NEWS JUNE 2011 • Issue 39 FILMMAKER SEAN BYRNE: A new take on Pretty in Pink THE RHODES LEss TRAVELLED (special feature pages 12-21) UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA Do you receive our monthly eNewsletter? The Alumni eNews contains discounts for alumni, news of upcoming events worldwide, UTAS news and postgrad opportunities. Let us know your email address by returning the coversheet or emailing us at [email protected] www.utasalumni.org.au CONTENTS Alumni News is the regular magazine Contents for graduates and friends of the University of Tasmania. UTAS alumni include graduates and diplomates of UTAS, TCAE/TSIT and AMC. Alumni News is prepared for the Development and Alumni Office by the Communications and Media Office. Edited by Janette Brennan. Contributors Peter Cochrane, Cherie Cooper, Rhonda Ewart, Nicki Fletcher, 2 Catherine Rogers, Melanie Roome and Sharon Webb. Design Clemenger Tasmania Advertising enquiries Melanie Roome Alumni and Development Manager Phone +61 3 6324 3472 6 12 Let us know your story at [email protected] 2 A gilt-edged gift 16 Potential and limits Phone +61 3 6324 3052 Fax +61 3 6324 3402 600 works and $1m to Judge Richard Cogswell UTAS Development and Alumni Office establish the Tyler Collection. on the Oxford experience. Locked Bag 1350 4 Scream king 18 Our very own Launceston Tasmania 7250 UTAS academics and Filmmaker Sean Byrne former Rhodes Scholars. goes for the jugular. 20 Movember 6 Childhood heroes Alex Shabala dressed for success. Dr Phil Hilton’s tribute to soldier convicts. 21 Caring about life’s journey Professor Marnie Hughes- 7 Tanzmanian Warrington’s approach. Educator Natalie Croome 22 Accolades is at home in two worlds. Distinguished Tasmanians shine. NEWS JUNE 2011 • Issue 39 8 From galley to bridge 25 50 years of chemistry Emma Eadie’s gap year is turning into a life at sea. Symposium to celebrate anniversary. 10 The Hytten legacy 26 Alumni and friends The great-granddaughter of our first full-time VC. A special thanks to those who supported the 2010 11 Come back after school Alumni Annual Appeal. Josh Smith has become assistant 28 Six degrees principal at his former school. A big response to the new section 12-21 The Rhodes less travelled FILMMAKER that helps us keep in touch. SEAN BYRNE: A new take on Special feature – reflections Pretty in Pink 30 Young alumni from past and present UTAS THE RHODES LESS TRAVELLED Where are they now? (special feature pages 12-21) Rhodes Scholars, including: UNIVERSITY OF T ASMANIA 2854 12 The write stuff 31 Alumni review Cover: The Loved Ones, the recently- Richard Flanagan and Book reviews and more. released film by Tasmanian writer and Tasmania’s literary elite. 32 Vale director Sean Byrne, is a deliberately intriguing mix of generic horror and art 14 Raring to go Farewelling friends who’ve house cinematic techniques. The film Professor Ronald Gates’ helped make UTAS great. post-war adventure. stars Robin McLeavy as the chilling Lola. Stills photography by Suzy Wood. ALUMNI NEWS | JUNE 2011 • Issue 39 | 1 PHILANTHROPY Gilt-edged gift from philanthropist: 600 works and $1m By Cherie Cooper HE University OF Tasmania IS celebrating its Tlargest single gift ever, a multimillion-dollar donation from alumnus and philanthropist Geoffrey Tyler and his wife Frances. The gift of artworks and $1 million will establish the Tyler Collection and Fund. The collection of about 600 works – including paintings, drawings, graphics, sculptures and ceramics – has been amassed over half a century by Geoffrey, who graduated from UTAS in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science. Now living in Washington, Geoffrey is a former economist with the International Monetary Fund. Self Portrait (2004), by Corneliu Petrescu. The collection includes The Sisters, a prized early work by Arthur Boyd from 1949, Leonard French’s Three Towers No 1 and an elegant set of 22 engravings illustrating the Book of Job by William Blake and which date back to 1825. The collection also includes many mixed media works by a close friend of Geoffrey, the late Corneliu Petrescu, a Romanian artist who used gold leaf extensively. UTAS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Provost David Rich said the donation is very welcome and an extremely generous gift. “Philanthropy of this nature is applauded and respected by the University community,” he said. “Gifts of this kind support and promote the qualities of excellence, innovation and participation to which the University aspires.” The Sisters (1949), by Arthur Boyd. Helping UTAS to be a vibrant institution: (L-R) Geoffrey Tyler, Frances Tyler Three Towers No 1 (c1960s), by Leonard French. and Mark Bennett, Director of Development and Alumni. 