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Home , La Trobe University, Richard McGarvie, University of Adelaide

JULY 2005

La Trobe UNIVERSITYBulletin

How humans populated the Earth La Trobe NEWS Bulletin Yunnan exchange visit

IN THIS ISSUE to rural La Trobe features in Canberra report and book launch 3 agricultural education Bridging gap between Western and Chinese has come a long way – from China to , archaeology 4 Warragul and Camperdown. New appointment for Teaching and Learning 5 A group of fourth year Bachelor of Agricultural Science students from Did White really die? 5 La Trobe University’s main campus at Bundoora and ten of their colleagues from Yunnan Agricultural University in Kunming, Major differences in Southwest China, recently visited these three rural towns to study dairy postnatal care 6 industry practices as part of their courses. Research in Action For example the party visited Tatura Milk Industries and inspected the farm of Mr Rick Cross as part of their evaluation of dairy farming How humans populated systems. the Earth 7 Organiser of the study tour was Associate Professor in Remote Hill tribe holds Agricultural Science at La Trobe, Dr Peter Sale – a ‘golden linguistic goldmine 8 logie’ holder for his innovative teaching programs, having Saving language and won one of the prestigious Australian University Teaching people’s identity 9 Awards in the late 1990s. Tracking energy needs of He says the students from Yunnan were on a reciprocal Southern Bluefin Tuna 10 visit to La Trobe, following a two-week study tour by 15 La Trobe students ‘Shoe-in’ for David Myers to China in March Medal winner 11 studying agricultural systems in Yunnan. Tsunami scholarship 11 There they observed ‘Lord of the Lattices’ speaks cropping systems, about maths 12 consulted with farmers, Just you wait, Henry Higgins! 13 scientists and other Oil partnership boost professionals for 14 to learn about sustainable HIV/AIDS: threat to Australia’s agricultural practices. security? 15 ‘The exposure of What’s in a joke – laughably students to agricultural big dollars for tourism? 16 practices and problems encountered as a result of these visits provides exceptionally valuable experience,’ says Dr Sale. Geneticist Dr John ‘It equips them for careers Mitchell is playing a as professionals when they leading role in a new will be expected to deal global project to trace with complex issues facing the migratory history people all over the world.’ of the human species, see page 7. This year’s exchange study program was supported by Dairy

The La Trobe University Bulletin is published ten times Australia, Tatura Milk a year by the Public Affairs Office, La Trobe University. Industries and Austrex. Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Photographs can be supplied. Previous reciprocal study Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, tours involved groups from La Trobe University, Victoria. 3086 Australia Tel: (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 Indonesia and Papua New Email: bulletin latrobe.edu.au @ Guinea. La Trobe-Yunnan visitors with Tatura Milk Managing Articles: Noel Carrick, Ernest Raetz, Adrienne Jones • Photos: La Trobe University DPI Director, Mr Jeff Martin, centre; General Manager, Design: Campus Graphics, 65477 Technical and Nutrition, Mr Tony McKenna, left; Yunnan’s La Trobe University. Printed by Work & Turner. Professor Naiming Zhang, right; and La Trobe’s Dr Sale, Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin second from right, background.

2 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 NEWS La Trobe features in Canberra report – and book launch

he work of Professor of longer any ‘pure’ research. For TArchaeology, Tim Murray, much of the past twenty years featured as one of seven the bulk of archaeological national case studies in a activity in Australia has recent report presented to been funded privately by Federal Education Minister, development projects, . including mining and urban Highlighting the growth. commercialisation of research ‘In this book I have included in the humanities, arts and examples of archaeological social sciences, the report was research that crosses the prepared by the peak research boundary between heritage body, the Council for the archaeology and pure research Humanities, Arts and Social – such as the excavations Sciences (CHASS). of Casselden Place, known Another feature of the event, as “Little Lon”, in Little held in Parliament House, Londsdale St, Melbourne.’ Canberra, was the launch of a He says this project ranks new book edited by Professor among the four major urban Murray, titled Archaeology archaeological digs in the from Australia. The book is world today. Along with a a snapshot of research at the dig in Camp St, Ballarat, beginning of the 21st century it forms the basis of a and brings together authors University partnership with from classical, historic and heritage consultancy, prehistoric archaeology. Godden Mackay Logan Pty Professor Murray says Ltd, to undertake work for during the 1960s the government agencies and the tremendous growth of private sector. interest in the archaeology Significantly, this of Indigenous Australia partnership has been not only revolutionised our incorporated into the teaching understanding of our own and research programs of Professor Murray in La Trobe University’s Archaeology Laboratory. prehistory, but also had an the Archaeology Program impact on the interest in, and at La Trobe. It is this link development of, the whole between ‘pure’ and ‘applied’ era where effective and highly – among the top in discipline of archaeology. archaeology which featured in clear communication is the country. And, he adds, of paramount importance, employment levels among Australian archaeologists the CHASS report to Minister Archaeology from Australia La Trobe graduates compare work in Europe, the South Nelson. also provides a bridge between favourably with national levels Pacific, Melanesia, South ‘This work,’ says Professor the discipline and non- of graduates with similar East Asia, South America, the Murray, ‘helps expand the specialist audiences. training in the humanities and Middle East and Africa. They University’s teaching and social sciences. make substantial contributions research by developing an The Acting Dean of the to world archaeology. income stream, gives staff a Faculty of Humanities and The Faculty also has a Social Sciences, Professor strong tradition of publishing. ‘At the same time, the better understanding of the David de Vaus, says he was ‘This is particularly evident discipline of archaeology has needs of industry and provides pleased La Trobe was chosen in the number of significant also broadened into cultural students with exposure to as an example for the report to books by Faculty staff, and resources and heritage industry practices and people.’ the Minister. many of our staff frequently management areas, and into Commenting on Professor serve as public commentators contact, urban and historical Murray’s book, the In the Graduate Careers in the media,’ says Professor archaeology.’ President of Council national course experience survey, La Trobe de Vaus. Professor Murray says this Archaeological Association, • humanities and social is a world where there is no Dr Judith Field, says in an science courses always rank La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 3 NEWS

