',,-, -:~~-.f<.< November 1992

~ ... ":;---: .. HAWAII VOLCANOES IN THE SEA

n exciting nine day tour of Hawaii of the islands will be incorporated where islands and arrangements for a later return

with the fascinating title "Hawaii w opportunity pennits and will include the flight can be made. AVolcanoes in the Sea" leaves fringing coral reef, spectacular fish species, The weather in Hawaii in January will be Newcastle in January 1993. rare birds, tropical plants and the famous warm with temperatures in the mid 20's, Arranged by the University of Newcastle Hawaiian orchids. These, together with the sometimes humid along the coasts but with Department of Community Programmes and volcanic landfonns. will ensure that photo more refreshing breezes at higher altitudes. led by Joe Whitehead, Lecturer in Earth opportunities abound. A good variety of fresh food is available Science in the Department, the tour promises A balanced view of environmental issues on the islands and a wide range of restaurants to be a study tour with a difference. exciting will highlight the sometimes conflicting can be found to suit all tastes and pockets. and informative yet relaxed and informal. interests in geological hazard management. The tour leader. Joe Whitehead is The tour will visit the three islands of geothennal energy development, tourism, an Environmental Geologist with wide Oahu, Maui and Hawaii to investigate education, the management of National experience in conducting geological field vulcanicity. volcanic landforms and envi­ Parks, ocean floor mining, protection of the excursions in the USA, UK and Australia ronmental geology. Awesome scenery natural environment and the interests of the and has undertaken numerous visits to the abounds and this is combined with the local community and environmental groups. Hawaiian islands. On a similar visit earlier opportunity to study volcanoes at close Accommodation is in comfortable hotels this year participants had both professional quarters, to walk across the floors of both and the large minibus transport, with ample and amateur interests in volcanoes and extinct and dormant craters and to see leg room and high seating for commanding ranged in age from those in their 20s to active lava flows both by day and by night. views, allows access to many localities retired folk in their 70s. Joe describes the The tour will include opportunities not inaccessible to coaches. Inter-island flights tour as '"fascinating, hugely exciting, afforded the holidaymaker or independent should ensure spectacular views of the competitively priced and not too far from traveller to visit the Mauna Kea Science volcanic landscape and coastlines. home; find out more about volcanoes, Reserve Astronomical Observatory and an Cultural and historic aspects of the islands environmental geology, geothennal energy operating Geothennal Power Station. These are not neglected with some time being set - a learning experience of a lifetime!" visits will allow participants to hear at first aside for visits to Pearl Harbour, Waikiki, For further information contact the hand from local scientists and engineers of the Captain Cook Monument and for Department of Community Programmes, the progress of current research projects. shopping. Members of the tour party may University of Newcastle. NSW, 2308, Other aspects of the natural history choose to extend their stay in the Hawaiian telephone (049) 215551 or (049) 216019.

(f) Conservation Genetics p6 a: Rosaleen Joseph has captured the beauty of Editor I- L.U theAustralian bush in herpastel,Angophora Sonja Duncan Z The Dangers of Littering p7 costata. Insets: Kookaburra - watercolour Information and Public Relations Unit W Alternative Energy p9 8 by Amanda Wilson andEucalyptusmoculata Contributing Writers I- by University demonstrator in plant and Kim Britten Z Student's Antarctic Summer pll ~ wildlife illustration. Genevieve Wallace. Sonja Duncan 0 Where are they Now? pl5 Rosaleen and Amanda are enrolled in the Cae Pattison ~ Graduate Diploma inArt (Plant and Wildlife Design and Artwork (,) LL. University People & Places p22 Illustration). Gill Hughes

UNlnews 2 WITH POWER COMES RESPONSIBILITY John Dengate ward of warning was conveyed to By 1803, only 15 years after colonisation, "intelligent compromise needed" University students and staff at the the widespread problem of erosion prompted ACampus Environment Week. During Governor King to issue a general order overzealous in Our attempts to "tame the a lunch-time address, National Parks and forbidding the removal of trees from land" ? Wildlife Service officer, John Dengate, riverbanks. John told of the large scale destruction of indicated that unless our environmental Further development and the desire to Australia's ecology. "By the 1980s about problems are solved soon, animal species "progress" resulted in a changed landscape. half of Australia's ecosystem had been will continue to disappear. In NSW alone, By the mid 1800s the once abundant seriously affected; one third of our trees had 20 mammals are already extinct, he said. 40-metre-tall blue-gums had disappeared been destroyed," he said. John studied Zoology at Sydney from the valleys around the colony, During The news is not all bad. With the University and taught Environmental his address John quoted colonial writer continuing damage to the environment there Science for the Australian Museum. He has Louisa Meredith who in the 1830s wrote: has grown an increased concern for the been with the National Parks and Wildlife "Unless a settler can see an expanse of bare, protection of our plants and animals. John Service for 10 years and has developed a naked, unvaried, shadeless, dry and dusty explained this as an "inverse relationship"; great understanding ofthe environment. John land around him, he fancies his dwelling as the more we destroy, the more aware of the suggests that Australians look towards an wild and uncivilised", destruction we become, "I guess that this, in "intelligent compromise". Along this road of destruction, however, a way, is positive," he added optimistically. "We simply cannot go on developing our a new voice was emerging. "The first So what can we do? nation at the expense of our fellow travellers conservationists started to appear by the late "We are now faced with a range of on planet earth," he told listeners. 1850s," John said, explaining that early different futures," John said. "The concern John outlined the changing attitudes to groups, known as "acclimatisation socie­ for the environment will continue, but so the environment in Australia since white ties", were interested in the preservation too will our ability to wreck things!" colonisation 200 years ago. He described of wildlife. According to John, education, comm­ the destruction of our ecosystem as an In 1872 with the establishment of the unication and expertise will save our nation "historical accident", saying that we settled world's first National Park (Yellowstone, and our planet from total destruction. "We this country in an age of technology with USA) a new consciousness emerged. The have the power to destroy or save this planet. the assumption that "we had the God-given Royal National Park was established in NSW With power comes responsibility. It remains right to do anything". in 1879 and in the same year the Animal the responsibility of each one of us to ensure "When white-man came here it was Protection Act was introduced. It took the survival of our planet and of life as we basically full-on exploitation," John another 88 years before the National Parks know it," he said. explained, adding that the major concern and Wildlife Service was founded. To this John's concluding remark: "We don't of the time was to "tame the land". day the organisation promotes and encour­ inherit the earth from our parents, we And tame it we did, ages the preservation of habitat and the borrow it from our children" serves as a Within a matter of years the rugged beauty protection of all native animals, haunting reminder that the future lies in of the colony's coastal fringe was destroyed. But did this come about too late? Were we our hands, ENVIRONMENT WEEK leasant spring temperatures and "We can thank our founding fathers for a brilliant blue sky marked the their good judgement in choosing the site for Popening of the University's this campus and for preserving its natural Environment Week. The Vice-Chancellor, environment." Professor Keith Morgan officially opened Professor Morgan says that he, like all of the week's program by planting a tree, us working or studying at the University, saying that although the Environment should enjoy to the fullest, the opportunity of Weekis a first for the University, an aware­ working in "such a splendid environment". ness of environment&! issues has long "Each of us must contribute positively to been a focus of the University community. this environment and continue to strengthen "A sense of the environment is an the environmental policies of the whole implicit part of this University," he said. University in years to come." Kent Gillman (I> and Professor Morgan

3 UNlnews NATURAL RESOURCES AGEMENT ON A FRAGILE PLANET Dr Diana Day, Centre for Environmental Management, The University of Newcastle

