THE GRADUATE UNION of The University of Melbourne Inc.
PERIODICAL NEWSLETTER OF THE GRADUATE UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE INCORPORATED PRINT POST APPROVED PP337834/00022 REGISTERED ASSOCIATION No. AA0023234B November 2004 Volume 57 No. 4 www.graduatehouse.com.au
CONTENTS Calendar of Graduate House Events 2 Letters 2 New Members 2 Luncheons 3 Residents and Members 4-5 Book Review 6 Library Acquistions 6 Valete 7 An Invitation 7 Property Report 8 Donations to the Building Appeal 8
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS The Editors join with the President, Chairman, Councillors, Secretary-Warden and Staff in extending best wishes to all members for the coming Christmas Season and for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
FROM THE SECRETARY-WARDEN On the eve of the opening of the new building and a new era in the long history of The Graduate Union, I wish to thank all who have supported and assisted in this achievement. We have come a long way in the past four years. When I first came to Graduate House I did so not knowing what to expect. I had a vision for the future, although at the time I did not know exactly how this would be achieved. During those first few weeks, I wondered on many occasions if indeed my vision was achievable. Virtually alone, with little idea of how ‘things’ worked, there seemed little order and no procedures in place to deal with even day-to-day matters, such as whether or not bedrooms were occupied! In the beginning there were days when I shut the door and disconnected the phones so that I could organise the resident bookings at least into some clear picture. Since that time, with the support of Graduate Council and members, I have come to know and understand The Graduate Union and its history more fully. Graduate Councillors have given unstintingly of time and knowledge and slowly but surely apparent chaos has become a clear pathway to realising the long-held dream of The Graduate Union. I have been very fortunate to be part of a dedicated team. Achievement is rarely the work of one person and everyone at Graduate House has contributed in their own way and often beyond what could reasonably be expected. The planning of the building, the selection of architects, engineers and builders, the obtaining of permits, ongoing negotiations with The University of Melbourne and the myriad issues leading to commencement of construction took many months and constant meetings, many on Saturday mornings and in the evenings. Throughout, there was a keen sense of
involvement by staff and for this dedication I thank them sincerely. Dr John Binns, during whose chairmanship I first came to Graduate House, has been tireless with his time and support both during his term of office and since. I was delighted when Graduate Council chose to reward his long service and signficant contributions to The Graduate Union with an honorary life membership, which I believe is a well deserved tribute. Dr David Bellair, Chairman for the three years following John Binns and Mr Neil Taylor, our current Chairman, have both followed in John’s footsteps, also giving generously of time, advice and assistance. Without the loyalty and dedication of members such as these and many others, The Graduate Union would not be in the happy circumstances it is today. Throughout all the time I have been here, I have never lost sight of the Mission Statement of The Graduate Union – to encourage postgraduates in their studies and to assist in their welfare. This is, and will continue to be, the prime purpose of our work at Graduate House and to this end the staff and myself endeavour to provide a friendly, family-like atmosphere, with the residents’ comfort and wellbeing our first priority. For this reason, many of the amenities of the new building have been included with the needs of our residents in mind. As we move into the final weeks before the opening of the building we have appointed a marketing consultant who will assist in the promotion of the facilities being offered. We have also appointed Ramler Furniture Company to provide their expertise in selecting the furniture and fittings which will be installed on the ground floor and also in residents’ bedrooms. We are endeavoring to create a warm club-like atmosphere which, while being modern in design, will harmonise with the existing old world atmosphere of the existing terraces. I am very optimistic that as we move forward into the future together our College will, while maintaining the memory of its long history, look ahead to a strong and prosperous future. Eugene Spanti
FROM THE ARCHIVES – THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE, VOL X NO.8 (OCTOBER 1959)
The University Club The Graduate Union and the University Club have some similar aims in the promotion of the status of graduates and, following discussions between the two bodies on matters of mutual interest, it was suggested that graduates who were members of one should be given the opportunity of joining the other. The University Club was established by some distinguished graduates in 1901, to provide a social centre for men who have been associated with the University. It is now established in modern premises on the 7th floor of Gilbert Court, 100 Collins Street. There are congenial lounge facilities, a billiards table, a bar and limited eating facilities. … and further… The Melbourne Graduate, Vol 53 No.2 (August 2000) Donation from University Club The Graduate Council is delighted to learn of a proposed donation of $50,000 to The Graduate Union from the University Club, pending certain legal steps still to be taken under the winding up of that Club. The intention is clear and we await further news of this generous proposal.
