ISSN 1834–3937 one stem cell The infinite world within Immortal lines Magazine Winter 2007 ALUMNI Heaven sent, constitutional Meet thestarry-eyed medievalist intent on Helen Irvingisback bringing astrology from Harvard Law hell bent in from thecold American

SYDNEY ALUMNI Magazine

5 8 24 22 NEWS: CHANCELLOR RESEARCH: STEM CELL HYPE EVENTS: SPRING BACK TO SYDNEY SPORT: HOCKEY CLUB CENTENARY

Winter 2007

features

10 IMMORTAL LINES The delicate frameworks for stem cell research sits uneasily between science, ethics and religion, writes Kate Rossmanith. Editor Dominic O’Grady 16 HEAVEN SENT, HELL BENT The , Publications Office Meet the medievalist intent on bringing astrology Room K6.06, Quadrangle A14, NSW 2006 in from the cold. Geordie Williamson reports. Telephone +61 2 9036 6372 Fax +61 2 9351 6868 Email [email protected] Sub-editor John Warburton regulars Design tania edwards design Contributors Tracey Beck, Vice-Chancellor Professor 2 LETTERS Gavin Brown, Sally Collings, Graham Croker, Marie Can a man have a muffin top? Jacobs, Claudia Liu, Fran Molloy, Maggie Renvoize, Kate 4 OPINION Rossmanith, Ted Sealy, Melissa Sweet, Marian Theobald, Australian universities are probably the toughest Geordie Williamson. budget managers in the world, writes Vice-Chancellor Printed by PMP Limited Professor Gavin Brown. Cover photo Nostradamus (1503–1566). 14 PROFILE Peter Arnold Images Inc/Photolibrary. Associate Professor Helen Irving puts our constitution Advertising Please direct all inquiries to the editor. under scrutiny. Editorial Advisory Committee 28 GRAPEVINE The Sydney Alumni Magazine is supported by an Editorial Class notes from the 1930s to the present. Advisory Committee. Its members are: Kathy Bail, Editor, Australian Financial Review Magazine; Martin Hoffman 36 TREASURE (BEcon ‘86), consultant; Helen Trinca, Editor, Boss Faces of Power at the Nicholson Museum. (Australian Financial Review); (LLB ‘71), Sydney Morning Herald; William Fraser, Editor, ACP Magazines; Don Wilson, Vice-Principal, University Relations, University of Sydney; and Andrew Potter, Media Manager, University of Sydney.

winter 2007 1 letters

and regularly crops up whenever write the word eternity in George Write to us things American are being criticised Street near Wynyard. The preacher Letters to the editor should include or ridiculed. The correct version had referred to in your article was my contact details, degree and year of a context. uncle, the soldier and Baptist evangelist graduation if applicable. Coolidge was giving a speech to the Rev John G Ridley MC. His wife Society of Newspaper Editors. He sought Dorothy and my mother Gladys were Please address letters to: to deal with the two roles of the news- daughters of Professor HG Chapman Sydney Alumni Magazine The Editor, paper as both a business trying to make of the University of Sydney. The story C/- Publications A14, a profit and a source of information, is well written by Harold E Evans and The University of Sydney NSW 2006. and he raised the question whether it published in 1980 by the Baptist Letters may also be sent by email to: could legitimately straddle and meet Historical Society of NSW, under the [email protected] both obligations. title Soldier and Evangelist – the story Opinions expressed on these pages He argued that it could, and that in of Rev John G Ridley MC. are those of the signed contributors this had much in common with the Michael Flynn (LLB ’66, MA ’73 ) or the editor and do not necessarily national life as a whole. “After all,” Downer, ACT represent the official position of the he went on, “the chief business of the University of Sydney. American people is business,” and Dart’s Sydney connections Space permits only a selection of “the chief ideal of the American I was most pleased to read the article edited letters to be published here. people is idealism.” on Raymond Dart (Sydney Alumni Makes a difference, does it not? Magazine, Autumn 2007). It reminded Barry Maley (BA ’51) me that he had lectured at Sydney Mangled Coolidge Castlecrag, NSW during October 1972, having come to The spate of letters dealing with the US contribute to the centenary celebration Studies Centre (Sydney Alumni Eternal reflections of the work of Grafton Elliot Smith Magazine, Autumn 2007) is illustrated The essay Sydney, Our Literary City (an early and very famous University by a cartoon showing a map of by Rebecca Johinke (Sydney Alumni of Sydney graduate). penetrated by America’s stars Magazine, Autumn 2007) notes: “It’s The occasion had been organised and stripes. Underneath are the words believed that [Arthur] Stace was by Professors Elkin and Mackintosh, “The business of America is business”, inspired by a preacher who cried ‘I who later published Dart’s contribu- with an attribution to President wish I could shout eternity through tions, together with those of others Calvin Coolidge. the streets of Sydney’. Stace heeded the (of whom I was honoured to be one) This mangled version of what President call and spent years and years writing in Grafton Elliot Smith, The Man Coolidge actually said on 17 January 1925 Eternity in chalk copperplate on and His Work, Sydney University is perhaps the most quoted misquotation pavements all around inner Sydney”. Press, 1974. of recent history. It has been used by When I was a student at Sydney Law John Simons (BSc ’49, MSc ’53) historians of considerable reputation School in 1961 I saw Arthur Stace Burradoo, NSW

2007 Alumni Awards Presentation Celebrating alumni community service achievements Join us at the most Friday 28 September 2007 anticipated alumni 6pm - 8pm ceremony of the year The MacLaurin Hall and meet graduates who The Quadrangle have made a difference The University of Sydney Fiona Tulloch Roughley (BA '06), to our community! 2006 Convocation Medallist & Adam Spencer (BA '92), Fellow of Senate & Member of the Alumni Council at the ceremony last year.

Further information & RSVP | Tel 61 2 9036 9278 | Fax 61 2 9351 6868 | Email [email protected] | Web www.usyd.edu.au/alumni_awards illustration: Maggie Renvoize piece onSydney. I especiallyenjoyed DrRebecca Johinke’s or Iwould have beensorely tempted. thepublicationsprovided,lift any of patients to consider othersandnot noticejust aswell thewarning asked to such asplendidmagazine. It was formeto dojusticenear longenough one day lastweek proved nowhere Iwaskept waiting The hourandahalf South Coast Radiology, Hospital. Pindara magazines inthewaitingroom of Alumni Magazine your The autumneditionof Waiting room reader by machine. Predictively, course. of research project isto humans de-program something to work on. Maybe thenext from amongourselves, fighting itis thatwould notstopAlthough humans all warmachines would stop firing. the poor. When world peace isdesired, to ourmoney would simplysiphonoff world poverty level rises, our ATMs have theseultimate machines. When predictive thinking? Magazine, creative thinking( I have always admired Professor Gero’s Compassionate technology Nerang, James Rabe Medowie, NSW ToErnest (BE’66, MBldgSc ’73) theUnited if Imagine Nations should www.medicalfoundation.usyd.edu.au Email [email protected] Tel (02)93517315Fax (02)93513299 Edward FordBuilding(A27) TheUniversityofSydneyNSW2006 The MedicalFoundation Autumn 2007). Orisit was amongthe Sydney AlumniSydney LEADING THEWAY Sydney CANCER &LIVERDISEASE proudly ourfemalecounterparts. alongside gendersothatusmalemuffin tops canstand of toowners eradicate specificity my gender? of pants. over tight-fitting slightly) thetop of Am Ito bedeniedamuffin top because which ontheoddoccasion to hasbeenknown fat around spillout(just themidriff muffin top isspecificto females. Iammaleanddopossessasmallfoldof for 2006by ( theMacquarie Dictionary ecstaticto seethatmuffinI wastruly top hasbeenchosen asthe Word the of Year Can amanhave amuffintop? Abbotsford, NSW Simon Pennington (MCom ’05) muffin top I propose adjusttheirdefinitionof thattheMacquarie Dictionary My excitement wastainted, however, whenIread thatthedefinitionof

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PUBLIC HEALTH The MedicalFoundation The UniversityofSydney NEUROSCIENCE &RELATED DISEASES Autumn 2007). opinion

Maintaining the research agenda

The challenge of developing new infrastructure is a major problem for every research-intensive Australian university, writes Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown AO.

was delighted when, just before the As a simple pragmatist, my surprise NSW election lockdown, Premier arose because a significant number of IMorris Iemma (BEcon ’84) people argued that such an arrangement announced $10 million support for the erodes the University’s commitment to next phase of the Brain and Mind freedom of intellectual inquiry. It was Research Institute. The new development put vigorously to me that it would be will focus on translational activity, better to have no new medical institute bringing the latest research to patients than to sanction ideological constraints and informing further work as a conse- in any way. That position seems inflexi- quence of community interactions. bly ideological in its own right so that I Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown. This welcome contribution means that had visions of an irresistible force meet- both federal and state governments have ing an immoveable object with me This means that for a leading research invested in our initiative to tackle mental caught between. Thankfully the matter university, research is a budgeted loss health from the best of psychiatry and was resolved relatively amicably and we leader, essential to our prestige and laboratory science, and the combination will accept the land with condition and mission but dependent on other support. of both. continue unfettered research as before. Because research underpins the quality Earlier this year, Senate gave initial of the environment for all students it is approval for another major medical Australian universities reasonable that fees help contribute to research infrastructure project. This has are probably the toughest establishing infrastructure. It is inter- the bold concept of erecting a complex of esting to compare our budget in 1997, buildings in boomerang configuration budget managers my first full year as Vice-Chancellor, around part of St John’s Oval, buildings in the world. with 2005, the last fully audited year. designed and equipped to the highest In 1997 the government operating international standards for scientific The challenge of developing new grant was 40 per cent of budget rather research, having a total cost of some infrastructure is a big, if not the biggest, than 18 per cent as now. In 1997, student $500 million. problem for every research-intensive fees accounted for 20 per cent, now For this to be possible the University Australian university. The first part of the they account for 33 per cent, but the was required to obtain some College difficulty is that competitive project HECS amount from Australian govern- land alongside its own and this led to a grants do not carry institutional over- ment subsidised places was 12 per cent controversy which, I confess, came as heads. Thus the figure of around $120 as it is now. Thus private enterprise something of a surprise to me. An million that we win in project grants is funding from student fees has moved important clause in the agreement was fully expended by the individual from 8 per cent to 21 per cent. Inter- that the University would respect the researchers and, indeed, requires institu- national student income has moved wishes of the College Council by tional cross-subsidy from other sources. from $27 million to $140 million. The refraining from stem cell research, We have a comparable sum from com- largest increase in student numbers has involving creation or destruction of petitive block grants which partly helps been in the postgraduate area. potential human life, in those buildings with that, but a large proportion of funds As I noted in a speech in Taiwan all or in part on land ceded by St is devoted to research training. Moreover recently, Australian universities are John’s. There was a parallel recitation these block grants can be expended only probably the toughest budget managers that the University remains unrestricted on personnel and equipment not on the in the world. We must ensure that is on any of its own land. laboratories which house the activities. not a curse!

