THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE

WINTER 2004

INSIDE:

Virtually real Life in three dimensions Surviving SARS Medical detectives at work Climb every mountain Meeting the challenge Through the keyhole Pioneering paediatrics Changing Faces Changing Minds

LIFE IMPACT THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

LUMEN - The University of Adelaide Magazine Registered by Australia Post No 56500/00097 MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

t is now 130 years since the establishment of the University of Adelaide in 1874. During that time the University has developed I to be among Australia’s leading universities, continually contributing to the wealth and wellbeing of South Australia and the nation.

Adelaide has a fine tradition of exemplary scholarship, groundbreaking research and influential graduates, so that the University has demonstrably made a significant impact upon the world around.

These achievements have been shaped by the University’s inherent values: our commitment to excellence in all we do, our belief that a focus on the experience of the student is fundamental, and our conviction that research intensity and innovative high-quality teaching have a symbiotic relationship and together underpin the finest universities in the world.

These values are at the heart of the University’s ongoing branding, which emphasises “Life Impact”. Our recent television advertising campaign involved a number of current and past students who have excelled in their respective fields. The very faces of that campaign represent everything we stand for: a quality university experience, leading to quality outcomes for students and graduates, leading to quality outcomes for the community.

Our achievements and our values are shiningly evident in this issue of Lumen. It interweaves stories about the “reality-shaping” work of some of our fine researchers, with the global impact made by our graduates in areas as diverse as unravelling the mystery of SARS, to making a difference in the lives of the world’s disadvantaged children through World Vision.

In this issue, too, you will find examples of ways in which the University’s staff and alumni continue to contribute to our drive for excellence through their generous support for the Barr Smith Library, scholarships, and many other activities.

If one measure of an institution such as a University is the affection and support it engenders among its alumni, then the examples in this issue show that we have every right to feel confident in the future.

PROFESSOR JAMES A. McWHA Vice-Chancellor and President

lumen page II winter 2004 THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE

lumen contents WINTER 2004

Virtual immersion Justice prevails 2 A three-dimensional experience 19 From Quorn to The Hague: an international law journey

Changing faces, Through the keyhole 4 20 How one graduate is making Adelaide a changing minds leader in pioneering paediatric surgery Building faces to help identify murder victims

FEATURE STORY

Nobel laurels Transforming lives 9 An interview with JM Coetzee 22 We interview World Vision International’s Lynn Arnold

Surviving SARS Strategic thinking 10 How an Adelaide graduate helped identify 24 Adelaide - DSTO collaboration building Asian killer virus improved national research base

FEATURE STORY

Making a difference Halcyon days 15 Malaysian graduates give something back 26 Reunions a chance to celebrate to underprivileged children and remember

Climb every mountain Learning from others 16 To Everest and back: Duncan Chessell’s 27 Flourishing chapter is a youthful and vibrant unusual career face of alumni

The Lumen masthead is derived from the University of Adelaide motto “Sub Cruce Lumen” – the light (of learning) under the (Southern) Cross.

Lumen Online: www.lumen.adelaide.edu.au

Executive Editor: John Edge • Production Manager: David Ellis Editorial Committee: John Edge, David Ellis, Nicole Stones and Elaine Baker Contributors: David Ellis, Ben Osborne, Kim McBride, Howard Salkow, Alex Brown, Nicole Stones House photography: David Ellis, Ben Osborne, Howard Salkow, Rob Wild Other photographs courtesy of: 3D Visualisation Facility, Carl Stephan, John Nicholls, University of Hong Kong, Duncan Chessell, Michelle Jarvis, Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Dr Lynn Arnold, Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO) Front Cover: courtesy of Dr Carl Stephan Design: Chris Tonkin Pre-press & Printing: van Gastell Printing

Editorial Enquiries: Marketing and Strategic Communications Offi ce • Phone: +61 8 8303 5174 • Fax: +61 8 8303 4838 The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia

Copyright © 2004 The University of Adelaide ISSN 1320 0747 • Registered by Australia Post No 56500/00097

Views expressed by contributors in Lumen are not necessarily endorsed by the University of Adelaide. No responsibility is accepted by the University, editor or printer for the accuracy of information contained in either the text or advertisements. Material may be reproduced without permission from Lumen with acknowledgment of its origin.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 1 lumen innovation

The real virtue of virtual reality is now on full display at the University of Adelaide.

new $5 million state-of-the-art its three other university partners: the engineering areas, but we are also virtual reality centre located in the University of South Australia, Flinders encouraging the rest of the University to A University’s Santos Petroleum University and Curtin University in take advantage of such a facility. Engineering Building puts Adelaide Western Australia. among the leaders in three-dimensional “Disciplines which have already shown research in Australia. The 3D Visualisation Facility has their commitment to the facility through received additional funding from financial contributions are Petroleum The 3D Visualisation Facility provides industry and the Federal Government. Engineering, Petroleum Geosciences, a fully immersive 3D experience that Chemistry and Physics, Agriculture will benefit the tertiary, government and “The most exciting thing about the and Wine, Molecular Biosciences industry sectors. facility is that it will benefit research and and Psychology. teaching across every area,” Professor Professor of Petroleum Engineering Khurana says. “Other disciplines that could gain and Management Ashok Khurana says from using 3D virtual reality include the world-class facility will benefit not “Obviously it has enormous potential architecture, anatomy, biology, dentistry, only the University of Adelaide but also for the petroleum geoscience and surgery and archaeology.

lumen page 2 winter 2004 lumen innovation

“It will also be made available to the science, technology and industrial communities on a cost-recovery basis.”

The technology that brings the 3D experience to life is impressive. The facility can seat up to 100 people and features three massive screens, each with its own rear-projection system, which join seamlessly together to bring a total viewing area of 15 square metres.

Full stereo sound, motion tracking “This adds another aspect to what we forefront of virtual reality-based and real-time computing capability are are able to offer,” Professor Khurana research in Australia. also integral components, and it even says. “For example, surgeons will be includes an “intelligent whiteboard”, able to recreate an operation, and using “The opportunities for such a high- which records anything written on it in the facility’s haptic capabilities, they’ll standard operation are almost limitless,” digital format which can then be sent be able to ‘feel’ the difference between he says. “We are offering a world-class instantly anywhere in the world. skin and muscle, and muscle and facility located right in the middle of tendon, and tendon and bone, Adelaide which has benefits for many Later this year the facility will be and so on.” organisations, and we expect to be very upgraded to include “haptic” capacity, busy keeping up with demand.” ■ or the ability to recognise the sense Professor Khurana says the facility of touch. will enable Adelaide to be at the Story by Ben Osborne

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 3 lumen the art of science

Changing

A young graduate is trying to improve the way forensic science uses one of its techniques of last resort to help identify murder victims.

lumen page 4 winter 2004 lumen the art of science

faces, changing minds

our years ago, a University of skull and a set of half-century-old Accuracy rates have, however, Adelaide student stood at FBI guidelines as a reference. It is not been questioned since in some cases Fheadquarters in Washington, true reconstruction because it involves the constructed faces may not be the DC, and told some of the world’s elite much creative guesswork. crucial factor responsible for the actual law enforcers and forensic scientists The technique is rarely used here recognition; for example, they may that the methods they were using had in South Australia and is usually a last merely have focused public attention significant flaws. line of defence for law enforcement while the recognition has depended on Those methods could be improved in an attempt to jog the public’s other factors associated with the case. with relatively straight-forward memory about a victim. For example, Despite their apparent “success” changes, he said. there has only been one case of facial there is much room for improvement That student was Carl Stephan; the approximation used publicly in South according to Dr Stephan, who issue he was raising was the accuracy Australia. Victoria has about one case graduated with his PhD in Anatomical of “facial approximation” to help a year, on average. Sciences last year and is now a identify murder victims. Given high-profile status through Lecturer in Anatomical Sciences Facial approximation is commonly films and crime novels, and by at the University of Adelaide. His but incorrectly known by the public publicity in the mainstream news research has focused on “putting the as facial reconstruction. It involves media, these artists’ impressions science back into the art” of facial “building” a face — through sketches, of victims are claimed to be highly approximation. computer-generated images or as a 3D effective, depending on the practitioner “Our research found that the sculpture — using only the victim’s who creates them. accuracy of facial approximation is

