AUGUST 2004

Eye on the High Country CRABCRAB WATCHWATCH onon ChristmasChristmas IslandIsland HONORARY DOCTORATE Bulletin IN THIS ISSUE J M Coetzee reflects on Work begins on new AgriBiosciences Centre 3 Report urges court reforms for mentally ill 4 Computer game to reach homeless 5 A way of life Help for abused youngsters 5 HIV prevention: Religion needs Cape Town Ð where he was Distinguished a radical shift 6 ld indigenous cultures Ð those of the O South African Bushman, northern Professor of Literature Ð and has held Research in Action Inuit and Australian Aborigine Ð are being numerous Visiting Professorships. converted into new global commodities for During the past thirty years, Professor What causes High Country change? 7 the tourist industry. That was the theme of Coetzee Ð who now lives in South Saving Christmas Island’s red crabs a literary evening in August featuring Australia where he is an Honorary Visiting from yellow ants 8 Nobel Laureate and two-time Booker Prize Research Fellow at the University of winning author, John Maxwell Coetzee. Adelaide Ð has published a wide range of Research in new auditory works, many translated into French, neuroscience laboratory 10 Addressing a packed audience at the Town Hall, he also read a short German and Swedish. His major books Making mobile communications story dealing with this subject. Professor include The Life & Times of Michael K faster, more secure 10 Coetzee said he was reluctant to use the (1983), Boyhood (1997), Disgrace (1999), term ‘culture’, preferring ‘way of life’ to and Elizabeth Costello (2003). Appointment of four new professors 11 emphasise a deeper meaning. Too often Delivering the award citation, La Trobe Focus on Asia-Pacific security and today ‘culture’ signified something that can Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the co-operation 12 easily be put on or Mildura Campus, taken off Ð such as Professor Alan Empowering role of Koori Court 13 ‘corporate culture’ Frost, said J M Graduates in Islamic education 13 or ‘sporting cul- Coetzee’s works ture’. deal with some of Golden opportunity for the major cur- future archaeologists 14 The evening was part of the rents of Western Scholarships recognise disability research 15 ‘Melbourne thought and present discom- Boost to INU travelling scholarships 16 Conversations’ series presented by forting analyses La Trobe Uni- of the human versity in asso- condition. ciation with the ‘In doing so, he Cover: Monitoring the health of City of Melbourne, has also focused Christmas Island’s famous red crabs, Australian Book see story page 7. on situations and Review and themes which Photo: Peter Green Readings Books resonate with and Music. such horrors of Earlier, visiting the twentieth La Trobe’s main century as war, Melbourne campus the Holocaust at Bundoora, Pro- and apartheid. fessor Coetzee, Deploying lucid The La Trobe Bulletin is published ten times a year by the was awarded an honorary doctorate for his and spare prose and intricate literary Public Affairs Office, La Trobe University. outstanding contribution to literature and structures, he has unflinchingly probed the Articles may be reproduced with acknowledgement. learning. dark recesses of the human condition, so as Photographs can be supplied. to contemplate such things as slavery, Raised in South Africa’s Cape Province, Enquiries and submissions to the editor, Ernest Raetz, torture and the evils of colonialism.’ La Trobe University, . 3086 Australia Professor Coetzee holds Honours degrees Tel (03) 9479 2315, Fax (03) 9479 1387 in English and mathematics as well as a Accepting the award, Professor Coetzee Email: [email protected] PhD in English, linguistics and Germanic thanked La Trobe University and Design: Campus Graphics, 58895 languages. Australia’s academic and literary La Trobe University. communities for the generous welcome He has taught at the State University of Printed by Print Media Group. extended to him since his arrival in Website: www.latrobe.edu.au/bulletin New York at Buffalo, the University of Australia.

2 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN NEWS

An architect’s impression of the new building. Work begins on new AgriBiosciences Centre

ustralian agricultural industries Professor German Spangenberg, Research fostering an environment that promotes may expect significant benefits Director, Plant Genetics and Genomics of effective interactions, networks and the from research to be carried out at Primary Industries Research Victoria, DPI, incubation of spin-off companies. the new $19.5 million Victorian and Director of the Plant Biotechnology La Trobe University, through its Institute A Centre, who will chair the committee, and AgriBiosciences Centre (VABC) to be of Advanced Study, will provide built at La Trobe University. Professor Roger Parish, Head of the opportunities for tenants to collaborate University’s Department of Botany. La Trobe and CRI Australia have with visiting scholars and to access La Trobe R&D Park Director, Ms Sue Bell, overseas speakers for seminars, forums entered into a development agreement for is also a member. the new Centre on the La Trobe University and conferences. R&D Park at the Bundoora Biotechnology Professor Parish said that research in the The facility will occupy approximately Precinct. new Centre would range over many areas two hectares of the 50 hectare La Trobe of plant industries, including research R&D Park. It will consist of a two-storey The agreement follows the establishment aimed to improve the productivity of such of the VABC Consortium, a collaborative state-of-the-art research facility, with crops as wheat and canola. Other research approximately 5,500 square metres of floor venture between La Trobe University, would attempt to identify genes Victoria’s Department of Primary space as well as a number of other R&D responsible for traits which render crops capabilities. Industries’ (DPI) Plant Biotechnology and pasture plants more resistant Centre which is located at La Trobe to environmental stresses such as drought These include several unique initiatives, University, Monash University, RMIT and and cold. including a ‘Research Hotel’ with PC2 Florigene Ltd, a division of Suntory. standard laboratories. CRI Australia will Professor Parish said that other When the facility is completed, procure and manage the design and important research would aim to improve construction of the development. expected in May 2005, it will resistance of crops and pasture plants to accommodate more than 200 research fungal and viral diseases and to attack by s Bell said the agreement with CRI personnel. insect pests. M marked a watershed in the trend to successfully combine research, academic La Trobe University is providing $12.7 Professor Spangenberg said that the and industry requirements into facilities million for the construction of the building establishment of VABC will significantly that satisfied high-end research needs as to house the Centre with other enhance the science and technology base well as the commercial demands of contributions coming from the Victorian and innovation capability in the industry. Department of Innovation Industry and agricultural biotechnology sector. The Regional Development ($5 million) and VABC will act as a Victorian science and ‘Not only will this development offer the Victorian Department of Primary business incubator providing integrated research facilities, it will operate as a Industries ($2.5 million). key platform technologies for academia business incubator, offering accom- Two La Trobe academic staff members and industry. modation, and business infrastructure to commercial start-up businesses in the plant are on the Centre’s five-member He said the Centre will co-locate bioscience field,’ she said. Management Committee. They are academic and commercial R&D groups