(Excerpts from a paper presented to the Hunter Valley Social Science Teachers Association) What should we do? What can we do with limited resources and within political and institutional flexibility? Also, who ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLEXITY should do it? Modern environmental The global environment of planet Earth widespread land degradation and salinisation, conflicts and planning strategies revolve is exceedingly complex. With the clear or protests by action groups about sewerage around who is responsible for certain actions dominance of humanity as a species it is pollution of coastal waters. Ecological in terms of management or cleaning up now imperative that natural resources problems can also be invisible, such as a problems. Many disputes arise in this area management be taken seriously for regions. stream looking quite pristine but having where responsibility is shared. The questions countries, sub-continents and throughout toxic elements and heavy metals adhering to above galvanise many researchers and policy the globe. channel sediment. makers in'the environment field. And where The environment is more than we think. In looking at the natural environment they don't, they should. In fact it caD be argued that nature no longer we need to work out which management Our environment is certainly complex exists due to the extent of influence of problems confront us. To work this out we and one factor alone shows this. If we human populations. If we are looking at need to look at a range of questions. These take air quality we can see that there are a managing nature or our natural resources we include, what do we really want with our number of influences which at first hand need to isolate particular land use impacts natural environment? We can no longer kid don't seem possible. They include the and these stem from established populations ourselves that we need to model a natural research and perceptions of scientists in cities and towns, public sector activities, environment according to its pristine state, about our air quality. They include the law politics and industrialisation. The factors There probably never was a pristine state in terms of the pollution control standards which have influence over nature include the in the evolution of the Earth and we are and criteria. Government policies and diverse nature of society and the economic certainly not capable technologically of licensing conditions also affect air quality. and political reality of our times. restoring to pristineness. We also have the health aspects of air quality, Nature can be construed as water, air, What we can do is decide what environ­ the smell aspects, the effects of fallout in soil, biota, rivers. But all these elements ment we want, and construct that polluted city air on both the soil environment are influenced by a range of anthropo­ environment within ecologically sustain­ and even on washing which is of particular centrically focussed activities. Industry, able parameters. This raises the problem of interest to consumer groups. urban development, rural expansion, energy what is sustainable and what is balanced in We have visible pollution which makes air generation, political change and nuclear the ecology. But it remains that we must ask quality seem an important issue. But we also accidents all have import for allocating the question, what alternatives do we need have invisible air quality deterioration which and managing a natural resource base. Many to choose from when we are managing is also important. This is why perception of these areas are studies on their own but environments? Do we want a pristine lake? plays a large role in determining our air they indicate that our survival on this planet Do we want three pristine lakes and two quality problems and their management. is certainly dependent on our actions as they polluted ones? Do we want to rehabilitate Councils and community action groups are effect our natural resources. the entire coastal zone? Why? Or just very closely involved in metropolitan air Our ecological stability problems for several parts of it? Why? What can we quality management, as are transport and example can be visible such as an oil afford to do? These are the questions that industrial groups. slick at sea, dead fish, a red frothy stream, need to be considered by society. Certainly air quality management issues

UN/news 4 have expanded over the years. With the example, in the wetlands of the irrigation that containment of radiation is very difficult development of a new EPA (Environment areas of the Burdekin River in northern indeed and the decommissioning of the Protection Authority) in NSW there is an Queensland. Here wide-scale clearing and Windscale nuclear power plant in England increased monitoring network of air quality destruction of wetland complexes is going shows that there are a lot of issues that in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. ahead even though there is research looking have not been technically overcome in In air quality we also need to be aware at the management prospects for such this process. It all looks a bit feeble for of the wind factors that change through­ wetlands. Such studies, while partly funded technology. When one looks at the attempts out the seasons, the politics of central by government, need more recognition by to contain radiation after the damage was government, the type of planning government as it allows clearing of these done at Chernobyl one really begins to philosophy of government departments, wetland areas for sugar. We have some wonder about how much we can control and the political influence of industry in conflict of interests in this case. our nuclear energy and nuclear future. terms of its output, financial stability, and equipment chosen. All these factors indicate that the management of air quality CONTAMINATION THE POSITIVE THINGS: can be exceedingly complex. Society now has a major problem with WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE energy development and industrialisation. FRAGILE EARTH DEGRADATION OF NATURAL There is a waste stream. This waste stream is Individuals count in change. This may ENVIRONMENTS enonnous and it has potential for severe be the presence of an inspiring teacher for There is widespread degradation of dislocation of ecosystems and the water students in primary or secondary education global air, soil, biotic, and water supply on which we depend. The nuclear or it may be an individual who has gained environments. What is more problematic is reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney, prominence for the development of views the level of social complacency in relation NSW and the surrounding waste depot on important environmental matters. One to the deterioration of our natural resource areas present one interesting study of waste can not neglect the important influence one assets. There is certainly much action on in the environment. It is posited by consult­ individual can make in creating change behalf of humanity to manage natural ants for the NSW Department of Housing or bringing issues forward for better resources, but management in this sense that the Mill Creek tributary which runs management of the environment. Examples really only gives lip service to real through the Lucas Heights waste areas is are Rachael Carson, David Suzuki, David environmental change. Examples include contaminated from leaching from the two Attenborough, and Paul and Anne Ehrlich. the Murray Darling catchment which waste depots and a major land fill site. Education is also an important contributor encompasses over one seventh of the Despite this extreme possibility the state to the management of our fragile Earth. Australian continent where 50% of the government wants 70% of Sydney's waste Education can be through tertiary education, native vegetation has been cleared since to be deposited at this site. The presence through curriculum development in primary European settlement. Another example of of phenols which have carcinogens in them, and secondary schools or from the inspiring widespread change is the sheep/wheat belt as well as herbicides and PCB's which teacher, colleague or media personality. of Australia where 9% of the original contain dioxin, have all been found in Recycling can also be used by the vegetation now remains. Also the Murray­ leachate downstream from these storage individual. Recycling is important. It is Darling basin, where 10 plant species and sites. now moving from putting your vegetable 20 small mammals have become extinct This chemical contamination has scraps on the garden at home and since European settlement. This in no way potential for even more change and this is collecting used paper at work, to recycling approaches the widespread extinction of not surprising when we look at the open major waste streams in cities. This is species globally. nature of hydrological systems and the happening in Sydney to some extent, and inability of resource managers to actually also in western Europe. However, there is IS MANAGEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP close these systems to the dispersal of a lot more to do in recycling and much WITH NATURAL RESOURCES? contamination. Other toxic problems include of this is uneconomic at present. It would seem that management of the sewerage releases on the Hawkesbury One thing we can do for ourselves and our natural environment is not wholly in River where multiple sewerage outfalls for others is to increase the awareness of partnership with knowledge of our natural occur although the water is treated, and also environmental issues. This is done very resources. After all, some societies the major toxic problems of removing effectively by television, radio and the are not really interested in sustainable waste and having it contained in the USA print media and also by prominent management practices. Certainly govern­ and across Australia. environmental figures in their books. But ment must develop policies, management Even at the Chernobyl site in Russia the it is important to increase our own structures and monitoring in accord with development of large cracks on the concrete awareness of particular issues as this can the key issues of the time. sarcophagus which surrounds the exploded lead to our increased participation in But management decisions do not unit mean that even more steps will have to change to obtain more balanced objectives rely solely on data. This can be seen, for be taken to contain this radiation. It seems in environmental planning. •

5 UNlnews parts of the world, and that is the decline of frog populations at a rate not previously detected. Up until 1980 no Australian frogs had disappeared, although some were known to occur in very restricted habitats. Since this time however, four species of rainforest frog have disappeared from areas along the east coast of Australia, and another nine have declined markedly. e hear a good deal about species as one cell). Thus it is not necessary to kill Species found in alpine habitats and at extinction, but less about the or remove specimens. A second advantage is high altitudes are also in marked decline. W other dimension of the bio­ that only a small sample of individuals The loss of any species is a severe diversity crisis, the continued degrading of from a population is necessary to obtain indictment on our approach, but it is even genetic variability. more recently referred to information that applies to the majority more frightening when the species that as the biodepletion crisis (Myers, 1992).1 of individuals in the population. This is disappear, such as the gastric brooding frogs. Total extinction is a major concern, but in the because each individual has two copies are unique in features of their biology. In future even those species that survive are of every gene and when information is Australia, zoologists who study frogs are likely to have lost many of their populations, gathered on many genes per individual, still coming to grips with documenting and so their gene reservoirs will have been this is as effective as studying many describing the fauna; in the last two decades greatly depleted. This will in turn reduce individuals for a small number of genes. one twelfth of the total Australian frog fauna their capacity to r~spond to environmental Genetic studies are cost effective when has been described (that is, twenty species pressures. compared to other types of zoological out of a total of approximately 160). Even When thinking about conservation, analysis because they sample the genome less is known about the ecology and people mostly relate to the field of biology directly, and once tissue samples are stored habitat requirements of these animals. known as ecology, and do not consider they can be used many times. the role that other fields play. The field of THE CAUSES OF THIS DECLINE genetics, for example, has a vital role to THE DECLINE OF POPULATIONS In many instances the causes of decline play. This should not be surprising because OF FROGS can be easily identified. They revolve around this is the area of biology that deals with Since the arrival of European man on the habitat destruction. These situations can be the mechanisms of evolution. Species Australian continent a total of 20 species of addressed' and appropriate measures put formation, survival and extinction are the birds have become extinct. Public awareness into place. This is a social issue; if we matter of evolution, and geneticists have of the level of devastation wrought by human understand the imperative of biodiversity built up a great deal of information in activities was not funy appreciated until that our survival is connected to the survival this area. the 1960's, when television documentaries of other organisms, then we have their Topics such as genetic variability, critical presented the grim picture. Until this time continuance in our hands. Not so simple is minimum sizes of gene stocks, the effect there was the strong perception, that within the disappearance of frogs from pristine of isolation in small areas (island the vastness of Australia, animals would live environments, the very national parks that biogeography), reductions to very small on in some far flung corner or remote place, were established to protect the unique populations during the history of a and they would always be there when we assemblages of organisms within them. This population (bottleneck constraints), and wanted to see them. It came as a surprise to is no less a social issue, but it requires population abundance in relation to popula­ most Australians that such a high proportion specific scientific study and action. tion persistence and modelling predictions of our unique fauna was already extinct and The first step is to identify the species of ecological change, are ones that now an even higher proportion endangered or present which then enables their distribution must be applied to dwindling natural vulnerable. to be detenruned. To the uninitiated this may populations. At this time, it appeared that the devasta­ seem an obvious and perhaps easy task. From the conservation point of view, tion among the mammals and birds was Unfortunately this is not always the case, it is critical when studying species to have not apparent among the reptiles, amphibians especially among organisms like frogs that an understanding of inter- and intra­ and fishes. However, there is now evidence have a conservative structure, (compare population genetic variability, stasis and that our perception was poor. With the for example the similar form of most frogs drift of genetic composition. Approached same complacency with which we approa­ with the considerable variation present this way, genetics can be a valuable tool ched the decline of specific mammals in among mammals). Conservation manage­ that aids in conservation management. the middle of this century we are now ment begins with this step, because priorities witnessing the disappearance of frogs from are determined by knowledge of the MODERN GENETIC TECHNIQUES specific regions, and the decline of many distribution, abundance and systematic Modern genetic techniques have one species throughout their distribution. importance of any particular species. • great advantage, they require tiny amounts Recently a sinister environmental event of living tissue (theoretically from as little has been noticed in Australia and in other I Myers N (1992) Plugging the gene pool. l::!.iJJJll:£. 358:200

