DOCSLIB.ORG

NEWNEW LABLAB for Life and Death Research

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NEWNEW LABLAB for Life and Death Research MAY 2006 La Trobe UNIVERSITY NEWNEW LABLAB for life and death research 71414 Bulletin May06 ART8.indd 1 26/5/06 10:50:29 AM La Trobe UNIVERSITY NEWS Bulletin IN THIS ISSUE Scholarships help Murrumbidgee Basin 2 New laboratory for life and death research 3 Lessons from ‘switched on’ queen bees 4 New role to boost regional Engineering development aid 5 Research in Action scholarships Simplifying with theory of complex systems 6 help Murrumbidgee Basin Electronic ‘nose’ to detect sheep parasites 7 How did China’s first states emerge? 8 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY has been awarded a $145,000 grant from Excavating for answers the Foundation for rural and regional renewal (FRRR) through the about our origin 9 Pratt Water Program, to establish a new industry-supported $600,000 Analysing rhythms and Frrr – La Trobe Civil engineering scholarship scheme. melody of speech 10 The pilot project aims to help overcome a critical shortage of civil Exercise – for disability and depression 11 engineers in the Murrumbidgee basin and to support infrastructure development to meet the region’s environmental and water management needs. Gift for campus on the mooove 12 La Trobe honours retiring It will fund ten four-year civil engineering scholarships for Chancellor 13 students to study the bachelor of engineering (Civil) at the bendigo Books: Study of New campus. With the Frrr and industry partner contributions and Yorker’s finest 14 vacation employment, each scholarship is valued at $44,000. La Trobe artist wins Vice-Chancellor, Professor brian stoddart, said the project ‘A Place in the World’ 15 will help develop practical solutions to meet critical shortages of Open Days 2006 16 engineers in regional communities. ‘There is significant potential for new partners to expand on this program and provide a model for other regional areas.’ Professor stoddart said the Frrr grant recognised the quality and regional focus of the La Trobe University civil engineering program. ‘Students will come from the Murrumbidgee catchment and be co- sponsored by industry partners. They will be provided with relevant vacation employment to attract them to stay in the area after they graduate. Frrr Chairman, former leader of the national Party, Mr ian Sinclair, said his organisation championed the economic and social Cover: Federation Fellow, Professor strength of Australia’s regional, rural and remote communities David Vaux, with PhD through partnerships with the private sector, philanthropy and student, Maria Miasari. Background image: governments. Scanning electron micrograph (false ‘We consider this partnership with La Trobe University and the colour) of a white blood Pratt Foundation as a key program to help our rural communities cell, right, killing a cancer cell – see Life and achieve their economic aspirations, whilst ensuring the careful death research, page 3. management of our environment.’ The La Trobe University Bulletin is published ten times The Murrumbidgee Catchment covers some 84,000 square a year by Marketing & Communications, La Trobe kilometres. it includes Canberra, Wagga Wagga, balranald, Griffith, University. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. and Yass. Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, Irrigated agriculture in the basin contributes 42 per cent of new La Trobe University, Victoria. 3086 Australia Tel: (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 South Wales’ grapes and half of Australia’s rice production. Dryland Email: [email protected] salinity is estimated to cost the region at least $43m per year. Articles: Noel Carrick, Tim Thwaites, Ernest Raetz • Photos: La Trobe University PDI Design: Campus Graphics, 71414 The FRRR /La Trobe Civil Engineering Scholarship Scheme will La Trobe University. begin in 2007 and applications will be advertised through schools Printed by Work & Turner. Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin and local media later this year. Images: Pratt Water 2 La Trobe University BULLETIN January February 2006 71414 Bulletin May06 ART8.indd 2 26/5/06 10:50:34 AM NEWS La Trobe sets up new laboratory into life and death research La Trobe University now has a better the process of apoptosis is critical to claim than most Australian universities understanding human health, and is to be studying matters of life and death. leading to the development of therapeutic That’s the whole focus of a rapidly drugs. expanding research group developing Professor Vaux is the man who initiated around Federation Fellow, Professor interest in cell death by finding the first David Vaux. molecular component of the apoptosis Already researchers in three mechanism. He published his discovery laboratories, working with mice, insects in 1988 in the influential scientific journal and yeast, are beavering away at several Nature, in a paper that has become the aspects of the nature of