November 2004 volume 57 No.4 1
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE CALENDAR OF GRADUATE HOUSE EVENTS Friday 19 Nov. 6pm Residents’ & Councillors’ Christmas Party RSVP - Monday 29 November Wednesday 1 Dec. 12.30pm for 12.50pm Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Ms Dianne Riley, Latrobe Librarian, SLV. $25 members, $30 nonmembers. RSVP – Monday 29 November Monday, 6 Dec 6.30pm Italian Conversation Dinner $25 RSVP – Friday 3 December Friday, 3 December Chairman’s Cocktail Party. In appreciation to benefactors of The Graduate Union Friday, 10 December Members’ Christmas Party Santa and Carol Singing. $40 – RSVP Monday 8 December Monday, 13 December Volunteers Christmas Lunch Friday, 24 December Office Closes, reopens 3 Jan 2005 Friday, 21 January 2005 Members’& Residents’ Barbecue $20 – RSVP 19 January 2005 Wednesday, 2 February Monthly Luncheon Speaker: Professor Noel Campbell Topic: Cancer & HIV Research The Melbourne Graduate is normally published four times a year by The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated. It is edited by Geoffrey Dye and Lyn Weston, under the direction of the Graduate Council and its Execurtive 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 224 Leicester Street, Carlton Victoria 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. 9873 5144
LETTERS Extract of letter to the Secretary-Warden from Associate Professor Ian Smith, June Luncheon Speaker First, let me apologise for the delay in responding to your kind letter……. I have been overseas and have only just returned to Melbourne. Second, I very much enjoyed my visit and talk at Graduate House and also the lively and intelligent questioning. Third, I am also both flattered and honoured to be invited to become a member which I gladly accept. …… Thanks again for the honour of membership of The Graduate Union of the University of Melbourne and I hope I can live up to all of your expectations. July 2004 To the Secretary-Warden from Nur Azida Daud, Executive Director of Eukusa Properties SDN BHD On behalf of my delegation, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your excellent hospitality and warm reception during our recent visit to Graduate House. The briefing and conducted tour given by your good self was enlightening, especially for my delegates from the University of Malaya. We were impressed by the new postgraduate facility being built and are confident that we can incorporate the new ideas into our very own resident college here in Kuala Lumpur. We hope to reciprocate your kindness during your next visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Once again, thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to share with us your experience. You have made our trip a tremendous success. August 2004 To the Secretary-Warden from Professor Dr Alias Daud, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Malaya On behalf of the University of Malaya I would like to express my sincere thanks for the hospitality given to our delegates during the visit to your University. The information gathered was highly beneficial and useful to our University. We truly hope that we could communicate further with you in the future. August 2004 To the Secretary-Warden- extract of email from Nuttika Aroonpairoj, prospective resident from Thailand Hello! How are you? My name is Nuttika Aroonpairoj from Thailand. I will become a postgradutate student in the semester 2005 at the Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne. My friend, Chamnong Kaewpet, who is currently staying at the Graduate House told me that Graduate House is such a great place to live. The Law Building is only a minute’s walk and she told me that the pretty lady named Lauren is very kind and I should ask for information about the Graduate House because the new building will be finished at the end of this year. I am interested in choosing the Graduate House to be my place while studying and will grateful if you would kindly mail me information about the Graduate House. Moreover, I would like to know that what date is the deadline for making a reservation for a room in the new building. Thank you very much for your help. August 2004 (Editors’ Note: Nuttika has since confirmed her reservation and will be arriving in February for the first semester)
To the Secretary-Warden – extract of letter from Ed Dickinson, Luncheon Speaker and a regular luncheon attender I write to thank you for the gift of the book A short history of The Graduate Union which you gave to me at the June luncheon. I have read it with interest. Mention is made of a number of people I have known. I was interested to see the name of Professor Kenneth Hunt therein. Prof. Hunt looked after me when I first began lecturing in Oral Presentation Skills to Mechanical Engineering students at Monash University : indeed he hosted me for many lunches in the
2 November 2004 volume 57 No.4
