Vol. 31 No. 3, Spring 2012
100 in 100
Vol. 31 No. 3, Spring 2012 contents In Focus: campus news and views 2 From the Vice-Chancellery 7 A man for all seasons 8 Building heritage skills 13 Australia’s eye on the sky 14 Cheers for ears 19 Reading the reefs 21 Novel launch at wireless centenary 24 Realising a resource bounty 26 Preserving the legacy of the Antarctic heroes 29 Sport’s lessons for life 33 Guest column: Sam Brophy-Williams 36 From tearooms to University 38 Scholarship takes graduate to Cambridge Grad News 39 Lilly Brown was the first in her family to attend Grad Briefs 43 university and the Charles Perkins Scholarship 6 (presented by Prime Minister Julia Gillard) means Cover image: On the eve of its Centenary, UWA the UWA graduate is now the first Indigenous makes it into the top 100 of world university rankings Australian to study at Cambridge University. (see In Focus)
Uniview is produced by UWA Public Affairs Director: Doug Durack ([email protected]) Editor: Trea Wiltshire ([email protected]) Grad Briefs: Terry Larder ([email protected]) Design: Janine Blackstock, UniPrint (uniprint.uwa.edu.au) Advertising: Trea Wiltshire +61 8 6488 1914 Editorial: Public Affairs, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009 Telephone: +61 8 6488 1914, Fax: +61 8 6488 1192
Address Changes: Terry Larder +61 8 6488 2447, Fax: +61 8 6488 7996, Email: [email protected] Uniview is published three times a year. Summer edition: February. Winter edition: June. Spring edition: October. The magazine is printed using vegetable-based inks on paper that is chlorine-free and sourced from plantation timber. Both paper manufacture and printing are approved to the highest environmental standards. Material from Uniview may be reproduced accompanied by an appropriate credit. Uniview can be viewed at publishing.uwa.edu.au UWA website: uwa.edu.au
Shedding light on dark matter Associate Professor Chris Power creates ‘synthetic’ galaxy surveys and simulations of dark matter (above) that are valuable tools 14 for exploring the Universe with the world’s most powerful radio telescope. MEMBER See Australia’s eye on the sky
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 1 gradin focus briefs
100 in 100 Anticipating the Asian Century The news could not have been better in terms of timing and achievement: on the eve of UWA’s 2013 Centenary – and Vol. 31 No. 3, Spring 2012 in a single year – the University had vaulted 14 places in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). We are 100 in now ranked 96 in the world. To be counted among the 100 top 100 – and to see our Life and Agricultural Sciences ranked 26th, the only Australian university so highly ranked – has further fuelled UWA’s overarching goal to make the top 50 by 2050. A clearly delighted Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Johnson, welcomed the news: “This is a fantastic result and it’s the outcome of hard work, dedication and the commitment of our staff.” Our dramatic rise in world ranking saw the national The Prime Minister, parliamentarians and the business media dub UWA “the quiet achiever” as we joined four elite joined Chancellor Michael Chaney and other Australian universities in the top 100. UWA leaders at the roundtable discussion. As news filtered through the campus, the achievement In July Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined senior business was quickly judged as significant as Professor Barry leaders at a round-table In the Zone discussion on the Marshall’s Nobel Prize win – and, like Professor Marshall’s ‘Asian Century’ hosted by UWA Chancellor Dr Michael medical research, the quest for excellence in research and Chaney (Chair of Woodside and the National Australia Bank). teaching is on-going. The next In the Zone conference on issues ranging Winthrop Professor Tony O’Donnell, Dean of Science, from economic growth to foreign capital management, said moving up several places in the Life and Agricultural infrastructure development, leadership and resources Sciences category recognised the sustained efforts of security will be held at UWA on 26 – 27 November. researchers and would be “the impetus to aim higher”. For more information: www.uwainthezone.com.au The internationally recognised ARWU has presented the top 500 universities annually since 2003 using objective Remembering a genial Chancellor indicators including Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals and In September UWA farewelled former Chancellor, Justice numbers of highly-cited researchers and articles in Nature Geoffrey Kennedy, who gave much to the University over and Science. The rankings do not include humanities more than five decades, from his time as Guild Councillor and disciplines. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor outstanding student through his distinguished career. In 1999, Robyn Owens says that science publications and our his contribution was recognised with an Honorary Doctorate highly-cited scientists have boosted UWA to the top 100. One of UWA’s highly-cited scientists is Winthrop of Laws and he served as Patron of the philanthropic Hackett Professor Mark Spackman, Head of the School of Foundation until this year. Chemistry and Biochemistry, who was recently awarded During a memorial evening, many spoke of the wide a prestigious crystallography prize by the Royal Swedish knowledge, genial authority and good humour of a Chancellor Academy of Sciences. Professor Spackman, who who was a great supporter to UWA. developed novel ways of looking at intermolecular “Justice Kennedy’s generosity and foresight continues to interactions in crystals, will receive the prize from King Carl support significant and important activities on this campus Gustav at the Swedish Academy’s annual meeting in April. and further afield, providing benefits to the whole community and supporting a University which is networked across the globe,” said Chancellor Michael Chaney. A landscape M.Butterfly of learning The multi-award-winning Landscape historian Gillian M.Butterfly by David Henry Lilleyman will guide visitors will be staged by GRADS through UWA’s National at the Dolphin in November. Estate-registered grounds Directed by Barry Park, this during a Landscape Talk production runs through and Walk on 21 October November. For performance organised by the UWA details, visit: grads.org.au/ History Society. The Lovers of language are graduate’s knowledge of in for a treat when a group the campus is extensive of graduates and GRADS as a contributor to UWA’s members read poetry at Conservation Management the Dolphin Theatre next Plan and as the co-author month. The group, Well- of A Landscape of Learning: Versed, includes David Top teamwork: Premier’s Research Fellow a History of the Grounds of Goodall, Collin O’Brien, Malcolm McCulloch (see Reading the Reefs), Associate Director of Research Grants Christine Casey, The University of Western Pat Stroud, and others. Professor Robyn Owens, Nobel Laureate Barry Marshall, Australia. To register The performance (2pm on Humanities Professor Susan Broomhall attendance, phone Saturday 17 November) is and young researcher Dr Andrew Whitehouse. 9384 6166. supported by GRADS.
2 | Uniview Spring 2012 gradin focusbriefs
Come share the magic!
Excitement is building on campus as UWA prepares to Soprano Sara Macliver (Photo: Rhydian Lewis) welcome alumni for the University’s Alumni Weekend. The February 8 – 10 weekend promises to be an successful Mt Everest mountaineer Patrick Hollingworth. unforgettable celebratory reunion and a fitting launch for Leading academics will also be involved, including Nobel our 2013 Centenary. Laureate Professor Barry Marshall, Oceans Institute Director Those attending will gather on Friday evening for a Professor Carlos Duarte and Professor Peter Quinn, Director cocktail party hosted by the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. This will be a curtain-raiser to the much anticipated Running throughout the weekend will be the Writers’ LUMINOUSnight, the University’s centenary gift to the Corner, showcasing award-winning authors in a series of people of Western Australia. in-conversation sessions, panel discussions and readings. From dusk until midnight, LUMINOUSnight will transform You’ll have a chance to meet authors Robert Drewe, the campus into a walk-through art gallery and performance Kim Scott, Nicholas Hasluck, Deborah Burrows, Ambelin space. The centrepiece will be a 20-minute filmic projection Kwaymullina, Brenda Walker, John Kinsella and many more. onto the classic façade of Winthrop Hall, one of Perth’s best- An early Saturday evening event will see the launch of a loved landmarks. visually stunning artwork by artist, author and film-maker The program that will make our campus the place to be Shaun Tan. The Academy Award winning graduate has on February 8 includes a screening of the 1913 classic Dr designed a Venetian glass mosaic for the University Club. Jekyll and Mr Hyde with an improvised soundtrack by Nova The Italian-style wall sundial titled Hours to Sunset is a Ensemble, an original dance work, Peacocks, Crows and Centenary gift to past, present and future students presented Lorikeets, choreographed by Chrissie Parrott, concerts by by UWA Convocation, the Combined Friends of UWA and acclaimed songwriter (and graduate) Fred Smith, the gypsy Friends of the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery. This event also tango quartet Sagezza and an array of UWA ensembles marks the launch of the UWA Centenary Plant, Hakea laurina and bands. (a UWA Friends of the Grounds initiative) by ABC gardening There will also be incredible portrait projections by the expert Sabrina Hahn. internationally renowned projection artist Craig Walsh, giant puppets, theatre performances, augmented reality The weekend would not be complete without a celebration projections viewed through a free smart phone app of the wealth of talent the School of Music has nurtured over obtainable on the night, street theatre, a fireworks finale and decades. A stellar line-up of composers will be featured in a much more. CD of original commissions. LUMINOUSnight is generously sponsored by Lotterywest Alumni weekenders will be the first to hear music from the and TDC – Technical Direction Company. For program CD which features a string of acclaimed graduates including details, performance times and artist information visit: Sara Macliver, Paul Wright, Craig Ogden, Sean Lee-chen, luminousnight.uwa.edu.au. to name but a few. This extraordinary project was made This fantastic entertainment will be the start of the Alumni possible through the generosity of graduate music-lovers. Weekend that includes reunions and special events. Lectures If you have enquiries about the 2013 Alumni Weekend, and seminars from across the faculties, schools and please call Meredith Eddington, Alumni Events Manager, on institutes will be presented by high profile alumni including +61 8 6488 7946 or email: [email protected]. For Sir Rod Eddington, former WA Premier Geoff Gallop and further information visit the website: Centenary.uwa.edu.au
Change of leadership development of our region,” identified as a key element The new Warden’s at St George’s says the new Warden. “As in running a successful breadth of vision has much The new Warden of St a liberal democracy, an residential college. to do with his international George’s College Ian Hardy open society with significant An Oxford graduate and background and wide is enthusiastic about UWA’s strengths and expertise, we former merchant banker, business, social and In the Zone initiative. have such a lot to offer the Ian has a well-defined sporting links. “Western Australia has region, including excellent vision for the University’s After graduating from such an inherent vigour, schools and universities.” longest-established college Oxford with a BA (Hons) such a sense of purpose. Ian Hardy is determined and wants to enhance in Modern History, Ian I believe our intellectual to expand the academic its credentials as an worked as a merchant and economic strengths and cultural enrichment his incubator of good ideas banker for Hambros Bank give us the opportunity to predecessor John Inverarity where undergraduates find in London for 16 years, play a pivotal role in the (profiled in this issue) inspirational mentors. then as Managing Director
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 3 gradin focus briefs
of Hambro Pacific in Hong Reaching for the stars Kong. During the 1987 global financial crisis he advised the Hong Kong Government and was later appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lankan- listed investment bank Asia Capital. In 2002, he exchanged the world of high finance for teaching, completing a Graduate Diploma of Education at UWA and joining Christ Church Grammar School. “As I gained experience in education, I always hoped The new Warden of to reach a point where I St George’s, Ian Henry (Photo: Henry Giles) could fuse my knowledge of business with that and we want our college The Governor Malcolm McCusker and his wife of education, and that to be associated with it. Tonya with Professor Peter Quinn at the opportunity came up at More visiting scholars and SKA Celebration at Government House. St George’s,” he says. postgraduate researchers Even as NASA’s Curiosity Rover was exploring Mars, the “Here at the college we will make us a full college world’s most famous Big Bang physicist, Professor Stephen have people of intellect and that achieves the balance Hawking, was urging those gathered in London’s Olympic character who desire to deal that marks the best Stadium to “Look to the stars, be curious!” with the rest of the world. universities in North America That message is already a mantra for UWA physicists We’d love to see the College and Europe. We are at a and cosmologists following the momentous Square expand so that in future we moment in history where all Kilometre Array Committee decision to locate part of the can accommodate more this is achievable.” world’s biggest radio astronomy project in Western Australia postgraduate researchers With the provision of more (see Australia’s eye in the sky). from across the region student accommodation “Astronomy has always had the power to excite people,” and Australia. at UWA a priority, the new says Professor Peter Quinn, and that was clear when guests “We’re very aware of the Warden says an expansion gathered for the SKA Celebration at Government House. intellectual foment being of College buildings is UWA research may well have implications for the search unleashed in China and India highly desirable. for extra-terrestrial life on Mars – one of the Curiosity 40under40 Rover’s aims. UWA scientists David Wacey and Matt Kilburn used The annual WA Business the graduate has grown high-resolution NanoSIMS technology at the Centre for News 40under40 awards Hartleys into one of WA’s Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis to show that always stir interest. It is top corporate advisory spherical iron-oxide concretions that microbes help to shape significant that more than firms. “Winning the award (found in Jurassic Navajo Sandstone in Utah) looked very 70 per cent of winners and joining previous winners similar to concretions found on Mars. have either bachelor or such as UWA graduate This finding led to speculation that the Martian concretions postgraduate degrees Mark Barnaba was a real may not only reveal that water was present on the Red and 45 per cent are UWA honour,” says the graduate. Planet, but also life. graduates. The 2012 First “Because the award is Working with scientists from the University of Nebraska, Amongst Equals award well recognised in the the findings were featured on the front cover of the journal went to graduate Grey business community, it Geology. The US university chose the CMCA facility – used Egerton-Warburton, head has led to some rewarding to study everything from early life to cancer drugs – because of corporate finance at opportunities.” of its success in identifying microbial fossils. Hartleys Limited. Since For more about the 2013 co-leading a management awards visit the website: buy-out of the firm in 2003, www.40under40.com.au
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4 | Uniview Spring 2012 gradin focusbriefs
Floral tribute Skills for a clean energy future Look, Look Again
Illustration: Dean of the UWA Business School, Winthrop Professor Into the Light published Philippa Nikulinsky Phil Dolan, Energy and Minerals Institute Director Tim Shanahan by UWA Publishing and International Energy Centre CEO Tim McLennan UWA Centenary Trust for The Lawrence Wilson Women, which provides UWA and the Universities of Queensland and Newcastle are Art Gallery’s major financial support for present collaborating on a Master of Energy Studies (MES) offered exhibition, Look, Look and future generations of by the International Energy Centre. The course is supported Again (19 October to women at UWA, is holding by UWA’s Energy and Minerals Institute and an industry 15 December), showcases a fund-raising event on perspective is provided by Xstrata Coal. art by Australian women 1 November that highlights Centre CEO Tim McLennan says the transition to a low over the past 125 years. the achievements of carbon emissions future is a big challenge, influencing The works are part of the celebrated artist Philippa the way industry and government address key business, Cruthers Collection of Nikulinsky. societal and policy issues. Women’s Art donated by For over four decades “The basis of this course is to provide young leaders Sir James and Lady Sheila the guest of honour has with the skills required to be influential advocates for an Cruthers to the University captured the essence of accelerated yet enduring transition to a cleaner energy so that it could remain intact Western Australia’s unique future,” he said. and available to the public. flora and fauna. Her most UWA’s Energy and Minerals Director Tim Shanahan says The collection is recent book Cape Arid (with the course is an outstanding opportunity for students to the largest specialised her husband Alex) records learn from leading academics with a long history in the collection of women’s art in their journey to an isolated energy sector. Australia and this exhibition area known for its howling “The full-time course takes a year and a half or can be accompanies the launch winds and 40-degree heat. done on a part-time basis over three years. This gives busy of the fully-illustrated book, For more information on professionals the flexibility to maintain work schedules and Into the Light (published by the CTW event and other possibly integrate a professional project into their everyday UWA Publishing). items on UWA Extension’s work, taking their career to the next level,” said Into the Light tells the Spring program, visit: Mr Shanahan. story of the collection and extension.uwa.edu.au For more information, visit: internationalenergy presents a compelling centre.com view of Australia through Graduates gather women’s artwork, historical The Great Debate – Is Australia going west? photographs and essays. It’s a big year for reunions, Contributors include with graduates gathering Sally Quinn, Curator at to celebrate several the Lawrence Wilson Art anniversaries. Gallery, Ted Snell, Director On 10 November, the of the Cultural Precinct at first cohort of WA-trained UWA, and John Cruthers, medical students will recall curatorial advisor to the their trepidation when collection. crowding the notice board Included in the to view their final results in exhibition’s public programs 1962. Of the 35 graduates, is a two-day symposium, only two were women in Are We There Yet? featuring contrast to today when more Two of Australia’s most eminent historians and long-time national and international than half of UWA’s medical sparring partners, Professor Geoffrey Blainey and Professor speakers (October 20/21). students are female. Geoffrey Bolton, will discuss Perth’s increasing significance For more information, visit: Says Dr Howard Watts, on the national scene in a public forum chaired by journalist, lwgallery.uwa.edu.au “Since 1963, the group has broadcaster and UWA graduate, Geraldine Doogue. met annually, and to mark Up for discussion is Western Australia’s booming St Catherine’s College our 50th anniversary we’ll economy which bankrolls the nation. Are there parallels 50 year reunion have a celebratory dinner with the past? Were there similar trends during the gold Former members of St at the University Club. We boom of the 1890s? By 2050 will Western Australia’s natural Catherine’s College who will also receive a message resources have generated such vast increases in population commenced study in 1962 from Scotland from the only and wealth that the economic centre of the nation will have and were resident at St living Foundation Professor shifted west? Catherine’s at any stage are of the UWA Medical The forum (25 October) in the University Club Theatre is invited to a reunion lunch School, Professor David free but guests must register for complimentary tickets at: to be held at the college Sinclair (Chair of Anatomy), http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/lectures/lecture-seating- in November. For details a man greatly loved and reservations respected.” contact: Gillian Lilleyman
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 5 gradin focus briefs
(61 8 9384 2833 wlilleym@ first Indigenous Australian Opening doors – and extending access bigpond.net.au) or Jennifer to study at Cambridge Engelhard (61 8 9246 1640 University. [email protected]) Lilly studied History and Anthropology at UWA and 50th Year Arts Reunion says she was passionate UWA Faculty of Arts about her studies and found graduates who had their university inspirational. degrees conferred in 1962 She went on to complete and earlier are invited Honours in Indigenous to join the Dean of Arts, Studies at the University of Melbourne and is studying Winthrop Professor Krishna UWA’s Aspire volunteers help Sen, to celebrate at a 50th a Master of Philosophy in to deliver the highly effective program year reunion. A delicious Politics, Development and It may have been one of winter’s wettest days but some lunch will be served with Democratic Education at 25,000 took the opportunity to visit UWA on Open Day a smorgasbord of Arts Cambridge. in August. offerings including live music The Eastern Hills Senior Two thousand staff volunteered to support the event, performances and literature High School graduate pays providing advice and answering questions from prospective readings. The Reunion will tribute to Gabrielle Garratt of students, particularly in relation to New Courses introduced be held on 30 November UWA’s School of Indigenous this year. 2012. Register your interest Studies for “invaluable Said one impressed Year 11 student already familiar with by emailing: support and guidance the campus through work experience: “It was very exciting [email protected]. behind-the-scenes” during and informative. One of the sessions I attended was the au or contacting Bianca her UWA studies. Marine and Environmental Science course overview, but Galipo on 61 8 6488 4212. “I understand the I could end up doing conservation biology and zoology. importance of education In fact I’d like to do EVERY natural science – so there are Scholarship winner’s and acknowledge the power tough decisions ahead!” tribute to UWA such an education carries That brand of enthusiasm is just what we like to hear Arts graduate Lilly when one hopes, like I do, from prospective students and our expanded Aspire Brown, (pictured on the to influence the education UWA program (that raises awareness of tertiary education Contents page) was the system to accommodate options) is making sure that an additional 50 schools in first in her family to attend Indigenous people, the Pilbara, Kimberley, Midwest, Gascoyne and metropolitan university and, with the knowledge, language regions get the message about the benefits and help of a Charlie Perkins and ways of knowing,” opportunities of tertiary study. Scholarship, she is now the says the graduate.
