UOW Moments 2015 Report on Giving
Inside
UNLOCKING INNOVATION THROUGH STEM Investing in the Leaders of Tomorrow
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Next Generation of Lawyers
OUR SUPPORTERS Celebrating a Record of Scholarship Support
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Excelling in the Digital Age
HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH Giving Hope to Cancer Patients and their Families Contents
1 Vice-Chancellor’s Message 2 2015 Giving in Numbers
3 Unlocking Innovation through STEM 4 Investing in the Leaders of Tomorrow 6 Inspiring Women through Engineering 7 Hands on Experience in the World of Finance 8 Star-struck by STEM
10 Regional Development 11 The Next Generation of Lawyers 12 Scholarships Supporting Local Students 14 Raising Awareness for UOW’s Learning and Development Fund 16 Creating Bright Futures for Local Students 17 Opening Young Minds to Hands-On Learning
18 Our Supporters 20 Celebrating a Record of Scholarship Support 21 Sharing the Proceeds of Personal Success 22 Creating a Legacy 24 Our Donors
27 International Development 28 Excelling in the Digital Age 30 Student Mobility Fund Opening a World of Opportunity
31 Health and Medical Research 32 Giving Hope to Cancer Patients and their Families 34 Leaving a Generous Legacy to Prolong the Lives of Others 36 Unlocking the Secrets of the Brain 38 Advancing Treatment of Movement Disorders
39 A Message from the Development Team 40 A Message from the Manager
Featured on the front cover is Mr Christopher Abbott AM, Director of the Abbott Foundation. The Early Start Discovery Space at UOW was launched Tuesday 19 May 2015. This was made possible through a large philanthropic gift from Mr Abbott. The $7 million gift has supported the construction of the purpose built, hands-on learning through play space and will ensure future generations are able to learn interactively for years to come. Find out more about Mr Abbott’s contribution to UOW: uow.edu.au/donations/news/UOW199826.html Find out more about the Early Start Discovery Space: earlystartdiscoveryspace.edu.au UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 1
Vice-Chancellor’s Message
2015 was a tremendous year for the Our leadership in research was Celebrating 40 years of independence University of Wollongong (UOW) as we recognised by the Australian Research and reflecting on the years that have celebrated 40 years as an independent Council’s 2015 Excellence in Research been and the many years ahead, we institution with a number of significant for Australia (ERA) report. Twenty-one are confident that philanthropic achievements, made possible with the donor-supported research areas at UOW commitment will continue to grow. generous support of our donors. delivered outcomes that are well above Without support from our donors we world standards a significant increase wouldn’t be able to accomplish such The launch of the eagerly anticipated from seven research areas in 2012. exceptional outcomes. Early Start™ Discovery Space has These results are testament to our brought about a unique, hands-on outstanding donors and their continued Thank you for your continued support learning through play experience, support in helping our researchers and in advancing the University to transform that invites children aged 0-12 years their projects flourish. Such projects lives and regions. and their carers to explore, discover and include Global Challenges, Cancer create together. It has been wonderful to Drug Research, Motor Neurone Disease see young families and the community research and unlocking the secrets on our main campus, enjoying this of Alzheimer’s. leading and innovative facility. Supporting students has always been Professor Paul Wellings CBE In 2015 we opened the new Sciences an area of great generosity. UOW Vice-Chancellor Teaching Facility, enabling UOW to together with our donors are committed University of Wollongong enhance the significant growth areas to ensuring our graduate outcomes of STEM (Science, Technology, continue to be one of our strengths. Engineering and Maths) to contribute In 2015 UOW was awarded the to innovation in the broader Australian Australian Financial Review Higher context. The facility offers modern Education Award for Graduate laboratories, exposing students to Employability, as our graduates are industry standard equipment and highly sought after by employers, with methodologies, and is one of the the University being placed well inside world’s first to have the latest in digital the top 1 per cent in the world. wireless microscope technology. 2 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Total Gifts to UOW in 2015
INSTITUTIONAL TOTAL
15 New scholarships funded through philanthropic gifts
COMPARISON OF FUNDS RAISED FOR ANNUAL ALUMNI APPEAL
2014 2015 22% $117,773.00 increase $143,850.00 UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 3
Unlocking Innovation Through STEM
To remain competitive beyond our resources boom, investment in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is critical for Australia’s future. A renewed focus towards STEM has been made from introducing these subjects at a primary level to enhancing opportunities in higher education and in business. The University has stepped up to the challenge with the opening of the new Science Teaching Facility and the Innovation Campus Science Centre and Planetarium working with educators and families to foster a love of STEM. 4 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Chief Executive of the Westpac Bicentennial Foundation, Susan Bannigan
Westpac Bicentennial Foundation: Investing in the Leaders of Tomorrow UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 5
s one of the oldest businesses “But Westpac is bringing more than By the end of February 2016, up to in Australia, Westpac has seen dollars to the table. We are hoping 48 Young Technologists Scholarships A many changes during its 199 to create opportunities in all the (valued at up to $25,000 over five years) years and is now taking an important three priorities. The Westpac Young will be awarded. Susan Bannigan is role in building Australia’s future. Technologists Scholarship program particularly keen to see them make is one of five scholarships offered by a difference for undergraduates The digital revolution hasn’t just the Foundation.” undertaking dual degrees. changed the way Westpac interacts with its millions of bank customers; Bannigan sees the Science, Technology, As well as financial support, scholarship it has transformed how it conducts Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) holders will be invited to join the Westpac business across a range of platforms. initiative as a growing focus not just for Scholars Alumni program, a diverse After almost two centuries keeping Westpac, but for the world. The over network of other inspiring leaders that up with the times, the financial giant arching scholarship program, including is growing by 100 scholars a year. They is looking to empower Australia’s the Young Technologists Scholarship, is will also have access to post-graduate talented young graduates to take geared to address the issue of diversity collaborations to broaden their horizons the country into the future. within the field and encourage more and develop career pathways. As Susan young people to consider a future in the says, “It is lifelong support.” In 2017, Westpac will mark 200 years STEM arena. since its foundation as the first bank in the colony of New South Wales. The Westpac Bicentennial Foundation is celebrating this anniversary by creating a legacy for future generations. A $100 “Now more than ever there is a need for creative and million gift will provide scholarships to young Australians through the Westpac innovative people in this space – innovation is key. Scholarship Program. There are so many threads to STEM, which is why The University of Wollongong joined Westpac is committed to investing in young Westpac as one of three founding partners at the launch of the Australians looking to innovate in this area,” she says. scholarship program in 2014. The program now has 20 partner universities and a mission to award 100 scholarships, each year, in perpetuity. “We want to not just increase diversity in “One of our core objectives is to create the industry but increase the number of opportunities for youth in rural and The scholarships will focus on three people choosing a career in this field,” regional areas. Presently only one in areas Westpac believes are at the heart she says. five STEM graduates are women and of Australia’s growth and prosperity: we are working with UOW with its technology and innovation, Australia- “Technology is at the forefront of our outreach programs, such as the In2Uni Asia ties and positive social change. future and permeates every aspect of summer maths programs, as well our lives. Westpac is one of the leading The Chief Executive of the Westpac as the Australian Computer Society employers of technology graduates in Bicentennial Foundation, Susan Foundation’s ‘Big Day In’, to highlight Australia. There are more than 10,000 Bannigan, recognises UOW as a partner the opportunities in STEM for young people working in technology at that is committed and well-matched to women and reach a more diverse Westpac, and each year we take on this agenda. audience,” she says. 40-60 individuals through our Group “It is a young university with a Technology Graduate and Internship “There are so many opportunities in background in technology and IT programs.” the innovation space, from cybersecurity and has a rural and regional focus,” to digital innovation. Westpac is about Technology is at the heart of Westpac’s Susan says. to turn 200 but is thinking of itself as organisation and Bannigan believes it a 200-year-old start-up, so we need “And it has been easy to work with the also offers a key opportunity for all young technologists coming in. They University of Wollongong and be able Australian industries and the country offer Westpac, and other businesses, a to also tap into supporting its outreach to create a successful future shaped different way to think with the way they programs in particular targeting the largely by technology. approach day-to-day issues at work.” gaps in the Science, Technology, “Now more than ever there is a need Engineering and Mathematics area.” “By investing in education and for creative and innovative people in this encouraging more young people to think space – innovation is key. There are so about technology, no matter where they many threads to STEM, which is why end up working will be a great outcome Westpac is committed to investing in for Australia.” young Australians looking to innovate in this area,” she says. 6 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Kate Menzies: Inspiring Women through Engineering
ate Menzies is a young UOW UOW’s Women in Engineering Society’s mortality, ensuring environmental Environmental Engineering first outreach program began in October sustainability and global partnerships K student from Condobolin in 2015 and has been educating both for development. For Kate, the $5000 NSW’s Central West, who would like primary and high school children of one-off scholarship is an opportunity to to change the world. Kate is aiming to the roles engineering plays in society. pursue her goals for opening up a better bring about social change in developing future for people in the developing world. countries through engineering practices “We not only want to promote to girls and establishing the importance of but also to boys and people from “I received the scholarship this year, science and maths in school. non-english speaking backgrounds. my final year, and during my interview To provide a scope of areas within I spoke about how I wanted to use the Kate’s awareness of her mission to engineering you don’t normally hear money to implement change in third pursue engineering grew during a gap about and how it can be applied to areas world countries through engineering. year, a time ideally but not often used such as mitigating climate change and Receiving the scholarship made me for such reflection. She says the role of engineers within society,” realise that, yes, this is what I want Kate says. to do with this money,” Kate says. “Originally I had taken a gap year from school and thought about what my “The aim is to bring it back to the Even though Kate is still studying at strengths were. I realised I really enjoy societal reasons behind why people do university, she has the ambition and maths and couldn’t see myself not doing engineering and I think that this ‘why’ dedication to see her goals through. anything that didn’t involve it… I didn’t resonates with a more diverse group know what engineering was, but I knew of students compared to just the ‘what’ “I want to use my engineering degree to it involved maths so I decided to go with which is how engineering is usually do something good and solve problems that,” Kate says.
That decision has been one which has most certainly paid off, for her and, in the longer-term, for the communities she plans to transform.
Kate is now the Co-Founder and President of UOW’s Women in Engineering Society which works to promote girls’ engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) studies in schools and universities.