Monash University Club. I was also interested to see the photo of Sir Leslie Martin who was a childhood contemporary of my mother and her brothers when they were children living in Newmarket. ……… I was saddened to read of the death of John Gill. John, or ‘Fish’ as I knew him, we were classmates during our four years at Wesley College in the 1950s. I appreciate the opportunity to attend lunches at Graduate House ………. Should there be an occasion where you require entertainment, rather than learned discourse, I would be pleased to present such readings as your members may enjoy. August 2004 Letter to all the staff and duty residents of Graduate House from Jane Miller, resident What a dedicated and caring crew all of you are. Thank you so much, every one of you, for ‘looking after me’ these past seven plus months. I’ve been very lucky and you have all been very helpful and kind and friendly. Geoff, thanks for sharing the Masters graduation. I was very honoured! You run a tight and happy ship, Eugene! Great to see. Lauren, I’d love you to drop in for a G & T after work soon as I’m settled. August 2004 Extract of letter to Administrative Assistant from Devaki Monani, resident Firstly I would like to thank you for your hospitality and support I have received at Graduate House throughout my candidature over the last three years. I finish study at the end of this month. Many thanks for all your warmth and the great food - please thank Johnny especially and the staff. Last but not least, I thank our Secretary-Warden, Eugene, whose excellent sense of humour and management skills keep this place going. Along with all other staff, thanks to Rosie and Lou, the best housekeeping one could ever have as a student. Thank you all for pampering me and making me feel at home. I shall always keep returning since I am a member of the Graduate Union and plan to be one for a long time to come. Have a good day, I will keep you ‘posted’. October, 2004
NEW MEMBERS The following new members joined the Graduate Union in the period August to November 2004. We welcome them and look forward to their participation in our members’ programs. Life Members Mrs Elizabeth Hawkes, DipEd(Deakin) General Members Mr Timothy Berryman, BA, GradDip, PostgradDip, BLetters Dr Colin Burvill, BEng, GradDip(Ballarat), PhD Dr Frances Galvin, MBBS Mr Brendan Giffney, BBus Mr Andrew Goad, BEng Dr David Harmer, MBBS Dr Faye Lambert, BCom, GradDip, PhD, GradDip Ms Giorsal Lyall, BA(LaTrobe), GradDip(RMIT) Ms Julie Powell, BEd, MSpecEd, GradDip(Monash) Dr Stan Sahhar, BDSc, MDSc, FRACDS, LDS Mr Philip Sawyer, BComm, LLB Ms Anthea Warford-Mein, BA(Hons) All degrees are from University of Melbourne unless otherwise noted. Degrees are stated as presented on members’ application forms Closing date for February issue is 31 December 2004. Items for inclusion would be appreciated
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE
LUNCHEONS SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON Professor Peter McPhee Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Peter McPhee answered concerns raised in the book Off Course – from public place to marketplace at Melbourne University’ by John Cain and John Hewitt [April 2004 Luncheon]. The book targets the ‘commercialisation’ of the University and argues that the University ‘no longer accepts that its primary role is to provide top teaching and research’. Like all Australian universities, Melbourne has faced a testing environment of inadequate public funding, particularly since 1996, Professor McPhee said. He is convinced, though, that the standard of academic programs has been maintained and that the quality of teaching has generally become higher. The authors’ evidence for ‘the lowering of entry standards’ and ‘a decline in the quality of the educational experience for teachers and students’ [at Melbourne] has come from surveys done of academic staff across Australia, with selective quotations from only a few students and staff. If the authors had chosen to inspect the copious information produced by the University’s Academic Board, they would have found regular monitoring of the quality of courses, of teaching, of selection criteria and student progression rates. University Teaching Awards and the ViceChancellor’s Teaching Colloquium recognize the value placed upon teaching in the University. The authors’ claim that the increasing numbers of overseas students is ‘excluding local students’ is simply wrong : the number of HECS Commonwealth-supported places is set by Canberra and is not affected by the number of overseas students. John Cain and John Hewitt had also criticised Melbourne University Private Limited (MUPL) and Universitas 21 (U21) as having failed to create new income streams. Melbourne University Private is Australia’s first internationally-focused corporate university, owned and quality assured by The University of Melbourne and independently selfaccrediting. It provides high quality consultancy, project management and advisory services, and is developing a research profile. In July 2003 MUPL received government approval to operate for a further five years and for the second year in succession won the Governor of Victoria’s Education Export Award. The criticism of U21 Global is that this global online university joint venture with the Thomson Corporation has not delivered profits in its early years of development. The first course was offered this year -–an online MBA with 50 enrolments. It is too early to be sure how successful this venture will be. Apart from providing funds, the U21 project aims to create a global platform for online education into countries and communities that lack the physical infrastructure that Australians take for granted.