programmed cell most highly cited primary publication La Trobe’s new ‘cell death’ research group, with death and its potential applications to from Australia in the past twenty years. Professor Vaux, right, and Dr Silke, third from left. human health. The field he opened up is now the subject Programmed cell death – or apoptosis of thousands of papers a year. in 2004, – is now known to be just as important as he was awarded the Victoria Prize for his cell division in the growth, development efforts. and defence of multicellular organisms. Earlier this year, Professor Vaux moved Every second about a million cells are to La Trobe from the Walter and eliza produced by cell division in the human Hall institute (WEHI) as a Federation body, and about the same number commit Fellow. The fellowship scheme was suicide. if this didn’t happen, the cellular originally established to entice successful build-up would give rise to cancers. researchers back to Australia. Federation However, if the suicide mechanism Fellowships are now awarded to malfunctions and cells destroy themselves researchers within Australia, to encourage unnecessarily, it can increase the them to build up new centres of expertise. damage in heart attacks, strokes and nerve degeneration. so, knowledge of Continued page 4 La Trobe University BULLETIN May 2006 3 71414 Bulletin May06 ART8.indd 3 26/5/06 10:50:44 AM NEWS builds on a tradition of honey bee research at the University and relates to Professor Vaux’s lifelong interest in cell death. Lessons from Queen and worker bees are both females and carry the same complement of genes. But they have very different life histories. ‘switched on’ Whereas workers are sterile and rarely live beyond six weeks, the queen bees lifespan of the larger, fertile queens can be up to six years. The researchers first looked to see whether the extended life of the queens is due to replacement of their cells with newly divided ones, or because the individual cells of the queens have a longer lifespan than those of the workers. To do so, they injected queens with a DNA analogue that is incorporated into the DNA when cells divide. They found that the only cells actively replicating in queen bees were in their ovaries, as one would expect in a fertile female. because none of the other cells had divided, it appears that all the other cells were long-lived. And that implies that the queens possess an intracellular maintenance system which is not switched on in the workers. Professor Vaux says the genes encoding the molecular mechanism of such a system could well have relatives in mammals A La Trobe honours student is working with Federation that work to prevent and patch up damage in cells, and generally Fellow, Professor David Vaux, to find out how queen bees maintain them. If so, future research to reveal how the system maintain their youth. sam Dyer’s work represents a new line of works could have useful medical spinoffs. investigation for Professor Vaux since moving to La Trobe. it • Continued from page 3 Because iaP genes seem to be turned on at high levels in a number of different Life and death research human cancers, drug companies also are interested in iaPs. stopping them from And that’s the reason why Professor Vaux inhibitors known as inhibitors of apoptosis functioning could be a potent way of was so interested in coming to La Trobe. proteins (IAPs). killing cancer cells. Professor Vaux and ‘WEHi is full to bursting,’ he says. ‘At ‘The first iaPs were found in viruses Dr silke are working in collaboration with La Trobe, there is more space and loads of that affect insect cells,’ Professor Vaux a Us company that has produced potent potential – and the core of researchers at says. ‘Viruses use cells to replicate, so inhibitors of iaPs. the school of Molecular sciences is world cells often try to kill themselves in an Meanwhile, Dr Hawkins is using class.’ altruistic attempt to stop viral yeast to study both mammal and insect Although the University is committed replication. components of programmed cell to match the Federal Government’s death. Yeast has no apoptosis funding of $250,000 a year for five years, mechanism of its own, Federation Fellows like Professor Vaux and so is useful as a can help in the quest to recruit talented ‘living test-tube’ for young researchers, build critical mass, attempts to recreate and boost research ranking. the pathways. And that’s just what is happening. one Of the of the attractions for Professor Vaux of post-doctoral coming to La Trobe was to be able to researchers, continue to work with Dr John silke, who Dr Vince is moved with him from WEHI. Dr silke looking at now has a tenured position and his own members of the laboratory at the University, as does Dr tumour necrosis But viruses Christine Hawkins who has come from the factor (TNF) have fought back Murdoch Children’s research institute.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Recipients of Honoris Causa Degrees and of Scholarships and Awards 1999
