March/April 2007

La Trobe UNIVERSITYBulletin Health dividend from cell La Trobe make-over University 40 years young La Trobe UNIVERSITY news Bulletin

IN THIS ISSUE La Trobe University – 40 years young 2 Report into credit disputes 3 Global Finance Conference 3 Corporate sustainability planning 4 Help for horticultural industries 5 Communication link with Mildura 5 Re-building tsunami-affected communities 6 Women’s honour roll 6 Research in Action La Trobe University Should I eat the fish I catch? 7 Understanding cell make-over 8&9 First trial of caseload midwifery 10 – 40 years young New Director of Health Sciences at Bendigo 11 Forty years ago this March, breakthroughs in science and become leading Abortion link with partner violence 11 La Trobe University was writers, composers and environmentalists. ‘We have much to be proud of at La Trobe 40th Anniversary officially opened. University,’ Professor Parish concluded. La Trobe – a genial gentleman 12 ‘Building on our reputation and tradition of Changing roles for rom a modest initial intake of 552 excellence, La Trobe is well positioned for changing times 13 students in 1967, the University future success.’ Master Plan has served well 14 has grown into what we know it • The ART of turning forty 16 to be today – one of the country’s Fleading and highly regarded universities, home to more than 26,000 undergraduate La Trobe - the Man and postgraduate students including approximately 3,000 international students and the Institution from more than 90 countries. As part of its 40th Anniversary Year Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roger the University honoured the life of its Parish said: ‘The 40th Anniversary is a namesake in a public lecture, La Trobe distinct milestone for the University and we the Man – La Trobe the Institution: can marvel at the vision of our founders and Two Histories. the achievements of our staff and students Chaired by historian, Professor over that short timeframe, creating a Marilyn Lake, the guest speakers were University that is recognised internationally Dr Dianne Reilly, La Trobe Librarian for the quality of its graduates and the at the State Library of Victoria and excellence of its research. author of Charles Joseph La Trobe: La Trobe University – ‘La Trobe has attained a world-class The Making of a Governor; and 40 years young, see research reputation in numerous fields. two former La Trobe historians, Dr stories pages 12-16. The University consistently translates its William Breen and Professor John Cover background: research achievements into addressing Salmond – see reports pages 12-16. La Trobe University’s social, economic and environmental issues, Other activities for staff and students Bundoora campus working in close collaboration with industry during construction in during the anniversary week included a the late 1960s. and community. The University has many ‘Short Flicks Retrospective’ on student Design Greg Nelson. joint research activities, including significant theatre and film, a historical photo international collaboration. exhibition, ‘Reflections on La Trobe’, The La Trobe University Bulletin is published ten times a ‘These past 40 years, 117,278 students year by Marketing & Promotions, La Trobe University. a debate between staff and students Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. have graduated from La Trobe University. and a trivia night: ‘Blast from the Past Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, Many of these graduates have chosen to –1967 Onwards’. La Trobe University, Victoria. 3086 Australia Tel: (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 work overseas in more than 100 countries Plans are also underway for other Email: [email protected] and are making a significant impact in local, Articles: Ernest Raetz, Rhonda Dredge, staff and student activities on each Adrienne Jones national and international communities. campus throughout the Anniversary Photos: La Trobe University PDI Design: Campus Graphics, 77100 ‘Amongst other things, our graduates year. Details will be posted on the 40th La Trobe University. run Australia’s top banks and publishing Printed by Work & Turner. anniversary web page. • Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin houses, have made internationally-hailed

 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 news Report into credit disputes

Call for better education, regulation and support

La Trobe University study has recommended education campaigns Atargeted at credit providers to help them handle complaints, and at vulnerable consumers to increase their awareness of services that can assist with credit problems. The study – Dispute Resolution for Credit Consumers – calls for consideration of additional regulation, both for the credit industry’s internal handling of complaints and for external The La Trobe study reviewed ‘fairly’ satisfied. Of the 40 per also considered benchmarks dispute resolution. It also VCAT and CAV credit dispute cent who were dissatisfied, for dispute resolution and recommends consideration be files and surveyed consumers 30 per cent were ‘very complaints handling, and made given to industry-based external for their impressions about dissatisfied’. Some consumers recommendations based on dispute resolution schemes. matters such as fairness considered it an impersonal best practice standards. The report was prepared of process and outcome, environment and said at times It concludes that additional by a team headed by La Trobe timeliness, accessibility, cost its processes were confusing. research is needed into credit University Law Professor, and effectiveness. It said user CAV was mostly perceived disputes involving ‘vulnerable Tania Sourdin, a specialist in satisfaction was a criterion in as friendly and helpful. For consumers in vulnerable alternative dispute resolution. determining whether or not a example, the majority of regions’. The way in which It was launched in March by process was effective. the interviewees felt that consumer credit matters the Victorian Minister for Professor Sourdin said CAV got at the facts (77.6 are handled in Magistrate Consumer Affairs, VCAT was generally perceived per cent), was impartial courts also required further Mr Daniel Andrews. as fair and that outcomes had (83.7 per cent), and examination. Apart from speeding up and met expectations: 60 per cent produced a fair outcome • streamlining current processes, of the sample was ‘very’ or (73.2 per cent). The report the report also suggests re- establishing the consumer credit ‘hotline’ for debt counselling and advice about disputes, China focus for Global Finance Conference and the funding of legal aid representation through he President of of Law and Management China and the rest of the VCAT, the Victorian Civil and China’s Economic for leading finance world, spoke on China’s Administrative Tribunal. T Cooperation Center, professionals, educators, and future economic reforms. Professor Sourdin said Mr Cao Baijun, and former policy makers. The theme of Professor the study analysed the Director-General of the Conference organiser, Moore’s presentation was the effectiveness, accessibility and World Trade Organisation, La Trobe Law School Head impact of globalisation with procedural fairness of dispute La Trobe University Adjunct Professor Gordon Walker, reference to the rise of China. resolution processes offered Professor Mike Moore, were said it was attended by nearly The two other keynote through VCAT and Consumer the keynote speakers at the 200 delegates, and papers speakers were Dr Geof Affairs Victoria (CAV). It was 14th Annual Global Finance were presented by speakers Stapledon, Managing designed to assist policy makers, Conference in early April. from more than 37 countries. Director, Institutional the Department of Justice, CAV, Held in Australia for the Mr Cao Baijun, whose Shareholder Services, VCAT and credit consumers first time, the conference centre fosters business to ensure processes function as was hosted by the Faculty co-operation between Continued page 4 effectively as possible.

