P.S……. Have You Heard?

Issue 2002 - 05 MAY 2002

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Golf Day Winners 1

Staff Issues 2

HBTY 2

Classifieds 2 Chris White presents the Property Services Golf Trophies to this year’s winners, Brad Bartlett and Rebecca Stride.

Treasures Lost 2 Property Services Golf Day

This year’s Annual Property Services Golf Day was organised Engineering Review 3 once again by Mark Gunther at Yarra Bend Golf Course. 18 staff went along with 10 people playing a round. Brad Bartlett from Bundoora shot a 43 and took out the Men’s Trophy. This Treasure Hunt 3 year we had a winner for the Ladies Trophy – Rebecca Stride. A good day was had by all who attended. Thanks to Mark and to Alan Hart (the Barbie Boss) and to everyone who came Gallery Facts 4 along. Next year, the event will be scheduled during daylight saving time so that we don’t need a torch to find our snags. CLASSIFIEDS. Applying for Leave through ESS. For Sale: People Services have advised that ESS is working effectively. Ivory satin strapless wedding Therefore can all staff that have access to ESS apply for leave in gown, size 8/10 with veil, shoes & this manner. This will alleviate unnecessary processing. accessories.

Hard Copy forms need only be used to apply for leave by staff For details contact Trish Mitchell without access to SAP/ESS or in the case where it is necessary for ext. 53943. an attachment to accompany the application (eg Sick Leave with PS Staff are welcome to submit brief Certificate). notices to the Newsletter advertising items for sale on the understanding that If you believe the reporting structure is incorrect in you area, can all negotiations for the purchase of the you please contact Trish Mitchell ext 53943 to have it rectified. item/s will be direct to the person selling the item/s. 2

Staff Issues

Appointment: Roy Notini : Client Relations Manager Resignation : Alan Delzoppo : Client Relations Manager Retirement: Steve Kelly : Plant Supervisor David Wright : Security Officer

P.S. Have You Heard sends best wishes to everyone who had a Birthday in May Mark Anderson, Paul Bugge, Craig Cahill, Shane Carlile, James Fontaine, William Johnston, Peter Rollins, Matthew Shea, Colin Shiel, Nou Srea, Martin Vause…. And anyone we’ve missed.

Roy Notini commenced with Property Services on 28 May as a Client Relations Manager. Roy provided a similar role at University. Gary Lugg has taken the opportunity with Roy’s appointment, to reorganise the distribution of the CRMs’ clients allocations. (More detail to be published in the next Newsletter.)

Client Relations regrets to announce that Alan Delzoppo has tendered his resignation and will retire from RMIT University on 1 July 2002.

Alan has worked for the Property Group of the University for the past six years, initially commencing to assist with the completion of . Prior to working at RMIT, Alan worked predominately in the Building industry, beginning his career with Civil & Civic where, after 25 years, he resigned as Safety Manager to begin is own business.

During his time with us, Alan has impressed both his colleagues and clients with his outstanding work ethic, enthusiasm and sense of humour.

To help Alan enter into retirement, and to send him off in a suitable fashion, we are organising a farewell on Friday 28 June 2002 to thank Alan for all he has done for the University and Property Services. The details of the function will be circulated to all staff when arrangements have been finalised.

Steve Kelly will be retiring on the 8th of July 2002. After 27 years of dedicated work, his knowledge and experience will be missed. Chris White recently issued a notice through GroupWise announcing Steve’s retirement and to advise that a farewell function will be organised so we can all wish him well for the future. More details soon.

David Wright a Senior Security Officer is retiring on the 2nd of June after 37 years public service in security roles – including 25 years in the Australian and New Zealand Police Forces and 12 years with RMIT. P.S. joins with David’s friends and colleagues in Security in wishing him all the very best for his retirement.