Bridging the gap between Western and Chinese archaeology

leading scholar who has helped bridge Investigations of plant and animal remains the gap between Chinese and Western from 6000 to 200 BC by specialists at Aarchaeology since the mid 1980s has La Trobe and other have provided been appointed Professor of Archaeology in the crucial information about the development of School of Historical and European Studies at agriculture, land use and exchange. Research La Trobe University. into population and land use is assisted by She is Dr Li Liu, a PhD graduate in computerised Geographic Information System anthropology from Harvard University. (GIS) studies. These allow researchers to locate Professor Liu came to La Trobe University as the exact sites of a vast amount of important a lecturer in 1996, having taught previously at original archaeological data. Tufts University and Johns Hopkins University Professor Liu’s role as investigator in the United States. is to integrate results from all these scientific Initially educated in China, Professor Liu programs to explain social, ecological and was a researcher during the early 1980s at the environmental changes in the emergence of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, Chinese civilisations. Xi’an, China. As well as their publication in Chinese and Her research deals with Neolithic and English, many of these research Bronze Age China, focusing on topics results have been presented at such as settlement pattern, ritual practice, international conferences in recent state formation, craft specialisation, and years where she has been an invited zooarchaeology. guest lecturer at Harvard University, Columbia University, University of An expert in the settlement and rise of early Michigan, Peking University, and states in China, her work has been published several archaeological institutions in in both Chinese and English, reaching many China. readers in China and the West. Her English publications provide up-dated interpretations Professor Liu says: ‘The wide of Chinese archaeological findings while her scope of the work has provided Chinese publications have introduced new opportunities for students from methods and theory to Chinese archaeology. Australia, USA, Canada, and Poland to study Chinese archaeology in Professor Liu is the chief investigator of a China, and will continue to do so. It large-scale international and multidisciplinary has also enabled archaeologists in archaeological research project titled Settlement China to test and evaluate Western Patterns, Craft Production, and the Rise archaeological theory and method of Early States in China. The study probes through fieldwork experience.’ processes which led to the rise of these states in the Yiluo River Valley in western Henan Professor Liu and her colleagues Professor Liu: opportunities for Province. have published preliminary results from these Australian and international students. studies in the Journal of Field Archaeology. Other primary investigators are from the She has recently published a book, The Chinese Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Neolithic (Cambridge University Press), which Academy of Social Sciences, Harvard analyses progress from the Neolithic era to the University, the University of Michigan, and rise of states. Another book she co-authored is University College London. Professor Liu says State Formation in Early China (Duckworth, many interdisciplinary approaches are being London), which reconstructs political-economic used in the study. systems of early states relating to resource Regional survey programs examine procurement, such as copper and salt. settlement patterns in core areas of the early Since 1997 the research has been supported states. Reconstruction of climate using isotope by grants from the Australian Research Council analysis on stalagmites from local caves and (ARC), the National Geographic Society, understanding craft production of goods, such La Trobe University, and Harvard University. as stone tools and fine ceramics, have involved More recently, the project has been awarded a geologists and postgraduate students from five year ARC Discovery Grant which supports La Trobe University and the University of the work until the end of 2008. . Continued page 13 4 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 NEWS New Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching PROFESSOR DENISE KIRKPATRICK has been appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at La Trobe University and will commence duties early in August. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Osborne, said ‘I am absolutely delighted that so eminently qualified a person has agreed to take on this challenging position’. ‘Professor Kirkpatrick has been a leader in the field of Learning and Teaching in the university sector for more than a decade and she brings with her a wealth of experience in such areas as policy review and revision, and the introduction of new approaches to learning and teaching as well as expertise in the development and implementation of new techniques.’ Professor Kirkpatrick, formerly Professorial Director of Learning and Teaching at , will be a member of the senior management team at La Trobe and will have carriage of the Learning and Teaching program of the University. Professor Kirkpatrick’s leadership in this arena has been recognised nationally through her appointment as Chair of the Australasian Council on Open, Distance and E-learning (ACODE), the national group representing leaders of teaching and e-learning in Australia. She is also a member of the Advisory Committee to DEST associated with the development of the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund. •

