new’n’old [ New College UNSW ]

ISSN 1447-8161 Newsletter of New College, UNSW INSIDE

New ’n’Old New Collegians win Session 2, 2002 major award, p.3

Introducing CASE, p.5

Taggart takes on the Farewell to John streets of Kathmandu Quinn, p.7

Maths, physics, maths, physics, more physics... that is my timetable. Ironically UNSW was my university of preference N because there I could study maths and not E physics. But now I am teaching the discipline W up to Cambridge A Level standard to children S who come from all over the world. They are here because their Christian parents are 1 sharing the love of Christ to the people of Nepal through medical, educational, L developmental and agricultural service. I My small contribution is to support them N in their work by teaching their children. K ob Taggart was a New Collegian from In July 2003 I will return to to S 1997 to July 2002 before heading off consider where to invest my future. I may Rto Nepal for 12 months. He was Senior return overseas, I may remain in Australia. Academic Tutor in his final two years. Those But I pray that whatever I do Christ’s love may who know Rob will recognize that he hasn’t shine through. lost his sense of humour. “Hhhup! Hhhup!” cried the voice at five in It is 7:30am, the trip to Kathmandu International the morning. That was my neighbour and alarm clock, performing his daily Hindi ritual Studies Centre (KISC) is over and another day of cleansing of bile. I’d love to roll over and get a teaching begins. Maths, physics, maths, physics, few more winks. But the morning ticks on and so must my heart. Jumping on my bicycle, more physics... crossing the Bagmati River, hoping to see the Himalayas through the Kathmandu haze, And for those who previously looked at me breathing through a pollution mask lashed in disbelief, I have found a fourteen year old across my face. Ringing my bell like every other Australian missionary kid whose mind is also cyclist does—but unlike them, taking on the ignited with fire when confronted with an buses and tempos in a test of speed and traffic elegant mathematical proof. There is more agility. It is 7:30 am, the trip to Kathmandu than one of us in the world! International Studies Centre (KISC) is over and another day of teaching begins. Welcome Dinner for the new Master

formal dinner was held on the 25th discover in his new role, is a wonderful source September to welcome New College’s of great and lasting friendships. Alumni of the 5th Master, Professor Trevor Cairney. college have gone on to do many interesting A The dinner was attended by 240 things, and forged brilliant careers. We’ve people including Collegians and invited guests spread all around Australia and the world, but from the Board, University, Anglican Church the relationships fostered over meals in this and community. Professor Cairney dining room and discussions over coffee in commenced his term as Master on the 19th common rooms have endured. August following 13 years at the University of Two weeks ago, I went skiing. Marcus Western Sydney where his roles included Dean Loane organised it and there were 14 people N of the Faculty of Education and Pro Vice- in the group, 9 of whom were ex-New E chancellor (Research). A part of his welcome Collegians. Most of us travelled down from W address is reproduced on p.6 of this issue. Sydney, but Greg came up from Melbourne S Welcomes were extended on behalf of the and Jono joined us from Canberra. We spent Staff, Board, Collegians, University and a very enjoyable first night in front of the 2 Alumni. Emily Welch was invited to deliver open fire in our lodge, drinking red wine and the address on behalf of the Alumni. Her schapps and just catching up on each other’s L comments provided a wonderful insight into lives. If I look at this group of people and I New College and its impact on her life. Her where we went to school, we came from N speech is reproduced below. Townsville, Wollongong, Avoca, Lismore, K I would like to welcome Professor Cairney Mildura and Sydney. We graduated from S to the position of Master of New College courses ranging from Law to BIT to Arts. on behalf of the College’s alumni. As a former New Collegian, I attended many formal Alumni of the college have gone on to do many interesting things, and forged brilliant careers. We’ve spread all around Australia and the world, but the relationships… have endured.

dinners including the welcoming dinner for the last master, Dr Allan Beavis, so in the interest of keeping your interest, I will be brief. New College, as Professor Cairney will

