THE
MELBOURNE
The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc.
GRADUATE
Periodical newsletter of the graduate union of the university of melbourne incorporated Print Post approved pp337834/00022 registered association no. AA0023234B February 2010 Volume 63 No. 1 www.graduatehouse.com.au
Contents MEMBERS SPEAKERS RESIDENTS CALENDAR OF EVENTS LETTERS NEW MEMBERS DONATIONS HEAD OF COLLEGE INSERT ELECTION INFORMATION • Notice of Election • Proforma Nomination • Elected Councillors
2 2 3 4 4 4 4 6
T
CHRISTMAS AT GRADUATE HOUSE
he Chairman’s Cocktail Party on 4 December was a very successful evening with more than 150 members and guests attending. The event was held in the conference rooms of the new Stella Langford Wing. Beautifully decorated, the piece de resistance was a wonderful seafood buffet display on a spectacular ice carving.
Office Bearers President: The Honourable John Cain Vice President: Dr Robert Gibson Chairman: Mr J Andrew Binns Vice Chairman: Mr David N Sparks Head of College and CEO Mr Eugene Spanti
Presentation to Mr Neil Taylor
The Melbourne Graduate is normally published four times a year by The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated. It is edited by Eugene Spanti and Lyn Weston, under the direction of the Graduate Council and its Executive Committee. The Melbourne Graduate welcomes letters from readers and reserves the right to edit them for publication. Please keep word count to a maximum of 250 and address to The Editors, The Melbourne Graduate. Registered Address: The Graduate Union, 220 Leicester St., Carlton, Vic. 3053 Australia. Telephone: (03) 9347-3428 Facsimile (03) 9347-9981 www.graduatehouse.com.au Email: sec@graduatehouse.com.au Printed by: FSG Design & Print, 1 Argent Place, Ringwood, Vic 3134. Tel: (03) 9873 5144 Fax: (03) 9873 5966
Guests enjoying seafood buffet
The Chairman summarised the year. He thanked all those who had so generously given their time and support to the various events. This being Mr Binns last year as Chairman, he thanked everyone for their assistance during his three years in office, which he said had been enjoyable, though challenging and satisfying. The year 2010 would be, he said, a year to consolidate after the extensive expansion and redevelopment of 2009. At the conclusion of the Chairman’s very informative address, there was a special presentation of Honorary Life Membership to the immediate past Chairman, Mr Neil Taylor. During his membership of the Graduate Union and particularly throughout his time on Council and as Chairman, Mr Taylor has been tireless in his support of the Graduate Union. Evidence of his generosity is apparent throughout Graduate House and most lately with him having named the ‘Taylor Room’ in the new Stella Langford wing. February 2010 Volume 63 No.1 – 1
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE
– MEMBERS – Congratulations - Mr Frank Lees To mark the bicentenary of our nation’s postal service in 2009, Australia Post ran an exciting program of events and activities throughout the year. The Top 200 Letters of a Nation was one of these events, and a letter from Alfred Lees to his son Frank, who in 1945 was stationed in Balikpapan, was chosen amongst the 200. The Top 200 Letters were selected by the National Archives Director-General and historians Geoffrey Blainey and Geoffrey Bolton from 2000 entries. The criteria included that they reflect Australian concerns and be eloquent. In the much cherished and very descriptive letter dated 16 August 1945, Alfred Lees tells how he joined 350,000 people in Melbourne to celebrate the end of the war, with community singing, dancing, long conga lines, hundreds of bells, whistles, motor horns – all making as much noise as possible.