Did White Australia really die? RE AUSTRALIAN RACISTS, covertly The other was what she saw as two very clinging to the philosophy of the White dichotomous images – the bad old Australia AAustralia policy, or open-minded of the White Australia policy days, and the cosmopolitan multiculturalists eschewing our cosmopolitan, multicultural Australia of the racially prejudiced past? Or a bit of both? post-Whitlam era. These questions are central to a new book, ‘This raised questions about how we had The Long, Slow Death of White Australia got from one phase to the other and if indeed (Scribe Publications), by La Trobe University the transition had been as complete as many lecturer in Politics, Dr Gwenda Tavan. commentators seemed to suggest,’ she says. The book incorporates information from ‘I gained further impetus from claims hundreds of archival documents and is based made in various corners during the 1980s and on her PhD research. It plots the history of 1990s regarding some sort of elite conspiracy the policy and its gradual transformation as surrounding the dismantling of White Australia. successive governments reluctantly gave ground ‘This encouraged me to examine in great on barring non-Europeans from Australia. detail the factors that led to the dismantling and It reveals the timid and ad hoc nature of many the processes involved, especially the role of of the policy changes which took place, and bureaucrats and politicians.’ questions the effect this had on public attitudes, She analysed archival documents, including both then and now. the files of the departments of Immigration, While many people supported the decision External Affairs (now Foreign Affairs) and to abolish the policy in 1973, most remained Prime Minister and Cabinet. ‘The personal committed to preserving Australia’s white, diaries and correspondence of various Anglo-Celtic culture. The thwarting of this individuals and organisations interested in the ideal after 1975 sowed the seeds for ongoing White Australia policy after World War II also discontent. provided many insights’. Dr Tavan says her decision to study the ‘I believe this work fills a significant gap dismantling was spurred by two factors. in our knowledge of Australian history and One was personal. Her experiences as the provides insights into current immigration daughter of Italian migrants formed the basis controversies, including the residual influence for her strong interest in the history and politics of the White Australia doctrine, and the of Australian immigration. important role that bureaucrats and politicians play in shaping immigration policy and popular attitudes towards it.’ • La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 5 NEWS Thais focus on Aussie health care La Trobe University recently had a major role in an Austra- lian study tour by 30 high ranking Thai health officials. The delegation consisted of directors and senior staff of the Thai National Health Security Office, hospital directors and chief medical officers from the Ministry of Public Health and academics from . They visited Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney to learn about the Australian health Major differences in care system under the auspices of the Australian Health postnatal care Insurance Commission. Victorian mothers and their newborn babies experience La Trobe University senior lecturer in Public Health, major variations in postnatal care – for example in the length Dr Ken Harvey, was invited of time they spend in hospitals after birth. to Thailand earlier this year to talk about Australian Postnatal care practices in many hospitals are well as variations in the length of hospital stay, pharmaceutical policy at an not based on evidence – reflecting the fact that differences in postnatal care include staffing international conference on there is limited evidence available to guide care, levels, the practice of routine observations, cost containment in national and many hospitals do not have guidelines on documentation, and the assessment and support health insurance systems. which to base various aspects of postnatal care. of mothers with particular psychosocial needs. He said his talk stimulated In addition, staff-patient ratios for postnatal Key recommendations from the study interest among Thai officials to care are perceived to be inadequate and fail to include: learn more about the Australian take into account care of the infant as a separate • That an evidence-base be developed to person. health care system, resulting in guide early postnatal care with a focus the tour. These are some of the findings of the first on more individualised care. Dr Harvey said all health comprehensive study in Australia examining • That hospitals providing postnatal care use insurance systems are faced hospital postnatal care in depth from the appropriate guidelines in care provision. In with selecting the most cost- caregivers’ perspectives. the longer term, the Victorian Department effective health care from a The study was carried out by La Trobe of Human Services (DHS) should develop proliferation of expensive new University’s Mother & Child Health Research agreed state-wide guidelines for hospital drugs and procedures and the Centre (MCHR) and the Clinical School of postnatal care. need to reconcile these with Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Studies. • That a review of staff-patient ratios be finite budgets. ‘Thailand has It examined how care is organised and undertaken by the Australian Nursing recently instituted universal provided in different hospitals in Victoria; Federation, the Australian College of health insurance coverage and what constraints there are on the provision of Midwives and DHS. is particularly interested in postnatal care; and what initiatives are being • That priority be given to the recruitment Australian cost containment undertaken to improve service delivery. of midwives, particularly in rural Victoria. experience,’ he added. Having a baby is the most common reason for The research was carried out by Ms Della The study tour began at hospitalisation in Australia and each year around Forster, Dr McLachlan, Ms Jane Yelland, Ms La Trobe where Dean of 63,000 women give birth in Victoria. The review Jo Rayner and Professor Judith Lumley. It was Health Sciences, Professor of hospital postnatal care was based on findings funded by the Telstra Foundation’s Community Stephen Duckett, provided an from MCHR surveys of recent mothers. For Development Fund and the William Buckland introduction to the Australian more than a decade women have been less Foundation, and launched at a seminar on health care system and satisfied with the care they received in hospital postnatal care at the Royal Women’s Hospital an overview of financing. following the birth compared with the care they in May. Dr Harvey then spoke on received during pregnancy, labour and birth. Further details about the report are available Australian medicinal drug La Trobe’s Dr Helen McLachlan, one of the on www.latrobe.edu.au/mchr/PinC.html policy and investigative study’s authors, says the study found that, as • medicine. • 6 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 RESEARCH IN ACTION ‘Conducting the DNA research for such projects gives us the power to delve into ‘Moon shot’ history, both at a local population level and even at the whole species level,’ Dr of anthropology Mitchell said. ‘Before the detection of variability at the DNA level, such detailed investigations were impossible.’ La Trobe helps map how humans His work will involve travel to remote areas of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and other areas. populated the Earth A research partnership of the National Geographic Society and IBM, the project A TROBE authority on human genetic Dr Mitchell will head one of the ten is headed internationally by National variation, Dr John Mitchell, has been teams which will collect samples from Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Dr invited to play a leading role in a volunteers. The results will contribute L Spencer Wells. five-year research initiative to trace the to a comprehensive attempt to better migratory history of the human species. understand the history and roots of The Waitt Family Foundation, established in 1993 by the founder and Called the ‘Genographic Project’, the modern humans. Chairman of the company, Gateway large research undertaking will see the The study will use sophisticated Computers, to fund projects aimed at establishment of 10 centres around the laboratory and computer analysis of DNA discovering our past, is funding the world to collect and study more than contributed by thousands of Indigenous project. 100,000 DNA samples from indigenous people to map how the Earth was populations. populated. Dr Mitchell’s team will take samples for DNA analysis from Indigenous volunteers A Reader and Associate Professor in Dr Mitchell’s initial training was in in his research area. These include some La Trobe’s School of Molecular Sciences, biological anthropology and, coupled with of the oldest populations in the world Dr Mitchell will head the research team an intense interest in how humans have including Australian Aborigines and that will cover the Oceania and Pacific travelled and inhabited the planet, led peoples of the island of New Guinea as areas which contain some of the world’s to his research career in human genetic well as some of the youngest, including oldest populations. variation. the Maoris of New Zealand. The project is expected to reveal rich details about global human migratory history and the connections and differences that make up the human species. ‘We see this as the “moon shot” of anthropology, using genetics to fill in the gaps in our knowledge of human history,’ says Dr Wells. ‘Our DNA carries a story that is shared by everyone. Over the next five years we’ll be deciphering that story, which is now in danger of being lost as people migrate and mix to a much greater extent than they have in the past.’ The resulting public database will house one of the largest collections of human population genetic information ever assembled and will serve as an unprecedented resource for geneticists, historians, linguists and anthropologists. Further information, including details about public participation in the Genographic Project – which involves purchase of a kit that allows people to take a cheek swab sample from themselves – is available on the website www. nationalgeographic.com/genographic. Proceeds from the sale of the sample Dr Mitchell and technical kits will help fund future research officer, Mrs Moya Blake: rich details about the connections and support educational and cultural and differences that make up preservation projects among participating the human species. Indigenous groups. • La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 7 RESEARCH IN ACTION