New ‘n‘ Old Editor Mailing Address © Copyright for New ‘n‘ Old New ‘n‘ Old is a publication of New College Trevor Cairney Master is held by New College New College at the University of . Design & Layout UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Enquiries about this newsletter should Joy Lankshear be directed to the Master, at (02) 9381 1999 or [email protected] ISSN 1447-8161 I also believe that Alumni are important to the College now and into its future. Through the circulation of the college publication, New ’n’ Old and the creation and maintenance of the alumni database, the college is endeavoring Chemical, Materials, Civil and Mechanical to keep the ties it has with alumni. New ’n’ Old engineers were represented… and one of us is allows old fogies like me an opportunity to still a student. Had it not been for our chance to live together and experience the fellowship I also believe that Alumni are important to the of New College, I believe we would have missed out on these friendships that have College now and into its future. enriched our lives. New College remains important to Alumni find out news of the college, including sporting throughout our lives. We have memories of achievements, and dates of upcoming events, experiences (“bucketing”) and lessons learned plays or revues. The “where are they now” (“how to use a washing machine”) and we section is also an interesting read! We know, value the friendships formed. Many Alumni from the last issue of New ’n’ Old that Professor have a more tangible connection such as a Cairney is keen to foster and build on sibling who is a current resident, or a spouse relationships with the alumni network, and who they met at College. Whether or not in this, we wish him every success. New College currently plays an active role in I would like to repeat my welcome, on our lives—for most ex-residents, all these links behalf of Alumni to you, Professor Cairney as N to New College continue to make college an Master as we look forward to a continued E important part of our lives. connection with New College. Q W S

3 Left to right: Birthplace of the “Next Big Matthew McKay, L Idea in Business” Simon Blyth and David Ah Toy. I our Collegians were recently awarded the N prestigious AGSM Connector Business K F Planning Competition. The team S consisted of Simon Blythe (2000-2001? even admin aren’t sure if he has left or not), Rami Banna (1999-2001), David Ah Toy (2000- 2002) and Matthew McKay (1999-present). The team won the $20,000 award from a record number of 52 entries. The ‘Virtual buttonz’ team developed an holographic device that eliminates physical contact between humans and machines. Simon tells us “The idea is a unique application of holographic technology to eliminate problems of contamination, wear- and-tear and customisation encountered with conventional tactile buttons. It has numerous The team hopes to be able to bring the applications including pharmaceutical idea to the marketplace within twelve months. laboratories, elevator panels, switches in They are also currently exploring other forms factories and automatic teller machines, to of funding for the next big phase of the idea’s name a few and it will be particularly valuable development. Watch this space! Q in sterile environments where human physical contact can cause contamination problems.” Sporting New(s) 2002!

ports Co-ordinators Genevieve Lang There were many individual highlights and Tom Fisher report that there have including: been many highlights in sport during was selected to play for the the year. S NSW Women’s team and is in the As usual there were many wins in the Australian squad as part of the targeted youth inter-college competition. The Girls Touch program (see story below). footy team won the final against Basser 3-2. As well there was success in winning the Jarrat Wood and Manoa Vocea were key Squash, Tennis, Indoor Soccer, Outdoor touch players in the UNSW side that won the Soccer, Indoor Cricket and Rowing Australian University Games (AUG). competitions. Shelley Bambrook was of the The New College women finished 2nd UNSW tennis team that won bronze at AUG. N in the inter-college shield for 2002—very E narrowly beaten by Basser (who were all too Chris Quigley and Lisa Perrett are the W happy to beat New!). current NSW Womens Rogaining champions. S The New College men were not quite as Lisa Antill was winner of the triple jump at successful as the women but still managed to the AUG. 4 take out Rowing, Indoor Soccer and Outdoor soccer (though Warrane took the final… we Alex Whiteside played soccer for the UNSW L dominated the sport!). They finished third in team that came 2nd in Eastern Conference I the inter-college shield. Games & 7th in AUG. N K Joel Orchard ran the city to surf in 51mins 45secs—coming in 143rd, and coached the S UNSW athletics team for the AUG. The winners of the sportsman and sportswoman of the year for 2002 were Jarrat Wood and Alissa Tenney. Q

IN THE NEWS Originally from Port Macquarie but having Move over Waugh Twins grown up in Wagga Wagga, the 19 year old identical twins have both been selected to play he Sydney Morning Herald (26th for NSW against Victoria. November) recently heralded the One of the twins, Alex has been a New Temergence of female rivals to the famous Collegian in 2002 and is aiming for national Waugh brothers. Alex and Kate Blackwell have selection, having already been picked in the burst onto the national women’s cricket scene training squad. Alex has been described as a in a way that has reminded commentators of “… type player. She’s very gutsy out Steve and . in the middle and pulls the team out of holes.” Q Presenting the Christian ‘CASE’