UN/news 6 ROADSIDE LITTER. YOU'RE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DANGERS OF LITTERING ew people realise how dangerous other vermin before they start to rot away. the context of global environmental littering can be to the environment. "Unfortunately some drivers and passen­ problems. It is time to find out what F In a speech delivered at the Campus gers think their small wrapper, can or bottle makes people litter, to bring in Behavioural Environment Week seminar, Environment won't make much of a difference, but it Science and Psychology, as we are dealing ProtectionAuthority (EPA) officer, Michael will. Litter does not just go away or with a much more environment conscious Antrum, said litter was far more danger­ degrade." generation," Mr Antrum said. ous than people think. Litter is the Throwing cigarette butts out of The new EPA campaign will move away second highest cause of injury to car windows caused 175 bush­ from the aesthetic motive for reducing litter wildlife in Australia, with string fires in NSW last year, Mr and try to put it in a global context. The new and plastic being swallowed Antrum said. It too is a ma­ strategy will have community consultation or getting caught in beaks jor problem, destroying as its prime focus, holding regional forums and feet and broken property and natural on roadside litter to involve diverse groups in glass causing injuries. habitats. an attempt to solve the problem of littering. Thousands of native animals As EPA's co-ordinator "The regional forums will involve are killed by liuer each year. for litter campaigns, Mr everyone, from Greenpeace representatives "Litter can be blown Antrum said that while to members of political parties, academics, or washed into a water the Do The Right Thing representati ves of Government departments course, creating a threat to anti-litter campaign had and the general public, to facilitate the the aquatic life. Bottles can succeeded in reducing litter community coming up with ways to control break and become a hazard by 70%, there was still a lot litter themselves," Mr Antrum said. to humans, wildlife and oflitter lying by the roadside. Roadside Litter- You're in the driver s seat stock," Michael explained, The EPA plans to end the Do will be the focus for the new campaign, adding that. contrary to The Right Thing campaign, which will include billboards, posters, popular opinion, discarded promoted in the 70s and stickers and advertising to get the message fruit skins and cores are 80s and considered to be one across. Mr Antrum said there was not as not always good for the of the world's most success­ much money being spent on items that would environment. They can ful government campaigns, add to the waste stream as there was in the provide new breeding next year. Do The Right Thing days. The EPA wants grounds for fruit fly and "We want to put litter in continued p8

7 UN/news to avoid the embarrassment they felt at seeing their own Do The Right Thing plastic car rubbish bags, of which they produced 4 UNIVERSITY million over the duration of the campaign, littering the roadside. COULD LEAD VVAY The EPA are planning to "get hip" in an attempt to get the anti-litter message across to the teenage group, with a series of fluoro posters and stickers with variations of the themeSwj. Skate, Dance, Rap, Boogie, Rage, Recycle till ya drop. For the office wall there he Northern Region Manager of communication and information tech­ is the soothing, tasteful Earth Is My Garden the NSW Environment Protection nologies required to make management posters and for general release, a poster of a TAuthority (EPA), believes The techniques and practices work," he added. typical Australian landscape littered with University of Newcastle is well placed The University should apply a draft rubbish entitled How could anyone rubbish to become a Centre of Excellence in environmental management scheme and our beautiful environment? environmental management. make sure it conducts its affairs in an "I recently heard, on a trip to Japan, that Speaking at the Campus Environment exemplary manner and, through its links Australia is considered the second most Week seminar, Brian Gilligan said no with industry groups, other institutions environmentally aware country in the other university in the state was better and government agencies, reach into the world, after the Netherlands," Mr Antrum placed to lead the way into the future for community and exemplify good environ­ said. "We are now adopting a more environmental management training, due to mental management, Mr Gilligan said. expansive view in the campaign against the range of activities going on around Speaking to a small gathering at the littering, telling people why they shouldn't Newcastle and the diversity within the seminar, Mr Gilligan discussed the role of throw it on the ground and trying to campus. the EPA, only formed in March this year, and change their behaviour." "The first step down the path for the the difficulties involved in environmental The roadside litter campaign aims to University is to become an example of protection. He said the EPA has a dual achieve a reduction in litter within 12 excellence in environmental management role, firstly as educators and mediators months by educating drivers and passengers itself," Mr Gilligan said. "There is a niche guiding community-wide environmental of the impact of their roadside litter and by for the University to take a wholly integrated protecti~n and secondly, in policing encouraging the provision of more efficient and wholistic approach to environmental pollution legislation. and easily seen means of disposal. KB • management that takes account of the While policing had become more effective, with fines of up to $1 million for corporations found polluting the environment, and fines of up to $200,000 and prison terms for individuals, Mr Gilligan saw the community role as the EPA's main focus. Describing involving the community in environmental protection as "incredibly difficult", Mr Gilligan said the EPA is committed to ensuring success in this area. Mr Gilligan said that in the past, people have blamed others for environmental problems and looked to the "experts" for solutions, but the complexity of variables involved in most modern issues means the solutions are not simple. "Essentially the EPA and other Govern­ ment agencies are going to inform at a household level," Mr Gilligan said. "That form of environmental management requires different training and tertiary excellence than is currently available. "I would welcome the opportunity for a continuing close association between the EPA and The University of Newcastle." KB. "As a society we have to develop more alternate sources of energy, including tidal, wind and photo voltaic. "

Standing from left; Paul Ebert, Dr Phil Clausen, Dr David Wood, Front; Christoph Meyer and Paul Peterson ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FOR THE HUNTER

ith an ever increasing demand being ity for their involvement in obtaining the ARC placed on the world's energy resources, Collaborative grant and to CICS for "getting W the necessity to develop alternative sources the project off the ground". Dr Wood stated that the of power is of paramount importance. Researchers at initial support of CICS turned the project "from a The University of Newcastle, aware of the effect daydream into reality". that energy consumption is having on the global "We plan for the system to be built by the end of environment, have designed a unique wind turbine this year," Dr Clausen said. "Our collaborative grant system aimed at providing an environmentally will enable us to conduct 18 months offield testing, benign power supply to remote areas. so that we can 'iron out' any problems we may Dr David Wood and Dr Phil Clausen, from the encounter," he added. Department of Mechanical Engineering, in While they acknowledge that their wind turbine collaboration with Shortland Electricity and the will never contribute significantly to overall energy Centre for Industrial Control Systems (CICS). are supply, Drs Wood and Clausen emphasise the developing a wind turbine which will generate up importance of looking at alternative sources of to 5kW of power. The prototype turbine will be energy and applying the right source of energy for 5 metres in diameter and will be located close to the task in question. "As a society we have to the electrical substation on the eastern edge of develop more alternate sources of energy, including campus. tidal, wind and photovoltaic," Dr Wood said, adding The wind turbine is being designed and built in that such alternative sources will have a beneficial the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The effect on the environment in the long run. two 2.5 metre long blades will be made from Dr Wood indicated that the potential for interaction fibreglass using moulds manufactured by a final of various sources of alternative energy within the year student in the Departments' Numerically system is large. Combining wind generated power Controlled Machining Centre. The blades act like with photovoltaic cells may prove to be an extremely a "reverse propeller" and, in conjunction with the useful combination, particularly in non-coastal areas. rest of the system, are designed to get as much A microprocessor would be built into the system to power out of low windspeed as possible. "The control input, avoiding the production ofexcess power, system will have a built-in control strategy which with possibly a diesel generator providing back-up. will ensure that the wind turbine is operating at Thus, wind, solar and diesel power generation would optimal capacity relative to the conditions at all form a single, integrated system. times," Dr Wood said. According to Dr Clausen the wind-turbine has Dr Wood explained that extending the electricity potential for export to the South Pacific Islands and grid to an outlying house costs as much as $15,000 per Asia. "We hope to market it to areas where massive kIn. "We estimate that our wind turbine system will power stations and large electrical infrastructures look financially attractive," he said. don't exist," he said. At a more local level, the wind Engineers at CICS are currently developing turbine is likely to be used in the Hunter Valley to the generator control system. Drs Clausen and provide an alternative source of energy to remote Wood expressed their gratitude to Shortland Electrlc- areas. so.