4 sydney alumni magazine news

Marie Bashir new University Chancellor

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW, is to be the next Chancellor of the University of Sydney. Professor Bashir, who continues as Governor, was elected to the honorary position by the University Senate. She will take up her new role as the University’s seventeenth Chancellor in June, replacing Justice Kim Santow who is stepping down after five and a half years in the position. One of Australia’s most prominent academics and public figures, Professor Bashir has a long association with the University as an alumnus and as an active supporter. “The University of Sydney commu- nity is delighted to be welcoming her home,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown. “Professor Bashir has made an enormous contribution to this University over many years since her days as a pioneering student and academic and we look forward to working with her in her new role.” Prior to her appointment as Governor on 1 March 2001, Professor Bashir held a senior position as clinical professor of psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine at the University from

1993 to 2001. photo: aap During that period she was also the Area Director for Mental Health Professor Marie Bashir with grandchildren and (on left) Services in the Central Sydney Area and Poppy Moir (right) … an active supporter of the University. Health Service and from 1996 to 2001 was senior consultant psychiatrist with the Aboriginal Medical Service in has always found time to be involved years at the Conservatorium of Music. Redfern and Kempsey. with a range of activities at this University. She is patron of both the Conserv- A graduate of the University of From 1972 to 2000 she was a teacher, atorium and the Graduate Choir of Sydney, with a Bachelor of Medicine lecturer and mentor to medical under- the University. and Bachelor of Surgery (1956), graduates and postgraduates at the Professor Bashir was awarded an Professor Bashir has been a Fellow of University of Sydney and other honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine the Royal Australian and New Zealand universities. She was actively involved from the University of Sydney in 2002 College of Psychiatrists since 1971. in supervising and mentoring to mark the 150th anniversary of the As well as her extensive professional international postgraduate medical inauguration of the University. Her involvement in community and scholars from Thailand and Vietnam. appointment as Chancellor is for a indigenous health, juvenile justice and Professor Bashir has a strong interest period of four years commencing on mental health issues, Professor Bashir in music and studied violin for many 1 June 2007.

winter 2007 5 news

July start for Harvard Law exchange

University of Sydney law students will University’s Faculty of Law. be the first in Australia to benefit from The Vice-Dean of Harvard Law an exchange program with Harvard School’s Graduate Program, Bill Alford, Law School. said Harvard was “delighted” to reach The program begins in July 2007 and agreement with the University of allows students to spend a semester at Sydney. “As we’ve seen from the visits Harvard Law School, with an equal here of Dean Ronald McCallum and number of selected Harvard students professors Helen Irving, Mary Crock coming to the University of Sydney. and Richard Van, Sydney is blessed “Student exchanges of this nature with superb teachers,” he said. provide invaluable opportunities. They lead to broader understandings of the American constitutional law, foster international friendships, Associate Professor Helen Irving on photo: Kent Mears and build transnational networks of constitutions, national difference, students and scholars,” said Professor and David Hicks. Profile, page 14. Professor Mary Crock ... one of several Ron McCallum, Dean of Sydney recent visitors to Harvard. It’s unanimous: world’s best mooters

A team of University of Sydney law students has won the Jessup International Law Moot competition. In a unanimous decision, they defeated King’s College London in the grand final moot held in Washington DC. On the bench was His Excellency Mr Justice Hisashi Owada of the International Court of Justice, and other distinguished international law experts. The University of Sydney previously won the Jessup Moot in 1996. They join an elite club of only two Australian universities to win more than once. The Jessup Moot gives competitors the opportunity to argue a case before the International Court of Justice. As well as the group taking out the grand final moot, team member Lucas Bastin was selected from eight speakers in the semifinal to win a scholarship to undertake a course in American Law at the University of Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, two University of

Sydney students, Julia Bowes and Anna photo: newspix Garsia, beat teams from Oxford and Cambridge to win the World Intervarsity Justice Hisashi Owada (centre) at the International Court of Justice … unanimous Debating Championships in Vancouver. decision at international moot.

6 sydney alumni magazine Vice-Chancellor and Principal

The University of Sydney is looking to appoint an outstanding leader as its next Vice-Chancellor and Principal to build on the achievements of Professor Gavin Brown, whose term expires in July 2008.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an The University seeks to consolidate its position as Australia’s outstanding record of scholarship, evinced by academic premier University, and as one of the top five in the Asia Pacific attainment, and/or publication or research, so as to command region and in the top forty universities in the world. To that end, the next Vice-Chancellor must advance a number of significant high reputation and recognition among academic communities. strategic and operational issues. This will call for consultation, The person will have proven leadership capacity to position persuasion and decision-making of the highest order as well as the University to meet the contemporary challenges in higher the capacity to win the allegiance and respect of the University’s education. He or she should have an exceptional record of strong leadership team and its key constituencies. operational management in large, diverse organisations. A To find out more about this challenging leadership role and to capacity to enhance the University as a global contributor in its acquire an information package containing selection criteria, sector and to promote the University to a range of public and contact David Pumphrey or Stafford Bagot at Heidrick & Struggles private benefactors, government, business and the community are on telephone +61 2 8205 2000. key requirements. So too are discerning judgement, intellectual Applications including a curriculum vitae, a submission depth and strategic insight. addressing the selection criteria, and the contact details of four referees should be sent in con¿ dence to David Pumphrey at Founded in 1850, the University of Sydney is Australia’s first Heidrick & Struggles, Level 28 Governor Phillip Tower, university and now the country’s leading research university. 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia, or email Currently there are in excess of 45000 students enrolled, of whom [email protected], or facsimile + 61 2 9247 9117 more than 8500 are from overseas. The University has 17 faculties, by 18 June 2007. 171 research centres and institutes spread across 10 campuses, Information on the University of Sydney can be found at the with almost 6000 full time staff. following website: www.usyd.edu.au

Research The University’s contribution to the granted and start-up companies powers community is of major significance. launched. Researchers and students In 2007 alone Sydney researchers at the University are increasing our the future have been awarded over 120 research understanding of such challenges as projects by Research global warming, drought, childhood Council and 97 new Discovery Grants, disease, cancer, and many more. considerably more than our closest Our researchers and alumni have national competitors. received worldwide acclaim – in The University has 171 research science and business as well as in centres and institutes and ranks sport and the arts. A gift from you first among Australian universities today will help ensure that this proud in the number of research licences tradition continues.

Help the University create a better future; make your gift today: 1. Complete the online form at: www.usyd.edu.au/gift OR 2. Ring the Gift Hotline on +61 2 9036 9170 from 9am to 5pm weekdays, EST.

winter 2007 7 research

Beware the stem cell hard sell

This June, Australia hosts the first meeting outside North America of the International Society for Stem Cell Research. But have the potential benefits of stem cell research been over-sold? Melissa Sweet reports.

t may take years, or even decades, student Tamra Lysaght believe the public before the promise of stem cell may have gained an overly optimistic Iresearch is translated into useful, view of the therapeutic benefits of stem safe therapies, according to two cell research. University of Sydney academics. They issued the caution on the eve Associate Professor Ian Kerridge, of the fifth annual conference of the director of the Centre for Values, Ethics International Society for Stem Cell Testing times … encouraging laboratory research provides no guarantee of new and the Law in Medicine, and doctoral Research (ISSCR), to be held in Cairns clinical treatments. in June. It is the first time the meeting has been held outside North America, and organisers have described it as “a unique opportunity to showcase and promote Australia as a global player in stem cell research”. Professor Kerridge said the ISSCR conference program showed that research was still in its very early stages. “What this conference clearly shows is that right around the world there is an enormous amount of very basic biological work that remains to be done,” he said. “It is still very much at the discovery stage.” While the field was moving incredibly quickly, Professor Kerridge said it was likely to yield important new insights into biology, physiology, pathogenesis, fertility and reproduction before it yielded useful clinical therapies. “It’s still some years before we’re likely to see incorporation of therapies derived from stem cells as having any place in clinical therapy,” he said. Concerns about the over-hyping of stem cell research are echoed by Tamra Lysaght, who is close to completing her doctoral thesis at the University of Sydney examining public discourse around stem cell policy debates. Lysaght, who has a scholarship from the Australian Stem Cell Centre based at illustration: Photolibrary photo: AAP Image/Alan Porritt

Stem cell review … Associate Professor Ian Kerridge (centre) appears before a Senate committee in in 2006. The Senate committee examined legislative responses to stem cell research. Professor Kerridge is accompanied by professors Loane Skene (left) and Peter Schofield.

Monash University and undergraduate are often more optimistic than the qualifications in biotechnology and much more careful language of science.” business, says a tendency to over- However, Ms Lysaght said she expected "There is an promote stem cell research and other that the public generally had a healthy enormous amount of biotechnologies is problematic for scepticism about media reports of science more broadly. scientific breakthroughs. very basic biological “The over-selling is a strategy to “I think most people understand and work that remains overcome obstacles in obtaining funding know what the media is like,” she said. for your particular area of research,” she “They know you can’t believe every- to be done." said. “It may undermine the authority thing that you see. I’d be very surprised of science if it’s just seen as another if people are going to be shocked if the stakeholder trying to get its share of the promises that have been made for stem public purse rather than as an objective cell research don’t come to fruition in actually make it to the clinic, be it from means of generating knowledge.” the time frame they’re expecting.” embryonic stem cells or adult stem Ms Lysaght stressed she did not want Meanwhile, Professor Andrew cells, they will have to reach safety to downplay the significance of stem Elefanty, of the Embryonic Stem Cell criteria,” he said. cell research. “From a scientific per- Differentiation Laboratory at Monash “The second thing is if there’s a spective, the area is extremely exciting University and chair of the scientific particular cell you are wanting to trans- and very promising. It’s just unfortunate program of the ISSCR conference, plant, can you make a large enough the way in which medical technologies agreed that significant challenges quantity to scale up production? And and science then interact with other confront stem cell research. It was the third thing is, how pure can you get institutions – political institutions and important the general public realised that population of cells? the media. that encouraging results from laboratory “So people have to be aware that just “How it manifests in the public research or early clinical trials would not because you can do something in a domain can be quite different to how necessarily translate into new treatments research setting doesn’t mean it is going it’s presented in the scientific domain. with widespread application, he said. to be feasible or safe enough to bring The messages presented to the public “Before any of these therapies can into routine clinical use.”

autumn 2007 9 feature Immortal lines

The delicate frameworks for stem cell research sit uneasily between science, politics, ethics and religion. It’s a brave new world carefully navigated by University of Sydney researchers, writes Dr Kate Rossmanith.