La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007  news

Companies need to know more about sustainability planning

A study into corporate Her research team helped industry itself in promoting sustainability the water company develop reporting, the reporting team coordinator’s responsibility has a sustainability report and role on the industry sustainability task revealed a lack of integrate those issues into force, as well as competition from other knowledge about how decision making to improve water companies.’ sustainability performance. Professor Adams carried out a joint ‘sustainability goals’ and ‘And we gained insights into study last year into sustainability ‘best practice’ how the process of preparing a reporting by 200 UK and Australian sustainability report can lead to firms. It found that more than two thirds can be integrated into improved performance and the of companies in Australia provided strategic planning. hurdles faced by organisations in no quantified data on performance or doing so.’ identifed specific targets for these areas. Led by La Trobe University Apart from insufficient knowledge She said the long-term survival Professor of Accounting, Carol Adams, about how to integrate sustainability goals and international competitiveness of it was carried out over several months in and practice into strategic planning, the Australian companies depended on their a water company and will be published researchers found other impediments ability to limit social and environmental later this year in the international included lack of experience in engaging risks, attract and retain the best employees Accounting Auditing and Accountability stakeholders in the reporting process; and build trust in their relationships Journal. The research examined difficulty in choosing between reporting with stakeholders. issues companies face in preparing guidelines; and confusion between ‘sustainability’ or ‘responsibility’ ‘To do this, they need to financial and economic indicators relating be aware of their social reports. It was conducted with Dr Patty to sustainability. McNicholas from Monash University. and environmental Professor Adams said pressures for impacts so that they Professor Adams said the academic- greater corporate responsibility and can act on them.’ business partnership which made this sustainability in the water company were • study possible had a twofold purpose being driven by the State as owner, the – and achieved a positive outcome for the CEO and managers. Professor Adams organisation involved. ‘There is also the role of the water

Continued from page 3 Professor Walker said conference banking and Islamic finance and featured subjects ranged from banking, a legal and regulatory stream. Australia, who spoke on governance insurance, multinational finance, interest Accredited by the Chartered and investment issues related to listed rates, corporate governance, financial Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute for its infrastructure funds, asking: ‘Do they crises management to currency issues, members world-wide, it was held under turn governance on its head?’ and Dr emerging markets, privatisation, ethics the auspices of the Global Finance Don Brash, former Governor of the and social responsibility and legal and Association. The Association solicits Reserve Bank of New Zealand and regulatory issues. innovative ideas and research studies in Leader of the National Party, who The conference also offered a Mandarin global finance and related disciplines. addressed Foreign Direct Investment • language session, dealt with interest-free from the host country perspective.

 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 regions Joint move to help horticultural industries

s part of its goal of translating research, delivered the occasional address importance for industries such as citrus achievements in research on the importance of scientific research to cropping where fruit size is dependent on and scholarship to help the regional Australia. seed set,’ Ms Kay said. social and economic needs of He said horticultural growers faced Honours science student, Allison communities,A La Trobe University is a major issues affecting markets, price and Hogg, spoke about her research on tannin member of an innovative horticultural production, and he encouraged industry accumulation in the skins of Cabernet research network in the Sunraysia- and the community to support further Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes. Her Riverland region. postgraduate research in the region. project was carried out at the Victorian Known as Riverlink.PRN – the ‘There’s a pressing need to attract Department of Primary Industries’ Irymple Riverlink Postgraduate Research Network young scientists and researchers to the Research Station and on La Trobe’s – it encourages regional postgraduate Sunraysia-Riverland region and to work Melbourne campus at Bundoora. research in agriculture through assistance with Riverlink industries to help solve She said: ‘Everyone can recognise with funding and mentoring. problems and generate new opportunities, tannin in red wine, from the dry-mouth The network was launched in July 2001 Dr Peacock said. feeling after drinking. It’s an important by Sir Gustav Nossal, and since then has ‘When faced with adversity, we often component of wine quality. If we can been involved in seeing to completion have no choice but to reconsider the way identify when tannin formation occurs the work of three PhD and seven honours we do things. Climate change, water in grapes, we can develop strategies to students. It currently assists seven scarcity, economics and industry forces manage tannins in the vineyard.’ • doctoral and one honours student. are placing unprecedented demands on Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor our horticulture and viticulture industries. Roger Parish said: ‘Riverlink.PRN ‘Growers are creatively reassessing Communication provides a wonderful opportunity for current practices, but it is likely that new gifted students to work with distinguished technologies and new varieties will be link with Mildura researchers and experience the application needed to ensure future success. Close of research to the solution of specific working partnerships between researchers, La Trobe University has problems, and the uptake of these growers and government agencies will be launched a new state-of-the-art solutions by end-users. Such experience integral to this process,’ he said. microwave communication link for is exceptionally valuable for their voice, data, video-conferencing and future careers.’ streaming video between the main Riverlink.PRN recently held its major Research for fruit Melbourne campus at Bundoora and regional Showcase for community its Mildura campus. leaders, growers and school students, to and wines Mildura’s remoteness and the lack coincide with the University’s Mildura At the Riverlink.PRN Showcase, of competitive ICT infrastructure graduation ceremony where 78 students La Trobe PhD student, Pippa Kay providers to the region meant the were awarded their qualifications. – who is based at CSIRO Plant Industry link was built with special assistance Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Jim in Merbein – spoke about her work of $1.9 million in Commonwealth Peacock, who advises the Australian investigating the function of a gene, DEST Capital Development Pool Government on known as Houdini, which is involved in infrastructure funding. plant reproduction. The University contracted ATI ‘The aim is (Aust) to erect a network of 11 to explore towers and microwave dishes manipulation ranging from .6 to 2.4 m diameter of seed set and along a 350km path from Bendigo to fruit size in Mildura to enable connection to the horticultural La Trobe backbone network, which plants. This already extends from Melbourne to is of great Bendigo, Shepparton, Beechworth and Wodonga. Mildura Campus Director, Mr Ron Broadhead, said the new link, running at a speed of over 100 megabits per second, now Riverlink.PRN provides the Mildura campus with students high speed, reliable communication Ms Hogg, left, and Ms Kay with services to Bundoora and then on to Dr Peacock. all La Trobe campuses. •