Open for Lunch and Dinner - Tuesday to Saturday Private Room Available 10% off meals for Graduate Union Members Tuesday to Thursday on presentation of card. 766 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert, Vic, 3127 Tel: 03 9898 5188 Fax: 03 9898 5348
OCTOBER LUNCHEON Ms Laura Mumaw, CEO Zoos Victoria On 6th October Ms Laura Mumaw spoke at the Monthly Luncheon with the title "Drawn to Drink and other tales from the Zoo". Ms Mumaw brought an international flavour: an American, born in Hawaii, married to a Canadian, and her two children New Zealanders. This day was the 142nd anniversary of the birth of The Melbourne Zoo. Today it has three campuses – Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, and Werribee Open Range Zoo. The speaker joined Zoos Victoria in the year 2000 as CEO of all three, now responsible for over 300 staff and 5,360 animals, with an annual budget of over $27 million, and over 1.5 million visitors per annum. Laura outlined the changing functions of zoos, which once simply displayed animals in artificial environments, and mostly caged. Today, zoos aim to provide good family outings (a pleasant afternoon stroll) and school visits, but also recognise important species conservation as a key requirement – a commitment to an ethic of sustainable living and the integration of conservation and development within the earth’s capacity. To date, zoos have focussed on animals, but the future is about people. Zoos Victoria’s Vision is to build enduring relationships between people and wildlife, aiming for a balance between humans and the natural world in the future. This Vision includes plans to transform Victoria’s three zoos. Some of the transformations under way or planned at Melbourne include Trail of the Elephants – Stage I opened in March 2003 and Stage II is due to be completed next year. Other projects on the drawing board include close encounters with marine animals, reptiles, invertebrates, frogs, etc and a special gathering place for children and adults to provide interactive experiences, parallel play and close encounters with animals and vets. At Healesville Sanctuary visitors gain a rich understanding of the Australian environment through encounters with wildlife, native flora and indigenous stories. There will be full access to a working animal hospital, including reception, examination rooms, operating theatre, diagnostic laboratories, hospital wards and rehabilitation area; views of the Yarra Ranges will be opened up and the natural flow of Badger Creek will be restored, with access to it in the heart of the Sanctuary. Projects being considered include a nocturnal house for deadly, dark and dangerous creatures, such as snakes, spiders, crocodiles and Tasmanian devils – up close. At Werribee Open Range Zoo, the first new zoo experience, Lions on the Edge was opened in January 2004, where visitors come face to face with lions and experience the conflict and co-existence issues between lions and people where their settlement boundaries overlap. A walking trail includes audiovisuals, a herder’s hut and an animal kraal with cows, goats, donkeys and chickens. In an African savanna landscape a ranger’s vehicle is half-way through the glass separating visitors from lions, and visitors can sit in the driver’s seat and watch lions lounging on the bonnet. In 2006 Marsh Hippos will be developed where visitors can view hippos up close enjoying the water in marshland from the walking trail and bus. Consideration is being given to developing cycle trails where visitors may cycle on self-guided tours exploring the reserve and its animals. Following on a few questions, chairman Neil Taylor called on the President to express the thanks of a most appreciative audience, who had all heard much of what they had been unaware before. Ron Davey November 2004 volume 57 No.4 3
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Residents and Members Nela TRIFKOVIC
Chamnong KAEWPET
Nela was born in the former Yugoslavia where she studied at the local ballet school, music institution and the school drama department. At 13 she was accepted into the High School of Performing Arts for Gifted Children in Belgrade where she studied a special music program.Nela's family applied for migration and in 1996 moved to Perth, WA where she was accepted into the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts as the youngest student to commence Classical Music studies at the Conservatorium. She graduated in Classical Piano and Composition. In 2002 she commenced her Masters Degree and started taking part in the conferences and workshops at the Melbourne and La Trobe Universities and also the Victorian College of the Arts. This is how Nela arrived at Graduate House. She says ‘I absolutely feel in love with the GH community. I met one of my closest friends here; we had stayed in touch from across different parts of the world for three years and now we both live in Melbourne again. It is a place to meet many students and discover different cultures. It is a great ‘training-ground’ for young people, a household where one can learn and be supported. The staff gets to know us, creating a family and community. We also learn about Melbourne and Victoria and so make the most of our stay, both educationally and socially.
I have been living at Graduate House and studying at The University of Melbourne for about two months. I have just started my D.Ed. which follows one-year coursework and two-year research stream. I am originally from Southern Thailand, and working in downtown Bangkok at Rajamangala Institute of Technology, Bangkok Technical Campus. On the first day I explored the city, Melbourne surprised me with the international atmosphere that I did not expect to see in a western country. We do not need to go too far to many different parts of the world. There are two more things that I like about Melbourne. The first is the tram system which is fast and efficient.