n a wall inside the University of Sydney’s Centenary out at the University, however, involves adult cells – cells derived Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology hang from developed tissue – rather than those from embryos. Oneat snapshots of cheerful faces. “We work with different types of stem cells found in bone From a distance, molecular cardiologists, gene therapists and marrow, specifically, the haematopoietic stem cells which form immunologists are indistinguishable, and the photos stuck blood, and mesenchymal stem cells which form bone, cartilage, together, running in rows, make it impossible to tell where one muscle and fat,” explains Chuck Bailey, a research fellow in the picture stops and another begins. Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at the Centenary Institute. Conceived in 1982, the institute commemorates the cente- In the Centenary Institute laboratory, young researchers in naries of the University of Sydney Medical School and the Royal white, ghostly gowns sit at metallic stations with microscopes, Prince Alfred Hospital. It is one of the few places at the gloves and Petri dishes. They are studying effective ways to University where scientists conduct human stem cell research, transfer haematopoietic stem cells into a recipient. isolating stem cells from donors’ bone marrow and umbilical “It’s one thing to introduce cells into a patient; it’s another cord blood, creating copies of the cells and analysing their thing for the cells to multiply and survive,” explains Dr Bailey. potential use. The survival of foreign stem cells in a patient depends in part In February this year, the University of Sydney Senate on modifying those cells to enable them to grow and function approved a deal to pay St John’s College $600,000 for land on properly. Part of the scientists’ work at Centenary involves gene which to build a medical research centre. In return for the therapy, or stem cell modification. Researchers exploit the rights to the land, the University agreed to the condition that properties of viruses – their capacity to manipulate cells – in the buildings should not be used for “human foetal stem cell order to modify the stem cell. medical research or any other procedures involving the termi- nation or the artificial creation of human life”. Gene therapy breakthrough Responding to criticism from some politicians and Professor John Rasko, who heads the Gene and Stem Cell researchers about the University’s decision, Vice-Chancellor Therapy Program at Centenary, has recently reported a break- Professor Gavin Brown explained that there were other facilities through in a gene therapy clinical trial performed with on campus where embryonic stem cell research could take collaborators in the United States involving haemophiliac place. “The conditions were purely a question of where certain patients. By modifying the liver cells in haemophiliac patients, things would be done, not whether they could be done,” he said. they observed a temporary improvement in clotting. The University’s agreement with St John’s came three months “We have tackled stem cells from two angles: by looking to after members of the federal Senate overturned the 2002 ban on improve gene delivery technologies, and by making steady human therapeutic cloning. While it continues to be illegal to progress in dissecting the subtleties of various stem cell types in grow an individual from a cloned cell, researchers in Australia the body,” explained Professor Rasko. “Our lab is committed to will soon be able to harvest embryonic stem cell lines from the the idea that gene and stem cell therapies will go hand in hand DNA of a living person: cell lines, argue scientists, which may towards solving some of the big diseases of our time – including lead to therapies for type 1 diabetes, cystic fibrosis and other cancer, heart disease and diabetes.” diseases. The human stem cell research currently being carried Gene therapy and adult stem cell research is also being carried

10 sydney alumni magazine illustration: Photolibrary

In the eye of a needle … one tiny stem cell encapsulates an infinite world of possibility. out at The Children’s Hospital at the University of Sydney’s have licences to conduct embryonic stem cell research. Sydney Westmead Clinical School. Professor Peter Gunning, head of IVF is one of them. There, researchers extract cells from days- the Oncology Research Unit and chair of the Division of old embryos that would otherwise be discarded and create stem Research, is leading a cellular oncology group focussing on cell lines. “Immortal lines”, the scientists call them, for they children with brain tumours. divide and duplicate themselves indefinitely. “Chemotherapy is an effective approach for treating the actual When magnified, embryonic stem cell colonies, minute flecks tumour, but it simultaneously destroys the patient’s bone marrow, carrying a couple’s DNA, look like fine paint sprays. The groups often with fatal consequences,” he says. of cell droplets, no bigger than five thousandths of a millimetre, Professor Gunning and his team are looking to introduce into are bounded patches of life. And they’re “pluripotent”. the patient modified stem cells that will detoxify the “Unlike adult stem cells, they have the potential to transform chemotherapy in the patient’s blood. And, like the research into a wide range of other cells,” explains Teija Peura, the conducted at the Centenary Institute, one of the issues involves principal scientist at Sydney IVF’s stem cell lab. ensuring the patient’s body takes up the new cells. “The cells we Unsurprisingly, the delicate frameworks for stem cell research, introduce are designed to be selectively advantaged by the in Australia and elsewhere, sit uneasily between science, politics, patient. Gene therapy gives us an opportunity to advantage the ethics and religion. “The most viable source of stem cell lines is incoming stem cells,” he explains. human embryos. Hence, stem cell technology brings with it These University of Sydney researchers work with human controversies around the embryo, the foetus, the right to adult stem cells. Only four organisations in Australia currently life and so forth,” explains Professor Catherine Waldby, an

winter 2007 11 photo: newspix

Professor Peter Gunning from the University of Sydney’s Westmead Clinical School … investigating ways to use modified stem cells to detoxify chemotherapy when used on cancer patients. international research fellow from the University of Sydney’s In cell therapy, an individual’s cells might be used some day Department of Sociology and Social Policy. to heal someone else’s lungs, our separateness collapsing irrev- ocably. While this transgression already happens with organ Therapeutic cloning transplants and blood transfusions, cell therapies stretch the A five-day-old ball of cells may or may not be a person, but it reality further still. is human life, with its innate intent to be and grow. It’s not “Stem cell technologies involve a reorganisation of the extinguished when the stem cells are extracted; it becomes more boundaries and elements of the human body. Bodies become alive than ever, producing sprawling copies of our cells. materially implicated in each other,” says Professor Waldby. “For opponents of therapeutic cloning, the life of the embryo Through an indefinite fusing of bodies, what disappears are the is biographical, the beginning point of a human narrative that safe, certain lines where one body stops and another begins. should be allowed to run its social course. For advocates, the life At the same time, cell therapy involves complex temporal of the embryo is a form of raw biological vitality,” says Professor configurations, disrupting our idea of ourselves as ageing Waldby. Part of the discomfort we might have towards thera- uniformly and chronologically. “Stem cell lines reconfigure peutic cloning is not that something dies, but that something biological time as scientists arrest the development of human lives, and can be repeated infinitely. tissue – by freezing cells – before immobilising and deploying it That colonies of our flesh – identical copies of our DNA – at a later stage,” explains Professor Waldby. “The dream of stem might multiply beyond the boundaries of our bodies questions cell technologies is the dream of a regenerative body,” she says. a fundamental principle governing Western self-consciousness: The contemporary sense of ourselves as separate beings, our uniqueness. following a uniform time trajectory, is not universal. Enchantment with our own uniqueness remains central to Throughout the Middle Ages, the carnivals which dominated the Western imagination of the self. Therapeutic cloning not European popular culture suspended the distance between only shakes that idea; it also confronts our notion of ourselves bodies: revellers drank, ate, sweated, spat, copulated, and defe- as circumscribed individuals both spatially and temporally. cated together, merging individuals into a corporeal mass in

12 sydney alumni magazine Understanding thescience ofstem cells beat to recognise what’s beingshown, andthenitbecomes afive-day-oldphoto of human embryo. It takes a thisviewer Jackson hasobserved. aDreaming ancestor,”semen of theanthropologist Michael tree, white clay mayspecies of andadepositof besaidto bethe a person’s sweat may evoke aparticular thearomatic sapof internal physiology. “Thus, asacred site isawomb, theodourof time coalesce, fusingthebody andtheenvironment inan Warlpiri peopleintheNorthern Territory, person, and country latent connective tissuebetween peopleandtheirworld. For the suspended time. And inmany cultures today, there exists a with thedonor’swith genetic make-up. the innercell massisremoved andusedto create astem cell line across theworld. Instead, theeggcell grows forfive days before born thisway. who looksalmostidenticalto thatdonor. Dollythesheepwas produce thedonor’s with anindividual geneticcoding, aperson implanted inawoman andleft to grow, itcould, theoretically, stimulated insuch away to divide. thatitbegins itwere If then eggwhosenucleus hasbeenremoved.unfertilised Theeggis adonor’sthe DNA of skincell –andinjectitinto awoman’s cloning, ahuman cell scientiststake –forexample, thenucleus of creating stem cell lines. of thesolepurpose with In therapeutic has beenlifted, researchers beableto produce will ‘embryos’ body temperature. mass cell, andallow themto grow inculture dishesincubated at stemScientists extract cells from theball, thecentre theinner of sand. 100cells,hollow of ballof aspecksmallerthangrain from which stem cells are derived islessthanaweek old; it’s a donatedusing spare by IVFembryos couples. Each embryo cloning. and/ortherapeutic ahuman embryo of the destruction stem cell line–where stem cells andduplicate divide –requires stemespecially embryonic cell research. anembryonic Starting andSocialPolicy. Sociology of Department international research fellow from theUniversity Sydney’s of embryos,” explains Associate Professor Catherine Waldby, an not appearto beasflexible oractive astissuederived from and from someadulttissuessuch asbonemarrow, butthesedo thebody. of cell type cangenerate every they thosefrom arealthough embryos considered more malleableas differentiate, replenishing othercells. as arepair system and candivide forthebody becausethey yet have aspecificfunction, andtherefore have to act theability cell inthebody. As undifferentiated, or ‘blank’ cells, donot they Stem organ, cells cells are and thefoundation tissue forevery On hercomputer screen atSydney IVF, DrPeura upa brings Human reproductive cloning, however, continues to beillegal Now cloning banonhuman therapeutic thatthe2002federal In Australia, researchers stem develop cell embryonic lines Widespread controversy exists over stem cell technologies, “Stem cells canbefoundinbloodfrom theumbilical cord, Stem cells are derived from andadulttissues, embryonic transparency,” shesays. minimisationand harm tions, may benefits interms of yield representation forvendors condi- andregulated negotiationof workers’ thoseof and clinicalconditions with rights, organised approach safety, supply that combines to oocyte issuesof consent women infirstworld hospitalsystems. involved oocytes, asthere inretrieving are risks, even for Waldby. Sheisalsoconcerned aboutthemedicalprocedures procure forstem cell oocytes research,” explains Professor national regulation. Thesenetworks have already beenusedto female vendors andwealthy purchasers, beyond theborders of IVFclinicsbrokertransnational poor, salesbetween generally exploitative procurement networks could beusedto obtainthem. oocytes, oreggcells, andsomeresearchers are concerned that oocyte trade. Associate ProfessorCatherineWaldby ...concernsoverglobal essays in appearing University Sydney. of asawriter, Shealsoworks her with Kate Rossmanith isalecturer inPerformance Studies atthe another, ourworld’s of part flesh, thanwe canimagine. development,” thesameatthatstageof exactly DrPeura says. NASA sendfrom space. organismlook foralmostevery “Embryos it’sclear: that aperfectearth. earth It lookslike theimagesof February 2007. February appeared in thisarticle versionearlier of for regularly Sydney University’sshe writes email [email protected] or visit www.usyd.edu.au/alumniemail [email protected] or visit by refreshments. To rsvp, phone+6129036 9278, All alumniare invited to attend thisfree lecture, followed TV series, deliver will apubliclecture onstem cell research. Lord Robert Winston, forthe bestknown In theGreat Hall, University Sydney. of Thursday 12July at1pm Professor Lord Robert Winston Lecture “For poorer women involved trade, oocyte an intheglobal market foroocytes, inaglobal isagrowth “There where cloning,Therapeutic however, requires largenumbers of Grown from tiny earths, one we are already of more apart The Monthly and The Australian The Monthly Human Body Human UniNews – Kate Rossmanith winter 2007 , and . An , 13

photo: Ted Sealy American Constitutional

Fresh from a year in Harvard, Associate Professor Helen Irving reflects on the marked difference in status the Americans afford their constitution compared to the way we see our own. Story by Fran Molloy.

