vic Wednesday, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th June 2018
NGV International 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
Queen Victoria Market on the corner of Elizabeth and Therry Streets, Melbourne.
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) International announces a major exhibition of more than 200 seminal works from New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
The Night Market returns in June for its cosy winter iteration — think fire pits, mulled wine and warming treats.
In June 2018, Melbourne will become the (temporary) home of masterpieces by Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Vincent van Gogh, Mark Rothko and more. These works will be on loan from MoMA — which, if you are even mildly interested in 20th and 21st century art, is a gallery that needs no introduction.
Rows and rows of street food stalls, festival bars, as well as more than 130 art, fashion, homewares and general knick-knack merchandise traders plus a rotating line-up of musicians and entertainment.
Many of these pieces have never been seen in Australia before, and the exhibition will be exclusive to Melbourne, taking up the entire ground floor of NGV International.
Right in the heart of the city, the Queen Victoria Market makes a great dinner stop for anyone coming from work or study, or tourists looking to experience the famous markets after dark. The markets have a reputation for multiculturalism, so no matter what cuisine you fancy, you're likely to find something that sets your mouth watering.
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/moma-at-ngv/
http://qvm.com.au/whatson/the-night-market/
“Curiouser and curiouser!”
A June supreme
Wonderland until 7th October 2018
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 1st – 10th June 2018
Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Federation Square on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne.
Various locations in Melbourne. With a program catering for a range of audiences, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival is Australia's pre-eminent jazz festival, internationally renowned as a programmer of creativity and innovation.
Wonderland celebrates more than a century of Lewis Carroll's timeless Alice in Wonderland stories on screen. This world premiere exhibition explores how dozens of screen adaptations have used the magic of film craft, animation, video games, special effects and new technology to make the impossible possible. Fall down the rabbit hole into this Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition. The more curious you are, the more you will discover. https://www.acmi.net.au/museum/
It showcases Melbourne's thriving jazz sector nationally and internationally and makes a unique contribution to Melbourne's artistic reputation. Its vision is to be one of the world's leading centres of creative jazz presentation by providing a platform for performance, collaboration, education and engagement with this 10-day annual festival and over 130 events in 25 locations across greater Melbourne. http://www.melbournejazz.com/
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 21
Academic and Professional Development Meetings / GU Newsletter
The following groups from The University of Melbourne have convened meetings, workshops and events at Graduate House during the month of April, 2018.
APTES - Fire Safety Design of Buildings
Centre for Health Policy
Committe of Convocation
Dental Health Services Victoria
24th April 20 attendees
16th, 17th April 59 attendees
18th April 12 attendees
19th April 27 attendees
Department of Finance Meetings 13th, 20th, 27th April 15 attendees
Indigenous Eye Health Unit Infrastructure Engineering Population ICIMOD and and Global Health UoM Meeting 23rd April 16 attendees
Networked Society Institute Office for Research Ethics (NSI) Doctoral Academy and Integrity Workshop 26th April 40 attendees
23rd April 52 attendees
MSPACE Clinical Research Proposal
12th April 53 attendees
23rd April 7 attendees
Research, Innovation and Commercialisation
UoM Commercial Ltd Palliative Care
10th, 26th April 96 attendees
4th, 5th, 6th, 19th, 20th April 95 attendees
The patronage of organisation Members in charitable, not-for-profit, government and professional development sectors is acknowledged here, as is that of our many Members who organise their functions at Graduate House.
