EDITION 1 2016

PRECIOUS POLES THE ART OF STRESS TEST, PRESERVE RESTORING MALE TEACHER TIWI STORIES HOPE SHORTAGE

EDITION 1 2016 ORIGINS

FEATURES REGULARS

3 From the Vice-Chancellor Precious poles preserve 8 cultural stories 4 Snapshot

28 Q & A Cranes stand tall on 10 threatened species’ list 30 The Art Gallery

32 CDU Publishing All in the game – whether 14 it’s Alice or the Arctic

16 The art of restoring hope

Stress test spells out male 22 teacher shortage

Arts, science merge in 26 micro-world ORIGINS

Origins magazine is produced by Charles Darwin University’s O ce of Media, Advancement and Community Engagement (MACE). MACE is grateful to the following people for their contributions and assistance in compiling this edition: Angus Cameron, Rose Cameron, Andrew Campbell, Fiona Carter, Samantha Disbray, Gretchen Ennis, Mitzi Ferguson, Taylor Fishlock, Gretchen CONTRIBUTORS Geng, Kate Golebiowska, Linda Joy, Marilynne Kirshbaum, Steve Larkin, NT Government, Sarah Patrick Nelson Pirrie, Hayley Richmond, Eymard Tungatalum and Robert van Zalinge. Patrick catches up with former Australian Olympian Mitzi Ferguson, who is now living in the Red Centre from where she Opinions and views expressed in this edition do is examining the impact of sport and recreation on people’s not necessarily reect those of Charles Darwin wellbeing in remote regions of Australia and Canada. In other University. stories, Patrick investigates a collection of rare Reproduction of material from Origins requires language stories, recorded by a linguist 50 years ago. And written permission from Robyn McDougall: always with a camera at the ready, Patrick’s images can be E [email protected] found throughout this edition of rigins. Charles Darwin University Ellengowan Drive Katie Weiss Darwin, 0909 Katie returns to the classroom to investigate the reasons behind Australia a shortage of male teachers that is sweeping the nation. She also ISSN: 2204-0781 (print) explores an endangered Top End ecosystem that is drawing ISSN: 2204-079X (online) together artists and scientists. Katie also was present at the installation on Casuarina campus of three sacred Pukumani Published July 2016 poles that tell a story dating back to the beginning of time. This edition is also available at: W cdu.edu.au/mace CRICOS Provider No. 00300K (NT) Leanne Miles No. 03286A (NSW) RTO Provider No. 0373 Leanne explores an extraordinary program that employs art Editor: Robyn McDougall to improve the health and wellbeing of people who are dealing Project manager: Julia Collingwood with cancer. She speaks with both the CDU researchers and Designer: R.T.J. Klinkhamer the women who have joined the program, and discovers the Printer: Lane Print + Post di erence the program is making to their lives. Leanne also speaks with a PhD candidate, who is undertaking his research Text face: Minion Pro in Cambodia to aid the future conservation of the globally Display face: Myriad Pro threatened Sarus Crane. Origins is printed from vegetable-based inks and 98 per cent of waste and by-products of the process have been recycled into paper products, alternative fuels and miscellaneous materials. The paper used in this edition of Origins is carbon neutral and is manufactured with 55 per cent recycled content. It has been manufactured by a Certied Printer using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp sourced from sustainable, well-managed forests. Cover: Sarus Crane. Image: iStock, photographer Sumittra Buarapha. Inside cover: Double delight – lled with summer rain, Ilparpa Swamp mirrors the magnicent MacDonnell mountain range. Image: Patrick Nelson, Alice Springs.

2 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR Commemorating 50 years since long, historic walk

uesday 23 August 2016 marks an 200 Aboriginal stockmen, servants and to develop their own cattle station. ey historic anniversary not only for their families o the station to protest waited, they lobbied, and they never gave Indigenous people of Australia, their wretched work and pay conditions, up hope in the ensuing years. Tbut also for the entire nation. is day and pastoralists routinely seizing e break came when Gough Whitlam marks 50 years since the Wave Hill Walk- Aboriginal land. became Prime Minister in 1972 and o , which proved a watershed for the e men, women and children le negotiated the hand back of more than Aboriginal land rights movement in this Wave Hill and walked to the east for 3000 km2 of land to the – country. about 30 km and set up camp on their by any measure, it was an historic moment , then owned by traditional land at Daguragu on the banks in this nation’s history. Vesteys – a British pastoral company – of Wattie Creek. is was the beginning At Daguragu, Prime Minister Whitlam and located 600 km south of Darwin, of a strike that would last almost a transferred leasehold title to the Gurindji, was the scene in 1966 of a walk-o of its decade and, ultimately, pave the way for symbolically handing soil to Vincent Aboriginal stockmen and their families. Aboriginal land rights in Australia. Lingiari. e Gurindji campaign was an Gurindji elder and the station’s head e Gurindji people sought the important inuence on the events that stockman, led around return of some of their traditional land led to the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) 1976. Charles Darwin University commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hilll Walk-o during our annual Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture in August. e university has a long and proud record of working with Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory in the areas of research, education, training and capacity building. In these pages of rigins you will learn more about how the university and Indigenous communities work together. You will learn about the restoration and reinstallation on Casuarina campus of three Pukumani poles, which tell the Tiwi Islander people’s story of Creation. You also will read about how an endangered Indigenous language, which was recorded 50 years ago just when Vincent Lingiari was leading the Wave Hill Walk-o , is being translated into English, with the assistance of descendants of the people whose voices were captured on the tapes. I hope you enjoy these and other stories about CDU’s impacts and interests in this edition of rigins.

Professor Simon Maddocks Vice-Chancellor

3 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 SNAPSHOT

CDU appoints rst Larrakia academic-in-residence A respected Larrakia elder, who is acknowledged internationally as a community communicator, healer and teacher of the ancient wisdoms of Aboriginal spirituality and healing, has been appointed as Charles Darwin University’s rst Larrakia academic-in- residence. Bilawara Lee has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of education and health and is an internationally published author. Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership Professor Steven Larkin said the position recognised the importance and respect given to the custodians of Newly installed Chancellor Mr Neil Balnaves AO. Image: Jeremy Dixon knowledges in Indigenous societies and demonstrated the commitment POWER CHANGES HANDS AT CEREMONY to Indigenous knowledges in CDU’s learning, teaching and research. Northern Territory community leaders symbolising the transfer of power and “e Larrakia academic-in-residence and interstate guests joined Charles authority to him as the new leader of the will be responsible for providing a range Darwin University sta and governing University Council. of culturally informed guidance, direction Council members for the installation e ceremony was ociated by the and support to CDU’s Indigenous and ceremony of Mr Neil Balnaves AO as the NT Administrator, His Honour e non-Indigenous students, sta and third Chancellor of the university. Honourable John Hardy OAM. stakeholders,” Professor Larkin said. e event began with an academic Mr Balnaves, who now leads the He said the position was part of a range procession and a smoking ceremony by 15-member University Council, took over of commitments at CDU to formally Larrakia elders, and involved the out- from Ms omas, who had completed two acknowledge the as the going Chancellor, e Honourable Sally terms in the position. e rst Chancellor traditional owners of the land on which omas AC, handing over the university’s of CDU was Mr Richard Ryan AO. Casuarina campus, the headquarters of ceremonial mace to Mr Balnaves, CDU, is built. e position is part of an historic memorandum of understanding Ground-breaking accounting accounting in an innovative way with the signed to strengthen the relationship course goes global exibility to complete it when and where between CDU and the Larrakia Nation they wanted. e university has launched a bilingual Aboriginal Corporation and the Larrakia “e course is an introduction to Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Development Corporation. accounting and includes lms, music and for people across the globe who wish to interactive exercises covering the three improve their knowledge of accountancy. modules of basic accounting, nancial e MOOC, entitled “Who’s Counting: accounting and management accounting,” An interactive introduction to everyday Dr James said. accounting”, was developed by CDU in e course was developed by the CDU partnership with China’s Anhui Normal Business School in collaboration the University (ANU). It is partially in Economics and Business School at ANU Chinese (Mandarin) and fully in English in Wuhu, China and demonstrated a and aims to provide anyone from high growing and important partnership. school students to business owners with ANU is one of the partner universities an interactive and immersive experience. in CDU’s Confucius Institute, which has Associate Professor in Accounting a focus on teaching Chinese language and Wendy James said the course was culture through innovative new media Larrakia elder Bilawara Lee is CDU’s rst structured to give people a taste of and creative arts technologies.” Larrakia academic-in-residence.