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6 | Uniview Spring 2012 from the vice-chancellery Building on our strong foundations When John Winthrop Hackett founded the first free university of the British Empire a century ago, he could scarcely have imagined that this small University in a fledging state could become one of the world’s best. He had very high ambitions for our University – that the university would be of “inestimable service in the development of our natural resources”, that it would teach the practical questions of life upon which “we depend for our daily bread” and that it should paradigm that will define our relationship with afford equal opportunities for rich and poor alike. industry, government, the not-for-profit sector and No doubt Hackett, who died only a few years the broader community. after the University accepted its first students in As part of that paradigm, the University will 1913, would have been delighted with our recent examine its goals and how we should endeavour achievement of being counted amongst the top to achieve them – building on past achievements 100 universities in the world (Academic Ranking of while being alert to new opportunities and changing World Universities). expectations. I am privileged to be able to deliver this news on Hackett’s musings on the role of the University in the eve of our Centenary – and to be able to reflect the practical questions of life on which we depend upon the implications the recognition will have for our were prescient. Many of the preoccupations of University as we move into the next 100 years. modern agriculture, for example, revolve around the The ranking is a reflection of the calibre of our challenge of feeding the world, such as finding new staff, the excellence and relevance of our research, ways to grow salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant crops in a our performance as an institution and the contribution herbicide-resistant, low rainfall environment. of former Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson. While these lessons are valuable in the Australian Hackett’s desire for the University to be of context, they have also been of benefit internationally inestimable service to the development of the nation’s as our research informs the agricultural practices of natural resources would no doubt find favour within countries such as Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. the echelons of the current West Australian business And in the tradition of the founding fathers of community – many of whom rely upon the expertise UWA we have continued to develop opportunities within our University to help grow and develop their for students of ability to have access to higher businesses and to find innovative solutions, through education. Many of our scholarships and other forms research, to the challenges they face. of support for these students are made available Partnerships with business and industry are through the generous support of our alumni and critical to the development of the intellectual other benefactors. resources that underpin our economy. Our University sits among the top five in Australia, Over the past few months, I have spoken about is recognised as the best in its home state and the need for a university that can help Western contributes to research and scientific discovery, Australia develop a resilient economy, one that will intellectual debate, and the policy development of last beyond the buoyant economic conditions of the nation. recent times. It is a fine position to find ourselves in as we And in fact, the recent dip in the price of enter the 100th anniversary of the first students commodities, such as iron ore, is a timely reminder entering UWA. Our challenge now is to develop a that we must build upon the foundations we have laid plan that will build upon and develop our research, and recognise the value of a long-term investment in our teaching and learning and the translation of our higher education. research into benefits for our State, our nation and In looking forward to the beginning of our new indeed the world. century, I welcome the development of a new Paul Johnson Vice-Chancellor
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 7 Born in Ireland in 1848 and educated at Trinity College in Dublin, Winthrop Hackett was called to the Irish Bar but instead he boarded a ship bound for Australia in 1875. He had lived through the famine that sent Irish migrants fleeing across the world, had lost a beloved twin sister to tuberculosis and was resisting the pull of the church that had seen his A man for younger brothers follow their father into the clergy and his sisters marry bishops. Political upheavals and the knowledge that family all seasons land in Wicklow would not provide a living for a well- educated young man may also have contributed to the 27-year-old’s decision to seek his fortune in a John Winthrop Hackett was a well- distant young country with prospects. His close friend Dr James Battye would later observe that Hackett left educated young man with high ideals Ireland because his democratic views were at odds but few prospects. He left his troubled with the official Irish political outlook. homeland in Ireland and during Western It is sometimes hard to reconcile the younger Winthrop Hackett with the elder statesman, cultural Australia’s gold rush era, his four commissar and University Chancellor he became in great interests – newspapers, politics, the decades before his death in 1916, says Professor Geoffrey Bolton. business and education – made him
a passionate advocate for this State Above: Foundations of the Science building with Winthrop Hall in the background. Inset: Sir John Winthrop Hackett and for the establishment of the Next page: A photograph of Hackett in a bottle which was placed in a time capsule under the foundations of Winthrop Hall Commonwealth’s first free university. in the late 1920s. (UWA Archives, Ref 1940P)
8 | Uniview Spring 2012 Professor Bolton, an historian (and UWA In the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Lyall graduate) sees the young Hackett as “a whimsical, Hunt writes: out-at-elbows figure, too fond of a joke, at times “The great theme was development. The gold almost garrulous, and discreetly flirtatious with the rush trebled Western Australia’s population between young ladies whom he thought himself too plain and 1892 and 1900. Posts and telegraphs, railways, too impoverished to court.” hospitals, harbours, water supplies and schools had But Winthrop Hackett was ambitious, articulate to be provided, and Hackett gave consistent publicity. and drawn to newspapers, universities, politics and His backing was crucial in winning parliamentary business – a quartet of interests that would weave approval in 1896 of C. Y. O’Connor’s plan to pump sometimes interlocking threads through his life. water to the Eastern Goldfields from the Darling When a former Trinity College colleague Range. Detractors derided the ‘Forrest-Hackett became warden of the University of Melbourne’s curse’ until silenced by its successful completion Trinity College, he invited Hackett to join him as in 1903. Forrest’s other grand scheme – to use the sub-warden. The post offered free board and lodging men and monies of the gold rush to settle a ‘bold but no pay. yeomanry’ on the land – also had Hackett’s support. Hackett worked hard to establish the college, His paper backed the Homestead Act (1893) and acting as tutor in law, logic and political economy, Land Act (1898), the Agricultural Bank Act (1894) and while contributing articles to the Age and Melbourne the Bureau of Agriculture which provided land, capital Review and making two unsuccessful attempts to and scientific advice for farmers.” enter politics. Although he had rejected life as an Anglo-Irish However, with an oversupply of lawyers, clergyman, Hackett was a strong supporter of prospects for a secure income in Melbourne the Church of England. He reminded his fellow were limited and after visiting Western Australia, citizens that the colony’s new-found wealth brought Hackett took up the lease on a sheep station in responsibilities for the less fortunate, and church the Gascoyne. initiatives he supported included a hospice for the It was 1883, a time when the economy was dying, a children’s home and other charities. based on wheat and sheep. However, Hackett’s Hackett’s son, the much decorated General Sir association with the 8,000-hectare Wooramel Station John Hackett (who later became principal of King’s was brief. In The Fifth Sparrow, author Mollie Skinner College in London) would later recall going to Sunday relates that after five months, he left his manager matins in a horse-drawn open carriage. in charge, promising to return in time for lambing. “I can almost taste the boiled sweets produced in Informed that lambing had already begun, he is my mother’s gloved hand and handed around to keep reputed to have retorted: “Put it off!” us quiet during the sermon, and I can remember one Clearly happy to abandon threats of drought and of my sisters so pleased to see her father coming the multiple problems of station life, Hackett headed round with the plate that she joined him in the aisle … for the capital where he received an offer that would hanging on the tail of his frock coat.” shape the rest of his life: Charles Harper, owner of Following Hackett’s bequest to UWA, his second the tri-weekly West Australian newspaper, needed largest legacy was to the Church of England. a partner to run the paper that later became a daily, with Hackett as editor. The 1885 discovery of alluvial gold, first in the Kimberley, then at Southern Cross, wrought dramatic changes in the ‘Cinderella’ State. As gold fever took hold and more of the unforgiving landscape was explored, prospectors were soon digging in the richest square mile of gold-bearing ore on Earth. It was the 1890s, and Hackett was in a position to influence events as the proprietor of an influential newspaper. While some of the early battles he fought through newspaper editorials were dubious, experience and age would mellow his views. As his status and influence grew, he increasingly sought consensus. Nominated for the Legislative Council in 1890, Hackett served as a Council member for 25 years and became part of inaugural WA Premier John Forrest’s inner circle. The two shared bold visions for the West: of transport networks and ports, agricultural development and a water pipeline to the booming Goldfields.
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 9 In A Veritable Augustus: the life of John Winthrop While as a young man Hackett may have Hackett, Alexander Collins observes that Hackett was awkwardly flirted with young ladies he felt too involved in a wide range of issues, including social impoverished to court, in 1905, at 57, the confirmed reforms, votes for women and political rights. In his bachelor and owner of an opulent 25-roomed Murdoch University PhD thesis, Dr Collins also notes mansion at 248 St Georges Terrace decided it was that his subject was an environmentalist well before it time to marry. became popular to be so. Deborah Vernon Drake-Brockman, at 18, came “With age he realised that he was more fortunate from one of those influential families and is reputed in life than many others … This resulted in him to have been as strong-minded as her mother Grace speaking out passionately in respect of amending Bussell who, with stockman Sam Isaacs, had braved various legislation he considered out-dated, while a storm at sea to rescue passengers from a stricken several of his parliamentary detractors only desired vessel in 1876. the preservation of the status quo to retain their Described by her family as “an individualist from influential status in society,” wrote Dr Collins. an early age”, the spirited teenager married against When on 1 January 1901 six colonies united to opposition from some of her family who (according create the Commonwealth, the federation was hailed to author Molly Skinner) believed that “no matter how by Forrest and Hackett who had been WA delegates brilliant, wealthy and charming he might be, the fact to the National Australian Conventions through the remained that he was not a member of one of the 1890s. Both, however, held reservations about the State’s precious ‘first families …” conditions of entry. The young bride turned the Hackett home into a However during the Conventions, Hackett had lively centre for social gatherings and Hackett was impressed fellow delegates. Prime Minister Alfred soon noting that it was impossible to get through his Deakin considered his speeches to be “admirable work because marriage “took at least a couple of both in diction and delivery and in finish of style … hours out of your working day”. He was certainly one of the most well-informed, In The Turning Wheel, Deborah’s brother Geoffrey critical and capable members of the Convention”. Drake-Brockman recalled that his young sister When Western Australia voted in favour of became a great hostess: “They gave many wonderful joining the Commonwealth, Hackett editorialised: parties in their St George’s Terrace home. I recall a “The [referendum] vote taken yesterday … seals the bond which gives a united Australia to the world Above: Diploma of Education students (circa 1931) were the and launches a new nation on its historical career…” first to use the Hackett Memorial Buildings (UWA Archives).