Trupta DESAI I am a dentist from India and live in Sydney with my husband Upendra. Being an overseas qualified dentist, I have to reregister in order to practise in Australia. I am doing a five month intensive orientation course at the Royal Dental Hospital to prepare for my Australian Dental Council Final Examination. This is the first time I have stayed at Graduate House and it has been a wonderful experience. I would like to thank the staff for being so friendly, helpful and making me feel at home. My stay here has been very pleasant and memorable.
Angsana JAINAEN I come from Northeast Thailand, Khon Kean University. Since I graduated from dental school I have been working as a lecturer there at the same time as doing my job as a dentist. I am here to study for my Masters degree leading to a PhD in dentistry. My best friend’s mother recommended me to stay at Graduate House before finding long term accommodation. Once I moved in here I was not disappointed with the environment. I feel I am still living with my family. I enjoy the meals and have been really happy to meet unforgettable friends. I thank you very much for your kind welcome to Melbourne. Over the coming months I know I will learn to love Melbourne and Graduate House very much. 4 November 2004 volume 57 No.4
One who has already experienced the traffic jam in Bangkok must understand why I am saying this. The second, its curving landscape, especially outside the city, which makes one always feel like standing on a hill and enjoying the scenery. I believe I will have so many good things to say about Unimelb, Melbourne and Australia when I return home.
Robert GEDDES This year I am completing a Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) at the University of Melbourne after completing my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and History at the University of Adelaide in 2000. After wearying of the trials of share housing in the outer suburbs, I moved to Graduate House for the location and domestic convenience it offered. So far its been a positive move and I plan to stay here until the end of my academic year in mid - November. I grew up on my family’s mixed farming property at Mininera, approximately 200 kms west of Melbourne, a place that is still home for me. Once I graduate I will probably head out to the country somewhere to teach; I’m a country boy and Melbourne holds little attraction for me in the long term. In the meantime, however, I look forward to enjoying my days as a student by keeping up with the culture, eating lots of food, drinking moderate amounts of fine ale and enjoying the company of good friends while they’re still close by.
TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAKES Homemade by the Graduate House Chef and available at Graduate House from 29 November at a cost of $45. Brandy-marinated and tastefully gift wrapped - an ideal gift for family and friends Telephone Graduate House on 9347-3428, to order
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE Kristina PERSSON
Ana KONDIC I came to Melbourne to do two years
I am a linguist from Sydney where I
of post-doctoral studies in malaria,
teach part-time at the University of
which is one of the major diseases in
New South Wales and University of
many tropical countries. So far, I just
Sydney.
love my work and I am also enjoying
Melbourne I stay at Graduate House
Melbourne. It is very convenient to
which was been recommended to me
stay at the Graduate House, within
by a friend who also enjoyed it very
walking distance from the Walter and
much. I absolutely love it here: the
Eliza Hall Institute of Medical
international atmosphere, the lovely
Research where I do the research.
Whenever I come to
food and the helpful, friendly, smiling staff who make my stay
It is also very convenient to be free of cooking! I come from a city in southern part of Sweden called Malmö, where I did my PhD. In my spare time I do kendo, a budosport. I am also a physician,
particularly enjoyable. I feel so at home. It is also located very centrally, two jumps from the University, Lygon Street, cinemas and the Vic Market.
and during the winter I worked in Congo with children who had
The best thing for me is the great variety of residents, who come
malaria and the picture is of the clinic in the Congo!
from all over the world and are involved in all different kinds of research or studies. It is a great pleasure for me to chat with others in the living room, especially after dinner. I always learn
Jeffrey HICKS Jeffrey
Hicks
Campbellton,
comes
New
from
Brunswick,
Canada, which is the only Canadian province that is officially bilingual in French and English. He has a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering degree from the University of New Brunswick and is currently studying for an MBA at the University of Western Ontario. He has worked as an environmental engineer and production supervisor at a New Brunswick pulp and paper mill for six years. An exchange component of his MBA has brought him to the Melbourne Business School and to Graduate House for one term. My experience in Melbourne has been very positive, he says, especially my time at Graduate House. I have made lifelong friends here, enjoy the atmosphere and will miss everyone when I return to Canada. Note: On the Residents’ Page of the August edition, Jane Miller wondered about the identity of Minerva Elizabeth Cawthorn whose brass plaque was on the door of her balcony room. A member has contacted us with the information that Miss Cawthorn gained her degree in 1923 and the Cawthron family furnished the room in her honour. If any members of the Cawthorn family are still resident in Melbourne and read The Melbourne Graduate they may wish to furnish some more information.
something new and make new friends. This is about my tenth stay here and I’ll continue to come whenever I can.