or Associate Professor Helen Irving (PhD ’87, LLB ’01), holding Fthe Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard University for a year was not only a great honour, but also an opportunity to delve deeper into her fascination with constitutional law, in the heart of the world’s largest academic law library. In taking the Harvard chair, she followed in the footsteps of many illus- trious Australians, including Manning Clark, Gough Whitlam (BA ’38, LLB ’46, DLitt ’81), Geoffrey Blainey, and Emeritus Professor Leonie Kramer (MA ’89). Professor Irving returned earlier this year from Harvard to the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Law, where she teaches several constitutional law subjects and is the director of the Julius Stone Institute of Jurisprudence. “I’m really interested in questions about how constitutions acquire legiti- macy as sources of authority in their own right – and how they replace personal, religious or other forms of traditional authority,” she explains. She adds that this is an enormously interesting time to study constitutional law. “Around three quarters of all the world’s constitutions have been written in the last 20 years,” she says. photo: Karl Schwerdtfeger profile: Helen Irving (PhD ’87, LLB ‘01)

Her latest book, Gender and the “The framers of the Australian Constitution, will be released in the US constitution copied a lot from the later this year. American constitution, particularly Her own journey to become an expert with respect to the federal system and in constitutional law has taken the judicial system,” she says. a winding path – but the various quali- Despite those similarities, she says fications that led her to her current that the two constitutions differ widely position could not have been planned in their cultural status and their rela- better, feeding as they do into the heart tionship to national identity. of this specialist branch of law. “We don’t revere our constitution, in Professor Irving holds four degrees. Australia,” she says. “Most Australians Her initial degree, a BA with first class haven’t read the constitution and most Honours in politics at have probably never even seen it.” University, earned her the Dwight Prize She sees the US as a very textual in Political Science. culture, which understands and reveres She followed this with a scholarship the power and authority of the word in year at the University of Lausanne in a way that Australia doesn’t. Switzerland, and then completed a Master One recent news event that has put of Philosophy in Social Anthropology at the spotlight on constitutional law has Cambridge before completing a PhD in been the focus on the controversial case History and an LLB, both at Sydney. of David Hicks, held in Guantanamo Professor Irving taught politics Bay until his 29 May return to Australia for many years and remarks that the and tried as an unlawful combatant by strong intersection between constitu- the US Government. tional law and Australian politics piqued “From the perspective of future her interest in constitutional history. history, it will be impossible to disen- “At the end of the 19th century, the tangle the legal process from the political actual process of framing the Australian climate surrounding the federal constitution was intriguing – how did government and the Bush administra- “I think constitutional the Australian people agree upon what tion,” she says. they would write and accept as the legal She believes that there has been historians will see authority under which the Australian significant damage caused by processing the David Hicks case nation would be created?” people in Guantanamo Bay, specifically Professor Irving was heavily involved to avoid engaging the protections of the as an example of in the republican campaign leading US constitution. the way in which up to the 1999 Australian republic refer- “Both in the US and in Australia we constitutions can endum, and then in the 2001 Centenary have to be very careful about the growth of Federation. She was awarded the of unchecked executive power. be set aside for a Centenary Medal in 2003, for services to “Looking back, I think that constitu- political goal.” the Centenary of Federation. tional historians will see the Hicks case In March this year she delivered on as a worrying example of the growth of campus the inaugural lecture for the executive power and the way in which returning Harvard Chair, taking the constitutions with otherwise admirable opportunity to reflect on the similari- and strong bills of rights can be set aside ties between the US and Australian for a certain political goal,” she explains. constitutions – and the different roles “It’s a sad day for those who believe in they hold within each national culture. the authority of constitutions.”

winter 2007 15 cover story Heaven sent, hell bent Meet the 37-year-old medievalist, Dr David Juste, whose brief but brilliantly energetic career to date has focused on bringing astrology in from the cold. Story by Geordie Williamson. hen JC Eade published his 1984 monograph on “We’re still good friends, I’m glad to say.” astrology in English literature, he called it The Astrology had been an interest of Juste’s ever since his mother WForgotten Sky — an image as elegant as it is apt for introduced him to the subject as a teenager, but it was this the displacement of that ancient system of divination from its undergraduate success which decided him on an academic once-central place in European life. Most of us understand the path. The BA was followed by an MA in the history of science decline in astrology’s standing as being tied to the rise of the at Harvard University, a PhD back in Brussels involving a study modern world, but few appreciate that this new rationalism has and critical edition of the Alchandreana (the oldest collection of often sought to expunge astrology even from its former Latin astrological treatises of Arabic origin), followed by three position, as though it were a blot on science’s escutcheon. years in London as a Frances A Yates Research Fellow at the It is only in recent decades that academic historians have Warburg Institute: “a wonderful place – and one of the most returned to the study of astrology, helped by the broad realisation amenable to my work as an historian of astrology,” he says fondly. that rationality and irrationality, science and pseudo-science, In the course of his research Juste came to a remarkable are not (in Lawrence Stone’s words) “opposite poles but rather conclusion: there existed no catalogue of astrological manu- points on a spectrum, or even interacting and interconnecting systems of thought”. Few feel the error of this long inattention more keenly than Dr David Juste, who is the University of Sydney’s new Sesqui “[Professor] Margaret Clunies Ross Postdoctoral Fellow in the Centre for Medieval Studies. Juste, a wrote the most wonderful reply. Belgian historian of the medieval period, has spent his brief but She was interested in my work, brilliantly energetic career (he’s only 37) attempting to revive interest in astrology, which he regards as perhaps the most and very much wanted to help me consistent, unified and durable body of beliefs and practices in to come to Sydney.” the Western tradition. Body of evidence scripts in Latin, the language through which, from the 10th Juste says that a good way of measuring the importance of century onward, the work of ancient astrologers such as astrology in the Middle Ages is to look at the extant literature: Ptolemy was recovered via Islamic texts (Islam was for centuries 600 to 900 unique astrological texts, preserved in five to ten the repository of much of the ancient world’s scholarship). thousand manuscripts in For Juste, it was as if the 19th century had left no catalogue of Latin. “This is huge,” he published works in the area of natural history. enthuses, “and it consti- Juste decided upon a Herculean course of scholarly labour – tutes a body of material he would write the catalogue himself. To that end he began larger than any other field of accumulating bibliographical data from major research institu- knowledge, with the possible exceptions of tions holding astrological manuscripts. These included the medicine and music.” British Library and the library of the Vatican. In conversation, Juste relates only too well to There was also more isolated material. Small tranches of the difficulties in overcoming astrology’s manuscripts, and important single items, were chased down marginal status. in Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Germany, often “I had to begin writing my BA thesis in under difficult conditions. One friend offered Juste the secret,” he admits, following his supervisor’s sobriquet “ultimus clericus” after he managed to finagle initial refusal to permit work on the topic. a digital version of one of the most significant of all However, the essay was awarded a prize by astrological manuscripts, for years over- the Royal Academy of Belgium in 1998, zealously guarded by functionaries of a and following a passionate defence of the monastery in rural Spain. work at his viva, Juste’s teacher changed But it was in Munich – the fourth his mind. Juste explains great astrological manuscript centre with London, illustrations: Photolibrary that the mentor Rome and Paris – where Juste met his greatest later apologised. challenge. Juste was cataloguing material held in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek when he met the young Australian woman who was to become his wife. When, in mid 2005, the pair decided to return photo: Ted Sealy photo: Ted

Dr David Juste … sees astrology as the black sheep of European thought and culture. to her home town of Sydney, Juste thought there would be no In November 2005 Juste received a three-year fellowship, possible way to go on with his research. and began at the University at the beginning of March 2006. Soon after he married in Brussels, Juste’s new mother-in-law His project, a book-length study on the uses of astrology in sent a clipping from Australia: a University of Sydney adver- various sectors of medieval and early modern society and tisement for ten fellowships. The application date had almost culture, is designed to provide a broad overview of his wider passed but, encouraged by his wife, Juste sent emails to test the bio-bibliographic efforts. But Juste will be pressed to find time to waters. He grins broadly at the response: “Margaret Clunies complete the task in the immediate future. Just before taking up Ross [the University of Sydney’s McCaughey Professor of the Sydney role, his catalogue was accepted for publication in English Language and Early Literature, and director of the multiple volumes by the celebrated Boethius series, published Centre for Medieval Studies] wrote the most wonderful reply. by Steiner Verlag. The books will be the first French-language She was interested in my work, and very much wanted to help texts to be published amongst numerous illustrious German me to come to Sydney.” scholarly tomes.

winter 2007 19 The first volume of his Catalogus Codicum Astrologorum One friend dubbed Juste Latinorum (after the title of the major catalogue of manuscripts in Greek, the Catalogus Codicum Astrologorum Graecorum), the“ultimus clericus” covering the manuscripts held in Munich, will appear this year. after he finagled a digital The second volume, on manuscripts held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France, will be completed in June, hopefully to be version of one of the most published in 2008. Volumes for the Vatican library and the vast significant of all astrological mass of material in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek are both in preparation. “I have to return to Europe several times a year to manuscripts, for years continue with the work,” says Juste, “and I appreciate the flexi- over-zealously guarded by bility that the Sydney fellowship permits me in this respect.” functionaries of a Juste’s 50-year project monastery in Spain.

Juste has fallen in love with Sydney since his arrival, and would like to be able to continue his research here, but is under no illusions about the scale of his task. “It will take 50 years,” he says. But can any scholarly under- instance, was gathered with astrological enquiry in mind. And taking be so important as to merit the work of an entire the very title, mathematicus, refers to someone trained in both academic career? fields. Astrology cannot be extricated from the history of science “This one is,” he insists. “Astrology is not only a discrete field: before the 1700s. It is the black sheep of European thought and it flows everywhere. All our early astronomical information, for culture. The catalogue is a way of bringing it back to the fold.” Suspiciendo despicio

Historianslo res of image science cannot understand astrology if they begin with a mistrust of its principles.

