Links – Autumn 2001
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Alumni Review AUTUMN 2001 Volume 4 Number 1 QUT’s Rhodes Scholar Karl makes news Teaching pair reach out to kids CONTENTS A university for the real world qut.com 1 Uncle Bob among those honoured 2 In brief ... 4 Making the news Research outlook 5 Teaching pair help show children strengthens 6 Ilana finds “best company in the world” QUT has received a terrific boost to its research endeavours. In January 7 the Federal Government announced funding of $16.3 million over Mardi Gras Festival director fuelled seven years for one Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Diagnostics. by passion Some $70 million will be raised from other sources. 8 An additional bid for the new CRC for Construction Innovation was Talking Point ... with Rosemary Vilgan also funded for $14 million over seven years (with $50 million backing from other sources). 9 The CRC for Diagnostics has evolved from the award-winning CRC for Diagnostic Technologies Reconciliation needs action and, again, will be headquartered at QUT. 10 Overseen by its director, Professor Tony Evans, the new CRC will work in the areas of antibody Talking Point ... with Professor Evan Douglas engineering, antibody/antigen detection, protein engineering and profiling, molecular 11 evolution, genetic and infectious disease diagnostics, single nucleotide polymorphism detection QUT’s Rhodes Scholar helps landmine victims technology and point-of-care nucleic acid tests. Future of golf in steady hands Capitalising on the human genome project findings, this work is expected to produce an 12 exciting range of medical diagnostic tools that will help revolutionise the prediction and management of a raft of inherited diseases. Australians give more, donation analysis reveals Short bouts of activity equally good for health The exciting new CRC for Construction Innovation was the result of a joint bid by a team consisting of Dr Keith Hampson and Professor Tony Sidwell of QUT's School of Construction 13 Management and Property, Professor Derek Walker of RMIT, Dr Ron Sharpe of the CSIRO Geologists find Newcastle earthquake fault and Mr David Abbott of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Research aims to cut tumour blood supply This new CRC involves a substantial consortium of core and supporting organisations that 14 includes universities, industry partners and government agencies. Alcohol ignition interlock trial underway It will aim to create and commercially exploit tools, technologies and management systems 15 to ensure improvements across the whole-of-life of constructed facilities. PhD candidate urges disaster plan Trish set to battle the broadsheet brands Long-term, the construction industry will benefit from new technologies which have been piloted on actual construction projects, new software tools that incorporate the new 16 technologies, and just-in-time training modules which will deliver education when and where Allison grooves to London’s accounting tune needed. 17 This funding represents a tremendous endorsement of QUT's research initiative and enterprise, Graduate makes art for heart’s sake and was a wonderful start to what I know will be a great year for QUT. 18 Alumni news 19 Alumni calendar of events Professor Dennis Gibson 20 Vice-Chancellor About the Alumni Board 21 If you have new story ideas or feedback to share about QUT Links, contact the Keep in touch ... Editor on 07 3864 1150, email [email protected] or write to 24 The Editor Services and facilities for QUT Alumni Corporate Communication Department QUT GPO Box 2434 Brisbane Q 4001 Cover: Michael and Kate Blackmore QUT Links is published by the QUT Corporate Communication Department, in with Rene (age three) and co-operation with the QUT Alumni Relations Unit. Tiffany Zacchini (age six) Design and production by QUT Publications Unit. Edited by Carmen Myler. Photography: Tony Phillips, Suzanne Prestwidge. Editorial material is gathered from a range of sources and does not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of QUT. QUT LINKS Uncle Bob among those honoured It was with mixed emotions that one Uncle Bob followed more closely in “I hasten to point out, of Queensland’s most well-known his uncle’s footsteps than he realised by too, that there are other advocates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait becoming active in the Building Islander and workers’ rights received the Workers’ Industrial Union and, later, sectors of our community news that he was the latest recipient of a being elected to the Queensland Trades QUT honorary doctorate. and Labour Council. who are disadvantaged So humbled by the recognition, He considers his greatest in the same ways…” Uncle Bob Anderson – who among a achievement as being elected and long list of positions, holds the chair of re-elected as the Queensland state the Declaration of Reconciliation that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organiser for the Building Workers’ deal with how to correct the Advisory Board – had tears in his eyes. Industrial