Honorary Life Membership At its October meeting, the Graduate Council awarded an Honorary Life Membership to Dr John Binns in recognition of his great contribution to The Graduate Union. John was instrumental in negotiations with The University of Melbourne which have resulted in the opening of the new building at 216-220 Leicester Street. In addition to this achievement, his meticulous attention to management and budgets contributed greatly towards the generation of surpluses needed to cover past losses. This attention to operations laid the basis for funding a comprehensive maintenance and renovation program and is evident in the proud way Graduate House now presents itself on University Square. John Binns embodies the founding aims and true spirit of The Graduate Union - to encourage and assist postgraduates. He takes a keen interest in the residents of Graduate House and has been instrumental in guiding many towards employment opportunities.
November 2004 volume 57 No.4 5
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE
BOOKreview GUM, Ashley Hay, Publ. Duffy & Snelgrove, Sydney 2000 Reviewed by John Champness Gum is the story of eucalypts and their champions. Wherever you look in Australia you will see a gum tree. They have helped define the continent and still shape our imagination. Since Europeans came to Australia we have struggled to classify and comprehend eucalypts and the country to which they belong. This is the story of that struggle told through the lives of seven people whose lives were changed by their passion for Australia’s great tree. Before Europeans knew that the antipodes existed, the D’harawal people who lived on the land where the scribbly gum grows, had their own story for its trees. This is the legend of the ‘seven peacekeepers’. It is the story of a leader, the Yandel’bana and his seven warriors who tried to establish peace between all the country’s clans. Faced by a particularly malevolent branch of spirits, the Wiree, seven warriors were turned into seven kinds of eucalypt. Disguised, they would lure the Wiree and then reveal themselves as men – and so the Wiree were trapped. The warrior Mai’andowi, who knew medicines became a gum tree with young leaves that could be vaporised for almost any sickness. Bai’yali, the firemaker became a tree whose inner bark was good for tinder. Boo’angi, Yerr’yergro and Kai’yeroo – who made or wielded the best weapons – became three trees that could be used to make weapons. Bourrounjm, the warrior who found food became a gum tree with smoke that could push evil spirits out of men. Mugga’go, good at finding places for the warrior to sleep and rest, became a tall hard gum that was good for shelters. Yandel’bana, the leader, remained as he was. He pretended to sleep, luring the Wiree nearer. As the disguises fell away the Wiree panicked - turning themselves into a Willi Willi to escape but it was too late, their evil had gone. After the defeat of the Wiree, Yabdek’bana and the seven warriors lived their lives in the land and when they died they were transformed again into the trees they had become on that fateful night. On the edge of the coast in the D’harawal place where the legend of the seven warriors comes from, where the gums had stood for thousands of years and the scribbly gum grows tall, a creaking wooden ship appeared in April 1770. The D’harawal people watched it come in, such a small thing from a large ocean. This was the beginning of the story of the Eucalyptus, told now in this excellent account of the thousands of species of our Australian tree.
The JohnstonLibrary LIBRARY ACQUISTITIONS The following titles have been added to the Library since the last edition of The Melbourne Graduate. The Graduate Union gratefully acknowledges the donation of the first item by Dr Pierre Gorman; the second and third items by Dr John Binns and the remainder by Mr Roger Cook. GORMAN, Pierre (ed) Corpus Christi College Cambridge : some artistic impressions. Cambridge, 1992. JAMES, Robert Rhodes. Henry Wellcome. London, Hodder, 1994. SYMONS, John. Wellcome Institute for the history of medicine: a short history. London, 1993. SHAH, Idries. Learning how to learn: psychology and spirituality in the Sufi way. London, Octagon Press, 1992. SHAH, Idries. Knowing how to know: a practical philosophy in the Sufi tradition. London, Octagon, 1998. JENNINGS, R.G. Stories of a house master. Melbourne, Robertson & Mullens, 1933. JENNINGS, R.G. Told in the dormitory. Melbourne, Lothian, 1911. O rare Hoffnung: a memorial garland. London, Putnam, 1960. TUCKEY, J.H. An account of a voyage to