When the 16th-century Danish nobleman Tycho Brahe used the phrase suspiciendo despicio (by looking up I see downward) to explain his astrological enquiries, he was reaffirming belief in an ancient discipline, one that has flour- ished in the most diverse cultural and political environments for over two millennia. Yet these continuities of doctrine and practice do not mean that astrology has remained static. The challenge for historians has been to identify distinct stages in what might seem an uninterrupted development. The modern tradition of research into astrology began in the Renaissance, when a number of remarkable scholars, including Kepler and Pico della Mirandola, investigated its early history. But in the late 17th and 18th centuries astrology lost legitimacy with many thinkers. Figures such as Gibbon and Winckelmann turned away from the cultures of the Hellenistic world and the later Roman empire – the very periods in which astrology most visibly flourished – and rejected astrology as pure superstition, inimical to Renaissance values of empiricism and individualism. It was not until the 20th century, and the recuperative research of Hamburg art historian Aby Warburg, that astrology again became the object of academic enquiry. The modern astrological revival saw historians and philologists begin a proper examination of the sources for the history of astrology from antiquity onwards. They produced catalogues of manuscripts, critical editions of individual texts, and large-scale surveys of astrological literature. In the second half of the 20th century, historians of astrology built on this philological tradition. Scholars investigated the intellectual, religious and political careers of astrologers in Renaissance Europe. They also showed how the practice of astrology could serve as a shaping force in politics and statecraft. Others recreated the practices of astrologers in medieval Europe, using contemporary astrological casebooks to understand how practitioners advised their clientele. Astrology emerges from their research as a rational way of treating seemingly inexplicable and intractable concerns. These scholars range broadly over different time-periods, drawing upon a huge cast of individuals and bringing to bear a panoply of historical approaches. All share a sense, however, that historians of science cannot understand astrology if they begin with a mistrust of its principles and practitioners. Rather, they seek to understand the factors photo: Photolibrary that made astrology seem a rigorous and credible form of knowledge for so many, for such a long time. Astrologist and astronomer Tycho Brahe … ‘by looking up I see downward’. – Geordie Williamson

winter 2007 21 sport

100 years of hockey

The lack of a home field hasn’t stopped the University Hockey Club being at the forefront of the sport since 1907. Graham Croker reports.

hen the Sydney University marked with unparalleled enthusiasm,” The club’s president, Brian Gunner, Men’s Hockey Club was formed the University’s Hermes magazine says the problem persists to this day. Win 1907, its biggest problem reported in 1908. “Last year there were “We’ve never had a ground to call home,” was finding a playing field to call home. barely enough members to run one Mr Gunner says. “There are no such When the Women’s Hockey Club was eleven; while this season the membership things as home and away games – all formed the following year it suffered roll shows that four or five teams could of our games are played away.” the same challenge, but was blessed be put into the field. The difficulty The problem was compounded when with the formidable leadership of a which faces the NSW Hockey Association the men’s and women’s clubs amalga- then budding suffragette, Jessie Street. is that of obtaining the necessary mated in 2003. The new entity became So began a 100-year quest. grounds for the matches on Saturday, one of the biggest sporting clubs on “The inception of this game into the and so the number of teams each club campus, featuring seven men’s teams, circles of University sport has been can put into the field has to be restricted.” six women’s teams, two men’s veterans photo: Newspix

Hockeyroos Wendy Alcorn and Megan Rivers ... representing Australia on the field. (over 40) teams, one women’s veterans University Sports Union, but their team and six junior teams. The club also applications for membership were Centenary dinner fields indoor hockey teams in summer. assisted when the touring men’s team The Hockey Club will be holding “We’ve had a 100-year battle to get a was awarded honorary membership a centenary dinner in the Great ground to call our own,” Mr Gunner of the Melbourne University Students Hall on 4 August at which blues, says. “With the introduction of voluntary Union. The clubs became affiliated with former players, captains and student unionism and the resultant loss the sports union and the newly formed office-bearers will be present. The of funds and the cost of installing and NSW Hockey Association in 1910. club is working with past players maintaining synthetic pitches, I’m That year Melbourne University players to document and publish its history. worried about the future of the hockey travelled to Sydney and the annual One of the main problems is that club. We’re a foundation club in the intervarsity hockey competition was records are not centralised and Sydney men’s and women’s competitions instituted. University joined often the references to hockey are but it mightn’t last another 100 years the following year, when Sydney not catalogued. unless we can get a base. At present we University Women’s Club was victorious The club would be delighted to train late at night on pitches at Homebush at its first intervarsity competition, hear from any past or present played in Melbourne. members who can help with this The start of the intervarsity competition task. The club is also interested coincided with the award of the first in re-establishing ties “There are no hockey blue. G.C. Willcocks, who was with all past members such things as awarded blues from 1909 to 1913, was and in building a com- also a member of the Sydney University prehensive database for a regular newsletter. home and away Cricket Club’s first XI. The men’s hockey For more infor- club’s first representative players were games – all of mation about the A.L. Butler, A.S. Lloyd and L.C. Terrey, our games are centenary cele- who played for NSW against Victoria in brations, email 1909. Terrey also bowled for the cricket played away.” centenary@suhc. club first XI that year. asn.au Meanwhile, the women’s club was busy campaigning for a ground. The sports McKinney played for NSW from and Kyeemagh. The women’s teams union, which controlled sporting facilities 1931 to 1939 and captained the state mostly play at Homebush, while the on campus at the time, refused to rent from 1936. She played for Australia men play wherever we can find a ground.” its oval to the “Newtown tarts”, as they from 1936 and was captain of the “Have sticks, will travel” could have were termed, but hadn’t reckoned on Australian touring team that was called been an early motto for the men’s club, Street, a first-year arts student residing home at the outbreak of World War II. which competed against Corinthians, in Women’s College, who captained the Another illustrious member was Sydneians, Bandits and Fleet in the team in its inaugural year. Although later Mollie Dive, an all-round sportswoman 1908 competition. The competition was recognised nationally and internationally who won blues in hockey and cricket. arranged in two rounds, similar to the for her activism in women’s rights, social She played both sports at state level and present structure. justice, equality of status for women, was captain of the Australian women’s Two years after the club was founded, equal pay and the election of women to cricket team that won the Ashes for the players were on a train bound for parliament, Street’s first campaign was first time in 1948–49. Melbourne on their first intervarsity for a playing field and facilities for In recent times, the women’s team foray. As the May 1909 edition of sportswomen at the University. It was a Hermes announced: “An invitation was campaign she continued for 50 years, have dominated the annual Australian received from the Melbourne during which time the Square, the University Championships and have University to send a team over some choicest real estate on the campus, was produced a host of representatives at time during the season, which was developed for women. the state level and a number at the accepted after due consideration by Having won the intervarsity competi- national level. They include the the committee. It is probable that the tion at their first attempt in 1910 and Hockeyroos Leanne Tooth and Megan visit will take place during the June provided two NSW representatives – Rivers, Jenny Gosper, who was in the vacation and a match en route against L and N Meares in 1911 – the women’s Australian Junior World Cup team in Wagga Wagga or Wangaratta may club has fielded some outstanding 2003, Georgina Brown (Australian be arranged.” teams and individuals over the years, indoor hockey squad 2005–06) and Until then the hockey clubs had not including an Australian captain in Brielle Baxter (Australian under-21 been affiliated with the Sydney Isabel Harrison, nee McKinney. indoor squad 2004–06).

winter 2007 23 alumni updates Spring back to Sydney 2007

Graduates from the years 1937, 1947, 1957, 1967, 1977, 1987 and 1997 will gather at the University of Sydney this October to share memories of their University days and to celebrate the anniversary of their graduation. We asked alumni Dr Al McKay, Deborah Edward and Darren Spies to tell us about their defining moments on campus.

Potential recognised, time, studying part time at night while ‘pass’. I would have been thrilled to and realised working full time. It was a struggle. finish with a BA. Deborah Edward (BA ’87) More to the point, my grades weren’t Just the idea that one of my teachers wonderful. And the American history saw a potential I hoped was there but defining moment for me was course just eluded me. This was baffling, thought buried and beyond retrieval when Ms Barbara Dale, then a disappointing and frustrating. I’d was fantastic. Atutor in American history, always done well in history at high I did my best to improve my marks told me she was surprised I wasn’t school. It was a favourite subject. I was and lobbied each of my lecturers and doing Honours. probably into my third year in history tutors to impress on them that Barbara This was a shock. I’d enrolled as a by the time I heard this from Barbara, was right. (I’m not sure that was useful. mature-age student and was, at that but my results since enrolling had been Perhaps I impressed everyone with my enthusiasm.) The next year I enrolled in the History Department’s Honours stream. Later, I gave up full-time work to concentrate on studying. In 1986 I graduated with second class Honours. In 1998 I received my PhD. If Barbara ever reads this, I’d like to say thank you. But American history still baffles me.

Who can forget the eye-opening ’50s? Dr Al McKay (MBBS ’57)

started in Medicine in 1951, fresh out of school at the age of 17, along Iwith about 400 other students. Some of these students were ex- service men and women, some were refugees from Europe, some were photo: Ted Sealy photo: Ted Colombo Plan students and some were graduates of other faculties and univer- Deborah Edward … ‘the idea that one of my teachers saw a potential I thought buried was fantastic’. sities trying to start a new career. All of

24 sydney alumni magazine us were the products of strange times, as ordained, a man casually sauntered the Great Depression and the Second from the Registrar’s office to the centre World War, and all had been affected of the arena, clutching those dreaded by the magnitude of these awesome lists. He obviously had done this before events either as participants, refugees and was aware that 160 pairs of eyes or as children of the era. were focussed on him. University was like something else to With absolute precision, he thumb- me. I was the son of an orchardist who tacked the three A4 pages on the board later became a civil servant, and I was and stepped back. I, and all of my the first member of my family to go colleagues, some drunkenly, surged to university. Like most of my young forward. I remember looking rather colleagues, I came from a single-sex unseeingly at the lists. I said aloud school to be confronted, not only with quizzically, “My name?” A voice from girls, and very pretty ones at that, but behind said, “Yours is there, but mine men and women who only a short time is not”. Yes, that was definitely a before were soldiers. defining moment. The first and second years at university Recently I researched what became were the most socially enlightening of of my fellow students. Approximately my life. Obviously they must have been 400 students commenced in Med 1 in as I got to know one of those very March 1951, and 150 of them finally Sealy photo: Ted pretty girls in Arts 1, which was then graduated in 1956. Of these, only 60 known as Marriage One. I am still students completed the course in the Darren Spies … redistributing campus greenery. married to her all these years later. minimum six years. I remember Commemoration Day I remember that one year of my uni 1951 because I was part of a prank days was so wet that the joke doing the which landed me in the arms of the Six guys, a VW and a rounds at the time was: "Question. law. That event must have been a palm tree in a pot What comes after two rainy days in defining moment because ever since Darren Spies (BSc ’87) Sydney? Answer. Monday!” then I have avoided similar contact One day during this time there was with the police. ne balmy evening in 1983, several the biggest storm I have ever seen. For After our annual examinations we of us newly acquainted friends hours upon hours it teemed, there was had to wait one month or so for the Owho had met at an all-boys sheet lightning across the skies and results. The results were not sent to us residential college (Finishing School visibility was a couple of hundred directly, but were advertised in the for Blokes), decided that our 1950s metres. There was water everywhere, Sydney Morning Herald. Of course we residential block lacked ambience and and on the hockey field adjacent to the could not wait for the morning’s news- we decided some greenery was in order. Physics Building the water was so deep paper so many of us would trek to the We had noticed that the University that it was up to our waist. Sydney Morning Herald office (then at had put in some lovely new large pots A game of touch football was duly the corner of Pitt and O’Connell around campus so off we went to borrow organised. I have a surreal memory of Streets) to see the galley proofs the night them for a short while. Our means of lightning cracking overhead as we before. These lists were not available transport was a 1960s VW bug, and six tried to make our way across what is until sometime before midnight, so likely lads were needed to hoist these normally a very dry pitch which was most of us had supped at salubrious things into the car. now buried under over one metre of diners such as Harry’s Café de Wheels The funniest thing was trying to water. We then went up to St Paul’s or the local pub, and were in a poor drive through the campus with the Oval, where a guy was sailboarding state. We would cluster around a board front bonnet up and a four metre palm across the oval. straining to see if we had made the list. sitting in the trunk, with four guys This was indeed a defining moment; it inside and another two guys on the Join your alumni colleagues was also relieving, or devastating. rear bumper bar. The ultimate defining moment was We had to drive straight past three at your ‘07 Spring Back in December 1956. The setting was the security men in one of those grey to Sydney Reunion on University Quadrangle. Final examina- boxes; they were having some tea, so 27 October 2007. Visit tion results were posted on a simple we all just waved on our way past. The wooden board at the intersection of palm stayed for several months before www.usyd.edu.au/spring_back the paths in the middle of the Quad. guilt took over and it was returned to or call +61 2 9036 9222 On Friday afternoon, precisely at 4pm its rightful place.