4 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 SNAPSHOT

ACADEMIC RECEIVES FULBRIGHT HONOUR A prominent Charles Darwin University academic is the rst woman to be awarded the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Agriculture and Life Sciences Scholarship. Northern Institute Director Professor Ruth Wallace will travel to the United States this year to build on her research, which seeks to engage remote communities in biosecurity surveillance. Professor Wallace’s research focuses on marginalised learners’ identities and the intersections with educational systems in regional and remote areas of Northern Australia, and is predominantly undertaken with Aboriginal people. Her time in the US will contribute to the “Biosecurity Policy at the Margins Professor Ruth Wallace is the rst woman to be awarded the Fulbright Distinguished Chair Project”. in Agriculture and Life Sciences Scholarship. “e Biosecurity Policy at the Margins Project is an opportunity to build on Professor Wallace will work with Singer takes Greek message research in Northern Australia,” Professor researchers at the Research and Extension to world Wallace said. “e focus is on engaging Division at Kansas State University, which A world-renowned Greek artist has been regional and marginalised communities has sponsored the scholarship. appointed as Charles Darwin University’s in biosecurity identication and response rst ambassador for its Greek Studies systems, at a national and local scale.” program. Singer Nikos Kourkoulis said he would Book tracks desert country the history of Central Australia, and an use his appointment to promote the program, including in concerts nationally hand-back insight into the background to what has become a signicant part of Australia’s and overseas. e native title claim and the subsequent conservation estate, jointly managed by Mr Kourkoulis moved to Darwin in the hand-back of a remote pocket of desert the Ngaliya Warlpiri traditional owners Northern Territory in 2015 with his wife country to the in Central and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. and children and said that both the Greek Australia is the subject of a new book “It covers the period of the early and wider communities had helped the by Charles Darwin University historian explorers’ rst visit to the area in the late family feel at home. Emeritus Professor Alan Powell. 1850s, through to the establishment of “For some people Darwin is the end of “Desert Country: A History of mission stations and government depots, Australia, but for me it is the beginning,” Newhaven” documents a historically and the granting of pastoral leases over the he said. “I can do something and start signicant period in Central Australia, estate in the mid-20th Century,” Professor something here that I am very passionate detailing the history of the area and Powell said. a b out .” the connection of the Ngaliya Warlpiri Mr Kourkoulis has released more than traditional owners to the land. 10 albums in 30 years and is performing Professor Powell was commissioned to in the United States this year. research and write the history of European e singer has rich ties with CDU and contact with Newhaven by the Central has invited students on the CDU Greek Land Council as part of its successful 2010 In-Country Language Program to visit Native Title determination. his Greek home town of Kavala during “e area, approximately 300 km west the program. e town was also home to of Alice Springs, was so remote it escaped the king of the ancient Greek kingdom of ownership by cattlemen until the 1960s,” Macedon, Philip II of Macedon, who was Professor Powell said. also the father of Alexander the Great. e book provides a valuable contribution to the understanding of Historian Emeritus Professor Alan Powell.

5 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 SNAPSHOT

TEXT and IMAGES Patrick Nelson

Kakadu turns on a postcard perfect day as PATRICK Picture perfect NELSON joins a group of adventure-loving students. Kakadu a class group of Charles Darwin University students traded a day in the classroom for a day in the Aworld-heritage listed Kakadu National above the rest Park – and it’s one they won’t forget. Trainer Lance Poulton said the 1 hospitality and tourism students saw crocodiles in the East Alligator River, ancient Aboriginal rock art and an abundance of local ora and fauna. “An Indigenous guide showed us how to use a woomera to gain extra distance when throwing a spear.” Mr Poulton said the eld trip was designed to demonstrate some of the characteristics of managing a hotel in an isolated environment. An excursion such as this provides them with a richness that is not possible in the classroom,” Mr Poulson said.

2 1 Trainer Lance Poulton (front) with students from the hospitality and tourism course. 2 Crocodiles are a regular sight in the East Alligator River. 3 Fascinating geology near the banks of the East Alligator River. 4 A lotus in bloom (Nelumbo nucifera). 5 Ancient Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr gallery. 6 A sulphur-crested cockatoo cools o on a hot day. 7 Eastern great egret at Cahill Crossing on the East Alligator River.

6 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 SNAPSHOT

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7 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Above Tiwi Islander artist Eymard Tungatalum creates a highly decorative Pukumani pole. Left A smoking ceremony is held before the unveiling of the Pukumani poles at the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education on Casuarina campus. Bottom Dancers perform as part of the celebrations to welcome the restoration of the Pukumani poles.

8 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Eymard Tungatalum. TEXT Katie Weiss IMAGES Kate Freestone Precious poles preserve cultural stories Artist Eymard Tungatalum with the completed poles.

Tiwi artist EYMARD said. “ey all passed away, but their discussions about Indigenous culture TUNGATALUM restores teachings are still in my mind.” and traditions. He was commissioned to He said tradition ran through the revitalise the poles earlier this year, in an Creation stories to wooden veins of these poles, which initiative led by the CDU Oce of the Pro Casuarina campus. he created for CDU in 1993 and stand Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership taller than an adult man. At the time, (PVCIL). ecured within the wood and paint Mr Tungatalum was a student at CDU’s PVCIL Professor Steve Larkin said of three totem-like poles in the Top predecessor, the Northern Territory the poles were relocated from within End of Northern Australia is the University, in its Faculty of Aboriginal and Casuarina campus to the Australian STiwi Islander people’s story of Creation. Torres Strait Islander Studies. Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and While these Pukumani poles were rst Education precinct to reect their cultural installed at Charles Darwin University and educational signicance. about 23 years ago, they encapsulate a They all passed away, but their “ese masterfully craed Pukumani history that points back to the beginning teachings are still in my mind. poles will continue to promote Indigenous of time. And along with acknowledging history, art and culture and enhance the the past, these hand-carved poles also He said each pole was carved in a overall beauty of this campus,” Professor point to the future by symbolising the distinct way to symbolise a character in Larkin said. university’s ongoing commitment to the Tiwi Creation story about how rituals He said the poles captured the histories enhancing Indigenous education. were created to help the dead enter the of both Tiwi Island and Larrakia people, Melville Island artist Eymard spirit world. Mr Tungatalum said one on whose land the poles were installed, Tungatalum said he learned to create pole was “Tapara” the moon man, another along with CDU’s own campus history. Pukumani poles aer many years spent represented a man named “Purukuparli”, And within their wooden bres is a observing his family members doing just and the third was his wife who later pledge to ensure that these histories that in their homeland surrounded by the transforms into a curlew, named “Wayai”. are celebrated and preserved for future Arafura Sea. “I teach these stories to the younger generations. “I think about the old people; they generation,” he said. Mr Tungatalum come to me when I paint,” Mr Tungatalum said he hoped the poles would inspire

9 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Cranes stand tall on threatened species’ list

The cranes have an impressive wingspan of nearly 2.5 metres at full stretch.