establish a colony at Port Philip [Reprint of 1805 edition] North Melbourne, Marsh Taylor & Walsh, 1974. SENNETT, Richard. The uses of disorder. London, Allen Lane,1971. BROWN, Michael Barratt. After imperialism. London, Heinemann, 1963.Bush ballads and galloping rhymes: poetical works of Adam Lindsay Gordon. Hawthorn, Lloyd O’Neil, 1970. HERBERT, Xavier. Soldiers’ women. Sydney, Angus and Robertson, 1961. HETHERINGTON, John. Australians: nine profiles. Melbourne, Cheshire, 1960. VOLUME STILL MISSING ADELER, Max. Out of the hurly-burly. London, Ward, Lock & Bowden, c1896. PATCHETT, Mary. Wild brother. London, Collins, 1954. FROM THE LIBRARY FORREST, Denys. Tiger of Mysore: the life and death of Tipu Sultan. London, Chatto & Windus, 1970. The bound volume of AUSTIN, A.G. Australian education 1788-1900. Melbourne, Pitman, 1961. RYAN, Peter. Fear drive my feet. Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1959. The Melbourne Graduate Vols. HARRISON, Gordon. Earthkeeping. London, Hamish Hamilton, 1972. 30-35 (1977-1984) is still DAVIES, A.F. Australian democracy. London, Longmans, 1958. missing from the Library. It HAWKE, Bob. The Hawke memoirs. Melbourne, Mandarin, 1994. COOPER, Harry. Remedies & memories. Sydney, Macmillan, 2001. would be greatly appreciated if MUKERJI, D.P. Diversities. New Delhi, People’s Publishing House,1958. this could be returned promptly, SMITH, Alexander McCall. Portuguese irregular verbs. Edinburgh, Polygon, 2003. DICKENS, Charles. Sketches by Boz. London, Chapman & Hall, 1903. as we have had several SMYTH, Dacre. Gallipoli pilgrimage. Toorak, the author, 1990. enquiries for it from members. McCOURT, Frank. Angela’s ashes. London, Harper Collins, 1996. SUZUKI, David. The sacred balance. St Leonards, NSW, Allen & Unwin, 1997. SUZUKI, David. Good news for a change. St Leonards, NSW, Allen & Unwin, 2002. Geoffrey E Dye GRISHAM, John. The testament. London, Century, 1999. Honorary Librarian RODDICK, Anita. Take it personally. London, Thorsons, 2001. 6 November 2004 volume 57 No.4
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VALETE It is with regret we announce the recent death of Noel McFadyen, Life Member since 1955 and a regular attender at the monthly luncheons before his illness. A number of University of Melbourne people were present at Sacred Heart Church, Kew on 7 October for Noel’s funeral service, The Graduate Union being represented by Secretary-Warden, Eugene Spanti and Miss Barbara Funder. Our sincere condolences to Emmaline on her sad loss.
Emeritus Professor Ivan Stanley de la Lande Joined 1942. Educated at University of Melbourne He was Professor of Experimental Pharmacology at the University of Adelaide from 1957 until retirement in 1990. Was a dedicated research scientist whose work has been described as outstanding both on a national and international scale . In retirement he worked as a consultant in the cardiac division of the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Adelaide until his death He was a warm and gregarious man who cared deeply about his associates, students and family. Was the brother of member Ralph de la Lande. Since publication of the August edition of The Melbourne Graduate we have also been notified of the deaths of the following members: Dr Noel Blennerhassett, Life Member joined in 1973 Ms Frances Donovan, Life Member joined in 1965 Dr Sheila Hyland, Life Member joined in 1975 Mr Geoffrey Joachim, Life Member joined in 1980 Mr Vivian Pulford, Life Member joined in 1953 Dr Kenneth Rivett, Life Member joined in 1954 Emeritus Professor Helen Tippett, Life Member joined in 1970 Dr Wendy Weeks, joined in 1999 Dr Richard Wyatt, Life Member joined in 1951 Sir David Zeidler, Life Member joined in 1959 The Graduate Union appreciates the support of these members and extends condolences to their families. We regret that space constraints do not allow individual acknowledgement of each deceased member.
AnInvitation There is an opportunity for a generous member to support a water saving installation at Graduate House. The alterations in the terraces next to the new building involve replacing the hot water units with a large unit on the roof of the new building. A pump will be required to circulate the hot water through the new building and through the adjacent section of the terraces. The work to be done provides an opportunity to eliminate unnecessary waste of water. Any member who would like the satisfaction of facilitating this conservation measure could do so by making a donation through the Building Fund of $3000 for the hot water system and $2000 for the pump.