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 5 lumen the art of science

about equivalent to what you would For example, the worldwide “Another of the guidelines under- expect by chance,” he says. “That literature on human anatomy represents mouth width by about six to doesn’t mean the methods shouldn’t be contradicts facial approximation eight millimetres. The third guideline used — in a forensic case, it’s going to guidelines for human eyeballs, which is fairly accurate — it’s only out by be beneficial to try anything, especially are out by about four millimetres. about two millimetres, so it’s fairly if there are no other leads. But we The guidelines for determining mouth acceptable.” certainly want to improve on the shape and size have even more Dr Stephan says the absolute methods as they currently stand.” problems, according to Dr Stephan’s differences of a few millimetres might One of his concerns is the widely research. not sound like much — and making used guidelines to reproduce soft “For determining mouths there changes that will more accurately tissue on the face: the nose, mouth, are three different guidelines, which reflect human anatomy may not ears, eyes and other features that rot already suggests that there’s something automatically lead to improvements away on the skull, leaving no evidence wrong — you can’t have three different in the public’s recognition of victims of what they looked like, except for guidelines to determine the same — but he believes research in this area what can be determined from the skull. feature when they all produce different is a step in the right direction. Individual variations in these features results. “From my perspective, because it’s play a major role in helping members “We found that one of the guidelines a very creative field — you’re building of the public to identify a murder was out by around 10 millimetres. a face in clay with a skull, for instance victim, but the current guidelines are That’s fairly big. If you look at it in — you need to have a lot of dexterity. not anatomically accurate, according overall terms of the size of the mouth, Not all scientists have that dexterity to Dr Stephan. you’re out by about 20%. so they call upon artists to do that

lumen page 6 winter 2004 lumen the art of science

you want to do the best job that you can, because there’s possibly other people’s lives depending upon the identifi cation of the victim

part for them. When that started to advertised to the public,” Dr Stephan it helps to further his understanding happen, artists became quite renowned says. “We used the old guidelines and knowledge in the area, but it also for their techniques and some of the to do it, but we still managed to operates on a more personal level. science started to drop off. Now get a face that looked similar to the “It certainly makes you want to do there are quite a few artists who are individual, which illustrates the large the best job that you can, because world-renowned for their method. So proportion of subjective guidelines there’s possibly other people’s lives for me to now say, ‘hang on, these involved and the large role luck and depending upon the identification methods aren’t working’, I think it’s a chance currently play in the method. of the victim, and it may lead to the bit intimidating because these people Whether or not it would have been apprehension of the criminal,” he says. have been using those techniques for recognised we will never know, but in “You certainly want to get the face so long.” the end it wasn’t needed.” as close as you can to the real person. Dr Stephan has worked on a The only facial approximation Of course, right now that’s bound by number of facial approximations used publicly in South Australia the limitations of the methods. himself, having been trained in human was of a murder victim discovered “Forensic work is exciting because anatomy and possessing a talent for at Lower Light, which was related it puts you to the test,” he says. “It’s clay sculpture. Some of his faces to the Snowtown murders. That where you need to draw upon all of the include those of ancient Egyptian approximation included drawings knowledge that you have, and at the mummies (for the South Australian by one of Dr Stephan’s supervisors, end of the day you try to come up with Museum), and a face of a victim head of Anatomical Sciences a positive result. involved in one of the most high-profile Professor Maciej Henneberg, as “That’s why it’s important that we murder cases in South Australia’s well as computer-generated images continue to question the methods we history: the Snowtown murders. from another team of experts. use, so that hopefully there will be “About four months before the Unfortunately, the face was not more positive results than negative Snowtown murders actually came to identified from those images. ones.” ■ light, I worked on a 3D clay facial Dr Stephan says working on such approximation which was never cases is scientifically exciting, because Story David Ellis

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 7 lumen heading Barr Smith Library Appeal

The Barr Smith Library is advancing into the Virtual Age Rachel Swift President, Adelaide University Sports Association “…students who come to our department are always and 2004 Rhodes Scholar overwhelmed by the richness of resources that they can access via the Barr Smith Library. It is a University treasure The Barr Smith Library has provided a wealth of valuable resources to supplement my studies at the – without such a rich resource, the University of Adelaide University of Adelaide. The extensive nature of the collection and the access would not be as strong an institution as it is.” to leading research journals has been of prime importance to optimise my Professor Janet Hiller, study. Particularly, electronic access to journals has allowed me to continue Professor and Head, Department of Public Health research after hours and electronic journals facilitate immediate access to cutting edge research, often before it has even been published in hard copy. The ability to instantly access worldwide research of the highest quality is the University Librarian Ray Choate launches foundation for developing a strong research environment, which the Barr the Barr Smith Library Appeal for 2004 Smith Library clearly fosters.

There are some exciting developments that are occurring in the Barr Smith Library today. Developments that improve access to resources not just locally but globally. The Barr Smith Library is a pre-eminent research library for print collections and we will continue to develop the breadth and depth of printed materials Professor Graeme Hugo available. Print remains a primary focus in our collecting and your Federation Fellow valuable support through the Annual Appeal and many gifts in- Professor of Geography kind will ensure that we are able to maintain this area. Director of the National Centre for Social Applications of GIS The Barr Smith Library is also a leader in virtual access to materials over the World Wide Web with enormous gains in The Barr Smith Library has long been a resource of inestimable value to many convenience and sharing of resources. Resources are accessible generations of students and staff at the University of Adelaide and to the South 24 hours a day to multiple users wherever they are located. 70 Australian community more generally. In the 21st century libraries perform percent of our research journals are now delivered electronically the same function as they always have to facilitate access to information and to the desktop of the researcher and student. Our Electronic knowledge but the forms which they are now available in and the technology Texts collection is averaging nearly 35,000 online requests per day. used to access them have changed dramatically. The Barr Smith Library has done a wonderful job in being at the leading edge of these developments. This year I invite you to support the increase in electronic access Their ability to deliver information electronically wherever one is – in the for students with acquisition of ebooks from sources such as offi ce, at home, overseas – has been of immeasurable value in my own NetLibrary which offers titles from leading publishers on subjects teaching and research and that of my students and colleagues. This is a ranging from anthropology to zoology, to business, computer rapidly developing area and to maintain its high standards it is imperative that the Barr Smith Library is able to access suffi cient funds. The Barr Smith Library science and literature. The Library is not only acquiring electronic is of fundamental importance in the University of Adelaide, maintaining and access to materials but also using scanning technology to convert enhancing its already impressive national and global reputation as a leading some of its unique and valuable research materials to digital research and teaching university. format. This makes the resources of the Library accessible to scholars worldwide and helps to preserve the original materials. You can bring the richness of the Barr Smith Library Special Collections to scholars worldwide by opting to support a digitisation project such as John Stephen’s The land of promise: being an authentic and impartial history of the rise and progress of the new British province of South Australia, 1839. To digitise this Professor Janet Hiller book for the benefi t of scholars and readers world wide would Head, Department of Public Health cost in the region of $150. The University of Adelaide

I encourage you to consider making a gift to the Barr Smith Library The Barr Smith Library is a wonderful resource for as an investment in the future of education and research at the students, staff and the broader South Australian University of Adelaide. Your tax-deductible gift of $60 or more to community. The Health Technology Assessment Unit and the National this appeal will be acknowledged with a named bookplate either Horizon Scanning Unit, located in the Department of Public Health, both in print or electronically. Please contact the Alumni, Community depend on timely access to a large range of information resources from Relations and Development offi ce on (08) 8303 5800. around the world. They could not function without access to the journals and databases to which the Library subscribes. A library of the calibre of the Barr Smith Library is critical to our functioning. We are particularly delighted that so many of these resources are available on-line. This is not only important for researchers but critically important to students who increasingly are located off-campus. International students who come to our department are always overwhelmed by the richness of resources that they can access via the Barr Smith Library. It is a University treasure – without such a rich resource the RAY CHOATE RAY University of Adelaide would not be as strong an institution as it is.

lumen page 8 winter 2004 lumen interview Feet on the ground, head out of the clouds

Professor JM Coetzee last year became the fourth person directly associated with the University of Adelaide to receive a Nobel Prize.

ppointed in June 2002 as an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow with the University’s Discipline of English, he is A regarded as one the greatest living writers for such works as Disgrace and Life and Times of Michael K. He conducted a Question-&-Answer via email with Ben Osborne about his experiences with the city of Adelaide and the University of Adelaide, and being awarded such a prestigious honour. ■