Remote hill tribe holds a linguistic goldmine

THE KHIAMNIUNGAN only abandoned controlled by the British, who would ‘Apart from their language, these are a head-hunting and inter-tribal warfare for only dare enter under the protection of fascinating people who have had a torrid peace in the 1960s and many older men a military escort. Since independence history over the past century,’ Dr Coupe still display chest tattoos proclaiming their it has remained off-limits to outsiders. says. status as head-takers. Consequently little is known about the ‘They have been converted from their Their penchant for collecting head people or their languages.’ traditional belief systems to Christianity, trophies remains, with displays of animal On his fi rst visit, for three months in in some cases as late as the 1970s, heads decorating the walls of their homes 1996, he worked on Mongsen Ao for bringing both positive and negative in the mountain villages of Nagaland in his Master’s thesis. He then spent a year consequences to their lives and culture. north-eastern India. in the in 1999 and a further six They suffered terribly in a secessionist But La Trobe University postdoctoral months in 2001 for his PhD research. war with the Indian security forces after fellow, Dr Alec Coupe, is not so interested During his latest visit, from November Indian independence. Now they must in their recently abandoned cultural 2004 until March this year, he continued endure the clashes of rival factions locked practices as in their language. his research on Ao to prepare his PhD in a bitter struggle for political control. He describes the isolated mountains thesis for publication. He also began ‘The minority languages of Nagaland of the State of Nagaland near the his fi rst investigation of Chang and are becoming endangered due to the India-Myanmar border as a ‘linguistic Khiamniungan. spread of the local lingua franca, goldmine’ where few of the local While many of the villages are Nagamese, a pidgin form of Assamese. languages are written and most have extremely remote – the most isolated The loss of a native language can have never been systematically studied. requiring a few days’ walk from the drastic consequences for a people because Dr Coupe is making the documentation nearest four-wheel of these Tibeto-Burman languages his drive track – Dr life’s work. Coupe has certain in-built advantages He was awarded a PhD at La Trobe in overcoming University in 2004 for his grammar of one a number of of these languages, the Mongsen dialect diffi culties. His of the Ao, spoken by about 70,000 people wife, Pavitra living in 21 remote mountain villages of Gurung, whom he Nagaland. met in Canberra The same year he began a three-year when he was doing Australian Research Council Postdoctoral undergraduate study Fellowship to investigate the typology at ANU, is from of clause linkage in Tibeto-Burman Nagaland. She still languages and carry out initial studies has family and on two other local languages, Chang and friends there and is Khiamniungan. his indispensable This project will see his return to companion and advisor when he travels in language, identity and culture are often Nagaland next October – his sixth visit the region. inseparably entwined. When the last speakers of a language die, often much since 1996 – with fi rm objects in mind. Her contacts allow them to live in ‘the more is irrevocably lost.’ The fi rst will be to continue fi eldwork on speech community’ – right among the the Chang and Khiamniungan languages, people whose language he is studying. Apart from the academic aspects of the grammars of which are virtually This means residing in a village house his work, Dr Coupe says he is helping unknown; the second to collect data on and having as language consultants not preserve the culture of the groups whose other poorly understood languages of the only the occasional ageing former head languages he is studying by developing border region. hunter, but often throngs of inquisitive writing systems and making audio- ‘The area in which I have been working youngsters. visual recordings to ensure that their oral on Chang and Khiamniungan was never histories are preserved. • 8 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 RESEARCH IN ACTION

Saving a language – and a people’s identity

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY has made a signifi cant contribution to the preservation of an endangered Papua New Guinea language. ‘Although it is one of about 800 Dr Stebbins became languages in Papua New Guinea, its involved with the people of Marunga in Stebbins met Mr Tayul during preservation is vital to the social and 2001 through her work with La Trobe’s her research and together they worked on economic well-being of its 2,200 Research Centre for Linguistic Typology the dictionary, texts and grammar. speakers,’ says La Trobe language where she gained a post doctoral ‘It is very important to me to be able to researcher, Dr Tonya Stebbins. fellowship. return the products of my research to the A lecturer in La Trobe’s Linguistics She had gained expertise in supporting community in relevant and useful forms,’ Program, Dr Stebbins played a crucial communities with endangered languages Dr Stebbins said. ‘Most people don’t want role in the preservation by compiling when she completed her PhD thesis on the to give up their language because it means a dictionary, a grammar, and helping language of the Tsimshian Nation, a small their sense of identity is under threat. prepare the fi rst published text collection First Nations (Indigenous) community ‘Basic tools such as the texts, dictionary in the language known as Mali Baining. in the north of the Canadian province of and grammar are necessary for language La Trobe University partially funded British Columbia. programs so children can acquire literacy the fi rst text collection published in Mali Since 2001 she has visited Marunga, in the language they use at home. They Baining which is now being enjoyed by twice, including a nine month stay in also act as concrete affi rmation of the the community and used as a curriculum 2002. She is now warmly accepted as a importance of the language in the wider resource in local primary schools. friend and community member by many world. The Mali people live in scattered villages villagers. ‘In addition, documenting and providing in the remote mountainous southeast of the During her research she discovered the tools to maintain the language has a Gazelle Peninsula on the island of New that she was not the fi rst to attempt to put positive impact of people’s perception of Britain near Rabaul. Dr Stebbins’ research Mali Baining into written form. Before themselves,’ she said. took her to the village of Marunga, situated World War II, a German missionary, To this end she and Julius produced near a palm-fringed beach. Father Alphonse Mayerhoffer and his in 2004 the texts under the title Stories In spite of the fact that the islands of Mali Baining instructor Nguingimga had and Songs from the Village. The text New Britain and New Ireland were among prepared a catechism and a hymn book. collection includes oral history describing the fi rst areas of Papua New Guinea to In Marunga, Dr Stebbins found the only events that occurred more than 500 have come into contact with Europeans, known legacy of this work – one tattered years ago. The collection also celebrates New Britain has remained linguistically copy of the hymn book. contemporary village life. one of the least known of the Father Mayerhoffer died during the Despite the rigours of fi eldwork, Dr country. Japanese occupation and was replaced Stebbins will be going back to work on People across Papua New Guinea after the war by his brother, also a priest another language, Taulil, which has an even gradually shifted to the national lingua who adopted a young Marunga boy, Julius smaller community than the Mali language franca, Tok Pisin, or to the language of Tayul whose parents had also died during and a more complicated history. She said commerce and education, English. At the war. it was necessary to document Mali fi rst the same time opportunities to learn and Helped by the priest, Julius attained so that she could understand Taulil in its speak local languages are shrinking even a secondary education and returned historical context. though local languages are the source of to his village to become the fi rst Mali • a great deal of cultural vitality and pride. school teacher. Forty years later, Dr