Australian Academy of Technology of Engineering (ATSE)
Australian Asian Association (AAA)
Australian Food Hygiene Services (AFHS)
Australian Italian Lawyers Association (AILA)
5th April 20 attendees
9th April 6 attendees
3rd April 15 attendees
11th April 30 attendees
Australian Professional Thermography Assoc. Inc (AUSPTA)
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Meeting
Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM)
Calabrese Cultural Association Meeting
6th April 30 attendees
11th April 6 attendees
4th April 24 attendees
24th April 15 attendees
22 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Academic and Professional Development Meetings / GU Newsletter
Rotary Club of Carlton Rotary Heritage Cluster and Lunch meetings, Bookfairs, International District 9800 Committee
Carlton-Parkville Probus Club Inc
4th, 10th, 11th, 17th , 24th, 30th April 213 attendees
10th April 70 attendees
Elizabeth Sevior Formal Dinner
17th April 16 attendees
Melba Group
Environmetrics Australia Pty Ltd
Geography Teachers' Association of Victoria Inc (GTAV)
John Cain Foundation Lunch Event
17th April 5 attendees
26th April 53 attendees
18thApril 42 attendees
27th April 17 attendees
Order of St John
Organisational Development Australia (ODA)
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC)
9th April 8 attendees
24th April 20 attendees
18th April 30 attendees
Meredith Barne's 70th Birthday Celebration 6th April 14 attendees
Rod Watson Lunch Function
13th April 12 attendees
Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA)
Slavery Links
5th April 8 attendees
18th April 8 attendees
Social Education Victoria (SEV) 18th, 30th April 122 attendees
The Graduate Union Collegiate Events and Governance Meetings
The Victorian Fellows Lunch
3rd, 4th 10th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 30th April 378 attendees
9th April 23 attendees
Turkish Teachers Association of Victoria (TTAV)
Uniseed Management Pty Ltd
UNSW Canberra at ADFA Laser Safety Training
18th, 20th April 15 attendees
19th April 10 attendees
9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th April 50 attendees
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 23
Innovation / GU Newsletter
How to look after your gut bacteria Recent times have seen the prominence of gut bacteria increase, with them being hailed as the next health frontier, but what does the research say on gut health? Here we look at four key findings regarding gut bacteria. Diet has a huge influence on the health of our gut bacteria Much like the Hippocratic quote, 'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food', there is an increasing amount of evidence that healthy gut bacteria is key to staving off depression, supporting the immune system, maintaining a good metabolism and promoting brain function. The discovery that gut bacteria is reliant on receiving sufficient dietary fibre and nutrient tense food like fruit, vegetables, fish and lean meats is key. These findings have led to the creation of a diet to boost gut microbiome by academic researchers. This diet, which is relatively low on meat, and has significant doses of vegetables, grains, cereals and beans, offers foods that have resistant starch. Effectively it is proposed that we can modify our gut bacteria by eating a diet rich in fibre and polyphenol foods. See diet for gut health: https://ab.co/2hpkXnJ Unhealthy gut bacteria linked to multiple health conditions There is now evidence that gut health could contribute to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental ill-health, and that it has beneficial effects like weight loss, the strengthening of immune responses and reductions in blood pressure. Studies have also found that there is an association between gut microbe dysfunction and such brain and mood-related disorders as anxiety and depression.
Gut bacteria is affected by a number of factors Similar to how gut bacteria is affected by the food we eat, gut bacteria is equally affected by other factors, including poor diet (high in processed foods), the use of antibiotics and our indoor-centred lifestyles, among other factors. Yet the varied gut bacteria that modern westerners do need, seem to be missing from our diets. One study that specifically looked at people living in pre-industrial societies saw a more varied microbiome composition in those groups than in people in the US today. Effectively, people need both types of ‘wildlife’ (bacteria and intestinal worms) in their system, but apart from the addition of probiotics in the diet, to add good bacteria into the gut, there are few safe options. In this case particularly, the fault isn’t a person’s diet - high levels of cleanliness and sanitation could be responsible for eliminating good bacteria. See: https://bit.ly/2KTT8ks Drugs affect the growth of gut microbes New research into gut bacteria has found that a broad range of drugs may impact the flora in the gut and have a detrimental effect. Though the negative effect of antibiotics on the gut is already known, many other drugs may also be exerting effects.