“We established the Society 12 months UOW Graduate ago and in that time we have grown Kate Menzies and quite a strong member base, it’s World Transformation something a lot of the girls are really Scholarship Recipient passionate about, supporting other women in engineering and also promoting engineering to the wider community,” Kate says. marketed… We need to get kids excited about using their creativity and in the developing world. The other part “The aim of the society is to provide a channelling it in the right direction.” of me wants to be an ambassador for platform for girls to engage with one women in engineering and stay involved another, make friends, increase their This year Kate received the World in that space and be involved in some confidence and give them leadership Transformation Scholarship which form of social change that does see opportunities. Furthermore establishing was set up to assist UOW students who more women getting into STEM.” outreach programs and putting the demonstrate the vision and capacity to “There are so many opportunities out word out there on what engineering contribute towards the United Nation’s there for people with an engineering is and why it is appealing to girls.” Millennium Development Goals which include eradicating extreme poverty and degree and an engineering degree hunger, gender equality and women’s can give you a licence to bring about empowerment, reduction of child change.” UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 7
“Tibra Capital gives graduates a great Current UOW interns James Brodnik and Brendan Tease start to their career, providing a strong foundation of training, combined with challenging projects that will develop their skills in trading algorithms and computerised algorithmic decision making, equipping them for a career in global investment and financial markets.”
“We work with smart, passionate people in a high performing successful business where we collaborative freely and respect everyone’s ideas in an ego free work environment.”
“Our small company culture is a place where socialising and having fun are part of a day’s work and where you can get the creative juices flowing in a team or develop ideas independently,” Sonja says.
Tibra Capital: Tibra Capital’s scholarship program at UOW is very much inspired by the company’s commitment to the region. For Tibra, it is a way of giving back to Hands on Experience their community. “Tibra Capital is a local business and many of its employees and senior in the World of Finance leaders are from the region and also attended UOW. We support up to 15 scholarships/sponsored events/ opportunities for students each year as he Financial Services industry recipient of the $15,000 Tibra Capital a way of giving back to our community.” offers emerging and different Work Integrated Learning Scholarship T opportunities for Engineering (WILS) also has the opportunity to learn “We choose to support students in the and Information Sciences students. from some of the best in the industry subjects that are aligned to our business Tibra Capital is a leading player in through the 10-week experiential and its success so we can contribute demonstrating how to successfully placement. to the growth and support for students enlist and develop their fresh ideas who are determined to succeed and Thomas Pinson, a Bachelor of Arts and skills. will ultimately join our industry. We (Mathematics Advanced) Graduate and also contribute by offering a number Tibra Capital is a global quantitative scholarship recipient, calls the work internship positions in our business each research and investment group that experience placement “an invaluable year to help students and graduates in utilises its shareholder’s capital across opportunity.” their development journey.” a broad range of investment strategies “I got to work on projects that were with offices in Sydney, Wollongong, Initiatives like the Tibra Capital Work really going to go ahead. I was working London and Hong Kong. Their success Integrated Learning Scholarships give on a speed testing program and although is based on creating and leveraging Engineering and Information Science I had done a little bit of work in the market-leading trading technology. students access to real world experience language the program was written in, Tibra Capital was co-founded in 2006 and invaluable insights into the practical being able to do this project gave me by UOW Bachelor of Mathematics and application of mathematical modelling a much better understanding of it,” Finance graduate, Tim Berry. Now the and programming languages. The Thomas says. Global Managing Director, Tim values students’ lively and clever minds can, how his links with UOW can help to A member of Tibra’s Human Resources in turn, help to strengthen and invigorate achieve his strong vision for the company Team, Sonja Gear, recognises how the Tibra Capital and the Financial Services and contribute to its vitality and growth. company’s commitment to fostering and Industry as a whole. It is an exemplary “win-win” model. In 2008, Tim led Tibra Capital into a attracting the best talent has boosted its special, mutually beneficial relationship own as well as the student’s prospects with UOW. Tibra Capital launched its for the future. scholarships and prizes for students in “We employ the best people across Mathematical Sciences and Computer all our business units and provide them Sciences. Since then, 51 students have with the best tools and support to do benefited from this generous donation, a great job,” Sonja says. now worth over $110,000 per year. Each 8 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Science Centre and Planetarium, UOW Innovation Campus: Star-struck by STEMlllllllllllll
llawarra students have been star- “We are designing an armoury of them engaging activities we hope that struck by the out-of-this-world snappy, great experiments to give within a couple of hours of exciting and I experiences they are coming into teachers ways to demonstrate the fun challenges we can continue to hold contact with at the Innovation Campus core elements of STEM. For example, their attention. Ultimately, it’s about Science Centre and Planetarium. experiments that will help them get having more students coming out of the principles of light, sound or gravity high school who want to do further This year more than 15,000 school across to younger students in an study in STEM subjects.” students took part in the innovative exciting and engaging way.” and inspiring science-themed activities To add to the experience, students will at the Centre and the numbers continue Stuart also has breaking news about be introduced to some of the high-end to climb. Students and teachers are a Makers’ Space in which the Science research and science undertaken at attracted by the University’s introduction Centre aims to give both schools and the University. At the Centre they will of new programs and services that the community an opportunity to create be able to engage with a scientist-in- make the Centre and Planetarium their own science and technology- residence and have access to a small, not only relevant but a must-do part based projects. informal lab environment. of their education. “It will be kitted out with a whole host As well as the new projects and Interim Director iC Science Centre and of tooling equipment like 3D printers, programs, the Science Centre is looking Planetarium, Stuart Creal, who came laser cutters and textile machinery to make existing offerings bigger and to the Centre three-and-a-half years like sewing machines that would be better but this will depend on attracting ago with a wealth of experience from available for people to get trained the necessary funding. the UK, is impressed by the increased on and have access to. We are hoping visitor numbers. this space can act as a feeder into the “The Planetarium equipment is aging, iAccelerate Centre, so if someone has and it would be wonderful if we could “Visitor numbers have been good and a great idea, we can assist them in bring it up to the digital age. It could there has been a 38 per cent increase turning it into something real, then they offer things like data visualisation on the number of school students can go across into iAccelerate where with the potential to create a unique, visiting from the previous year. Schools they can get further help to hopefully interactive teaching environment. make up 32 per cent of our visitor create a new business in the Illawarra,” UOW lectures could be held in the numbers and that is in part because he says. space, medical data could be visualised of the STEM (Science, Technology, as could economic data, and if it went Engineering and Mathematics) program. Another initiative planned for the 3D it would be the first of its kind in This year has been the best in terms Centre is a workshop and activity Australia,” Stuart says. of student numbers since 2000,” space for school students, where up Stuart says. to 60 students, mentored by an intern Also on the drawing board is a new from the University, can take part in suite of hands-on interactive science “One of the things we are now a “make-it challenge” using materials exhibits, catering for both primary and developing is professional development such as Lego robotics, blocks, sticks, high school students. Stuart would like for STEM teachers. In 2015, it became and cardboard. to see them conducting a series of real compulsory for science and technology science experiments, including analysis to be taught in primary schools so we “These challenges encourage free- and comparison of results, as well as want to be sure that we offer teachers thinking by getting the students to still learning through hands-on play the support they need to confidently achieve a certain goal in a set amount and interaction. teach STEM in primary schools.” of time, changing the challenge each time slightly during the workshop “Something we have already been “Primary school students leave here so students have to refine their initial doing is strengthening and aligning the buzzing, thinking that science is the design to meet the next challenge. exhibit collection more strongly to the best, but the teachers then have to It would be available to both primary curriculum...This also includes the try and keep that momentum going and high school students,” Stuart says. development of preparation material in the classroom. To help them do that and lesson plans before schools visit, we want to arm them with effective “Everyone is starting to recognise that worksheets and activities for when they demonstrations and presentations to STEM skills are essential for the future visit, and follow-up lesson plans. The get the kids’ attention and get them of the economy and we need to look more we can do to support teachers fired up about the subject so they can at ways to address that. Research and schools the greater benefit it will dive into the curriculum.” shows students tend to switch off these be for the education of STEM.” subjects in high school so by giving UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 9
Stuart Creal Interim Director, iC Science Centre and Planetarium
“Presently the iC Science Centre and “Supporting the Science Centre can be visitors are coming from further afield Planetarium generates 66% of its done through the most simple of ways. including the Sutherland Shire and income from visitors and therefore the We have a team of 30 volunteers who Western Sydney. It shows there is ability to grow and develop is reliant give in kind as well as in financial demand for this type of experience and on sponsorship and donations. We have support. A number of years ago, they a lot of families are realising you can a positive intern program in which the built a donation box into which people spend time together, have fun and get UOW students we employ are trained drop spare change. We empty that every an education at the same time.” in a host of skills like interacting with quarter and it has close to $700 which the public and schools and presenting we plough back in to the centre.” 2015 has been an exceptionally shows and that costs us $280,000 a successful year but 2016 has the year to run,” he says. “Since April we have been capturing our potential to see the Science Centre visitor data and we are seeing that our become a centre of excellence in STEM. 10 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Regional Development
The University of Wollongong is proud of our long history with the Illawarra and our regional communities. Here we celebrate the foundations, businesses and individuals who share our commitment to enriching communities and creating positive change throughout their regions.
AREAS COMMITTED TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 11
This year RMB Lawyers supported the RMB Lawyers: scholarship fund with a gift of $25,000, taking its total commitment to $50,000 since the fund was established in 2013.
“As a firm, we admired Jack Goldring The Next Generation and his commitment to social justice and ethics, as it is what we also believe of Lawyers in,” Craig says. “The Jack Goldring Scholarship is awarded to one UOW law student each year who is unashamedly seeking n a dual achievement this year, RMB “This comes in the form of a separate out a career in areas of social justice, Lawyers both celebrated its 130th legal process outsourcing business assisting the underprivileged or I anniversary and received recognition to capital city based law firms and involving themselves in innovation, for Australia’s leading regional law firm. corporate in house legal teams so it with respect to law reform.” The award recognises commitment to will mean we are able to take on an their profession and their community, even bigger intake of UOW students, “Many of us at RMB Lawyers also knew exemplified in their long-term clerks and lawyers.” the late Jack Goldring well. We knew partnership with the UOW School of Law. him as the founding Dean of the Faculty As well as helping to give up-and-coming of Law, and as a Judge, a leader, a Through their internships for students, lawyers the chance to learn from some friend and perhaps most importantly, support for the Jack Goldring Memorial of the best regional practitioners in a wonderful human being. Whatever Scholarship and their experienced Australia, RMB Lawyers has been one Jack did he did with fairness and social mentoring and advice, RMB Lawyers has of the principle supporters of the Jack justice on his keen mind.” helped to ensure UOW law graduates are Goldring Memorial Scholarship. among the most sought after in Australia.