ROBERT van ZALINGE is TEXT documenting the globally Leanne Miles threatened Sarus Crane IMAGES in Cambodia in a bid to Robert van Zalinge improve understanding of Kate Freestone its conservation needs.

Robert van Zalinge has lived in Cambodia for almost a decade, working towards the conservation of birds.

10 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 he elegant Sarus Crane (Grus starting his PhD research at Charles “e forests where cranes build their nests antigone) is the tallest of the Darwin University, he was assessing are also rapidly declining in extent.” ying birds. Standing up to 1.8 management needs for two important But the lack of a detailed picture of Tmetres, it calls the wetlands of the Indian Sarus Crane wetland conservation areas the birds’ movements throughout the subcontinent, South-east Asia and in conjunction with the Wildfowl and year meant researchers did not have the Northern Australia home. It’s a sight to Wetlands Trust. information necessary to conserve the behold with its conspicuous head glowing Despite the work that the Cambodian population e ectively. red against its light grey frame; its pink- Government and conservation tinged legs trail behind an impressive organisations have undertaken, including There is still a lot of hunting and wingspan of nearly 2.5 metres at full nest protection and the creation of three capture of young cranes stretch. new protected areas in the country to for zoos. For PhD candidate Robert van Zalinge, encompass important dry season foraging the plight of this charismatic species holds sites, Robert said the population of Sarus more than professional interest. It is also Cranes in Cambodia had not increased. Robert said he realised that a larger and personal. Robert has lived in Cambodia “I would hear them frequently more comprehensive study was needed, for almost a decade, working towards the while doing eldwork in the Tonle Sap a study that would take place throughout conservation of this and other birds. “I oodplain or in the Mekong Delta region the year and over several years. “ere have always liked cranes,” he said. “ey and it would comfort me to know they were still many unanswered questions, are big, beautiful birds with these absurdly were around, but I knew their continued especially related to what cranes needed loud calls.” presence in the Cambodian landscape was ecologically, and also determining the not a given.” main threats to their survival,” he said. I knew their continued presence He said that many of the threats to In 2014, Robert began a PhD with the in the Cambodian landscape cranes were due to human impacts such Research Institute for the Environment was not a given. as conversion of natural wetlands for rice and Livelihoods at Charles Darwin farming. Aside from losing their habitat, University to study sites across Cambodia cranes are oen considered a pest as in the Tonle Sap oodplain, the Mekong A wetland conservationist, Robert they returned to their traditional feeding Delta region and the Northern Plains rst travelled to Cambodia as a volunteer grounds in search of food. (forests of Preah Vihear province). with the Wildlife Conservation Society in “ere is still a lot of hunting and He began tracking the birds to nd 2006. Two years later he was coordinating capture of young cranes for zoos, to be out more about their movements in both national crane counts. And just before kept as pets, or simply for food,” he said. breeding and non-breeding seasons.

Aside from losing their habitat, cranes are often considered a pest.

11 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 12 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Map Robert van Zalinge’s study sites across season; as the season progresses the without young in the amount of time Cambodia include the Tonle Sap oodplain, majority of cranes aggregate at a few sites spent in particular habitats. Juveniles, the Mekong Delta region and the Northern with suitable conditions,” he said. “With when abandoned by their parents aer Plains (forests of Preah Vihear province). so few alternatives at the height of the dry approximately nine months of rearing, Middle left There is a lack of information on season, understanding factors inuencing may di er in habitat preferences from the bird’s movements. resource-use and availability by cranes is their parents during the breeding season.” Middle right Robert van Zalinge also important.” He said that, unfortunately, cranes investigated the nesting behaviour of the cranes. Robert also investigated the nesting and juveniles in particular oen used behaviour of the cranes. “In the wet rice elds when rice grain was abundant, Bottom left Reliance on agricultural areas is putting cranes at great risk. season, we wanted to understand what particularly in post-harvest and sowing ecological criteria cranes use when stages, but also when rice elds were Bottom right Threats to cranes include selecting a location to build their nests, inundated. human impacts such as conversion of natural wetlands for rice farming. to provide a basis for future research “Such a reliance on agricultural areas around conservation and management of puts them at great risk, especially when breeding areas.” they move away from conservation areas and this is denitely one of the major He tracked 10 individuals from ve Sarus factors leading to mortality of individuals.” family groups, and tagged a total of 16 We didn’t have any information Robert said it would be a great loss birds (nine adults, seven juveniles) from on what factors were limiting for Cambodians if their population of three separate sites. population growth. Sarus Cranes disappeared. “It is a globally “e approximate sum of the threatened species and the population is information we had on the ecology of Cranes using the Mekong Delta vulnerable to collapsing if a special e ort Sarus Cranes in Cambodia was that originate in breeding sites in the north by people is not made to ensure they cranes bred in forests in the wet season and north-east, while all cranes from Ang can continue to nd a place in human- and moved to a few key wetlands in the Trapeang mor and Stoung bred in the dominated landscapes,” he said. dry season,” Robert said. “We still lacked north. “e Northern Plains seems to e results of his project will feed into substantial information necessary to be the most important breeding area for an action plan that will be prepared aer conserve the species, and we didn’t have cranes in Cambodia.” an international workshop in Phnom any information on what factors were Although he has yet to analyse fully Penh to be held this year. limiting population growth.” all the data collected, Robert has found For Robert, understanding these that cranes focus on di erent habitats at Robert’s work is supported by the Wildlife limiting factors would provide insight di erent times of the year. “Groups of Conservation Society, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, for developing a more comprehensive cranes may di er in the way they use a Charles Darwin University, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, the Ru ord Foundation and the conservation strategy for this species. certain type of habitat,” he said. “Families National Geographic Society. “Cambodia has a long and severe dry will di er from non-breeders and adults

SWOOPING ON WILDLIFE TRAFFICKER

Something Robert van Zalinge did not birds were conscated by the Forestry cranes in close proximity to a group of anticipate when he began his research is Administration and had a short period other cranes, including a juvenile I was that he would help rescue cranes from of rehabilitation at the Angkor Centre tracking.” the clutches of illegal trackers. for Conservation of Biodiversity. e Sarus Crane is a threatened “While tracking one of the cranes, “Unfortunately one of the birds did bird species and listed as vulnerable I realised it had not moved for some not recover, but we were able to release on the IUCN Red List of reatened days,” Robert said. “I investigated the surviving bird back into the wild Species, with the South-East Asian further and had a fairly good idea with another rescued bird that I had population being the lowest in number. that the crane had been captured, so I been tracking,” Robert said. “at crane Due to a dramatic decline in range, this alerted the authorities.” had ended up in the hands of local population is now largely restricted to e police swooped on the house farmers around the same time and aer Cambodia, with some birds moving and found not one, but two Sarus being handed over to authorities had into southern Vietnam in the dry Cranes being held in cages illegally by a been kept at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife season. dealer in Kampong om Province. e Rescue Centre. We released both

13 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 TEXT Patrick Nelson IMAGE Patrick Nelson

All in the game – whether it’s Alice or the Arctic

Central Australia’s MITZI FERGUSON explores Former Olympian and PhD candidate how sport impacts wellbeing in remote towns. Mitzi Ferguson.