winter 2007 25 alumni updates

Baroness Gardner: Honorary Fellow

The first Australian woman in the UK’s House of Lords, Baroness Rachel Trixie Anne Gardner (BDS ’54) AM, was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney on 4 April 2007. Baroness Gardner, who is deputy president and a founding member of the University’s UK Alumni Association, received the award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to health services. Speaking to graduates at the award ceremony, Baroness Gardner noted that when her mother, Rachel McGirr (BA ’12), graduated she was one of just over 100 women at the University at that time. The Baroness said she ended up doing dentistry at the University of Sydney because she was one of eight children, and by the time she reached university everyone before her had done everything else. Baroness Gardner said “keep going” photo: newspix is the motto she lives by. “I say to every one of you, whether times are good or Baroness Rachel Trixie Anne Gardner (BDS ’54) … “keep going, and you’ll get there bad. Keep going and you’ll get there in in the end.” the end.” Honorary degrees were also Joseph Gumbula received an hon- Tycho also received an honorary Doctor conferred on 4 April on the musician, orary Doctor of Music for his work in of Music, recognising his eminent and scholar and Yolngu elder, Joseph understanding and preserving Yolngu influential career in music for over 60 Neparrnga Gumbula, and on musician culture, particularly Yolngu dances, years as a composer, musical director and Tommy Tycho. songs and traditional law. Tommy conductor at a national level. Alumni Council strategy The Alumni Council held its 2007 strategic planning workshop in March, and as a result, established a new alumni communications model to further develop links with alumni associations and the University community. The council agreed to a range of 2007 alumni program priorities, to further re-connect alumni to the University. Visit www.usyd.edu.au/alumni for further information or call the ARO on +61 2 9036 9222.

Hong Kong action A revitalised Hong Kong Alumni

Association plans a number of exciting photo: Patrick Neu events and activities for 2007. Visit the association’s new website at 2006 Convocation Medal holder Fiona Roughley with Alumni Council member Adam Spencer … the 2007 Alumni Awards will be presented on 28 September at the www.usyd.edu.au/hkalumni and meet University of Sydney. Visit www.usyd.edu.au/alumni_awards for further information. the committee members. For further information, contact the association’s acting president Kenneth Cheung two events per year, aimed at developing (MAppSc ’05, MHlthScEd ’05), at (BCom ’98, MCom ’00) at relevant and broad-based alumni [email protected]. [email protected]. engagement programs for the University’s 3,000 alumni living in Thank you for election Vice-Chancellor addresses Victoria. For further information contact feedback Victorian alumni Anna Schubert on +61 2 9036 9644 or Over 50 alumni responded to the The University of Sydney Vice- email [email protected] notice in the previous edition of the Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown Sydney Alumni Magazine, and other welcomed over 120 graduates at an Singapore seeks alumni communications, calling for alumni reception in Melbourne on committee members suggestions regarding characteristics 23 March. The Victorian Alumni The recently established Singapore that the Chancellor should possess, and Association annual general meeting Alumni Association executive committee potential candidates for election. The took place before the reception, and intends to organise a range of engaging Alumni Council was pleased to receive members agreed that the Victorian social and networking activities. If you these submissions, and forwarded them Alumni Association will operate as an are interested in joining the committee, to the advisory committee on the informal network. Members of the new contact the Singapore Alumni Association Chancellor’s selection panel. Thank alumni executive committee will hold executive committee chair, Elaine Wong you. Your input was highly valued. grapevine Class notes across the decades

Shields (her greatest claim for her individual and corporate banking with the 2000s to movie fame!). Elizabeth systemic advocacy on Commonwealth Bank after later married, had four behalf of, and alongside, spending more than nine Susan Keyes-Pearce children with her husband indigenous people and their years with the National (PhDEcon ’06) was the first Terry, and taught at pre- human rights. Australia Bank. He says person to completed a PhD school for 17 years. She the new post is close to in the discipline of infor- lives with the family in home and allows a better mation systems in the Coffs Harbour. 1990s work/life balance. Faculty of Economics and Business. Her thesis, IT David Roache-Turner Melissa Gee (nee Glover) Value Management in (BEcon ’98, LLB ’00) is (BA Hons '93, DipEd '94) Leading Firms: The Fit My greatest working in Geneva at the is living in Hong Kong with Between Theory and claim to movie World Intellectual Property her husband, Glen, and Organisation’s (WIPO) Practice, won the Australian fame is scoring their two children. Melissa Professors and Heads of arbitration and mediation travelled extensively after Information Systems award a role as an centre. He is on leave from she completed her degrees, for the best PhD in the field extra in the Department of and then worked at Gilroy in 2006. Sahara, starring Communications, College in Castle Hill for Information Technology Brooke Shields. three years and Meriden Richard Looi (MPM '05) and the Arts (DCITA) – Elizabeth O’Sullivan School in Strathfield for works as a manager in where he worked in copy- six years in the modern IT for the Australian gov- right policy. languages department. ernment. In collaboration She looks forward to Tanzil Rahman with his brother Jeffrey returning to teaching Emily Dunn (BLibStud ’03) (AssDipJazzStud '98, Looi (MBBS ’92) he is in NSW in the future. writing up project manage- was a journalist for the BEc '03, LLB '05) is ment research arising from Sydney Morning Herald arts completing a DPhil in his degree. and entertainment section economic geography at the in 2006. University of Oxford. For Tegan Brink (BA ’01, the past two years he has For the past two LLB ’03) is on posting in Will Davies (BCom ’01) held the post of musical years I’ve held the has established a mortgage Geneva with the Depart- director of the Oxford post of musical ment of Foreign Affairs brokerage service at University Big Band director of the and Trade. She represents www.scoplending.com.au (OUBB) and in April this Australia in negotiations for clients in Sydney. His year he led the band on a Oxford University on intellectual property, business colleagues include tour in India. Big Band. trade and development, Austin Curtin (BEcon – Tanzil Rahman and technical barriers ’02), Alycia Inglis (BCom Bethany Evans (BA '96, to trade. ’02) and Georgie Fairlie- MA '00) has launched a Cuninghame (BEx& proofreading and editing Kate Moore (BAgrEcon ’96) Elizabeth O’Sullivan SportSc ’02). Will runs business (http://members. (CertEdStud ’04) graduat- monthly workshops to help optusnet.com.au/~bethany. worked in marketing and ed from the Sydney first home buyers. evans) after spending communication roles in Kindergarten Teachers 11 years raising three Sydney and Boston after College at Waverley in 1979. Kari Kristiansen (LLM ’00) children. completing her degree. She taught for two years at received a High She has two children and Tumut then travelled Commendation from the Tony Luo (BCom ’97) is the founder of through Europe, and Human Rights and Equal reports that his daughter, www.careermums.com.au, worked on a kibbutz. She Opportunities Commission Sophia, started at kinder- an online job classifieds scored a role as an extra in (HREOC) in 2006. Her garten this year, and he service connecting skilled Sahara starring Brooke commendation was awarded commenced a career in women to flexible jobs.

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Meg Jones Ady (BN ’93) was immersed in directing and writing a self-esteem Caroline Wenborne (BMus ’02, Dip Operatic Art ’05] presentation for teens in North America before taking a month off and Vienna calling discovering how much she enjoyed spending time with Just two years after graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, her 18-month-old daughter. Caroline Wenborne (BMus ’02, Dip Operatic Art ’05) has landed a principal She resigned her job and position at the Vienna State Opera (VSO), considered by many to be the says being a mother is the world’s leading opera house. most challenging, rewarding, Caroline was in Europe earlier this year on an Opera Foundation Australia difficult, amazing and signif- Scholarship when she received a phone call from the Vienna State Opera asking icant job she’s ever done. if she could learn the role of Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore in two days’ time. “I grabbed my things quickly and went straight into the theatre and Jeffrey Looi (MBBS ’92) looked at the music for the first time at 11.30am,” she said. has been appointed associ- After a 48-hour marathon of learning and memorising, her debut on ate professor and deputy the VSO stage was met with bravos and requests for autographs. head of the academic unit “The performance was great, I felt very calm and focused and very of psychological medicine comfortable on stage. The cast were wonderful and very supportive and at the Australian National it was so much fun,” she said. University Medical School. “The director of the Vienna State Opera, Ioan Holender, came to thank He has recently returned me and congratulate me.” He also told her: “We might keep you, you have from a stint at the a great voice.” Karolinska University She has now received a contract to join the VSO as a principal for the next Hospital in Stockholm, season – a extraordinary feat unmatched by any other Australian according to Sweden, where he estab- Maree Ryan, Caroline’s voice teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. lished a collaborative Caroline, who speaks Spanish, German and Italian, “has a big voice with a research program on brain beautiful upper register and the ability to float the tone,” Ryan said. neuroimaging. Jeffrey was a Caroline’s development at the Conservatorium “was outstanding”, enthuses recipient of a leadership Ryan. “She commenced her studies in the Bachelor of Music graduating with award from the Australian a high distinction and a standing ovation led by the Dean, Professor Davos Connection Future Sharman Pretty.” Summit 2006. She went on to complete a Diploma of Opera, starring in leading roles as the Countess in the Suzanne Leal (BA ’90, Marriage of Figaro and as Fiordigili in Cosi Fan LLB ’92) had her novel Tutte. “My experiences and the world class Border Street published by training that I received at the Sydney Scribe in 2006. It is a story Conservatorium of Music are fundamental about life in beachside to all of my successes,” said Caroline Sydney, in Nazi-occupied from Vienna. Prague and on Border “I have never felt that I lacked the training Street, in a house a little too or skills required to meet the demands of close to the landlords. the profession thanks to my years of training at the Sydney Conservatorium Gerda Tolhurst of Music.” (DipHlthSc ’91, MHlthScEd ’93, PhD Caroline Wenborne made her debut Nursing Education ’06) as Giannetta in Donizetti’s L’Elisir has recently completed 16 d’Amore on 21 February 2007.