Q1 the University’s research facilities. My Does it indeed inhibit or exhilarate, or Why did you move to Adelaide? What involvement is also, frankly, a counter something in between? about it appeals to you? to the sense of isolation one might develop if one just sat at one’s desk A5 A1 at home day after day. During the course of the Nobel My partner, Dorothy Driver, visited ceremonies I had the pleasure of Q3 Adelaide in 1991 and spoke very being a dinner guest at the Swedish warmly about the city and the reception What do you think the University of Academy. The Swedish Academy is she had here. I came for Writers’ Adelaide students get out of your responsible for deciding the prize for Week in 1996 and had much the same association? literature. The members of the Academy impression. I don’t like big cities (I struck me as intelligent, learned, and A3 have been spending part of the year sensitive human beings, but not gods. in Chicago for the past seven years, I believe it is a good thing for a young Nor did they pretend to be gods. The and feeling somewhat trapped while I writer to get a range of responses Academy has made many wise choices have been there). Adelaide seems to to his or her work in progress, as in the past, and now and then a not- me a human-sized city, very attractive, long as those responses are sincere, so-wise choice. To none of us is it yet very civilized, with a strong artistic constructive, and if at all possible clear whether the choice they made community. There is also, for someone sympathetic. in 2003 was a wise choice or not. The who enjoys cycling, the allure of point of these remarks is the following. the hills. Q4 It would be exceedingly foolish of me to How did you enjoy your public think that I am all of a sudden a better Q2 performance at the Barr Smith Library’s writer now than I was a year ago. In Why did you choose to become Reading Room on July 24 last year? other words, I had better keep my feet associated with the University of on the ground and my head out of Adelaide? What do you get out A4 the clouds. this association? I was touched to see how many people turned up, and how attentively they Q6 A2 listened (despite problems with the How does the Australian higher When people at the University heard sound system). You must remember education system compare, in your that I would be settling here, they very that in July last year I didn’t even have view, to others you have experienced kindly contacted me and asked whether the curiosity value of the Nobel laurels (namely the US and South Africa)? I would be interested in playing some to pull in an audience. role in academic life (I had been a A6 fulltime academic from 1969 until my Q5 I don’t want to go on at length about retirement in 2001), and I was happy To take the question the University’s higher education in Australia or to accept. I get a great deal out of the Tom Shapcott posed to you during anywhere else. Suffice it to say that, association: contact with likeminded Writers’ Week a step further: what in my opinion, what has happed to people, an opportunity to keep a finger consequences does winning such a higher education since it was hit by the on the pulse of the next generation major award as the Nobel Prize have runaway train of neo-liberal economic of Australian writers, freedom to use on you as a person and your writing? policy has been catastrophic.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 9 lumen medical detection Surviving SARS

How an Adelaide graduate helped identify Asia’s killer virus

“It was scary.” “People were walking the streets The patient was a medical doctor To anyone not closely involved with surgical masks on, they were not from Guangdong Province in China. with the outbreak of severe acute shaking hands… tourism was virtually He had been among those treating respiratory syndrome (SARS) across non-existent, shops were losing hundreds of cases of an “atypical Asia and parts of the Western world business, hotels were not occupied. pneumonia” (later identified as SARS) last year, they may never understand There was a sense that this was a in Guangdong, and had travelled just how scary it was. ghost town. People were talking to Hong Kong to attend a wedding. In the space of nine months, nothing but SARS.” When his symptoms worsened, the from the earliest recorded cases in This grim picture was made even doctor sought urgent care in Hong November 2002 to July 2003, more more frightening for Dr Nicholls for Kong and warned medical staff that than 8000 people contracted the two main reasons: just one month he had contracted “a very virulent deadly SARS virus, and about 800 died before the SARS outbreak, his wife disease”. He died a week later. of it. Cases were reported in more Leanne (also an Adelaide graduate) Initially Dr Nicholls and his than 30 countries around the world. had given birth to their son; and for colleagues thought it might be the start One person who saw first hand the the simple fact that at the beginning of of another bird flu outbreak, but when impact of SARS — and played a major the outbreak, researchers had no clear he studied the tissue samples, “it didn’t role in identifying the mystery virus idea what the mystery illness was, look like a typical influenza”. that causes it — was Dr John Nicholls, what was causing it, or how it was “This was really quite strange… a medical graduate of the University of being spread. it seemed to be like nothing I’d Adelaide (MBBS 1983). Dr Nicholls’s involvement with seen before.” Now an Associate Professor of the SARS virus goes back to the More samples came in — this time Pathology at the University of Hong earliest days of the outbreak in Hong from a Chinese-American businessman Kong, based at the Queen Mary Kong last year. He had already been visiting Vietnam, who also had Hospital, Dr Nicholls had been living working on cases of the Asian bird flu contracted a strange respiratory and working in Hong Kong since in collaboration with a university and illness. 1988. In all that time he’d seen a lot hospital colleague, virologist Professor “Looking back, maybe we should of disease, including the Asian bird flu, Malik Peiris. have thought, ‘here are two strange but nothing like SARS. “In February last year Professor diseases, maybe they’re the same’, “Hospitals were close to collapse, Peiris called me to say that he had but it was very difficult to put the staff were becoming infected, they some tissue from a patient who had a two together,” Dr Nicholls says. were exhausted, overworked, tensions strange disease, and could I take a look “Geographically they were quite far were running high,” he says. at it?” Dr Nicholls says. apart, and at that stage we did not

lumen page 10 winter 2004 lumen medical detection

Dr John Nicholls — Adelaide graduate who helped to identify the SARS virus

have the link with the Metropole The mystery began to deepen and outbreak. Reports from China and Hotel.” the number of cases was soaring Germany said the outbreak had been The Metropole is where the doctor rapidly, including a major outbreak caused by a human meta-pneumovirus. from Guangdong had stayed during among healthcare workers at Hong “This worried us because I had been his visit to Hong Kong. It became Kong’s Prince of Wales Hospital. doing some immunohistochemistry a contact point for transmission of “Science takes time, and it on some of the tissue samples, and the disease to others, including the especially takes time to get right. the staining reactions didn’t seem Chinese-American businessman, who But time was not on our side,” Dr to indicate a meta-pneumovirus,” Dr had moved on to Hanoi but was flown Nicholls says. Nicholls says. back to Hong Kong for treatment (he Various teams around the world Another report from China said the died a week later), and other guests were working to identify the mystery mysterious agent was chlamydia. from as far away as Singapore and illness, and some of them gave “This was also very strange because Toronto, Canada. conflicting reports about causes of the we’d been looking for chlamydia

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 11 lumen medical detection

“Safety procedures were really quite stringent, and we were proceeding cautiously. There was a great fear, a fear of the unknown.”

and hadn’t found it. So there were “Because we didn’t know exactly different centres reporting two what we were dealing with we were different organisms, which we hadn’t taking a few more precautions identified.” than maybe we would have. Safety Professor Peiris told Dr Nicholls that procedures were really quite stringent, the mysterious agent was aggressively and we were proceeding cautiously. killing off cells in a cell culture. There was a great fear, a fear of the “My job was to look at the cell unknown.” culture and find out just exactly what The personal threat to everyone the agent was,” Dr Nicholls says. “This involved in researching the virus is where we used electron microscopy, was palpable. Dr Nicholls describes which is able to look at viruses under his work at the time as: “looking at very high magnification. the post mortem tissues, looking at “Looking at the cell culture we were the cell cultures, doing the electron able to see that this certainly was a microscopy, and trying to stay alive”. virus, it was not chlamydia, and that “That was one of the big fears. the virus appeared to have spikes with Once we found out this was something bulbs on the end, which is different to new, because we didn’t know the exact the meta-pneumovirus. mode of transmission or the degree “The presence of these spikes of infectivity, the big danger was: is suggested that it could be a it going to be something like Ebola? coronavirus. This was unusual, With corroboration from a It was very worrying. And we didn’t because coronaviruses are normally network of colleagues, Professor have any diagnostic tests, so you associated with the common cold, not Peiris contacted the World Health never knew whether all these samples with such a deadly and aggressive Organization (WHO) to say that they you were working with were infected disease as SARS.” had discovered the cause of SARS. or not. Once Dr Nicholls had made the Days later, with genetic sequencing “One of the laboratory technicians initial identification, another member confirming it, an announcement was came down with severe fever, and we of the team, Dr Leo Poon, used made to the world. It was weeks after thought he might have SARS — we sophisticated molecular screening the first cases had arrived in Hong were all worried about that for a few techniques to amplify out and search Kong, and long after the first deaths. days until we found out that, luckily, he for parts of the coronavirus genome. “In retrospect people might say, had the ordinary type of influenza.” He found that the agent was indeed ‘why did that take so long?’, but it is The WHO credits the University part of the coronavirus family, but it actually a short space of time and we of Hong Kong with being the first to was a totally new coronavirus that had were dealing with something that we identify the SARS virus. Dr Nicholls not been identified before. hadn’t seen before,” Dr Nicholls says. is among those from the university

lumen page 12 winter 2004 lumen medical detection

Researchers in the Electron Microscopy Unit, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital

“Over the past year a lot has been identified — the virus has been sequenced, the source of the virus has been discovered in a number of animals in mainland China, identified by our university last August — but it’s going to be difficult to control. “Because these animals exist in the wild, it’s difficult to say whether or not this is a once-off virus or if it will come back again. If it does come back, I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as before, because at least now most governments have a contingency plan of what to do with suspected cases, quarantine management and so on.” With more than 800 lives lost and potentially billions of dollars in economic damage caused by SARS, Dr Nicholls says he’s proud that his work in identifying the virus will have a lasting effect on the world. to have his name on the patent Today, Dr Nicholls is continuing his “It was good working as a group, pending for the virus, although patent SARS research, although he spends realising that success does come from applications have also been made most of his time teaching and in a team effort. It was also good to by teams of scientists from Canada clinical practice. know that what you were doing was, and the United States. He also has “A year after, like many of these in some way, of use to mankind as a published two research papers in the emerging infectious diseases, we still whole,” he says. ■ prestigious journal The Lancet about don’t know exactly what’s going on,” his work on SARS. he says. Story David Ellis

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 13 lumen success

Making their Mark

Ms Barbara Gare: BSc 1989, BSc (Hons) 1990, MBA 1999

Ms Barbara Gare is the Director University of Adelaide, and she of the South Australian Business maintains her ties with the Faculty Ambassadors Network (SABAN), of Engineering, Computer and a network of prominent business Mathematical Sciences by lecturing leaders around the globe who in a third-year subject for Computer have been invited by the Premier Science students. Prior to this of South Australia to be Business role, Ms Gare worked for five years Ambassadors for the State. as a geophysicist in the oil and In this role, Ms Gare works gas industry. closely with Business Ambassadors Ms Gare is a Fellow of the to encourage investment in South Governor’s Leadership Foundation Australia, greater importing (2001) and the inaugural Chair and exporting activity by South of the GLF Network of Fellows Australian businesses, business Executive Committee (2002 migration and other activities of Science in Geology from the – 2003). She is also the immediate of economic benefit to South University of Adelaide, and has past President of the University of Australia. studied Mandarin Chinese, German, Adelaide’s MBA Alumni Association. She has an MBA from the Spanish and International Studies She remains active on the Executive University of Adelaide, undertaken as part of a Bachelor of Arts. Committees of both of these as the 1998 recipient of the Guy Previously, Ms Gare worked for organisations. She is also a Lloyd MBA Scholarship. She more than seven years with TRC Trustee of South Australian also has an Honours Bachelor Mathematical Modelling at the Business Vision 2010.

Mr Jamie McPhee: B Eng (Hons) 1987, MBA 2000

A Civil Engineer and MBA With bank conversion on January graduate from the University of 1, 1994, the role of Treasury Adelaide, Mr Jamie McPhee is expanded to include wholesale fund Chief General Manager Banking raising and Mr McPhee played a Operations for Adelaide Bank, leading role in the successful raising which includes distribution, of wholesale funds both in Australia business banking, products, and off-shore. marketing and processing. In 1996 he was appointed He was appointed to the position as General Manager Interstate in early 2003 after spending all his Operations and one year later as early working life in the treasury General Manager of Wholesale side of financial institutions. Operations. He began work in the dealing Mr McPhee was then appointed room with Wallace Smith Trust He was appointed Chief to oversee Interstate Lending, which Company in London, spending Manager of Treasury at the time today represents more than 75% of two years there before returning of the merger between the Co- the Bank’s lending business. to Adelaide and joining the old op and the Hindmarsh Adelaide In 2002, he became Chief Co-operative Building Society of Building Society in January 1992 General Manager of Lending, South Australia (the forerunner to and in 1993 he was appointed overseeing all lending operations, Adelaide Bank) as a Money Market to the organisation’s Executive both within South Australia and Dealer in its Treasury. Committee. interstate.

lumen page 14 winter 2004 lumen making a difference Malaysian graduates to mentor students

Malaysian graduates inspired by their own education from the University of Adelaide are giving something back — to underprivileged children.

he West Malaysian chapter of the on individuals who show some kind now becomes my responsibility to University of Adelaide alumni of promise. We’re looking to target mentor that person and to see him Tis running its own Education young people who are close to through. Outreach Program, aimed at providing finishing their high school.” “From my perspective I can help, opportunities to those less fortunate. Alumni involved in the program because the moment they are in first “The alumni of the University of have already spoken with a number of year they can come and work for my Adelaide want to contribute in some young students who are succeeding at firm, do an attachment, which earns way to our local community, and at school but have no further educational them the extra income they need to see the same time engage the community prospects. them through university,” he says. in what we’re doing,” says Mathew “We get a general feeling of “We hope to apply the same model Thomas Philip, an Adelaide Law helplessness — they would like to take to anybody else who wants to follow graduate and former president of the their studies further, but don’t have a particular path. We want to draw West Malaysian chapter. the money or support to do it. They on the variety of professions in the “Our program is educational based, feel there’s no point in making a good alumni.” because the common theme we see is effort in their exams, because if they People who have nothing to do that education has provided us with get a good result they can’t see what’s with the Adelaide alumni can also get opportunities.” going to happen to them after that. involved, Mr Thomas Philip says. Those that stand to benefit from This is where we can help.” In addition to mentoring, the the alumni’s generosity include The program aims to match Education Outreach Program provides the children of drug addicts and young people with mentors suited to specific benefits to children in need. prostitutes. Although these children particular study options and careers Earlier this year, West Malaysian might finish high school, they are they wish to pursue. The program will alumni donated four guitars to much less likely to receive a tertiary start with one or two students this year underprivileged children. education because of a lack of funding as a pilot for the years to come. “Providing guitars that children and support. As a partner in a law firm, Mr need to learn to play music, or a “The difficulty arises in providing Thomas Philip is in a good position to computer that will help educate support and encouragement for those mentor a young person in law. children at a school, these are small people to break the barrier — for “I’ve already picked out one person ways of helping, but they can make those who say, ‘yes, I want to do who’s interested in doing law. This a difference to children’s lives,” Mr something more, but I don’t know how guy is quite mature. He’s 17 years old, Thomas Philip says. ■ to do it’,” Mr Thomas Philip says. living at a shelter, and he’s thinking: “What we are doing is concentrating ‘what’s going to happen to me?’ It Story David Ellis

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 15 lumen challenge

lumen page 16 winter 2004 lumen heading Climb every mountain

For Duncan Chessell, Mount Everest lies between North Terrace and Rundle Street.

orth Terrace means the travel constantly to do it, so I had and clapped — then I thought, ‘hey, it University of Adelaide, where to work quite a bit part-time to raise must have really happened’!” NChessell graduated Bachelor the money necessary — which put Since his return he has turned his of Science in 1996. Rundle Street studying a bit lower down on the list. attention more towards the corporate means where Chessell’s business, “But I kept going and finally world, becoming an accomplished DCXP Mountain Journeys, began graduated in 1996, and was lucky public and motivational speaker and operating in 2002. enough to get a job as a geologist up now with his DCXP business. And in between these two events in Moomba, which continued to help DCXP offers climbing and trekking is the world’s tallest peak, Mount fund my passion for climbing.” journeys in all seven continents with a Everest, which in 2001 Chessell The connection with Adelaide focus on individual and team building. became the first South Australian to didn’t stop after he graduated — his “I have found that the principles climb successfully. wife, Jo Arnold, also has a PhD in needed for a successful climb are By his own admission, Chessell Geology from the University! similar to those needed in the wasn’t the archetypal university In 2001, Chessell became the business world, things like working as student. He started in Engineering first South Australian to scale a team, planning and preparation, and in the late 1980s but transferred Mount Everest. leadership,” he said. into Science to pursue his interest “It took a week or so to actually “For example, one of our programs in geology. sink in,” he says. “It wasn’t until involves taking business leaders for a With his escalating interest in I was actually back in Kathmandu 12-day trek along the Kokoda Track mountain climbing coinciding with his and went to the famous Rumdoodle in Papua New Guinea — many of university studies, a three-year degree restaurant where there is a wall with the CEOs and other business leaders stretched out to last seven years. signatures of Sir Ed Hillary, Reinhold who have been on this found it a “It wasn’t like I was a bad student Messner, Rob Hall and all the Everest challenging, but ultimately rewarding who failed everything!” he says. summiteers. development program which helped “I was becoming very passionate “I stepped up and put my pen to them to run their organisations.” ■ about my climbing and wanted to the wall and the whole bar cheered Story Ben Osborne

Duncan Chessell photos courtesy Duncan Chessell www.dcxp.com

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 17 lumen scholarships

‘A BIG SMILE INSIDE’

Confi dence, diverse interests and an inherent ability to succeed aptly describe the 2004 recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships.