octoral candidate Mitzi Ferguson She did, however, win medals at other “Despite rst impressions, they share may give the Olympic Games international events, including a team certain commonalities,” she said. “Both more than a sideways glance bronze at the Commonwealth Fencing are government service centres for large Dwhen the action kicks o in Rio de Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, and isolated sparsely populated regions, Janeiro in August. She is, aer all, a a gold medal at the prestigious Helene subject to climatic extremes.” former Olympian, having competed at Mayer tournament in the US. At the peak Mitzi said topics and indicators within the Moscow Games, which was notable of her powers, she was ranked 14th in the the Organisation for Economic Co- for being contested amid international world. operation and Development’s (OECD) tensions stemming from the 1979 Soviet Mitzi said that as a child growing up in framework for measuring social progress invasion of Afghanistan. , she was an all-round athlete had given her ideas about how she might “ey were tumultuous times,” said and her life might have taken any number measure wellbeing. Mitzi, who now lives in Alice Springs. of directions, but ultimately she chose an “ere is room within the OECD “ere was a lot of pressure on our academic path. framework for the inclusion of a new athletes to join the international boycott.” topic  sport and active recreation – with Australia was not technically part of the Both are government service its own specically designed indicators for US-led boycott, but pressure from the centres … subject to capturing data, which could contribute to Federal Government to not go deeply climatic extremes. a deeper understanding of a community’s divided the country’s sporting community. wellbeing.” Mitzi was one of 120 Australians who Mitzi said that while she expected competed. Mitzi is undertaking a three-year, full- her ndings would eventually have As a member of Australia’s three- time PhD program with Charles Darwin policy implications, perhaps in terms member fencing team, Mitzi won three University’s Northern Institute. She is of increased participation rates in Alice bouts in the women’s individual foil, investigating the impact of sport and Springs and Yellowknife, there was although she lost to Poland’s Barbara recreation on people’s wellbeing in remote potential that other remote communities Wysoczanska, who won the bronze medal. regions. It is taking the form of a case around the world also might benet. study that contrasts Alice Springs with the remote Canadian town Yellowknife, about 400 km from the Arctic.

14 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 TEXT Patrick Nelson ‘Hidden’ IMAGE workers Hayley Richmond a boon for NT economy

KATE GOLEBIOWSKA explores how to engage some of the 6000 people estimated in Darwin’s Dr Kate Golebiowska: “Labour market conditions are forecast to be untapped workforce. favourable for several years in (many) sectors.”

p to 6000 unemployed Darwin qualications and were not in the labour government, which would have a smaller residents have the potential to force at the last Australian Census. Some welfare bill and a larger tax base.” boost the Northern Territory were discouraged job seekers, some were Dr Golebiowska said the Territory Ueconomy, according to researchers at the marginally attached to the labour force, Government’s Framing the Future Northern Institute. while others were employed, but at a level document presented a vision where just Workforce Development Researchers below their formal level of qualication. about everyone who wanted to could Alicia Boyle and Dr Golebiowska cite participate in the NT’s society and the gure in their recently published One of the challenges is to economy. “Labour market conditions Darwin case study: “How to mobilise connect the untapped labour are forecast to be favourable for several the ‘untapped’ labour force for Northern force with the jobs market. years in sectors as diverse as construction, development?” education, health, accommodation, food Research Fellow Dr Golebiowska said services, retail trade and others,” she said. the mobilisation of Darwin’s “untapped Dr Golebiowska said she believed that “One of the challenges is to connect labour force” would enhance government small and medium-size businesses were the untapped labour force with the jobs objectives to develop Northern Australia. well placed to benet from untapped market. We found that word-of-mouth “e Territory’s capacity to seize labour. and an individual’s own social network opportunity is limited by a tight labour “We know this from having surveyed were the most e ective methods for market that is characterised by a small 75 small and medium-sized enterprises nding out about job opportunities.” and mobile workforce, low unemployment in Darwin, many of whom reported rate, recruitment and retention diculties numerous benets from having employed An electronic research brief with the study results is available at: and skills shortages,” she said. people from these groups. Many indicated W cdu.edu.au/northern-institute/ni- “Part of the solution may rest with they would seek to employ more in the research-briefs the untapped workforce, whom we’ve future, noting that retention levels were This project was funded by the CDU Faculty of Law, identied as comprising migrants and good or excellent across the three groups. Education, Business and Arts Research Grants Panel. refugees, people with a disability and “Importantly, the benets also extend people aged 50 years and older.” to the individual, whose economic and ese people held post-school social wellbeing would improve, and to

15 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 TEXT Leanne Miles IMAGES Kate Freestone

The art of restoring hope

16 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 A collaboration between another came in and took photographs, One of the pilot participants, Ms Sue Northern Territory-based which later became part of an exhibition; Stewart, said the workshops had been life- while another played ukulele and sang.” changing in her experience with cancer, artists and researchers is As she recovered from her treatment, particularly in relation to her mental providing life-changing Ms Carter said she began to consider how health. “I have never been a big writer, relief to people dealing she could give back by drawing on her but during the workshops I found my with cancer. background as an arts manager. feelings pouring out on to the paper,” she “I thought about how I could share the said. “It drew everything out. I was able he benets of the arts to health same positive experience I had enjoyed to better understand my thoughts, deal and wellbeing are widely assumed, with other people dealing with cancer with my situation and explain it to family but proving their e ectiveness and came up with the idea of an arts and and friends.” Tqualitatively for inclusion in the health health diversionary project,” she said. But Dr Ennis said the pilot had been an system remains a grey area for researchers she also wanted to give the project added overwhelming success, with the hospital- and health professionals alike. ere meaning by researching the benets of art based arts activities providing a positive is, however, no doubt in the minds of in healing. distraction for patients and enhancing the people who are dealing with cancer Ms Carter approached Charles Darwin their feelings of wellbeing. and taken part in the “HeART” Artful University Social Work and Community “We also found that community- Wellbeing program. e art-based Studies Lecturer Dr Gretchen Ennis, who based arts programs for cancer survivors workshops have aided their recovery with also had an arts background and a strong provided mutual support, creative some reporting that their experiences have interest in investigating how a creative enjoyment, and gave participants a sense been life-changing, particularly in relation environment might benet people dealing of purpose,” she said. “Participants also felt to their mental health. with cancer. less need to go to mental health specialists For the past two years the program has “Being a social worker, I am interested while they were attending the workshops.” brought together artists, academics and in people and their environment and For Ms Carter, the success of the pilot health professionals to conduct creative how their environment impacts their program had been validating. e next workshops with people who are dealing wellbeing, particularly when they are in step was to expand the program. As with cancer. e workshops aim to impact a time of need or stress,” Dr Ennis said. luck would have it, Professor Marilynne lives positively while investigating the “Very little research had been done on Kirshbaum, who has specialised in cancer benets of employing art to help restore the benets of using art to improve the care nursing for more than 30 years, the health and wellbeing of Northern wellbeing of those dealing with cancer, had recently moved to Darwin to take Territorians who are dealing with cancer. and no research had been conducted in on the role of head of nursing at CDU. Darwin-based artist and founder of the Northern Territory at all.” A renowned expert on exercise and HeART Fiona Carter developed the idea Supported by the nurses and sta at the cancer-fatigue related research, Professor for the program when she was being Alan Walker Centre in Darwin and with Kirshbaum’s most recent research has treated for cancer at the Alan Walker funding from the Regional Arts Fund, veered towards looking into options Cancer Centre in 2013. “It started Dr Ennis and Ms Carter gathered a small such as Reiki and Attention (Energy) when some of my friends wanted to do group to take part in the “HeART” pilot Restoration to improve wellbeing. something for me while I was ill,” she said. program, involving creative workshops “Fatigue is a common and debilitating “One came to visit and started juggling in art, writing, music and lm over e ect of cancer treatment,” Professor while I was in the chemotherapy suite; several weeks. Kirshbaum said. “My recent research on

Darwin-based artist and founder of HeART Dr Gretchen Ennis observed a huge Professor Marilynne Kirshbaum has Fiona Carter developed the idea for positive impact on the people involved specialised in cancer care nursing and the program. the workshops. research for more than 30 years.