La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 9 RESEARCH IN ACTION Tracking the energy needs of Southern Bluefin Tuna

their prey. hope to deploy at least 100 at the start of team from La Trobe University’s the main tuna raising season next January. Department of Zoology believes it Juvenile tuna are netted in the wild Ahas overcome the problem that has in the Southern Ocean, transferred to Dr Frappell says to predict the energy plagued devices used to record the bodily cages and towed slowly to , requirements of tuna during different activities of animals. , where they are raised in activities such as feeding and swimming massive cages submerged in the sea. requires establishing a relationship It has developed the ‘iLogR’, a tiny between the tuna’s heart rate and rate ultra-smart thumbnail sized data logger Early trials of iLogR at La Trobe’s of oxygen uptake which is a measure that for the first time allows scientists Melbourne campus at Bundoora on of metabolic rate. This will be achieved to track the metabolic rate of active free Murray Cod make the scientists confident in conjunction with their ranging wild animals. that it will be effective when used in Southern Bluefin Tuna. colleagues by using the iLogRs on tuna Working with the Head of La Trobe housed in a large, specially designed The La Trobe team is working with Zoology, Dr Peter Frappell, top left, floating enclosure at Port Lincoln in colleagues at the and researcher Mr Tim Clark, right, the which the tuna’s oxygen uptake can be and the South Australian Research and Department’s electronic engineer, Mr measured at the same time as heart rate. Brian Taylor, has developed the first Development Institute (SARDI) to He says that fitting the device takes miniature tag that does not use electro- increase the productivity of the Southern less than five minutes, researchers are cardiograph (ECG) technology. Bluefin Tuna industry. Mr Clark has just completed a PhD in Zoology at La Trobe in the process of reducing that time, and As part of a $1.6 million research and started as a postdoctoral fellow at the several overseas universities have already project aimed at increasing the production University of Adelaide. expressed interest in the device as it can of Southern Bluefin Tuna, the La Trobe be used in a wide range of conservation The industry is worth $350 million a team developed the 20x20x10 mm iLogR. studies. For fish or any other free ranging wild year with most fish going to the Japanese • animal it will give readings of heart rate, ‘Sashimi’ market. body temperature, depth and other activity There are quotas on the every minute for an entire year. numbers of fish that can be taken Previous devices designed to provide so any further expansion of the such real time information have been industry must come from more plagued with problems because ECG efficient growth of the quota- technology relies on picking up and limited fish supply. transmitting information using electrical There have been recent impulses. developments including new This is fine when the animal is at rest or kinds of food for the tuna, but moving slowly, but when a very muscular there is still much work to be animal, like a full-grown 200 kg two done collecting information on metre-long Southern Bluefin Tuna swims metabolic physiology to enable rapidly, the electrical impulses from its more efficient practices such as intense muscle activity blots out the ECG larger cage carrying capacities, signal. more efficient feeding strategies and pollution control. ‘ILogR detects heart rate by using non- electrical signals as opposed to electrical Collecting data including heart signals – and is hardly affected by muscle rate, body temperature, depth and activity,’ Mr Taylor says. other activity, and predicting the energy requirements of the fish at Constant muscle activity is the essence any given moment, will help the of the Southern Bluefin Tuna’s well- industry develop such strategies. being. They must keep moving at least their body length every second to ensure a The La Trobe and Adelaide water flow over their gills, and their body teams will use the first iLogRs on shape and heart muscles have evolved several caged Southern Bluefin to ensure the high speed needed to catch Tuna at Port Lincoln in July and

10 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 PEOPLE ‘Shoe’-in for David Myers Medal winner

MAYA VERES – who completed the honours year of her Bachelor of Arts specialising in Archaeology at La Trobe University – has an unusual speciality: historic shoes. Her thesis was on shoes worn by boys at the Lysterfield Boys Farm where poor boys from inner Melbourne were given farming skills during the 1930’s depression. Ms Veres is now doing her PhD at La Trobe, studying colonial footwear found in various archaeological digs, including one in Sydney dating from 1792. She was also among last year’s most outstanding graduating undergraduate students who were recently awarded the prestigious David Myers Medal. The medal, commemorating La Trobe’s first Vice-Chancellor, is awarded annually by each Faculty. Ms Veres took out the medal for Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The other winners, all honours students, were: Faculty of Regional Development: Simon McIlroy, Bachelor of Applied Science at the Bendigo campus, whose research involved naturally occurring fungal enzymes, beta glucanases, used in food, agriculture, mining and medical industries. Faculty of Health Sciences: Ross Iles, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, and Aileen Ibuki, 22, Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics. Mr Iles surveyed evidence-based practice among 120 hospital physiotherapists for his honours thesis, while Ms Ibuki’s research dealt with the treatment of muscle spasticity in conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke or head injury. Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering: Fotis Gimian, Research with sole – and uppers: Bachelor of Computer Science, was a departmental scholarship Myers Medallist, Ms Veres. holder who won a place on the Dean’s Honours List for each year of his course. After completing his degree, he was awarded prizes by the La Trobe Alumni Association and the Australian Computer Society, and is now in Telstra’s Graduate Program. Faculty of Law and Management: Bethany Cooper, at , specialised in marketing and is continuing at La Trobe as a part time lecturer and tutor, while pursuing her PhD research on national resource mapping, in water conservation. • Tsunami scholarship helps environmental research nternational students in Indonesia. The scholarships economic effects on the region pharmaceuticals, personal seriously affected by the hope to attract students to affected the source of income care products, detergents IBoxing Day Tsunami study subjects of particular that had funded part of his and in polycarbonate plastics disaster are being given a relevance to reconstruction study in Bendigo. used in the food and beverage helping hand to continue their to help re-build these To complete his PhD in industry. EDCs have been study at La Trobe University. communities. Science, he has received linked to abnormalities in the The University has For Ali Shareef from the assistance from the University sexual development of aquatic established a $1 million Maldives, the support program to meet the costs of renewing animals and wildlife. Tsunami Relief Scholarships has made all the difference to his visa and some of his Mr Shareef has developed program to assist existing his study experience on the tuition fees. methods to analyse EDCs students with study costs. It Bendigo campus this year. Mr His PhD, in an area of in drinking water, rivers, is also providing five new Shareef, who comes from the environmental research municipal and industrial full postgraduate scholarships city of Male said the past few of increasing interest, effluents and he is also targeting students from months had been very difficult examines chemicals known studying their fate in soils and south-east India, eastern Sri for himself and his family. as Endocrine Disrupting sediments. • Lanka, the Phuket region in His family survived the Chemicals, EDCs, most Thailand and Aceh Province tragedy, but the subsequent commonly found in pesticides,