A product of Glenunga International High School, Ashlea Bartram “On opening it and realising I had won the scholarship worth has commenced a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) program. $5,000 per year, I burst into song: ‘no HECS debt for me-ee’, ‘no She hopes to become involved in organisational or clinical HECS debt for me-ee’. I then wasted no time completing the psychology and undertake postgraduate studies in these areas. relevant forms,” she said. The son of missionary parents in Thailand, and educated at the For Nathan Hall, winning the scholarship means he will not have Hebron School in India, aspiring inventor Nathan Hall has begun to go looking for a part-time job. “I was both surprised and a Bachelor of Science (Optics and Photonics) program. He is extremely happy when I received the news. It felt like I had a big keen to pursue research in the area of guided missiles and laser smile inside,” he said. technology in military equipment. A staunch Australian cricket fan, Nathan lists alternative energy Winning the scholarship has removed a huge financial hurdle systems, laser technology and 20th century history among his for both. Ashlea was so thrilled about the scholarship she began major interests. He is also involved in his church cell group. to sing. Ashlea loves to read and spend time discussing books with “I started to get excited when my Dad and I picked up an A4 friends and random strangers on the internet. ■ envelope at the mail box and my first response was the University would not send a ‘rejection’ letter in a large envelope. Story Howard Salkow

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Life Impact The University of Adelaide www.agsb.adelaide.edu.au/execed lumen justice prevails Meteoric rise from Quorn to The Hague

While growing up in Quorn, a tiny South Australian town with a population of 1400, 345 km north of Adelaide, it never occurred to Michelle Jarvis that through her chosen vocation of International Law she would move to the Netherlands to prosecute some of the worst atrocities committed in Europe since World War II.

n fact, her career path was cutting edge; we are dealing with many Above: Michelle Jarvis (centre) with fellow University of Adelaide interns Yasmine Ahmed influenced by some of her high legal issues that have never before and Hannah Tonkin Ischool teachers in Quorn and Port been thoroughly explored. Coming Augusta who encouraged her to study from an International Law background, law. Today, these teachers are deriving I am finding the work extremely influenced how he has handled himself great pleasure following her meteoric stimulating.” in court from the outset. This has also rise in the International Criminal Her rapid progression at the ICTY presented challenges for the Tribunal.” Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia has added to the excitement. On her Ms Jarvis said most cases that (ICTY) in The Hague, where she is return, she was appointed an Associate come to the Tribunal end up on appeal currently based. Legal Officer working with the and the Milosevic trial is predicted to The ICTY was established by the respected Judge Patricia Wald; she was follow the same route. United Nations Security Council then promoted to Legal Officer and “The nature of the trial is of great in 1993 in the face of the serious is now in the Appeals Section of the interest to the world at large and I violations of international humanitarian Office of the Prosecutor working as an never envisioned being involved in law committed in the territory of the Appeals Counsel. such proceedings. I think it is fair to former Yugoslavia since 1991, and as a In her current position, she say that no one really thought they response to the threat to international drafts appellate briefs, motions and would be involved in this. peace and security posed by the responses; assists in the preparation of “For a long time there weren’t violations. cases for hearing and the formulation courts of this kind, although we did An Economics and Law graduate, of litigation strategy and presents have the Nuremberg Trials experience Ms Jarvis was first introduced to oral arguments for the Prosecution in and the Tokyo tribunals following the ICTY as an Intern in July 1997 appeal hearings. World War II,” Ms Jarvis said. where she served in the Office of the For most, including Ms Jarvis, the Ms Jarvis said people could be Prosecutor until December of that year. trial that has captured everyone’s traumatised by some of the evidence. She returned in October 2000 and attention is that of former Yugoslav “The subject matter is distressing, expects to remain in The Hague for the leader Slobodan Milosevic. but in dealing with it daily, you learn foreseeable future. “Milosevic has chosen to defend how to cope. But it does come back “Longevity here at the Tribunal is a himself. He has refused legal in little ways.” lifestyle decision. Some people come representation, so this puts an Each day begins with a 10-minute and experience the work for just a year interesting light on the proceedings,” bike ride to her offices, a small amount or so. Some have been here for five, she said. of time for reflection, for as she puts it, while others have been here since “He has also made his attitude clear “What I am doing is enormously time the creation of the Tribunal in 1993,” toward the court. He does not believe consuming, the cases are huge and the she said. it is a fair process and he maintains days extend long into the night.” ■ “I find the work exciting. It is that the court is biased. This has Story Howard Salkow

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 19 lumen leading the way Keyhole surgery pioneer drives Adelaide excellence

Returning to Adelaide was always going to be a challenge for Professor Hock-Lim Tan.

medical graduate from the “I knew that Adelaide had a great Instead, he sought to develop a University of Adelaide in 1971, lifestyle from past experience, and niche, draw on his network of overseas A Professor Tan was forging a that it had the potential to become a colleagues and focus on his particular successful career in paediatric surgery leading centre in paediatric surgery not expertise, which is minimally invasive in the UK when he decided to return to only in Australia but in the South-East surgery — otherwise known as keyhole South Australia in 2001. Asia region.” surgery. “A lot of my colleagues weren’t In taking up the roles of Professor Professor Tan is a pioneer and one convinced I was making the smartest of Paediatric Surgery at the University of the leading international experts in decision,” Professor Tan says. “I was of Adelaide and Director of the this field in children. going from one of the world’s busiest Department of Paediatric Surgery at While well established in adult cities and best children’s hospitals the Women’s & Children’s Hospital, surgery, it is still in its relative infancy back to Adelaide, which at the time did Professor Tan made the conscious in paediatric surgery and has only not have an international reputation decision not to compete against the gained acceptance in the past few as a centre of excellence for paediatric larger paediatric institutions in the years. It allows surgeons to perform surgery. eastern states. complex surgical procedures without

lumen page 20 winter 2004 lumen leading the way

the need to make an incision. Many of Department of Paediatric Surgery as Professor Hock-Lim Tan: leading the way in paediatric keyhole surgery. the operations and instruments used in Visiting Professors. Photo courtesy of The Women’s paediatric keyhole surgery today were And on top of all this, the and Children’s Hospital. in fact developed by Professor Tan. Malaysian-born Professor Tan has Professor Tan wasted little time in recently been appointed as the drawing upon this expertise to develop President of the Australia-Malaysia a world-class paediatric surgery centre. Business Council where he will attempt to achieve here in Adelaide. I firmly He developed a structured training to develop closer business and health believe Adelaide could be established program for advanced surgical services ties to Malaysia. as the main reference centre for trainees, and by the end of this year “I am happy that I have achieved paediatric surgery for South-East Asia, will have a dedicated state-of-the-art some results in the time I have been which means a potential population of operating theatre, courtesy of the back in Adelaide,” Professor Tan says. some 600 million we could draw on. McGuiness-McDermott Foundation “My department now has an “And although we are currently and the State Government — the first international profile, and we have an working on several clinical research such theatre in a public institution in advanced Australian surgical trainee projects, we don’t have the funding Australia and probably even the region. for the first time in many years. We to set up a proper research centre. This has attracted some of the top have had surgeons from the UK, India We are investigating avenues of surgeons to train under him. and South America, and currently have funding that would enable us to A steady stream of leading a Philippino and Malaysian paediatric become a department that is well- paediatric surgeons from across the undergoing training with us. rounded clinically, academically and in world have also visited the WCH’s “There is still much I would like research.” ■