10 | Uniview Spring 2012 in which the Hackett family were such familiar figures – brought the city to a standstill, it reported. Sir John Forrest returned to attend his friend’s dinner to welcome the arrival of our first professors, funeral, and the State governor and parliamentarians to take up their chairs at the new University of were among those who gathered at the cathedral. Western Australia – Murdoch, Shann, Ross, Dakin, Archbishop Charles Riley, who had known the Whitfeld, Wilsmore, Woolnough, Patterson.” distinguished parishioner and philanthropist for Hackett would have relished the arrival of the first 21 years, observed: “he loved work, he loved to professors at the university he had played a pivotal lead and therefore liked to be in office and he had role in establishing. a large vision”. When the subject of a local university was raised When he was knighted, The Sunday Times wrote: in the 1890s, Hackett had argued: “The education of “If the privilege of being addressed as Sir Something the boys and girls of the community may be regarded or other when the great majority of your countrymen as an essential form of political insurance.” are called Mr Smith, Brown, or Robinson is a fit To those who suggested WA could not afford a reward for three decades of public service, no man tertiary institution, he retorted: “The time is coming is better entitled to it then Hackett, K.B. … when we cannot afford to be without a university. It “As journalist, as politician, as churchman, as is not only for the education of our young people but patron of art and science, as co-worker in many also for research work … A university would be of useful public understandings, he has done not a little inestimable service in helping the development of our to make the community what it is … natural resources.” “The West has plenty of sporting publicans, During parliamentary debates he championed dozens of absentee landlords and globe-trotting teaching on “the practical questions of life, upon sheep kings, and thousands of persons in various which after all, we depend for our daily bread” rather walks of life whose sole ambition is to make a fortune than the “study of the dead languages” that catered here and spend it somewhere else, but the number of for society’s elite. its public-spirited citizens who love the country for its In 1911, the year in which he became Sir Winthrop own sake and strive to leave it better than they found Hackett, the University Bill was introduced in it, is lamentably few. One of the few – and one of the Parliament and during its second reading no member best of them – is John Winthrop Hackett.” spoke against it. Hackett’s bequest to UWA funded the Dr James Battye (the State Library’s first Chief establishment of Hackett studentships and bursaries, Librarian) recalled in 1945 that Hackett “always kept the construction of Winthrop Hall and the Hackett before him the idea that such a University should be Buildings. His bequest included funds to build a free and so afford equal opportunities to rich and chapel in St George’s College. poor alike …” The last word should deservedly go to Alexander The University Bill was passed on 3 February Collins, whose thesis provided much information 1911. However, when UWA accepted its initial 184 used in this article. “As a newspaper proprietor, students in 1913, Hackett had only a few years to politician and philanthropist, Hackett is without peer live. The establishment of UWA would be his last in Western Australian history. Subsequent generations major achievement. have received the benefit of his commitment to the A year after the University opened its doors, Sir ideas he advocated throughout his public life. Given Winthrop was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor the significance of his initiation of and generous of Laws. He was also appointed inaugural Chancellor support for Western Australia’s fledgling university, and President of the Guild of Undergraduates. and his backing of other cultural institutions, it was When he died on 19 February, 1916, Sir Winthrop no surprise when he was referred to later as the Hackett was considered as ‘Father of the House’, ‘Cecil Rhodes of Western Australia’, as well as in being the longest-serving member of WA’s Legislative his own lifetime as, a ‘Veritable Augustus’.” Council. While he had relished the power of being a newspaper proprietor, it was widely acknowledged Note: Material for this article was sourced from: that he had used that power wisely. As a passionate Alexander Collins PhD thesis: A Veritable Augustus advocate for Western Australia, he had unashamedly The life of John Winthrop Hackett, Newspaper Proprietor, Politician and Philanthropist (1848-1916), used his paper to advance the establishment of Murdoch University. this University, the WA Museum and Art Gallery, the Fred Alexander’s Campus at Crawley, UWA Press, 1963 Geoffrey Bolton’s The Irish in Western Australia, State Library, the Perth Zoo and King’s Park – civic Studies in Western Australian History, edition 20, 2000 institutions he felt this capital city deserved. Lyall Hunt, Hackett, Sir John Winthrop (1848-1916), Australian Dictionary of Biography Hackett’s funeral in February was held on Geoffrey Drake-Brockman, The Turning Wheel, Paterson, what his newspaper would describe as a hot and Brokensha Pty Ltd, Perth, 1960 suffocating day. The bells of St George’s Cathedral –
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 11 Left: Portrait of Deborah Vernon Hackett c 1905 by Florence Fuller (1867-1946) oil on canvas Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Right: Portrait of Lady Moulden, by William Longstaff, oil on linen canvas, The UWA Art Collection (gift of General Sir John Hackett, 1988)
During the 1920s, Lady Moulden became interested in tantalite, a little known, rare Australian mineral found in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The Australian Dictionary of Biography records: “She visited the desolate areas in which it was found, chartering a small single-engine plane, trudging over sandy wastes in desert heat or bumping along in trucks, descending mines in a bosun’s chair.” In World War II her tantalum was used in developing radar. Sir Frank died in 1932, the year the University honoured its benefactor’s widow by conferring on her the degree of Doctor of Letters, unfortunately A lady of ‘rare metal’ in absentia, because of the recent death of her If the decision to marry a man more second husband. In 1938 she married a barrister Basil Buller than three times her age had confirmed Murphy, several years her junior, and became known Deborah Vernon Hackett as “an as Dr Buller Murphy. During the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne she prepared an alfresco individualist from an early age”, she Australian luncheon for 200: Darwin barramundi, went on to confirm that description Onslow oysters, Geraldton crayfish, wild turkey from Carnarvon and venison from the Victorian Alps. through a long and eventful life. In a slim volume entitled A Lady of Rare Metal by Acknowledged as a tireless supporter of worthy B. Buller Murphy (published in 1949, and available in charities and movements, and for her work during the Scholars Centre of the Reid Library) the author two world wars, Lady Hackett’s interests were observes: “From her earliest years she displayed diverse – from penning a guide to running a a remarkable verve and versatility.” Typical of her successful household to pursuing rare minerals intrepid nature was her discovery of the Lake Cave in across desert landscapes. Margaret River by “lowering herself by a rope strung Two years after the death of her husband, from the limb of a huge tree towering above the rim of Lady Hackett remarried and began the next chapter the giant cavity …” of her life in South Australia as the wife of lawyer The former Lady Hackett died in 1965 and was Frank Beaumont Moulden who she met while skiing buried at Karrakatta. In 2000 a memorial ceremony at Mount Kosciusko. The Australian Dictionary of was held at Winthrop Hackett’s newly restored grave. Biography notes of her husband that as mayor, Several members of the family attended the ceremony “encouraged by his wife, particularly during the at the Hackett memorial, including great-grandchild Prince of Wales’s visit, he began a period of unique Kim Goss, whose son Matthew Goss travelled from hospitality which had never been … imagined his home in Zimbabwe to enrol at UWA this year. in South Australia’. Young, pretty and charming, Matthew has been awarded a scholarship to study Deborah Moulden welcomed her new social neuroscience and marketing, along with a residential opportunities …” Sir Frank was knighted in 1922. scholarship to live at St George’s College.
12 | Uniview Spring 2012 Building heritage skills
A new Master in Professional Above: Kangaroo, Djulirri, Western Archaeology course at UWA, launched Arnhem Land
with support from BHP Billiton Iron Left: Students working on a test Ore, aims to build the knowledge base pit excavation within the heritage profession through advanced archaeological training.
UWA’s new Master in Professional Archaeology course, which accepts its first intake of postgraduate students next year, is designed to meet the will be familiar with the reporting required outlined increasing demand for archaeologists equipped to by industry, government and Indigenous groups.” manage ongoing heritage and land access issues A key attribute of the course is that students will relating to the resources boom. be able to hone their professional development, with BHP Billiton Iron Ore has committed $400,000 teaching and research expertise matched to external to fund the development and delivery of this much partnerships, allowing a focus on rock art (through needed postgraduate course. the Centre for Rock Art Research and Management), UWA is consulting widely with the company and historical archaeology, Indigenous archaeology, and industry, and with Aboriginal groups, government maritime archaeology (assisted by the WA Museum). departments (including the Department of The course will involve both coursework and Indigenous Affairs), museums and heritage agencies, a thesis and will take two years of full time study. archaeological consultants and professional For more information contact Professor Alistair archaeological bodies in designing the course. Paterson or visit the website at: This extensive consultation has underlined the www.sscs.arts.uwa.edu.au/home/archaeology significant shortage of archaeological graduates with a working knowledge of relevant heritage issues in contemporary Australia. “The current situation potentially exposes the industry to non-compliance risks that could occur when underqualified personnel and contractors might provide advice that ultimately may not be in the best interests of the company or the cultural heritage resource,” says Course Co-ordinator Professor Alistair Paterson of the School of Social Sciences. “By offering the very highest level of professional GRADS in its 60th year presents training at UWA, there will also be a reduced need for companies to source expertise from the M. BUTTERFLY By David Henry Hwang, Directed by Barry Park Eastern States. By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty. Ltd, on behalf of Dramatists Play Services, Inc. New York. “Graduates will also have a better understanding Dolphin Theatre, UWA – 7.30pm 2, 3, 7 to 10, 14 to 17 November of government legislation and approval processes and Bookings: www.grads.org.au
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 13 Australia’s eye on the sky
The Square Kilometre Array is global science’s biggest project
and UWA’s Vice-Chancellor says it is already having
a transformative effect on Western Australia.
“Australia’s success in the SKA project should not be underestimated,”
says Professor Paul Johnson.
“This project has the potential to inspire a nation
and excite future generations of scientists.”
14 | Uniview Spring 2012 The Murchison spans some 50,000 kilometres of Western Australia and is often described as ‘the only shire without a town in Australia’. What the region does have, apart from some 29 cattle and sheep stations, is a population density of one person for every 350 square kilometres. While that could well eliminate the Murchison as a candidate for a major international development, the region has a prime and rare asset – radio quietness – that makes its deserted expanse an ideal location to build the world’s most powerful radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The May announcement in Amsterdam by the multinational SKA Organisation that two continental contenders to accommodate the radio telescope – Australia and South Africa – would share the massive project stirred interest well beyond the nations (including the United Kingdom, China, The Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand and Italy) that are collaborating on what is acknowledged as the world’s biggest global science project. UWA’s Professor Peter Quinn, Director of the A stronomy has always International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research had the power to excite (ICRAR), hailed the announcement of the win-win decision as the launch of a new era in astronomy. ... when we are talking The SKA will take astronomers into totally uncharted cosmic territory, creating a single deep-space “big science” like listening device that will enable scientists to produce the ska we’re talking superbly detailed maps of the Universe. Professor Quinn says that SKA will also allow about a global effort. scientists to ‘journey back through time’ to study the Big Bang, to test yet again Einstein’s theory of general relativity, to understand one of 21st century “The vast collecting area of the SKA will allow astronomy’s big dilemmas – that ‘dark matter’ radio astronomers to study in detail in and around the appears to hold the Universe together while ‘dark most distant galaxies and to study, in exquisite detail, energy’ is pulling it apart – and to explore that most some of the most exotic objects in our own Milky tantalising of notions: that there could be life on Way. The study of distant galaxies is like time travel, distant planets. for these galaxies are being seen as they were billions Deputy Director of ICRAR, Professor Lister of years ago.” Staveley-Smith (a Premier’s Fellow and Professor of What excites both Professor Staveley-Smith Physics at UWA) says that building a large array of and Professor Quinn is the fact that this SKA telescopes rather than one of the ‘big dishes’ (such quest to understand the workings of our Universe as the CSIRO’s Parkes telescope and the Green will undoubtedly throw up discoveries and pose Bank telescope in the United States) has much to do questions that have not yet been asked. with costs of building and operating given the fact The SKA will be 50 times more sensitive and that they can only ‘see’ a small part of the sky at any 10,000 times more capable than any other radio one time. telescope in the world, they say. Whereas the Big dishes also suffer from ‘blurred vision’ technology available today allows us to look through and the proliferation of mobile phones, wireless, a keyhole, scientists believe that the SKA will allow TV transmissions and other communications has us to open a door to the Universe. meant that many iconic radio telescopes are often And there will undoubtedly be spin-offs not confined to observing within very narrowly confined necessarily related to astronomy. frequency bands. “Large science projects invariably produce “Such telescopes are not ideal for making significant collateral returns to humankind,” says deep images of large areas of the sky,” Professor Professor Quinn. “Think the Large Hadron Collider Staveley-Smith says, “so to get around some of these in Geneva that led to the invention of the web; think problems, the international scientific community the CSIRO scientists who used radio astronomy wants to use new array technology at a site free of to produce the Wireless LAN invention now used radio frequency interference. around the world as Wi-Fi.
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 15 the state’s mid west and gascoyne regions are emerging as space industry hotspots
“On the positive side, scientists are very good at these large-scale collaborations, and astronomy – by its nature – is characterised by international “These are technologies and ideas that emerged collaborations, because we’re all looking at different from being involved in large science projects and I’m parts of sky from different parts of the world.” confident a project of the scale of SKA will generate By the time the May announcement was made, similar big ideas. ICRAR (a joint UWA/Curtin venture) had already “The SKA offers great opportunities for science, embarked on its SKA journey, through involvement engineering and industry to work together to solve with two major telescopes under construction – the challenges this project will produce. One will be the 36-dish SKA Pathfinder and the Murchison managing the prodigious amount of data produced Widefield Array. – as much in a day as the entire planet produces in Born in 2009 with $20 million from the State a year – and we will be working with industry on this, Government, ICRAR now has 70 staff and 35 graduate because the telescopes in both Australia and South students. Australia had already invested more than Africa will be linked to the world’s biggest computers. $400 million in the lead-up to the SKA decision. “At present eight countries are involved in the Professor Quinn says that splitting the SKA closely project but I suspect that eventually up to 20 will follows the format of other major observatories around sign up in order to have access to the telescopes. the world that work together. It also plays to the There will be a hub in Perth and a hub in Cape Town, strengths of each country’s site, relying on Australian and from these data hubs information will go to expertise already developed during the design and astronomers around the world.” construction of the Murchison instruments. Professor Quinn says that although astronomy “ICRAR is at the right place at the right time,” and cosmology have made incredible advances since he says. “We have the skills and capacities.” Galileo turned his telescope to the sky in the 16th The low and middle-frequency components century, astronomers remain mystified by the more of the SKA to be deployed at the Murchison than 90 per cent of the Universe. Radioastronomy Observatory (MRO) will concentrate Unsurprisingly, exploration on such a scale brings on surveying large portions of the sky quickly (a with it an astronomical price tag, which is why nations particular strength of Australian astronomy) while club together to fund such projects. South Africa uses high-frequency dishes designed to “Astronomy has always had the power to excite observe smaller sections of the sky in greater detail. people and when talking ‘big science’ like the SKA Earlier this year Australia moved a step closer we’re talking about a global effort. A budget of to the top ranks of global supercomputing when a $2 billion demands international collaboration,” powerful new supercomputer was installed at UWA says Professor Quinn. this was part of a Federal Government program to “With global enterprises as big as this, there are provide super-fast computing in anticipation of the Above: Outback WA by always challenges in terms of getting people and SKA’s demands. It gives astronomers unprecedented Richard Woldendorp governments working together, in different time zones access to high-powered, data-intensive computing, from Abstract Earth: A View from Above and on different continents. particularly for astronomy signal processing.
16 | Uniview Spring 2012 Based at the iVEC@UWA facility and managed by a joint venture of CSIRO and four WA universities, the supercomputer will be joined next year by an even faster supercomputer housed in the Pawsey Centre next to the CSIRO Australian Resources Research Centre. UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson says the addition of these two supercomputers gives Perth unique capabilities. “We now have an important new tool for scientific discovery that will help radio astronomers reach deeper into space than ever before,” he says. At an SKA Celebration in the ballroom of Government House in Perth, the Vice-Chancellor said the substantial Federal and State Government investment in the SKA had already had a transformative effect on Western Australia. “Australia’s success in the SKA project should not be underestimated,” he said. “This project has the potential to inspire a nation, excite future generations of scientists and to forge further collaborations.” The enthusiasm of scientists and postdoctoral researchers at ICRAR is infectious and is stirring public interest in dark matter, black holes and the birth of galaxies. the Pilbara to inform high school students about the Artist’s impression of ASKAP at “The technical challenges posed by SKA are exciting possibilities of a career in astronomy. the Murchison still in front of us,” says Professor Quinn. “Because Another ICRAR community outreach initiative, Radio-astronomy Observatory. we are working at the frontiers of science, we don’t Guerrilla Astronomy, sees UWA astronomers, Credit: Swinburne yet know how to build all the technologies or to members of the Astronomical Group of WA and the Astronomy Productions, design solve all the technological problems posed by the Geraldton Astronomy Group sharing their enthusiasm data provided by SKA. There will be a lot of opportunities for those with locals. Armed with telescopes, the team sets up CSIRO. with skills in science, engineering and information in areas such as the South Perth foreshore to discuss technology. We will need to bring a lot of bright the night sky, SKA, and a lot more. If you want to young minds on board.” participate in this and other public events, visit the ICRAR scientists regularly visit schools and website: www.icrar.org/ska invite science teachers and students to UWA. The When he launched the Western Australian Space University’s science education enrichment program, Centre (WASC) in May, the Minister for Science and SPICE, has already held 15 SPIRIT telescope Innovation John Day said the State’s Mid West and workshops involving 80 teachers, and another four Gascoyne regions are emerging as space industry are planned over the next few months: two for hotspots, with several countries expressing interest students and two for teachers. in locating Earth space tracking and communication In July last year UWA signed an agreement facilities at the WASC site. with Hawaiian Pty Ltd that will enable many more “Western Australia has long been a prime site Education Department schools in WA to benefit for space-related facilities due to our geographical from the successful SPIRIT program that showcases location; vast radio-quiet zones; strong technical science. Program Manager Paul Luckas at UWA’s expertise; supportive infrastructure; and well- Centre for Learning Technology, says that no matter developed trade, science and defence relationships,” how remote their school, students will be able to use the Minister said. their home computers at night and take their own images. “All they need is the Internet to access two Cntacto powerful telescopes: SPIRIT I and II on the roof of the Physics building at UWA,” he says. Professor Peter Quinn, Director, ICRAR SPICE is holding a professional development Phone: +61 8 6488 4553 Email: [email protected] day for teachers on 29 November that will focus Professor Lister Staveley-Smith on Physics and will provide an SKA update. For Deputy Director, ICRAR more information visit: http://spice.wa.edu.au/spice- Phone: +61 8 6488 4550 iniatives/spirit/ Email: [email protected] Last year, UWA, ICRAR and Scitech joined forces ICRAR website: www.icrar.org/ska to take several UWA Aspire to Astronomy teams to
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 17 Researching the Universe UWA researchers are already exploring the far reaches of the Universe.