La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007  people Women’s Re-building tsunami- Honour roll

affected communities La Trobe University Professor of Public Health, Pranee Liamputtong, andula Gamage may seem like with died in the tsunami and a lot of was inducted into the Victorian Honour any other postgraduate research businesses were ruined. It took four Roll of Women as part of International P student at La Trobe – but his months for the bank to reopen its doors. Women’s Day. journey is particularly inspiring. ‘Thanks to governments, The award recognises Professor On Boxing Day 2004, his country, international donors, NGOs and the Liamputtong’s pioneering work on Sri Lanka, was hit by a tsunami, community, I think that Sri Lanka childbirth issues affecting immigrant which caused more than 35,000 has now returned to some sense women, as well as her leadership in deaths, displaced about one million of normalcy, but there are still the qualitative research methodology in people and deprived around 200,000 psychological effects to deal with health in Australia. people of their livelihood. for those who lost loved ones. Some A medical anthropologist, Professor It was one of the world’s largest housing and other infrastructure has Liamputtong specialises in studying natural disasters and La Trobe returned, but we are still dealing with the health of immigrants and refugees, University quickly established personal issues, such as tsunami- women’s health, mothers’ and children’s five scholarships for students from affected children.’ health, the health of older persons, as affected countries to help with long- Mr Gamage says Australia is an well as international health, reproductive, term reconstruction. excellent destination for his research. sexual and mental health. Mr Gamage was awarded the ‘Considering 96 per cent of all She is author of several text books scholarship for Sri Lanka and is businesses in Australia are small and a member of a range of advisory working for his PhD in the School of businesses, it makes for a good bodies. These include the Ministerial Business, focusing on the micro and research base. I would like to do a Advisory Council on Cultural and small business development in the comparative study in the future.’ Linguistic Diversity, Department tsunami affected districts of Sri Lanka. Mr Gamage arrived on the main of Human Services; the Research ‘I hope to use my thesis in a Melbourne campus at Bundoora Evaluation Committee at BreastScreen practical way at a policy level. last August and speaks highly of Victoria; and the National Centre for The topic will help the economic the quality of teaching and level of HIV Social Research at the University development of my country, because encouragement he has received at of New South Wales. small business is the engine for La Trobe. Previous Honour Roll inductees include growth,’ says Mr Gamage. He also appreciates the cultural Victorian Police Commissioner, Christine ‘By offering this scholarship, diversity among students and staff. Nixon, Olympian, Cathy Freeman, Dame La Trobe University has not only ‘The atmosphere at La Trobe strives Elizabeth Murdoch, former La Trobe shown sympathy to our country, to make all students feel comfortable Chancellor, Emeritus Professor which is home to many of its present academically, socially and culturally. Nancy Millis and La Trobe historian, and past students and some of its staff Australians are very friendly and easy Professor Marilyn Lake. • members, but has also participated in going,’ he said. long-term restructuring efforts.’ • At the time of the tsunami, Mr Award for IT Gamage was a branch manager with the National Development Bank of Sri contributions Lanka. Many of the people he dealt Associate Professor in Computer Science and Computer Engineering, Dr Karl Reed, has won the Computing Research and Education Association of Australasia Distinguished Service Award. CORE is the key professional association for academic computer scientists in Australia and New Zealand. The award, made every two years, recognises academics for long-term excellence and commitment to the IT sector through their public contributions, leadership, academic success and community service. •

 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 Research in action

Should I eat the fish I catch?

The State Government younger fish are safer because they are bream, snapper, whiting, flathead, salmon, likely to have less pollutants than larger fish. mullet, mulloway, eels and shellfish. has issued guidelines for Dr Priscilla Robinson, an The survey was carried out parallel to Melbourne’s rivers based on epidemiologist with the School of Public an EPA study of contamination of fish a La Trobe University study. Health, says this was the first survey of from various recreational fishing sites to the habits of recreational fishermen on the probe this potential problem in more detail. Concern that people who fish regularly Melbourne metropolitan river system. The EPA study showed that levels were at along the Lower Yarra and Maribyrnong ‘Fish contamination has been an area limits considered generally safe, but the Rivers could be putting themselves at of public health concern for many years,’ Department took the precaution of issuing health risk by consuming their catch led she says. ‘Chisso-Minamata disease in advice to people who fish in the area. to a study by public health researchers at Japan is an extreme example of what can A number of chemicals can build up La Trobe University. happen. A chemical factory had a big in fish, the main culprits being PCBs The results of the study have spill into the waterway, the accident was (polychlorinated biphenyls). provided information to enable the State covered up and many children were born PCBs were used from the 1930s to the Department of Human Services to issue with deformities.’ 1970s in industrial products. They have recommendations for safe eating of fish Dr Robinson supervised the study been phased out, but persist for a long time caught by recreational fishers. which was undertaken by one of the in the environment. PCBs can build up in The survey established that almost fifty Victorian Public Health Training Scheme the human body and affect the hormonal recreational anglers had eaten fish from fellows as part of her assessment. and immune systems. In the body of the rivers during a one month period and ‘We needed to know what level of a pregnant woman, they can affect the that meals were shared with potentially toxins were in the fish and how people development of the child’s brain. high-risk groups – women of child- caught and used them,’ Dr Robinson says. Dr Robinson says the study was bearing age and children. She helped research fellow Alex Devine- a ‘nice example of proactive public Women of child-bearing age and Thompson design data collection tools and health research which seeks to protect children should not eat eels and should construct a database for the project. our community from environmental health problems’. limit their intake of fish from urban rivers Miss Thompson spent several weekends • to one serve per month, the Department interviewing people fishing at favourite For more information about eating recommends. Other people could limit Melbourne spots, including the Warmies fish safely, contact the Environmental their intake to four serves a month. on the Maribyrnong. Heath Unit, Department of Human A brochure Should I Eat the Fish I Catch? She found that two-thirds of her sample Services on 1300 761 874. gives instructions on how to clean fish of eighty had caught fish over the past http://www.health.vic.gov.au/environment of its skin, fat and internal organs where month and that three-quarters of these chemicals are likely to concentrate. Smaller, consumed their catch. The species were