Citation of Award of University’s Silver Medal to Miss Ann Rusden
On the afternoon of December 7th 2009 the Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, the Honourable Alex Chernov AO QC presented the University’s Silver Medal to Miss Ann Southcombe Rusden in a ceremony in the Council Chamber before members of the University Council. It was to recognize Miss Rusden’s sustained and outstanding service to the University at Faculty and Central levels. Miss Rusden obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in the 1960s and had a distinguished career teaching Science in Australia and England, culminating in appointment as Principal of Camberwell High School. She was a member of the Victorian Universities Schools Examination Committee for Physics and, later, the Victorian Institute of Secondary Education Physics Committee. She was a member of the University’s Committee of Convocation representing Graduates in Science from 1988 to 2007 and a Member of the President’s Advisory Group of this Committee from 1996 to 2007. She served as Convocation Member of the Science Faculty Board from 1995 to 2006. She is a Committee member of the Friends of the Baillieu Library and a member of the Graduate Union. The Citation reads, “Miss Rusden was an active member of the Committee of Convocation and the Science Faculty Board, attending most meetings and providing frank comments and constructive suggestions on issues of concern to alumni. While she was an advocate for the University’s Graduates, she also took into account the concerns and interests of the University itself.” Gary Israel 2 – February 2010 Volume 63 No.1
– LUNCHEONS SPEAKERS – November 2009 Remembrance Day 2009 was also the date for the Monthly Luncheon at Graduate House. Those present enjoyed the meal and sat back to listen to Prof Kim Dovey of the University’s Architecture School speak on Melbourne’s suburban character, the urban sprawl and carbon footprints, past, present and future. We listened to a discussion on the urban character of Camberwell and Fitzroy and future plans for zoning changes to allow for medium/high-density development in certain areas and along public transport corridors. He highlighted problems of pollution, traffic congestion and sustainability associated with the present low density Melbourne sprawl. We were shown streetscape images typical of some suburbs which made these areas so attractive to their residents. Professor Dovey feels that continuing to develop the Melbourne suburbs in this manner is not sustainable in the future. His view is that we need to move to higher density developments and decrease our carbon footprint. We saw modelled modifications to a strip shopping centre to create medium density two/three storey extensions added above the original first storey/ground level. These additions were set well back from the original structures in order to minimise altering their character, whilst at the same time, increasing the number of dwellings in the street. We saw the impact of a number of setbacks and heights for the modelled extensions. After the presentation Kim answered questions ranging from the existing problems with ‘super tram stops’, planning for congestion in order to encourage public transport use, and the radial nature of our public transport system with insufficient connection between outer areas. I am sure everyone left more informed about the risks that our city’s urban sprawl posed in terms of pollution and cost of providing for infrastructure. Irene Jablonka December 2009 In 2011, the Graduate Union along with Australians Studying Abroad will be presenting a tour of Prague and Bohemia, Dresden and Berlin. Kenneth Park spoke earlier in the year at a monthly luncheon and he recently returned to Graduate House for our December luncheon to speak on this tour to the delight of members and guests present. The tour runs from the 14th to 29th September will be led by Dr Iva Rosario and Kenneth Park, both graduates of the University. In his thought-provoking and entertaining address Kenneth highlighted the history of the places to be visited on this unforgettable tour of Bohemia, Dresden and Berlin. Central to the tour is the examination of the development of three great European cities: Prague, Dresden and Berlin where extended stays will afford an opportunity to gain a thorough
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE understanding of their historical development and present character. Kenneth’s images of some of the most beautiful, untouched historic cities of Bohemia: Cesky Krumlov, Ceske Budejovice, Tabor & Kutna Hora were really stunning. The tour includes a concert in both Prague and Berlin and a very comprehensive program of visits to all the major museums, palaces and castles and investigates each city’s cultural ambience as expressed in its art, architecture and cultural life. Each city has its own distinctive plan and mix of architectural styles which have been determined by its history. Prague is one of the most intact historical cities in the world and is of unparalleled beauty. It reflects a wonderfully intricate but cohesive structure. The four original towns which make up the now unified city boast masterpieces of the Romanesque, Bohemian Gothic, Renaissance and the Baroque. Everyone was interested in ‘Dresden today’. The city’s reputation as a pearl of European architecture was substantially destroyed during the Second World War. It has now been restored to a resplendent jewel of northern Baroque architecture Kenneth’s images of the city pre and post World War II were very telling as was his views of the restored city today. A visit to Berlin completed the journey. Berlin has been undergoing a breathtaking renewal both culturally and architecturally, making it one of the most exciting and fascinating cities in Europe. The reunification of the city in 1989 has unleashed a vibrant and creative wave of energy that is transforming the great monuments, extensive art collections, and cultural and physical fabric of the old Berlin. It has become a showpiece of the very latest architecture, counterpart to the lovely monuments of its eighteenth century rulers. Kenneth will returning in 2010 with a series of detailed insights to this exciting 2011 Graduate Union tour. You are encouraged to lodge an ‘expression of interest’ form available from the main office.