9 UN/news UNITED NATIONS GRADUATE STUDY

PROGRAM Peter Coupland, B.App.Sci.(EAM)

ach year the United Nations trans boundary nature of environmental Information Service in Geneva pollution, diminishing natural resources, Efuns a three week Graduate drought, famine, warfare, etc. Study Program called, International Although these issues are not particularly Response to Global Issues. The 1992 new, the degree to which they are effecting aspirations from people who came from program was attended by 65 graduates from the conditions of life for millions of people Kuwait, Zambia, Czechoslovakia, Finland, all over the world, countries ranging from leads to the assumption that the earth Australia, France, Sweden and the USA Sierra Leone in Africa to the United States perhaps has never been in times of greater into some sort of cohesive document. of America, from New Zealand to Norway uncertainty. Such pressure calls for new Despite times of despair and frustration it and from Nepal to the Netherlands. I was notions of, and new responsibility in, was inspiring that, for the most part, there fortunate enough to attend this year's international peace keeping, peace making was relative consensus as to the issues that program. and humanitarian relief. require priority. We ascertained that poverty The Graduate Study Program was These increased responsibilities in times alleviation, the integration of environment established to introduce graduates to UN of a global recession are barely being and development policies and the role of activities and operations and provide an realised. It appears the burden of previous appropriate technology are the three critical opportunity to understand the various warfare, over-consumption of resources areas requiring serious consideration by the difficulties encountered in the international and extensive drought in the Hom of Africa international, national and local community. negotiation process. The program consisted are only small obstacles compared to Most importantly we had a strong of two major elements. Firstly, formal the stubbornness of some countries in conviction that in order to effect the presentations from various UN agencies, recognising the international dimension of required,changes there must be an increased such as United Nations Development humanity's current predicament and reluc­ responsibility at all levels to ensure that Program, the Department of Humanitarian tance to commit itself to international the environment no longer suffers through Affairs, The UN High Commissioner for co-operation. poor management practices and wasteful Refugees, the General Agreements of The working groups were perhaps more consumption patterns. Tariffs and Trade, United Nations Confer­ valuable than the formal sessions. Three It was a privilege to attend such a program, ence on Environment and Development, working groups; Environment, Development, but more importantly to be able to contribute to name a few of the 30 or so presentations. and Human rights, were established and it in a constructive manner to the discussions The second element was the requirement was required that each group prepare a two and to the outcomes in the fonn of the Final to produce, within a specific working page document that would be adopted by Document. I believe Australians have a very group, a document that was to be adopted by consensus and presented to the UN. I was in unique contribution to make to such debate. consensus and submitted to the UN itself. the working group on the environment. We have the lUXUry of a relatively progres­ The formal presentations illustrated the Two pages in two weeks seems to be a sive educational system; the freedom to variety of UN activities and operations and reasonable request. However, although the choose what path our future will take; and we highlighted several of the problems facing sessions were conducted in English, without have, in the most part, compared to other the organisation in the 1990's. The UN was interpretation, English was the first language countries anyway, a very tolerant and diverse originally established in 1945 in order to for only 6 of the 25 people who were in society in which we can gain a broad range of promote international peace and security and this group. Effective communication was a experience. to facilitate international co-operation in Jimiting factor. Each person came from a We are far from being isolated in tenns economic, social and humanitarian affairs. different country and from a variety of of international relations, and I believe Until the 1990's the UN's effectiveness educational backgrounds ranging from Australia has much to offer in tenns of was limited by the restrictions placed on PhD's in Atmospheric Chemistry to Arabic international effort to contribute to a more international co-operation through the Languages and International Relations. positive future. Universities are breeding political sensitivities of the Cold War. With Our goal was to ensure that the paper grounds for such contribution and it is here that period now over the UN is faced with a reflected the aspiration and values of most that we all must consider the big picture new era of international responsibility at a people and that our message could be whilst concentrating on our individual time of both incredible political insecurity constructive. Having set the guidelines, all efforts to initiate change and improvement and alanning global problems, such as the we had to do was match the values and to the present state of human affairs. •

UN/news 10 - an arc IC summer na world of diminishing frontiers, there Antarctica. While relishing the opportunity on the environment, went with journalists in are very few genuine wildernesses left, but to experience the beauty of the environment, a helicopter to film the whalers. Ia University of Newcastle science student he was loathe to contribute to the human "When you're down there, you can't spent last summer in one of them, Antarctica. intrusion in an unspoilt habitat. "It is so help but feel attached to the wildlife," Martin Ebert, a physics student who untouched and remote," Martin said. "I have Martin said. "It's all so wild and pure completed his Bachelor of Science degree never experienced any place where people and you try to have a minimal impact on last year, was chosen as part of a scientific have had no major influence. the environment. The Australian bases do team to work on Australia's Davis Base. "The wildlife was incredible, there was have a minimal impact compared to some The Physics Department has logging heaps of it and because the animals have of the other bases." equipment in all three mainland Australian never known humans to do anything terrible While the "winterers" at Davis live in bases in the Antarctic, and some on islands to them, they have no reason for fear." a well equipped building and have a room to off the coast, to record variations in the Martin assisted biologists at Davis in a themselves, the summerers stay in shipping earth's magnetic field. The equipment study to detennine the diet of penguins. containers with doors cut in the side, four measures the effect of the charged particles The penguins were caught, weighed and to a container. Martin found the 24 hour caused by the flaring of the sun entering the "vomited", Martin explained. "They stand daylight a bonus, being able to work magnetic field of the earth at the polar cups. about 40cm high and while they look really whenever it suited him, but tried to stay to a The Space Plasma Waves Group from cute, they can bite and flap so hard with their nonnal routine. The temperature averaged Newcastle actively participate in several flippers they can break your fingers if your about 0 degrees but did get as high as 10 international scientific programs, providing hand is bare," he said. degrees on New Years' Day, when Martin the main southern hemisphere contribution Co-operation between the 70 workers and says they all ran around in T-shirts. to these global studies. researchers who "summered" at Davis was Christmas dinner was lavish, with lobsters, Martin Ebert applied to maintain and widespread, with regular Saturday clean-ups oysters and trout on the menu. When Martin upgrade the instruments at all the Antarctic of the base involving everyone from the turned 21 on January 15, he was given a stations. He left Hobart, Australia on the station leader to scientists and tradesmen. "little boy's party" in honour of him being Aurora Australis on December 1 last year, Martin took several field trips, on foot or the youngest person on base, when the tables cruising for about 8 days before sighting by helicopter, to huts within a 30km radius were raised up high and they all dressed ice. After 14 more days of slowly pushing of the base and while he found the environ­ as school children. through thickening ice, the Aurora stopped ment harsh, he relished the opportunity to On the return journey, near Heard Island, 60 miles from Mawson, and Martin was explore it. He described elephant seals, Martin saw an aurora. "It was fantastic, bright taken to the base by helicopter. While he another prominent species around Davis, as green and hung in curtains around the sky, didn't get seasick on the journey, Martin "the grossest creatures on earth" and was drifting very slowly and lasting for about was less enthusiastic about helicopter travel. impressed by the sight of a killer whale an hour and a half," he said. "I got helicopter sick, especially the way the swimming up a fiord, seen from a helicopter. While Martin values his experiences of pilots down t~ere fly. I think they like to give But he, and the other Australians at Davis, Antarctica and would love to return, he felt people a thrill," he said. But Martin was were less than impressed when a Japanese the brightly painted blue and orange huts less than thrilled with helicopters after one whaling vessel, flouting international laws at Davis were an intrusion on the unspoilt crashed while trying to land in a "white out", prohibiting commercial whaling, came close environment. "I couldn't help but feel we fortunately not injuring anyone. to the base. A Greenpeace representative, at shouldn't be there, that our presence was Martin was ambivalent about his time in Davis to monitor the impact of the settlement completely out of place," he said. KB.