This research suggests that gut microbes directly affect neurotransmitters in the colon and its blood vessels and thence have impact on communicative, anxiety-like and nerve-related behaviours. Some findings point also to a connection between Parkinson’s disease and gut bacteria. Still in its early stages, the research has signaled a new avenue for further research.
One study examining the effect of non-antibiotic drugs on gut microbiome looked at more than 1,000 marketed drugs against specific gut bacterial strains and found that 24% of the drugs (including drugs from therapeutic classes) inhibited the growth of at least one strain in lab tests. Anti-psychotic drugs in particular, were overrepresented. The effect of these drugs and their ‘antibioticlike’ side effects in humans are in line with existing studies.
See gut health and depression: https://bit.ly/1tcAHLZ Article on Parkinson’s disease: https://bit.ly/2G4Ttxc
Nature Journal article: https://go.nature.com/2psNa0P See drug impact on gut bacteria: https://bit.ly/2pLWYDj vvv
24 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Extracurricular / GU Newsletter
Animal 'selfies' is it worth it? Taking 'selfies' with animals may seem like an innocent act, but you may be accidentally enabling abuse and distress to the animals. Koalas do not like being cuddled and if they are being carried around or made to pose for these selfies, they may be subjected to great distress. Some of these animals are taken from their natural habitats and traded in exploitative ways so that holiday makers can take selfies. A wild animal in distress is likely to lash out. This was illustrated recently when tourists were injured while trying to take kangaroo selfies. The wild kangaroos were feeding at Lake Macquarie, North of Sydney, and did not take kindly to the people inching closer and closer in their pursuit of a memorable holiday snap. Fuelled also by the junk-food being offered, the kangaroos lashed out with powerful upper and lower limb punches and kicks, and strong tail whips. This is not the fault of the kangaroos. While many native Australian animals look both cute and unique - particularly when compared to their relatively standard cousins in other countries - they are not photo opportunities, not cuddly and not likely to be happy about being up close and personal with a mobile phone. It is necessary to respect them as wild animals in their rightful habitats and territories in order to avoid injury. In this 'selfie society', there is awareness of the growing danger of animal selfies, and of feeding wild animals. People have been killed and injured by tigers, such as in the case of a zoo visitor in India who climbed over a safety barrier in search of a better photograph. Wild longtailed macaques at Bali’s Uluwatu Temple have become so accustomed to being fed that they steal tourists’ valuables and only drop them when given snacks. In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, it was recommended that scenarios where selfies should be avoided include photographs taken from a height, on a bridge, in the vicinity of vehicular traffic, during thunderstorms, at sporting events, and where wild animals are in the background. One step closer to the perfect shot can be the step that takes you off the cliff. Interacting with wild animals isn’t just dangerous for people. It can be bad news for the animals, too. For example, a study looking specifically at kangaroos who are exposed to wildlife tours found that both wild and captive kangaroos can be stressed by humans approaching them closely, and that the presence of tourists may drive them away from their feeding, breeding or resting areas.