Addressing key questions of physics and cosmology: Associate Professor Chris Power Associate Professor Chris Power, who grew up in rural Ireland, was drawn to astronomy at a young age and today, talking about the Universe at his daughter’s school, he gets immense pleasure seeing light bulbs flicker on as children grasp why stars twinkle or why we always see the same face of the moon. “As a boy I could think of nothing better than a long clear winter’s night with all my favourite constellations to pore over,” recalls the ICRAR scientist. “As I grew older I wanted to know more about the solar system, then our galaxy, then distant galaxies. By the time I finished my undergraduate studies in theoretical physics at Trinity College in Dublin, I wanted to study how galaxies formed. “Whereas some view science in terms of its Hubble Telescope image of the Whirlpool Galaxy economic impact, I think people are drawn to P hOTO: NASA, ESA astronomy, cosmology and fundamental particle physics because they tell us more about who we are, Simulations of galaxies: and where we come from. Images from the Hubble Postdoctoral Dr Alan Duffy Space Telescope of distant exploding stars and Alan Duffy’s research centres on cosmology, galaxy majestic spiral galaxies enrich our lives.” formation and dark matter evolution and he makes Professor Power is a computational astrophysicist, computer simulations of stars, black holes and more. and is an Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre Simulations give us a chance to make predictions of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO), and interpretations. “If you have an optical telescope, a collaboration of Australian universities and overseas you can see the stars within the galaxy, but that’s partners that aims to use galaxy surveys on next- only a small part of the true galaxy,” he says. “If you generation telescopes such as the SKA Pathfinder want to see the whole galaxy in unprecedented and the SKA to explore dark matter, galaxy formation detail, you need a radio telescope like the SKA.” and evolution, the growth of super-massive black Raised in Northern Ireland, the articulate holes and Einstein’s theory of General Relativity. postdoctoral fellow’s enthusiasm has done much to His extensive experience and expertise lies in excite the Australian physics teachers he talks to and running supercomputer models of the Universe for whom he has created online cosmology courses. and creating ‘synthetic’ galaxy surveys which are Dr Duffy’s ability to communicate complex an invaluable tool for interpreting the astrophysical cosmology in an accessible way has ensured that implications of ‘real’ galaxy surveys. he is highly-demanded as a public speaker. At a “My supercomputer models of the Universe recent TEDx talk organised by the City of Perth, he help observational astronomers make sense of what outlined some of aspirations and challenges the SKA they see through their telescopes,” explains the will produce when the telescope is completed in a Irish-born scientist. decade, and what benefits researchers are already Professor Power’s dark matter simulation (on the accruing. He concluded by throwing a challenge Contents page) shows the expected distribution of to the students in the audience: “Are you going to dark matter in the halo of a galaxy similar to our own help solve these problems and make this amazing Milky Way. telescope work? Once we overcome the challenges, “Next generation telescopes such as the SKA will who knows what benefits we can expect for society play a pivotal role in helping us to answer what is one at large.” of the key questions facing fundamental physics and http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDx-Northbridge- cosmology in the 21st century.” Dr-Alan-Duffy
18 | Uniview Spring 2012 Cheers for ears
Before they join the ‘wired generation’ – plugged into digital devices that bring music to their fingertips – students are tuning into a program that could save them from permanent hearing loss.
The proliferation of digital devices available today With parents, schools and researchers calling has added to the pervasive dangers posed by loud for just such a program, the Institute received music at performances, clubs and parties – dangers funding from the Commonwealth Department of that are already taking a toll on the hearing of those Health and Ageing through their Hearing Loss ignoring a stark message from audiologists: there Prevention Program. is nothing you can do to repair hearing loss due to “We initially aimed at reaching some 1,000 Year Noise/Music induced Hearing Loss (MIHL). The only 5 to 7 students when we launched Cheers for Ears effective prescription is prevention. in 2010 but demand has been such that we’ve It’s a message that Rob Eikelboom, Adjunct reached 22,000 at 155 schools, including tailoring Professor at UWA’s Ear Science Centre (in the School some programs for rural and high schools,” says the of Surgery) and a Senior Scientist with the Ear UWA biomedical engineer. Science Institute Australia (ESIA) is delivering – loud Professor Eikelboom says that numerous studies and clear – through the award-winning Cheers for have confirmed that young people are listening to Ears program he helped to develop, along with Health dangerously high volumes. Promotion Coordinator Natalie Leishman. “Cheers for Ears is unique and is probably the After more than a decade developing and only program of its kind in Australia and one of very delivering tele-medicine and tele-health programs few worldwide,” says the UWA researcher. “Given the that link remote communities with audiologists and response and the demand, there’s a huge need to specialists, Professor Eikelboom has spent the past expand the program. However funds are limited. few years working on an outreach program to tackle “We’d really like to be ambitious, to take the the growing problem of music-induced hearing loss. message to the wider community because most people are just not aware that personal music players (PMPs) can output 106 decibels of sound, a level at which permanent damage may occur after four minutes of exposure. The delicate hair cells in the cochlear are limited and permanently damaged by any form of prolonged exposure. Even what is known as ‘temporary hearing loss’ has now been shown to have a permanent effect. “We need to let people know that hearing loss is not just a problem for grandma, it’s a problem for young people, but the good news is that there are ways of minimising the risk. “When we designed the program we knew we’d get the best outcome by addressing young kids who have not yet acquired bad listening habits. We’ve been amazed at how attentive they have been and the extent to which they have carried our message Above: Cheers for Ear’s mascot Charlie. to older siblings and the rest of the family.”
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 19 music played by a mobile device and informs users when they are nearing their daily recommended noise exposure limits. This year Cheers for Ears won the Best Poster Prize at the 2012 Frontiers in Otorhinolaryngology Conference in July and last year the program won the AMA(WA)/Healthway Healthier WA Award. ESIA Director and UWA Winthrop Professor Marcus Atlas said the program’s game and the app were great examples of the unique approached adopted by the Cheers for Ears team. “Hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities, costing the Australian economy more than $20 billion a year – once hearing is damaged, it’s Detail from the Epic Ear Defence game. gone for good,” said Professor Atlas. ESIA is a not-for-profit organisation established A manikin-based hearing loss simulator with a in 2001. It operates the ESIA Implant and Balance noise level meter helped to deliver the message in Centres as well as six Lions Hearing Clinics in Perth schools, and an Android App that monitors sound offering audiological services and rehabilitation levels produced by PMPs has also played its part. options for hearing loss as well as referrals to The Institute recently took its fight to protect specialists and investigations into ear disorders. young ears to cyberspace with the launch of a new interactive online game, Epic Ear Defence, Cntacto developed with support from Chevron. It is free and can be played on the Cheers for Ears website at: Adjunct Professor Rob Eikelboom cheersforears.org.au Ear Science Centre, UWA School of Surgery Senior Scientist, Ear Science Institute Australia The unveiling of the game came just weeks Phone: 61 8 6380 4900 after Cheers for Ears launched a free mobile app, Email: [email protected] Safe&Sound, that measures the decibel level of
20 | Uniview Spring 2012 Reading the reefs Coral expert and isotope geochemist The algae paint the cabbage corals fluorescent Professor Malcolm McCulloch was green and orange, the brain corals pink and staghorns brown, blue, purple and green. They also the only WA academic to receive an provide the energy that enables corals to extract Australian Laureate Fellowship recently. calcium carbonate from seawater and this becomes the building material for coral reefs. Australia’s most prestigious research By day the polyps retract and the reef becomes fellowship will enable him to advance a sunlight-absorbing photosynthetic carpet; by night they resume the business of feeding themselves. global understanding of the coral reefs Whereas the cues for coral spawning in the that store vital signals on changes in Great Barrier Reef are a full moon and warm water ocean chemistry, sea levels and climate. in November, on Western Australia’s coastline coral spawning happens after the full moon in April when Tiny coral polyps – cylinders of tissue encased in a the warm Leeuwin Current washes the reefs. The calcium carbonate base – are the building blocks of corals wait for perfect conditions to release – on the Australia’s spectacular and expansive reefs. Each same night – their colourful clouds of sperm and polyp is a wonder, accommodating photosynthesising eggs that create the next generation of reef corals. single-celled algae that gather sunlight by day and But what happens if the ocean’s chemistry provide the polyp with oxygen, amino acids and other undergoes change as it absorbs more carbon dioxide organic compounds. and if the resulting acidification robs the polyps of a critical component necessary for manufacturing their calcium carbonate skeletons?
photo: ben piek
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 21 in sediments being swept into the ocean by floods. That increase began soon after colonial settlement and was the result of introducing cattle to the catchments of North Queensland, together with land clearing and soil erosion. Whenever there is a major Malcom diving. flood event – especially after a period of drought – we can quantify increased sediment flows into the ocean by the chemical signals in corals.” I think university Earlier studies and reports of the run-off were disputed by the agricultural industry; however, scientists have information gathered from long-lived corals by a responsibility Professor McCulloch and his team was indisputable. “It provided the scientific evidence that prompted to explain the the Federal and Queensland Governments to increase efforts to preserve catchments and these climate change are ongoing. Initially there was a voluntary scheme arguments involving cane plantations and cattle farms, but this has now been strengthened to make catchment and facts protection a legislative requirement with penalties. “What has become a thread through my research has been using corals to tell us what is happening in This is the very topical area of study being the ocean.” explored by UWA’s Premier’s Fellow, Winthrop Professor McCulloch is now exploring a Professor Malcolm McCulloch, whose trail-blazing very different scenario off Western Australia’s research has seen him elected a Fellow of the north-west coast which he describes as “a new prestigious Royal Society and awarded an Australian frontier for scientists”. Research Council Laureate Fellowship. “We know very little about these reef After undertaking PhD studies at the California systems,” he says. “In the Kimberley they exist in Institute of Technology followed by an appointment an extraordinary tidal range that creates a lot of at the Australian National University studying the sediment movement. They also experience extremes: Great Barrier Reef, the coral reef expert returned to being exposed at low tides and adapting to unusually his home state in 2009 to take up an appointment hot water temperatures. They could provide clues with UWA’s School of Earth and Environment and the as to how corals generally may cope with the Oceans Institute. expected extremes of global warming and rapidly While the climate change debate generates its changing environments. own heat, Professor McCulloch dons scuba gear, “We are also continuing our ocean acidification gathers core samples of coral and uses the raft of and climate change work in what is generally a far laboratory equipment that his research team employs more pristine environment and it will be interesting to at UWA to directly chart changes in the ocean. compare our findings with research we’ve done in the “We are already seeing the effects of increased Great Barrier Reef.” carbon dioxide from the atmosphere being dissolved in Professor McCulloch grew up in the coastal the ocean and making it more acidic,” says Professor community of Busselton, where his early dreams of McCulloch. “This is an aspect of climate change that studying our planet were hatched. Undergraduate cannot be disputed because the uptake of carbon and Masters degrees in physics led to an interest dioxide into seawater is a very well understood in mass spectrometry that saw him studying at process and can be accurately measured. California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He “We also know that acidification is slowing went on to explore the origins of magma and the the growth of corals. We can trace the history of Earth’s evolution, but it wasn’t until he was introduced acidification using isotopes. We can also measure to the ancient reefs of the Huon Peninsula in Papua the rate of coral growth and chart the fact that it has New Guinea that his fascination with coral began. slowed in the last 20 years.” The terraced vertical cliffs of the peninsula provide To date most of Professor McCulloch’s research scientists with an incomparable opportunity to trace on Australian corals has been centred on the Great the relationship between reef development and Barrier Reef where he produced the first studies sea-level changes over more than 100,000 years. demonstrating direct links between reef degradation Coral samples from drill-cores can be dated using and run-off from cattle stations and cane plantations, mass spectrometry. and between climate change and ocean acidification. “These reefs were exposed by tectonic uplift and “By studying corals that live for more than several by sea level change and they were the starting point hundred years, we are able to document the increase of my current research,” he says.
22 | Uniview Spring 2012 Professor McCulloch’s international stature has the world’s best reefs,” he says, “so we have in this important arena of research has been a great responsibility to understand and look after acknowledged by the Royal Society, the world’s them. I believe we are world leaders in marine oldest scientific academy. science and we need to lead by example and provide In welcoming him to its ranks, the former President new tools for studying the marine environment. Martin Rees said that Fellows followed in the footsteps “While we know that ocean acidification is of distinguished scientists of the calibre of Isaac happening, what we don’t know is how different Newton and Robert Boyle. “They embody the spirit marine ecosystems will respond. This is cutting-edge of enquiry, dedicated to ‘the relief of man’s estate’ on area of research that will provide very interesting which the Royal Society was founded,” he said. avenues for study for both undergraduate and During his term as President of the Royal Society, postgraduate students.” Lord Rees emphasised that mainstream science was Professor McCulloch is part of UWA’s Oceans in agreement that human-induced climate change is Institute, which brings together and acts as a focus happening and we need to worry. He joined others for the marine research being undertaken on the UWA in advocating that scientists – not by choice self- campus. His 2009 Premier’s Fellowship helped to fund promoters of their work – become more engaged a new UWA node of the Australian Research Council’s in communicating their findings in response to well- Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies which has orchestrated campaigns by climate sceptics. a global perspective and takes advantage of expertise “The Royal Society has been more proactive in the ARC Centre of Excellence at James Cook in recent years and I think university scientists University and the University of Queensland. have a responsibility to explain the climate change The distinguished isotope geochemist was arguments and facts,” says Professor McCulloch. awarded the Jaeger Medal in Earth Science by the “Sure there are uncertainties, but we need to explain Australian Academy of Sciences. He is also a Fellow the nature of those uncertainties. of the Academy, and of the Geological Society of “Most people understand that while there are Australia, the Geochemical Society and the American debates about detail, there is a definite and clear Geophysical Union. scientific consensus that the data indicate a world starting to change in a way that is outside normal Cntacto variation. Getting that message out through UWA Professor Malcolm McCulloch research is something we are trying to do on campus School of Earth and Environment – not just in relation to climate change but to scientific Phone: (61 8) 6488 1921 research across the board.” Email: [email protected] Professor McCulloch is not surprised that Oceans Institute: www.oceans.uwa.edu.au increasing numbers of students are attracted to ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies: www.coralcoe.org.au research in marine science. “Australia undoubtedly
photo: Alex Wyatt photo: Euan Harvey
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 23 Novel launch at wireless centenary
P hOTO above: Wireless Hill Having managed the Telecommunications Museum, City of Melville successful 2012 launch of UWA’s new curriculum structure, Winthrop of Australia’s first telecommunication stations at Professor Ian Reid has now Wireless Hill in Applecross,” observes Ian Reid. launched his second novel, “The government was aware of the importance of this which evokes an era of promise and new invention and of its responsibilities not only for the safety of shipping but also for the defence of the hardship that began with momentous young nation. It was only a couple of years out from events in 1912. World War I. Two main transmission stations, one in Perth, one in Sydney, were built and before long we When the luxury liner RMS Titanic sank on her could communicate instantly with the eastern states!” maiden voyage to New York on the night of 15 April, The recent centenary of the opening of the 1912, well over half the people on board lost their Wireless Hill station — the first of a string of stations lives, but the toll would have been greater had the established up the WA coast to Darwin — was marked vessel not been equipped with wireless telegraph. at the Wireless Hill Telecommunications Museum in The liner boasting ritzy restaurants, gymnasium Applecross, and during the 30 September celebrations and swimming pool had one of the most powerful Ian Reid’s latest novel was launched there. communication systems in the world: the newly That Untravelled World tells the story of a young invented wireless telegraphy. With a range of up engineer who arrives in Perth to work on the wireless to 1,000 miles, it was operated by the Marconi project, full of enthusiasm about the miraculous Company. Wireless made it possible to send possibilities opened up by radio and other innovations distress signals by Morse code from the ‘unsinkable’ of the day. But then his world darkens as personal liner after it struck an iceberg five days into its misfortunes match the troubling context of the fateful voyage. Great War and Great Depression. The plot is A month earlier and closer to home off the West full of surprises. Australian coast, there was a maritime disaster on a Professor Reid knows the Applecross area well, different scale. The coastal steamer Koombana was having lived there for more than 20 years. Being engulfed by a cyclone within hours of leaving Port a writer as well as an academic/administrator, he Hedland. With no radio on board, no one knew of the became fascinated by the era in which wireless tragedy at the time and none of the 140 people on telegraphy was born. board survived. “Today people using Wi-Fi probably seldom “1912 was the year in which the relatively new stop to think that for Australia it all began in 1912,” Australian Commonwealth Government built one he muses. “I set my novel in the period between
24 | Uniview Spring 2012 Right: The wireless station was opened in September 1912 and the mast soaring into the sky became an important landmark.