La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007  adaptor target protein AAA+ unfoldase peptidase

Research in action

Renovator’s delight Understanding cell ‘make-over’ may yield dividends in fight against degenerative disease.

ver the past couple of decades, plasterboard and glass, cells break up old Oas the economic environment molecules – typically the proteins which has changed, we’ve become used regulate cellular activity – and make new to the sight of old factories, and different replacements from the bits warehouses and office blocks and pieces they recover. being turned into flats or town houses. Often, the outer It’s a process which structure of the building is demands the biochemical left intact, but the interior is equivalent of a jackhammer dismantled and remodelled. Some of the building materials and recycling yard. are reused, while the rest are These exist in the form of proteases, recycled elsewhere or used the enzymes which dismantle proteins, as landfill. and in disassembly machines – structures Such renovation and built from protein subunits which control recycling happens in the access to and flow through the living systems too. degradation process. As cells develop or ‘Until recently it was thought that encounter different the regulation of cellular activities all environments, they happened at the level of activating genes are constantly and constructing new proteins,’ says Dr changing to Kaye Truscott of the La Trobe University adapt to the Biochemistry Department. ‘People new conditions. tended to ignore the possibility that Instead of protein remodelling and degradation were rearranging Dr Truscott, right, important events as well.’ and Dr Dougan. bricks and mortar,

 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 adaptor adaptor target proteintarget protein AAA+ unfoldaseAAA+ unfoldase peptidasepeptidase

Research in action

contains seven active sites which can break apart the links in the chain of amino acids which forms a protein. Sitting on top of the peptidase is another barrel- shaped protein, the central chamber of which leads through a strategically-sized pore into the peptidase chamber. The protein antechamber is known as an unfoldase. Proteins depend on their shape for their activity. When they are produced, like delicate works of origami, they fold up in a highly specific way. Before they can be chopped up and recycled, they must be unfolded. That’s the job of the unfoldase, which then feeds the unfolded chain into the peptidase. But even before that, the protein must approach the unfoldase in the correct orientation. Some are recognised directly by the unfoldase and pulled into the machine. Others bind to a designated region of the unfoldase, and by doing so are pointed in the right direction. More ‘These molecular machines sculpt the Alzheimer’s disease and motor neurone typically an adaptor protein binds to the cell’s response to its enviroment,’ says her disease. Although the project is purely unfoldase and does the job of capturing scientific partner, Dr David Dougan. And curiosity driven at this stage, it is not hard the right protein and guiding it into the they also act as a quality control system, to see that it may provide considerable machine at the right time. able to dispose of proteins which have health dividends in the future. Why so complicated? It’s to ensure been damaged, incorrectly put together or The researchers are well suited to the only those proteins that are defective or are otherwise faulty. project through their past experience. unwanted are chopped up and destroyed. Otherwise proteolytic machines could adaptor target protein AAA+ unfoldase peptidase wreak havoc. And the presence of the adaptor proteins means that the machine can be retooled for different proteins when the pressures of development of The pair of researchers came back from Dr Truscott spent more than five years environment change demand. Germany in 2004 as Queen Elizabeth at the University of Freiburg, Germany, II Fellows to establish a laboratory working on the complex machineries In their successful ARC grant application at the University supported by a five that transport proteins into mitochondria. Drs Dougan and Truscott have outlined year Discovery Project Grant from the Dr Dougan also worked at Freiburg, a program of research to investigate Australian Research Council to study on bacteria and how they break down the operation of these machines in protein quality control in bacteria. With the proteins. He then moved to the University mitochondria. It includes checking to see help of a second grant from the Australian of Heidelberg where he became interested how prevalent they are and identifying Research Council, they are now embarking in adaptor proteins, which bind to the the proteins they process and exactly how on a significant new line of study into disassembly machines and help deliver they handle them. ‘As far as mitochondria the operation of protein disassembly specific proteins to them. go, we are only at the start of the journey to understand the importance of these or proteolytic machines – their role in Interestingly, mitochondria themselves machines,’ says Dr Dougan. maintaining the function of the cell’s are thought to have originated from an energy factories known as mitochondria. ancient free-living bacteria that became But the team already has a lead. The In addition to producing the energy to trapped inside a host cell. Mitochondria group recently identified a protein in power all cellular activities, mitochondria and bacteria share many features in mammalian mitochondria which interacts play an important role in cell suicide, common, and mitochondria even possess specifically with the mitochondrial in detoxifying reactive compounds and their own DNA formed into a typically unfoldase, mtClpX. This molecule also in making important molecules. So the circular bacterial chromosome. And their associates with two proteins known impact on cells of any disruption to the proteolytic machines are both formed to form part of the mitochondrial operation of the mitochondria can be from proteins belonging to the AAA+ chromosome. In fact, it is behaving dire. It’s not surprising that dysfunctional superfamily – ATPases associated with a suspiciously like an adaptor protein. Now mitochondria have been implicated in variety of cell activities. it’s just a matter of years of painstaking research to trace just how it fits in with many serious human diseases often The heart of a bacterial proteolytic the rest of the machinery to operate associated with ageing, particularly machine is a barrel-shaped protein called the mitochondria’s wrecking yard and conditions involving the degeneration a peptidase. Around its internal chamber recycling works. – Tim Thwaites of neurons, such as Parkinson’s disease, are ranged two rings, each of which •