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 21 lumen transforming lives A sense of justice: Lynn

In September last year, former South Australian premier Dr Lynn Arnold (BA 1973, BEd 1990, PhD 2003) was appointed vice-president, Asia Pacifi c Region for World Vision International, based in Bangkok. He talked to Howard Salkow about his new role. QA

Q1 for us is advocacy on behalf of and Q5 Will you be travelling extensively? alongside of children. Did growing up in Apartheid South Africa have an impact on your life? A1 Q3 The Asia-Pacific region for World How would you respond to the A5 Vision International stretches in a question: “Why would you want We left South Africa when I was four fan-like shape from Nepal, India and to have children in today’s as my parents did not want to bring Sri Lanka in the west to Mongolia, troubled world?” their children up in the type of society North Korea, and Japan in the that was being encouraged by the north, and then reaches down into A3 government of the day. Both my the Pacific to Papua New Guinea, The world is as troubled as humanity parents have a keen sense of justice the Solomons and Vanuatu. World lets it be. We can make a difference and the right for all to have equal Vision International is involved in if we want to. I have seen many opportunity; so their upbringing of my 18 countries in that area and raises powerful examples of changed lives sister and I was an important element money in a further six and I will need for children and their communities. in the types of attitudes we developed to visit all these countries at least towards the underprivileged and once a year. My role is to ensure that Q4 disempowered. the work of World Vision International How do you plan to counter the is as effective as possible. spread of HIV/AIDS? Q6 Q2 A4 You have lived in South Africa, Is an objective to ensure better This is a major area of work for Canada, New Zealand, Australia, treatment for children? me as the reality is that, despite Spain and now Bangkok. Has this official figures, the epicentre for varied experience assisted you? A2 the pandemic of HIV/AIDS has A6 We are a child-focused agency. already moved to Asia. I have the Some 750,000 children are directly responsibility to encourage World I have been fortunate. Not only did involved in our sponsorship program Vision International’s advocacy to it give me an appreciation of living in the Asia-Pacific region, but the governments and regional entities in different contexts, it also honed reality is that we actually assist many to recognise the seriousness of the my capacity to adapt to change. I more children in this area. Our situation and to indicate the types of attended eight different primary work is focused on helping whole programs that can be done not only schools and although I loved the communities transform their lives. In to mitigate the effects, but actually experience, I had to learn to land on working with governments, a key area reduce the incidence. my feet quickly each time.

lumen page 22 winter 2004 lumen transforming lives Arnold and World Vision

Q7 region has an enormous diversity of to achieve significant reductions in How has your vast political experience governmental situations, and that is child-trafficking within five years and assisted you? a challenge; but one to which I think I the way towards its elimination; all can bring something. governments of the region will be A7 openly dealing with HIV/AIDS and Q8 The experiences and opportunities I that the governments and NGOs will had in working within government and What do you hope to achieve in the significantly increase their work to in consulting with other governments next five years? meet the needs of the poor. (both Australian and international) A8 gave me a wealth of experience, which I am able to share with my In association with other non- Above: Dr Lynn Arnold–helping communities colleagues within WV. The Asia/Pacific governmental organisations, I hope transform their lives

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 23 lumen collaboration

The University of Adelaide has signed a strategic research agreement to extend and enhance collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).

The strategic alliance was signed in of the ADO and contribute to national partnerships with science and technology March this year as a follow-up to the wealth creation. Among its achievements organisations across the globe. establishment of a Chair in Photonics are the Jindalee Operational Radar and a Chair in Microwave Radar at the Network (which provides broad area “The agreement formally recognises University in 2003. surveillance of Australia’s northern existing links and forms a framework for approaches), the Barra sonobuoy increased co-operation in the future,” DSTO is an integral part of Australia’s (used by Australia and the UK to detect University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Defence Organisation (ADO) and ensures submarines) and composite bonded Professor James McWha said. the expert, impartial and innovative repair technology for aircraft, which has application of science and technology to saved the Australian Defence Force “All University faculties are actively the defence of Australia and its national (ADF) more than $150 million and earned engaged with DSTO in several forms interests. millions in exports for Australia. including contract research and consulting; partners in Co-operative DSTO works closely with the private sector DSTO’s strategic alliance with the Research Centres; adjunct appointments to equip industry to meet the requirements University builds on this history of for DSTO staff; research training for DSTO lumen page 24 winter 2004 lumen collaboration

staff, and Masters coursework for DSTO Opposite page: Flying ‘virtual choppers’ in DSTO’s Synthetic Environment Research Facility (SERF). staff as part of the Continuing Education Above: DSTO researchers working in DSTO’s Future Operations Centre Analysis Laboratory (FOCAL). Photos courtesy of DSTO. Initiative,” Professor McWha said.

He added that the research agreements “We have studies lined up to look at provide people with a lot of information in would lead to an improved national how and why group decision-making is ways they can understand accurately and engineering and research base in different from that made by individuals in a effortlessly.” Photonics and Microwave Radar that variety of decision-making environments,” will be critical to future major acquisition Dr Lee said. Dr Lee and his team will be working on programs for the ADF. these and other human decision-making The study will also look at what incentives problems, in collaboration with DSTO The University’s relationship with DSTO is and feedback are best used to optimise scientists, in a research program that further extended into the area of human team performance. extends over the next five years. decision-making with DSTO funding the appointment of Dr Michael Lee as Dr Lee said technological advances A University of Adelaide graduate, Dr Lee a Senior Research Fellow in Cognitive have opened up many more lines of won the 1999 DSTO Technology Base Psychology within the University’s communication in the Defence Force Award for the “best fundamental research Department of Psychology. This is a five- and more people are gaining access to contribution” within the Electronics and year contract. information. Surveillance Research Laboratory, and recently was the first Australian to win the “DSTO is interested in individual “This is a potentially good thing as it can New Investigator Award of the US Society differences in decision-making, as well as remove decision-making bottlenecks. But for Mathematical Psychology. ■ how groups or teams make decisions. it also makes it important to be able to Story Howard Salkow

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 25 lumen celebration Reunions a chance to celebrate and remember

‘Hard work, outstanding teachers and the making of life-long friendships.’

his phrase is repeated in followed by a group photograph and a prepared as a memento of the occasion the many biographies sent reunion luncheon. and include wonderful memories in by graduates for their and reflections of time spent at the T “I know that it helped to enrich the whole reunion booklet. University of Adelaide. experience and make it an occasion Reunion events provide an These booklets can be viewed on close to the heart.” (Geoff Nottle, Dip opportunity to remember your the University’s website at Arts & Ed 1953) University experience in all its facets, www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/reunions/ whether it be the long hours of Having noted that 50 years was University of Adelaide staff, both study, the nerves before exams, the a long time to catch up with fellow former and current and both general stimulating discussions in tutorials or graduates, last year marked the and academic, who contributed to the the campus culture and community inaugural 30-year reunion dinner. life of the University during the early that rounded out this unique Graduates from 1972 and 1973 1950s, 1970s and 1980s and who experience. travelled from interstate and overseas would like to rekindle these memories to attend this function. “It was a very happy occasion, with the with fellow staff and graduates are also pleasure of meeting again many people, “Not only did it remind me of the very encouraged to attend the reunions. medical and otherwise, whom I’ve seen enjoyable years I spent at Adelaide Uni The reunions program continues to little of over the last half century.” (Peter but it also provoked in me a reminder evolve with proposed 10-year and 40- Last, MBBS 1952) of the importance of such institutions year reunions in the planning phase. ■ to the present and future wellbeing of Since 1986 the Alumni Association Story Kim McBride our community. It made me very mindful has provided a wonderful opportunity of the potential for the University of for alumni to return to their alma Adelaide to assist future generations and mater to celebrate 50 years of being a contribute to Australia as a whole.” (Neil graduate of the University of Adelaide. Further information on the Reunions Program can be Lawson, B Ec 1972) obtained from Ms Kim McBride at +61 8 8303 3196 These Golden Jubilee celebrations are or [email protected] held once a year to not only welcome The 30-year reunion dinner for our alumni back to the University graduates of 1974 will be held on 11 Additional information, including missing lists for this of Adelaide but also to recognise September 2004 at the University of year’s reunions, can be found at the significant contribution that our Adelaide’s North Terrace campus. This www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/reunions/ graduates have made and continue to year we also celebrate the introduction make to our communities both locally of the 20-year reunion for graduates 20-Year Reunion 14 August 2004 and globally. The Golden Jubilee for of 1984 to be held on 14 August 30-Year Reunion 11 September 2004 graduates of 1954 is being held on 2004. Reunion booklets comprising 50-Year Golden Jubilee 1 October 2004 1 October 2004 commencing with a biographies and photographs of formal commemoration ceremony and graduates from each reunion year are lumen page 26 winter 2004 lumen alumni community Learning from the experience of others

The Commerce Chapter recently received an email forwarded by the Alumni, Community Relations and Development office. It was from a graduate of the University living in Canada.