1912 and the outbreak of World War II, because the development of wireless during those years is one of the ways in which my story engages with the theme of a brave new world of modernity, a world in which Australia as a nation seemed on the brink of a wonderful new era powered by innovative technology. “Air travel had arrived and it also brought the promise of a new world in which people could connect across great distances – and of course that has been accelerating ever since,” he says. Ian Reid was the Foundation Professor of Literature at Deakin University, where he pioneered the bringing together of creative writing and literary study. He has an impressive list of academic P hOTO: Wireless Hill Telecommunications Museum, City of Melville publications to his credit. The New Zealander came to WA to take up an “It’s been rewarding bringing these first two appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Curtin novels to fruition alongside other things, but I’ll be University. He went on to become inaugural Chief glad to have more scope for further writing in future,” Executive Officer of Leadership Western Australia he says. before joining UWA as Senior Academic Reviewer for “My doctoral thesis was on fiction set in the the new course structures. Depression era in Australia and New Zealand, so in His first foray into fiction was The End of Longing That Untravelled World I am revisiting the 1930s on (UWA Publishing) which is now also available as the basis of my earlier research. The novel’s main an ebook. He clearly relishes the whole process of character is a man a little older than my father, who researching and writing historical fiction, which he lived through those difficult times and hardships,” admits becomes mildly obsessive “in that you find he says. yourself having mental conversations with characters For further information on UWA Publishing titles, when sitting at traffic lights”. visit: uwap.uwa.edu.au
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Uniview The University of Western Australia | 25 It’s an example of Australian know-how that delivers Realising global benefits
That’s how Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr described the UWA-affiliated International Mining for Development program a resource when he visited staff and met international students benefitting from AusAID programs at UWA. The Minister is seen here with Javier Gonzales-Garcia, Sam Summerville (Liberia), Catherine Nyakecho (Uganda), and oil and gas engineering student Lamin bounty Manneh (Gambia)
Mineral wealth plays a critical role in “The Mining for Development initiative will allow us, Australia, to share our significant expertise. developing countries, yet ironically being The objectives are very simple: to help developing resource rich can be labelled ‘a curse’. countries to do mining well, to protect the An Australian initiative being advanced environment as they do so, to ensure that local communities benefit and to maximise the dividend by UWA aims to turn that around. that comes from the mineral wealth in their ground. “We want to make sure resource-rich developing Addressing an International Monetary Fund seminar countries use opportunities generated by mining to in Washington last year, the University of California’s create much needed education and job opportunities Political Science Professor Michael Ross suggested for some of the world’s most vulnerable people. that mineral wealth can make low-income countries Well-governed mining, gas and petroleum sectors less democratic and more likely to experience a civil can help reduce poverty, and a developing country’s war: “Many countries also find it hard to use their dependency on aid. natural resource revenues to make high-quality, “The centre-piece of the initiative is the International growth-enhancing investments,” he observed. Mining for Development Centre based in the As one of the world’s most successful minerals University of Western Australia’s Energy and Mineral exporters and a leader in sustainable mining, Institute, operating in partnership with the University Australia is using its expertise to help developing of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute. nations exploit their resources sustainably – and UWA The first-class expertise on offer at both of these is playing a significant role. universities will mean this new centre will be a valuable When Perth hosted the Commonwealth Heads resource for developing countries around the globe.” of Government Meeting (CHOGM) last year, Prime UWA’s Director of the International Mining for Minister Julia Gillard launched the International Development Centre, Ian Satchwell, is excited by Mining for Development Initiative at UWA – and the initiative’s promise of delivering better outcomes delegate countries at the gathering are already taking to developing nations. And he brings a wealth of advantage of the initiative. industry experience (in Australia and internationally) to At the launch, the Prime Minister told visitors that the cause, having held executive posts with Australian Australia was a global leader in the mining industry: services firms and served as trade and investment “We’ve been in the mining game for more than 200 advisor to the Government of Indonesia. years and there’s no better place in the country to “There is so much to do out there – and make a statement about mining expertise than here we’re amazed by the level of interest already from in Western Australia,” she said. developing countries,” says Mr Satchwell.
26 | Uniview Spring 2012 The centre will operate in Africa, Asia, Latin “Both UWA and UQ are hubs of industry learning America, Oceania and the Middle East, but it and research closely linked to the METS sector, has prioritised certain countries – such as Indonesia, so both institutions are experiencing rapid growth Mongolia, Mozambique, Ghana, Zambia and Peru – in demand for education and research services in that have the capacity to rapidly benefit from Australia and internationally. the initiative. “We have complementary capacities working “The history of mining in building developing country with UQ, so by engaging collaboratively we can economies has been patchy, with more case studies of create hybrid vigour through closely allied levels failure than success to date. We believe this initiative will of knowledge. help to turn that around,” says Mr Satchwell. “Mining today is increasingly about sustainability, “An interesting trend in developing countries is the community relations and local business development. emergence of activist groups that want to know how That’s important in the Australian context but doubly a mine will operate, how the land will be rehabilitated, so in developing countries. and how locals will benefit. Indigenous communities “We want to ensure that mining development in particular want to be engaged and are well avoids pitfalls, one of which is operating in an organised in terms of communications. isolated enclave that delivers royalties and taxes for “So the bad old days of governments and miners the host country, but not much more. When there’s walking in and turning people off their land are long a gap between the company and local community gone. Today companies know that if they don’t expectations, there may also be sub-optimal social operate well, their shortcomings will be communicated and environmental impacts. globally, they will face a population that will be anti- “Both the Federal Government and international mining, and life will become far more difficult.” development community realise that the assistance Mr Satchwell points out that not only is Australia offered by the Mining for Development Centre in the midst of the biggest investment wave constitutes the very best development aid in that it domestically since the 1890s gold rush, but our results in poverty reduction and economic growth. mining companies are exploring and developing “What we find in countries without mining history across the globe, with an unprecedented wave of is the lack of professional development systems. overseas investment. That is where UWA and our partners play to their “Australian investment worth $50 billion is strengths because both universities have expertise in happening in Africa right now and around half of that is controlled by companies based in Perth,” he says. “This is also happening in other locations as diverse as Mongolia and Peru, and it’s happening fast. At the same time, rapid growth in the Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector is following these overseas investments.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and International Mining for Development Centre Director Ian Satchwell at the launch of the centre.
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 27 CET group at the the full mine cycle: from gathering and disseminating giant Obuasi gold geological data through exploration to mine operation mine in Ghana operated by to mine closure, land rehabilitation and issues relating CET Corporate to the post-mining economy.” Member Anglogold Shanti. Through AusAID, the Australian Government funds Peru, and recently committed to developing a the centre to provide practical advisory, education and comprehensive training program for Indonesian training services for developing countries, focusing on mine inspectors. government and civil society institutions. There are also The centre has also hosted a Ministerial dedicated undergraduate and postgraduate Australian delegation from Afghanistan and is currently running Mining Awards scholarships. a 12-week short course for Afghanistan mine AusAID funds some Federal and State ministry officials. Government agencies to work more closely with With foreign troops preparing to withdraw from their counterparts in developing countries to improve Afghanistan, mining companies around the world are public sector capacity. Capacity-building support will expressing interest in the minerals and hydrocarbons also be given to select NGOs that are active in social known to exist in the war-ravaged country. and environmentally sustainable activities. Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Australia, Nasir Recently the centre ran a course in one of Africa’s Andisha, believes aid assistance through training poorest nations, Burkina Faso. Mining is making a scholarships will help his country. difference to this country which became Africa’s “We have requested scholarships so people from fourth biggest gold producer this year. our Ministry of Mines and from our mining sectors The five-week course run for government and can come here to be trained,” he says. “And we resource company employees from throughout West have requested training of officials in terms of the Africa was delivered by the UWA-based Centre for regulations, taxing system, relationships, and also Exploration Targeting (CET) which is partnering transparency and accounting regulations.” with a new geological training institute, Teng While geologists and miners from China and India Tuuma Geoservices, being established in Burkina are already initiating what is hoped will be a post-war Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. mining boom, no Australian companies yet operate A joint venture between UWA, Curtin University in Afghanistan. However, the International Mining for and the minerals industry, CET has become one of Development Centre will certainly be playing a role in the world’s largest exploration research and training shaping the skills needed to “do mining well”, as Julia groups. Offering training in diverse locations, it also Gillard put it, and to spread the benefits from that welcomes students from many nations to the UWA troubled nation’s mineral endowment. campus. Apart from an extensive research portfolio on every continent except Antarctica, CET trains the Cntacto geoscientists and other specialists currently in high demand by the minerals industry. Ian Satchwell, Calling on the expertise of eminent specialists, Director, International Mining for Development Centre Email: [email protected] CET maintains strong links with industry and aims Website: im4dc.org to become the mineral exploration geoscience equivalent of Harvard Business School in the US. Professor Campbell McCuaig Also experiencing significant demand for its Director, Centre for Exploration Targeting services, the International Mining for Development Email: [email protected] Website: www.cet.edu.au Centre has held land rehabilitation programs in
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28 | Uniview Spring 2012 Dr Ian Godfrey had no idea that his UWA studies would lead him to the windiest Preserving place on earth and a prefabricated hut that symbolises the heroic spirit of the the legacy of first Australians to explore Antarctica. As the nation celebrates the centenary our Antarctic of Douglas Mawson’s epic expedition, Dr Godfrey talks to Trea Wiltshire about heroes his own trips to the frozen continent.
“When wooden timbers are waterlogged and Above: Penguin buried, a lot of sulphur is incorporated into the wood,” rookery in Antartica. Dr Ian Godfrey, Head of the Department of Materials he explains, “but when brought to the surface, the Conservation at the West Australian Museum, says sulphur is oxidised and produces acids that attack that on graduating with Honours in organic chemistry the wood. What helps preserve it in the marine he had no clear idea about a career path. environment begins to destroy it, so we devise ways However, when he became involved in of halting that deterioration.” archaeological conservation, the graduate appreciated Work with the Batavia earned the museum an how useful his degree would be: in helping to stabilise international reputation that led to invitations to work the timbers of a famous shipwreck, and, more recently, with other famous wrecks including the extraordinary in preserving the historic huts that are the legacy of the Vasa, a 17th century warship that sank on its maiden Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–1914). voyage and is now one of Sweden’s most popular Dr Godfrey’s role at the State museum was initially tourist attractions. Dr Godfrey’s work in Sweden also focussed on the salvaged Batavia shipwreck that is led to lecturing on archaeological conservations at the the major drawcard at Fremantle’s Maritime Museum. University of Gothenburg. His chemistry expertise proved vital in analysing and “WA Museum conservators have become world understanding materials, determining their degree of leaders in the on-site monitoring of shipwrecks, deterioration and formulating conservation plans. studying wrecks and doing underwater analyses that
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 29 allow us to give archaeological advice on whether to “I was field leader in 2006 when we put a new raise, leave or even treat artefacts on the sea floor,” skin over the roof, but before doing so we had to says the UWA graduate. convince others that taking this action wouldn’t Back in the early 1990s, Dr Godfrey made his first bring about negative changes. For instance, would trip to Antarctica for an Australian National University the new skin alter the internal environment and lead project focussed on freeze-drying waterlogged to increased corrosion of the bolts that hold the timbers. His interest in the historic Mawson huts at structure together? Cape Denison that are a legacy of the Australasian “We don’t want to compromise the interior in Antarctic Expedition was immediate, and his the hut in any way because the philosophy guiding expertise led to an invitation from the Mawson’s restoration is that with a place like this you do only Huts Foundation to join a team investigating the what’s necessary to prevent further deterioration. preservation of the huts in the 2000/2001 summer. “There is certainly no intention of turning it into Dr Godfrey has since made five trips to Port a museum piece or tourist attraction like the Scott Denison, a rugged tongue of ice, snow and rock Hut in the British part of Antarctica. While tourists projecting into Commonwealth Bay. He says the sight can visit the Main Hut, visits are strictly managed of the towering blue ice cliffs that periodically calve with only three people and a guide allowed in at into the sea as icebergs is always breathtaking. one time. In all there might be 500 visitors over the “Initially we had to get a feel for what was there Antarctic summer. at the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site and to set up “When we arrived to put on the new roof, the monitoring and documentation,” he explains. “There Main Hut was almost entirely covered in snow and were debates about whether or not to remove ice and the team of carpenters said there was no way the snow and ice from the interior of the Main Hut they could do anything. However, we managed to because they were clearly providing an anchor that dig out 80 cubic meters of ice to expose the roof. We kept it from being blown away while also deterring used chain saws to cut big ice blocks and used them souvenir hunters. to create walls around the hut. “However, that conclusion was open to question “In working to protect the roof, my museum when in 2002 the temperature was above nine experience came to the fore because I knew that degrees for five consecutive days and there was a lot back in the 1600s builders added a layer of ‘sacrificial of melting that allowed us to see the damage being pine’ around ships’ hulls so that the oak underneath caused by the interior snow and ice. could be preserved.”