AUGUST 2004 3 NEWS

Prisons Ð which the report describes as the ‘asylums of the new millennium’ Ð are brimming with the mentally ill. De- COURTING institutionalisation, while supposedly upholding the rights of the mentally ill, has often resulted in further abuses of, and discrimination against, mentally ill people, CHANGE the report claims. ‘Prisons – asylums of the new millennium – are brimming Research also shows overcrowding in women’s prisons has created an ‘incredibly with the mentally ill.’ stressful environment’ where lack of privacy creates additional tensions Curran, who supervised the two projects, escalating to violent outbursts. says the students recommend establishing a Mental Health Court to deal with the high Another problem is that scant provision number of mentally impaired people is being made for mentally ill prisoners to appearing before Victorian courts. re-enter the community. Few release plans are being developed with prisoners for Their report Ð titled The Mentally Ill and their accommodation, employment, the Criminal Justice System Ð says the welfare or continuing treatment after court should be an extension of the release. Magistrate’s Court, presided over by a specially appointed magistrate to ensure a Often when courts found defendants had consistent approach. A charged person a mental impairment and should not be with a mental illness should then have the sent to jail, they were imprisoned because right to elect to be tried either by the there was a shortage of beds at the Thomas Mental Health Court or a normal court. Embling Hospital, one of few ‘approved mental health service’ hospitals in Victoria. The court should also adopt a less wo reports by La Trobe University law adversarial approach than a traditional While the report acknowledges that students have recommended changes T court. Mentally ill people, including those there are multiple alternatives to jail for to the court system to help mentally ill, with intellectual disability, often struggle mentally ill offenders, it says these are poor and other disadvantaged people. in adversarial courts, the report argues. ‘desperately under resourced’. Written by law students on Clinical The students say a recent study found The primary focus of a Mental Health Legal Education Placement at the West that 28 per cent of Victorian prisoners had Court should be on treatment and Heidelberg Community Legal Service, the been diagnosed with a mental illness. As a rehabilitation, to reduce the rate of re- reports recommend the establishment of a result, the prison system is becoming one of offending, the report concludes. It notes special court for the mentally ill, and the principal vehicles for managing mental that a Mental Health Court has been set up changes in the working of the PERIN illness related to criminal behaviour. in South Australia to apply the principles Court. Lecturer in La Trobe Law, Liz of ‘therapeutic jurisprudence’. Fundamental flaws in PERIN Court

The second report by La Trobe Law One problem, says the La Trobe Law The report acknowledges the students was a discussion paper on the report, is that offenders may not receive Enforcement Review Program inaugurated PERIN Court. infringement notices because they do not by the Melbourne Magistrates Court and It found that the court, used to collect have a fixed address. Other problems are Sheriff’s Office to identity offenders with unpaid on-the-spot fines, may not be fair in that they cannot pay fines because they are ‘special circumstances’ who have incurred its dealings with the poor, homeless, sick, poor, illiterate, mentally or physically ill, a number of infringements. mentally ill, illiterate and those from non- or cannot understand what the While it notes that the PERIN system English-speaking backgrounds. infringement notice means. works for most people, despite some The PERIN (Penalty Enforcement by The problem is exacerbated because a fundamental problems, the report makes Registration of Infringement Notice) Court failure to respond to the infringement 19 recommendations to improve its was established in 1986. Almost 130 notice generally leads to further costs and efficiency. agencies, including police, municipalities, penalties Ð often greatly exceeding the These include a cap on penalties, EPA, City Link Ð even universities Ð often original fine, and even imprisonment. An infringement notices in plain English with delegate to the court collection of unpaid initial fine of $51 can blow out to $163 if translations into other languages, and the fines for offences ranging from illegal not paid. In addition, offenders do not have revocation of fines when an offender’s the option of paying a fine in instalments parking to non-payment of fares. income is a below a certain level. until it has reached the PERIN Court.

4 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN NEWS

Computer game to reach homeless

treet kids may soon be able to play Developers Conference at the Next Wave a vividly ‘real’ computer game that Festival in Melbourne in May this year. HELP FOR mirrors their own experiences. By In early 2002 Ms Baird worked on a ABUSED S developing their game play skills national film project in which filmmakers and ‘survival smarts’, players are able to were matched up with young people who YOUNGSTERS steer the main game character through a were or had been homeless, or at risk of multi-disciplinary team from simulation of life on the streets. homelessness, to make films about their La Trobe University is playing a experiences and to help them to tell their A The game is being developed with the leading role in the State Government’s stories. assistance of a number of organisations new $20 million program to help abused including La Trobe University’s She helped write and direct one of those children. Department of Computer Science and films, called Street Survivor in which a girl The University assisted in the Computer Engineering. spirals into, and becomes trapped in, a development of the program and has an video game. The idea of making a video Called Street Survivor, it is a third on-going role in researching and game which could inform at-risk young person adventure combat game for the PC evaluating the program of intensive people developed from there. that thrusts players into the role of therapeutic services. ‘Sonya’, a recently homeless teenager, In late 2003, the research and Called ‘Take Two’ and conducted by who spirals into a cycle of addiction, development of Street Survivor was Berry St Victoria (BSV), the program was hunger, violence and crime as she flees funded by both the City of Melbourne’s launched early this year by Community from her past and searches for another kind Community Cultural Development Services Minister, Ms Sherryl Garbutt. Ms of future. Program and the Interactive Media Fund at Garbutt said the new state-wide service the Australian Film Commission. A small La Trobe’s Dr Richard Hall, a specialist would help children and young people team was assembled with Ms Baird as in computational story models, says Sonya cope with the trauma of severe abuse and writer, director and project manager; is not a victim or a fool, and her adventures neglect. are not portrayed in a moralising way. The team established the look and feel Each year, the service will provide Underlying the action and excitement of of the game. Dr Hall began work with Ms intensive treatment to 710 children and the game is the message that there are Baird to develop these ideas and various young people. There were more than 7,000 services available for young people on the aspects of homelessness, such as living in substantiated cases of child abuse and streets; that there is useful information out squats and meeting drug dealers, into game neglect in Victoria in 2002. there and that there are people around who play and game narratives. can help. The program will help young people ‘My role is to turn Kirsty’s ideas about most severely affected to cope with the It is hoped that the target audience Ð the sorts of messages she wants to get trauma of abuse, and to manage longer- young people who are homeless or at risk across into a game design,’ says Dr Hall. term behavioural and emotional problems. of homelessness Ð can be reached through Ms Baird concludes: ‘Our aim is not to the installation of the game in frontline La Trobe Associate Professors in the offer easy answers but to provide youth service agencies around Australia. School of Social Work and Social Policy, opportunities for the player to make a Margarita Frederico and David Green, Dr Hall became involved in the project range of choices under pressure.’ spent six months helping develop the when met young film director, Kirsty program. Since the program began, the Baird, at the Independent Game Continued page 6