ew College has just announced the creation of the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and NEducation (CASE). The Centre will apply biblical frameworks to our understanding of everyday issues. Using Christian faith as the basis of argument, CASE will provide a Christian perspective on matters of relevance to all people. It will attempt to engage people of all persuasions in dialogue, debate and discussion concerning contemporary issues of broad interest. The over-riding mission of the Centre will N be to seek to advance knowledge of God E through apologetics. The Centre will attempt W to do this by engaging intellectually with S College residents, Alumni, the University community, secular groups and the wider 5 church grappling with the complex issues of contemporary faith and culture. L The Master of New College, is the Interim I Director of the Centre that grew out of the N College’s former Institute for Values Research. The over-riding mission of the Centre K In launching the Centre Professor Cairney has will be to seek to advance Knowledge of S suggested that the Centre will fill an important niche and will support the Mission Strategy for God through apologetics… helping to the Sydney Diocese of reaching our city with inform and equip Christians to give a reason the gospel. Professor Trevor Cairney suggests that for their faith and view of the world. “CASE will help to inform and equip Christians to give a reason, a ‘case’, for their The Centre has just published its first faith and what it means for issues that they CASE News that features a lead article on a face day by day.” Professor Cairney says that biblical position on war, an interview with the Centre will do this through research, Craig Gay about globalisation and capitalism, publications, forums, short courses and public reviews and a report by Dr Greg Clarke on events of all kinds. “We want to engage with the annual CS Lewis conference in the UK. people about the truth of the gospel and how To obtain a free CASE News or for more it affects all of life.” information about CASE contact Professor Cairney at New College (02 9381 1999). Q Community building at New

t the welcome for relationships are within the family. Later our new master on friends, peers and colleagues at university and the 25th September work continue to affect your life. A Professor Cairney Research in the social sciences is littered shared a little of his past as with significant findings that show how one well as his reasons for accepting person can make a difference to your life: the position of Master. a teacher “The role of Master allows me to pursue a a parent or caregiver long-term interest and commitment to young a coach adults and their educational, social and a youth group leader spiritual development. Part of my experience in Universities has At age 50 I stop in my tracks regularly shown me that they can be lonely places that because I hear my father’s voice coming from N contribute much to the growth of minds and my lips, and even feel the shuffle of his feet E not always a great deal to the growth of as I jump (well maybe drop) out of bed in W human character. the morning and head for the shower. And it S A key to the latter is the way in which scares me!! humans support each other in families, In a discussion just last week, in this 6 communities and groups. building, a young person said to me and I recognise that my views on the world, others in his presence—‘I believe that L my abilities, my prejudices, my fears and my everyone in this building is over the age of 18 I hopes have been shaped within the years and is responsible for their own actions. N relationships that have made up my life to I don’t have any responsibility for anyone else K this point in time. My parents, my sister, except myself.’ S grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, I hold a different view and that’s why I’m sporting team coaches and managers, the here at New College. The community within pastors of my various churches, colleagues a residential college provides a network of at work have all played a part. relationships enabling connectedness and a I have committed a large part of the last sense of belonging. The academic and pastoral 25 years researching how people learn in support systems reflect the fact that welfare communities and groups and the way in and growth of students is at the core of which we are socially constructed. college life. We all contribute to each other. My work confirms what common sense I believe that to be human is to experience should tell you anyway, we grow and learn and to contribute to relationships. What we as we relate to other people—we make a believe and how we act has an influence on others difference to each other. —no man or woman is an island unto themself. The Bible teaches us that when God New College is an attempt to educate created the world he saw that it WAS good. the whole person. An important part of this But when he placed a man in the garden and is for Collegians to be open to the ideas saw that he was alone, he concluded that it of others and to consider the big issues of life was NOT good for him to be alone, so he including matters of faith and the impact created woman (Gen 2:18). And so a pattern that this has on who we are and how we was set of people needing the relationships engage with our world. I look forward to of other people as well as their primary making a contribution to New College and relationship with him. pledge myself to fulfill the role to the best The most significant of your earliest of my ability. Q Farewell Quinny