    Recipients of Honoris Causa Degrees and of Scholarships and Awards 1999 Contents HONORIS CAUSA DEGREES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE- Members of the Royal Family 1 Other Distinguished Graduates 1-9 SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS- The Royal Commission of the Exhibition of 1851 Science Research Scholarships 1891-1988 10 Rhodes Scholars elected for Victoria 1904- 11 Royal Society's Rutherford Scholarship Holders 1952- 11 Aitchison Travelling Scholarship (from 1950 Aitchison-Myer) Holders 1927- 12 Sir Arthur Sims Travelling Scholarship Holders 1951- 12 Rae and Edith Bennett Travelling Scholarship Holders 1979- 13 Stella Mary Langford Scholarship Holders 1979- 13 University of Melbourne Travelling Scholarships Holders 1941-1983 14 Sir William Upjohn Medal 15 University of Melbourne Silver Medals 1966-1985 15 University of Melbourne Medals (new series) 1987 - Silver 16 Gold 16 31/12/99 RECIPIENTS OF HONORIS CAUSA DEGREES AND OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS Honoris Causa Degrees of the University of Melbourne (Where recipients have degrees from other universities this is indicated in brackets after their names.) MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY 1868 His Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh (Edinburgh) LLD 1901 His Royal Highness Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert, Duke of York (afterwards King George V) (Cambridge) LLD 1920 His Royal Highness Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, Prince of Wales (afterwards King Edward VIII) (Oxford) LLD 1927 His Royal Highness Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George,
    [Show full text]
  • Nancy Millis
    Celebrating 50 years of the Australian Society for Microbiology Nancy Millis Born in Melbourne in 1922, Nancy Fannie Millis studied agriculture at the University of Melbourne, graduating with a Master of Agricultural Science in 1946. She spent a year studying agricultural methods in Papua New Guinea before travelling to the University of Bristol on a Boots Research Scholarship. It was here that Millis was introduced to fermentation, gaining her PhD in 1951. Upon her return to Australia, Millis was appointed to a lectureship in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Melbourne. A Fulbright travel grant allowed her to visit the United States and Japan in 1954, spending time at the Hopkins Marine Station at Stanford and the Institute of Applied Microbiology at the University of Tokyo. Millis was involved in teaching one of the first courses in biotechnology in Japan and later co-authored a textbook based on the course, which was one of the earliest of its kind. Millis pioneered the teaching of industrial microbiology at the University of Melbourne, instituting the applied microbiology course and concentrating on fermentation techniques and the physiology of microorganisms. She progressed to become the fourth woman appointed to a professorial position at the University when she was awarded a personal chair in 1982. Millis retired in 1987 and remains an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Microbiology. Upon its establishment in 1980, Millis became chair of the Commonwealth Government Recombinant DNA Monitoring Committee (later the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee). Her ground-breaking research into water quality and long association with the water industry helped to improve water treatment.
    [Show full text]
  • Victorian Honour Roll of Women — Inspirational Women from All Walks of Life
    + + — — 2011 Victorian Honour Roll of Women — Inspirational women from all walks of life + — Published by: the Office of Women’s Policy Department of Human Services 1 Spring Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone. (03) 9208 3129 Online. www.women.vic.gov.au — March 2011. ©Copyright State of Victoria 2011. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. — Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne 2011 ISBN 978-0-7311-6346-5 — Designed by Studio Verse www.studioverse.com.au Printed by Gunn & Taylor Printers www.gunntaylor.com.au — Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone 03 9208 3129. This publication is also published in PDF and Word formats on www.women.vic.gov.au — — 2011 Victorian Honour Roll of Women — — — Contents Inductee profiles — — — 03 05 17 Minister’s Foreword Professor Muriel Bamblett AM Aunty Dot Peters — — — 06 18 Terry Bracks Dr Wendy Poussard — — — 07 19 Cecilia Conroy Brenda Richards — — — 08 20 Sandie de Wolf AM Jane Scarlett AM — — — 09 21 Dale Fisher Carol Schwartz AM — — — 10 22 Dr Paula Gerber Virginia Simmons AO — — — 11 23 Tricia Harper AM Dr Diane Sisely — — — 12 24 Chris Jennings Dame Peggy van Praagh — — OBE, DBE 13 Jill Joslyn — — — 14 Betty Kitchener OAM — — — 15 Professor Jayashri Kulkarni — — — 16 Victorian Honour Roll Marion Lau OAM of Women 2001-2011 — — — Foreword Mary Wooldridge MP 03 Minister for Women’s Affairs — — — Professor Muriel Bamblett AM ‘ Aboriginal people constantly seek to make a difference in the lives of their community.