AUGUST 2004 5 VIEWPOINT

HIV PREVENTION Religion needs a radical shift In most countries there are ongoing supported by analysis, and that does not restrictions on the discussion and lead to action, is wasted and self-indulgent. promotion of condoms, on sex education in As the world becomes more dangerous and schools, and on recognition that homo- uncertain, and political attention is sexuality and sex for money are realities in increasingly focused on war and terror, every complex human society. how we respond to the challenge of halting He described examples of political the spread of HIV is a central test of human interference that have hampered sensible decency and human solidarity.’ nly a radical shift by govern- HIV prevention programs. ‘Too many ments and organised religion Ð governments have applied sanctions, Continued from page 5 and a willingness to accept that punishment and repression, ignoring the safeguarding life is more reality that humans will seek both pleasure HELP FOR ABUSED O and survival in ways that often confront YOUNGSTERS important than preserving antiquated moral precepts Ð will bring the resources the traditional norms to which social, University has stepped into an even larger and the messages about safer sex to those religious and political leaders pay lip role Ð to evaluate continuously the work of who are most vulnerable. service. Take Two’s 37 full-time clinical staff working from four Melbourne and five Moves to remove the criminal sanctions ‘Often the most significant structural rural centres. against, and persecution of, homosexuals interventions possible are those that and sex workers are crucial to achieving remove barriers to honest discussion of Ms Frederico has been joined in the the goals of slowing HIV infection. human behaviour. If the choice is between continuing assessment program by other maintaining the demands of ancient La Trobe School of Social Work and These were among the points made religious superstitions Ð and with them the Social Policy academic staff including about the increasing global pandemic of power of male clergy Ð and providing the Professor Alan Borowski and Dr Martin HIV/AIDS by Dennis Altman, La Trobe information and the resources to protect Ryan. Professor Shane Thomas of the University Professor of Politics, when young women and men from infection School of Public Health is another delivering the Jonathan Mann Memorial with a potentially lethal and painful virus, member of the team, as are two BSV staff Lecture at the Intemat AIDS Conference in can anyone who believes in a just God, or members, Ms Annette Jackson, research Bangkok in July. a system of ethical standards, seriously manager, and Ms Carly Black, research Professor Altman, who is also President doubt the answer?’ assistant. of the AIDS Society of Asia and the Professor Altman said not nearly enough In addition, Ms Robyn Miller, a senior Pacific, said the greatest tragedy of attention was paid to analysing the barriers clinician with La Trobe’s Bouverie Centre, HIV/AIDS was that we know how to stop that religion, politics and human hypocrisy has won a postgraduate scholarship its spread, and yet in most parts of the erect against effective programs of HIV attached to Take Two. She will conduct world we are failing to do so. prevention. In the end, the great issues that research on the program for her PhD Addressing a plenary session of the demand research and action are political thesis. conference attended by 15,000 delegates questions, in that they involve issues of Other organisations in the consortium from many countries, Professor Altman power, control and ideology. include the lead partner BSV, Austin said the literature tended to emphasise ‘As the epidemic grows we have many Hospital Child and Adolescent Mental immediate problems Ð lack of condoms or reasons to be angry, particularly at the Health Service, and Mindful (formerly clean needles, safe sex fatigue, and hypocrisies of most governments and most Victorian Child Psychiatry Training Unit). unwillingness to interfere with the religious leaders. Indeed, we are so immediate gratification of sex or drugs. Professor Borowski and Ms Frederico unwilling to confront these issues that we are also members of the Partnership ‘There is less emphasis on the political fall back on platitudes about “communities Management Group which will oversee barriers that are accelerating the epidemic of faith”, ignoring the ways in which and steer the entire operation. Ð the deliberate neglect by governments, fundamentalists of all faiths perpetuate the the unwillingness to speak openly of HIV gender and sexual inequalities that fuel the La Trobe’s major task will be to and its risks, the hypocrisy with which epidemic. research, evaluate and assess each simple measures of prevention are component of Take Two and to provide ‘We constantly hear rhetoric about forestalled in the name of culture, religion continuous feed back so that changes can leadership, rather than analysing what it is and tradition,’ he said. be made where necessary. we want leaders to do. But anger that is not

6 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN RESEARCH IN ACTION What causes High Country change?