When the then, Faculty of Law now Craig Osborne, known as School of Law first opened RMB Lawyers its doors to new undergraduates nearly Managing Partner 25 years ago, RMB Lawyers, provided work experience for one intern each year. Now 16 lawyers-in-training are taken under the firm’s wings as part of their practical training.
“Our firm has grown 500 per cent in the past 10 years and 60 per cent of our lawyers are University of Wollongong Graduates,” says RMB Lawyers Managing Partner, Craig Osborne.
“We also have on staff currently seven clerks who work for us part-time as well as studying.”
With eight offices around NSW, RMB Lawyers offers many opportunities Worth $10,000 each year, the Scholarship “Jack influenced us all positively and for UOW law graduates. Craig sees was established in recognition of the we hope that the administering of this their work-ready skills and community late Professor Jack Goldring, UOW’s scholarship in his name will continue engagement as central to helping to Foundation Dean of Law from 1990- to have a positive effect and influence change the culture of the industry in 1995. Professor Goldring’s vision for in the practice of law and the behaviour Australia. It is a vision which was close the style of law school he established of people.” to the heart of the founding Dean of the at UOW was shaped by his passion Faculty of Law, Professor Jack Goldring. for social justice and for opening up Craig says RMB Lawyers’ continued access to legal education, especially relationship with UOW has been “We like to employ solicitors who come for Indigenous students and students fundamental to the firm’s sustainability, to us via the regional training system as from disadvantaged backgrounds. relevance and success. the majority of our clients are mums and dads, and small businesses,” Craig says. Professor Goldring went on to become “There is nothing like practical training. a distinguished member of the Law The students need it, but business “Lots of graduates who do their study Reform Commission and a highly needs it as well and a young mind through UOW love regional work. We regarded District Court Judge. coming through helps businesses offer a lot of the same things big city to stay relevant,” he says. firms offer and now we are offering a new pathway with a recent addition to our services.” 12 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Garry Wilbraham, the Secretary Manager of the Bomaderry Bowling Club and Hollea Elley Bomaderry Bowling Club Scholarship Recipient UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 13
Bomaderry Bowling Club: Scholarships Supporting Local Students
ifteen years ago, Garry Wilbraham, “We realised we were naïve as a Club Hollea has since graduated from the Secretary Manager of the 15 years ago about the need to support UOW with a Bachelor of Commerce F Bomaderry Bowling Club academic pursuits. We sponsor a lot of and currently works at CareSouth, approached his Board with a proposal money in sport but we didn’t have the a local not-for-profit organisation that he hoped would change the lives maturity as an organisation to foster in Nowra. She attributes this great and prospects of young people in the the University. The Bomaderry Bowling outcome to the opportunity the Shoalhaven. Club has strong connections with the scholarship provided. University of Wollongong and we feel For many years the Club had been a part of the team and help out wherever “The scholarship allowed me to great supporter of talented sports men we can.” find work locally. It meant moving to and women in the area, ‘digging deep’ Wollongong to go to University was to help them achieve their goals and “Because we now, as an organisation, no longer a requirement because I dreams of representative glory. care about that academic future for the had more money to spend on travel Shoalhaven, we are positive that this and was able to stay local, all achieved In 1993, the Board decided to look at support will help foster the desire for through the help of the Bomaderry promoting those with a different type further education in our young people.” Bowling Club.” of potential and talent. In that year, they encountered the late Dr Ray Cleary, a redoubtable advocate of higher education in the Shoalhaven and Head of the first UOW campus in the region at Berry. “We are positive that this support will help foster the desire for further education in our young people.” “Ray came in and did some training with the Board. We [the Club] had always heavily sponsored sport but Ray helped us see there was a deficiency in academic studies in the region that we “Some of the students we have Hollea says that without local should really be looking at,” Garry says. supported have written to us to thank organisations such as the Bomaderry us for the help we provided through the Bowling Club supporting local students, Despite many of the Board members years,” says Garry. some individuals may not have had the not having had the opportunity to opportunity to pursue their goals, attend University themselves, Garry One of those students is Hollea Elley, especially in tertiary education. says they all saw the establishment of a 2013-2015 scholarship recipient. a scholarship for a student to study at “Local students like myself find it hard the Shoalhaven campus as a worthwhile Hollea has remained in the Shoalhaven and daunting in our first semester to commitment and investment. region of Callala Beach, a 1.5 hour drive travel up to University everyday but, south of UOW’s main campus, whilst with the support from the Bomaderry From a $1000 scholarship for one studying. Coming from a single parent Bowling Club, it becomes possible.” student 15 years ago, the Bomaderry family she knew that a scholarship Bowling Club now supports three would give her much-needed support “I would like to say thank you to those students to the value of $1000 during her studies. who have supported the Bomaderry each per year for three years. The Bowling Club. Without your kind, scholarships are open to first and “I managed to work two days a week generous donation, students like second year students studying any throughout my studies but there is only myself would otherwise not get the degree through both the UOW so much that can pay off my textbooks, opportunity to gain a tertiary education,” Shoalhaven campus and the main petrol and parking for the semesters. Hollea says. campus at Wollongong. The scholarship helped me with all those things.” 14 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Coffee for a Cause: Raising Awareness for UOW’s Learning and Development Fund
In 2014 the UOW Coffee for a Cause The planning paid off with the campaign Sarah Lisle from the UOW Community campaign raised over $3000 for raising more than $4,300 in just four Engagement Team says she was awed UOW’s Learning and Development Fund weeks. Since its inception in 2008 by the community support. (L&D). Encouraged by this success the the simple act of buying a coffee has Community Engagement Team aimed raised more than $22,000 for student “I was overwhelmed by the support of higher in 2015 by taking the campaign scholarships. Grill’d and the participating local cafés to the Illawarra. when starting the conversation about The success of the campaign was not ‘Coffee for a Cause’. The community The month-long campaign raised funds only measured in the dollar value. It support of the University was significant. for UOW’s Learning and Development was also a testament to exceptional The wider community recognising that Fund which offers ten scholarships efforts by UOW’s regional campuses at the Learning and Development Fund valued at $3000 per annum over Southern Sydney, Batemans Bay, Bega is a worthy cause enables more locals three years, all made possible by the and Moss Vale, which hosted donation- to achieve their education ambitions. generosity of UOW alumni, staff and based morning teas. I truly believe from little things big our community. things grow and together we will Grill’d Wollongong promoted UOW’s achieve great things.” Participating cafes at UOW campuses Coffee for a Cause via its own monthly donated 20 cents for every coffee sold ‘Local Matters’ campaign which runs 2015’s outstanding Coffee for a Cause from August 3rd till 7th. More than each month of the year to raise campaign has motivated the UOW 25 cafes throughout the Illawarra came awareness and support for local causes. Community Engagement Team on board in 2015 by displaying collection Illawarra locals voted for the Learning to strengthen this year’s campaign tins to capture local support. The goal and Development Fund during August and continue to build the bridge of the 2015 campaign was to reach in the ‘Local Matters’ campaign which between UOW and our communities. further in UOW regions and communities saw an extra $300 donation. and continue to raise awareness of The Learning and Development Fund. UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 15
Staff of Grill’d Wollongong presenting a cheque to staff of UOW’s Advancement Division 16 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
UOW Regional Campus, Bega Education Centre
A Mumbulla scholarship in 2014 offered The Mumbulla Foundation: Kate Shook a prized opportunity to return to her home region. After completing her undergraduate degrees in Canberra, she was able to complete a Creating Bright Futures Graduate Diploma of Primary Education at UOW’s Bega Campus. for Local Students “I was always focused on getting work in the local area. It did make me proud to receive a local scholarship having grown up in the Bega Valley and knowing many ega is known for its green hills, “The Mumbulla Foundation has been people in the community,” Kate says. dairy farms and close community, supporting Bega students to study at but it’s now also a region offering University for the past 15 years, and “I am very grateful to the Mumbulla B Foundation. I would encourage them growth through education. Local this year we increased our support.” students can now aim for a future to support university students because, that was once out of reach due to their “We were looking for activities to as I’m sure many of them would know, remote location and its modest economy. support, and given there was [a] UOW studying can be tough sometimes and Bega campus, we decided to support any help, financial or otherwise, is Thanks to a Bega Valley not-for-profit a local student with a scholarship.” fantastic.” organisation – The Mumbulla Foundation – the dream of a university education is “It has been so successful and beneficial “It is not just the money that helps out now a reality for even more students. we have doubled our support over the local students. Equally important is the years.” boost the scholarship provides to both Established in 2000, the Foundation their motivation for studying and to their raises funds through private donations, Gary says a key idea behind supporting future career prospects.” with matching grants of up to $25,000 local students was to keep them in through the Bega Valley Shire Council. the area where they could ultimately The 2014 scholarship set Kate on a path The funds are then distributed to diverse pass on their knowledge and use their that has led to a permanent teaching community organisations in the Shire. education for the good of the local position locally and she is driven to community. With a new, regional further develop her teaching skills. “The Foundation supports everything hospital set to open in the region soon, you can think of, from health, the arts, Gary says many of those that have Gary says that the Foundation will through to resources for life saving. benefitted from the scholarship will continue to support students and to Grants are given in response to find work close to home. improve the community into the future. applications from organisations “The fact we have increased our support once a year,” says Gary Potts, Chair “There will be even better prospects for is proof of the benefit these types of and Treasurer of the Foundation. students to stay in the area,” he says. scholarships have to the area. The Bega The University of Wollongong, through “We keep our eyes and ears open to Valley is a lower income area and a lot its Bega campus, is honoured to have make sure things are working properly of students have families with modest been one of the first organisations to and the feedback we have from students salaries, so providing financial support receive the Foundation’s support, which who have been a recipient of the to them is important as it will then help now provides $3000 annually for three Foundation’s scholarships has been change their lives and the lives of their students, both undergraduate and very good.” community for the better.” postgraduate, in any area of study. UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 17
Early Start Engagement Centres: Opening Young Minds to Hands-On Learning
o Grimmond is a passionate community engagement in enriching the “Last year a child attended the Centre believer in the power of technology earliest years of life. exhibiting some difficult behaviour. We to transform the early childhood used the SMART Board as a time for him J At the heart of the Early Start initiative sector and the role it can play today in to engage on his own when the other a child’s development. are the partnerships with Engagement children were outside. It was another Centres, early childhood and care way to help him calm his body and Jo is an educator at one of the 41 centres located across NSW and ACT. refocus. In no time at all the aggressive Engagement Centres partnered with The Engagement Centres are often behaviour that we once saw dissipated. Early Start. A ground-breaking initiative isolated and under-resourced, with We also now see him engaging with at the University of Wollongong, Early some serving the most disadvantaged other children, teaching and guiding the Start offers a unique model for early families and communities across younger children on the SMART board, childhood education. Jo is excited the state. Partnering with the Centres reinforcing his self-esteem,” Jo says. by how new technologies are being has allowed for innovative learning to employed to enrich that critical be pioneered in the areas where it is These exciting outcomes are just the learning period. most vital. beginning of what is to come from this long-term partnership between Early “As educators, the integration of For Jo and the Centre she works for in Start and the Engagement Centres. technology means we are able to give Moruya, the introduction of the Early our children high expectations and Start ‘technology bundle’ has been a As Early Start’s comprehensive hands- extend their learning as far as they significant contributor in delivering on understanding of issues, challenges want to go,” Jo says. better outcomes for all the children. and barriers faced by early childhood educators in the community grows, so Early Start’s purpose is to drive social “I am constantly amazed with how the too will the opportunities and transformation and deliver better children use collaborative and cognitive possibilities. outcomes for children, particularly skills that they have learned through the those from vulnerable or disadvantaged use of the technology and then directly The support and the philanthropic backgrounds and living in regional, rural transfer the learning into other more assistance UOW receives from our and remote communities. It includes traditional areas of play. We are seeing communities are vital to the success a revolutionary facility that uniquely the children collaborate more effectively of this Nation-leading initiative as it combines research, teaching and using high level negotiation and problem motivates young minds and brings solving skills on complicated projects.” about beneficial social change.