A MEMBER’S STORY Salvos save our men from plunging plane Clive Dickson referred to in this story is a war-time mate and lifelong friend of President, Mr Frank Lees. He is currently resident at Graduate House, his wife is in hospital nearby. I owe my life to Honest John, the Salvation Army chaplain who each morning from his jeep and trailer gave us our morning brew on the strip at Labuan, North Borneo in 1945. As an aircraft electrician, I had been in the the landing at Balikpapan, Borneo and responsible for wiring up the airstrip lights and camp lighting for 380BU. Duties on Mustangs included servicing the battery located in front of the cockpit bulkhead and the electrician stood near the wing’s leading edge – and that’s where I was on a typical tropical morning around 10.30am on November 19, 1945. My mate, AC Dickson was in a similar position standing on the next aircraft. Several Mustang squadrons shared the strip with a Beaufort squadron which had pranged about five aircraft in a month. Standing on our Mustangs we would observe these takeoffs in front of our parked line of Mustangs with interest. A Beaufort on this memorable morning was revving up at the end of the strip when I saw Honest John’s jeep approaching from the area in front of the tower. I immediately called across to my mate Clive Dickson to get off his aircraft and have a brew. He refused, so I badgered him with strong words. He relented and together we climbed down. At the back of our aircraft we observed the Beaufort roaring down the strip. As it approached it veered to starboard and clipped the engines and propellers of our Mustangs. It sheared the engine off A68-714 and threw the battery on the ground where it had fallen intact. The Beaufort careered down the strip and caught fire, the pilot was thrown clear but died the next day. We manhandled the fire truck through the mud to the aircraft and heard and witnessed the tragedy of eight fellow airmen dying as the Beaufort burned, our fire truck was so bogged down that we were helpless. My electrician mate (Clive) who lives in Melbourne claims that I saved his life. In reply I tell him that we both owe our lives to the Salvos and in turn I suspect the Salvos would say God gave us a few more years. Frank Lees
Special PurposeDonation The Graduate Union is grateful to the Trustees of the William Berry PostGraduate Trust for a donation of $5000 for improvements to the continued upkeep of the historic terraces. It is anticipated this donation will be used for the refurbishment of the interiors of the seven terraces from 222 to 234 Leicester Street. The Trust was formally wound up on 14 October 2004 in accordance with Section 36E of the Act by notice published in the Government Gazette. Life Members, Barbara Funder and Heather Kudeviita, the new Trustees are pleased to continue their association in this way. The sole beneficiary of the Trust is The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne, the eleventh affiliated College.
November 2004 volume 57 No.4 7
THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE
PROGRESS AT GRADUATE HOUSE – NEW BUILDING
Nearing completion - Leicester Street Facade
Painting completed - Ground Floor Lounge
Lift at Ground Level
Ready for painting - First floor bedroom
The New Building Group tours of the new building will be arranged from mid-November and during December. Interested members should ring Graduate House on 9347-3428 if they wish to see through the new building.
PROPERTY REPORT When I was asked to provide this report I had just seen the first of four switchboards moved inside for the electricians to connect up the wiring and the tilers were laying ceramic tiles in the kitchen. (28 September). One week later it was possible to view a completed bathroom on the first floor and the painter had a room painted enough to judge the final appearance. Other workers were busily removing bricks and putting lintels in place for the wider doorway linking the new building to the administration area in the terraces.
By the time you read this, it is possible that we will have reached the target of securing access to the ground floor by Melbourne Cup weekend. At this stage of construction sometimes there are very large numbers of works from a multiplicity of trades on site at any one time. It is not possible to give a more precise report given the publishing lead time. As an observer at the weekly site meetings, I am confident that the project is proceeding to schedule and the end result will fulfill our expectations. Dr Robert Gibson
DONORS TO THE BUILDING APPEAL SINCE AUGUST ISSUE: Dr P Ashton
Mr A Bainbridge
Dr J Bartram
Dr R Beilharz
Mrs N Burns
Mr A Campain
Ms W Cobcroft
Mrs S Cohen
Mr W Cushing
Mr F Derham
Mr D Dore
Ms B Dryden
Prof J Epstein
Dr R Fethers
Dr J Forsyth
Mr J Franklin
Mrs J Gibbs
Mr E Gilbert
Mrs H Gordon
Mrs K Grose
Mrs B Hamer
Mr D Hart
Mrs E Hinze
Mr P Ironside
Mr A Jack
Mr F Jones
Dr J Kardos
Dr J Lawry
Mr A Noble
Miss E Mann
Mr R Manuell
Dr A Parker
Mrs E Medling
Mrs J Porteous
Mr A Robinson
Dr M Schnapp
Dr D Stenhouse
Dr B Taylor
Mr L Thomson
Prof N Tulloh
Total amount at 10/10/2004: $126,180
8 November 2004 volume 57 No.4