La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007  Research in action

First Australian trial of Caseload Midwifery

r Helen University’s Mother and Child women and midwives. McLachlan, a Health Research Centre, the ‘Midwives and women have Dsenior lecturer in Royal Women’s Hospital and the the opportunity to establish a La Trobe’s School Karolinska Institute in Sweden, relationship during pregnancy. of Nursing and have received a grant of $583,000 The primary midwife is on call Midwifery, from the National Health and for labour and works with one or and a team Medical Research Council to two other midwives who meet the from the conduct the first randomised trial woman and do an antenatal check of caseload midwifery in Australia. during pregnancy. The trial’s main aim is to ‘In this way there is back up if evaluate whether caseload needed, for example if the primary midwifery decreases the number midwife is on leave when labour of caesarean births compared begins.’ with ‘standard’ care. The number of instrumental vaginal births, A fulltime midwife usually perineal trauma, and induction of cares for more than forty labour will also be examined. women a year. It will also compare postnatal depression, maternal satisfaction ‘However,’ says Dr McLachlan, with care, and duration of ‘the model has been subjected breastfeeding, as well as to little rigorous evaluation in costs, and the health Australia or internationally, and if a outcomes for mothers new type of care is to be introduced, and babies. it is important that we evaluate the Dr McLachlan outcomes for mothers and babies says it is the first as well as the sustainability of the trial of its kind in midwifery workforce.’ Australia, and Half the women in the study will only the third be randomly allocated to receive in the world. the caseload model of care during Called COSMOS their pregnancy, with the remainder – COmparing on standard care. Standard ‘It is important to evaluate the Maternity care model in this way as we do not with One-on- know at the moment which type of one midwifery care is better,’ Dr McLachlan says. Support – it ‘It should take two years to recruit will recruit 2,000 women for the trial, and three women from three years for the results to be available. hospitals. They are the Royal Women’s Other members of the team Hospital, Monash are Dr Della Forster, Ms Mary- Medical Centre, and Ann Davey, Ms Lisa Gold and Casey Hospital. Professor Judith Lumley from the La Trobe Mother and Child Dr McLachlan explains that Health Research Centre; Ms Tanya in the caseload midwifery model Farrell and Dr Jeremy Oats from of maternity care, women are the Royal Women’s Hospital; and looked after by a primary midwife Professor Ulla Waldenström from throughout pregnancy, birth and the Karolinska Institute. the early postnatal period to • ensure continuity of carer for both

10 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 health

New Director of Health Sciences at Bendigo

Acting Dean of Health Sciences, Dr Kenny said ‘grassroots Professor Hal Swerissen, said the new position was an exciting development for engagement’ was critical for the region and added a new dimension of developing health science academic leadership. programs to meet the needs of Dr Kenny, a registered nurse for 20 regional communities. years before embarking on an academic career, has a wealth of teaching, research, ‘We need the people on the ground to and clinical expertise. She has been a let us know the issues they are facing.’ lecturer at the Bendigo campus since 2000 She has planned workshops to bring and was Head of the Bendigo School of health representatives together to identify Nursing from 2004 to 2007. key areas where the University may assist She will work with health agencies, healthcare research. local government and community Dr Kenny is passionate about increasing representatives to strengthen health care opportunities for access to higher r Amanda Kenny has been opportunities and local services. education, particularly for mature-aged appointed inaugural Director of people already working in healthcare. Health Sciences at the Bendigo The new Oral Health degree and D introduction of Physiotherapy at the campus to help build the skills of the ‘I know from my own experience region’s healthcare workforce. Bendigo campus have been significant as a mother of four, working full-time achievements for the region. The campus and studying, how important it is to An Associate Professor in the Faculty of also offers unique programs including have access to strong local health Health Sciences, her role is to strengthen an Environmental Health stream in the education programs. I could not have University - community partnerships Public Health and Nursing degrees and a achieved what I have, if I had to travel to and increase teaching programs and nationally recognised Social Work degree. Melbourne to study.’ collaborative research. •

Strong abortion link with partner violence

artner violence is the strongest privately insured. The secondary may have little control over sex or predictive factor of whether young analysis of data from the Australian contraception in abusive relationships. P women with unwanted pregnancies Longitudinal Study of Women’s ‘You could say that young women don’t will choose to terminate, a study by Health, by Angela Taft and Lyndsey feel they have the right to say no. La Trobe University has found. Watson, of Mother and Child Health ‘What can society do about this The study of 9,683 young Research, La Trobe University, was problem?’ Dr Taft asks. ‘The message Australian women aged 22 to 27 published in April in the Australian is that if we want to reduce the rate of found that those reporting either and New Zealand Journal of Public abortion and unwanted pregnancy in teenage abortions or abortions later Health. It seeks to fill a national gap Australia, especially among teenagers, in their twenties, were more than three in abortion statistics, by describing we need to reduce violence against times as likely to have been abused the characteristics of young Australian women. Also healthcare providers and by a partner than those who didn’t women who terminate pregnancies. pregnancy counselling services terminate their pregnancies. ‘Women experiencing violence and should ask women seeking The study also found that young abuse can be subject to coercive sex and terminations about their experiences Australian women who terminated unprotected intercourse, leading to a of partner abuse and, if necessary, pregnancies were more likely to be higher rate of unplanned and unwanted refer them to supportive agencies.’ • disadvantaged – from low-income pregnancies,’ say the authors. families, less-educated and not Dr Taft says that young women