n era will end in bucketed, basined or showered no less than January when John 14 times in two weeks—which isn’t that Quinn will leave impressive until you consider that I wasn’t A New College. there for four days in the middle of it. He arrived as John Quinn John has epitomised what it is to be a New in 1995, quickly became just Collegian. He has been involved widely in plain ‘Quinny’ and leaves the social, academic and spiritual life of the us as Dr Quinn! In his own words (shared at College and University and has sought to his “Reflections on New” talk in November) serve others. He has achieved highly in a “I was a wide eyed country boy, having grown community of high achievers, and he has up in the town of Coolamon between Wagga touched many lives with his sense of fun and and Griffith—this was my first taste of the wit, his friendship and commitment to God. city. I had little idea of what awaited me over It is the growth in John’s relationship with the next few years.” God that he believes has been the most John is leaving to take up a position as significant part of his time at New College. Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the “….there have been a lot of lessons, but what N University of Melbourne. is the most important one. Well, it has E In his time at New College he has filled nothing to do with chemistry or polymer W just about every role open to him. He was science or research though I certainly did S Social Director of the NCSA in 1996 (difficult learn a lot about that. It hasn’t got to do to believe but true!), a Tutor (now Resident with communal living – though those lessons 7 Adviser) in 1997-98, Senior Tutor/Senior will be handy in the work place. The most Resident Adviser from 2000-2002 and Acting important thing I learnt is that I am a L Dean from July till December 2002. During sinner—I can’t stand before God’s judgement I these 7 years he completed his Bachelor of and expect anything other than punishment N Science (Hons 1) and PhD. His PhD was – I continually try and live my way, on my K completed recently and was titled “Synthetic terms. Despite that, though I live my life in S and Kinetic Studies of Reversible Addition- rebellion from Him, God loved me (and you) Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization”. enough that he would send his Son into the As his various roles suggest, John has world, that he might go to the cross and in always been an active participant in New doing so take the punishment for our sin, College life. Sometimes this involvement and so that through him we might have life. came at a price. In the First Epistle of John, the Author writes: “This is love: not that we loved God, First year was a Baptism of fire—aside from but that he loved us and sent his Son as an all the O’Week shenanigans that I did (and atoning sacrifice for our sin.” Similarly, in still do) find somewhat testing, I settled down Paul’s letter to the Romans “Very rarely will to life in 3G. There were six freshers in the anyone die for a righteous man, though for a group, and three second years. It didn’t take good man one might possibly dare to die. But the old boys long to work out that I was an God demonstrates his own love for us in this: easy target, and as such I found myself while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” perpetually under fire. Queensland wins the state of origin, let’s basin John. NSW wins Bye John, we will miss you. May God bless the state of origin, let’s basin John. John’s and use you in your new life in Melbourne. Q doing his washing, let’s bucket him. John’s in the toilet let’s bucket him. John has a Maths test let’s bucket him. At one point I was Where are they now?

Aaron Brett (1993-1995) his wife Jenny (nee services officer and community development Wilson) and their daughter Miriam (born advisor on different communities. Since April 12/3/02) are on the move again. They are on he has been working as a policy adviser in the their way back to Sydney to study at Moore Office of John Brogden MP, Leader of the Theological College. Aaron has just spent Liberal Party in NSW. three years in Gawler as a Christian Youth Ross suggests that “the skill of withstanding, Worker and Part-time High School Teacher. the often-fierce debates over dinner and the stamina developed from balancing an active social Dr Ian Lavering (1971-1974) has been based life with a modicum of academic achievement near Canberra since 1983 with his wife were just two of the long lasting benefits gained Jocelyn. Ian is also involved in distance from student life at New College.” education with the UNSW Master of Business and Technology program where he is Chris Raymond (1981-1986) and N one of three current Adjunct Professors. Ian Judy (nee Capel) Raymond (1981-1984) E fondly recollects the opportunities presented have been married for 16 years and have 11 W during his time at New College for the year old twins, Mark and Rachel. Judy studied S ‘formulation of life-long values’, ‘faith based medicine and Chris Mechanical Engineering. on universal truth’ and some of the social Chris now works in IT at the Health Insurance 8 skills to deal with a diverse and complex world. Commission and Judy is a psychiatrist. Judy says that she first spotted Chris lined up in the L Ross Fox (1995-1998) New College balcony hanging competition in I studied Mining Engineering the “O” Week of 1981. Q N while at UNSW, as well K serving as Student President S (1996) and a residential tutor (now called residential advisers) in 1997-98. After leaving college at the end of 1998 he spent 4 years with McKinsey & Company as a business analyst. After leaving McKinsey in April of last year he spent 6 months working on three remote Aboriginal communities in the Ngaanyatjarra lands in Western Australia. His work included store manager, essential Judy, Chris, Rachel and Mark Raymond

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