– RESIDENTS – Tay Chong Meng I come from a tiny red dot on the global map called Singapore, which is just south of the Malaysian Peninsula in South-East Asia. For those who have visited and known this warm and humid country that is packed with high-rise buildings and pocketed with small parks and reservoirs, I reside on the eastern side at the Geylang district, which is famous for its night activities and supper places. This is the first time I have been to Australia and I am still trying to get used to the volatile weather here in Melbourne. I am starting to wonder if I will survive winter with all this shivering in the mornings of summer. While I am coping well with the transport and pace here, I cannot help but worry about my finite financial resources in this lovely but expensive place. I am currently taking up post-graduate studies in special needs dentistry and appreciate the friendliness I have found at Graduate House.
Roksana Karim I am from Bangladesh and my nickname is Tina. I have completed the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies in September 2008 from North South University and have worked as a TA in the Department of Environmental Science and Management for one and half years. I was also a member of my University’s ‘Earth Club’ which works on awareness of different environmental issues. I love travelling, reading books and watching movies. I have gained an admission offer from the University of Melbourne for the program of Master of Environment. I have never been to Australia before, so am very excited about this. When I was in sixth grade I was in love with the Australian Cricket team and decided to go to Australia for my higher education, although my parents didn’t want to send me abroad and away from the family. Finally, after 12 years, my parents said ‘yes’ and I am very happy for that.
Kota Fukui Kota is an associate professor of law at the Osaka University in Japan. He teaches socio-legal studies and legal polices at the Graduate School of Law and Politics and the Osaka University Law School (JD program). He will have a sabbatical year from September 2009 to August 2010 to be involved in a comparative research in relation to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) between Australia and Japan from the view point of developing new fields of legal professionals. During his time at the University of Melbourne, he will be working in the Asian Law Center at the Melbourne Law School. He lived in Germany for 10 months in 2002 and this is his second time to live in foreign country as a visiting academic. He would like to get to know a lot of academics in various research fields.
David Calvo I am currently in the fourth year of my residency training in the Psychiatry Department at the Hospital Clínico Universitario in Zaragoza (Spain) after having finished my university studies in the same city. I am going to participate in medical training as an observer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, from January to March of 2010 and I am interested in liaison psychiatry and I will be in the Liaison Psychiatry Department. I am 28 years old, and was born in Tudela, a little village in the North-East of Spain very close to Pamplona where the bulls-runs are very famous (to be honest I have never run….) I enjoy very much travelling around the world and I am visiting Australia for the first time. I hope to see some of the country in my free time, especially the nightlife and the beaches. I am looking forward to the multicultural aspect of Graduate House. February 2010 Volume 63 No.1 – 3
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE CALENDAR of EVENTS – 2010 – 3 Mar - Monthly Luncheon
Speaker: Mr Rowan Story, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
18 Mar - Special Event – De Bortoli Winery Tour 7 Apr - Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Mr M. Carr-Gregg
15 Apr - Twilight Lecture Speaker: Prof Peter Singer
22 Apr - Wine Appreciation Dinner 28 Apr - Election Meet & Greet Candidates (if required) 5 May - Monthly Luncheon
Speaker: Reverend Tim Costello
27 May - AGM & Autumn Dinner Speaker: Mr Race Mathews
2 Jun - Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Mr Oliver Streeton
7 Jul - Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Assoc. Professor Jenny Strauss
27 Jul - Residents Xmas in July/Meet & Greet 4 Aug - Monthly Luncheon
Speaker: Prof. John Armstrong
26 Aug - Twilight Lecture Speaker: tba
1 Sep - Monthly Luncheon
Speaker: Major General David McLachlan, RSL
6 Oct - Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Dr David Smith