he old-time cattlemen told stories of that each layer contains,’ Ms Grover said. Centre for Greenhouse Accounting, which horses sinking to their bellies in the Peat from the base of the bogs has been is interested in the carbon chemistry and deep wet peat bogs that dotted the dated at almost 9,000 years old, in initial carbon dioxide emissions of peat.’ high plains of the Australian Alps. studies completed by Ms Grover at the Ms Grover’s work regularly takes her to T Australian Nuclear Science and Today on the site of many of these peat bogs on the Wellington Plains, in the bogs there is barely 20 cm of dry peat soil Technology Organisation Ð and no sign of any wetland vegetation. in Lucas Heights, Sydney earlier this year. What caused the change and exactly when did it happen? And how significant Supervised by La Trobe to the welfare of the alpine ecosystem are lecturer in Viticultural peat bogs? Sciences, Dr Judy Tisdall, and researchers from the La Trobe University soil scientist, Ms La Trobe Research Centre Samantha Grover, is contributing to the for Applied Alpine debate with research for her PhD thesis on Ecology, Dr Ken Rowe the hydrology and characteristics of peat and Mr Warwick Papst, soils in the Australian Alps. Ms Grover’s work is also While there is anecdotal evidence that characterising the present the bogs have become smaller and drier hydrology of peat bogs and and that stock grazing has caused or the adjacent dried peat contributed to this degradation, Ms Grover soils. is confident that by early 2005, she will The Alps are an have amassed sufficient data to be able to important water catchment, determine when the onset of the providing up to eighty per degradation began and its causes. cent of stream flow in the Ms Grover has recently been awarded a Murray-Murrumbidgee Postgraduate Research Award from the catchment in drought Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and years, and all of this water Engineering to use carbon dating, and lead passes through bogs. While dating techniques for more recent times, to bogs have long been determine whether the onset of damage considered important in began before or after the introduction of catchment hydrology, the summer stock grazing in the high country mechanisms of this in the 19th century. valuable ecosystem service have been subject to much She explains that peat bogs in the hypothesis but little Australian Alps comprise a layer of live scientific investigation. growing moss on the surface of the bog, on top of successive layers of dead and etailed field and laboratory measure- Victorian Alpine National Park, to take decomposing plant material. The cold and D ments of environmental properties, samples and measurements and to monitor wet conditions in the Alps inhibit the water movement and water holding equipment, and occasionally to CSIRO decomposition of the dead plant material, capacity of bogs and dried peats are Land and Water, Adelaide, to work with which builds up to form peat soils typically revealing how these wetlands affect Dr Jeffery Baldock, who supervises the one to two metres deep. catchment hydrology. carbon aspect of the research. ‘Because the Sphagnum moss grows ‘The central factor affecting peat ‘Ultimately, I am confident that this vertically, the decaying plant material in a hydrology is how decomposed the plant collaborative project will provide data peat bog provides a vertical time sequence material is,’ Ms Grover said. ‘This has led which will enable us to manage the alpine and we can date each layer using the to a valuable link between La Trobe ecosystems in a more sustainable way,’ isotopic composition of various elements University and the Cooperative Research Ms Grover said.

AUGUST 2004 7 RESEARCH IN ACTION RED CRABS vs YELLOW ANTS: by Noel Carrick ROUN

It’s a common story in the Christmas Island red land crabs are ‘It was obvious what had happened. internationally famous for their annual Yellow crazy ants squirt fine jets of formic fight against exotic, invasive breeding migrations, when millions march acid to subdue their prey. Individual ants species. to the sea to breed. Less well known is can only squirt a tiny amount, but the their pivotal role in the ecosystem. While massed densities of crazy ants in super Foreign species invade and wreak havoc conducting his PhD research over four colonies were obviously sufficient to kill on local native biota, there is a flurry of years on the island between 1988 and red crabs, hundreds of times their size. At research and control activity resulting in a 1991, Dr Green conducted a series of one site – dubbed ‘The Valley of Death’ Ð major win against the pest Ð and then experiments to determine their influence the ants annihilated an entire breeding things go off the boil in the warm on seedling germination and survival, and migration of red crabs.’ afterglow of success. The problem is on nutrient cycling.

perceived as ‘fixed’, and securing long- He excluded red land crabs from The exotic yellow crazy ant, a golden term funding for follow-up monitoring, experimental plots, finding that ‘carpets’ of coloured six millimetre long native of West control, research and development young seedlings quickly established, and Africa, arrived accidentally on Christmas becomes problematic. that a thick layer of leaf litter built up and Island decades before, probably concealed This is the situation facing La Trobe persisted. Conversely, few seedlings in cargo. Their numbers increased University lecturer in Botany, Dr Peter established where crabs were common on dramatically during the mid 1990s and Green, following his initial success in unfenced control plots, and there was little they began to form super colonies, ranging helping to control the invasion of the build-up of leaf litter. He concluded that from less than one hectare to more than exotic yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis red land crabs were a ‘keystone’ species in 700 hectares. At one point, super colonies gracilipes, on Christmas Island. Christmas Island rainforest, where the had infested about 30 per cent of the normal condition is to have bare forest island’s forested areas. Thanks to Dr Green and his colleagues, floors. who have conducted research on the ‘We found up to 2,000 ants per square ecology of the island for 15 years, a control In 1997 and 1998, Dr Green and his metre on the ground, with as many program launched in 2002 eliminated all colleagues from Monash University foraging in tree canopies where they known crazy ant infestations which discovered tens of thousands of dead red collect honey dew excreted from lac scale threatened the ecology. A major factor was land crabs at several locations where crazy insects, Tachardina aurantiaca, and a that the ants were destroying the island’s yellow ants had formed ‘super colonies’. variety of soft scale insects. The ants have massive population of red land crabs. Millions of ants swarmed over the crab a close mutualistic relationship with scale bodies. insects, collecting their honeydew from