La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 11 PEOPLE ‘Lord of the Lattices’ speaks about maths

rofessor George Grätzer – one of founder and Editor in Chief of the the world’s most distinguished journal Algebra Universalis, first Pmathematicians and researchers published in 1970. in lattice theory and universal algebra Professor Grätzer’s most famous – recently visited La Trobe University’s work established an important Institute for Advanced Study. link between lattices and universal At La Trobe, Professor Grätzer algebra. With life-long collaborator, worked with Dr Brian Davey, Associate Tamás Schmidt, he proved a Professor in Mathematics, who runs one theorem, now known as the Grätzer- of Australia’s leading centres for this Schmidt Theorem, that underpins type of advanced mathematics research. this field of knowledge. The La Trobe centre regularly attracts The research group he established Professor Grätzer, right, and Dr Davey. prominent mathematicians from Oxford at the University of Manitoba University and other key European and in 1966 remains one of the with the University. American universities. international focal points for research At this ceremony, Professor Grätzer The fields of lattice theory and algebra in lattice theory and universal algebra. gave a public lecture, titled: Should play critical roles in the information age Among the graduate students in Professor we Convey Mathematical Ideas in – in computer science and engineering. Grätzer’s group at the University of Publications? They are used for programming languages Manitoba was La Trobe’s Dr Davey, The answer, he says, is a and data mining, as well as in other areas who obtained his PhD in 1975 under his unanimous ‘yes’. But he argues while of mathematics, such as number theory supervision. Dr Davey therefore describes mathematicians, as a rule, are very and group theory. Professor Grätzer as the ‘mathematical good at conveying mathematical ideas grandfather’ of his own students at Professor Grätzer is a Distinguished in person, in publications they confine La Trobe, who had a chance to meet and Professor at the University of Manitoba, themselves to a ‘skeleton’ of definitions, work with Professor Grätzer during his Canada. Born in Hungary, he has lived theorems and proofs. and worked in North America since 1963. two months stay at La Trobe. This is an issue he covers in his next A Fellow of the Royal Society of He has published 18 books, including book – how to write about mathematics Canada and Foreign Member of the six on LaTeX – a computer programming the way we talk about it – to help Hungarian Academy of Sciences, language for typesetting mathematical mathematicians reach wider audiences. papers and textbooks used by almost Professor Grätzer was also awarded an • every mathematician in the world – and honorary doctorate by La Trobe during his more than 200 research papers. He is also visit, in recognition of his work and links