Union between 1963 disadvantage. “It’s the humility Aboriginal people and 1978. “I hasten to point out, too, that there have,” he said. “We don’t aspire to Between the 1950s and 1980s, are other sectors of our community who great heights. he worked to improve the rights of are disadvantaged in the same ways and “We carry out our responsibility indigenous people, beginning the to our community. The aspirations of challenge with the Queensland Council I’d feel uncomfortable if indigenous ‘going up the ladder’, so to speak, and for the Advancement of Aboriginal and people were more advantaged than their achieving is what you might regard as Torres Strait Islanders, the forerunner brothers and sisters of other a white structure, it doesn’t apply in to ATSIC. nationalities.” Aboriginal society.” This task, he admits, was no mean Former Director-General of “Uncle Bob”, as he is respectfully feat – being an indigenous working class Education Clyde Gilmour also received known, has had a long association unionist and activist for Aboriginal the honour of Doctor of the University with QUT. rights in Queensland at that time late last year, while another former He completed a five-year required a great deal of courage, director-general and QUT Council apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery commitment and persistence. member Ron Boyle was recognised in 1949 at the Central Technical College Uncle Bob was also involved in with a posthumous doctorate. where QUT Gardens Point now stands, surveying Queenslanders in the lead making the 71-year-old the university’s up to the historic 1967 first indigenous graduate and one of its referendum campaign oldest-living indigenous graduates. which ultimately recognised He is also one of the university’s indigenous peoples’ right Golden Graduates and was named the to vote for the first time. South-East Queensland Indigenous He said last year’s Elder and Indigenous Person of the Walk for Reconciliation Year in 1998. in Brisbane and Sydney Uncle Bob sees his achievements, reflected the feelings of and particularly the honorary doctorate, the average Australian in as a way of showing other indigenous the 1967 referendum. people what they can achieve. “(The walks) were “It could act as an inspiration to absolutely unbelievably younger people to see elders as role wonderful, spiritual and models and have a focus on following emotional for us all.” in their footsteps,” he said. But he said Australia He, too, had a role model when he had a long way to go to was growing up. deliver equality and self- His uncle, Paul Tripcony, took him determination to its to book stores every Saturday, fostering indigenous people. a keen interest in reading and learning. “The fact that the He found out, after his Uncle Paul Prime Minister hasn’t had died, that he had been the vice- said sorry doesn’t move president of the Queensland branch of him away from the the Federated Liquor Trades Union. responsibilities outlined in Uncle Bob Anderson by Toni Chambers 1 In brief... JAMES’ ACHIEVEMENTS (Gerontology), and has Faculty of Business culminating in the two WIN ACCLAIM committed many hours and Outstanding Alumni Award. parties signing a letter QUT engineering and resources into aged care of agreement. information technology YOUNG SURVEYOR OF research and policy THE YEAR graduate James Moody was development. honoured as the nation’s top Bachelor of Applied DEAN WINS OPTOMETRY young science and Science (Surveying) graduate AWARD technology achiever at the Adam Ladhams has been Dean of the Faculty Young Australian of the Year recognised with the W Keith of Health Professor Ken Awards in January. Hayes Young Surveyor of the Bowman AM has been James – who was featured Year Award 2000 from the named Queensland in the previous edition of Institute of Surveyors, Optometrist of the Year for QUT Links – was recognised Queensland Division. 2000 by the Queensland for his contribution to the In addition to this award, Division of the Optometrists Centenary of Federation Adam received funding Association of Australia. satellite, FedSat-1, and his to further his academic TRIPCONY OUTSTANDING community service and endeavours from his employer Outgoing head of the sustainable development Connell Wagner. Oodgeroo Unit at QUT work. Penny Tripcony has been SCHOOLS MERGE BY DESIGN The 24-year-old’s latest QUT’s School of Planing, named the Outstanding honour follows a string of Educator 2000 by the David Moffatt Landscape Architecture and awards he has received in the Australian College Surveying, and the School past year, including the OUTSTANDING GRADUATE of Educators. Ms Tripcony of Architecture, Interior and Institution of Engineers’ SNARES “MOST EXCITING recently retired from QUT. Industrial Design have been Young Professional Engineer, CFO POSITION IN LAND” CREATIVE INDUSTRIES VISION the Young Queenslander of QUT’s Outstanding combined and now operate Alumni Award winner for as the School of Design and UNFOLDS the Year, and Queensland QUT Council has Young Achiever of the Year 2000, David Moffatt, has Built Environment.