Main image: View of the Mawson Hut (Photo: Ian Godfrey © WA Museum)
T he greatest impact was seeing this little hut against the massive antarctic landscape
30 | Uniview Spring 2012 by dogs. During one, Hurley’s diary records trekking Left: Ian Godfrey (second from right) to within 80km of the South Magnetic Pole, despite with the 2006 team terrible weather conditions. “Things are now serious,” (Photo: © Simon Mossman). he observed. “We have but a few days ration left, and have the choice of remaining here … or making Right: Removing ice and snow from a desperate dash for the hut. If we stay here and the the roof. weather does not clear we starve miserably …” The Main Hut comprises two prefabricated They made it back safely but Mawson’s mapping Oregon-framed timber huts. Structural timbers are expedition with two men and eighteen dogs ended in bolted together with tongue-and-groove Baltic pine tragedy. One of his companions fell into a crevasse used for the internal and external cladding. and was never seen again, and without the provisions The conservators have wrapped the original roof on his sledge, dogs died of exhaustion or were killed in a protective shell comprising batons attached to for food. Mawson’s sole team mate then fell ill and the structural timbers underneath, a semi-permeable was towed on a sledge until he died. membrane, and on top the sacrificial pine. Cutting his sledge in half and, starving and Dr Godfrey says that Mawson’s account of the frostbitten, Mawson began the one-month trek expedition, Home of the Blizzard, is well named back to Cape Denison. He too fell into a crevasse because harsh, non-stop katabatic winds make but managed to pull himself out. He arrived back at this part of Antarctica the windiest place on Earth the Main Hut on 8 February 1913 in a state of total at sea level. He vividly recalls the ever-present force exhaustion, just three hours after the departure of the carrying huge drifts of snow and ice that literally Aurora. Volunteers who had stayed to search for him ‘ice blast’ structures. endured another winter in Antarctica as they nursed In 1913 the wind at Port Denison was recorded their leader back to health. at 143km per hour for 12 hours. After some practice, One of the reasons Dr Godfrey has invested so members of the expedition were able to abandon much time in Antarctica since 2001 is to ensure the crawling and walked in the 90-mile torrents of air by survival of the historic huts and to raise the profile of ‘leaning on the wind’ – one of the expedition’s most that first Australian Antarctic expedition. Clearly, he memorable photographs (see inset, below). has also relished the challenge posed by the huts and Many of Mawson’s 30 member team were the landscape. graduates of Australian universities – the average Seeing the interior of the Main Hut for the first age was 26 – and 22 were Australians, three being time, Dr Godfrey recalls his eyes being immediately veterans of previous Antarctic voyages. drawn to the once-cheerful hub of Hyde Park Corner. Personal space in the Main Hut was limited but “I knew from the reading I had done that this the men did their best to put their stamp on cramped corner was a social hub with nine people squeezed bunk space, for only Mawson had his own cubicle. into incredibly cramped conditions,” he says. “I knew Pictures were pasted on walls, initials were painted on the two bunks belonging to the men who died while bunks and a convivial young group occupying bunks mapping with Mawson were never used again and on the southeast corner dubbed it Hyde Park Corner. these bare bunks must have been a daily reminder of Efforts were also made to civilise daily life: there their loss.” was a library, gramophone and board games and the In future, further snow and ice will be removed novice cooks experimented turning local wildlife into from the shelves and floor of the Main Hut to further edible fare for hungry men. Photographer Frank Hurley stabilize the structure. Dr Godfrey says that once the had a small dark room in the northwest corner and stabilisation is complete he’ll “walk away and leave the was also known for creating short plays to entertain. project for new eyes and fresh blood”. Mawson was determined the expedition would There are, however, aspects of Antarctica he’ll produce useful scientific data and routine observations never forget: “For me the greatest impact was were made regardless of conditions. Night watchman always coming into the bay and seeing this puny little duty was rotated and with it came the rare luxury of a hut against the massive backdrop of the Antarctic bath (the men washed every 18 days). landscape – and wondering how the hell they Expeditions were made into the interior, with had managed to stay there all that time. It was an sledges being hauled mostly by men, sometimes incredible feat.”
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 31 warmer waters, leaving a party to establish a wireless The heroic era relay station and scientific base on the island known only to sealers and penguin oil harvesters. On 8 January, 1912, the Aurora arrived at Cape of exploration Denison and Mawson’s team began work on the Main Hut that served as living quarters for 18 men, When Douglas Mawson led an expedition workshop, storeroom and kennels. Steel wire cables to Antarctica in the early 20th century it were passed over the roof and secured it to the heralded what has become known as the underlying rock formation to resist the winds. heroic era of Antarctic exploration. The completion of the hut called for the unfurling of the Union Jack as Mawson claimed possession of At the time, interest in the unclaimed continent ran the area for the British Empire. While the claim was high, with teams from Britain, Norway, Germany, not formally endorsed, it helped lay the foundation for France, Belgium, Scotland, Japan and Australia and the formal claim two decades later that established New Zealand mounting expeditions, some of which the 5.9 million square kilometres of the Australian ended in tragedy. Antarctic Territory. “Australia and New Zealand have always Although the geologist’s balaclava-clad head was been anxious for further knowledge of the great on Australia’s $100 note, many believe Mawson’s frozen continent,” wrote Mawson on the eve of his expedition should enjoy a far higher profile. Its legacy departure. “Lying within wireless telegraphic distance now sees annual visits by 21st century scientists of our borders, this region has a special call upon gathering data on everything from global warming to Australia. Alive to the value of scientific data there the health of the local penguin populations. massed, waiting to be collected, I have ardently Antarctica contains geological features that are sought for an opportunity to reap the harvest.” important for the understanding of the break-up of the Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition Gondwana southern continent 55 million years ago, (1911 – 1914) was to be scientific – not a race to which is why Australian scientists have a significant the South Pole like that of Briton Robert Scott and research presence there. And it is adventurous Norwegian Roald Amundsen whose expeditions stories such as Mawson’s that could well encourage more students to study sciences – from geology to Top: Frank Hurley’s achieved legendary status. iconic images of The expedition certainly fired public interest archaeological conservation – and the expedition’s the Australiasian centenary this year has been an ideal platform for Antartic Expedition and persuaded individuals and international 1911 –14, companies to donate supplies, from stationery to raising awareness. Collection (State The Mawson’s Huts Foundation was established in Library of NSW). food, fuel, medicines, cigarettes, and photographic plates. The intention was to establish four well- 1996 with this aim. It has since raised more Below right: UWA provisioned bases. than $7 million in grants and sponsorship from the graduate Dr Ian Godfrey with the The steam yacht Aurora left Australia at the government, corporate Australia and individuals memorial to the beginning of December, 1911. It stopped at Macquarie for the preservation of the historic site in Antarctica lost heroes (Photo: David London) Island, just above where the Antarctic currents meet (mawsons-huts.org.au).
32 | Uniview Spring 2012 Sport’s lessons for life
John Inverarity, first-class cricketer, coach and educator, was considering his future after six years as Warden of St George’s College when invited to apply to become Cricket Australia’s National Selector.
You’d have to say that UWA graduate John Inverarity has accepted one of the nation’s most challenging roles in sport: National Selector of Cricket Australia. His every decision will be analysed by cricket aficionados from former prime ministers to punters in the local pub, his judgement will regularly be called into question and he’ll be blamed for future losses. Why did he do it? The obvious answer is his love of the game that remains undimmed. “I’ve always looked for challenges,” he adds. “I knew it would be difficult but my predecessor was a close friend and he and others encouraged me. I like the sense of community and belonging that comes with sport and I’ve always liked trying to make an enterprise better.” When John Inverarity became national selector late last year, there was widespread agreement that the former Test cricketer (also considered one of Western Australia’s best Sheffield Shield captains) was the right man for the job on several counts. The UWA graduate is acknowledged for his acuity in all things cricket – from getting the best out of players to having a photographic memory of the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents. He is also recognised as a great communicator, whether captaining WA in Sheffield Shield matches, coaching an English county team to victory in the English County championships or mentoring students at St George’s College. And long after his playing days were over his advice was sought by those at the 4WD Maps & Books - Topographic Maps Road Maps & Atlases - Camping Guides top of international, national and State cricket. Worldwide Boating & Fishing Charts John’s father Mervyn Inverarity was a first-class Boating & Nautical Books - Navigation Instruments cricketer for Western Australia during the 1920s and Locaboat (French Canal Boat) Agents 30s and later a senior administrator with the WA Cricket Association. The graduate’s earliest memories are of playing backyard cricket with neighbourhood kids using “dad’s big bats”. Continued page 34
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 33 Above: John Inverarity shaking hands with UWA Cricket Club 1st Grade Batsman Craig King while Team Captain Josh Mangan looks on.
Left: A young John Inverarity playing the game he loves.
When he became a student at Scotch College he was immediately struck by the school’s sense of community and by the friendships forged by sport. “Even before I left school I wanted to be a teacher,” he recalls. “Cricket was reasonably well to the fore of my life at high school, so my plan was to go to uni, get a degree in mathematics, teach, and play cricket during the long summer breaks. At the time, a number of Sheffield Shield players were teachers, so I could see it worked well.” He first played for WA as an 18-year-old and went on to play six Test matches for Australia between 1968 and 1972. One of his most remembered cricketing moments was when, as an opening batsman he was last man out during the 1968 Ashes Test at The Oval when Derek Underwood claimed victory for England in the final Test. “People still ask me to autograph pictures of the occasion,” he says. As a State player he captained WA to Sheffield Shield glory four times in five years and when his teaching took him to South Australia, his new team went on to win in 1981-82. After retiring from State cricket in 1985 at the age of 41, he went on to coach both Kent and Warwickshire. Cricket has undergone radical change during John Inverarity’s playing and coaching career and he’s concerned for young players who get selected, get a salary and feel no need to work or study. “Cricket is all they do, and I feel that’s too narrowing,” he observes. “My life experience has made me very supportive of young sports people pursuing their studies because I believe no matter how good you are, you need a hinterland away from your sport.
34 | Uniview Spring 2012 Y ou can learn a lot from sport – how to relate in groups, how to cop it sweet, deal with success, jubilation, dismay, rejection…you get a very healthy buffeting if exposed to all that, but we need to make sure that particular aspect of sport doesn’t get left behind.
“I look for good temperament, among other productions, a diverse range of interesting visiting things, in young players. When you’re playing at the speakers – all of which are aimed at expanding the highest level in extremely pressured situations, you interests of students by providing a broad liberal need to be able to rise to the occasion. education,” he says. “We want players who have concern for others, John Inverarity’s outstanding career as a player take team work seriously, act with composure and is celebrated in the stand that the WA Cricket dignity under pressure and enhance the others in Association has named after him. His time at Hale the team with their presence. saw the John Inverarity Music and Drama Centre “I think in this professional era where a great named in his honour and the annual Inverarity Cup deal of money is involved, the game can become is a fixture on the UWA cricketing calendar. Our new performance-dominated. Performance and winning National Selector continues to live in Claremont with is always important but it can dominate in a way his wife Jane, and enjoys a ‘home away from home’ it shouldn’t. with his Melbourne-based daughters (Alison and “You can learn a lot from sport: how to relate Kate) when there for Cricket Australia. in groups, how to cop it sweet, deal with success, jubilation, dismay, rejection. You get a very healthy buffeting if exposed to all that, but we need to make sure that particular aspect of sport doesn’t courses digital photography get left behind.” John Inverarity has always cautioned against the hype that makes a team feel it commands the high ground. His scholarly background makes him more than aware of the rise and fall of empires and he + has warned that “when a team feels invincible, more when you think that because you are Australians or because you are the Romans that you are inherently better, then the whole thing can soon come crashing down…” The graduate says that his teaching – at Guildford Grammar, Applecross Senior High, Scotch College, Pembroke School in Adelaide (with stints in the United Kingdom at Tonbridge School and King’s extension.uwa.edu.au College School, Wimbledon) – taught him a lot about communicating effectively. “I was always a teacher who played cricket,” he says. Pete likes his job as a dentist. After six years as Warden of UWA’s oldest residential college, St George’s, John Inverarity But he loves his new hobby. is pleased that the residential experience will be more widely available at UWA in future. He strongly recommends it to students, but says that choosing a college involves far more than finding a place to stay. “College life must involve lots of different UWA activities and these in sum can have a profound educational impact on residents. It should include extension effective mentoring, tutoring, a music program, drama things to do places to go people to see
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 35 guest column
UWA Medical graduate Sam Brophy-Williams, the 2012 John Monash Scholar, is on his way to Harvard University in the United States to study a Masters of Public Health. On a less smoky, less jungly, but no less humid afternoon in an Aboriginal community in Western Australia’s remote East Kimberley, I met a young Here’s why… man called Jimall. He was fourteen, and in the last two years three boys around his age had commited by Sam Brophy-Williams suicide in their tiny community. Jimall was brought by his grandmother to see us, and was quite deaf, the result of recurrent and poorly treated ear infections as a child. He could not read or write, and was often Three patients. in trouble with the police in the community, having On a smoky, jungly, hazy morning in Freetown, turned to sniffing petrol, perhaps from the frustration Sierra Leone, I held a baby named Justus. He was of his inability to communicate, his isolation, his 18 months old, but looked like a tiny old man, with seemingly hopeless situation. the stick-skinny arms and bloated belly instantly Last year, at a Perth teaching hospital, I recognisable as Kwashiorkor malnutrition. His mother met Nancy. Nancy was previously a pillar of her had brought him from Kono, the eastern, wild country community, as a teacher then an active retiree. She of Sierra Leone to the nation’s only children’s hospital, is now essentially housebound, almost bedbound, Ola During, hoping we could help with her baby, who in agonising pain from an impinged nerve in her she could barely afford to feed, and was now refusing lower back. With no family, she is alone, depressed, what food she could offer, and passing watery degraded and desperate for the operation to relieve diarrhoea. Justus died two days later, his malnutrition her pain, for which she is on a waiting list, and has having sapped normal child-like reserves to fight been for almost a year. the gastroenteritis he had caught from the unsafe Three patients, all of whom I remember vividly: drinking water in his village, and his country’s health leading examples of how public health, seen system able to offer little more than gastrolyte and sometimes as the realm of monitoring, of inactivity, mealy meal. of irrelevance, is ever more important and urgent.
36 | Uniview Spring 2012 guest column
Thanks to the John Monash Foundation, I’m Preventable diseased like malaria, malnutrition, and heading to Harvard this year to undertake a Masters vaccine-preventable meningitis still end far too many in Public Health. Public health measures, though less young lives. Public health efforts in the developing glamorous than daring surgeries or bold experimental world are hindered by, among many other factors, lack therapies for individual patients, carry with them the of funding, corruption and logistical barriers. weight of numbers. The idea of providing clean drinking My personal area of interest is in infant and water to a hundred thousand Justus’, of having place child health. Starting out with Uni Camp for Kids programs for medical problems as frustratingly simple (a venerable UWA institution!) and continuing with as ear health in indigenous communities to change paediatrics experience in Perth’s leading teaching the course of the future for hundreds of Jimalls, of hospital, in Sierra Leone, and in remote desert managing health systems such that all patients like communities in the Kimberley, I have fallen in love Nancy get the treatment they need in a humane and with the limitless potential in every child. To help a dignified timeframe – these things excite me, and these child’s life and to alter the course of their future for things are where I believe I may apply what talents, the better is to change the world for generations to dedication and compassion I have to offer for the come, to make a lasting difference. greatest benefit to Australia and the world. Heading to the world’s leading public health The main issues in public health facing Australia school is the next step in gathering the tools and are common to much of the developed world. In knowledge to make changes that matter, providing Indigenous health, the gap between all measurable unparalleled opportunities to meet directly with world health parameters for indigenous and non-indigenous leaders, brilliant minds and compassionate hearts; Australians is a yawning chasm. In mental health, true experts in the area who have already been community contact and support networks are instrumental in effecting the sort of changes which atrophied and strained, where they existed at all. improve health for vast numbers of people, the sort In surgical specialties, waiting lists are growing, or of changes and programs which we all hope to bring being cut back only by bureaucratic language and to people in need in Australia and elsewhere. obfuscation. “Lifestyle” diseases are killing more I can’t thank the John Monash Foundation Australians than ever and show no sign of slowing enough for the scholarship which will allow me to their advance. In the developing world, child health take this next step – I only hope I can give them, and continues to flounder in the world’s poorest countries. Australia, a worthwhile return on their investment!