17 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 non-drug treatments for managing fatigue eight-week arts workshop program held in also the impacts participants made on focuses on restoring energy through late 2015, facilitated by local artists –Aly each other,” she said. “It was a safe and enjoyable, fascinating, nurturing and de Groot, Linda Joy and Merrilee Mills nurturing environment, which wasn’t upliing activities.” – who engaged participants with music, about treatment. Many of the participants drama, poetry, singing, painting, bowl felt this was the key to their attendance.” The wellbeing of making, silk dying, weaving and jewellery While the team is consolidating the all participants increased. making. ndings, the information they have e team’s ndings supported garnered will add to a growing knowledge the initial aims of reducing fatigue, area. “Wellbeing is a dicult concept to Collaborating with Dr Ennis, Professor improving wellbeing and enhancing measure, but this information will help to Kirshbaum gained funding for a project support networks. “Overall the wellbeing address the theoretical gaps and capture entitled “An experiential arts-based of all participants increased,” Professor the benets for integration into practice,” program in promoting wellbeing for Kirshbaum said. “e major themes that Professor Kirshbaum said. “What we people diagnosed with cancer in the came through were that participation in can say is that there are denite benets Top End.” It would investigate how arts the program was expansive, interactive, to wellbeing and there is a real need for programs might promote wellbeing during nurturing, purposeful and stimulating, programs like this.” or aer cancer treatment and would build drawing them away from issues with Reecting on the program, Ms Carter on the pilot study, bringing together a something re-energising.” said the experience had not only helped team of artists and researchers to build a her regain control of her life, it had also case for this art and health nexus. opened the door to new possibilities and “People diagnosed with cancer oen Wellbeing is a dicult concept to measure. learnings through the research. “When experience fatigue, isolation, physical I was told I had cancer my life changed pain, emotional pain, anxiety, depression, completely overnight,” she said. “From anger and denial,” Professor Kirshbaum Dr Ennis said she had observed a being healthy one day to the next day said. “We wanted to investigate how a huge impact on the people involved the everything being focused on my illness series of art workshops could make a workshops. “It was very exciting to see and treatment options.” positive impact on their lives.” the impacts of the workshops, not only At the centre of the project was an because of the creative expression, but When I was told I had cancer, my life changed completely overnight.

She said the growth and success of the program had been more than she could have imagined. “It is exciting to think that others might draw on this research. It could have a much broader and global reach.”

The project is a collaboration between CDU’s School of Health and HeART Arts in Cancer Care Program, with assistance from the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre (Royal Darwin Hospital) and the NT Cancer Council.

18 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 DISCOVERING INSPIRATION

For most of the women who took part, the workshops were a source of inspiration; the act of creation and learning delivered a feeling of achievement. A sense of satisfaction also grew as the women helped others who were in the same situation and developed the ability to move on with their lives.

• Fri said that learning to see things di erently had resonated with her. “Exposure to artists taught me to see things di erently; to see the beauty, texture and colour in everything. Artist Aly de Groot works with While weaving, my thoughts would participant Lyn. come out and into the piece I was creating.” • Lyn was usually an active marathon • Samantha said that chemotherapy runner who had not thought of had a ected her memory and brain drawing since high school. “I function. “I had trouble remembering have loved every minute [of the things and that was depressing. workshops]. Not only for the joy of Creating artwork is something you learning and creating, but also for the can do to keep the brain going, and friendships I formed. No one talked make something useful.” about being sick; we were just having fun and doing something together.” Samantha looks rightly pleased with her artistic eorts.

SURPRISE RESULTS

Linda Joy was one of several local artists who worked with the women during the creative workshops. “Right from the pilot workshops, it was amazing to see what came spilling out of the participants,” she said. “Art can be expressive, even if it’s not verbal.” Ms Joy said that much of society had forgotten about the benets of just sitting down and nding time to do something expressive, such as art. “e workshops have been validating to me to see the impact on people,” she said. “Many have taken the skills away and want to pursue them more fully as part of their lives.” Artist Linda Joy guides Fri through an artistic process.

19 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 TEXT Patrick Nelson IMAGE Courtesy NT Government Bright spark’s power play Territory tradie TAYLOR FISHLOCK has not looked back since making the switch to a career in electro-technology.

Taylor Fishlock: “… A lot of commercial and industrial work, not just domestic.”

20 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 he arrival of a palette load of involved desensitising them. I would sit on that Taylor recalls with some mirth. “I air-conditioners has guaranteed them to get them used to having a rider didn’t know it at the time, but my brother another busy week for Taylor on their back.” applied for the same apprenticeship. He TFishlock. Each year there’s a spike in didn’t turn up for the interview. I did, and orders as the heat and humidity rise and I helped with the fencing, I got the job, and in doing so became their the clouds and thunder roll across the Top mustering, yard work, rst apprentice.” End’s tropical skies. But before the 18 air- and prepared and ran e apprenticeship was punctuated on conditioners can be installed, the site will the rodeo bulls. two occasions that speak volumes about need to undergo a major power upgrade, Taylor’s talent and character. a task well within the capacity of Taylor, e rst of these unfolded in 2014, Taylor remembers one particularly the only qualied female electrician in the when she became the rst female ferocious looking bull with big horns that Northern Territory town of Katherine. to win the National Electrical and bore the ominous name Trashman. “e “It’s hot and we’re at out at the Communications Association’s Industrial announcer would always talk him up to moment,” she said. “e boss and the boys Apprentice of the Year excellence award. the crowd, saying things like how this bull are working on a few big projects, which Among the spoils was a trip to Germany would ‘dig your grave’. But really he was a leaves just me. Not that I mind.” for the Hannover Messe, one of the world’s big sook.” Taylor says she was “pretty lucky”, major trade fairs for industrial technology. Taylor has mostly fond memories of having an opportunity to “cover “It was huge. ere were 27 exhibition growing up on the station, although mixed pretty much everything” in the four- halls, the smallest of which was bigger among them is a tragic memory from her year electrotechnology electrical than a rugby ground. I visited suppliers teenage years. apprenticeship she undertook with M & K and met factory representatives and saw “Dad passed away in a helicopter Electrical. how electrical components were made. accident at the Mataranka rodeo in 2008. “I’ve done a lot of commercial and One of the coolest things was a 3D printer At the time I had not long returned home industrial work, not just domestic. I’ve that was making human gurines. And from college in Adelaide; just six weeks. installed a lot of air-conditioners, laid new there was a robot, which demonstrated I had been there for a year and a half, but cables, assisted with power upgrades, done how it could scan and sort di erent I became homesick for my family and trenching and worked on high voltage coloured beads.” the animals. I’m grateful for those six cable installations and terminations. e second occasion involved last weeks, but they were a really rough couple And on the theoretical side of things, year’s NT Training Awards. Taylor’s win of years.” I’ve completed a Certicate III course in the Austin Asche Apprentice of the Taylor remained connected with the at Charles Darwin University, which Year category was the eighth in as many pastoral industry, presuming it would involved visiting Darwin for two-week years by a Charles Darwin University provide her with a career, at least until the training blocks four times a year.” student. It gave her passage to the gala Australian Government’s 2011 live export Surrounded by a partner and a brother Australian Training Awards presentation ban prompted a change in her thinking. who are electricians, and an uncle who in Melbourne where she collected the “Mum always said she wanted us to have a once gave the idea serious thought, it runner-up prize in the Apprentice of the qualication of some sort. I gave thought is little wonder that Taylor also became Year category. to becoming a heavy diesel mechanic, and one, even though for a long time she Taylor has good cause to be optimistic also considered doing an apprenticeship as thought she was headed for a career in the about her future. Awards such as the an auto electrician. pastoral industry. ones she’s won have brought forth job “I grew up on Sturt Downs, a pastoral o ers, including one she’s accepted in lease 70 km south of Katherine with mum I didn’t know it at the time, Cairns, with an electrical engineering and dad and (later) my two younger but my brother applied for the products rm. brothers. It was a big unfenced property same apprenticeship. “I’ve considered job opportunities in with nothing on it when we rst arrived. Europe and Queensland and may enrol in “When I was a bit older, I helped with “But I ended up applying for an an engineering degree, because if I don’t the fencing, mustering, yard work, and electrotechnology apprenticeship with keep learning I’ll become bored,” she said. prepared and ran the rodeo bulls, which M & K Electrical,” a fortuitous occasion

21 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Acting Associate Professor in Pedagogy and Learning Dr Gretchen Geng.