14 Oct - Wine Appreciation Spring Dinner 10 Nov - Monthly Luncheon
Speaker: Professor Ian Polmear
11 Nov - Twilight Lecture Speaker: tba
1 Dec - Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Dr David McCredie
10 Dec - Chairman’s Cocktail Party 17 Dec - Members Christmas Party
• Bridge is held every Wednesday evening at 7.45pm • Italian Conversation Group meets on the first Tuesday each month at 6pm (except Cup Week) • Members’ Drinks Night second Friday each month 5pm–8pm • Women’s Forum meets on the third Wednesday each month at 10am. Topic: tba • Residents and Members meet together on the last Tuesday each month, 5.30pm
LETTERS From The Revd Canon F E Bedbrook, Life Member Thank you for the recent edition of The Melbourne Graduate. I was very pleased to read the article on the late Stella Langford including that she attended University High School in its early years before Storey St, Parkville. I was on the administration staff of Melbourne University in 1937-1967 so remember public exams at that time directed by the M.U. Stella Langford would certainly have been examiner in English. I can now understand the support (from Stella) given to William E F Berry with whom I worked in my and his youth within the Accountants Office. Bill himself became the iving force for Graduates Union now Graduate House. The years of WWII interrupted my association with Bill Berry, we watched his great efforts for G.H. I remember swans on University Lake – now filled in, the first Econ & Commerce Building is on part, Bailleau (sic) Library is built on ‘Professors Rd’. I enjoyed your article very much. From Professor Martin Comte OAM, PhD I wish to thank you for your congratulations on my Order of Australia award, announced in the Australia Day honours earlier this year. I was delighted to receive this honour and see it as an acknowledgement of the importance of music and arts education. From Keith Richards OAM It was very kind of you to acknowledge my being awarded an OAM and I appreciate your writing to me. I am not at all sure about how deserving I am of the honour, but it is too late to argue! I read with interest about Graduate House activities and events, but I do not make it to Melbourne regularly and have not had the opportunity to participate, but one day I will get there! From M (Taffy) Jones AM Many thanks for your letter of congratulations on my recent award and for your kind words which were much appreciated. The Union and I go back a number of years but unfortunately I don’t get the chance to come in very much because my work takes me away. However, the staff there did a terrific job in running a special birthday party for me on December 4th last year at Graduate House which was a great success. Thank you again for your kind words. From A Smith OAM Thank you for your letter on behalf of the Graduate Union. I have enjoyed an exciting and overwhelming couple of months since the award was announced. I have always felt very fortunate to spend my working and leisure time with the young people in our community and to be acknowledged in this way was a surprise. I will share the day with my family as a small acknowledgement of their long term support of my projects. From Ron Keys I would like to thank everybody involved in last night’s dinner, it was fantastic – 5-star. Bad luck to all those members who did not attend as now they will never experience the top quality food and wines we were served for this very special evening. Thanks to Robert, Chris and James for sharing their signature dishes. They were fabulous.
NEW MEMBERS The following members joined the Graduate Union. We welcome them and look forward to their participation in our members’ programs. Life Member Z Kiss, Ordinary Member since 1988 Ordinary Members A Baker, BEc(Monash) R Chandra, MBBSHons R Goulden, BCom(Monash) J Hulskamp, MAppSc L Papadopoulos, BMedSc, MBBS J Poulton, BCom(Ballarat) New Graduates Emily Alexander, BScHons Rachel Badlan, BSc Jennifer Cao, BVetSc Fouad Chamie, LLB, BEd Sean Chua, MBus&IT Amanda Ho, BDental Sc
Joshua Crase, MBBS Sana-E-Zehra Haiy, MPublicHealth Hanaho Imamura, BSc Neela McGilton, MInternatBus Vincent Mok, MBBS Fergal O’Colmain, MBus&IT Sian-Yang Ow, BBioMedEng David Rafferty, BEng, BSc Niki Rubinstein, BOptometry Anneke Shea, MBBS, BMedSc Richard Siswantojo, BEng John Soccio, MAppCommer Yan Hong Tan, BSC Li Wang, MInfoTech Ying Wu, MBBS/BSc Benny Zhang BMedSc All degrees are from University of Melbourne unless otherwise noted. Degrees are stated as presented on members’ application forms.