The email explained how a close relative in Adelaide was undertaking a postgraduate course at the University and was looking for assistance with some of the topics covered in the course. Repeated attempts by the student to find a tutor had come to no avail so the relative in Canada sent an email to the Alumni Association seeking assistance. Within half an hour of receiving the email, the Commerce Chapter had found an appropriate tutor. Although there is nothing particularly unique about this story, it highlights the value of networks and the alumni as a community. It also reflects what the Commerce Chapter is all about. Above from left to right: The Commerce Chapter was launched Commerce Chapter committee in October 2002. With the School members Michael Hua, of Commerce celebrating its 10-year Ryan Both, Janica Lewis, anniversary in 2003 the chapter is one of the Chris Medlin, Joe Barry (standing) and Llewellyn Jones, Association’s youngest on a number of levels. Sri Yordkaew, Alex Brown, It currently has in excess of 200 registered Mikey Lee (seated). members, and it is anticipated that this Absent: Cheryl Wenham number will continue to grow. The Chapter’s website, which is sponsored by Deloitte, Left: Carly McDonald being is the hub of the Chapter. It incorporates a awarded the scholarship by searchable database of business contacts, Alex Brown, 2004 Chapter and an online forum for discussing issues and President (left) and Robert Di Monte, Offi ce Managing Partner sharing ideas. The Chapter offers members of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. a range of tangible benefits including access to member prices when attending events hosted by professional organisations such The Chapter is also working to build closer use the scholarship to begin a Masters in as the Australian Marketing Institute. The relationships between local and international Marketing. real value of the Chapter, however, is the students through a series of informal opportunity to develop relationships through networking sessions. These sessions will Through its activities, the Chapter hopes to networking and the sharing of experiences not only provide an opportunity for students create a community of professionals who are and ideas. to get to know each other, and from that keen to build relationships, share ideas and develop long-term relationships, it is also experiences, and assist each other. While Learning from the experiences of others is hoped these relationships may, in years this may begin at a simple level as described a key objective of the Chapter’s “Meet the to come, provide a catalyst for in the introductory story, the potential benefits Chairman Seminars”. These events provide international business. are unlimited. alumni, including current students and staff, with the opportunity to meet successful The Chapter is also supporting the With benefits for all types of members, professionals and to hear their personal education of Commerce students through whether they be undergraduates, recent story. Mr Stefan Ahrens, Managing Director the Commerce Alumni Chapter and Deloitte graduates or established industry members, of Ahrens Engineering and South Australia’s Scholarship for Excellence and Leadership. the Commerce Chapter represents a youthful Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2004, The scholarship, which is awarded annually, and vibrant face of alumni that is actively recently presented his own story about how provides $5000 towards further study working to make a difference within the South he turned a small family business into one of through the School of Commerce. The Australian business community. ■ the nation’s fastest growing companies and inaugural winner, Carly McDonald, is currently some of the challenges faced in the process. finishing a Bachelor of Commerce, and will Story Alex Brown

Chapter website: www.commerce.adelaide.edu.au/alumni

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 27 lumen graduate news “Where Am I Now?”

1940s 1980s 2000s

Dr Basil Hetzel Christine Adamson SC Scott Ayer (MBBS 1944, MD 1949): was one (LLB 1986): was appointed senior (BE (Elect), MBA 2001): appointed of the 15 Australians honoured as counsel at the NSW Bar in October as a delivery president of a global ‘national living treasures’ announced 2003. Christine graduated in law outsourcing division for US by The National Trust. with fi rst class honours, winning the multinational, EDS. Stow Medal in1985. She was the Elissa Y Corlett youngest senior counsel appointed (BSc 2000, BSc (Hons) 2001): last year and is one of fewer than received the John Kirby Road Safety a dozen women who received that 1950s Trust Award. honour among more than 27 senior Malcolm Kinnaird AO counsel in NSW. She now practices Jonathon Hutton (BE 1959): was awarded the 2003 in Blackstone Chambers. (B Health Sc (Hons) 2002): South Australian of the Year. The winner of the 2003 Young Tom Blackburn SC prestigious South Australian Investigator Award. (LLB 1984): was appointed of the Year Award recognises senior counsel at the NSW Bar in Phillip Killicoat a South Australian who has a October 2003. He now practices in (BEc, BA(Int St) 2002): received consistent record of excellence Blackstone Chambers. the Rhodes Scholarship to study and outstanding achievement while in Oxford. contributing in a signifi cant way to Professor Yau Kai Cheung South Australia. (DE 1982): awarded the Silver Jennifer Lovell Bauhinia Star Medal for his long (B Com (Acc) 2003): named South time service to the community, Australian CA Global Achiever and for his contribution to raising by the Institute of Chartered 1960s the standard of engineering. Also Accountants in Australia (ICAA). awarded the Medal of Excellence Philip Sims Professor Margaret A Somerville in Engineering Education by the (Graduate Certifi cate in Management (AuA (Pharm) 1963): chosen as the World Federation of Engineering 2003): appointed Chief Executive fi rst winner of the Avicenna Prize for Organisations. Offi cer, Robern Menz (Mfg) Pty Ltd. Ethics in Science by UNESCO. Rachel Swift 1990s (BSc (Mol Biol) 2002, BSc (Hons) 2003): received a Rhodes 1970s Dr Anna Chur-Hansen Scholarship to study at Oxford (BA 1984, BA (Hons) 1985, PhD in 2004. Brian Croser AO (Med) 1999): awarded the 2003 (B Ag Sc 1971): named Decanter Stephen Cole the Elder Prize for Erin Symonds magazine’s Man of the Year. The Excellence in Teaching. (BSc 98, BSc(Hons) 99, PhD(Bio prestigious international honour Greg Siegele Sc) 03): awarded The Advertiser/ recognises three decades of (LLB 1991, BEc 1991) and Channel 9 2004 Young Achiever of achievement with Petaluma and Richard Harrison the Year award. Mr Croser’s commitment to (BSc 1991): co-founders of Ratbag. improving the quality of wines from won the Best Game category in the Clare, Coonawarra and Adelaide the Australian Interactive Media Hills regions. Association Awards. Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan Dr Mark Werner The University of Adelaide takes a (LLB 1970): appointed Deputy Chief keen interest in its graduates and is (PhD 1993, BSc 1986, BEd 1989): Minister and Rural Development interested in fi nding out what alumni appointed Argentier National, Minister within the Sabah Cabinet are doing. Send your news to: Bailliage National d’Australie, in Malaysia. Confrérie de la Chaîne des Alumni, Community Relations Datuk Adenan Haji Satem Rôtisseurs; and appointed Grand and Development (LLB 1970): appointed Natural Steward, Grand Lodge of Antient, Level 1, 230 North Terrace Resources and Environment Free and Accepted Masons The University of Adelaide SA 5005, Australia Minister in the Federal Government of South Australia and Email: [email protected] in Kuala Lumpur. Northern Territory. lumen page 28 winter 2004 lumen happenings Alumni gallery

Above: Michael Hua, Verna Blewett and Robert Penhall attended End of Year Gathering of Benefactors and Friends in December 2003.

Right: Above: (from left) Professor John Taplin, Dr Said Al-Sarawi, pictured Dr Cheong Choong Kong, Anne here with his family, was Gribbin, Greg Crafter and David presented with the prestigious Goh during offshore graduations Postgraduate Alumni University visit in Singapore. Medal as part of the December graduations.