Associate Professor Pauline Lysaght with children from one of the Early Start Engagement Centres 18 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Our Supporters
Members of the Alumni Campus Chapter UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 19 20 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
UOW Used Books - the Alumni Bookshop: Celebrating a Record of Scholarship Support
he Alumni Bookshop, now known Christine says the main purpose of Christine hopes that building community as “UOW Used Books”, began these scholarships is to support those awareness and continuing to run market T in humble lodgings at UOW’s who need it most and to recognise stalls in 2016 will promote the Campus East grounds in the 1990s worthy students. Bookshop’s image and meet vital and recently relocated to the UOW’s fundraising goals. main campus. For those 20 years, “As we fund two new scholarships it has provided much needed support per year and each runs for 3 years, Christine encourages individuals to for students. we contribute $12,000 per year in donate and keep books in circulation. scholarship dollars.” The Bookshop is run by dedicated Alumni volunteers from the Campus Chapter. While Christine Thompson, the current Chair of the Chapter, speaks proudly of what the Bookshop has “Each prize is not a lot but, as students receive the achieved, she also looks forward, with her colleagues, to raising its profile on prize during their final year, we trust that it may help campus for the greater benefit of students, staff and the community. with thesis or graduation costs. The main thing is the recognition of merit in the performance of students. “We take donated books of all sorts and resell them to student and staff, as well as the broader community. Our volunteers agree that part of our brief is to make books available at a small “The Alumni Bookshop is also “We are happy to take most donated cost to everyone, so everyone benefits committed to encouraging excellence books and text material. These days from our presence on campus,” at UOW with $200 Bookshop prizes many people are relocating, downsizing Christine says. available in each school of the University. and reassessing their need for books… With the current Faculty and School pretty much any part of your library Not only does the Bookshop sell used structure these awards total over could be absolute treasure to another books, it raises funds to support the $4,500 in prize money.” book lover. Let us sort out what we can financial security of students in need. use so please liberate your books to To date, it has brought in around “Each prize is not a lot but, as students start a new life with a new owner.” $250,000 to directly fund scholarships. receive the prize during their final year, we trust that it may help with thesis “Consider giving us your books so we printing or graduation costs. The main can help all students in need and thing is the recognition of merit in the celebrate excellence at UOW.” performance of students. We hope that recognition is a boost in their final undergraduate year,” Christine says.
For details on how you can volunteer or for more information about making donations of new or used books, phone +61 2 4221 5977 or email [email protected] UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 21
Glenn Fowler, UOW Graduate and IT professional
Glenn Fowler: Sharing the Proceeds of Personal Success
lenn Fowler isn’t your “The student caller talked about the “In 2014 I asked Ainslie Tweedie if stereotypical philanthropist. research UOW was doing into a there was any research going on at UOW GHe doesn’t own a global empire, dementia study, and with a family into solar energy as it is also a passion or even a small one, and he’s not history of dementia, it pushed me of mine.” entering his “autumn years”. towards supporting it,” he says. “Global warming is a real problem and Glenn is a 35-year-old, UOW alumnus, “I donate to a few other organisations I believe it is essential to find a way to with a double degree in Computer as well and I figured supporting areas of produce energy in a much cleaner way Science and Maths, who now works research at the University was another to make sure there is a future for the in IT. He is also one of the youngest way in which I could turn my money into next generations.” supporters of research at the University something that I know will help others.” of Wollongong. “By supporting both dementia and “As a programmer, my brain is actually solar energy research I know my money After graduating in 2001, Glenn had my livelihood so I figured investing to is going to help make things better started on a successful career path protect it is worthwhile.” in the future. I can afford to give to when he spoke to a UOW student during research and I feel it is a far better the Annual Alumni Phone Appeal. Since Glenn’s initial donation in 2011, use of my money.” This was a real “wake-up call” for Glenn, he has continued to support dementia making him think seriously about how research at UOW and after speaking “Not having the medical or engineering he could give back to the institution that with Ainslie Tweedie the Development skills to directly advance these areas helped him achieve his own goals. Manager in 2014, Glenn was pleased myself, I see the value in supporting to hear he could broaden his support those who can, to create a positive to help further the research being change which will contribute to future conducted at UOW into solar energy. generations.” 22 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
David Groves: Creating a Legacy
he University of Wollongong David’s commitment to the University To that end, David and Kathryn chose to has played an important role in has continued and taken tangible form. support the Learning and Development Tthe Groves family for more than In 2003, David and his wife, Kathryn, Fund which helps students with 40 years. began donating to UOW student financial hardship to attend and stay scholarships and are now two of at university. David was one of the first graduates the longest-term supporters. to accept his degree from the newly independent university in 1975 but his association with the campus was established even before then. “My father firmly believed that scholarships should His father, Frederick, worked at the University when it was still a college not just go to the smartest kid. He admired the ones of the University of NSW and it was when David finished school that the who worked the hardest.” former Port Kembla student decided that he wanted to graduate from the burgeoning institution. “My wife and I support a lot of things Currently the Learning and Development “My family has always had a close from the surf club to the Botanic Fund supports 10 students with a $3000 relationship with the South Coast Gardens and the Australian Rugby per annum scholarship over three years. and the University of Wollongong,” Foundation,” David says. The aim is to increase that support to David says. give more eligible students their chance “The University is close to both our “Two of my nephews have graduated for a university education. hearts. My father firmly believed that from UOW and my mother and sister scholarships should not just go to the “Kathryn and I have been lucky in our still live in the region. When I graduated, smartest kid. He admired the ones lives and we wanted to give something I had the option of receiving my who worked the hardest.” back,” David says. qualification from the then College associated with UNSW or from UOW. “He used to say that perseverance and “I was the first in my family to go to I chose the University of Wollongong.” perspiration were everything and that university so I like the idea of bursaries the person who worked the hardest and scholarships which can help deserved to get results.” students to achieve their own goals.”
OUTCOMES OF THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT FUND SINCE 2006
Number of L&D recipients 2008 7 x $1000
Number of L&D Total contributed to Total number of recipients 2015 L&D since 2006 scholarships given 10 x $9000 $439,978.49 91 ($3000 per year) UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 23
David Groves UOW Graduate and Learning and Development Fund Supporter 24 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Our Donors