11 UNlnews From Wite to the Supermarket .~ sufficient on his 121/2 acre property in the mountains of the Central Coast. S h e I f Alan's property is set up in the sty Ie of a cottage garden. He hopes to establish a nursery and a studio/gallery featuring artwork (his own and that of other local artists), as well as displaying an interesting range of herbs and skin-care products. Alan smiles as he recalls testing his skin-care range on the students at Newcastle University. and emphasises in a ewcastle University graduate, Alan Hayes has come tongue-in-cheek manner that his products were !1Qt tested on a long way since dabbling in his grandmother's animals. Nherb garden. His column, "Healthy Alternatives" is Making herbal products is according to Alan, "fun, friendly syndicated in 156 newspapers around Australia and his eight and inexpensive". books are read in Australia, the USA and the UK. "The whole concept of this product is that it is totally natural Alan's studies of "medical herbalism" in the 1970's were and affordable," Alan says, adding that his products are "almost met with scepticism by his friends and colleagues. "People in the supermarket price range." considered me to be a crazy, eccentric person living on a farm," "It annoys me when I see people paying for expensive Alan recalls. "At that time, the trend towards natural medicines packaging and advertising," he says. wasn't there," he explained. Alan's products will be sold in slip-cast ceramic jars which Alan did not let the doubt and ridicule of others thwart his own will be cleaned andre-filled after use, making the whole exercise desire to learn more about natural therapies and in 1985 he very environmentally friendly. published his first book entitled Country Scents, which he says, "I have a great feeling for the environment and it really is still selling today. distresses me to see what we have done to our environment "The book is like an evergreen, with more copies being in such a short time. reprinted annually," Alan proudly states. "Following World War II we became a disposable, throw­ Although Alan had always had an interest in alternative or away society in search of better products. We destroyed the natural therapies, his father encouraged him to "get a proper ecological chain in the process," he added. job" and so at the age of 19, Alan found himself selling In an attempt to make people aware of what they can do to insurance - a job he kept for 11 years. prevent further destruction of the environmentAlan has written Upon "retiring" from the insurance game, Alan was a book entitled, Reclaim, Recycle, andReuse: Natural Products convinced by a friend to help set up an advertising company. to Save the World. "We did OK, but it became a headache, so in 1988 I sold out." The book deals largely with energy efficiency - the use of In search of a new career, Alan enrolled in an Associate the sun for heating and cooling; and with the use of herbal Diploma in Visual Arts at the former CAE and switched to a products for gardening and pest control. The chapter on degree in Visual Arts in 1989. Alan's sculptures can be seen recycling gives the reader a clear understanding of how to outside the University'S Visual Arts bUilding. recycle in the home. During his studies, Alan's passion for natural therapies The book gives a detailed account of environmentally friendly continued to blossom and he had vision of becoming self- household products which the reader can make at home. The

UNlnews 12 products range from shoe polish and paint to bubble bath, disinfectants and cloth~s dyes. In fact, almost every conceivable household product can be found in the book. Alan points out that the products are extremely inexpensive to make. A year's supply of washing powder can be made for just $3.00. "Not just are you doing something that is environmentally friendly, you don't have to go out every fortnight and spend $4.00 on washing powder," Alan points out. Alan describes his book as an "incredible compendium which deals with every facet of daily life". He is very excited and relieved about the switch to natural therapies and herbal alternatives. "In the past. herbalism was considered to be steeped in mystery and witchcraft" Alan says with a twinkle in his eye. "Now we understand why plants heal. We know about vitamins. minerals and enzymes, only now we create all these From "Health & Beauty". p73 things synthetically." Alan has written eight books which include the following titles; Recipes for Health and Beauty; Healing from the Garden; Beauty from the Garden; Healing Power of Essential Oils and It's so Natural (to be released in December). Alan lives on his Central Coast property with his wife and two children. His advice to readers: "Live naturally, live healthily and he happy". SD •

Simple Moie1;urieing Cream

15gofBeee;wax (natural) 75ml almond oil 40 ml Herballnfue;ion

8"12 drope; lemon joice From "Health & Beauty". p55 5-6 drope; fr"grant oil.

Herl>allnfuslc>n In a ceramic bowl add 300 ml boiling water to I teaspoon each of chamomile and elder flower. Leaveovernlghtand then atrain through a cloth.

Moisturlsin9 Cream Melt beeawax In a double boiler over medium heat. When liquid atir In warm almond oil and herbal water. - Mix well. Pour into ceramic bowl, add lemon juice and fragrant oil. - Beat until creamy. Note: Uee only enamel or etafnleee "teel bowie and wooden "poon,," Store in "teraliaed Jara. From "Health & Beauty", p58159

]3 UNlnews EARTHWAYS

"A man's home is his castle", or so the saying goes. This home is very different, more like a castle than most, owing to the fact that its walls are a third a/a metre thick and its definitely not built to conventional modern-day standards. Earthways, a large mud brick house in the Hunter Valley has been the venue for several field tours conducted by the University's Department of Community Programmes. Thefield tours have provided an insight into an alternative building style as well as the self sufficiency and respect for the environment of its owners. Cae Pattison/rom the University's Infonnation & Public Relations Unit gives a very personal view on Earthways, an odyssey of creativity, effort and sheer determination, built as part of a search to achieve a uniquely satisfying lifestyle/or its owners.

t's refreshing to know people who Weekend workshops over the years have mill when they reach maturity. truly believe in a way of living and seen many people learn the fIner points of Although this style of living or the effort Iare prepared to put years of effort into mud brick making and construction, happily required to attain it is not for everyone, you achieving it. Brian Woodward and Sally lifting the 'big mummas' as Sally calls them, can't help being impressed by Earthways. It Middleton are two such people, and together into place. Many of these people have gone is an outstanding example of two people's with their infant son, Toby, share a lifestyle on to construct their own mud brick houses respect for the environment, practical skills that is not only idyllic but relatively self while others are still dreaming. and vision for a healthier, more satisfying sufficient. Brian is a thinker, an innovator and a lifestyle. cp • Brian and Sally are the owners of doer. He lives as he believes, simply and Earthways, a 140 hectare property located practically. His and Sally's home reflect these TECHNICAL DETAILS near the small Hunter Valley town of values and proves what can be done if you The soil for the mudbricks is dug Wollombi. Situated on the property is a believe in what you are doing. from the property, packed into moulds magnificent mud brick house, an honest A qualifIed architect and fanner lecturer with strawandleftinthesun to dry. Soil house with real style and loads of integrity. at Oxford School of Architecture, Brian with a clay content of 30 to 80 percent The unique aspect is that Brian and Sally changed direction 17 years ago, opting for is usable although the higher range is have built this house (with a little help from an alternative lifestyle which was more in preferable andmoreresistantto erosion. their friends) with their own hands, from tune with nature. The house is tangible evi­ Bricks vary in size from 300mm x the ground up, using huge mud bricks. dence of his view that building with 300mm x 125mm to 300mm x 200mm heavy timbers, western red cedar windows mudbricks not only stimulates creativity and x 125mm, the larger size being used at and doors, with not one power tool used in its resourcefulness, but can save up to 80% of window and door openings to offset the construction. building costs. bonding. r have known Brian and Sally for about It feels good, this house of mudbricks, Foundations are very important as the 10 years, a meeting by accident when cool in summer, warm in winter. Expansive base fortheconstruction, the mudbricks looking for another place. The relationship spaces and extensive use of timber and used here being stabilised with cement is one of people with very different lifestyles stained glass creates a wonderful atmos­ or a bituminous emulsion. Floors as and viewpoints and one with a decided phere which is added to by the simple well as walls are made of mudbrick learning curve for me. philosophy of its creators. "If it's not natural, whilehardwoodrafterssupportatongue On my fIrst visit there about 10 years ago, then don't use it". and groove ceiling. Previously a sod r found the shell of the house built and the These days, life is a lot more comfortable roof supported a flourishing herb couple living in a sort oflean-to construction with the recent acquisition of a solar power garden, although now it is a slightly nearby. This was really roughing it, but electricity supply. Brian and Sally have more con-ventional steel roof. all for a purpose as work on the house installed a bank of voltaic cells which follow Walls inside are smoothed with wet proceeded at a slow but steady pace. Visitors the direction of the sun and produce enough sacking and coated with wallpaper size learned to enjoy sleeping in a teepee electricity to run all the standard household to prevent dusting while walls in wet (homemade of course) gaining a new respect equipment. A self composting toilet provides areas like the kitchen, bathroom and for the beauty of nature and an even healthier fertilizer for a forest of paulownia trees, a the exterior walls are finished with one for the wombats. fast growing hardwood which Brian will linseed oil.