    [Show full text]
  • Library Digitised Collections Author/S: University of Melbourne Title
    Library Digitised Collections Author/s: University of Melbourne Title: University of Melbourne Calendar 1973 Date: 1973 Persistent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11343/23420 File Description: 17_Part 1 Members-Council, Boards and Faculties, Committees, Staff Terms and Conditions: Terms and Conditions: Copyright in works deposited in the University of Melbourne Calendar Collection is retained by the copyright owner. The work may not be altered without permission from the copyright owner. Readers may only, download, print, and save electronic copies of whole works for their own personal non-commercial use. Any use that exceeds these limits requires permission from the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from these works. Terms and Conditions: To request permission to adapt, modify or use the works outside of the limits of these terms and conditions, please complete the permission request form at: http://www.unimelb.edu.au/copyright/information/fastfind/externalrequest.html THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE 1973 VISITOR His EXCELLENCY THE C^OVKKNOH OK VnTom.\ MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ROHAN DELACOMBE, KCMG KCVO KBE CB DSC) KStJ Hon.LLD Mon. 6 Melb. CHANCELLOR LEONARD WILLIAM WEICKHARDT. MSt- MIChcniE FRACI. Elected Oth March. 1972. DEPUTY CHANCELLORS PROFESSOR EMERITUS ROY DOUGLAS WRIGHT. DSc A.N.U. i- Melb. MB MS FRACP. Elected 10th April, 1972. MAURICE BROWN, LLB. Elected 2nd April, 197.1 —.— =^—. VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL PROFESSOR DAVID PLUMLEY DERHAM, CMC MBE Hon.LLD Mon. BA LLM, Barrister-at-Law. Appointed 1st March, 1908. DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR PROFESSOR DAVID EDMUND CARO. PhD Birm. MSe FInstP FAI P. Appointed 1st March, 1972. PRO-VICE-CHANCELLORS PROFESSOR MAXWELL EDGAR HARGREAVES, PhD Cantab.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Partipant Bios
    Workshop on Ethical Engagement in Conflict Research Workshop Participants Kanisha Bond | University of Maryland My research focuses on internal conflict, contentious politics and social movement organizational Behavior. I am particularly interested in the ways in which people Become moBilized into political action, how social movement organizations recruit and manage their memBership, and how these internal processes influence inter-group collaboration. My work in these areas has Been puBlished in top academic outlets, including the American Political Science Review, the British Journal of Political Science, and the Journal International Negotiation. I am currently working on two large research proJects. The first is a Book proJect that focuses on the development of collaborative relationships among violent political organizations in the Americas over the last half-century; the second examines systematic differences in the form, content and organization of women’s participation in violent social movements across world regions. I currently teach graduate and undergraduate courses on terrorism, civil war, social movements and research design. I also serve as a faculty mentor for the McNair Scholars Program and the START Center’s Expanding Access to Security Studies Education initiative. Karen Brounéus | Uppsala University, Sweden Karen Brounéus is Associate Professor (docent) in Peace and Conflict Research and Director of Studies at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden. Her research focuses on i.a. truth and reconciliation processes after intrastate armed conflict; the gendered dimensions of war and peace; psychological health in post conflict peaceBuilding; psychological health in soldiers returning from peacekeeping operations; and the effect of dialogue in inter-ethnic conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2019 the Bio21 Molecular Science and Director Associate Director – Platform Biotechnology Institute Professor Michael W
    Annual Report 2019 The Bio21 Molecular Science and Director Associate Director – Platform Biotechnology Institute Professor Michael W. Parker Infrastructure University of Melbourne DPhil (Oxon) FAA FAHMS Professor Malcolm McConville PhD 30 Flemington Road Deputy Director Associate Director – Commercialisation Parkville Victoria 3010 Professor Frances Separovic AO Professor Spencer Williams PhD Telephone: (03) 8344 2220 PhD FAA www.bio21.unimelb.edu.au Associate Director – Engagement @Bio21Institute Professor Sally Gras PhD @Bio21Institute Produced by the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Communications andb Bio21 Engagement Institute Advisor Annual Report 2019 Contents Our Mission 2 Our Vision 2 About the Institute 3 Director’s Message 4 Bio21 Leadership 8 Deputy Director, Professor Emeritus Frances Separovic AO 8 Associate Director Engagement – Professor Sally Gras 10 Associate Director Commercialisation – Professor Spencer Williams 12 Associate Director Platform Infrastructure – Professor Malcolm McConville 14 Impacts of Research 19 Research Support Services Report 24 Women of Bio21 31 Industry Engagement and Commercialisation 33 External Relations, Communications and Engagement 36 Public and School Engagement 38 Bio21 Institute Community Events and Engagement 40 Bio21 Media and Social Media 41 Graduate Research Students and Early Career Researchers 42 Institute Members Honoured 44 Grant Successes 45 Governance 48 OHS Report 51 Bio21 People 52 Steering Committee 54 Institute in Numbers 58 Bio21 Institute Theses submitted in 2019