CDU research shows that male pre-service teachers’ stress levels increase with age.

22 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Stress test spells out TEXT male teacher Katie Weiss IMAGES Kate Freestone shortage iStock DR GRETCHEN GENG investigates the ongoing shortage of male teachers in Australian schools.

shortage of male schoolteachers teachers to compare their stress levels, showed females tended to seek support has been sweeping the country for based on a questionnaire and the world- from their peers and mentors, which more than three decades. While recognised Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). could be the reason for their lower stress Athe issue has been ongoing in Australia She said the results were surprising. levels, unlike the men. is indicated since the 1980s, the focus on what the Dr Geng said the average PSS score for that women were more socialised for cause might be has shied. all male and female participants was 21.45 interpersonal interaction than males. Males made up less than 30 per cent out of 40, compared with the normal “e females would form support of the nation’s 290,854 schoolteachers range of between 14.52 and 17.73. She said networks with their peers, lecturers and according to the most recent Australian the average score for females was 20.87 mentors, while the males preferred to Bureau of Statistics data, released in and that for males was signicantly higher, deal with their stress themselves than talk 2011. Charles Darwin University acting at 22.69. about it to others,” she said. “e male Associate Professor in Pedagogy and pre-service teachers also appeared to be Learning Dr Gretchen Geng said it was The males ... would go into more competitive and would go into ght- popularly believed that men were turning ght-or-ight mode rather than or-ight mode rather than seek support.” away from the profession due to social seek support. Dr Geng said the survey suggested stigmas surrounding males working men and women responded di erently with children. “I was expecting the female group to to the current support system available to Dr Geng said only recently had there have higher or similar stress levels because pre-service teachers and that males would been investigations into other potential females tend to have higher stress levels benet from a system that addressed causes for the shortage, such as the in the general population,” Dr Geng said. their unique needs. She said she and stressful nature of the job and a lack of “But this was not the case among teacher her colleague were developing support understanding and support for male education students.” guidelines to assist male pre-service teachers in society. She said the male pre-service teachers’ teachers and build their resilience for “is issue is ongoing despite so stress levels also increased drastically when they entered the workforce. much research being done over so many with age. e males’ average stress levels “e stress in teachers and pre-service years, so we are eager to nd a solution,” increased from 17.25 (18 to 25 years teachers is quite di erent, but there is a she said. “is is why we decided to old) to 27.75 (50 years and older), while link,” Dr Geng said. “By addressing this explore how to build the resilience the females’ stress levels did not have a early on the students can develop tools to levels of male pre-service teachers, signicant relationship with their age. cope with the stress of the job.” during their university years before they “Perhaps this is due to the social She said the nation relied on good become teachers.” roles for males, that they have to be quality teachers to foster good quality Dr Geng and CDU Professor of Health the breadwinner of the family and that children, and that quality should be in Education Richard Midford surveyed pressure might encourage them to change measured by both individuals’ physical 55 male and 255 female pre-service careers,” Dr Geng said. She said the study and mental states of health.

23 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Rare voice tapes speak life into endangered language

SAMANTHA DISBRAY decodes rare Dreamtime TEXT stories recorded in the Warumungu language Patrick Nelson 50 years ago. IMAGES Patrick Nelson

Warumungu language workers Sandra Morrison and Ronald Morrison travelled to Adelaide last year to meet Dr Prithvindranath Chakravarti and hear stories about his recording trip to the Barkly in the 1960s.

24 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 are sound recordings of traditional Indigenous stories “in language”, which were made in the 1960s, Rcontinue to be the source of fascination for a long-term Central Australian linguist. Senior researcher at Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute Dr Samantha Disbray said she began working with Warumungu speakers and descendants on the language recordings last year. “It’s a treasure trove of information about law, culture and history in a Warumungu traditional owner Sandra Morrison discusses the Warumungu language that is seriously endangered,” Dr Picture Dictionary with the academic who compiled it, Dr Samantha Disbray. Disbray said. “ey contain wordlists, sentences and conversations about country, hunting, “I am working with a small team of the material, especially where the content bush tucker and how to make things. Of linguists, including local Warumungu may be of a sensitive or delicate nature. particular interest are a number of old language specialists, whose family is has included questions about access words that have fallen into disuse and members were recorded on the tapes. and distribution, the type of delivery some speech patterns and storytelling ese include Michael Jones, Rosemary mode and what conditions might be styles that we no longer hear among Plummer, Sandra Morrison, Ronald needed for some material.” today’s speakers. ere are several Morrison, and also Professor Jane Dr Disbray said there was excitement Dreamtime stories, including some Simpson from the Australian National about the material’s potential in an exciting children’s stories.” University. We have begun transcribing educational context. “E-books, talking One such story features a greedy the Warumungu recordings and books, animated stories, paper- grandmother, made of stone, who meets translating them into English,” she said. based books and an expansion of the a grim end, while another tells the tale of Warumungu dictionary with audio a bloodthirsty arantji, or devil man. He It’s a treasure trove of links, are all project ideas on the table. walks backwards, sings backwards and information … in a language e recordings are precious to the swings his stone axe to slaughter children that is seriously endangered. Warumungu people and for future and anyone else who’s around, until – generations and may be used for teaching spoiler alert – he too meets a grim end. “We have also started the complex task children about culture and language. “Some are stories that in the Western of repatriating the material to family and “We anticipate developing materials for tradition might t the horror genre, but as begun talking to them about their future publication later this year, which would far as Warumungu language workers are use. be timely, given that it is exactly 50 years concerned, they’re ‘fun stories’, that they “It is important that we identify who since Dr Chakravarti rst made the tell to their children without reservation.” within a family may make decisions about recordings.” Dr Disbray said 30 tapes were recorded by Dr Prithvindranath Chakravarti, a linguist from Calcutta, who travelled PICTURE DICTIONARY through Central Australia and the Barkly as a research fellow for the Institute of Aboriginal Studies (now Institute of Northern Institute senior researcher Dr Disbray compiled the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dr Samantha Disbray has undertaken Warumungu Picture Dictionary, Studies) in 1966. ground-breaking linguistic work including its second edition, published “He recorded 26 speakers during throughout Central Australia for last year. e picture dictionary is the course of his travels to Warumungu almost 20 years. In that time she regarded as a valuable resource for country, almost all of whom have now has documented the new language Warumungu speakers wanting to passed away.” Dr Chakravarti deposited variety, Wumpurrarni English, spoken learn Warumungu literacy, and for the tapes at the Institute in Canberra, in Tennant Creek, and worked with anyone wanting to learn about the from where Dr Disbray, in collaboration speakers of Warumungu to document Warumungu language. with Warumungu language workers, has their traditional language. attained digital copies for the project.