years in nursing education photo:

winter 2007 29 grapevine

to work again in the clinical Namibia’s Faculty of Agri- Phyllis McLaughlin (née Sonata Companion with area. During her career culture and Natural White) (BScAgr ’74) has Wensleydale Press. Gerda has been instrumen- Resources (1995–2003) and worked for the past four tal in many changes to the then founding director of years at Tudor House Elizabeth Deutscher practice of clinical educa- the Sam Nujoma Marine Preparatory School in Moss (neé Fitzpatrick) (BSc tion of nurses. and Coastal Resources Vale. She graduated with ’66) worked as an audio- Research Centre, also in her MEd in 2004 and lives logist for the Common- Namibia. in the Southern Highlands wealth Acoustic Laboratory 1980s of NSW with her husband upon graduation. She later David Hush (BA ’80, Bruce and four children. moved to the Central Coast Virginia Walker (DipCrim BMus ’80) has released a and studied for a Diploma ’85) won the 2006 Human new CD, Nesia, published Cecilia White (BA ’78, in Education from the Rights and Equal Employ- by LMA Recordings. The DipEd ’79, MEd ’96) is University of New England, ment Commission commu- CD comprises nine compo- working in education at the then taught secondary nity award (individual) for sitions for stringed instru- University of Oxford. She is school mathematics. co-founding the Bridge for ments and is available concurrently completing She has four children by Asylum Seekers Foundation online at www.leopold- her psychology Honours her first marriage, and (BASF). Virginia co-found- mozartacademy.com. thesis on the subject of recently re-married. She ed BASF in 2003 by rustling human curiosity. is now retired. together a group of friends when she realised those 1970s Stephen Kendal (BA ’71) Jean Crawford (BScAgr released from Villawood has gained a Master of ’64, DipEd ’65) taught for Detention Centre were cut Administrative Studies and many years in the ACT Jennifer Donovan adrift with no rights or a Diploma of Public Policy education system, and was (MBBS ’76, MMedHum ’06) access to Medicare services. from the Australian involved in curriculum says her graduation with a Since then, Virginia has National University, and a innovation and develop- Master of Medical built up a network of Doctor of Public ment. She retired with her Humanities in 2006 was a friends and supporters who Administration from the husband, George Hegarty, fitting tribute to mark 30 have raised and allocated University of Canberra. to a farm at Pappinbarra years since she first gradu- more than $500,000 to He has spent over 30 years near Wauchope in NSW, ated in medicine in 1976. provide a basic living allow- in the Australian public and is writing a book on ance to families in Australia sector and two years as a the Crawford family history Bruce McLaughlin on bridging visas. See private consultant, based to be launched at a gathering (BScAgr ’74) worked in www.asylumseekersfounda- in Canberra. at the family property property development until tion.com Brownmuir at Congewai 2003, when he moved to in October 2007. the Southern Highlands Antonia Field (BA ’81) to teach science at a local 1960s has started a business sell- Margaret Bradstock high school. ing Etruscan reproduction Dennis Buckley (BSc ’67, (BA ’63, DipEd ’64) has jewellery in sterling silver MSc ’68, PhDSc ’71) has authored and edited 14 Alexi Marmot (neé and gold. She says she is retired as director of staff books of poetry, fiction and Ferster) (BArch ’71) fascinated by the history of was and student services of the biography. Her most recent the Etruscan people in Italy. recently appointed professor University of London but poetry collection is Coast of facility and environment remains with the university (Ginninderra Press, 2005) Osmund Mwandemele management at the Bartlett as chairman of its superan- and she recently edited Ada (PhDAgr ’83) has been Graduate School, University nuation scheme. Cambridge’s Thirty Years in appointed pro-vice-chancellor College London. She con- Australia (Sydney for academic affairs and tinues as director of AMA Gerard Carter (BEcon University Press, 2006). research at the University of Alexi Marmot Associates, a ’66, LLB ’71) has recently Margaret has won several Namibia. He was founding niche firm specialising in published Rediscovering the national awards for poetry, dean of the University of evidence-based design. Liszt Tradition and Liszt and was the recipient of an

30 sydney alumni magazine grapevine

Asialink literature residency in China for 2003. She is currently co-editor of Five Brian Sheridan (MBBS ’61] Bells and an honorary visiting fellow of the University of NSW. St Vincent’s celebrates

John Woodrow (BA ’62) A partnership between St Vincent’s Hospital and the University was an officer of the of Sydney that spanned nearly 50 years helped forge some Commonwealth Public remarkable achievements. Service Board from 1962 to 1979, and attained the rank As St Vincent’s celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, it will remember of assistant commissioner. 1923, when St Vincent’s was appointed a teaching hospital for the University. From 1980 to 1987 he was “Becoming a fully fledged teaching hospital gives you a lot of status – it first assistant secretary in was a major step,” says Dr Brian Sheridan (MBBS ’61), chairman of the the Department of sesquicentenary steering committee and retired head of Head and Neck Employment and Industrial surgery at St Vincent’s. Relations. From 1987 to “In my day, if you wanted to do surgery, St Vincent’s was the place to go. 1988 John advised the ACT St Vincent’s remains a strong surgical hospital as is shown by the develop- administration on the ments over the last 25 years, with the heart and lung transplant unit and all establishment of labour the major advances,” Dr Sheridan says. relations arrangements. The hospital is renowned for performing Australia’s first heart transplant From 1989 to 1996 he was in 1968 by Dr Harry Windsor, and for performing NSW’s first bone marrow the executive director of transplant in 1975. labour relations for the When Dr Sheridan first trained at St Vincent’s in 1957, there were four ACT government. He student groups, with eight in each group. represented the ACT “The composition was that you had to have one Asian and one female government in national student, so there was an even spread across all groups! It was an intimate wage cases before the hospital, very friendly and supportive.” Commonwealth Industrial During this time, the new Clinical School Building Relations Commission. He and Medical Students’ Residence was established retired in 1996. and opened in 1964 by the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. David Lo (MBBS ’60) has “This was a major advance because we published an account of had a lecture room, a common room, as clinical medicine in the well as a pathology museum, tutorial rooms, from a library and offices for clinical staff,” says 1965 to 1985. His book, Dr Sheridan. The Long Road to Territory In 1968, the partnership was transferred Health, is available through to the University of NSW, which lacked a Charles Darwin University major teaching hospital. This allowed the Press. More information at hospital to gain a substantial share of www.cdu.edu.au/cdupress. $23 million of government funding. From 1923 to 1969 around 1000 students from the University of Sydney completed their training at St Vincent’s 1950s and the relationship continues for clinical Geoffrey L R Davis placements in areas including social (MBBS ’58) retired in work and nursing. 1988, grows begonias and hippeastrums, and catches — Marie Jacobs

winter 2007 31 grapevine

black bream in Sydney I grow begonias Neville Stephenson (BSc Public Health and Tropical Harbour and eats them. He and hippeastrums, ’50, MSc ’51) was awarded Medicine at the University collects gramophone a Canadian scholarship of Sydney, where she stayed records and 78s. He says he catch black bream from 1952 to ’54, and then until her retirement in 1983. still lives in the house built in Sydney Harbour, enjoyed a research and Since then she has researched for him by John Young, and collect gramo- teaching career at the her Irish grandmother’s who also built the old phone records. University of NSW between family, publishing A Family medical school at the 1954 and 1974. During this on the Shannon in 1994. – Geoffrey L R Davis University of Sydney and time he was awarded a PhD Her elder sisters are Marie who put the marble floor and a DSc. He joined the Berry (BA ’39) and Joan in the Great Hall. WA. On completion of his NSW Institute of Levick (BA ’38). Joan was engineering degree, Phill Technology in 1974 as head awarded a posthumous AM Stephen Smyth (BA ’55) worked in the coal mining of the School of Chemical in 2001; a former language reports that his family has industry in the Hunter and Earth Sciences, and was mistress, Joan became now gained nine bachelor Valley for five years. He appointed dean of Science, known as the writer Amy degrees, three master’s then studied petroleum 1975 to 1988. Neville has Witting, one of a number of (one of which is from the engineering in France and been an emeritus professor Australian women writers University of Sydney) three the US, worked in the oil at the University of with a street named after diplomas and two industry in Oklahoma for Technology, Sydney, since her in (Miles) Franklin, a Australian honours. His three years, and then 1989 and an honorary new suburb of Canberra. wife Eris was listed on switched to pure mathe- professional fellow at the ’s Honour Roll matics. He gained a PhD University of I’m now 91, and still of Women in 2006. from the University of since 2002. He was awarded teaching philosophy Washington in 1968 and a NSW Premier’s Senior to children. Achievement Award in 2002 Phill Schultz (BE ’55) returned to Australia in – Margaret Mackie has received the 2007 1970. He rose through the and an OAM in the 2007 Chancellor’s Medal of the ranks at UWA until his Australia Day Honours. He Ruth Roberts (BSc ’47, University of Western retirement in 2000. Since says he is probably best-known DipEd ’48) after gradua- Australia (UWA) for services then, he has continued to as the technical panellist on tion taught science mostly to mathematics and to ABC TV’s The Inventors. teach and research on an in girls’ high schools in mathematics education in honorary basis. NSW, later becoming an Harry Hiller (BDS ’53) inspector of schools in has retired after 54 years secondary science and working. He was 20 years agriculture – after 33 years’ old when he graduated, SHARE YOUR NEWS service. In 1966 and ’67 then worked in England, Ruth studied on a Fulbright University of Sydney alumni are invited to share their Australia and Israel. He says Scholarship at Oregon State news in this section of the Sydney Alumni Magazine. he’s still young and well University and was awarded enough to enjoy sport, travel, a Master of Science. Ruth We’re interested in hearing about your career, academic and other hobbies. says she remains grateful achievements, community involvement, or other events. for the education she Please send details via email received at the University or post to the Sydney Alumni 1940s of Sydney, and has many Magazine editor. Full contact good memories. details are listed on page 1. Shirley McGlynn (neé Fraser) (BA ’48) married You can also update your the late John McGlynn details and search for classmates 1930s (BSc ’35), and was a librarian online by registering with your at the Department of Customs Margaret Mackie (BA ’37, Alumni Web Community at between 1951 and 1973. In DipEd ’40) reports that she www.usyd.edu.au/alumni 1974 she became chief is now 91, and still teaches librarian at the School of philosophy to children.