La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 11 40th anniversary La Trobe – a genial gentleman

By Dianne Reilly

pioneering administrator, Charles Joseph La Trobe, Victoria’s first Lieutenant - Governor came as Superintendent in 1839 to Port APhillip, a primitive, underdeveloped and underpopulated colony, and left it in 1854 as the then most affluent city in the world. La Trobe was, and remains, a profoundly controversial figure in Victoria’s history. From the day he set foot on the soil of Port Phillip, there was a distance between him and the colonists due to the fact that they did not understand each other. Fundamental to his thoughts, words and actions were his spirituality and his evangelicalism. He was certain about his civilising mission in this outpost of empire, while the colonists had one major preoccupation – to improve their material lot in life. La Trobe was born on 20 March, 1801, in London, of Huguenot origin, the son of an accomplished musician, composer and Moravian missionary active in the anti- slavery movement. He was a gifted artist and amateur scientist who found topography fascinating. After his schooling, he left England in 1824 for Neuchâtel in Switzerland where he became a tutor, a keen alpinist noted for his skill as a mountaineer and wrote his first book, The Alpenstock. State, where he met Sophie, one of Montmollin’s thirteen children. They were Unexpectedly, he found married in 1835. himself in the occupation Taking advantage of the contacts of his of travel writer, rambling well-connected family, he came to the attention of the Colonial Office in London again in the Tyrol, Italy and and was posted to the West Indies, at Switzerland where he wrote that time in great turmoil following the the book The Pedestrian. emancipation of 700,000 slaves. His reports to the British Parliament so In 1832 he began a tour of North impressed that, in January 1839, he was America which resulted in The Rambler offered an appointment in Australia – as in North America. During this tour, he Superintendent of the newly settled Port met his cousins, sons of Benjamin Henry Phillip District of NSW. Charles Joseph La Trobe, a gifted artist, La Trobe, the architect responsible for the Accompanied by Sophie and their two amateur scientist and travel writer, redesign of the Capitol Building and the shown above in an 1851 engraving, year old daughter, Agnes, La Trobe arrived White House in Washington. and below, in an official portrait by Sir in Melbourne that year, with none of the Frances Grant, 1855. Next he ventured to Mexico, visited training and experience which usually by few Europeans, and recorded this in qualified a man for such an administrative The Rambler in Mexico. Returning to role. The typical colonial governor had a Switzerland in 1834, he was guest of Frederic de Montmollin, a Councillor of Continued page 14

12 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 40th anniversary

When La Trobe University started teaching in 1967, there was no particular expectation Changing roles that our student body would be significantly different in origin or social composition from those of for changing times the city’s other institutions, and By John Salmond for the first three years or so that seemed to be the case.

However, from the early 1970s this changed, and it became clear that, without having planned for it, we had come to serve a particular, and important, social purpose: that of providing higher education to first generation Victorians, the children of those waves of post-war European migrants. By the mid-1970’s, our enrolment statistics clearly reflected this trend. Well over half our students had at least one parent born overseas, and could thus be classified as coming from a migrant background, the highest percentage in the nation, although this has declined since the mid-1980s. La Trobe opened its doors during a period of considerable social upheaval. It was the ’60s, a time of global generational conflict, of political protest and challenge, and students were in the vanguard. Young people throughout the world were angered by the seemingly futile and brutal war in Vietnam, or intoxicated by the revolutionary ideology of Mao Tse Dung and his assault on Chinese traditions. Australian universities, like those elsewhere, became sites of protest. the chance of completing their secondary by our sister universities in Victoria, and La Trobe was no exception. Our first education could still gain entry. Allan eventually throughout the nation. Indeed, five years were turbulent ones indeed, Martin, the Foundation Professor of so successful have they been that just and there were many demonstrations on History and I came up with the notion. about every Australian institution has campus. It was not a particularly pleasant We took it to the then Vice-Chancellor, subsequently claimed credit for thinking of time, but it was transient. La Trobe, David Myers, who after much thought and it first! I chuckle when I hear or read such over the last decades, has been such a pipe-puffing, agreed that if we could get it claims – for I know the truth. quiescent place, relatively speaking, that it through Academic Board and Council, 20 One thing Martin and I did get wrong takes an effort of will to recall these rather places in the School of Humanities could was our expectation of the gender and turbulent beginnings. be reserved for students without the HSC, social origins of our first applicants, and From the start, La Trobe was an as the VCE was then known, but who I think that reflected our own traditional innovative institution, open to new ideas had been selected on the basis of written cast of mind. We expected them to – in governance; in modes of teaching, as applications and in-depth panel interviews. be male and working class – ‘horny- we tried to get away from the traditional The result was extraordinary. We had handed sons of toil’ seeking to better lecture form in favour of small tutorial hundreds of applicants. Four of the first 20 themselves. They were not. They were groups; and in student selection. I can’t went on to gain PhDs, some now work in overwhelmingly women, usually middle- discuss all of these, but I do want to give the highest reaches of the public and private class, often married with families, who one example, partly because I was heavily sectors, all achieved results far above the had been denied the chance of completing involved in it, and it is the contribution to University average. And so it continued; the their secondary education, let alone going this place that I remain most proud of. Early Leavers Scheme, as it had become to the university, by the prevailing notion We became the university of the Second known – or variants of it – was adopted Chance – a place to which folk denied by other schools and faculties at La Trobe, Continued page 14