8 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN RESEARCH IN ACTION

‘The aerial baiting campaign was extra- ordinarily successful,’ Dr Green said. ‘We reduced ant activity by an average of 99.4 per cent across all super colonies. Essentially, we wiped out all known super colonies, ND2? with very few “non-target impacts” on native species. which they obtain their carbohydrate requirements,’ Dr Green said. ‘However, new super colonies are beginning to appear in areas not baited, ‘In the early stages of super colony and there are early signs of recovery in comparatively low at this point in time, it formation, yellow crazy ants source much some baited areas. We are now looking at is difficult to attract funds to participate in of their protein from land crabs. The more environmentally-acceptable baits and this research. impact of this invasion has been are also looking to co-operate with catastrophic for the red crabs as they are colleagues in the US Department of ‘We have nominated the invasion of completely wiped out where ant super Agriculture in Florida, who are starting to Christmas Island rainforest by the yellow colonies form’. research biological agents to control scale crazy ant as a “Key Threatening Process” The fallout from these localised insects. under the Federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act. extinctions mirrored Dr Green’s research ‘We think that we can achieve long-term from years earlier, when he excluded crabs control over the yellow crazy ant by ‘We hope this nomination will be from small experimental plots. ‘I saw my controlling scale insect. Without this confirmed by the Minister for the experiment recapitulated at a landscape source of carbohydrate, we think that the Environment and Heritage so that funds scale. In super colonies, there is a build-up likelihood of super colony formation will for continuing monitoring, control and of leaf litter on the ground, and a massive be greatly reduced. research can be found,’ Dr Green added. recruitment of seedlings and saplings in the understorey. Also, there has been some ‘We would like to piggy back on this R&D Photos from far left: baby red crabs, yellow crazy canopy dieback due the effects of sap- ants, spreading bait and Dr Green at work. sucking scale insects, which reach program Ð but as outbreak densities,’ he said. yellow crazy ant numbers on ‘We calculated that by 2002, yellow Christmas crazy ants had killed 20 million of the Island are island’s 60 million red land crabs, presenting the possibility that eventually this significant part of Australia’s natural heritage might be lost altogether.’ ith colleagues from Monash W University and Parks Australia North, Dr Green drew up a ‘shock and awe’ campaign to control the crazy ant invasion. Using GPS and GIS technology, and a lot of leg power, the researchers surveyed the entire island for super colonies and mapped their boundaries. A helicopter then spread granular bait over 2,500 hectares of infested forest.

AUGUST 2004 9 RESEARCH IN ACTION

Dr Paolini, left, Dr Rathbone, seated, and Mr Shivdasani. SOUND RESEARCH in new world class neuroscience laboratory

A TROBE UNIVERSITY’S main which sound is coming. That’s critical, for perceptive sound.’ Melbourne campus at Bundoora is example, when a car is coming and you are Another collaborative research project is the site of a world-class advanced about to cross a road.’ with the Australian National University to L auditory neuroscience laboratory ‘In the research with CRC HEAR, we look at how deafness affects brain established earlier this year. are trying to ascertain whether cochlear development. A key to interpreting these Directed by a leading researcher implant patients with an implant in each results is whether early activity in hearing in intracellular brain recording Ð ear can use these brain mechanisms to nerves exists in the deaf. The La Trobe neurophysiologist Dr Tony Paolini, from localise sounds as a cochlear implant tries neuroscience facility has made it possible La Trobe’s School of Psychological to reintroduce what is lost by stimulating to examine such activity. Science Ð the laboratory is benefiting from electrically the cochlea to produce a $220,000 NHMRC project grant. The stimulus recording equipment, says Professor Jia, left, with Dr Cao. Dr Paolini, is among state-of-the-art apparatus already used for a major research project in collaboration with the Bionic Ear Institute. Another collaboration is between La Trobe’s School of Psychological Science and the Department of Electronic Engineering. Dr Paolini, and Mr Graeme Rathbone, senior lecturer in Electronic Engineering, are investigating direct electrical stimulation of neurons in the cochlear nucleus Ð the part of the brain related to hearing. Recent published work, says Dr Paolini, Mobile communications: making them suggests that the relative timing of brain responses is crucial to the brain’s FASTER, MORE SECURE processing of sound. Because of the sophistication of the new equipment, a More efficient and secure mobile phones, – Dr Cao’s expertise on database systems PhD candidate from Electronic computer notebooks and personal data and data management and Professor Jia’s Engineering, Mr Mohit Shivdasani, is assistants are the aim of a joint research experience as a world-authority on mobile undertaking a three-year research project project by La Trobe University and the network computing and distributed in this area. City University of Hong Kong. systems. Dr Paolini says the CRC for Cochlear Early results of the collaboration have Professor Jia was at La Trobe as a Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation (CRC encouraged Professor Jia Xiaohua, of Distinguished Visiting Professor during HEAR) is particularly interested in the CUHK’s Department of Computer June and July. He is also co-founder of the laboratory’s research capacity following Science, and Dr Jinli Cao of La Trobe’s International Conference on Web results from research to develop Department of Computer Science and Information Systems and Engineering and processing strategies for people with Computer Engineering, to expect they will a permanent member of the conference’s hearing problems. have developed improved technology steering committee. ‘Research in the neuroscience laboratory within three years. He said he and Dr Cao plan to make a is concerned with how our brain processes To achieve this, they are working on substantial contribution to the next sound and with basic questions such as new algorithms, combining their expertise generation of mobile phones, notebooks how our brain knows the direction from on two of the vital aspects of the problem Continued page 12

10 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN NEWS

From left, Professors Brett, Robinson, Tilley and Anderson.