    [Show full text]
  • Eureka Prizes Winners Combined Releases
    Eureka Prizes winners combined releases For more information about all the winners visit australianmuseum.net.au/eureka. And watch the finalists videos here. For media enquiries please contact the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes media team: Niall Byrne, [email protected], 0417 131 977 Errol Hunt, [email protected], 0423 139 210 List of winners Looking beyond physics’ Standard Model .............................................................................................................................. 2 3M Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science ................................................................................................................................ 2 Nurturing the next generation of Australian researchers ........................................................................................................ 3 University of Technology Sydney Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers .......................................................... 3 Leading Australia’s quantum future ........................................................................................................................................ 4 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science .................................................................................................................................... 4 Melting salt to store solar power ............................................................................................................................................. 5
    [Show full text]
  • Victorian Honour Roll of Women
    Ruth Austin Nina Bassat Gracia Baylor, AM The Hon Justice Sally Brown Fanny Brownbill Marg D’Arcy Linda Fenton The Hon Caroline Hogg Vol 3 Varvara Athanasiou- victorian honour roll of women Ioannou Betty Lawson (Stevenson) 2003 Professor Nancy Millis, AC, MBE Brenda Murray, OAM (Bich) Cam Nguyen Thelma Prior Professor Dimity Reed Jodie Ryan Jill Smith Mavis Taylor Katherine Teh -White Margaret Wirrpunda victorian honour roll of women 2003 ISBN 0 7311 1457 4 The Victorian Honour Roll of Women 2003 is a Victorian Government publication prepared by the Office of Women’s Policy, Department for Victorian Communities © Copyright State of Victoria March 2003 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 Vol 3 Ruth Austin introduction Nina Bassat Gracia Baylor, AM The Hon Justice Sally They come from many sections of the community, representing the arts, Brown women’s and children’s health, government, community, the law and Fanny social justice. Brownbill They are women who have contributed significantly not only to the growth of the Marg D’Arcy Victorian community generally, but also to bettering the lives of other women, both Linda Fenton at home in their own communities as well as overseas. The Hon Their generosity of spirit, their ingenuity and their dedication have marked them Caroline Hogg for special mention. Varvara The Victorian Government is committed to honouring the role of women through the Athanasiou-Ioannou I am delighted to present the stories of on going initiative of the Victorian Honour the 20 remarkable women who have Roll of Women.
    [Show full text]
  • Nancy Millis - 'First Lady' of Australian Biotech - Passes Away
    Nancy Millis - 'First Lady' of Australian biotech - passes away 03 October 2012 | News | By BioSpectrum Bureau Australia's 'first lady' of biotechnology Nancy Millis AC passes away Singapore: Eminent Australian microbiologist Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC, who served as the chancellor of La Trobe University for 14 years, passed away on September 29, 2012. Also known as the Australia's "first lady" of biotechnology for her contributions to the study of biotechnology, especially fermentation, wastewater and environmental biotechnology, she died at the age of 90. She also played key roles as the chairman of the Monitoring Committee for Recombinant DNA during the 1980s and served as the chairman of Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee from 1988 to 2001. The website of the La Troube University quotes Vice-Chancellor Professor Mr John Dewar as saying "her list of accomplishments was immense". During her time as the chancellor, she was a familiar figure on La Trobe campuses throughout Victoria, presenting degrees and diplomas to an estimated 30,000 graduates. When she retired from the role of chancellor, the university honored her with the degree Doctor of Science (honoris causa). She retired from the university in 2006. She was born in Melbourne in 1922, the fifth child of six, and attended high school at Merton Hall, an Anglican grammar school for girls. She left school before completing her studies when her father had a heart attack. Later, she attended business college, worked for a customs agent and then as a technician at the CSIRO. When the University of Melbourne refused her entry into the bachelor of science, she managed to get into a degree of agricultural science.