25 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 1 2 3

4 5

1 The Howard Sand Plains is one of the rarest 3 Sarah Pirrie and a group of artists visit the 5 Rare plants and animals live among sedges ecosystems in Northern Australia. site during springtime. at the sandplains. 2 The threatened Utricularia hamiltonii. 4 Grass plant species, Eriocaulon schultzii and 6 Artist Sarah Pirrie created “U. hamiltonii carnivorous plant, Drosera petiolaris. environs” as part of the exhibition.

6

26 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 TEXT Katie Weiss Arts, science merge IMAGES Sarah Pirrie Angus and Rose Cameron in micro-world Kate Freestone

SARAH PIRRIE explores experience as an artist, Ms Pirrie enrolled on microscopic aquatic animals aer nature through artistic in a Bachelor of Environmental Science capturing them in sacs attached to their at CDU to learn to communicate with roots and stems. collaborations with science. scientists at a deeper level. e group visited the site as part of an “As a citizen scientist, I wanted to initiative led by Nomad Art Gallery in know more,” she said. “Rather than Darwin, with its director Angus Cameron, work in our separate silos, we need to in collaboration with Greening Australia nd a new language to talk about our to raise awareness about the sand plains world as a shared environment and that through an art exhibition and workshops. really requires us to be able to talk to each other.” I think contemporary art Collaboration between artists and and science are following a scientists is not a new concept. e growth similar path. of the environmental art movement took o in the 1960s and 1970s, with Western artists and scientists collaborating to Ms Pirrie said she used her plant raise awareness about globally signicant identication skills while at the site and issues. But Ms Pirrie said contemporary was aided by her scientic knowledge Artist Sarah Pirrie. artists appeared to be more interested in about earth science, biodiversity and soil localised issues, such as the conservation analysis. “I can now look at the site with e orts for the Howard Sand Plains. a much more intense eye,” she said. “And ushwalkers could be forgiven for She said her scientic education it does give you a deeper perspective, walking straight past one of the assisted her from the moment she arrived because you’re not just looking at a pretty rarest ecosystems in Northern at the sand plains and her shoes sank picture or a ower arrangement.” BAustralia without realising it. into the tractable sandsheet heath. “e Since experiencing the scientic value At rst glance, the site east of Darwin thing that came through was the absolute and artistic beauty of the site, Ms Pirrie gives the impression of a common fragility of the site, to the point that we said she would continue to advocate for its grassland area, but below a layer of grassy almost felt we were damaging the site as conservation and help establish a Friends sedges is a micro-universe of diverse and we passed through,” Ms Pirrie said. of the Howard Sand Plains group. endangered species. Carnivorous plants, She and a group of artists and She said she also planned to re- toadlets and native owers are among scientists visited the site in springtime visit the site each year. And as with the secret occupants of the Howard Sand when its carnivorous plants, known as trips to the sand plains, Ms Pirrie said Plains in the Howard River region of the bladderworts (Utricularia), were in ower. collaborations between art and science Northern Territory. e tiny plants of various colours feast were opportunities not to be missed. At this spot, Charles Darwin University Sarah Pirrie said her science education (CDU) visual arts lecturer Sarah Pirrie Carnivorous plants and native owers live at helped her view the sand plains with an said she saw art reconciling with science. the Howard Sand Plains. intense eye. “I think contemporary art and science are following a similar path,” Ms Pirrie said. “Each component adds to this greater knowledge that we are developing to help us care for and nurture our planet.” But she said the two camps were divided by the lack of a common language. So in 2013, aer more than 25 years’

27 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Q & A

ANDREW CAMPBELL was a farm boy who fell into forestry INTERVIEW before becoming one of the leading proponents of Robyn McDougall sustainable agriculture in the country. IMAGE Kate Freestone

Q What impact did growing up on the letter of o er of a scholarship from the Q What do you consider to be the biggest family farm in western Victoria have on Minister for Forests (that my 17-year-old environmental issues facing Australia? you personally and professionally? self assumed the Minister had written A Climate change is the biggest A e farm, which my family settled personally), the decision was easy. overarching issue. But it is important in the 1860s, is bedrock for me. My I can’t say that studying forestry to recognise that we have signicant childhood was typical of farm kids in was a carefully evaluated option, but underlying problems with loss of our district: cycling down gravel roads to it suited me. e course was about biodiversity due to over-clearing, over- catch the bus to primary school, feeding land management for multiple uses grazing, habitat loss and fragmentation, stock, mustering sheep and cattle, working and values, combining botany, ecology changing re regimes and the in the shearing shed, making and carting and geology with management and introduction of pests and weeds. We hay, catching rabbits and selling the economics. e Creswick Diploma was also have a major underlying problem skins for pocket money, and as we got very practical; we students managed a with over-allocation and over-use of older, “borrowing” the ag bike to head o large area of State Forest, and eldwork groundwater and surface water resources. through the back paddocks to the bush, was compulsory three aernoons a Both our water and biodiversity where my cousin and I would explore re week, as was employment by the Forests challenges are amplied and exacerbated trails, develop our motocross skills and Commission during semester breaks. I by a warming, drying climate with more frighten the wildlife (all illegal of course as found insights from my forestry training extreme weather events and consequent we were too young to have a licence and that seemed applicable back home on the res, storms and oods. We need to tackle our farm bikes were unregistered in any farm, including unsettling questions about those issues more seriously than ever case). We experienced terrible droughts the long-term sustainability of traditional before, while at the same time shiing in 1967 and 1982, with empty dams, agriculture. our energy production from fossil fuels to starving stock and needing to cart water renewables and reversing the loss of native Q You’ve been Executive Director of Land for survival. vegetation. We are currently the world’s & Water Australia and were instrumental Without consciously thinking about highest per capita emitters of greenhouse in the development of Landcare, among it, I was aware of the contrast between gases, but we have tremendous natural other senior environment-related roles. our 500 hectares of carefully managed advantages in solar and wind (and Did you ever have an “ah-ha” moment that farmland – which, despite my father’s potentially tidal and geothermal) energy meant there was no turning back on a hard work, always seemed somewhat and sophisticated technological capacity. career in this eld? precarious economically given our lack of So we should be ahead of the curve in control over markets and weather – and A Vacation work at the end of rst decarbonising our economy, which will be the wild magnicence of the Grampians semester in rst year forestry involved a critical element of competitive advantage National Park just a mile or so from measuring growth rates in pine as this century unfolds. ere is, however, our back fence. I loved the bush and the plantations, which had been established enormous inertia vested in the status quo. constant but ever-changing backdrop of on former bushland. I realised quite e fossil fuel sector remains politically the mountainous horizon to our east. quickly that the industrial side of forestry potent, understandably self-interested and My last year of secondary school held no appeal for me – neither native seemingly determined to slow the uptake coincided with a collapse in wool prices, forest logging nor pine plantations. of renewables for as long as possible. and my father made it very clear that if I Luckily, the Hamer Government in Victoria at the time was initiating the wanted to go to university it would have We should be ahead of the Garden State program and promoting the to be on my own steam. My grandfather curve in decarbonising re-establishment of trees on farms, out of saw an advertisement in “e Age” for our economy. studentships at the Victorian School of concern about emerging salinity problems Forestry in Creswick that o ered full and land degradation more generally. board and tuition and a guaranteed job is was new territory for foresters but it So in my view, the single biggest on graduation. I thought foresters worked seemed natural to me and I moved quickly environmental challenge facing in the bush, so that sounded OK and I in that Landcare direction. So I guess my Australia is to break free from the applied and got an interview. When a “ah-ha” moment was the realisation that shackles of a 20th Century worldview rolled up certicate arrived in our farm I was much more interested in planting that posits environmental health and mailbox with a red wax seal and a signed trees on cleared land than cutting down economic health as competing and native forests. mutually exclusive public policy goals. 28 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 Q & A

Decarbonising our economy is a huge growth opportunity. Australia is well- placed to lead in one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy, creating high-quality jobs and high-value export opportunities.