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 37 F rom tea rooms to University for scholarship winner
the arts, as well as the author of some of the most Left: Christine Gammon and successful Australian books on economics. He was Shannen Oversby. diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2005 and died, aged 60, the following year. Shannen said without the scholarship, she would have had to take a ‘gap year’ and continue working in the tea rooms, and then work almost full-time to support herself and pay rent during her university studies. “I’m so grateful to Professor Jackson and the trustees for their faith in me,” she said. “I won’t let them down. It might sound corny, but I do want to help people and make a difference.” Christine Gammon said Professor Jackson had When Shannen Oversby’s mobile created the scholarship to ensure each recipient rang at the Taylor Street Tea (there is another scholarship winner at RMIT) was able to study without being hindered by external Rooms in Esperance where she pressures. was waitressing last summer, the then “He was a wonderful man and he would have been delighted to meet you,” Ms Gammon 17-year-old had no idea it was a call told Shannen. that would transform her life, reports Shannen, who was born in Esperance, was a Sally-Ann Jones. pupil at Star of the Sea Primary School and then Esperance Senior High School. When she was in Because she was busy with crowds of hungry Year 12, she attended an information day about tourists, Shannen didn’t answer her phone straight studying Medicine at UWA and knew it was the away: she had to wait several hours until her shift had career for her. finished. Only when she was walking home did she She is now on an assured pathway to Medicine, ring the unfamiliar number left in her message bank undertaking public health and physiology units this to find that she’d won a prestigious scholarship to semester while living at St Thomas More College. The University of Western Australia. It would enable She is very much enjoying meeting new friends, her to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor and work many of whom are doing the same units as her. in a rural community where general practitioners are Her father, Graeme, is a train driver who desperately needed. transports freight from Esperance to Kalgoorlie and The inaugural John Jackson scholarship is a her mother, Julie, is a teacher’s assistant. Her sister, bequest that was established by the late Emeritus Natasha (20) is studying nursing and midwifery at Professor Jackson. His friends, Dr Debora Curtin University. Campbell, Christine Gammon and Ann Tonks, are “Out of our whole family, only Natasha and I are the scholarship trustees and they worked with UWA interested in health,” Shannen said. “I’m so grateful to establish the scholarship. During his last illness, for the opportunity the John Jackson scholarship has Professor Jackson organised the scholarship to given me.” benefit disadvantaged students. Anne Liddle, the Manager, Planned Giving, Dean of Economics and Commerce at UWA manages all bequests to UWA. The John Jackson during the 1980s, Professor Jackson was widely Undergraduate scholarship is an example of how respected for his ability to make economics the foresight of one individual and their bequest can accessible and relevant. Many of his former students make such a positive difference to a student’s current include people who are now prominent in WA and future life, Ms Liddle said. business and politics. “It is very satisfying to work closely with those who Professor Jackson moved to Melbourne as Dean include UWA in their wills and to see the great benefit of Business at RMIT in 1991. His friends remember that this avenue of philanthropy has to students, the him as a passionate music lover and supporter of University and ultimately the wider community.”
38 | Uniview Spring 2012 grad news Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association Travel awards open doors for high achieving students Leeches, fungi and Sir David Attenborough are all in a day’s work for Travel Award winner.
Constant exposure to punishing humidity, blood-sucking leeches and foot fungi may not seem ideal conditions for a young researcher hoping to finish a PhD. But for Timm Döbert, joyful experiences and the wonder of new environments far outweighed the relatively minor discomforts he encountered while working in Borneo’s tropical forests. Thanks to a prestigious UWA Postgraduate Research Travel Award made available by Convocation, Timm went to Borneo to investigate the combined impacts of rainforest clearing and exotic weed invasions on tropical biodiversity. Also in the team representing Australia at the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Project (www.safeproject.net) were UWA’s Professor Raphael Didham from the School of Animal Biology, Dr Bruce Webber from CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, and Professor Katharine Dickinson from the University of Otago in New Zealand. SAFE is concerned that large areas of Borneo’s once renowned unspoilt tropical wilderness – including highly diverse rainforests – have continue to be replaced with species-poor oil palm monocultures. “No other place on Earth parallels the diversity of plants found on Borneo, and the prospect of studying them seemed daunting,” Timm said. “However, the Travel Award enabled me to receive plant identification training at the Sabah State Herbarium in Sandakan. And under the supervision of my local collaborator, I’ve acquired a range of skills to tackle my research with great confidence.” Timm said his personal highlight in Borneo was pot for various Southeast Asian ethnicities. I have Top: PhD student Timm Dobert an expedition into the heart of the country to field-test become good friends with my local Muslim research in Borneo with his new plant identification abilities, including an assistants, Roy and Mammat, danced at traditional Sir David Attenborough and arduous climb up Mount Trusmadi, Malaysia’s second weddings and celebrated religious festivities. fellow researchers. highest peak. “Arguably, the least expected encounter Bottom: Timm Living in the SAFE research camp was simple, but was a memorable chance meeting with the icon Dobert and the held unforgettable lessons for and about life, he said. of generations of nature enthusiasts, Sir David Field Team. “I treasured the nights in my hammock, the Attenborough, who had come to Sabah for the filming refreshing baths in the cool stream, and the daily of his memoirs. He showed great interest in our endeavours to spot rare wildlife. project, and no wonder: Borneo was still a wild place “During the course of my fieldwork, I was during his first visit more than 50 years ago.” fortunate to observe some of the most charismatic Timm said the future expansion of oil palm Southeast Asian mammal species up-close in plantations was inevitable, driven by the ever- their native habitats including clouded leopards, increasing demand for vegetable oils for food orangutans, and gibbons,” he said. and biofuels. “The real value of the Convocation sponsorship is “Oil palm products are found in nearly 50 per far greater than the pure collection of data. Sabah is cent of all packaged items on supermarket shelves not only a global hotspot for biodiversity but a melting and are a daily part of the Australian way of life,
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 39 grad news Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association
although there is an increasing awareness amongst consumers of the issue of sustainable values in palm “B y the time people oil production systems,” he said. read this article, “By the time people read this article, the logging in the SAFE research area will have recently started. the logging in the Although this logging is an essential component of our ‘before and after’ study of oil palm plantation SAFE research area impacts, it is not easy to be a witness to the loss of will have recently more and more majestic trees. “Thanks to the generous research funding, started...” including support from UWA Convocation, I have the opportunity to contribute to developing more sustainable production management guidelines to the benefit of native biodiversity.” What do mind maps, marine education and program evaluation have in common?
Behind the scenes PhD student Zarin Salter recently returned from a at Monterey Bay research trip that took her across the USA: collecting Aquarium’s marine education labs: data, visiting research groups and developing Staff member professional skills in environmental education There were many highlights from Zarin’s trip, Pamela and PhD student Zarin Salter. program evaluation. including a tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Zarin’s trip was made possible by two marine education facilities. competitive research travel awards, The Convocation “For marine educators like me, visiting the Postgraduate Research Travel Award and a 2011 Monterey Bay Aquarium is akin to a physicist visiting Grant for Research Student Training. the Large Hadron Collider – so exciting and full of “One of the highlights from my trip was new possibilities,” she recalls. collaborating with Professor Michaela Zint from the These and other opportunities were made University of Michigan on a unique mind mapping possible by scholarships from the Office of data collection and assessment tool,” she recalls. Convocation and The Graduate Research School. “My supervisors and I developed the tool during my “Thanks to these two awards I have made PhD research, and with Professor Zint’s help I was professional connections and developed skills that able to visit and collect mind map data from 9 to will benefit me throughout my career”, Zarin said. 12-year-old students at two environmentally focussed Juanita Perez is responsible for overseeing the schools in California.” Convocation Travel Award. Zarin will analyse the Californian students’ mind ”Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association, maps and compare the results to those from students provides awards to enable postgraduate research in Perth. This material will form the basis of a series of students to enhance their work through travel in papers, published in collaboration with Professor Zint Australia or overseas,” says Juanita. “Awards are and supervisors, Winthrop Professor Grady Venville made available through the generosity of graduates and Associate Professor Nancy Longnecker. and with the assistance of the University and the The student anticipates these papers will trigger UWA Postgraduate Students Association.” other researchers to consider using mind maps Due to budgetary constraints the Grants for as a data collection tool. “Mind maps have been Research Student Training were suspended for 2012, widely used as an educational tool to aid learning but Zarin was one of the lucky awardees from 2011. or organise information, but their non-linear, freely “The GRST initiative was informed by The University structured composition makes them difficult to of Western Australia’s commitment to recognising, interpret when used to collect data,” says Zarin. promoting and rewarding graduate research “The assessment tool we developed, however, excellence. Our PhD students benefited by being able makes it possible for researchers to explore trends to travel to institutions such as Harvard, Cambridge and compare groups of students, whilst capitalising and Oxford to present their research and collaborate on the breadth of information that arises from freely with experts in their field”, said Dr Michael Azariadis, structured responses.” coordinator of the award.
40 | Uniview Spring 2012 grad news Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association From the Warden
borne in part by the University) and – through its introduction, roll-out and attendant publicity – increase significantly the number of graduates participating in the elections. With the involvement of election experts around the world (a number of which are UWA graduates and former UWA academics) and the potential involvement of the Australian Electoral Commission, this is ground-breaking stuff for Convocation and the University. Convocation is also developing a communications strategy, as well as new logo and brand guidelines, together with a new website which will, amongst other things, enable us to ‘poll’ our members and seek their views on issues and matters of concern to graduates and the University. This will then enable Convocation to more effectively communicate those Convocation and the University: views to the University – and, thus, to more effectively support the University. ‘A vital role’ The University and its graduates are, then, forever In the last edition of Uniview I wrote that one of linked. As a former Vice-Chancellor of the University Convocation’s major roles is to support and assist has said, ‘Universities and their graduates will play a students and graduates of the University of Western vital role in contributing to a civil society. The range Australia. Ways in which Convocation provides this of skills and accomplishments represented by our support and assistance include, for example: graduates exemplifies the breadth of the University • the award of a significant number of undergraduate itself, where we are fortunate to have leaders in every prizes and scholarships for both academic and field of human endeavour.’ sporting achievement; • awards for postgraduate travel; Convocation’s centenary gift to the University is, • and holding 50th anniversary graduate reunions. as the major sponsor, the creation of a Shaun Tan It is also likely that, from 2013, we will hold 25th sundial, ‘Hours to Sunset’, in Venetian glass mosaic anniversary reunions. And we are also discussing tiles on the west-facing wall of the University Club. with other University stakeholders the possibility of a Shaun Tan, of course, is the first University graduate celebration of the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the to win an Oscar, Hollywood’s highest accolade, first Colombo Plan scholars in Australia. and has been invited to officially launch the mosaic. Another major role of Convocation is to work with The launch will take place at sundown on 9 February and support the University (in addition to representing 2013 as part of the University’s Alumni Weekend graduate interests and opinion, we also promote the centenary celebrations. ideals and purpose of the University). We do this in a Our gift celebrates the achievement of a world- number of ways, including the election of four graduates renowned graduate. It is a gift that, through the to the University Senate – which represents a significant support of Convocation, the University and University- percentage of the Senate membership – and the related groups, can be enjoyed by past graduates, provision of an opportunity, twice a year at each of current students and future graduates. It also Convocation’s Ordinary Meetings, in which principal celebrates an environment – created by the University officers of the University (including the Vice-Chancellor) and its graduates – that fosters creativity, endeavour, can report on University matters and issues and seek innovation and achievement. the views of graduates on those issues. In September, the Vice-Chancellor was also the guest speaker at If you would like to talk to me about these or Convocation’s Second Ordinary Meeting. any other Convocation-related matters, and how Convocation will also be able to support the Convocation can assist you as a UWA graduate, University more effectively through the introduction please contact me through the Convocation office of electronic voting, not only for Convocation-elected (+61 8 6488 1336) or at [email protected]. Senators but also for the positions of Warden, Deputy Warden and members of the Council of Convocation. Best wishes Electronic voting will substantially reduce the costs David Hodgkinson of conducting Convocation-related elections (costs Warden of Convocation
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 41 grad news Convocation, the UWA Graduates Association 50th Reunion Luncheon 2012 Convocation, the UWA The 50th Reunion of all those who graduated or gained higher degrees in 1962 will take place on Sunday, Graduates Association 2 December 2012. As in previous years, we anticipate Annual Elections an afternoon of fun and happy nostalgia. A tram tour of the much changed University has been organized, • E LECTION OF WARDEN AND DEPUTY together with a group photo under the Rose Window WARDEN OF CONVOCATION in Winthrop Hall. A display of memorabilia is planned, • E LECTION OF NINE MEMBERS OF a booklet of biographical information about these THE COUNCIL OF CONVOCATION graduates will be printed and the 1962 committee are hard at work to ensure that everyone enjoys their trip Nomination forms are now available for the above down memory lane. Many thanks to the numerous positions. people who have already assisted us in locating some of those whose addresses were not to hand, but we Associate Professor David Hodgkinson will are still trying to locate the following: complete his term as Warden of Convocation Peter Abotomey, Hazel Barton, James Battye, in March 2013. Rosalie Beck, Beverley Bennett (Burgin), Derrick Bower, Robert Byrnes, Rodney Campbell, Phillip Cant, Mr Raoul Oehmen will complete his term as Jocelyn Cato, Khay-Seng Cheah, Noel Cheetham, Deputy Warden of Convocation in March 2013. Katherine Day (Ainslie), Susan de Marco (Rule), Margaret Dodd, Kenneth Doyle, Margaret Drake- Seven members of the Council of Convocation Brockman, Christopher Edwards, Frederick Elliott, will complete terms in March 2013, and there Edwyn Evans, Katherine Fisher, Monica Flattery, John are two additional vacancies. Forsyth, Elaine Gifford (Bolton), Lexie Grady (Cowell), Sandra Gray, Robert Heppolette, Elizabeth Hesterman Nomination forms for all positions are now (Heron), Barbara Hillary (Cranfield), William Hsu, available from Convocation by contacting Patricia Hsu, Richard Hubbard, Maxwell Humphries, Juanita Perez, Convocation Officer on Frederick Hunt, Raymond Jackson, Ronald Jenkins, 6488 1336 or email on [email protected] Giedre Jodele, Pamela Joyce(Becher), Ivan Kennedy, and include your postal address. Hubert Khaw, Josef Kordis, Tzy Lau, Kent Le, Yoke Loo, John Magnus, Diana Marsh, William Marsh, John All graduates of UWA are automatically Martin, Robert McTavish, Ian Mitchell, Terry Morrison, members of Convocation and entitled to vote Josephine O’Brien, Spencer Parsons, John Peers, and/or nominate for positions in these elections. Warren Pickering, Mary Potter (Gray), Robert Ramsay, For further information on the elections Neil Rickert, Dorothy Robinson, Michael Rose, Malle and the role of Convocation go to Savi, Lorna Seaman (Johnston), Rolf Seecamp, Patrick www.graduates.uwa.edu.au. Smith, James Smith, John Stephenson, Raymond Strickland, Endang Suwarno, Kiong Tan, William Taylor, The closing date for nominations for all positions Chin Teng, Gnanaganesan Thambiah, Ernest Thorpe, is 4.00pm, Friday, 14 December 2012. Jill Tilly, Alan West, Trevor Williams, Chen-Yin Wong, Abdul Yahaya, Barbara Yates and Oon Yeoh. Applications received after this date will be invalid. Please contact the Convocation Office on 6488 3006 or by email to [email protected] if you can assist us in any way to ensure that they do not miss out on the opportunity to re-visit their old stomping grounds and have a thoroughly good time!
42 | Uniview Spring 2012 grad briefs
currently working on creating He resigned from the WA Keep in touch! domestic energy and water Department of Education in 1971 consumption profiles for to take up an appointment as “Grad Briefs – they’re the first thing I read,” writes Australian cities. He is also the Foundation Headmaster of one graduate. “They often remind me of former researching the suburbanisation the Bunbury Cathedral Grammar classmates and colleagues and have enabled of Australian cities. School. This was followed by his me to resume long-lost friendships,” writes poet, John Barich (BA 1962) writes appointment as the Foundation Principal of All Saints College author and graduate William Grono. That’s what that he worked for 30 years in the Australian Public Service in both in 1981. Seven years later he Grad Briefs networking is all about, so let us Perth and Canberra. He spent became the Foundation Director know where you are, what you’re doing and put 11 years working in the Prime of the WA International College us in the picture: hard copy (which we’ll return on Minister’s Department and 11 and in 1995 assisted with the years in Social Security and now establishment of SSTC Perth request), digital image (tif or jpeg file at 300 dpi). volunteers in the area of parent International College. Eric is now Email [email protected] or post to Terry and family policy. retired and enjoys playing golf Larder, The University of Western Australia, M474, with occasional employment at 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009. We’d love the Curriculum Council and also for electoral and census duties. to hear from you.