La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 13 40th anniversary

Continued from page 13 of higher education were strongly more balanced one. encouraged to merge institutions, The last decade has been that of that girls did not need to bother with faculties and facilities, and this La Trobe’s internationalisation. We have such things. Unwittingly, we gave them dramatically affected us in two main developed programs in North America, a chance to seize what had been denied ways. First, we gained regional in Europe and in Asia. We are part of a them – and seize it they did! campuses. global network of universities facilitating We were innovative in all sorts of Second, through our amalgamation the exchange of staff, students and other ways. For example, we were with the Lincoln Institute, now the subjects. We hold graduation ceremonies determined that every part of the campus School of Health Sciences, we gained all over the globe. Above all, we are would be accessible to students with an important vocational component, Australia’s leading provider of tertiary physical disabilities. La Trobe was and this both reflected and encouraged education in China. Certainly, a stroll in the vanguard of much of what are the trend to repositioning within the around the University’s central Agora now routine equality of opportunity established schools; the development of at Bundoora, or even a look around a requirements. vocational courses within all of them, but lecture hall, provides dramatic testimony Then came what I term ‘The Period particularly in Business and Economics; to this world-wide engagement. • of Repositioning’. This began in the the consequent diminution of the vast Emeritus Professor John Salmond late1980s, and often derived from Humanities and Social Science faculties, is a foundation professor of History the higher education reforms of the and their eventual merging. at La Trobe and former Acting Vice- Minister for Education in the Hawke Repositioning was inevitably Chancellor and Chair of the Academic Labor Government, John Dawkins. unsettling and painful, but it did result Board at the University. Universities and other institutes in both an expanded institution and a

the dominant and most far-reaching In 1853 under La Trobe’s aegis, the A genial issue of La Trobe’s 15 years in Victoria. foundation stones for both the University La Trobe was described by the of Melbourne and the Public Library of gentleman Geelong Advertiser as ‘Our Victorian Victoria were laid. Czar’, a dictator imposing an unrealistic La Trobe was a patron, and often the continued from page 12 and impossible tax when no goldfield in instigator, of such cultural and learned 1851 had yet proven its wealth. bodies as the Philosophical Society, naval or military background. La Trobe now the Royal Society, the Mechanics’ was radically different: refined, sensitive, A meeting in August 1853 over a Institute, now Melbourne Athenaeum, cultured and learned. petition demanding civil rights for miners and signed by 5,000 miners was the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic On arrival, he found that Collins eventually followed by the tragedy of Society and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Street was the only road worthy of Eureka. The historian Geoffrey Serle Aware of his increasing unpopularity, the name. Elizabeth Street followed concluded that, when faced with the despite his considerable successes, a frequently-flooded creek bed, appalling difficulties of the times, La Trobe submitted his resignation on and Flinders Street was little better La Trobe had tried to ‘govern chaos 31 December, 1852. He was eventually than a bog. The water supply was on a scale to which there are few or no relieved of his post in May 1854 and inadequate and polluted. There was no parallels in British colonial history’. returned to Britain. town council; no development could He had, in fact, managed to keep the take place without revenue from the La Trobe died aged 74 in 1875 in colony for which he was responsible government in far-off Sydney. The only the village of Litlington near Eastbourne operating in circumstances ‘in which building of note was the gaol. in Sussex. A chapel, the Chapelle de the archangel Gabriel might have been l’Ermitage, was built to his memory Melbourne in 1839 was only four found wanting’. in Neuchâtel. years old, with a population of less than In the years he spent as administrator two thousand free settlers. While streets, towns, rivers and an of the colony, La Trobe made 94 major electorate bear his name, how fitting it La Trobe’s slowness to act on the journeys through country Victoria. He is that this fine University is named for question of separation from New charted routes, notably to Gippsland him – and that a full-scale bronze statue South Wales – he believed timing was to investigate a report of coal deposits, was recently erected to his memory on all-important – was misunderstood by and to Cape Otway where, after two the forecourt of the State Library. those clamouring for it. Separation was abortive attempts, he personally blazed • a great achievement for La Trobe and the trail to, and was responsible for Dr Reilly is La Trobe Librarian at the cause for universal celebration in the the erection of the light house on that State Library of Victoria and author of new colony of Victoria when it arrived. dangerous rocky promontory. Charles Joseph La Trobe: the Making No sooner had the advance news of La Trobe also made a significant of a Governor and Charles Joseph separation been received, than the single contribution to the cultural development La Trobe: Landscapes and Sketches. most revolutionary and momentous of the infant city of Melbourne, and This is an edited text of her La Trobe event in the history of the colony education was one of his major concerns. University 40th Anniversary Lecture. occurred. Gold was discovered, creating