EXCEPTIONAL Illawarra Centenary Mr Steven Bell Mr Rolf Cetinski Ms Nalini Deshpande Mrs Helen Glover SUPPORT: of ANZAC Committee Mr Robert Benavente Ms Eileen Chapman Mr Stephen Devitt Mr Carlos Godard The Hon David A SUPPORTER: Dr Walter Benson Dr Julia Chere- Ms Kathryn Devoy Mr Brent Goldspring Campbell Mr David Beswick Masopha Mrs Shirley Dixon Mr Paul Aarons Ms Kerry Goonan The Late Ms Esma Miss Janelle Bicknell Ms Lyndall Chittick Mr Graham Dombkins Mrs Robyn Gordon Gallagher Ms Jan Abraham Ms Kate Biffin Mr Chris Mrs Toni Donaghy Ms Deborah Graham Rear Admiral James Mr Murray Ackers Christodoulou Miss Casey Bishop Ms Bethany Doust Ms June Graham Goldrick AO CSC RAN Mr Benjamin Adams Mr Gregory Ms Hiromi Bishop Ms Keryn Downie Mr Murray Green (Retd) Ms Joan Adamson Chronopoulos Mr Max Bisley Mrs Brooke Dragovic The Hon Paul Green Mrs Linda Hogg OAM Mr Sebastian Mr Wesley Chung Mrs Melissa Mr George Drougas MLC Mr Richard Miller Aguilera Mr Charlie Citizen Bissett-Amess Mrs Rachel Dyer Mr Leslie Gregory Mr Philip Stevenson Mrs Bianka Ahkin Mr Charles Clark and Elizabeth Mr James Black Mr Ian Eastley Mr Harold Griffin Mr Tanvir Ahsan Mrs Melanie Clark Stevenson Ms Jillian Blackall Mr Francis Ebzery Mr Garry Griffith Mrs Louise Ailwood Mrs Sue Claypole Mr Richard Mr Timothy Blair Dr Margaret Edgley Ms Wendy Griffith Mr Shahid Alam Dr Eric Clayton Williamson Mr Alan Blake Ms Patricia Edwards Ms Jade Grimwood Mr Philip Alleaume Mrs Kylie Clynes Mr Wayne Bland Mrs Belinda Egan Dr Lyndal Groom LEADERSHIP Mr Christopher Allen Mrs Naomi Miss Kelly Boateng Mr Matthew Gudze SUPPORT: and Mrs Katie Allen Cocksedge Mrs Carolyn Egan Mr Christopher Mr Mohan Ms Judith Miller Ms Robyn Allen The Hon Richard Mr Ahmad Elhage Boddey Gunasekara Mrs Larraine Pocock Mr David Anderson Cogswell SC Mr Michael Ellis Mrs Laurel Boenisch Mrs Sharyn Anderson Mr Robert Emmett Mr Ario Gunawan Dr Justin Yerbury and Mr Max Boenisch Mrs Karan Coldwell Mrs Vicki Anderson Miss Joanne English Mr Paul Gunning Mrs Abbey Bongers Mr Kenneth Cole IMPACT GIVING: Mr Craig Andrews Dr Peter Erdmann Mr Steven Guy Mr Christopher Mrs Maddie Cole Dr Stephen Andersen Mr Scott Haig Dr Taryn Angel Boothman Ms Michelle Cole Ms Aleisha Essex OAM and Mrs Mary Mr John Halar Mr Johnny Antolis Mrs Michelle Borg Mr Jim Collins AM Dr Roy Evans Andersen Ms Kelli Halling Mr Frederick Apolloni Mr David Borger and Mrs Moira Collins Mrs Trudy Fathers Ms Anna Borzi AM Mr Michael Halls Mr John Apolloni Dr Kelly-ann Bowles Mr Angus Colquhoun Ms Kirsty Fay Ms Jane Bridge Mr Peter Hambridge Miss Shannon Archer Mr Michael Boyd Mr Michael Miss Alison Fietz Ms Jillian Broadbent Comensoli Mrs Christine AO Mrs Alice Arkapaw Dr Jacqueline Mrs Eileen Findley Mr Graeme Conyers Hamilton Mr Michael Fenton Ms Sonia Arkell Bradley Ms Emma Finlayson Mrs Mikylla Cook Mr Lyal Hammond Mr Glenn Fowler Mrs Louise Ms Megan Brannon Mrs Gwen Fletcher Armstrong Mr Greg Coonan Mr John Haney Mr Graham Garside Mrs Simone Brayne Miss Rachel Fong Mrs Christina Aston Mr Paul Cooney Mr Bryan Hanley Mr David Groves and Mrs Kylie Brislane Mr James Forshaw Miss Carmenchita Ms Victoria Hann Mrs Kathryn Groves Mrs Margaret Bacon Miss Jessica Brizuela Mrs Jessica Foster Cope Mr Abdul Hannan Mr Wayne Johnston Mr James Bailey Mr Kent Broadhead Mr Bruce Fowler Mr Scott Copland Mrs Shontelle Mr Robert Li Ms Catherine Baillie Mr Wolfgang Ms Natalie Foxon Mr Michael Corbitt Hannigan The Loomba Family Mrs Ann Baker Brodesser Mr Peter French Ms Theresa Cornish Mrs Margaret Hardie Associate Professor Mr Paul Balatti Mr John Brown Mr Douglas Friend Mrs Frances Cortiana Mr William Hardiman Pauline Lysaght Mr Bill Barbas Mr Kieran Brown Mr Mathew Frost Mr John Courtney Dr Rhys Harding Mrs Joan Mitchell Mrs Narelle Barker Ms Maureen Brown Mrs Sharna Fuller Ms Anne Harley and Mr David Mitchell Mr Ross Barker and Mr Paul Bruniges Mr Anthony Craig Mrs Anna Fusco Ms Monique Dr Peter Moore Mrs Katia Barker Mr Douglas Creighton Mrs Judith Bull Mr Husam Shawkat Harper-Richardson Mr John Steele Mrs Carol Barnes Mr Noel Creighton Mr Joel Burnett Gaggo Mrs Kerri Harrigan Dr James Turner Mrs Jacquelyn Mr Michael Byrne Ms Melva Crouch Mrs S Gamble Barnes CSM Mrs Jessica Harris Mrs Bronwyn Vickers Mr Francesco Mr Bradley Gardner Mr Francis Crumplin Mr Michael Harris Mr Paul Wand AM Mrs Phuong Calabria Mr Christopher Barraclough Mrs Vicki Harris and Mrs Christine Mrs Marie Cameron Mrs Emily Currie Garner Mrs Carmel Barrett Mr Scott Harrison Wand Ms Linda Campbell Mr Peter Cuy Dr David Garrett Ms Janet Bartolo Mr Glenn Hart And 1 anonymous Ms Sasha Campbell Miss Latife Daher Mr Ed Gattas donor Miss Priyanka Basu Mrs Kim Hart Ms Carmelina Mr Paul Daly Mr Rodney Geeves Dr Harry Battam Mrs Julie Dart Mrs Belinda Hawker WE WOULD LIKE Cappetta Mr John Gelling OAM Mr Steve Beattie Mrs Peita Hawkins TO ACKNOWLEDGE Mrs Deanna Mr Paras Dave Miss Nilay Gencturk Mr Murray Hayward AND THANK THOSE Ms Laura Beaupeurt Carbonara Ms Debra Davidson Mr Jim Georges Ms Beatrice SUPPORTING Mr Philip Beecher Mrs Glory Jean Mr Shane Day Mr Andrew Giddings THE UNIVERSITY Carcedo Henderson Mrs Valerie Belfitt Mrs Jayanthi De Silva Ms Sandra Gilkes THROUGH Ms Christine Carey Ms Susan Herold Miss Alison Bell Ms Hayley Dean Ms Lina Gill COMMUNITY Ms Jennifer Hibbens Mr Andrew Bell Mr Michael Carlin Ms Natalia Dean FUNDRAISING: Mrs Dawn Glase Mr Stephen Hilaire Mr Mark Bell Ms Ingrid Carroll Mrs Kerrie Deighton Mrs Naomi Ms Kimberley Glissan Mrs Liz Hilton Mr Steven Bell Mrs Linda Cascone Mr David Del Ben Cocksedge UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 25
Mr Peter Hinton and Kontopoulos Mr David Matthews Mrs Heather Nash Mr Michael Polsson Mr Graeme Samways Ms Meddwyn Hinton Dr Haralambos Mr Frank Maurizi Mr Michael Neumann Mrs Cherie Polsson Dr Martina Miss Shaye Hiscocks Korres Ms Kristl Dr Sarah Neville Ms Jennifer Porter Sanderson-Smith Mr Daniel Hodge Mr Harry Koster Mauropoulos Ms Elaine Newby Mrs Ronelle Pratt Mrs Leanne Saunders Mr Ken Hodson Mr Thomas Kunnath Mr Thomas Mawson Miss Rose Nguyen Ms Roslyn Pratt Dr James Savage Mrs Rochelle Hogben Mrs Debora Kunz Mr Peter McCall Mrs Margaret Nichols Mr Jon Preedy Mr Theo Savvas Ms Melissa A Hood Mrs Sarah Kus Mr Charles Ms Janet Nicholson Mr John Preston Miss Salma Sawan McCammon Dr Jeffrey Horton Mr Calvin Kwok-Wai Dr Robert Nightingale Mr Gerald Primmer Mr Russell Schmitt Lam Mr Ian McCarry Mrs Vanessa Howlin Ms Gloria Paola Nino Ms Ruth Procter Mr Stephen Scott Mr Marc Landrigan Ms Kath McCollim Ms Allison Hoyn Novoa Mr Tana Puakpong Ms Michelle Seguna Dr Joshua Larsen Ms Keirin McCormack Ms Theresa Hoynes Mr Gordon Nolan Ms Xiao Qi Mrs Sandy Selwood Ms Sharni Latham Miss Joyce McDonald Mr Ray Hudson Mr Terence Nunan Mr Adam Quinn Mr Glen Seymour Mrs Rachael Lawler Ms Roslyn McDonald Miss Jessica Hull Mr Gregory Oehm Ms Elizabeth Raadik Ms Jo Seymour Mrs Carli Lawson Mrs Sonia McDonald Mr Reagan Hull Mrs Penelope Mr Kassem Rachid Mr Phillip Seymour Mr John Layhe Mrs Cara McFarlane Oerlemans Mrs Narelle Hush Mr Shiddhanta Mr Ross Seymour Mr Sebastian Hutten Mr Gavin Leahy Ms Trish McGill Mrs Ann O’Gorman Rajbhandari Mr Graeme Sharp Skarratts Mr Stephen Irving Dr Lynette Lee Mr Peter McGinnes Miss Maya Rashed Ms Karen Shawcross Miss Bunmi Mr Carl James Ms Monica Lee Mrs Trish McGlashan Mr Domenico Raso Ms Angela Shelton Ogunbona Miss Natalaie James Mr David Leffley Ms Jo McGoldrick Ms Yvette Ravello Mr David Shepherd Mr Rene Ogunbona Mr Raymond Mr Martin Leonard Mr Peter McGuire Mr Buchanan Reed Mr Anthony Sherlock Mr Denis O’Hara Janowicz Ms Helen Leung Mrs Carol McKellar Ms Angela Reeves Ms Lisa Shiels Mr Christian Ohly Ms Renee Janssen Ms Coral Levett Mr Neil McKinlay Mrs Kylie Regal Ms Jennifer Shroff Mrs Anna Jessup Mrs Christine Lewin Mr Robert McLeod Ms Patricia Ollerenshaw Mr Bruce Rendall Mr Barry Silburn Mrs Maria Johnson Mr Glyn Leyshon Mrs Narelle McRae Mr Craig Olsson Ms Kim Restante Mr Robert Simons Ms Rosemarie Mr Fan Li Miss Gaye Mrs Alana Oppert Ms Anna Richardson Mr John Simpson Johnston Mr Ben Li McSweeney Mrs Krystal O’Rourke Ms Beverley Mr Joshua Simpson Mrs Simone Johnston Ms Jesy Lie Mr Craig Mear Richardson Ms Kathryn Orton Mr Ewen Sinclair- Ms Bronwyn Jones Ms Olga Lihou Ms Linda Mearing Ms Jennifer Richter Kydd Mr Andrew Packer Mrs Fay Jones Ms Dawn Lindsay Mrs Beverley Ms Jennifer Rickard Mr Shubeg Singh Meldrum Ms Lisa Papesch Mrs Nicole Jones Dr Benhur Mrs Skye Rickey Mr Patrick Sloan Mr Darryl Meredith Mrs Julie Pappas Ms Stephanie Jones Lingamneni Ms Emma Ringer Mr Adam Smith Miss Leanne Micallef Mrs Noreen Parrish Mr Richard Jory Mr Achim Ms Eeva Risku Ms Alicia Smith Linnenlucke Mr Al Michaelis Mr Dane Parsons Mr Vero Joseph Mr Alan Ritchie