Death of former Deputy Chancellor Association. She was also Vice President of the National and Victorian committees of the Australian Federation of University Former Deputy Chancellor of La Trobe University, Miss Patricia Women. Kennedy, died in May, aged 83. A well known lawyer, Miss Kennedy served on the University Council from 1975 to 1990 McGarvie Chair of Socio-Legal Studies and was Deputy Chancellor from 1979 to 1981. She was the first female Deputy Chancellor. La Trobe University has established the Richard McGarvie Chair of Socio-Legal Studies to honour the memory of its late Born at Mount Gambier, she was educated at Loreto Convent, Chancellor, Richard McGarvie. The Chair is a research position Adelaide, and the where she attained linked to the Institute of Advanced Study. her Law degree. She later completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in fine arts and Italian language and literature. Miss Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Osborne, announced that Kennedy’s distinguished law career was served with Coltmans Professor Margaret Thornton from the School of Law and Legal Solicitors, Melbourne. Studies and a distinguished socio-legal researcher, has accepted appointment to this position. During her term as Deputy Chancellor and University Councillor, she was also a member or chairperson of University Mr McGarvie, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of committees helping to formulate policies dealing with legislation, Victoria and , served as the University’s discipline, honorary degrees and appeal procedures. Ms Kennedy third Chancellor from 1981 to 1992. Heavily involved with sat on many tribunals and committees of the Law Institute organisations pertaining to legal and human rights, he died in of Victoria, and served as President of the Legal Women’s May 2003. • 12 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 NEWS Continued from page 4 Just you wait, Henry Higgins Western and Chinese Change in the rules of archaeology Since 2003 Professor Liu phonetics has also led a collaborative British phonetician, Professor Henry Sweet – on whom George Bernard interdisciplinary research project on wild and domestic Shaw based Professor Henry Higgins of Pygmalion - My Fair Lady fame buffaloes in China, involving – was a pioneer of the science of phonetics. researchers from Australia, China, Canada, and the A century later La Trobe University speech Aboriginal language speakers adopt the same USA. This examines buffalo researcher, Dr Marija Tabain and colleagues, are articulatory strategies as European language remains from the Middle helping to refine the rules of this discipline. speakers,’ Dr Tabain said. Pleistocene to the Holocene, As in many fields, years of investigations ‘For instance, speakers of European and uses methods including by researchers in phonetics led to the build-up languages control the movement out of a zooarchaeology, ancient of ideas and theories which have become the consonant much more carefully than the DNA tests, ethnohistory, norm. movement into a consonant, whereas Aboriginal ethnography and art history. language speakers control both the movement Then along came Dr Tabain – a phonetician She is helping clarify whether into and the movement out of the consonant. like Henry Higgins – who has discovered the domesticated buffalo was something that casts doubt on one aspect of ‘From studies of European and Asian developed indigenously in previously held dogma. This happened when languages, we always thought that this aspect of China or introduced to China Dr Tabain began studying the language of the consonant production was based on biological from elsewhere. ‘Answering Arrernte people of Central Australia. limits on speech such as jaw mechanics. This this question will help us A lecturer in Linguistics, Dr Tabain found biological limit was believed to be one basis for understand cultural interaction that at least one aspect of the way the Arrernte the strong preference in the world’s languages and the dispersal of rice people speak is different to that of most known for words that begin with a consonant and end agriculture technology in China, languages: their ‘articulatory strategies’ to with a vowel. South Asia, and Southeast ‘But we now know that it is possible for Asia.’ speakers to control all aspects of the speech Professor Liu has published movement equally carefully, and Aboriginal two books, a museum language speakers seem to have a particular catalogue, and about 30 need to control consonants more than European refereed journal articles or language speakers do, since Aboriginal book chapters. She is currently languages tend to make a lot of consonant writing Archaeology of China contrasts that European languages don’t. for the World Archaeology ‘The only other languages in the world Series of Cambridge that have the same contrasts are the Indian University Press. languages, so we suspect that speakers of Indian ‘This is an urgently needed languages adopt similar articulatory strategies book since a comparable book, to Aboriginal language speakers.’ Archaeology of Ancient China Dr Tabain worked with speakers of Arrernte by late Professor Kwang-chih around Alice Springs, Yanyuwa in Borroloola Chang, was published nearly 20 near the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern years ago, and has been out of Territory, and Yindjibarndi, in the Kimberley print.’ She is also working on near Roebourne, West Australia. a book with archaeologists at produce consonants, compared with speakers of Peking University to produce European and most other languages. In collaboration with the University of Western Sydney and , the first Chinese textbook on In collaboration with Mr Gavan Breen of the team flew a group of Arrernte women– a Western archaeological theory, the Institute for Aboriginal Development, grand-mother, two daughters, and two grand- Fundamentals of Western Alice Springs, and Professor Andy Butcher of daughters – to Sydney for recording with Archaeological Theory, to , Adelaide, she is putting Electro Magnetic Mid Sagittal Articulography. be published soon by Peking together the foundations of normal speech in the This enables researchers to trace the position University. Arrernte language. of the tongue, lips and jaw when the speaker Professor Liu has helped While in the short term it is a purely academic pronounces certain sounds. the University develop exercise in phonetics, Dr Tabain says eventually ‘Phonetics is a very important part of collaborative research projects it could lead to improvements in the methods of linguistics and it slots in with many other and scholarly exchange detecting and treating speech problems. disciplines such as psychology, speech programs with China. La Trobe ‘There will be applications for speech pathology and computer science,’ Dr Tabain Archaeology now has therapy because until now it was assumed that added. relationships with five Chinese • archaeology institutions. • La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 13 NEWS Oil partnership a boost for Bendigo La Trobe University is involved in a new partnership that has led to an olive oil processing facility and state-of-the-art olive centre in Bendigo. The partnership, with OlivOz Limited and Alfa Laval, aims to develop a strong and sustainable olive industry in Victoria with central Victoria a major player. Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development, , recently launched the facility and partnership at the new OlivOz Alfa Laval Olive Processing Centre based in the Bendigo Pottery precinct. The centre is the first of its type in Australia where there is olive oil production on behalf of a cluster of growers and a partnership with an equipment manufacturer and university. It also houses a retail outlet promoting local olive oil and other products. OlivOz was formed to service processing for growers and market the region’s first class quality extra virgin olive oil products in Australia and overseas. Its Chairman, John Plim, Olive Oil status.’ said the collaboration with Alfa Laval and La Trobe was a major Catherina Wallace, from the University’s Engagement and step for the Central Victorian Olive Growers Association which Enterprise office, said La Trobe was pleased to help an exciting represents 165 local growers. local industry. The key to regional economic growth was to He said: ‘La Trobe University will play a critical role in ‘value add’ and keep jobs in Bendigo. advancing our research and development, providing expertise Ms Wallce said the partnership grew from workshops and resources to further the industry in areas including oil conducted last year for growers by La Trobe and the International appreciation, marketing, exporting and quality control.’ School of Oil Masters, represented by Mauro Martelossi. The collaboration also strengthened the credibility of OlivOz ‘The University brought Mr Martelossi to Bendigo, and in the lucrative export market, he added. ‘Our local olive oil, through this visit the concept of the OlivOz Alfa Laval Olive Latitude 37, was recently tested and given First Class Virgin Processing Centre was born.’ • What’s in a joke? Conituned from page 16 Frew he does it: because Montreal’s Just for Laughs strong support from their an accelerating interest in ‘Melbourne is such fun?’ Festival in Canada, the success local councils, so if we can ‘comedy sites’, such as Why did comedy ‘happen’ they are? establish that humour itself is those in New York visited as it did in Melbourne, where Just posing such questions a principal factor in bringing by Kramer’s Reality Tours, the internationally-lauded gives Dr Frew a well-tested people into a city, there is a tourism spin-off from the Melbourne Festival has been excuse to keep laughing, but very good reason for local TV sitcom Seinfeld: further a cultural cornerstone for the answers are potentially governments, for instance, evidence perhaps of the 18 years, and not in Sydney, serious business – for comedy to think about developing potential for a whole new which developed its first festival managers, for the comedy festivals as significant dimension to tourism – first comedy festival The Big comedians, and possibly for tourist attractions.’ the adventure tourist, then the Laugh Comedy Festival, only the Australian tourist industry. Dr Frew started her search eco-tourist, now the humour tourist. five years ago, and now has ‘There has been a lot of for the ‘humour tourist’ with two – The Big Laugh and research about the physical a pilot study of the Craic Irish Dr Frew’s research has been Cracker, which started this and mental benefits of humour music and comedy festival funded to date by a small grant year? in medicine, social psychology at Mount Buller last March. from the Faculty of Law and What’s the outlook for and philosophy, and a lot in She is now interviewing Management. She is seeking the Hobart Comedy Festival the leisure industry, but as far festival directors and audience to confirm her conceptual – self-appointed ‘smallest as I know no-one has looked at samples of the Melbourne, premise – the existence of cultural event in the world’ formal humour in the context Hobart and Sydney festivals, the ‘humour tourist’ – before – and what makes the of festival management,’ says and aims to extend her seeking further funds to world’s ‘three big ones’ – the Dr Frew. research internationally to develop the research to its next the Edinburgh and Montreal stage. Melbourne International ‘All the festival people festivals. • Comedy Festival, the I’ve talked to refer to Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and She says there’s also

14 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 NEWS

HIV/AIDS: threat to Australia’s security?