Politics, computers and biochemistry Four new professors appointed

La Trobe University has appointed Professor Anderson has a BSc (Hons) Professor Brett has also edited a four new professors. They are from the and collection of biographical essays on moved to La Trobe University in 1972 to Australian leaders, Political Lives (Allen Dr Marilyn Anderson and study for a PhD. She has held post-doctoral & Unwin, 1997) and co edited Dr Leann Tilley, who have been positions at the University of Miami Developments in Australian Politics appointed as Professors of Medical School and the Cold Spring (Macmillan, 1994.) A regular media Harbor Laboratory. She returned to commentator on Australian politics, she Biochemistry; Dr Judith Brett, Australia in 1982 to take up a senior has been editor of the literary journal, Professor of Politics; and Dr Ian research post at an ARC Special Research Meanjin, and was involved with the Robinson, Professor of Computer Centre at the University of Melbourne, political-cultural magazine, Arena, for Science and Computer Engineering. from where she joined La Trobe in 1995 to many years. set up the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory. Her current research, ‘Ordinary People’s Professor Marilyn Anderson is Director A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Politics’, is an interview project exploring of the Department of Biochemistry’s Plant Company Directors, Professor Anderson the way ordinary Australians have Biotechnology Laboratory. She has helped has also served on the Biological Sciences understood the recent past. forge alliances between La Trobe, the Study Panel of the Australian Research Professor Brett holds a BA (Hons) University of Queensland, the University Council and is Director on the Boards of degree in politics and philosophy and a of Melbourne, Agriculture Victoria and South East Water and Hexima Ltd. PhD in psychoanalysis and literature from CSIRO, to ensure Australia continues to the University of Melbourne, as well as a play a leading role in the development of Professor Judith Brett, a political postgraduate diploma in social pest resistant crops. historian, biographer and author, specialises in research into political culture anthropology from Oxford University, UK. Her laboratory works on new classes of – the interaction between people’s insecticides and anti-microbial molecules Professor Ian Robinson is Deputy Dean, everyday experiences and their political by focusing on three main areas: plant and Associate Dean (International) in the beliefs, values and actions. proteinase inhibitors and insect proteases; Faculty of Science, Technology and floral defensins; and plant cyclotides. Formerly a Reader in Politics at Engineering. He is also Head of the School La Trobe, where she has worked since of Engineering and Mathematical The proteinase inhibitors have a 1989, Professor Brett spent two years Sciences, and former Head of the significant effect on two species of (1998-2000) as the Visiting Professor of Department of Computer Science and Helicoverpa larvae, major pests for Australian History at University College, Computer Engineering. Australia’s cotton crop. Defensins, small Dublin, Ireland. She has just completed a proteins with antimicrobial activities His major research interests are in three-year term as Associate Dean, derived from flowers and part of their mathematical software development and, Research, in the Faculty of Humanities and immune system, are being investigated to in particular, the design of multi- Social Sciences, determine their potential use in dimensional numerical integration agribiotechnology and medicine. And a A Fellow of the Australian Academy of algorithms. His research has been series of plant-derived proteins, cyclotides, the Social Sciences, she is the author two published in leading international journals, Ð which have exceptional chemical and award-winning books, both about the non- including ACM Transactions on biological stability and have already labour side of Australian politics Ð Robert Mathematical Software and the journal of shown themselves useful in medical Menzies Forgotten People (Macmillan, numerical analysis, Numerische applications Ð are being studied for their 1992) and Australian Liberals and the Mathematik. ability to defend crops against micro- Moral Middle Class: From Alfred Deakin Professor Robinson was recently organisms and insects. to John Howard (Cambridge University involved in jointly developing an Press, 2003). Continued page 12

AUGUST 2004 11 NEWS

Shao Lei, East China Normal University, Focus on Asia-Pacific security included Ambassador Yang Chengxu, Chairman of China’s National Committee and co-operation for Pacific Economic Cooperation, who La Trobe University Ð in association with dealing with security and co-operation in gave one of two keynote addresses, and one of China’s leading universities, East the Asia Pacific region. Professor Shen Dingli, a leading Chinese international relations and arms control China Normal University, Shanghai Ð The symposium brought to Australia a expert. recently held a two-day symposium high-powered delegation of scholars and officials and was Among other delegates were Mr Luo followed by a two-day visit to Yuan, Director of National Security the Australian National Strategy Studies Section at the Chinese University and the Department National Academy of Military Sciences, of Foreign Affairs and Trade in and Mr Wu Yikang, Vice-Chairman of Canberra. The delegation, Chinese Association for World Economy. organised by Professor Feng Symposium convener, La Trobe University Professor of International From left: Ambassador Yang Relations, Joseph Camilleri, delivered the Chengxu, Professor Camilleri, Professor Feng Shao Lei, and second keynote address. Professor Stuart Harris, former Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Continued from page 11 trafficking, antimalarial drug development positions the University of Utrecht, in the and malaria diagnostics. The laboratory is Netherlands, at the College de France, APPOINTMENT OF FOUR supported by funds from both the National Paris, and at the University of Melbourne NEW PROFESSORS Health and Medical Research Council and before joining La Trobe in 1989. the Australian Research Council. algorithm called r2d2lri, which is several Continued from page 10 orders of magnitude faster than other Her research probes the interactions of algorithms for two-dimensional problems. the malaria parasite with the erythrocytes MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS of its human host. The aim is to understand It is also effective in evaluating several MAKING THEM FASTER, the basic cell biology of the parasite and difficult integrals over infinite regions that MORE SECURE cannot be solved by other published the molecular basis of drug action and drug resistance, and then develop novel algorithms. and personal data assistants by developing antimalarial drugs and new antimalarial ‘ad hoc networks’. These aim to give His work has been to applied to a wide strategies. The malaria parasite, rapidly mobile device users instant access to the range of IT projects, including computer developing resistance to current most up-to-date data from data centres simulation of walking to help design better antimalarial drugs, is responsible for an while improving the security between data prosthetic limbs for amputees, and he has estimated two million deaths annually. played a key role in attracting the base and mobile devices. Professor Tilley teaches in biochemistry ‘Matchbox’ cultural communities With mobile devices becoming more in the areas of membranes, protein cataloguing project to La Trobe University. popular Ð and used for more sophisticated structure and function and bioinformatics. This is an ARC-funded project based at applications such as e-banking, e-business She is also an expert in the development James Cook University with the University and on-line transactions on stocks Ð a and use of fluorescence-based techniques of Melbourne as the previous partner. problem is that many items in the database and has set up a confocal microscopy from which the device downloads change Professor Robinson’s international facility at La Trobe used by University and so rapidly that, by the time the user applies activities have also helped build up overseas outside researchers. student numbers in Engineering and the data, it could be out of date. A member of the University’s Research Mathematical Sciences at La Trobe by more ‘Imagine a stockbroker downloading and Graduate Studies Committee, than 100 per cent in the last two years. market information and using it to draw up Professor Tilley is also involved in the a contract, and finding that soon after the A PhD graduate and former lecturer at organisation of major conferences for data was received, it changed,’ Professor the University of Melbourne, Professor Australia’s scientific community. For Jia said. ‘This means that we must find a Robinson joined La Trobe in 1975 as a example, she is Vice-President, and Chair way to efficiently synchronise our mobile lecturer in Applied Mathematics. A former of the Program Committee, for the annual device with the database.’ Australian Football League umpire, he Lorne Protein Structure and Function now serves as the AFL’s Video Reports Meeting. With other teams around the world Officer. working on the same problems, Dr Cao Professor Tilley has a BSc (Honours) in and Professor Jia recognise they will need Professor Leann Tilley heads a malaria Biochemistry from the University of to be first to come up with solutions to research laboratory at La Trobe University Melbourne and a PhD from the University have any chance of commercialising their studying oxidative stress, protein of Sydney. She has held postdoctoral research.