14 La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 40th anniversary Master plan has served well By William Breen

La Trobe University started that early vision. 1970s the college concept had little support. The opening of the with a very ambitious vision To complement this new and very Australian environment, Simpson decided Student Union in 1973 serves as a of what it wanted to become. buildings would be relatively low, of physical manifestation of the demise of That original vision has been uniform colour and aim to fit into the the college concept. landscape. Cabling and wiring would go In the past two decades, there have been reshaped over the past forty underground. a number of developments that were not years and is reflected in its As originally conceived, the campus envisioned in the Master Plan. physical development. comprised a series of concentric rings, the One has been the growth of the inner ring with the library at its centre. University beyond its original outer In the 1950s there was increasing The first buildings constructed on the perimeter. The closure of the Mont Park recognition of the need to expand campus were the library, Glenn College and the Larundel mental hospitals north higher education. In Australia, the and the Thomas Cherry science building. of the campus was a growth opportunity Federal Government began to provide The two-level Agora in front of the seized by the University. One of the matching funds to the States to build new library was designed as a meeting place, hospital buildings now houses the universities. This was a new initiative a ‘clustered Bohemia’ with coffee shops, Michael J. Osborne Institute of Advanced as, up till that time, universities had been food shops, banks, and other outlets. Studies and a cluster of others has created virtually a second campus. This houses regarded solely as a State responsibility. The middle ring of the Master Plan was the Graduate School of Management and One of the first decisions of the to consist of the colleges. The college various research institutes and centres. committee appointed by the State concept was a key feature of the early Government to establish Victoria’s third University – unique in terms of Australian The other major change not envisioned university was the choice of site. Fifty university experience, where colleges are in the original Master Plan was the seven potential sites were considered and purely residential. development of regional campuses. Neither the five across northern Victoria, 27 were inspected. In December 1964, At La Trobe, the colleges, as originally nor the downtown Melbourne campus the Bundoora site was chosen – a dairy conceived, were to be much more than – which will move into the refurbished farm attached to the Mont Park Mental that: small communities of academic staff Argus building – were envisioned in Hospital which was rather bleak, swampy and students to break down what was 1965. These are major developments in the lower areas, and mostly treeless. felt to be the impersonal nature of the that are changing the University in quite Roy Simpson, a partner in the firm very large, older Australian universities. fundamental ways. of Yuncken Freeman Architects, was Students and staff were to be attached to appointed Master Planner in December a college; most teaching was to be done Yet, in all this change and 1964. La Trobe was expected to start in the colleges. development, the original teaching its first class of around 500 Master Plan has served students in 1967 and to have 10,000 What happened to this the University students within a decade. original vision? well. It proved flexible enough Simpson had two years to plan the The inner core of to cope with overall development of the University, the original plan has most of these oversee the design of the initial campus worked well. The developments. buildings and get them constructed for library remains the Roy Simpson, those first students in early 1967. focus of the life of the University who died The Bundoora site was re-imagined and the Agora, as a in 1997, and re-created in a number of ways that ‘clustered Bohemia’ would not remain clearly visible today. One is has succeeded be displeased the use of water: the excavation of the fairly well. with the way ornamental lakes and the moat system in which his The middle ring of through the central campus was one of the original Master the Master Plan has not Dr Simpson on campus. first projects. Designed for flood control, Plan has served the fared so well. The ambitious irrigation, and aesthetic pleasure, it has institution. been a wonderful success and identifying college concept died early. • La Trobe students wanted a single campus feature. Dr William Breen, a specialist in US union like students at other Australian A related success was the landscaping. labour history, is an Emeritus Scholar at universities. Academic staff also wanted Extensive tree plantings, mainly La Trobe and editor of Building La Trobe to replicate what they were used to, eucalypts, were undertaken. All who work University, published in 1989. namely academic departments built here, study or visit are beneficiaries of around specific disciplines. By the early

La Trobe University BULLETIN March/April 2007 15 turning The art of forty La Trobe University has La Trobe, Landmark by Charles Robb. Sculptor Charles Robb – who donated the launched a new Sculpture Park At its opening – by Robert Lindsay, work to La Trobe – said he was pleased it had Director of the McClelland Gallery and found a home at a university. ‘Universities on its main Melbourne campus Sculpture Park – La Trobe Chancellor, Sylvia are places for testing new ideas, where we as part of this year’s 40th Walton, said the statue’s ‘unique take’ on sometimes turn things on their head so we Victoria’s first Lieutenant Governor and this can gain a new perspective.’ Anniversary Celebrations. University’s namesake could be regarded as He said monuments were about fitting in with our own perceptions of doing remembering: so it was fitting that his It is also touring major works in things: the University had begun collecting controversial likeness of C J La Trobe was regional Victoria from its contemporary artworks before it was even built – by unveiled on the very day the University and 20th Century art collection as part of far-sighted people operating from planning remembered its opening 40 years ago, on the Anniversary. headquarters in St Kilda Rd in the mid 1960s. 8 March 1967. The Sculpture Park provides a permanent Already a quirky part of Melbourne’s public display of works collected since the public art history, Robb’s Landmark now University’s inception. It features 17 major looks down on Science Drive – reminding sculptures by leading artists including La Trobe students there’s more than one Leonard French, Inge King, Robert way of looking at things. While standing Klippel, Jock Clutterbuck, Herman Hohaus on his head on a University campus may and Bart Sanciolo and is the first fully not have been an epitaph La Trobe would integrated sculpture park of its kind in the have sought for himself, Charles Robb says northern suburbs of Melbourne. he meant it as a compliment. The touring art exhibition brings together ‘I wanted to set up a dialogue around this important works from the University notion of the Antipodean, and the more I collection that have not been seen publicly read about La Trobe the more I realised he for many years. They will be shown in was very much the enlightened gentleman communities throughout Victoria where (and) became fascinated with his vision.’ La Trobe has a presence. The exhibition opened in Mildura in March and from While the confronting work seeks to invert there travels to Bundoora, Bendigo and the concept of civic monuments – ‘I’m not Shepparton. It includes works by Charles sure civic memorials have any real function Blackman, John Coburn, Petrina Hicks, any more, I don’t know if we even believe Frank Hodgkinson and Roger Kemp. in heroes in the same way,’ says Robb – the University sees it as a good fit. Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roger Parish, said that with strong support from Landmark’s new home here is an the University as part of its educational obvious choice,’ says the Sculpture Park and cultural mission, art has been an catalogue. ‘The University is important part of the University since named after La Trobe. The its inception – and artworks were work is challenging, complex, incorporated in the original contemporary, and Master Plan. encourages dialogue: all qualities synonymous with a ‘One of the first buildings, university. the University library included in its design Allen David’s ‘La Trobe seeks to teach magnificent glass screen, the its students in all disciplines artist’s only large-scale glass to discover, question and sculpture in Australia,’ he said. continue an active and productive dialogue, not While thousands of students only while they are here, see this work as they enter and but long after they have leave the library, the forecourt of gone.’ the more recently built Health • Sciences Complex now features the University’s latest sculptural acquisition – the controversial upside down Charles Joseph

From left, Professor Parish, Chancellor Walton, Art Curator Vince Alessi and artist, Charles Robb.