2 | ALUMNI NEWS | JUNE 2011 • Issue 39 WELCOME The strength of UTAS within our community NE OF MY FIRST Official DUTIES and fascination the reflections of some Oas Vice-Chancellor was to attend the of our Rhodes Scholars, featured on graduation ceremony for UTAS nursing pages 12 to 21. UTAS contributes much students in Sydney. It was a pleasure to through the education of students of meet the newest members of the UTAS this calibre, capable of interaction with alumni family and I have been delighted the world’s great scholarly communities to meet many more of you over the past and prepared for societal contribution few months. A special lesson for me has of spectacular impact. been an understanding of the pride and Yet we contribute so much more than this; affection of Tasmanians and graduates for from research that contributes to the store the University, evident as I visit campuses of human knowledge and advances our in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Sydney, society, through curricula that challenge and as I listen to our broader community. our students to develop their fullest A particular standout was the alumni event potential, to a student experience that that was recently held in Hong Kong. makes UTAS a prized destination for local, One of my aims as Vice-Chancellor is national and international students. to grow UTAS alumni networks, locally, Engagement across the UTAS community nationally and internationally; there is will be especially important in 2012 as we much that we can do together. Alumni News embark upon refreshment of the EDGE is an important way in which we can draw agenda through the development of a this community closer, by providing insight new strategic plan, attuned to a rapidly In closing, I want to acknowledge and into the achievements and aspirations of changing national and international context thank the UTAS alumni family for your the University across the spectrum of for Higher Education. We will listen with continued strong support for the University. our activities. interest to those with a passion to assist I am delighted by the opportunity to As one fortunate enough to study at us with this process and I extend a special become part of your community. Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar invitation to alumni to participate and make Warm regards, following graduation from the University your views heard. You will hear more from Professor Peter Rathjen of Adelaide in 1985 I read with nostalgia us shortly about how you can contribute. Vice-Chancellor, University of Tasmania Hello new and old friends… If we haven’t met, then let me introduce and on the mainland, while extending myself. Growing up on the north-west and strengthening our global reach. coast, I commenced my UTAS journey In March this year I had the pleasure of in Burnie in 1986 – well before the attending the UTAS Foundation awards Cradle Coast campus was established dinner, where Distinguished Alumni – completing a major in the field of Awards were presented to Professor chemistry (BSc 1988, Hons 1989, PhD Ross Large and Reverend Professor 1993). I am proud to have the opportunity Michael Tate (see page 22). My hearty to continue to serve as a member of UTAS congratulations go out to both men. staff, currently as a Deputy Director and Meanwhile the Premier of Tasmania, the Senior Research Fellow in the UTAS Honourable Lara Giddings MP, received Central Science Laboratory. I understand the Foundation Graduate Award. All three well the great opportunities that a UTAS alumni have achieved across a diverse education can provide, and consider range of fields and are most worthy myself fortunate that I can still call ambassadors for UTAS. Tasmania home. In closing, I’d like to thank Mrs Elizabeth UTAS has played a meaningful and Daly, the outgoing Chair, for her enjoyable role in my professional life, so commitment and service to UTAS Alumni HIS IS THE FIRST chance I’VE had I’m sensitive to the history, standing and for more than a decade. Her retirement Tto communicate with many of you contributions of the alumni over the past comes at a time when the alumni since I became Alumni Chair in November 120 years. But I’m equally conscious of community has never looked stronger, last year. I’d like to express the honour I the style, expectations and norms of with so many ways to now keep in touch. feel in being given this privilege, and say current graduates. Yes, having the right how much I’m looking forward to catching balance is important. On a similar thought, Wishing you the very best, up with you at alumni activities over the we hope to find that important balance Dr Ashley Townsend coming months. between alumni activities in Tasmania Chair, University of Tasmania Alumni ALUMNI NEWS | JUNE 2011 • Issue 39 | 3 Scream king By Cherie Cooper The Loved Ones: This Australian horror film has been described as Pretty in Pink meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Stills photography by Suzy Wood.