Mr Campbell Smith Miss Chen Liu Ms Barbara Miller Ms Vivien Parsons Mr Sanjay Joshi Mrs Susan Roach Mrs Carolyn Smith Ms Jie Liu Ms Jillian Moir Mr Francis Pearce Miss Frosina Mr Peter Roan Mr James Smith Jovanova Mr Hugo Loneragan Mrs Rosalie Mr Thomas Peetz Mrs Fiona Roberts Mr Jeffrey Smith Ms Kai Kaasik Mrs Maria Lopez Montagner and Dr Natalie Pelham Ms Ermatine Ms Katie Smith Ms Lorna Kaer Mr Sean Lynch Associate Professor Miss Bronwyn Penny John Montagner Robinson Mr Paul Smith Mr Theodore Mr Stephen Lyons Mrs Milica Perez Ms Anna Montgomery Ms Suellen Robson Ms Shona Smith Kalinderidis Mrs Sue Macdonald Dr Kara L Perrow Mr Kenneth Montoya Mr Nik Rodden Mr Aditya Soehono Mr Nickolas Katehos Mr Gary Mackenzie Mr Geoff Peters Ms Elizabeth Moody Mrs Kellie Rodgers Mr Ramesh Somai Ms Julie Kay Ms Pamela Mackie- Mr Darren Peterson Ms Hope Moore Mrs Lana Roeder Mr Matthew Southam Mr John Kelaher and Schneider Mrs Hetty Petre Mrs Perri Rolfe and Mrs Carole Kelaher Mr Terrence Moore Mrs Deborah Ms Alexandra Mr Chris Petrick Mr Peter Rolfe Ms Stephanie Southwell Mr Robert Kelman Madsen Ms Hang Thanh Moorley Mrs Cassandra Rooks Mr Micheal Southwell Ms Sheri Kember Mr Grant Malfitano Pham Ms Kassy Morcom Ms Jennifer Rose Mrs Sonia Spaseski Mrs Lorene Kentwell Mrs Suzanne Ms Anne Phelan Mr Gabriel Moreira Mr Ken Rose Mrs Hazel Spencer Mr Shabbir Kermali Mammone Mr Luke Phillips Mr Zac Morgan Mrs Michelle Rose Mr Allan Spinks Mr William Kernos Mr Timothy Manuel Mr Peter Phillips Mrs Emma Morris Mr David Ross Ms Judith Spitzer Mrs Kate Kerr Mr Brad Marden Miss Ana Phillis Mrs Therese Mrs Virginia Rowland Ms Michelle Spooner Mr Amal Khanna Ms Barbara Marks Dr Lauren Piatek Mott-Pekolj Mr Mark Rutter Mrs Kim Stace Mr Kevin King Ms Pat Marsh Mrs Margherita Mrs Deidre Moxon Mrs Julie Ryan Ms Grace Stagg Mrs Colleen Kipp Mrs Carol Marshman Pitman Mr Alan Mulhall Ms Louise Ryan Mrs Lee-Anne Mr Graeme Kirkwood Mr David Martin Dr Frank Pitt Miss Olivia Mulligan Mr Michael Ryan Stanford Mr Anthony Kirwan Ms Elizabeth Martin Mr Steven Pittiglio Miss Katherine Associate Professor E S Mr Milan Stanojevic Ms Sharon Martin Mr Tim Pollard Mr Martin Klein Murphy Mrs Gail Sadleir Mrs Julie Stapleton Ms Lesa Mason Mr Gregory Pollock Mr Tae-Sik Ko Ms Denise Murray Mr Amir Sadrossadat Mrs Anthea Starling Mr Kellie Massey Mr James Pollock Mrs Melanie Mr Carmelo Mustica Dareh 26 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Ms Anne Stephany Mr Robert Veljanoski We also thank the COMMUNITY Mumbulla Foundation DONORS WHO HAVE Ms Jennifer Mrs Leonie Venables UOW staff members ORGANISATIONS: Troy Pocock CONTRIBUTED Stephenson Ms Helen Vento who donate to Albion Park RSL Meningococcal TO THE USA Mr Lachlan University priorities Memorial Club Foundation Inc FOUNDATION: Mr Martin Visser through the UOW Stephenson APEX Club of Veolia Mulwaree *The University of Mr Grant Vukasinovic Cares Workplace Ms Nell Stetner- Batemans Bay Trust Wollongong USA Ms Bergrid Wagner Giving Program Houweling Foundation Ferreira Bega Chamber of Westpac Bicentennial Ms Marianne Steven CORPORATE DONORS: Commerce Foundation (“Foundation”) is Mrs Lyn Walker recognized by the Miss Elise Stewart Bega Lions Club Mr Jim Wallace Access Law Group RESEARCH GRANT U.S. Internal Revenue Ms Heather Stewart Bega RSL Sub Branch Mr Stuart Waller Acorn Lawyers CONTRIBUTIONS Service as a Mrs Loren Stewart- Bomaderry Bowling Ms Anne Walsh Adelaide Brighton Ltd FROM tax-exempt Gurtner Bega Cheese Club PHILANTHROPHIC organization Miss Stacey Walsh described in Section Ms Tanya Stokes BHP Billiton Matched Bulli Sea-Lions TRUSTS AND Dr Ning Wang 501(c) (3) of the U.S. Mr David Stone Giving Program Winter Swimming FOUNDATIONS: Mr Ian Watchirs Club Internal Revenue Miss Monika Strasser Big Fat Smile Australian Podiatry Mrs Melinda Watts CCC GP Training Code. Dr Tamantha Bluerise Pty Ltd t/a Education and Miss Sally Wawn Stutchbury Panizzi Café CWA Port Kembla Research Foundation Miss Megan Mr Darren Wearne Branch Anderson Miss Julia Suess Bradken Coal Services Health Mr Andrew Dapto RSL Sub- and Safety Trust Mr Brahmananda Mr Cai Sun Brookfield Multiplex Weatherstone Branch Foundation for Bandela Mr Malcolm Constructions Pty Ltd Mrs Penelope Figtree RSL Bowling Alcohol Research and Ms Taryn Bausch Sutherland Café Weatherstone Club Ltd Education Ltd (FARE) Mr Joseph Belanger Ms Danielle Suttor Cedar Catering Dr John Webster Goulburn Golf Club Heart Foundation Dr Elizabeth Borders Mr Viral Talati Services Pty Ltd t/a Mrs Kerry Wells The Matchbox Illawarra Cancer Hermon Slade Mr Jonah Busch Mr Neki Taleyarkhan Carers Foundation Ms Kate Weyman Cripps & Cripps Mr Timothy Collins Mrs Frances Talib Med Revue Ian Potter Foundation Mr Andrew Whalan Property Mr Randall D Cupp Ms Selina Tan Milton Ulladulla International Mr Daniel Wheeler D’luxe Soy Mr Agim Cura Miss Ivy Tan Bowling Club Baccalaureate Mr Martin Whitcher Edmen Pty Ltd Prof Patricia Davidson Mr John Tancevski Milton Ulladulla Foundation Ms Linda White Espresso Warriors and Ms Jennifer Ex-Servicemen’s & IRT Research Miss Sarah Defalco Café Tancevski Mr John Whitehall Citizen’s Club Ltd Foundation Mr Alan Erickson Glencore Coal Assets Mr David Tandy and Mr Marcus Wicken Mollymook Golf Club Movember Mr Daniel Gilberstadt Australia Pty Ltd Mrs Patricia Tandy Mr Hubert Widjaya Oak Flats Community Foundation Mr Venkatesan Kota Graham Bell Bowman Mr Ross Tanswell Mrs Brigitte Wilkinson Bank National Research Padmanabhan Architects Pty Ltd Mr Nick Tate Mr Colin Wilkinson Pambula & District Foundation of Korea Mr Trevor Le Dain Grill’d Pty Ltd Mr Alexander Tavan Mr Peter Williams Community NSW Environmental Mrs Michelle HUON Contractors Mr Ian Taylor Development Ltd Trust Loichinger Mr Rodney Williams Pty Ltd Mr Matthew Taylor Primbee Public Templeton Mrs Tara Loty Mr Gregory Willis Illawarra Area Child School Foundation Agency Ms Cassandra Martin Mr Achilles Teloniatis Mr Kyle Wilson Care Rotary Club of Bega The Norman Ms Deborah Tetley Ms Suzanne Wilson Mr Ian McAlister Jekd Pty Ltd T/as The Inc Wettenhall Mr Geoffrey J Ms Veronica Thake Dr Pia Winberg Yard Foundation Rotary Club of McQueen Miss Mehalai Mr David Winton Living & Learning Bomaderry Victorian Responsible Tharmeswara Custodians Pty Dr Kelly Meiklejohn Mr Ian Witheridge Rotary Club of Gambling Foundation Limited Mr Maximilian Miller Ms Mandy Theiss Mrs Beryl Wood Pambula Mindtree Ltd WE WOULD LIKE TO Miss Lauren Mullane Mrs Anne Thomas Mr Christopher Wood Rotary Club of West National Australia ACKNOWLEDGE AND Mr Joshua Rosen Mr Christopher Mr George Wood Wollongong Thompson Bank THANK THOSE WHO Mrs Amy Rovner Mr Ryan Worthington St George’s Basin ARE SUPPORTING Ms Claire Thompson Orica Australia Pty. Country Club Mr Chintan Shah Mr Paul Wright Ltd. THE UNIVERSITY Dr Melissa Thompson Sutherland Shire THROUGH AN Mr Sean Soltys Ms Yi-chen Wu Out for Lunch Mr Graeme Thorburn Environment Centre ENDOWED GIFT: Ms Sheryl Stillman Dr Amy Wyatt Purple Pebble Pty Ltd (SSEC) Mr David Thummler Illawarra Junior Mr Jonathon Ms Lisa Wyatt RMB Lawyers UOW Alumni Campus Mr William Tjin Rugby League Struthers Mr Chen Yao Roads and Maritime Chapter Mr Christopher Tobin UOW Alumni Campus Mr Adam Taneski Mrs Karin Yeaman Services Wollongong Heights Mr Robert Chapter Mr Benjamin Tarlov Mr Robert Yee SDN Childrens Lioness Club Todorcevski The Connolly Family Mr Justin Ulland Ms Rachel Yerbury Services Wollongong Punx Mr Adam Trevarthen Ms Hazel Holmwood Ms Hilary Wagner Mr Brent Young Tibra Capital Pty Ltd Scene Miss Nicole Trott Mr Richard Miller Mr Anthony Westphal Ms Mary Youssif Transport for NSW Zonta Club of Dr Deborah Wollongong Professor John Mr Benjamin Yuen Unitive Pty Ltd ORGANISATIONS Truneckova Patterson Ms Grace Zanotto Westpac Banking WHO HAVE Mr Jayson Turk TRUSTS AND Mrs Jan Skillen Mr Zewei Zhang Corporation CONTRIBUTED Mrs Ainslie Tweedie FOUNDATIONS: The Late Ms Winifred WMD Law TO THE USA Ms Noelene Ulrick Mr Zhihao Zhang Abbott Foundation Bullot Smith OAM Wollongong City FOUNDATION: Ms Gabrielle Pty Ltd Ms Jean Clarke and Ms Louise Upton Council The US Bank Zweerman Bioletti and Taylor Dr Jack Baker Ms Natasha Vaccaro Matched Giving Ms Jill Zylmans Family Trust Ms Sue Valente And one anonymous Program And 12 anonymous Movement Disorder donor Mr Rudy Vandrie donors Foundation UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 27
International Development
From our humble beginnings in 1951, the University of Wollongong now has global reach with campuses and partnerships internationally.