    [Show full text]
  • Nancy Millis 10 April 1922 - 29 September 2012
    Nancy Millis 10 April 1922 - 29 September 2012 Nancy Millis described herself as ‘interested in anything that ferments’, an appropriate comment for one of the pioneers of the study of fermentation technology in Australia. She spent her career seeking links between universities and industry, making connections between science and people's everyday lives. Born in Melbourne, Nancy had her high school education interrupted when she went to work as a bookkeeper to help support her family. Eventually she matriculated and studied agriculture at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1948. She spent a year in Papua New Guinea studying the agricultural methods used by women and later went to Bristol University to study for her PhD and was introduced to fermentation. Back in Australia she was appointed to a lectureship at Melbourne University where she progressed to become the University’s fourth ever female professor. Nancy Millis instituted the industrial microbiology course and was awarded a personal chair in 1982 until retirement in 1987. Nancy Millis was a member of the Board of Management of the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, the Australian Water Advisory Resources Committee, the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, the Council of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences, the National Commission for UNESCO and many other professional organisations. She was appointed Chancellor of La Trobe University in 1992. In 1993, she was awarded an honorary D.Sc. from the University of Melbourne and in 2002 was one of five Australian scientists featured on Australian stamps. A long-term member of Graduate Women Victoria, Nancy was greatly interested in our Scholarship Program and encouraged the Catalysts’ Society to sponsor a bursary for an Indigenous student to mark their centenary.
    [Show full text]
  • Pick of the Crop – the Early Years of Nancy Millis
    Pick of the Crop – the early years of Nancy Millis For the Royal Society of Victoria Symposium, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne 18.4.09 © Sally Morrison 1 I’m very flattered to be asked to open the proceedings today with a paper on the early years of Nancy Millis. I’m a writer, but I was once a scientist and I spent the years between 1972 and 1987 as Jim Pittard’s Research Assistant; after that I was a Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery and in 1990 I took up a Literature Board Scholarship and became a full time writer. Nancy was one of the first people I met here; we got along famously and became good friends and have remained so ever since. For me she has been an inspiration and a mentor. The inspiration comes from Nancy’s imaginative powers, her capacity to keep her head in difficult situations and to find resolution when clashes of interest have to be resolved. As a mentor, she taught me that you need to be tough and true to yourself; although Nancy’s self and mine are quite different, just as our backgrounds are. Nancy, born in 1922, went first to the local state school in Brighton and then to Merton Hall while Stanley Melbourne Bruce and James Scullin were fighting bitterly over unionism on the Federal stage and Robert Menzies was beginning to assert himself in Victorian State politics as the champion of Melbourne’s middle class, the people among whom Nancy began her life.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin JANUARY/Februarybulletin 2003
    LA TROBE UNIVERSITY Bulletin JANUARY/FEBRUARYBulletin 2003 WILDLIFE finds sanctuary on campus Backing Australian excellence LA TROBE UNIVERSITY NEWS Bulletin IN THIS ISSUE Key role in national ‘Centre of Excellence’ 3 Partnership for better Aboriginal health 3 La Trobe boosts education in Mildura 4 Completing the communication link 5 Making a wireless computer connection 6 Research in Action Laugh, & not all the world laughs with you 7 Fire-fighters take over La Trobe University’s Beechworth campus during the recent bush fires. Research with a delicious outcome 8 Strong muscles mean better health 9 Vice-Chancellor praises Smarter web – and cheaper computers 10 Separation: new way to protect children 11 staff in fire crisis Appeal to save Melbourne’s wildlife 12 La Trobe University’s regional campuses He said: ‘Major sections of the campus were in the thick of the recent bushfire were taken over for command, operations, Melbourne Water sponsors Sanctuary 13 crisis – with the Beechworth campus logistics, resources and ancillary services Older, wiser, and safer on the road 14 serving as key operational centre for the – such as first aid, counselling and Multi-Agency Response Team fighting respite-therapy – and as a staging, Better life for children with cerebral palsy 14 the fires in north east Victoria. accommodation and catering centre.’ The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Maintenance Operations Manager from Books: Keeping tabs on Tongans 15 Osborne, praised the superb efforts of Bundoora, Robin Young, was seconded to Threat to educational diversity 16 La Trobe staff at Beechworth who the Beechworth campus to support local provided round-the clock support for some staff.
    [Show full text]