12 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN NEWS

Left, Mr Briggs and Dr Auty at the Forum. Photo courtesy Shepparton Adviser.

Several Elders and Respected Persons spoke at the forum. One, Uncle Colin Walker, said the Court was ‘no soft option’ as some critics have claimed. ‘We really bore into them (the defendants),’ he said. However, he recalled a young male offender who had been fostered out as a child and lost all contact with his siblings until he was reunited with his sister in the Court. His sentence was to carry out community orders in his grandmother’s country. Empowering role of the Koori Court The Koori Court in Shepparton appears to Briggs, told the forum, it has had to deal be a huge success Ð and not only the with only six re-offenders out of the 130 Aboriginal Community has benefited. defendants. Dr Angus McIntyre, convener of a La Trobe has a number of links with the recent forum on the Court held at La Trobe Court. Dr McIntyre said the first Chief University, Shepparton, said many whites Magistrate, Dr Kate Auty, obtained her associated with it were among its PhD from La Trobe in 2000 and La Trobe beneficiaries. This was evident, he said, Law’s Dr Mark Harris is evaluating the Graduating in from comments about their dealings with Shepparton and Broadmeadows Koori the Court. Courts for the Department of Justice. Islamic education Deputy Head of the campus and senior Seventy people attended the forum. A group of 38 professional trainers and lecturer in Politics, Dr McIntyre, said Ms They included members of parliament, senior officials from the Indonesian Angela Bolger, who replaced the first interested locals, and people from the Islamic secondary schools system recently magistrate, Dr Kate Auty, talked about the Office of Corrections. graduated after completing a three-week intensive training program in the School of ‘profoundly moving experience’ of sitting Dr Auty described the history of the Educational Studies. in the Court. Court, which had its origins in a Court Registrar, Ms Kerri Thomson, recommendation from the Royal La Trobe University is one of two spoke of ‘my empowering journey’, Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Australian universities which won progressing from ignorance to Custody that the legal system be adapted to international tenders to conduct the understanding Aboriginal culture. And the cultural needs of Aboriginal offenders course. Head of Educational Studies, Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Gordon Porter, and their communities. This was followed Dr Lorraine Ling, said the course has been described poignant moments when he by the Victorian Aboriginal Justice prepared with the Government of brought together defendants and victims. Agreement, adopted by the Victorian Indonesia through the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The Koori Court in the North East, Koori Community and the State established in 2002, was the first in Government in May 2002. Its object is to strengthen secondary Victoria. Conducted in a less formal The objective was to redress the over- school education in public and private manner than standard courts, all representation of Aboriginal people in the Islamic senior schools in Indonesia by participants sit around a table. The court criminal justice system Ð Koori people developing resource training centres takes into consideration Koori customs and were 12 times more likely than non- throughout Indonesia. Participants are the hears only cases in which defendants plead indigenous people to be placed in an adult managers and trainers who will work in guilty. prison Ð and to reduce rates of re-offending these centres. They came from 32 centres in several provinces. Koori Elders and Respected Persons are among Aboriginal people. integral to proceedings. Two sit with the Dr Auty told the forum that the Court Above, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), Magistrate and, among other things, dealt with offences normally heard in a Dr David Stockley congratulates one of the graduates while Dr Ling looks on. discuss sentencing. The Court first sat in Magistrate’s Court, excepting family Shepparton in October 2002 and, as Koori violence and sexual offences. Justice Worker attached to it, Mr Daniel

AUGUST 2004 13 NEWS

Professor Smith, centre, with Professor Murray, left, and Mr Peter Hiscock, Deputy Chair, Heritage Victoria, a consultant to the project.

ART HELPS BUILD LIFE SKILLS

AN EXHIBITION of paintings and drawings by young adults with disabilities Golden opportunity drums from La Trobe Lifeskills was held recently on the University’s main Melbourne up future archaeologists campus at Bundoora. Louise Gresswell, Lifeskills’ Art Co- ordinator, says the theme of this year’s A CLASSROOM ACTIVITY KIT deposits, what they learn from the artefacts exhibition was ‘Identity’, in which more introducing younger students to they retrieve, and how the site is than a dozen artists combined visions of archaeology Ð initiated by La Trobe researched through historical documents, personal interests and fantasy. University Professor of Archaeology, Tim written accounts and maps. La Trobe Lifeskills provides day Murray, and dealing with one of ‘It shows how the excavation proceeded, programs for people with disabilities and Australia’s most significant urban and, finally, what the Camp St site has told special needs. It offers them access to archaeological sites Ð is now available. us about life in Ballarat during the Gold campus activities and facilities. The art Titled Digging for Gold, the kit centres Rush.’ program helps participants explore their on a ‘dig’ by La Trobe and the heritage Professor Smith said Digging for Gold creativity, strengthening their social and consultancy firm, Godden Mackay Logan arose from an idea of Professor Murray’s, independent skills. in Camp St, Ballarat in 2000. following discussions with Heritage Many La Trobe administrative, The kit has been funded by La Trobe Victoria and Godden Mackay Logan. The academic and college staff support the University, Heritage Victoria and Godden kit was developed by Astarte Resources. program, Ms Gresswell says, and Mackay Logan. La Trobe Archaeology technical officers, Lifeskills enjoys being part of the La Trobe University Deputy Vice- Rudy Frank and Wei Ming assembled the University. Chancellor (Research), Professor Fred kit’s contents. Smith, launched the kit in July at the Digging for Gold is available through opening of the Ballarat’s ‘Marching in Astarte Resources, Tel (02) 6238 3616. Below: Lifeskills’ Ms Gresswell with some of the Time’ exhibition, attended by 200 people. works at the exhibition. The exhibition shows finds from the Camp St dig and runs until November 7 at the Ballarat Art Gallery, which occupies part of the Camp St site. It will be on display until mid-November as a prelude to the ‘Eureka Revisited’ exhibition. More than 12,000 artefacts were unearthed at Camp St, as well as the remains of military barracks, a morgue and lock-ups. The Government camp was the legal and administrative centre of the Ballarat goldfields Ð and the site from which the 12th and 40th regiments marched to the Eureka Stockade in 1854. Professor Smith said by focusing on this highly significant chapter in our history, the kit reveals how archaeologists date