Below: Below: Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Barbara Hardy and Dr Peter Gill at the University of Adelaide’s attended End of Year Gathering annual offshore ceremony, of Benefactors and Friends in held in March at the Teochew December 2003. Building, Singapore.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 29 Alumni Program June - December 2004

DATE PROGRAM ORGANISED BY

June Alumni Association Annual General Meeting Alumni, Community Relations & and Annual Alumni Dinner Development offi ce (ACRD) MBA Alumni Chapter – Guest Speaker Series: MBA Alumni Association “The Business of Sport in SA” Friends of the University of Adelaide Library Chapter – Library Chapter Author and scholar events series presents – “The Three ‘R’s: Recipes, Research and Writing”, by Dr Barbara Santich

July Melbourne Network: Wine Tasting Evening Melbourne Network MBA Alumni Chapter – Professional Development 2-Day Course: MBA Alumni Association “Managing Technology Innovation”, presented by Dr Catherine Banbury, St Mary’s College, California Deadline for applications for Mutual Community ACRD Postgraduate Travel Grants MBA Alumni Chapter – Guest Speaker Series: MBA Alumni Association “The Role of Organisational Politics in Driving Change”, presented by Professor Dave Buchanan, de Montfort University Alumni Board and Combined Chapters Meeting ACRD Deadline for AUIAC 2004 Travel Grants ACRD West Malaysia Chapter – 10-Year Reunion West Malaysia Chapter

August Graduations: Presentation of Honours Alumni University Medal ACRD Cornell Chapter – Theatre Guild Performance Cornell Chapter and Supper – Twelfth Night University of Adelaide Open Day The University of Adelaide 20-Year Reunion for Graduates of 1984 ACRD Friends of the University of Adelaide Library Chapter – Library Chapter Author and scholar events series presents – world best-selling South Australian speculative fi ction author Sean Williams The Roseworthy Old Collegians Association – ROCA Launch of the Roseworthy Campus and Student Fund Combined Chapters Meeting ACRD Commerce Chapter: Marketing Event Commerce Chapter

September 30-Year Reunion for Graduates of 1974 ACRD John Bray Oration John Bray Law Chapter MBA Alumni Chapter: Life Impact: Confessions of an MBA Alumni Association Alumnus – Panel of Prestigious Alumni Alumni Board Meeting ACRD

October Golden Jubilee – 50-Year Reunion for Graduates of 1954 ACRD MBA Alumni Chapter – Professional Development 1-Day MBA Alumni Association Workshop: “Chalk & Cheese, Corporate Governance & Entrepreneurship”, presented by Mr Mark Coleman, AGSB & Professor Noel Lindsay, Centre for the Development of Entrepreneurs, UniSA The Roseworthy Old Collegians Association AGM ROCA and Reunion Dinner

November Combined Alumni Board and Chapters Meeting ACRD Cornell Chapter – Annual Dinner Cornell Chapter

December Graduations: Presentation of Postgraduate ACRD Alumni University Medal Australian University International Alumni Convention AUIAC (AUIAC) 2004, Hong Kong Commerce Chapter: Annual General Meeting Commerce Chapter

Further information on the above program or chapter events can be obtained from our website at www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni which is updated weekly, through AdelaidE-Link (e-newsletter), or from the Alumni, Community Relations and Development (ACRD) offi ce at +61 8 8303 5800 lumen page 30 winter 2004 OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY MERCHANDISE www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/merchandise

Coffee Mug Gloss red or matt blue Graduation Bear Graduation bear comes complete Champagne Flute 170ml Travel Mug Stainless steel with spill-proof sliding tab with a hood to match your degree Wine Glass 245ml Hi Ball Glass 290ml All beautifully detailed with etched look logo

Matt silver Champagne Stopper University Tie navy with Cuffl inks Elegant design with Round Metal Key Ring featuring full detailed with engraved logo multiple full colour crests engraved crest on each piece colour crest on cream background Shiny silver Wine Stopper detailed Executive style Silver Key Ring with engraved crest featuring etched look logo

Lanyard 10mm embroidered lanyard Pen Well constructed and attractive Lapel Pin Choose from the classic Car Sticker Full colour crest and with swivel clip to attach keys or casing contrasts well with gold print. crest or the new round design white text on clear backgound access card securely around your neck Blue ink.

Desk Business Card Holder Pocket Business Card Holder Matt Umbrellas Desk Clock silver lid provides a striking contrast executive 24”, navy, University of Adelaide logo Letter Opener with shiny case and etched look logo Redwood Paperweight

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE lumen page 31 THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE Offi cial University Merchandise Order Form

ITEM UNIT PRICE (AUD) UNIT PRICE (AUD) QNTY TOTAL COST Domestic Order* International Order Business Card Holder - desk $25.00 $22.50 Business Card Holder - pocket $15.00 $13.50 Car Sticker $ 3.00 $ 2.70 Champagne Flute each $ 9.00 $ 8.10 Champagne Flutes set of four $33.00 $29.70 Champagne Stopper $20.00 $18.00 Coffee Mug c red or c navy (please tick) $10.50 $ 9.45 Cuffl inks $30.00 $27.00 Desk Clock $60.00 $54.00 Fleece Vest $50.00 $45.00 Graduation Bear $40.00 $36.00 Please specify the degree required for the hood on the Graduation Bear: Hi Ball Glass each $ 7.00 $ 6.30 Hi Ball Glasses set of four $25.00 $22.50 Key Ring - metal with full colour detail $ 5.00 $ 4.50 Key Ring - silver $12.00 $10.80 Lanyard $ 5.00 $ 4.50 Lapel Pin - crest $ 4.00 $ 3.60 Lapel Pin - round $ 4.00 $ 3.60 Letter Opener $ 8.00 $ 7.20 Paperweight - redwood $20.00 $18.00 Pen $12.00 $10.80 Polo Shirt (XS, S, M, L, XL) $40.00 $36.00 Rugby Top (XS, S, M, L, XL) $60.00 $54.00 Rugby Fitted (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) $55.00 $49.00 T-Shirt (XS, S, M, L, XL) $19.00 $17.00 Travel Mug $12.00 $10.80 Umbrella - executive (24”) $30.00 $27.00 Umbrella - compact $20.00 $18.00 University Tie - navy $27.00 $24.30 Wine Glass each $ 9.50 $ 8.55 Wine Glasses set of four $35.00 $31.50 Wine Stopper $20.00 $18.00 * Domestic orders include GST Subtotal ADD POSTAGE AND HANDLING COSTS Quoted P&H Cost** Orders to $49.99 $ 4.50 $ 0 Orders between $50.00 and $99.99 $ 7.00 $ 0 Orders over $100.00 $10.50 $ 0

** Please contact us with your location and a complete listing of the products you wish to purchase. We will quote you the appropriate TOTAL P&H Costs to include on your order form. Email: [email protected] with subject heading “International P&H”

PERSONAL DETAILS / DELIVERY ADDRESS RETURN ADDRESS Name: Alumni, Community Relations & Development Street: The University of Adelaide Reply Paid 498 (within Australia only) Suburb/City: ADELAIDE SA 5001 State: Postcode/Zip: AUSTRALIA Country: Tel +61 8 8303 5800 Daytime Tel: Daytime Fax: Fax +61 8 8303 5808 Email: Email [email protected] Please tick: c UofA Student c UofA Staff c UofA Alumni c UofA Parent/Friend

PAYMENT

Please fi nd attached cheque/money order for $AUD ______payable to The University of Adelaide OR

c Please debit my c Bankcard c Visa Card c MasterCard for $AUD ______

Credit Card No. Expiry Date

Name on Card ______Signature ______Date ______lumen page 32 summerwinter 20042003 You can make a difference “I contribute to the University in many different ways, in part as thanks for my education, and mostly, because who knows what greatness will arise when others are given the opportunity.”

Dr Derek Rogers is a leader in Information and Communications Technologies, and Science and Technology Commercialisation, with significant Australian and international experience. In May 2003, he completed his fourth degree with components from the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a special leadership award for this degree — the first person not from the US to receive this rare award. Dr Rogers supports the University in many ways, including student scholarships, the Barr Smith For more information about giving to Library appeals, and medical research. He also volunteers his time in presenting seminars and the University of Adelaide, contact guest lectures, supervising postgraduate students, and in various advisory roles. Elaine Baker, Senior Development Officer, Alumni, Community Relations He contributes because he believes in the value of the University of Adelaide and the need to & Development +61 8 8303 5800 or invest in the future. email: [email protected]

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