As we are now connected more than ever we see the importance to prepare our students to become graduates who are competitive on the global stage. An international experience like study aboard or exchange provides a huge growth opportunity for those who take up the challenge and we want to encourage more students to do so. 28 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Geoff McQueen: Excelling in the Digital Age
t’s Tuesday evening during Convention After creating Accelo, it would have Geoff shares his knowledge with Week in San Francisco and the been easy to leave Wollongong behind, recent UOW graduates who move Icreative buzz is palpable. Tech savvy but combining the energy and influence to San Francisco, giving them tips on trendsetters gather to present new of Silicon Valley with the talent and everything from securing the right visa directions that will influence the way lifestyle of Wollongong has proved from where to live. He also employs we live and communicate. to be the company’s X-factor. Geoff talented engineers and IT specialists has an unshakable connection and in Wollongong and regularly shares his UOW Alumnus, Geoff McQueen, is right commitment to his home town but a industry insight with the Faculty when in the centre of it all, talking to fellow fond love of his adopted country the back on campus. alumni about transformation. Not as United States of America, highlighting you would expect about technological that it provides a platform to succeed Applying this level of commitment he disruption, but the transformation of that nowhere else in the world can took another step forward when he the city of Wollongong. While he is now compete with. became one of the first donors to the based 12,000km away, in many ways UOW USA Foundation, supporting the Geoff’s heart is still in Wollongong. “The reality is Australia - and I know Student Global Mobility Scholarships this won’t be popular - doesn’t matter with his personal donation. In early 2015 Geoff published a in the global market. We’ve got a tiny long paper on his blog about the percentage of the world’s GDP spread “On the global mobility front, I think the transformation of his hometown and among a relatively small population best people should work where they can it resonated with audiences who have a long way away from the rest of the make the biggest positive impact to the a connection to Wollongong around world. Australians do best when we world and while that might be down the the world. think about the world as our market, street from North Gong, it might also be further afield.” Geoff is no stranger to seeing opportunities from a different perspective. A true entrepreneur, he leads from the front and he understands the impact of international experience. Geoff is the CEO of San Francisco-based company “Australians do best when we think about the world Accelo which has more than half its as our market, our stage, and for most businesses, global workforce in Wollongong. winning in these markets means getting out there.” Reflecting on his successes, he recognises a debt to the “hard love and challenges” of studying at university level. He received his Masters of Business Administration from UOW’s Geoff has some wise advice to current our stage, and for most businesses, Sydney Business School and is an students on how to get the most from winning in these markets means getting Honorary Fellow in the Faculty of UOW. Engineering and Information Sciences out there.” at UOW. “Double down on the experience and After re-locating to California, Geoff build the best relationships you can realised the incomparable beauty and “Being expected to learn without being from your time together while you’re welcoming community of the UOW spoon fed while still having plenty of at UOW. Don’t be afraid to pin your campus. With its natural environment access to support and advice was great, ears back and strive for something and warm people was the trigger for if not easy,” Geoff says. outrageous – just don’t put too much his passion to ensure that current UOW effort into chasing the rats to get first “The challenge of the coursework students have the opportunity to be place in the rat race.” clearly produces a great graduate too. truly global. This hard love and challenge is a big Like all great entrepreneurs, Geoff “I think you don’t really know until you part of why more than 90 per cent shows insight, grit and a commitment give something a try or at least have of the engineers in our company are to the next game-changing the option to consider it as a serious UOW alumni.” breakthrough, all qualities he is possibility – which is why I support determined to foster in the next students being as globally mobile as generation of UOW students. possible,” Geoff says. UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 29
Geoff McQueen UOW Graduate and CEO of San Francisco based company Accelo 30 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Stephanie Bean: Student Mobility Fund Opening a World of Opportunity
igh-tech coding and communications didn’t seem Stephanie Bean, UOW Alumnus and Hto have much in common for Student Mobility Fund Recipient Stephanie Bean until she completed a semester-long exchange program at the University of Colorado in Boulder, United States of America (USA).
Seven years on from that life-changing experience, Stephanie, a UOW alumnus, is now working for one of the world’s biggest technology giants, Google, as a Knowledge Engine Program Manager. She attributes her successful career to the opportunity the University’s Student Mobility Fund gave her to study in the USA.
“I was working a couple of jobs and studying and without the extra financial support of the Student Mobility Fund I don’t think it would have been possible to go to Boulder,” Stephanie says.
“The extra $1000 towards my trip was truly beneficial. The study exchange opened my eyes to the opportunities that are available and the different fields that my degree in literature and communications could lead.”
To create new moments for students “The study exchange gave me an opportunity to try like Stephanie visit: something different, and to give myself a shot at uowusafoundation.org/giving looking where my career may go.” To read more stories about what International-based alumni are achieving overseas visit: uowusafoundation.org
Stephanie has now been living in the US where my career may go. I was also Or contact the UOW USA Foundation for the past six years after first securing lucky enough to do an internship while for more information: a job in the technology industry with I was there. I knew where the world [email protected] Microsoft before moving to Google. was heading in terms of technology but I don’t think I would have achieved “[Living and working in the US] is not what I have without going to the something I ever anticipated,” she says. University of Colorado.”
“The study exchange gave me an “The Student Mobility Fund helped opportunity to try something different, make that happen and really helped and to give myself a shot at looking make my dreams a reality.” UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 31
Health and Medical Research
Our communities have been long term supporters of our researchers, enabling them to make remarkable medical breakthroughs. Breakthroughs which help us to understand the course of disease and research aiding medical solutions.
Here we showcase some of these great minds and the individuals and groups which make it all possible through your support. 32 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Illawarra Cancer Carers: Giving Hope to Cancer Patients and their Families
wenty-five years ago, 12 Illawarra house for the preliminary trials of the local,” says ICC President Ian Mackay. residents came together to look new drug which Professor Clingan is at ways to raise funds to help now using in patient trials. “When we started we concentrated on T patient support at Wollongong Hospital cancer patients in the region. They wanted to help buy equipment for both Professor Clingan’s work on a new and then, when UOW started doing patients and the hospital; to make life drug compound to help treat colorectal research into cancer, we began a little simpler for those facing their cancer has been a major recipient of supporting that as well. The causes biggest challenge. the ICC’s generosity. The group has also we now support have evolved as the now become contributors to funding services for cancer patients and their Today, the Illawarra Cancer Carers Professor Marie Ranson’s research families have evolved.” (ICC) has grown to nearly 300 members. into another drug compound - a ‘single They have raised and donated more injection’ formulation of two widely used In 2007, the ICC was awarded the than $3.25 million. Nearly $620,000 of chemotherapy drugs, 5-Fluorouracil Chancellor’s Award for Community that has been directed to the University (5FU) and its biomodulator Leucovorin. Service for its ongoing and substantial of Wollongong, endowing researchers Her new formulation is pH neutral and support of cancer research at UOW. with the vital funding to move from the does not have the administration side “Our core motto is to support work seed of an idea to the development of effects of current 5FU chemotherapy that is being done for cancer patients actual drug therapies. formulations. and their families– that is intrinsically ICC’s interest was initially attracted “One of the mantras of the Illawarra going to be of immediate benefit to to the work of Wollongong-based Cancer Carers when it started was that them,” Ian says. Oncologist Professor Philip Clingan. it would be 100 per cent volunteer and “We want to get as much bang for Their first donation helped buy a mouse our donations would be 100 per cent our buck as possible, and by donating
Members of the Illawarra Cancer Carers from left to right; Leslie Adie, President Ian Mackay, Wendy Gray and Judy Mackay to local causes, groups and institutions we are assured of that.”
Like many community organisations, ICC depends on its dedicated volunteers to organise fundraising events.
In 1990 a humble market stall run by a handful of founding volunteers made about $80. Since then, the ICC has increasingly diversified its funding activities and gained the trust of the giving public through its reputation as a major contributor to services for those battling cancer and their families. Show your
“There are three main streams to our activities – providing face-to-face care; raising funds; and support and distributing those funds to provide care, improve equipment and facilities within the hospital system or support cancer research at UOW,” Ian says. make a gift today “The principal sources of funds we raise internally are from our market stalls. Additionally, we have the Christmas wrappers, the Christmas baskets day, Help us elevate our students, illuminate the the Bunnings BBQs contributing to our fundraising. Through all these groups we raise about $50,000- world through research and cultivate our $60,000 a year.” communities. Join over 3,000 supporters and
“Our annual Banquet at the Beach is our major make a gift today. fundraiser. With the support of many sponsors and the huge support of the local community, the Banquets All gifts to the University of Wollongong are have been very successful and raise about $130,000- tax deductible. 150,000 on average.”