UNlnews 14 VVHERE ARE THEV Mr Craig Copeland graduated with an honours degree in Biology in 1984. Armed with his degree, Craig worked as a wine waiter in Surfers Paradise before obtain­ ing voluntary work with the CSIRO Division of Tropical Research in Atherton, Queens­ • land. Craig says that during this time, he financed his "research habits" by playing professional Dr Maurice J. Harden football for Atherton. Returning graduated in 1989 with a BMed. to Newcastle, Craig completed a Dip Ed. in 1986 and worked He worked as an RMO for for Envirosciences Pty Ltd as an environmental consultant. the Hunter Health Service and is Based in Newcastle, he conducted noise impact studies and now Medical Officer for the investigated the effects of fluoride on vegetation and water. Royal Australian Navy Subma­ Craig is now employed by NSW Fisheries at Wollongbar rine Squadron. Stationed at (between Lismore and Ballina) and is responsible for fish habitats HMAS Platypus in North in the Northern Region, covering areas from Taree to Tweed Heads Sydney, he is responsible in the north and Moree in the west. Craig is also conducting for maintaining physical research into the impact of acid water on fish and oysters. fitness in the Squadron as well Locally, Craig is the Chainnan of the Ecology Group of as simulating submarine the Ironbark Creek Total Catchment Management Committee. accidents to check casualty The group, which includes academics and students from The responses. Dr Harden will take up a 12 month exchange University of Newcastle, has completed a study of the existing posting with the Royal New Zealand Navy from December. flora and fauna in .the catchment. Students at the University The Navy, he said, is currently able to arrange training positions have completed a comprehensive study of the vegetation in various streams of Underwater Medicine. of Hexham Swamp and compared' their findings to those of a survey conducted in 1976. NSW Fisheries is also involved in the Kooragang Island wetlands project currently underway. Ms Kathryn Smith graduated in 1974 with a BA and completed a DipEd in 1975. She is currently working as Dr Peter Newton Education Officer for the graduated in 1972 with an MA (Geography). He completed his Territory Wildlife Park at Berry PhD in 1976 at the University of Canterbury. Dr Newton is Springs in the Northern Terri­ currently working as Senior Principal Research Scientist for the tory. Situated 65km south of CSIRO in Melbourne. His work involves infrastructure Darwin, the 425 hectare park planning 'and collaborative research. He is also Co-Director shows native NT animals in of Telecom's centre for expertise in geographic infonnation their natural habitats. Kate systems and analysis, researching how best to mobilise spent several years teaching, Telecom's infrastructure, for instance where to put fibre and at Cootamundra High School the optimisation of the cellular mobile network to ensure supply and high schools in Gove and Darwin, before spending last meets demand. year as Interpretations Officer for the Conservation Commis­ sion preparing for World War II commemorative year, which is now drawing to a close. Her work involves communicating the protection message to protect native animals from extinction.

So where are you now? We would like to hear from members of Convocation. Don't be shy. Please let us know where you are and what you are doing these days. Phone us on (049) 21 6464.

15 UN/news ~OCUMENTING THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE CAMPUS GROUNDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Kevin McDonald, Senior Lecturer, Department ofApplied Science and Technology

Summary The Ecosystems of the Campus Grounds In the process of preparing a book on the plants, animals, The campus grounds of· the University comprise some 130 landscape and ecnsystems of the campus grounds at The hectares of a former dry sclerophyll open forest area, dissected University a/Newcastle. NSW, it has been necessary to compile by several minor watercourses, draining to an area now known accurate lists of the flora and fauna, and to analyse these as the University wetlands. The original eucalypt-dominated taxonomically and ecologically. The 130 hectares of grounds, plant association was that of Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata) notwithstanding the numerous buildings, roads and parking and Ironbark (E. paniculata and E.fibrosa), with Small-fruited areas, reveal a surprising biotic diversity. The University is Grey Gums (E. propinqua). Mahoganies (E. acmenioides and E. one of the few remaining islands of naturalness in an ever­ umbra), Red Bloodwood (E. gummifera) and Rusty Gums expanding sea of suburbia, and management practices must (Angophora costata) also represented. be implemented to sustain both the diversity and aesthetic The understorey of this original vegetation comprised a well values of this small, but important refuge. developed shrub layer, mainly of xerophytic shrubs, and a ground cover of native grasses (such as Kangaroo Grass, Themeda Introduction australis) and various herbs, vines and creepers. Late in 1991, a small Committee was established to work As a rather fortunate accident of history, this open forest area, towards the production of a book on the flora and fauna of the established on the typical agriculturally intractable clays and campus grounds of The University of Newcastle. A support gravels of the Newcastle area, had largely been untouched by group of the University, known as the Friends of the University, European development, in spite of the fact that the surrounding undertook to provide the funding for this project, and the areas of Jesmond, North Lambton, Mayfield West, and Shortland following people commenced the process of writing the text, have long been densely settled. Minor logging for pit props and providing paintings, drawings and photographs for the (mainly Spotted Gum) had been carried out in the earlier days publication: Kevin McDonald (Convenor) Department of coal mining, and a coal railway line once passed along the Applied Science & Technology; Christine Sanders, southern boundary of the University, virtually parallel to the Department Design; Roger Dunstan, Department Design; present University Drive. Dr Keith Russell, Department Design; Associate Professor Upon establishment of the University on the site in 1966, the Max Maddock, Department Education; Andrew Atkins, inevitable clearing of some of the land began. From humble Department Design; Genevieve Wal1ace, Department Design; beginnings, the University has grown to accommodate 13,500 Gary Weber, Electron Microscope Unit and Dr Don Morris, students and 2,000 academic and administrative staff Retired University Planner. in just 26 years, and many trees and shrubs have made way

UN/news 16 for the numerous buildings, internal roads, parking areas, and sporting fields. Nevertheless, the present grounds continue to provide the "bushland setting" which has long been touted as one of the University's major attributes. For the purposes of ecological analysis, these grounds may be subdivided into the following The Fauna of the Campus Grounds ecosystem types: It is obviously much easier to document the flora of an area in (a) dry, open forest (occupying the main area of the grounds, contrast to its fauna. Animals can move and hide, some animals particularly the higher areas, and the slopes)~ are only occasional visitors to the area, and many animals are (b) the wet, semi-closed forest (occupying the creek valleys); very small and cryptic. Campus fauna include mammals (c) woodlands areas between buildings (these "woodlands" (including marsupials and placentals); birds (47 families, or are actually an artifact of the modification of the original dry llO species have been seen); reptiles (tortoises, lizards and forest, brought about by selective removal of trees, and the snakes); amphibians (II species offrogs) and fish. conversion of the original shrub understorey to mown grass); There would be few universities in Australia which could (d) grasslands, chiefly the sporting ovals and surrounding boast such a diversity of flora and fauna. not to mention the banks (again, these "grasslands" are an artifact brought about feeling of openness which the wooded campus imparts. by the near complete removal of the original vegetation, the levelling of the areas involved, and the planting of introduced Some Highlights of the Campus Flora and Fauna grasses); An aerial photograph of the Newcastle metropolis would (e) the wetlands (yet again, an artifact, whereby "wetlands" reveal that very little in the way of significant stands of have been created by the backing up of creek waters by natural vegetation remain, following two centuries of earthworks). European settlement. The spread of suburbia, with cheek­ by-jowl houses, bitumen streets, shopping centres, parking The Flora of the Campus Grounds areas and industries has seen the near complete removal of The dominant trees have been described above in broad the original forests, heathlands and wetlands. There are some outline. By far the most common tree on campus is the Spotted exceptions, including the New Lambton Heights ridgeline Gum (Eucalyptus maculata), easily recognised by its straight, between Charlestown and Lambtonllesmond (this area smooth, light grey, spotted and dimpled trunk. This tree gives includes the well-known Blackbutt Reserve). the essential character of the grounds. It should not be confused One very small "terrestrial island" of vegetation is that of with the Rusty Gum, or Smooth-barked Apple (Angophora the grounds of the University campus at Callaghan, which costata), which also has a smooth, dimpled trunk. adjoins the Steelworks Golf Course at Shortland. It is still Other large tree types include Ironbark, a Small-fruited Grey possible to glimpse the nature of the original vegetation of this Gum, Mahogany, Red Bloodwood. Turpentine and Prickly Tea site by strolling through the wooded grounds. Much of the credit Tree. The understorey of the dry and wet forest areas is mainly for the retention of the present "bushland character" of these comprised of prickly, sclerophyllous scrubs. including various grounds goes to such people as the earlier University Planner, wattles and other legumes, and such shrubs as Blackthorn and Dr Don Morris, who took much care to retain as many trees as Hopbush. These shrubs are often festooned with vines and possible in building programs developed from 1965 onwards. creepers, including Wombat Berry and Devil's twine. Ground It is, of course, a cause for concern that the "growing pains" cover includes Kangaroo Grass and Blady Grass, with various suffered by the University in recent years have resulted in terrestrial orchids. Bracken Fern and Ivy-leaved Violet. various environmental problems, not the least of which is the removal of much of the original vegetation, and consequent erosion problems. However, an enlightened administration has now seen the implementation of appropriate management procedures which should protect and even enhance the pleasant ambience of our bushland campus. These measures include bushland regeneration procedures, ecologically sound land­ scaping operations, policies for protecting the environment against "feral" cars, and educational innovations which are aimed at raising the levels of awareness and appreciation of our precious natural heritage. The University motto "I Look Ahead" could not be more appropriate in the context of the urgent sense of care now being promulgated amongst members of the University'S burgeoning community of students and staff regarding the practice of Illustrations by Genevieve Wallace the current global environmental paradigm right here in our own backyard. •