DONATIONS Building Fund: $1000 R and D Bright $250 R Northrop, E Miller $200 G Jones $100 J Rowan, L Bailey, E Welch $50 N Stevens, R Rye $30 G Parkes $25 W Hamilton, Prof R Carter $15 G Bartle, I Proctor Residential Bursaries/Scholarship Program $500 G Janko, K Binns, $250 E Miller $200 E Butt
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$50 G Duke $50 M Hill $35 S Stuart $30 H Miller $25 R Carter Residents Assistance Fund: $500 R and D Bright $250 E Miller $175 G Jones $100 J Pyper $ 60 N Tulloh, $50 G Duke $50 B Krahnert
$35 H Miller Stella Langford Project $1000 K Binns $250 E Miller $200 C Kellam $100 W Denholm, M Edmondson, G Vaughan $ 65 A Casey $ 50 N Hung, K Krahnert, M Mearns, W Hare, B Dove, $ 25 A Parker $15 S Esdaile $10 Y Clarke
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE
MAJOR DONORS SPECIAL PREVIEW STELLA LANGFORD WING
I
n early December, the major donors from the early days of the Graduate Union to the present time were invited to a special preview of the redeveloped Stella Langford Wing. A major donors special honour board was unveiled during the evening with tours of the new Wing organised for guests. The President, the Honourable John Cain thanked all donors to the organisation, noting the members for whom the conference rooms had been named, namely the Cochrane Room, the Taylor Room and the Hewlett Room. He congratulated the Head of College whom he said was a man who ‘got things done’. Hewlett Room
Taylor Room
Photos by Francesca Folk-Scolaro
Cochrane Room
Eugene with Andrew Cochrane and The Hon. John Cain
Eugene with Marjorie Hewlett Atkinson
Eugene with Neil Taylor
Members Christmas Party
T
he Christmas Party on 11 December was a festive affair. The room was a picture with beautiful Poinsettia centrepieces. Santa visited as always, handing out sweets and there was a mood of festivity and good cheer. The President welcomed guests, wishing all a very happy Christmas and congratulating the Head of College and staff on their diligence and professionalism during the year. The festive meal commenced with special tasting plates of prawns, smoked salmon and other delicacies to which guests could help themselves. This was followed by a traditional Christmas dinner. Dessert was presented to the darkened room with sparklers in croquet-en-bouche. A group of ‘Early Voices’ from the Faculty of Music was the entertainment and members joined in the singing towards the end of the evening. Santa distributed a plethora of gifts, courtesy of generous suppliers to Graduate House and Ms Heather Kudeviita won the major bistro competition prize of the $1000 travel voucher, drawn by the Head of College after dinner. Bistro guests had entered this competition throughout the year by filling in the bistro feedback form. The table centrepieces were final gifts of the evening and were claimed by a guest at each table. February 2010 Volume 63 No.1 – 5
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE
FROM THE HEAD OF COLLEGE
I
am delighted with the direction of the Graduate Union and current progress. Last year was busy with the re-development of the Stella Langford wing as well as accommodation bookings and conferences at record levels. The popular monthly luncheons and wine appreciation dinners continued to attract members. The 2009 Twilight Lectures Series was also successful and will be continued in 2010. At the Annual General Meeting in May, Dr Christopher Booth, Mr Daniel McInerney and Mr David Eyres joined Graduate Council and I look forward to working with them over the next three years. A highlight of 2009 was the announcement at the Chairman’s Cocktail Party in December that the Graduate Union would initiate a Graduate House Research Scholarship in 2010. This Scholarship, which is open to all long-term residents of Graduate House, will provide financial assistance for a research project in the candidate’s chosen field. The Scholarship will be presented at the dinner following the Annual General Meeting in May and the successful applicant will give a short presentation at the dinner about their research project. During the year a free one-year membership was offered to all new graduates of the University of Melbourne and at the end of the year 85 graduates had taken up the offer. We hope that these young members will attend the functions held at Graduate House in 2010. The Fundraising Appeal progressed very well over the year with all three conference rooms being named, together with some bedrooms. Overall, the Stella Langford Appeal raised $124,394. Although the building is now completed, the appeal for the various funds will continue. I hope all members will support this effort as the funds raised assist residents and contribute to the upkeep of the terraces. Once again, we received a very generous donation from The William Berry Post-Graduate Trust which was used for this purpose. Because of the many enquiries about Stella Langford’s connection to the Graduate Union, we endeavoured to discover something about her. We are indebted to Francesca Folk-Scolaro who worked on the project for a good part of the year. The cover of the November 2009 issue of The Melbourne Graduate summarized her research. Members will be very pleased that car parking is no longer an issue at Graduate House since the opening of the Stella Langford wing. If you require parking at any time it is probably wise to book through reception to ensure your spot. Rates are very reasonable and therefore in high demand. I thank you all most sincerely for your continued support and generosity.
Eugene Spanti
% To:
The Graduate Union 220 Leicester Street Carlton Vic 3053
Please send me information regarding Wills and Bequests to The Graduate Union
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible (gift under S20-25 of the ITAA 1997)
I/We would like to make a donation to THE GRADUATE UNION ANNUAL APPEAL (Please select)
Stella Langford Building Project Naming Rights of Apartments ($10,000 each) (8 left) Naming Rights of Car Park Spaces ($5,000 each)
Building Fund - for the upkeep of the Graduate House Terraces Residents’ Assistance Fund - to assist residents experiencing financial difficulties Residential Bursaries/Scholarship Program
Enclosed is my cheque/money order for $........................ or please debit this amount to my credit card account M/card Visa
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6 – February 2010 Volume 63 No.1