La Trobe University politics intervention in the South is hampered by poor access researcher, Dr Michael Pacific. to the sources of information O’Keefe, is researching when The Government’s primary driving decision-making.’ and why Australia should use concern is that ‘state failure’, To help overcome this, military force in international as well as causing local Dr O’Keefe is collaborating affairs. suffering, will also impact on with Professor Altman who Toward this end he has been regional stability with failing recently returned to La Trobe researching HIV/AIDS as a states (or ‘fragile’ states as he after six months at Harvard security issue with La Trobe prefers to call them) providing as Professor of Australian Professor of Politics, Dennis havens for terrorists, trans- Studies. Altman. national criminals and people Dr O’Keefe has been Dr O’Keefe recently co- smugglers. working on an ARC linkage edited Righteous Violence: The However, Dr O’Keefe is grant titled Asia/Pacific Ethics and Politics of Military critical of the credibility of HIV/AIDS Database: Support Intervention (Melbourne the Government’s focus on for Regional Policy Press 2005) with terrorist threats emanating which is co-ordinated by Professor Tony Coady from from the region, saying this Professor Altman. the University of Melbourne. focus on terrorism obscures The consortium supporting The book focuses on more serious internal the project has involved philosophical and practical challenges to regional states. collaboration between 12 dilemmas of humanitarian He argues that the HIV/ universities and industry intervention. A chapter by AIDS epidemic probably partners. One of the first Dr O’Keefe concentrates on poses a greater challenge. The initiatives of the program was Australia’s intervention in the ability to moderate its effect the creation of the website on our neighbours’ economies, ‘hivpolicy.org’ which is social welfare and security is assembling a database of one of his prime concerns. HIV policies in Asia and the ‘Australia has increasingly Pacific. acknowledged its responsibility It has been designed to to protect the sovereignty of provide up-to-date information PNG and the welfare of its to individuals, government and people. Glib references in the NGOs working on the issue. It media to Australia playing the was officially launched during role of America’s “Deputy the Seventh International Sheriff” in the South Pacific do Congress on HIV/AIDS in no justice to our motives for Asia and the Pacific from 1-5 intervention,’ he said. July in Kobe, Japan. ‘The epidemic has the As part of the AIDS and potential to devastate PNG security research program, society and undermine the Professor Altman and Dr state. Combating the epidemic O’Keefe are also organising a in our nearest neighbour is two-day workshop in October likely to consume more and for Australian and overseas more resources and test our academics and practitioners ability to provide effective aid. to discuss the complex Focus on terrorism obscures more serious relationship between fragile South Pacific. In it he argues ‘If Australia is to limit the internal challenges to states in our region. states and human security. that the growing HIV/AIDS spiralling human and financial Dr O’Keefe with Maxine Loynd, a research Grants from the Australian officer who is helping to compile the data epidemic in Papua New cost of the epidemic in PNG, Academy of Social Sciences base. She is one of a number of Masters Guinea endangers Australia’s understanding the vicious and UNESCO have funded the student in Politics working on the project. security. circle between the epidemic and state failure requires workshop. A specialist in defence • greater attention. strategy and security, Dr O’Keefe says the relationship ‘The ability of Australia between security and the and other nations and NGOs epidemic is an increasingly to recognise and alleviate important aspect of Australian the problems of HIV/AIDS

La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005 15 A whole new dimension to tourism? UK comedian Chris Addison performs at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala. Photo Cassandra Tombs.

What’s in a joke? Maybe laughably big dollars for tourism

burgh in the early hours one morning during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – when the Doug Anthony All Stars were ‘still brand new.’ She had the opportunity to remind him of it too – at an invitation-only after-show party, when, she admits, she was ‘still a bit starry-eyed.’ ‘I’m over that bit now,’ she says. Well, maybe, but she’s still tracking comedians and hanging about at comedy festivals, most recently the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, to find out why other people do as she does – travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres to fall about laughing. What makes comedy festivals click; are they in a category of their own among arts festivals; and is there such a category among travellers as the ‘humour tourist’? Are there ‘joke junkies’ following the comedy trail from city to city, seeking favourite comedians and well-honed jokes, or perhaps even a more seasoned species, always in search of new talent – comics F SOME OF US WONDER and Director of Undergraduate who’ll make them laugh in ways sometimes what’s in a joke Studies in the School of Sport, Books), Paul McDermott they’ve never laughed before? – and to what extremes some Tourism and Hospitality (leading comedian with the Do 2,000 Sydney-siders I Doug Anthony All Stars, people will go to raise a laugh Management. travel to Melbourne’s comedy currently hosting the ABC show – few of us think much about Not that she doesn’t take her festival for humour they can’t the supply and demand side of Strictly Dancing), and others of find in Sydney? Do they travel day job seriously, but whenever that ilk, between gigs. humour. Dr Frew gets a chance she’s for the comedy alone, or is There are people however hanging out at after-hours Paul McDermott, she’ll tell it the comedy + Federation who do, among them a comedy bars – from Melbourne you, was the very first comedian Square + the Yarra Valley + diminutive, humour-loving to Edinburgh, anywhere she she ever saw ‘crowd-surfing’ other attractions – or perhaps Scot, better-known at La Trobe might catch comedians Bill – launching himself into a for the same reason one visiting University as Dr Elspeth Frew, Bailey (British star of the ABC’s crowd of fellow-comedians and English comedian told Dr fans at a comedy bar in Edin- lecturer in Tourism Management cult television comedy Black Continued page 14 16 La Trobe University BULLETIN July 2005