“There are a large number of donations and support MAKE A GIFT TODAY from Illawarra businesses, clubs, individual donors and various other community groups for which we are ONLINE forever grateful. From all sources we now raise about $320,000 annually.” Make a secure gift online using your credit card. Visit youruowcommunity.edu.au/givenow ICC and its supporters appreciate the regular reports they receive from Professors Clingan and Ranson. As To read more philanthropic stories, visit Ian says, hearing about the research and its benefits uowmoments.org.au validates the work of the volunteers, cementing the ICC’s mission to support local research that is PHONE enriching the prospects for local cancer patients and their families. Call us to make your gift and learn more about how your gift can make a difference. “Community support has been, and will continue Call +61 2 4221 5915 to be used to build on our cancer research capacity in the Illawarra to develop novel anti-cancer drug MAIL testing and research into a range of innovative cancer treatment options that will benefit patients in the Complete and return the form overleaf to: Illawarra, across Australia and the world,” Professor Ranson says. Advancement Division, Reply Paid 71942, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522 MY GIFT
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sme Gallagher first met Professor “We discussed the progress of a Esme’s bequest of $370,000 in 2015 Philip Clingan, leading Illawarra new drug, Deflexifol being developed has assisted in the funding of the E medical oncologist, as a 67 year at the University of Wollongong, phase 1 clinical trial, a trial which sees old breast cancer patient in 1998. She which is based on chemotherapy innovation in translational research would go on to have treatment under drug 5-Fluouracil (5FU),” Professor from the lab to the patient and is a Professor Clingan’s supervision for the Clingan says. culmination of over 10 years of research. next 15 years. “She was very keen on supporting “The funding has really assisted in our During this time Esme developed an any new drug development that would development of the phase 1 trial. We interest in finding new treatments for benefit patients. It was an honour and have treated 23 patients to date and will cancer sufferers and was interested a surprise that she decided to bequest be entering the final phase of this trial in in the development in new drugs that some funding towards this research. the next few months with results ready would prolong the lives of cancer The main benefit of Deflexifol is its for publication at the end of the year,” patients. An interest that would go on potential ability to deliver an effective Professor Clingan says. to reap long term benefits for research chemotherapeutic regimen that into cancer treatment at the University patients can tolerate over repeated Esme‘s generous donation has had a of Wollongong. treatment cycles.” significant impact on the development of the new drug Deflexifol and the funding of the phase 1 clinical trial and Professor Clingan’s ongoing research into prolonging and improving the lives Professor Philip Clingan and Professor Marie Ranson of cancer patients. “I am grateful for Esme’s contribution to this study and I am sure she would be pleased to see the results of her donation in the good work we have been able to do with the University of Wollongong,” Professor Clingan says.
Create a powerful and lasting reminder of your life and values by leaving a gift in your Will. Well beyond your lifetime, your gift will have a positive impact on the well-being of future generations.
If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift to UOW in your Will please contact:
Ainslie Tweedie Development Manager Lower Lever, Building 36 University of Wollongong
Phone: +61 2 4221 4722 Email: [email protected] 36 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Dr Lezanne Ooi: Unlocking the Secrets of the Brain
he eyes may be the window to the “We can also determine why specific “I had been studying cellular soul but the skin may hold the neurons are susceptible to dying in neuroscience for a number of years, Tanswer to unlocking some of the diseases like Alzheimer’s and Motor but my grandmother’s diagnosis was secrets of the brain. Neuron Disease.” a big motivation to learn more about it,” she says. University of Wollongong Neuroscientist Dr Ooi says research funds are being and Stem Cell expert, Dr Lezanne Ooi, directed towards developing and testing “I have always been fascinated by the is studying the skin of people living with those molecules and subsequently brain – it is often described as the last Alzheimer’s disease to discover why some of the pathways they may take frontier. There is still so much to find out certain neurons degenerate and start in the disease process. She has also about it, how it works on a cellular level the wildfire that robs people of their discovered a way to model the splitting and what happens when the brain goes memories. of a specific enzyme thought to play a awry in disease.” major role in the onset and development Studying the outside of the body to help of Alzheimer’s disease. “As a scientist, I need to understand the to find out what’s happening inside may biological process that my grandmother seem a peculiar approach, but Dr Ooi “We already have clues that proteins is going through, to identify why it is that uses skin cells donated by people living are functioning at a higher level so we some people suffer from this disease with Alzheimer’s Disease and converts take known inhibitors of those enzymes and help contribute to knowledge that them into pluripotent stem cells and and using structural information, make may one day aid the development of neurons in a petri dish in her lab. predictions about what a better inhibitor better treatments.” may look like.” “We are able to study fundamental differences in the proteins made by cells from Alzheimer’s patients, and those made by other people,” Dr Ooi says. Dr Ooi’s research is aiming to find “I have always been fascinated by the brain – it is ways to use ‘reprogrammed’ skin cells, donated by patients, for disease often described as the last frontier.” modelling and drug discovery.
“We are using skin cells that have been donated by Alzheimer’s patients to unravel the mystery of why a protein “When we have done that, those “In some ways having a scientific called Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is such molecules will then undergo testing background makes it easier to an important risk factor in Alzheimer’s to see if that structure is better. By understand what is happening to loved disease,” Dr Ooi says. measuring the molecule’s activity and ones with this illness because it is hard Dr Ooi has been working on this research modulating its structure we have an for the lay person to understand all the for around four years and says they idea of which molecules would be best information which is out there and what are now able to identify the specific in helping to develop future drug you should believe.” molecules that act to protect neurons treatments.” “The scientific community has not done before they are damaged. That work can Dr Ooi’s passion for her research is also a very good job at getting information lead to the development of targeted a personal quest for answers. Watching across to patients, so now, I do a lot of treatments to stop the initial her grandmother’s health decline after presentations to the public about what degeneration of specific neurons.. the onset of Alzheimer’s, Dr Ooi says is known about the disease and what “We want to look at how these she changed the direction of her work to research is underway, as a way to try molecules may modulate inflammation, concentrate specifically on Alzheimer’s and help them understand more about which is a major component of and neuron decline. what is going on.” Alzheimers disease.” UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 37
UOW Neuroscientist and Stem Cell Researcher, Dr Lezanne Ooi 38 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Movement Disorder Foundation: Advancing Treatment of Movement Disorders
tudying for a degree is hard enough for a student who can Smove around the campus freely. It is even harder for those with a movement disorder who can struggle to negotiate obstacles as simple as stairs. Thanks to the support of the Movement Disorder Foundation (MDF), they are being given a chance to complete their studies and even to contribute themselves to advances in the technologies that will alleviate those disorders.
The Foundation has recently taken a step beyond standard funding support, (Standing) Mrs Joanne Pearson, spurred on in part by a TV program Dr Peter Taylor, Mrs Helen Taylor, Dr Roly Bigg and Professor Randolph seen by Dr Roland Bigg, the Executive Martin (Seated) Mr Don Wheeler Chairman. That program was about new technology coming out of the United States of America (USA) that was helping people with quadriplegia. “The Foundation started many years “The Foundation believes in the ago, originally inspired by my late uncle philosophy that if you give a man a fish “At the time I remembered when I was who had cerebral palsy. The Foundation he’ll eat for one day, but if you teach him a resident doctor at Royal North Shore was looking for some sort of medical to fish he’ll eat forever.” Hospital working with patients with research that would make a difference spinal injuries, and I used to think ‘we to those with movement disorders,” “The Foundation also wants Australia can put a man on the moon but we can’t Dr Bigg says. to take the baton and move forward with do much for people who are paralysed’,” research into the area of technologies Dr Biggs says. Encouraged by Dr Bigg, MDF this year to help people living with movement launched a new scholarship, worth disorders. We believe a student with “The news coming from the USA up to $8,500 annually, to support an a disability themselves will have that (Cleveland Case Western University engineering student with a movement extra motivation and passion to pursue under the leadership of Professor disorder or disability. The point of a career in the area of biomedical Hunter Peckham) was about the difference was that the recipient was research.” wonderful work engineers were doing not only funded to complete their with medical technologies to restore studies but also given the opportunity “The Foundation hopes this scholarship hand function to quadriplegics. It to move into the area of biomedical support will help with motivating made sense to me that supporting a engineering to be part of advancing the Australian effort in the area of researcher in the area of biomedical understanding and treatment of their disability.” engineering would be a way for the type of condition. Foundation to help further the work “There is untapped potential in this area in the area of movement disorders.” “There are more costs involved in and engineers – especially biomedical going to university for a student with engineers – are a big future hope for The Foundation decided to tap into the a disability,” Dr Bigg says. making breakthroughs in helping people innovative potential of University of with movement disorders.” Wollongong researchers and students, especially in engineering and the area of nanotechnology. UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 39
A Message from the Development Team
ANNUAL ALUMNI APPEAL
Each year the Annual Alumni Appeal All three areas seek to enhance For 2015 the Appeal involved 44 current turns to its graduates to help raise community outcomes throughout students, calling alumni, 4 nights a week funds for our students, researchers the Illawarra and the communities for a month. Through 221 pledges and and communities. we reach. 572 donations the Appeal has raised over $143,850, this is a significant contribution 2015 saw the appeal focus on three The Appeal is run by the Development to our overall achievements for 2015. areas; Early Start’s Toddler Cubby, Team and a number of student callers, In2Uni Scholarships, and The Learning who excitedly make the call. The success of this appeal would not & Development Fund. have been possible without your generosity, so thank you.
Total funds raised Number of Donors $143,850 572
Calls made Average Donated 2408 $251
Students employed Pledges made 44 221 40 2015 REPORT ON GIVING
Ainslie Tweedie A Message from the Manager
2015 was a very exciting year for the and its surrounding areas undergo vast and friends of the University to stay Development team and we are so growth and expansion, seeing areas connected and involved no matter pleased to share with you inspiring of health, medical and innovative the distance. stories created through your support. research adapt to facilitate this change. Vital cancer drug research is being Support of students through scholarships There were many changes this year undertaken by local clinics, supported continues to grow and we have seen with a number of new staff joining an generously by the local community. many more individuals using their already strong team. We are fortunate This has been a long process for the private wealth to continue to create in that we love what we do because researchers involved and it is great to opportunities for our future leaders. we get to work with passionate and see that the project continues to We are overwhelmed by your generosity generous people who are making a progress in the hope that it will achieve and we would like to sincerely thank you collective impact on the lives of many its objective: to have a drug delivery that for your support. – our students, our researchers and improves the lives of so many suffering our communities. This publication from cancer. We have ambitious goals for the future demonstrates just how significant but we know that by working together your support plays in the life of the Focusing on our international ties, the we can make a collective impact. University and its continued success. University received its first gift through For 2016 we look forward to continuing our UOW USA Foundation which is to partner with you to create poignant As a region we have seen Wollongong creating more opportunities for alumni moments in the lives of many.
Members of the Development Team: Alexandria Finch, Rachel Dyer, Ainslie Tweedie Development Manager, Cherie Polsson and Kathryn Devoy UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 41
Education and Research are the gifts that keep on GIVING A Single Moment Can Change Everything Create A Moment
Discover More Stories: uowmoments.org.au
More Information
Advancement Division Building 36, University of Wollongong NSW 2522 Ph: 02 4221 5915 Fax: 02 4221 5596 Email: [email protected] Web: uow.edu.au/donations
The University’s privacy policy can be found at uow.edu.au/donations/privacypolicy. If you no longer wish to receive this type of material, please phone +61 2 4221 3169. The University of Wollongong attempts to ensure that the information contained in this form is correct at the time of production (February 2016). However sections may be amended without notice by the University in response to changing circumstances or for any other reason. University of Wollongong CRICOS: 00102E.