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16 June 2007 Throughout 2007 Pharmacy Ball Unearthed Tales 2: At the Sydney Convention Centre, A Fascination with Death 15 June 2007 Darling Harbour. Contact: Nicholson Museum Senior Collegians Lunch Margarethe Trimble on Unearthed Tales 2 continues the For alumni who lived at the +61 2 9351 2668 or email Nicholson Museum's fascination Wesley College before 1960. [email protected] with the curious and the bizarre. Lunch starts at 12 noon. To RSVP, email 18 June–27 July 2007 [email protected] Dreaming Spires and Ivory Towers Sydney University Museums or phone +61 2 9565 3299. University Art Gallery comprises the Macleay Museum This exhibition showcases a (natural and cultural history), 15–17 June 2007 selection of works depicting the the Nicholson Museum 1967 Medical Reunion variety of architectural styles at the (archaeology) and the University At the Cypress Lakes Resort Hunter University of Sydney, from early views Art Gallery (visual arts). Valley. Contact: Margaret Blackwell of the Quadrangle by Conrad Martens Museums are open Monday to on +61 2 9983 9330 or email through to commissioned photographs Friday from 10am to 4.30pm, and [email protected] by David Moore. on Sunday from noon to 4pm; admission is free. More details at www.usyd.edu.au/museums

Rational Order, Macleay Museum photo: Michael Myers

27 June 2007 Faculty of Medicine Public Lecture From 5.30pm at the Eastern Avenue Lecture Theatre, University of Sydney. First speaker is Associate Professor Peter Collignon from Canberra Hospital (Antibiotics: the epitome of a wonder drug), followed by Professor Lyn Gilbert from Westmead Hospital (Germ theory: invisible killers revealed). Register at www.health.usyd.edu.au or phone +61 2 9036 5487.

1 July 2007 Curator’s Choice University Art Gallery Join University Art Gallery curatorial staff Louise Tegart and Katie Yuill at 1pm as they discuss their favourite works in the University’s art collection. What works will they choose as personal From Dreaming Spires ... University Art Gallery. favourites? Admission is free.

winter 2007 33 diary

25 July 2007 Faculty of Medicine Public Lecture At the Eastern Avenue Lecture Until October 2007 Until 20 July 2007 Theatre, University of Sydney. First Carl von Linné 1707–1778 Jenny Pollak, Untitled speaker is Professor Simon Chapman Macleay Museum Macleay Museum from the University of Sydney Carl von Linné (or Linnaeus) devised Jenny Pollak is an artist who works (Smoking and health: halting the a simple two-part Latin naming in a variety of media including global 'brown plague'), followed by system placing all known plants and photography and sculpture. Jenny’s Associate Professor Alex Barratt, animals into a rational order. This installation is a response to the also from the University of Sydney exhibition celebrates Linnaeus’ Macleay Museum’s Rational Order: (Evidence based medicine: doctors' legacy and investigates his world Carl von Linné (1707–1778) exhibition. and patients' sharpest tool). Register through the spectacular diversity at www.health.usyd.edu.au or phone in the kingdom animalia. +61 2 9036 5487. 21 July 2007 Picnic Day at the Farm Chinese Studies Alumni Association 28 July 2007 At Fern Valley Ranch in Somersby. Women’s College Alumnae AGM To RSVP, email Jocelyn Chey at For further information, contact Eliza photo: Michael Myers [email protected] before Newton on +61 2 9517 5008 or email 6 July. [email protected]

21 July 2007 30 July 2007 30 June 2007 Alumni Dinner in Southern Jazz in the Café Festschrift: Professor John Uther, Highlands, NSW Sydney Conservatorium of Music Westmead Hospital Join this special alumni reunion in Craig Scott Ensemble, from 7.30pm. Contact Georgette Hanna on Bowral with guest speaker Miles Little. Drinks and food available at the café. +61 2 9845 7983 or email To RSVP, email [email protected] or More information at [email protected] phone +61 2 9036 9222. www.music.usyd.edu.au

14 July 2007 9 July 2007 1 August 2007 International House Alumni Reunion in Berlin Chamber music at the Sydney 40th Anniversary At the Australian Embassy in Berlin. Conservatorium of Music, 6pm Alumni of International House and To RSVP, email Marian Schoen at Soloists from the Australian guests celebrate International [email protected] Chamber Orchestra. Featuring House’s 40th anniversary at a formal Helena Rathbone on violin and lunch in the Great Hall. Contact 11 July 2007 Gretal Dowdeswell on piano. Claudia Morales on +61 2 9950 9800 UK Alumni Association Tickets at www.music.usyd.edu.au or or email [email protected]. Summer Reception phone +61 2 8256 2222. At The Terrace, House of Lords, UK. Cost is $95.00 per person. To RSVP, phone +44 20720 16882 or email [email protected] 4 August 2007 Hockey Club Centenary Dinner 12 July 2007 All past and present Hockey Club Women’s College UK Reunion players, especially Blues, are invited For further information, contact Eliza to join the Centenary Dinner at the Newton on +61 2 9517 5008 or email Great Hall. Contact Sarah Morris at [email protected] [email protected]

14 July 2007 6 August 2007 Women’s College Alumnae Women’s College, Winter School photo: newspix Women in Law Dinner For further information, contact Eliza For further information, contact Eliza Macquarie Bank managing director Allan Newton on +61 2 9517 5008 or email Moss (BA ’71, LLB ’74) … guest speaker Newton on +61 2 9517 5008 or email [email protected] at International House celebrations. [email protected]

34 sydney alumni magazine 9–12 August 2007 Choir. Contact Joan Smiley at 8 September 2007 SUGUNA Annual Conference [email protected] or visit Wesley College Foundation North American Alumni www.gradchoir.usyd.edu.au Annual Reunion Dinner At Queen’s University, Kingston At the Wesley College dining Ontario, Canada. To RSVP, visit 27 August 2007 room. To RSVP, email www.usyd.edu.au/alumni/networks/ Jazz in the Café, Sydney [email protected] or suguna/conferences Conservatorium of Music phone +61 2 9565 3299. David Theak Ensemble, 13 August–14 September 2007 from 7.30pm. Drinks and Dental Faculty Reunion Colour food available at the café. Graduates whose final year at the University Art Gallery More information at University of Sydney was 1952 and who are interested in a reunion later An exhibition exploring the use of www.music.usyd.edu.au colour. Featuring rarely seen works this year are asked to contact from the University of Sydney’s art Lindsay Kidd on +61 2 94174329 or 29 August 2007 collection. email [email protected] Faculty of Medicine Public Lecture From 5.30pm at the Eastern Avenue 17 August 2007 10–12 September 2007 Lecture Theatre, University of Sydney. Malaysia Alumni Reunion Reception GerMANY Innovations at First speaker is Professor Elizabeth At the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Sydney University Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. To RSVP, Elliot from The Children’s Hospital The University of Sydney hosts a email [email protected] or phone at Westmead (Oral rehydration three-day event showcasing + 61 2 9351 2673. therapy: a spoonful of sugar makes University research, and presenting the medicine go down), followed by cutting-edge technology from leading 19 August 2007 Dr Jeremy McAnulty from NSW German companies. The program Haydn’s The Creation Health (Sanitation: pragmatism also includes film, music and lectures 3pm in the Great Hall, University of works). Register at on health and sustainability. Contact: Sydney Christopher Bowen directs www.health.usyd.edu.au or Diané Ranck. Ph +61 2 9351 4409 the Sydney University Graduate phone +61 2 9036 5487. or email [email protected]

International contacts The University of Sydney supports a vibrant group of international alumni associations and networks. Each of them provides exciting and interesting programs to graduates in their regions. Contact details are listed below.

China Alumni Network The University of Sydney United Singapore Alumni Association Vincent Lam (BSc ’84) Kingdom Alumni Association Elaine Wong (MAppSc ’05, President (USUKAA) MHlthScEd ’05) Phone: +86 10 6517 9999 Kerrie Botley Chair, Executive Committee Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 20 7201 6882 Phone: +65 9682 8498 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Sydney University Graduates Union of North America (SUGUNA) Alumni Network in Europe Michael Challis (BE ’54) Anna Schubert Secretary/Treasurer Chapters Officer Phone: +17 3 4971 6186 The University of Sydney Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 2 9036 9644 Email: [email protected] Sydney University Graduates of Malaysia (SUGMA) Hong Kong Alumni Association Ken Lim (BSc ’91, BArch ’94) Kenneth Cheung (BCom ’98, Committee Member MCom ’00) Phone: +60 3 2711 4711 President Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

winter 2007 35 treasure

Faces of Power

The Nicholson Museum’s exhibition of over 100 Roman coins reveals a slew of remarkable stories. Claudia Liu reports.

oins are the most mundane of the country, prosperity and objects; we barely give them a success of the times, and the virtues Cthought as they pass through of the emperor and his family. our hands. “One message is constant from the But throughout history, governments first coin to the last: that the Roman have rarely missed an opportunity to emperors bring victory for the state,” deliver political messages and images of Dr Brennan said. Face of Power: Imperial Portraiture power on the coins they issue. Hold Another constant is the presence of on Roman Coins is open daily from even the staunchest republican upside religious ideas, a crucial facet of Roman 10am to 4.30pm at the Nicholson down, and an image of the Queen will power. Every coin links its imperial Museum. ABC broadcaster and almost certainly fall from his pockets. figure to the divine world, Dr Brennan columnist Phillip Adams launched The Romans were adept at this subtle added, whether a Roman world full of the exhibition on 18 April 2007 use of propaganda, and an exhibition gods or one in which the Christian God with a discussion on the idea of on show at the University’s Nicholson had triumphed. power through Roman emperors. Museum presents 132 Roman coins, The coins reveal some remarkable He will be followed by former each with a story to tell. stories. Emperor Commodus, who was NSW Premier , who The imperial faces on the coins portrayed in the movie Gladiator as a will discuss Marcus Aurelius include some famous and infamous rival of Russell Crowe’s character, had (161–180AD) on 28 June 2007. names: Julius Caesar, Tiberius, Hadrian, little interest in governing the country Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Nero, Claudius and Caligula. but devoted himself to pleasure and Cardinal George Pell will then Dr Peter Brennan, senior lecturer in arena sports, fancying himself as a classics and ancient history, who has gladiator and marksman. A coin in the discuss Constantine the Great – written the historical notes to accom- exhibition from his later years shows the first Christian emperor – on pany the exhibition, said: “Like statues, him losing touch with the real world, 25 July, 2007. On 22 August 2007 coins give a physical face to power, with the emperor portrayed as the god the Nicholson Museum will present sometimes realistic, sometimes Hercules dressed in a lionskin and an evening for the would-be or idealised, not only of emperors but carrying a club. established coin collector. Colin also of those whose faces on coins show “He was not as cruel as the character Pitchfork of Noble Numismatics their importance in the physiognomy in the movie, but he was obviously in will explain the joys and pitfalls of of power. the wrong job,” said Dr Brennan. collecting coins in a talk entitled “These are the men and women who A lecturer at the University for 37 The Art and Science of Collecting shaped the emperor’s power: would-be years, Dr Brennan’s current research Ancient Coins. Ex-BBC presenter heirs who never made it; failed interest is the decline and fall of the and author, Derek Parker, will then usurpers; imperial women – wives, Roman army, and the role of the discuss the emperors and their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, even military in the transformation of society. use of astrology in a talk titled aunts and nieces,” he said. His expertise in Roman history adds The Moon is Stained with Blood on Through the words and images on flavour and spice to the exhibition. 4 September 2007. Further updates the coins, the Romans built up an “The Roman empire has long gone, on Faces of Power and other events idealised image of their empire: they leaving these small coins to remind at www.usyd.edu.au/museums portrayed a harmonious atmosphere in people of its splendid history,” he said.

36 sydney alumni magazine