17 UN1news WARDEN'S COLUMN

FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR CONVOCATION

Now that amalgamation and all its traumas very early stage and the two projects Kong graduates. Convocation should be are well behind us, the time has arrived when might not eventuate. working more closely with Mr Brian Convocation should be devoting much more Another area we should be looking at Freedman's team in the International time and effort to the broad planning of its is the extension of our membership Students' Office to extend our overseas future roles. on-campus. Management Committee has membership even further afield. With this in mind, I have asked the already identified the need for Convocation The broadening of our links with Convocation Management Committee to to get closer to our student population. It University Departments should also be high consider the following suggested directions is certainly true that we should be looking on the priority list. Convocation has always for our expanded membership. at our future members so that we can provided an essential link between the I am not suggesting we should neglect involve them as active supporters of the University and the community. With the our very worthwhile annual program graduate body and of the University once dramatic expansion of the campus and of activities like our involvement in they receive their degrees. our membership, this link has become Graduation, the Newcastle Lecture. Another body which should playa more more important. Inaugural Lectures, the Newton-John important role in our future is the Association Some time ago, Convocation's affairs were Award, the Convocation Medal, the Student of Post-Graduate Students (APSUN). We placed under the umbrella of the University's Book Prizes and our sponsorship of the have already had talks with the Association's Information and Public Relations Unit and University Art Committee's Photographic President, Mr Don Millar, and he has this has worked well. But we should also Competition. We should strengthen our shown that his organisation needs our help look for a closer association with the commitment to all of these projects. and co-operation. We should be offering Department of Community Programmes. I am suggesting that the form and role that help now to encourage our 1,800 The above is not meant to be my attempt of Convocation has changed dramatically postgraduate members to feel part of our to draw up a blueprint for future success. since amalgamation. We now have more than organisation. It is a loosely woven set of ideas designed 35,000 potential members and, more than The University Union is another vital to stimulate thought about Convocation's ever before, we need to marshall those link in our future development. The manage­ future. human resources for the benefit of our ments of both Convocation and the Union However, in the meantime, I am pleased University. We have a very successful have worked closely together on a number of to report that Convocation's sponsorship of shopfront presence on campus and this, too, projects and that association should grow. the University's Art Committee's first needs to expand as the demand increases. We should also be looking in the direction photographic competition has proved highly As the University itself expands and its of expanding our international member­ successful. There were 82 excellent entries demands for increased funding become ships. Convocation has already played an in the competition and Convocation made harder to meet, Convocation's role will important role in establishing branches of available $500 in prize money. become even more important. In other our members in both Singapore and Hong Convocation was also able to take part in words, Convocation will need to be more Kong. My predecessor, Father James a campus tree planting during Environment than a friend-raising organisation. We will Bromley, and his Standing Committee did Week. We made available 100 trees for the need to become a major source of Uni­ a great deal of work to set up the Singapore planting ceremony and I'm sure we will versity income as well as maintaining our Branch and this has been followed up by be able to continue this involvement. role as a builder of bridges between Town the University Management. Two years ago, Convocation is now fortunate to have and Gown. I was able to set up our fust membership the University's Project Officer for Waste If the above proposition is acceptable, Branch in Hong Kong and this has been Minimisation, Mr Kent Gillman, on its where do we start? followed up by our Vice-Chancellor, Management Committee. We should start by looking at the Professor Morgan, who recently attended a Mr Vic Levi expansion of our shopfront both off and well supported dinner meeting of our Hong Warden on-campus. We have already been looking • at the possibility of gaining a shopfront presence in the expanded Watt Space Gallery in Watt Street, Newcastle. Another prospect could be in the old Nesca House Building ICOPIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE I Cost: $45.00 (incl. p&h in Australia) at the corner of King and Auckland streets ORDER FROM: Medical Communication Unit if this becomes available to the University. David Maddison Building Ph: 049-266816 Royal Newcastle Hospital Investigations into both sites are at a FAX: 049 - 29 2515 Newcastle. NSW. 2300.

UN/news 18 C<;mvocation would like to thank the NEEDS following sponsors for their support YOU!! throughout 1992 and ask you to keep them CONVOCATION in mind when planning your spare time or a special occasion over the Christmas WHY SUPPORT CONVOCATION? period. By becoming a contributing member you a fortnightly publication containing Action Divers can support this university. Your University. infonnation about research and events on Airborne Windsports Convocation organises a number of social campus and human interest stories; Balloon Boutique and educational events throughout the year UNINEWS a quarterly publication reporting Concert Crew including: Inaugural Professorial Lectures, on academic and student pursuits; personal Co-op Bookshop the Newcastle Lecture, Graduation Balls, invitations to major Convocation Events; Eastern Creek Raceway and the Convocation Dinner at which the and a Convocation Contributory Member­ Greater Union Tower Cinemas Newton-lohnAwardandConvocationMedal ship Card. We are currently negotiating Hunter Valley Theatre Company are presented. This year these events have with businesses to arrange discounts on Inna's Beauty Salon been extended to include tree plantings, goods and other benefits to members. Madison Motor Inn barbecues, Book prizes and scholarships, If you wish to assist Convocation in a My Florist and sponsorship of "The University of tangible way, please photocopy the form South Steyne Newcastle People and Places" Photographic below and return it, with your contribution, STA - Newcastle Travel Competition. We are also in the process of to the Convocation Shop, Hunter Building, Sun City Hang Gliding School planning the first of many Reunions, guest The UniversityofNewcastieCALLAGHAN University Union speakers, and a Spring Ball for 1993. 2308. WangiQueen Your membership fee also goes towards Mr Vic Levi special projects such as book acquisitions Warden THANK YOU for the library, library extensions, tree A big thank you to everyone who has plantings, scholarships and so on. In addition written to us or completed the 'Keeping in to this, we also raise funds for extensions to Touch' fonns sent out in the last Uninews. much needed on-campus accommodation. ApPLICATION FOR The response has been overwhelming and As a contributing member of Convoca­ CONTRIBUTORY has been an invaluable source of information tion, you will receive The Bulletin, MEMBERSHIP in tracking down graduates who were 'lost'. Also a big thank you to the International Students Office and their contacts overseas Name: (Mr Mrs Ms Miss Prof Dr) for providing us with updated register of graduates now overseas. 21ST BIRTHDAY Many people have enquired about Former name: ...... finding old friends who graduated from CELEBRATION Address: ...... this University, whom they have lost touch The University of Newcastle with. Convocation often has a contact Department of Biological Sciences address for those people, however to protect everyone's rights and privacy, TURNS 21 Postcode: ...... Convocation must contact that person and ask them if it is all right to forward their Help us celebrate at a I enclose cheque! Money order! credit address or phone number on to the person card authorisation for: enquiring. I hope you can appreciate this 1992/3 Annual Subscription 0 $25 process no matter how innocent your enquiry may be. GALA BALL Life Membership 0$250

Mastercard! Bankcard! VISA No: AN APOLOGY Saturday, May 22, 1993 A number of graduates living at the Newcastle City Hall same address have requested that only one copy of Uninews be sent to their address. Please call Dorothy on (049) 21 5700 Expiry Date: ...... Unfortunately it has not been possible if you can help contact Biology to fulfil this request for this edition of graduates, or for further information Uninews. We hope this will be rectified for and bookings. Signed: ...... all future mail.