1950s Bruce Rudeforth (BSc 1951) writes that he is now retired and leading a peaceful life in Blenheim, NZ. Bernard Bowen (BSc 1952) first retired in 1991 as CEO of the WA Government Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and then Errol Seymour (BE 1962; later took on the role of Chair MEngSc 1964) used his Hackett (full-time) of the WA Environmental Studentship from UWA to study for his PhD in engineering at Protection Authority, retiring from John Christmass (BA 1967) Harvard. His PhD research that position in 2003. He then is the Artistic and Choral was on high temperature gas established WAMSI (WA Marine John ‘Kip’ Grieve (BE(Hons) Director of the Best of British plasmas, funded by NASA Science Institute) and chaired the 1957) travelled to London in concert, Vienna Pops concert, for their spacecraft re-entries Board for a few years. In 2009 he 1957 and worked for Kennedy and the I Voci Singers. John leading to the moon landings. established ICRAR (International & Donkin Consulting Engineers, was recognised in this year’s After graduating, Errol joined the Centre for Radio Astronomy before returning to Perth in Australia Day Honours Awards Shell Oil Company in Houston, Research) at UWA with Professor 1959 to work with Wally Tauss by an Order of Australia Medal where he managed a team Peter Quinn. Bernard is Chair of (BScEng 1944; BE 1945; BSc (OAM) for service to music of 20 research staff carrying the Governing Board of ICRAR 1957; PhD 1967), a consulting education in Western Australia. out leading edge research on and was inducted into the WA mechanical engineer. In 1961, He has been Musical Director of offshore oil and gas facilities. He Science Hall of Fame in 2011. Wally decided to close his the ANZAC service for the past became an international expert consultancy and return to 50 years. UWA to lecture and further on deepwater pipelines. Errol his studies. Wally, with his was recruited in 1974 by the clients’ approval, handed his Burmah Oil Company, (later to Hadley Bodinner (BEc 1968) was unfinished work over to Kip who become Woodside) to head up diagnosed with Picks Disease in carried on the consultancy. He the development of the offshore 2003 and was cared for by his was somewhat apprehensive pipeline for the NW Shelf Gas wife until December 2009, when about the prospect of running Project, the largest offshore oil he entered a nursing home in the practice alone, but with and gas project in the world. Subiaco. Hadley had previously encouragement from Tony He used an innovative subsea been an investment banker and Wood (BE 1957), a classmate plough to bury the pipeline stockbroker with his last position from UWA who was then for protection from cyclones, being chairman of an investment working as a structural receiving the WA Engineering bank in Hong Kong. engineer, Kip and Tony Excellence Award. After holding John Pratt (BA 1969) completed formed the partnership of senior roles in Woodside, he his PhD in Creative Writing at Leslie Pyke (BE 1952; BEc Wood & Grieve, specialising retired as Manager of New Edith Cowan University this year. 1960; MEc 1967) is the in civil/structural and building Ventures in 1996. Errol and his His first novel Faint Tappings at author of over 300 papers mechanical services. Later, wife then established an organic and publications held in both Tony Nathan (BE 1961) joined berry farm in Bridgetown, the Wrong Window is available on national and state libraries. the firm to head the electrical where they have received Amazon.com. Former classmates He was a past Warden of section. Kip retired from the many awards for both their can contact him at johnlgp@ Convocation at Murdoch company in 1982. Now run environmental management hotmail.com. University; a past Member by an executive board, Wood and their processed products, of the UWA Convocation & Grieve operates in Perth, the most recent being the 2011 1970s Committee; a past Chairman Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney Australasian Food Robert Ashman (BSc(Hons) of the UWA Engineering Busselton and Albany. Kip and Challenge Awards, for their 1970; PhD 1974; DSc 1997) is an Graduates Association; his wife are photographed here fruit Mini-Smoothies, which Emeritus Fellow of the American are sold Australia wide. Foundation Chairman of celebrating their 50th wedding Academy of Microbiology and a the Centre for the Indian anniversary last April. Fellow of the Australian Society. Ocean Region and Principal Noel ‘Eric’ Speed (BEd 1963; Now in his 70th year, he recently MEd 1970) was employed Consultant for the Institute for 1960s retired from his position as Reader by the WA Department of New Venture Creation. in Oral Biology, at the University of Patrick Troy (BE 1960) has Education from 1958 to 1971 Queensland’s School of Dentistry been reappointed Adjunct as a teacher and Senior Science Derek Wolff (BSc 1953) spent Professor within the Urban Master, as well as a Lecturer and has recently been indulging most of his professional years Research Program, Griffith in Educational Administration. a passion for travel. Robert holds involved in secondary education University; Visiting Professor He completed his PhD at the an adjunct appointment teaching teaching mainly biology and in the City Futures Research University of Wisconsin, where undergraduate and postgraduate general science. He celebrated Centre at UNSW and Visiting he was awarded membership of courses in Immunology and his 82nd birthday last month. Fellow at ANU. His latest book, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa remains actively involved in Derek and his wife live in a lifestyle Accommodating Australians: Phi for academic excellence. In his research. Robert is also a village in Albany, Auckland, and in Commonwealth Involvement 1968, he was elected Foundation volunteer broadcaster on public May 2013 will celebrate their 60th in Housing is published by President of the WA Institute radio and has interests in opera, wedding anniversary. Federation Press. Patrick is of Educational Administration. cycling and Spanish dance.
Uniview The University of Western Australia | 43 grad briefs
Pursuing twin passions: botany and art University of Queensland and leading a group on nanomechanics and nanomanufacturing. Former classmates can contact him at [email protected].
Anthony Marsh (BPE 1986; MEd 1989) worked as a Research Assistant with Dr. Fleur Allen (BMusEd 1999) Bruce Elliott and taught at celebrated the first anniversary UWA before moving to Arizona of the establishment of her in 1990 to complete a PhD in business, Property with Exercise Science, specialising in Purpose. She is a property Biomechanics, at Arizona State mentor providing independent University. He then lectured objective educational events at California State University- on the buying and selling of Sacramento before beginning residential properties. “Art is second nature to me,” writes UWA graduate Ellen Hickman in his current appointment in 1996 the foreword to Two with Nature, a beautiful new book of words and as an Assistant Professor in Stephen Phillipson (BE(Hons) images in which the botanist teams up with poet John Ryan. Health and Exercise Science 1999) is now back in Perth Ellen studied Science at UWA and in her second year was at Wake Forest University in and working with Rio Tinto. He commissioned by taxonomy lecturer Dr Terry Macfarlane to illustrate a Winston-Salem, North Carolina. previously worked for five years in book on the flora of the Kimberley region. He teaches a cadaver-based Weipa and Brisbane. Stephen is anatomy course and a married with two young boys and After graduating she continued to work as a research assistant for biomechanics course and his his wife is expecting another child the Botany Department under Professor John Pate, completing the research focuses on preventing this year. Former classmates can illustrations for Australian Rushes (UWA Press, 1999) which won the decline in physical function and contact him at stephenphillipson@ New York Botanical Gardens award for the best biological publication disability in older adults. Tony bigpond.com. in 2001. and colleagues have developed Today the illustrator and botanical scientist is based in Albany as an an iPad app that uses animation independent botanical consultant and freelance artist. In 2001 she was to demonstrate tasks for involved in a major collaborative project with UWA’s Professor Stephen the assessment of mobility Hopper and others, illustrating a monograph of the Haemodoraceae in older adults. Currently, he family (which includes the Kangaroo Paw). In 2009 a Churchill is a Principle Investigator or Fellowship allowed her to travel to Cuba and South America to further Co-Investigator on three NIH- study this plant family. She has also illustrated award-winning children’s funded interdisciplinary projects books, including Tuart Dwellers which won the Wilderness Society’s with colleagues in exercise Environmental Award for Children’s Literature in 2009. physiology, health psychology, radiology and geriatric Two with Nature by Ellen Hickman and John Ryan is published by medicine. He was recently Fremantle Press. appointed Professor in Health and Exercise Science. 1980s Tony married Ingrid in 1996 Matthew Budge (BCom and they have two children. Shelley Banner (née Graham) 2001) has worked in Sydney (BPE 1981; DipEd 1982) is and Melbourne for the past teaching at Willetton Senior High 1990s eight years and in July 2012 was admitted as a Partner in School and last year moved to her Lambert Brau (BSc(Hons) 1995; the Corporate Tax Practice at new home in Fremantle. Former PhD 2002) is now lecturing at classmates can contact her at Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Deakin University’s Burwood He recently joined the Council [email protected]. campus. Former classmates can at Currie Hall. Former Basil Palassis (BCom 1983) is contact him at lambert.brau@ classmates can contact him at Principal Financial Advisor for deakin.edu.au. [email protected]. Tim Hantke (BCom 1970) his firm, Fusion Planning Group, worked in management roles which has been based in West 2000s for Bradford Insulation; CSR Perth since 2005. He is married Limited; Universal Waldeck and with one child. Former classmates Jeremy Thomas (LLM 2001) is Snap Printing before starting can contact him at basil@ working at Baker & McKenzie in his own franchising consultancy fusionplanning.com.au. Sydney. Former classmates can and company directorships. contact him at jeremy.thomas3@ His latest initiative has been Tim Urquhart (BArch 1984) bigpond.com. writes that after working for more mentoring chief executives. Martin Ladyman (GradCertMg than 25 years overseas, with the Former classmates can 2002; GradDipBA 2003; MBA last six years as Development contact him at tim.hantke@ 2004) moved to Donnybrook bigpond.com. Director for the London 2012 Joseph Fleming (BSW 1995) to continue a farming career. Olympic Games Village, he has He writes that he has started now returned to work in Perth. recently graduated with a Ken Ilett (PhD 1971) is a part- Doctoral degree in Social Work a ‘droughtmaster’ stud cattle time researcher in Pharmacology, Tim is the Project Director for breeding operation, primarily the $1b Waterbank project from Monash University. He is Pharmacy and Anaesthesiology a consultant social worker and supplying breeding bulls to the in the CBD for Lend Lease at UWA and also works part-time has worked across Australia in pastoral region of WA. Martin also Development. Former classmates in Pharmacy. Former classmates many roles for companies such owns and operates a specialist can contact him at tim.urquhart@ can contact him at ken.ilett@uwa. as Royal Flying Doctor Service woodworking operation as a lendlease.com. edu.au. (RFDS), Tangenterye and continuation of a lifelong hobby. John Stokes (MB BS 1977) is Bridget Stafford (BMusEd 1985) Headspace. Former classmates can contact Senior Medical Officer with the lives in Sydney and is employed him at [email protected]. Kimberley Aboriginal Medical with the Commonwealth Bank Han Huang (PhD 1996) is Lim Jing Mei Ginny (BA 2003) is Service in Broome. Former as a senior projects manager, a Professor in the School a nurse in the Acute Stroke Unit classmates can contact him at primarily working on risk of Mechanical and Mining at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, in [email protected]. regulatory projects. Engineering working at the Singapore. UniPrint 97476
44 | Uniview Spring 2012 grad briefs
Peter Manning (BA 2008) Hoi Man Ellen Wong (MCom ceased study half way through his 2011) is currently looking for Honours degree and accepted work in the HR field in Hong an administration role in native Kong. Ellen previously worked title with the Ngaanyatjarra on a five-month contract as a Council as their Funding and Risk Senior Project Executive at the Management Officer. In 2010, Home Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong he accepted a position with a government, for a community Federal Government agency that based project. Former classmates Boon Ho (Andy) Lai encompasses policy work, project can contact her at manhoiw@ (BCompSc 2007) won the management, governance, yahoo.com.hk. DST’s iPhone Developer compliance and facilitation. Competition in 2010, an Daniel O’Leary (MBA 2012) is annual programme that aims working on the Gorgon Jetty to encourage young Bruneians construction project for Leighton to develop mobile applications. Lim Li Shya (BCom 2009) and Contractors based in Henderson. Lee Donn Yong-An (BCom He then went on to create Cynthia Osborne (MTeach(Prim) 2008) met whilst living in Currie Brunei’s first prepaid mobile 2012) is a high school teacher Hall in 2007. They studied some recharge app. Andy is pictured and a supervisor at SIDE of the same modules, though here with an iPhone displaying (School of Isolated and Distance they did different majors and his product the MyPayPass Education), a remote school in their friendship blossomed app, which eliminates the need Laverton. She previously worked into something more. They to physically purchase top up at the Burringurrah Remote were married in Singapore this cards from vendors in Brunei. Community School, where year. Li Shya works as a HR she was the early childhood Ellen Jenkyn (BA 2008) writes executive and Donn is working educator. Former classmates can that she is a stay-at-home as a Senior Marketing Analyst at contact her at cynthia.osborne@ mother looking after her three Future Electronic in Singapore. education.wa.edu.au. young boys. Gregory Ladner (MEd 2009) completed the Masters in Robert Mueller (BA 2009) Parisse Lucev (BA 2008) is Education program externally graduated in 2010 from the Royal studying for her Master’s degree whilst teaching at the Hong Military College, Duntroon, as an in teaching at the University of Kong International School. He is infantry officer. He was deployed Melbourne. Former classmates currently Head of Mathematics to Afghanistan in 2010/11 with can contact her at parissealucev@ at Presbyterian Ladies College. the Military Task Force 2. Robert gmail.com. is now an instructor with the School of Infantry, based in Graduate heads Greenpeace Singleton, NSW. Australia Pacific 2010s (BLArch Andrea Cheong Ji Yen AKM Mamunur Rashid 2010) works in Singapore as (GradCertPaedRheum 2012) a landscape architect. Former works in the Department of classmates can contact her at Paediatrics, Khulna Medical [email protected]. College, Bangladesh. He is Tamara Arapovic (BA(CommSt) now practising in the field of & LLB 2011) is an Associate paediatric rheumatology and at Klimek & Company, in writes that he has benefitted Perth. Former classmates can after completing his post contact her at tamara_arapovic graduation studies in his chosen @yahoo.com. field. Former classmates can contact him at mamunkmc@ Jasmine Chan Xue Wei (BSc yahoo.com. 2011) is enrolled in the graduate entry medicine program at Monash University. Danielle Stone (BSc 2012) is currently a Graduate Health David Ritter, Frances Flanagan and Josie Richard Shiping Li (MLEM and Safety Consultant for Greenpeace has appointed a UWA graduate as its new chief executive 2011) will be returning to Perth ALCOA. She is based at their for the Australia and Pacific region. in November and will be setting Pinjarra refinery on a three-year up his own business. His graduate program. Until recently, Arts/Law (Honours) graduate David Ritter (41) worked company in China sells yachting for Greenpeace in London where he was Head of Biodiversity equipment and machinery. Former Ellen Lae Jun Wong (BCom Campaigns, working on global issues related to over-fishing, classmates can contact him at 2012) writes that she is now commercial whaling, deforestation and climate change. David holds a [email protected]. working part-time at two jobs. Masters in Global Politics from the London School of Economics. She is an HR Officer at the Xuedan Wang (MCom 2011) Hellenic Community Aged Graduating soon after the Mabo decision, David felt morally compelled works for Extension Hill Pty Care and her second job to join the fight for Native Title rights. Limited, in West Perth, as a placement is as an assistant In 1995 he was appointed associate to UWA graduate and current Human Resources advisor. at a recruitment company. Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the Honourable Robert French. At that time, Justice French was Justice of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the National Native Title Tribunal. When you advertise in Uniview Four years later, David became Principal Legal Officer of the Yamatji you’re in good company Marlpa Land Council. In this role, he worked in some of the most significant cases in the Native Title system and made his mark in WA’s The University of Western Australia’s flagship publication has north-west where huge negotiations were taking place with Rio Tinto, a print run of more than 72,000 copies. BHP, Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Resources and Andrew Forrest’s FMG. Uniview goes to all graduates and is distributed to every David has written a number of books and articles on Australian politics, secondary school in Western Australia and all public libraries. history, law, corporate responsibility and the environment including The Native Title Market published by UWA Publishing. To date our advertisers have included technology, tourism and theatre companies, banks, wineries, bookstores He is married to Dr Frances Flanagan, who is also a UWA Arts/ Law (Honours) graduate. Frances has a DPhil in history from Oxford and international and national conservation and charity University and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in humanitarian foundations. campaigns at Birkbeck. Her inaugural book based on her doctoral Advertising in Uniview puts you in good company. research will be published by Oxford University Press. The couple have a daughter, three year-old Josie. Phone: +61 8 6488 1914 or email: [email protected]
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