14 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN AWARDS

Scholarships recognise disability research

N A FIRST for innovative disability co-supervised by Pro- research, La Trobe University fessor of Politics, Dr postgraduate students have been Judith Brett, and Ms Reidy awarded three out of five new State will be jointly supervised I by Associate Professor Hal Government scholarships to increase Australian-based studies into disability Swerission from the issues. School of Public Health.’ The winning La Trobe students Ð Ms Cooper will explore Margaret Cooper, Patricia Frawley and the experience of ageing Fiona Reidy Ð will each receive an annual for people with long-term grant of $20,000 for three years, under the physical impairments, a inaugural Victorian Disability Plan PhD poorly understood area. A Scholarship Program. wheel-chair user herself, she will research the Announcing the awards, Parliamentary disabling aspects of Secretary for Community Services, Mr society that complicate the Telmo Languiller, said the research will lives of people with long- provide a greater understanding of the term impairments as they challenges facing 800,000 Victorians with get older. a disability. All students will work closely with the Department of Human Services Ms Frawley will study the structures and and the community in developing their operations of organisations that seek to research. involve people with a disability in public Tops in policy making. She will evaluate the Lecturer in the School of Social Work effectiveness of current processes and critical care and Social Policy, Dr Christine Bigby, will develop strategies to improve meaningful nursing supervise the projects. She said the participation. scholarships acknowledged La Trobe’s Bendigo nurse, Tanya Taylor, has received Ms Reidy aims to identify policy strength and breadth in disability research a top honour for her achievement in frameworks used by local government to and will build on existing research around postgraduate critical care nursing. Ms build inclusive communities and will issues of aging with a lifelong disability Taylor has taken out this year’s prestigious examine how these incorporate the needs and inclusion of people with disabilities. Julie Macdonald Excellence award. of people with disabilities. Head of Social Work and Social Policy, The award, by La Trobe University, Associate Professor in Health Sciences, Photo top right: From left, Mr Languiller with Bendigo and the Bendigo Health Care scholarship winners, Ms Frawley, Ms Cooper, front, Alison McClelland, said: ‘A feature of the and Ms Reidy, far right. The others are Mr Arthur Group, is issued annually to a registered scholarships is their broad interdisciplinary Rogers, Head of Disabilty Services, Department of nurse after completion of postgraduate Human Services, and the two University of Melbourne nature. For example Ms Frawley’s is being winners, Anthony Williams and Raelene West. critical care nursing studies.

Ms Cox will use the scholarship for Although raised in the Yarra Valley, Ms Improving the fruit research at CSIRO Merbein, near Mildura, Cox had no previous connection with and the Departments of Agriculture in viticulture until she enrolled in La Trobe’s of the vine Sunraysia, Victoria, and Riverland in Bachelor of Viticultural Science (Hons) La Trobe University Bachelor of South Australia. degree which she will complete this year. Viticultural Science honours student, She will study the role of hormones in She has already helped in a number of Catherine Cox, has won one of the first stimulating pollen tube growth, critical to research projects with the Department of two research scholarships funded by the grape fertilization ‘Poor pollen tube Primary Industries at Mildura and has Cooperative Research Centre for growth results in poor seed production spent eight months as assistant manager of Viticulture. The honours scholarship is one which means lesser developed berries Ð the 150 acre T’Gallant vineyard run by of seven awarded by the Grape and Wine which in turn affects wine quality,’ Ms Cox Beringer Blass on the Mornington Research and Development Corporation. said. Peninsula.

AUGUST 2004 15 AWARDS

Boost to travelling Welcome for scholarships new Peace Scholarship winners La Trobe University has welcomed its first four students under Australia’s new Peace Scholarship Trust program. Three of the students come from Mexico and one from Colombia. The scholarships, for deserving students from selected countries, promote global peace and understanding through international education. An initiative of IDP Education Australia, the scholarships are supported by universities and other sectors of The winning students with Vice-Chancellor Osborne, centre rear. Australia’s international education industry, as well as corporate and wenty-three La Trobe University Australian undergraduate students to government contributors. T students have won this year’s Vice- expand their horizons by doing at least a Chancellor’s Targetted Travelling semester of their degree in another Scholarships, enabling them to spend country. second semester studying at five Apart from personal and academic universities abroad. development, Professor Osborne said The University has increased the study abroad often improved students’ number of awards from 13 since the employment prospects Ð and there were pioneering scholarships were set up under benefits from the experience to the nation the auspices of the International Network as a whole. of Universities (INU) in 2002. La Trobe University is a foundation La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, member of the International Network of Professor Michael Osborne, said three new Universities and Professor Osborne Ð who destination universities have been added to is President of the INU Ð is one of the Three of the Peace Scholarship winners, Ms architects of the scholarship scheme. Rodriguez and Mr Urquijo, left, Ms Garcia, right, the scheme this year. They are Sichuan being welcomed by Manuela Kralemann from University in the People’s Republic of At a ceremony in July, Professor La Trobe’s International Office. Ms Sarmiento arrived after this ceremony. China; James Madison University, Osborne farewelled this year’s scholarship Virginia, USA; and Hiroshima University, winners, and thanked those who have The La Trobe scholarship holders Japan. returned to act as mentors for the scheme. from Mexico are Carla Garcia, who is Professor Osborne said another ‘You are a very special group within the studying nutrition; Yizreel Urquijo, an development was the increasing number of University,’ Professor Osborne said. ‘You international relations student; and Elda students from regional Victoria Ð ten this are the pioneers Ð and in the future I feel Rodriguez, a medical student in her year Ð studying abroad under the scheme. sure that many more students when they country. The student from Colombia is ‘I am particularly pleased about that learn from your experience will be Dayan Eliana Sarmiento, whose field is because it emphasises we are one encouraged to apply to go on these visits electronic technology. overseas.’ University which has many different The La Trobe contingent was among locations and I hope we can always send La Trobe University also offers ten 44 students awarded scholarships to 24 people from all parts of the University on Vice-Chancellor’s International Exchange universities through the $5.7 million these overseas visits.’ Scheme Scholarships annually for Peace Scholarship Trust. Other students The scholarships are part of an language students. have come from India and Cambodia. ambitious scheme to encourage more

16 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY BULLETIN