19 UNlnews BRINLEY NEWTON-JOHN

he death of Emeritus Professor Presbyterian by upbringing, Brin found this latter have obtained excellent degrees at Newton-lohn on the morning of an attractive appointment and one which their University. Brin's daughter by his first TFriday July 3 in his 79th year gave scope for his development skills and marriage, Olivia, was fortunately able deprives the University community of one pastoral care of young people. Some years to visit him only a few days before he died. of its best loved and most colourful later matrimonial difficulties led him to With Autonomy he was appointed members. prefer not to work for a Church Body. He Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor As an undergraduate in Cambridge in then was appointed, by lames Auchmuty, to to assist lames Auchrnuty in the develop­ the middle of the thirties Brin was active in be the Head of the Division of Arts in the ment of the new University. Consequently the life of his College Caius and a highly newly developed Newcastle University other steps had to be taken for the Headship valued singer perfonning in concerts and College, a position to which he was of the German Department and David oratorios put on by CUMS. Probably his appointed in 1958. Under him it was a Mowatt from Alberta was appointed to the most outstanding perlonnance as a gifted pleasure to work as a Department Head in Chair, but Brin himself was given a personal undergraduate amateur was in the title role the Division of Arts. However, his greatest Chair in Spoken Gennan. Unhappily his of the oratorio "Solomon", of which some achievement in this role before Autonomy administrative duties much restricted his elderly Dons in Cambridge still speak. was in reconstructing the Humanities course teaching activity; a matter he much On going down from Cambridge, Brin as a distinctive cultural history course regretted. As Vice-Principal Brin was in accepted a position as an assistant Master run quite differently from the University of charge of student services and was extra­ under the legendary Headmaster Roxburgh New South Wales syllabus, but similarly ordinarily helpful to the Union and Sports at the newly founded public school Stowe, designed to provide an indoctrination for Union. It was typical of his affection for which Roxburgh had established after the engineering. architecture, commerce and his old' staff that he came up two years first World War. Given the attempt of the science graduates in the other of the two ago for the 70th birthday of his fonner school to develop the personality of the whole cultures. Amenities Officer, Harry Bradford. pupiL Roxburgh no doubt found his musical But even more important than his fine In 1973 Brin felt that he would like to abilities as attractive in a new young Master, teaching as Head of the Gennan Department retire early to pursue his own interests. as his First in Modem Languages and his and his wise policy regarding Arts and His wife Val was then embarking on a expertise in spoken German. Whilst at Humanities was his personal warmth. He most outstanding career as a consulting Stowe Brin married the daughter of the played an active part in the beginning of psychologist and found she needed to famous physicist, Max Born, who had student drama in collaboration with the move to Sydney with the children and this come to a Chair in Britain from Germany. Biggins family and some early members of led to a decision to separate. Some years With the outbreak of War, Brin was involved staff like John Stowell. ago Brin married his third wife, Gay, with in top level intelligence work, particularly An active squash player until a .hernia whom he has been extremely happy in a in the cracking of German codes at the operation cut him out of competitive play, charming flat in Manly overlooking Harbour defence intelligence centre at Bletchley. he remained a keen supporter of all and Ocean. There, Gay pursued novel After his War services he returned to University clubs in our early days. and script writing whilst Brin gave many Cambridge as Headmaster of Cambridge­ Most significant was his love of Classical broadcasts on the Sydney FM music shire County High School. A number of his music, which was heard bellowing through program, with splendid commentaries fonner pupils and retired colleagues still the old Arts building every day from his one would expect from so devoted and speak of him with much affection. loud speaker system. Many who are still cultivated a lover of the classical composers. In 1954 he was detennined to try a career on the staff will recall that day in November Brin enjoyed a rich and wonderfully in a new country and applied successfully 1960 when he opened the still unfurnished varied life and gave much happiness and for the Mastership of Onnond College in Tighes Hill Union Building by playing encouragement to a large number of people Melbourne which was then run by the Beethoven's Ninth to a crowd of staff and in the course of it. We regret his passing Presbyterian Assembly of Victoria as a students sitting on the floor one lunch hour. much, but we do so with gratitude and Residential College of Melbourne Univer­ In 1965 he married Val Cunningham, a pride. It will be source of happiness to sity for men, and also had associated with fonner concert pianist and then manager Convocation that he was able to attend it the Ormond Theological Hall for of our Co-op bookshop. She and their two this years Newton-lohn Dinner in such training Presbyterian Ministers. As a Welsh children still live in Sydney. Both of the splendid form. Professor Godfrey Tanner •

UN/news 20 disc in everyday life; the VCR was still a the University will have established a remarkable addition to the libraries of more research ethos that allowed it to develop 2005 fortunate schools and those who could new, fully recyclable or reusable packag­ afford such technology, the videophone ing; composting systems that recycle Beyond was expected to be the "invention of the most organic wastes; practical water eighties"; PET packaging was limited; recycling, desalination and retrieval the aluminium can was still a novelty; the systems; designs for buildings, transport, Recycling average beer bottle was 60% heavier and landscapes and townscapes which we were all thirteen years younger. conserve resources and provide aestheti­ Within the same time frame it will cally pleasing living spaces. Maria Callinan, be September 2005. By then, The Perhaps. Now is the time to dream and Recycling Education Officer, University of Newcastle will, together with prepare. The year 2005 will be here before Lake Macquarie City Council its neighbouring City of Lake Macquarie, we know it and by then it may be too late. have been responsible for engineering Finances may not always be available, but n September, 1979, there was little a revolution in waste minimisation and that should make us more resourceful. public awareness of the ancient con­ environmental improvement. Through its The ideas and products should be I cept of recycling. A home computer initiatives in recycling common commodi­ actively marketed to ensure futureresearch was practically unheard of; there was no ties such as aluminium cans, PET plastics into waste minimisation and resource such thing as a fax machine or compact and glass and paper in the early nineties conservation is possible. •

FLUORIDE MIGRATION THROUGH KAOLIN CLAY

the waste that is generated, almost invariably Geotechnical Group is developing new some fluoride contaminated solid waste is finite element models for such quantitative produced. One option for this waste is its prediction. temporary storage in an engineered landfill. To further the understanding of the This raises the question of how best to containment of fluoride bearing waste by David Smith construct such a landfill so that the an earthen barrier, an experimental performance requirements are met at a investigation of the interaction between ithin the Civil Engineering and reasonable cost. fluoride salts and kaolin clay soil is proceed­ Surveying Department, Drs While many authorities require the use ing under the supervision of Drs Smith and W David Smith and Scott Sloan are of single and sometimes multiple barriers Sloan. Data is being collected on the rate of conducting research that should assist to impede the migration of contaminants mass transfer of fluoride through the kaolin the selection of construction materials, and from waste disposal facilities, often these clay under a variety of experimental subsequent analysis, of engineered landfills requirements are made in rather an arbitrary conditions, the primary aims being to designed to secure waste materials cont­ way. There are, though, methods emerging detennine several key aspects of the kaolin! aminated with fluoride. Fluoride wastes for the design of engineered earthen barriers fluoride behaviour, namely, the partitioning are produced during a wide variety of based on sound principles of geotechnical coefficient including time dependent effects manufacturing processes including practice. This is happening because of and desorption hysteresis, and the effect of aluminium smelting. steel making and improved understanding of the underlying soil acidity. This experimental program ceramics, and fertiliser and electricity physical and chemical processes of transport builds upon previous ARC funded research production (via coal fired power stations). of contaminants through soils and because conducted in the Department of Chemistry, While much of the fluoride from industry of the development of numerical methods primarily under the supervision of Professor is emitted in gaseous fonn and efforts are for the quantitative prediction of the long William Pickering. The current research is made by industry to minimise the production tenn behaviour of the contaminantlliner being capably assisted by Janece Slavek of fluoride contaminated waste, or recycle system. The University's Computational from the Department of Chemistry. •

21 UN/news Scott Kennear Hardy "And I thought the lecture was bad•.• " UNIVERSITV Sandy Leyland "University Patterns" PEOPLE & PLACES

he inaugural TunaclConvocation Photographic Competition and exhibition was held in the foyer of the Great Hall Tfrom August 25 to September 11. The exhibition was very successful, with 82 photographs on display by students and members of staff. The subject matter reflected diverse interpretations of the theme "University People and Places" with landscapes, architectural images, portraits, montages and candid shots of the campus environment. The winner of the judged competition, Mr James Ramussen was awarded the $500 prize donated by Convocation for his untitled photograph of the Chancellery at sunset. The photograph was beautifully composed and expertly printed. Second prize of $200 went to Professor Brian English from the Department of Social Work, with a clever montage entitled "Jo Gaha harassed and harassing Rome 1951", Third prize of $100 went to Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Mr Lance Hennessy, for his tranquil depiction of the wetlands on a misty morning, entitled "Wetlands 11". The judges, Mr Vic Levi, Mr Frank Morgan and Mr David Cubby, also commended three other photographs - a series by Mr James Rasmussen titled "Artist as Individual, 1,2 & 3, a montage by Professor Brian English "Liane Flynn in 16th Century France" and Soo Heng Foong's "Tables",

UNlnews 22 A "People's Choice" competition was also held during the exhibition, with viewers able to vote for their favourite photographs. First prize of $500 went to Mr Lance Hennessy for his photo "Wetlands 11". * Second prize of $200 was awarded to Ms Sandy Leyland, a student, for her photo "University Patterns". Third prize of $100 went to Mr Scott Kennear Hardy, a student, for his photo, "And I thought the lecture was bad ...... " TUNAC and Convocation would like to thank all the photographers involved and everyone who participated in the voting. TUNAC and Convocation will host a similar exhibition and competition in 1993 and 1994, with the aim of publishing a photographic essay of the University. Hopefully, imaginations will have been inspired by this year's event and the quality and quantity of entries will be even greater. Why don't you start clicking the camera now.

* Mr Hennessy has donated this money to the Art Acquisition fund.

Lance Hennessy "Wetlands 11" James Rasmussen Untitled

23 UNlnews Photographs by Billie-Lee Reynolds