Q How do you spend your time outside work? A Cycling and associated co ee adventures with a bunch of MAMILs (middle-aged men [and women] in lycra), dining, camping and bushwalking with friends and family, photography and travel. Unfortunately, I don’t get to spend as much time on my farm as I would like.

Q What makes you laugh? A Australia’s political cartoonists are exceptional. I love First Dog on the Moon, David Pope, Cathy Wilcox and David Rowe, and I very much enjoy political satire. Working Dog has produced masterpieces in e Hollowmen and Utopia, and I think John Clarke (e Games, and Clarke and Dawe) is a genius.

Q What are you reading at the moment? A Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I enjoy good political biographies, Scandinavian crime thrillers, and Peter Fitzsimons’ historical ction re-imagining epic events and people in Australian history. Wolf Hall has elements of all of these genres.

Q Who or what inspires you? A I’m inspired by what Don Watson calls “the noble art of rhetoric”, which unfortunately is all too rare these days. Noel Pearson’s eulogy at Gough Whitlam’s funeral is a ne example, as are the best speeches of Barack Obama and Paul Keating. Of course there is no guarantee that rhetoric will translate into ultimate achievement, as we can see with respect to both Keating and Obama (although I think that, like Whitlam, their legacies will grow in stature with passing decades). But I’m a sucker for well-craed rhetoric and soaring, eloquent delivery, and remain convinced that inspiration is a critical ingredient in the mix for human progress.

Professor Andrew Campbell, Director of the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods.

29 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 THE ART GALLERY

TEXT Heaven and Hell Joanna Barrkman Curator, Charles Darwin University Art Collection and Art Gallery

e family of Mr Christopher Hill (1944 2014) has made the exceptional donation of 30 Balinese artworks to the Charles Darwin University Art Collection. Chris was a collector and scholar of Balinese art and a respected member of the arts community of Fremantle, where he lived. Most of the donated artworks were featured in his Masters thesis, which was undertaken at Murdoch University, Western Australia, under the supervision of Professor Carol Warren. He later published his research ndings in Survival and Change: ree Generations of Balinese Painters, Pandanus Books and ANU Press, 2006. e donation to the CDU Art Collection includes works by I Ketut Liyer, (of Eat, Pray, Love fame), I Dewa Putu Mokoh, I Gusti Putu Sana and I Wayan Rajin. e donation includes ve temple cloths dating from 1939 to 2002. Chris traced the genesis of Balinese modern art back to temple cloths, which were the dominant painting form in Bali before the introduction of foreign painting mediums in the early to mid 20th Century. e Balinese adapted their painting to the mediums of Chinese ink on paper and painting with acrylic on canvas. In time they established regional oeuvres of art, including the Bantuan, Kamasan and Ubud styles, which continue today.

Heaven and Hell I Dewa Putu Mokoh (1936–2010) 1998 Pengosekan, Bali, Indonesia Chinese ink and acrylic on canvas 80 H × 70 W cm Gift of Mrs Mary Harrison Hill, 2016 Charles Darwin University Art Collection

30 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 THE ART GALLERY

Charles Darwin University Salon des Refusés, Art Gallery, building Orange 2016 12, ground oor 4 August–7 October 2016

e Salon des Refusés, a companion 1863, which was sponsored by the French Above A glimpse of Salon15. exhibition to the prestigious National Government and saw artists protesting the and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Salon jury’s rejection of more than 3000 (NATSIAA), showcases artworks that works, far more than usual. are submitted but not accepted into “Wishing to let the public judge the NATSIAA. legitimacy of these complaints,” said an is year is the rst time the exhibition ocial notice, Emperor Napoléon III is hosted by the CDU Art Gallery. It decreed that the rejected artists could is being presented by Darwin’s Paul exhibit their works in an annex to the Johnstone Gallery and Outstation – art regular Salon. from art centres. e CDU Art Gallery is open 10am e Salon des Refusés is generally an to 4pm Wednesday to Friday and 10am exhibition of works rejected by the jury to 2pm Saturday, and located in building of ocial awards but it is most famously Orange 12 on Casuarina campus. W www.cdu.edu.au/artgallery used to refer to the Salon des Refusés of

31 ORIGINS 1 / 2016 CDU PUBLISHING

An Introduction to Critical and Demography for Planning and Policy: Creative Thinking Australian Case Studies T. Brian Mooney (CDU), John N. Williams, Edited by Tom Wilson (CDU), Elin Charles- Steven Burik Edwards, Martin Bell Published 2016, paperback, McGraw-Hill Published January 2016, hardback, Springer Education, 409 pages, ISBN 9789814691260 International Publishing, 214 pages, ISBN 9783319221342 is book aims at equipping you with 21st Century key life skills that will drive is edited collection shows how your future employability, promotion demographic analysis plays a pivotal and career success. ese are required role in planning, policy and funding for e ective reasoning, writing and decisions in Australia. Drawing on decision-making in changing, evolving the latest demographic data and environments. If you work your way methods, these case studies in applied carefully through this book you will demography demonstrate that population become better at reasoning both in terms dynamics underpin the full spectrum of understanding and clarifying other of contemporary social, economic people’s arguments and also at producing and political issues. e contributors increasingly sophisticated and compelling harness a range of demographic statistics arguments of your own. You will learn and develop innovative techniques how to recognise common but oen demonstrating how population dynamics seductive mistakes in reasoning and so inuence issues such as electoral be empowered to avoid making these representation, the distribution of mistakes yourself. Your writing and oral government funding, metropolitan and presentations will improve and you will local planning, the provision of aged hone your ability to dene crucial terms in housing, rural depopulation, coastal argument, debate and discussion. As this growth, ethnic diversity and the wellbeing book is specically written with everyday of Australia’s Indigenous community. language considerations in mind, it is a Moving beyond simple statistics, the case valuable tool for anyone to understand, studies show that demographic methods evaluate and construct arguments in and models o er crucial insights into ordinary language. contemporary problems and provide essential perspectives to aid eciency, equity in public policy and private sector planning.

NORTHERN EDITIONS  STOCK SALE

A vibrant selection of limited edition prints, lithographs and even wood block prints, in created at the Northern Editions Print the Japanese!’ Studio, Casuarina campus, will be on sale Although Northern Editions ceased print over the coming months. production in late 2014, the remaining The prints have been created by Indigenous stock includes some exceptional artworks. and non-Indigenous artists from central The university continues to use the Australia and the Top End. The university printmaking facilities at CDU, Casuarina has appointed Ms Kellie Joswig to the role campus for Visual Arts teaching. Future of Northern Editions Project O cer. plans for Northern Editions Print Studio ‘There are some stunning prints and they will be announced early in 2017. In the will be for sale at extremely aordable meantime visit the Northern Editions prices. My role is to develop some pop-up website: Kinyu, E. Nampitjin, 2013, etching and sales outlets around Darwin. We are hoping W [email protected] aquatint. to have a presence at the Darwin Aboriginal Image produced courtesy of Warlayirti Art Art Fair, the CDU Waterfront Building and to nd our pop-up sales locations or contact Centre. at Casuarina campus. The prints include Kellie Joswig: Photography by Fiona Morrison. screen-prints, linoleum cuts, etchings, E [email protected]

32 ORIGINS 1 / 2016