A review written after a nine-year-old boy was killed by dingoes on Queensland’s Fraser Island in 2001, confirmed that routinely feeding wild animals can alter their behaviour patterns and population levels. There was no suggestion that the boy was engaging in risky behaviour, but rather, that the dingoes had become dangerously habituated to human presence as a result of previous feeding by tourists and easy access to campsite food. People often ignore the advice to keep a safe distance from wild animals You might shake your head in disbelief at the idea of turning your back on a wild bear in search of the perfect selfie. However, there are many who continue to take photographs with an animal and post them with pride on social media. Zoos in Australia generally house hand-reared animals, many of whom are used to being fed and petted by people in a safe and monitored environment. These animals are given carefully selected diets, as well as places to which they can retreat if they have had enough interaction. All of this helps to minimise the stress on the animals and the risk to people. Of course, there is the broader point that zoo animals deserve respect and are not just cuddly toys. Just because you can pat and feed a kangaroo at a zoo, does not mean that you can do it elsewhere. Zoos can play their part by promoting advice about safe behaviour around wild animals elsewhere. So next time that you are lucky enough to see kangaroos or other animals in the wild, by all means take a photo - if you can do it from a safe distance - but ask yourself whether you really need also to be in the image. Source: https://theconversation.com/is-that-selfie-reallyworth-it-why-face-time-with-wild-animals-is-a-badidea-96272 vvv
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 25
Feedback / GU Newsletter
FEEDBACK We value your comments and suggestions! Organising a function at Graduate House is super easy. The function room and spaces suited our needs perfectly and the food, both in terms of quality and quantity, was lovely. The staff were very helpful in the lead-up to our event, during and following our event. — Ms Hayley Beer, HSANZ Feedback on the May Monthly Luncheon: Congratulations on today’s 'House Full' lunch. Paul was a great choice of speaker! The main course of lamb was beautifully cooked. Graduate House staff are so professional in all they do! I am so very keen to see the write-up of this amazing presentation by Mr Paul Briggs OAM. Congratulations again. — Cr Mary R Kelleher Dear Rosie, We write to express our heartfelt thanks to yourself and all staff at Graduate House involved in arrangements for the 9th Australian Accounting Hall of Fame dinner and awards evening, held on Wednesday, 14th March, 2018. The event was an absolute success from all points of view, and this was made possible by the efforts of yourself and Graduate House staff.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you both in 2017 and 2018. The feedback we have received from attendees of the 2018 event has been overwhelmingly positive - from the food to the presentation to the service, Graduate House has gone above and beyond. Please extend our thanks to the chef, kitchen and floor staff. We are grateful for your supervisory presence for the duration of the evening, which no doubt ensured the seamless service. Abbey would particularly like to extend her thanks for your time and vital assistance with the organisation of this event, and for your unwavering positivity and flexibility. The coordination of this event was made pleasant and easy with your involvement. She would also like to thank Bill, Daniel and Marwa for their invaluable assistance on the night. We look forward to continuing a long and productive relationship between the Accounting Hall of Fame and Graduate House, and are thrilled that you are able to accommodate our 2019 Dinner and Awards Ceremony, which also happens to be the 10th Anniversary of the Hall of Fame. — Directors, Centre for Accounting and Industry Partnerships
The lucky feedback-giver for April is Member Mrs Emily Cross who won a bottle of De Bortoli Sacred Hill Brut Cuvée.
Your feedback is important. Please submit a Dining Room Feedback Form to be in the Monthly Draw AND to be in the running for the Year-End Prize of a $500 Coles Myer Gift Voucher. 26 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B
Diamond Jubilee Campaign Contribution Form Graduate House, the only dedicated postgraduate residential college of The University of Melbourne, commemorated our 60th anniversary in 2017 by opening the next chapter in the life of our historic building. Our Diamond Jubilee Campaign will see us construct a new, 11-storey residential building to continue to provide quality accommodation and a vibrant collegiate environment for our Resident Members. Please help us realise this exciting plan by lending support now.
100
$
200
$
300
$
1,500
$
2,000
$
5,000
Other, please specify:
$
$
400
500
1,000
$
$
$
Your Details Title
First Name
Last Name Postal Address Postcode 00000000 Contact Number Email I wish to be named as a supporter
Yes
No

All contributions above $2 are tax deductible
Turn page for details
ABN 55610 664 963 | IAR No. A0023234B
www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B / 27
Donation Form / GU Newsletter
Cheque
Directed to: The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc.
Bank Transfer
Account Name: Diamond Jubilee Campaign Bank: ING Bank (Australia) Limited BSB: 923 100 Account Number: 6079 1331 Swift Code: INGBAU2S Description: Surname_Firstname_2018
Direct Debit
Authorisation forms will be sent to you
Credit Card
Visa
Card Number Expiry Date
/
Cardholder Name Signature
Mastercard
To donate, please cut along this line and send the completed form to 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3023, Australia
Method of Payment

28 / www.graduatehouse.com.au / ABN 55610 664 963 / IARN A0023234B