Engineering Review

I am aware that the Engineering Review is generating some conversation throughout the Group and in the light of general interest in the project I would like to clarify the current status of the Review and the progress towards an outcome. Engineering staff and some others are working with two consultants John Stafford and John McIntosh who are reporting to a Review Steering Committee. The consultants’ brief has been documented as a Terms of Reference for the Review and a Review Plan has been prepared comprising 5 stages : 1. Review Preparation (clarifying expectations), 2. Data Gathering (interviews with stakeholders – including every Engineering staff member), 3. Data Analysis (consideration of options to recommend) 4. Preparation of Implementation Plan (present recommendations to Steering Committee and Engineering staff) 5. Implement Agreed Recommendations. The Review has progressed up to the 4th stage with an initial Draft Report to the Steering Committee on the consultants’ findings from the Review. The Committee discussed the content of the first third of the Report at length. The Consultants have undertaken to consider some refinements to the Report. The Steering Committee will reconvene on 6 June to finalise their assessment of the Report. Once a final version of the Report is ratified by the Steering Committee, it will be released to Engineering staff and any other affected staff for their comment. It is anticipated that the Review’s outcomes will be more broadly announced sometime in early July when the last Implementation Phase of the Review should commence. Chris White 3

Two RMIT buildings nominated as Melbourne’s Greatest Treasures

‘Melbourne’s Greatest Treasures’, judged by a select panel of Melburnians have placed The Capitol Theatre, second only to the Shrine of Remembrance. What a great honour for RMIT University, who saved The Capitol Theatre from entombment and destruction by neglect.

Future generations of Melburnians and visitors to our City can now experience and enjoy the coloured crystalline interior of Marion Mahony and Walter Burley Griffin’s masterpiece. What a great responsibility RMIT now has to maintain it and restore it as much as we can.

Professor Leon van Schaik, PVC (Learning and Scholarship), said that “the Capitol Theatre’s interior lifted the spirits and induced wonder on every visit”.

The Capitol Theatre is a public image of RMIT University in the community and could boost RMIT’s reputation if hired out at weekends, for the screening of movies of interest to VCE age students.

The other RMIT building to be nominated as one of Melbourne’s Greatest Treasures was the 1995 remodelling of Storey Hall. It was ranked in the top 20, being nominated by Prof. Leon van Schaik, who described it as “an Aladdin’s cave of delights”. The architects for Storey Hall (1995) were Ashton Raggatt McDougall.

The other ‘Melbourne Treasures’ nominated in the Herald-Sun survey were: Shrine of Remembrance , The Capitol Theatre, M.C.G and Melbourne Park venues, Queen Market, ‘W-Class’ trams, RMIT Storey Hall, ANZ Banking Chamber, corner Collins and Queen Street, Station Pier, Melbourne’s City Parks and Boulevards, City Arcades and Lanes, The Rialto building, Inner-city terrace houses, Federation Square Atrium, Government House, West Gate Bridge, Swimming pool above Adelphi Hotel, Angel outside National Gallery of Vic., former BHP Building, Bourke Street, Airport City Gateway.

Do you think they chose wisely? There are several significant buildings and features of Melbourne that missed out. For example: • The Royal Exhibition Building, • Melbourne Exhibition Centre (Jeff’s Shed), • Museum of Victoria, • Colonial Stadium, • Flinders Street Station, • National Gallery of Vic. (St.Kilda Road), • Regent Theatre, • Princess Theatre, • Polly Woodside (barque).

Name your three favorite ‘Melbourne Treasures’ and send to Peter Navaretti on e-mail [email protected] . We will announce your ‘favorites’ in the next edition of “P.S. Have You Heard”.

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Contributor: Peter Navaretti 4

RMIT Gallery

It is difficult to evaluate the success of an art exhibition; art is subjective - one man’s Picasso is another man’s Ken Done. There are, however several interesting statistics that demonstrate the strengths and contributions of RMIT Gallery.

Visitors 37,791 people have visited RMIT Gallery so far this year. Over 110 schools have sent groups to the Gallery consisting of over 2,000 secondary school students, all of whom are prospective RMIT students.

Money RMIT Gallery has housed over $14M worth of art so far this year. The estimated market value of the Dutch Jewellery exhibition held in February is $3M. The Gerhard Richter exhibition, on display until 8 June, has been valued at $10M. In fact, if money features in your assessment of artistic merit, Gerhard Richter is officially the world’s most expensive living artist.

Advertising RMIT Gallery has a minimal advertising budget, which calls for some entrepreneurial publicity. If the centimetres of media coverage the Gallery has gained in the press is added up and allocated a cost based on advertising rates, the cost exceeds $27,000. Media coverage on radio and television is equivalent to $8,000. Contributor : Fiona Macrae Health & Safety ALERT Shell have issued a warning about mobile phones due to the reports of three incidents recently where mobile phones have ignited fumes whilst being answered or ringing during fuelling operations.

In the first case, the phone was placed on the boot lid during fuelling and when it rang an explosion developed destroying the car and fuel pump. In a second incident, an individual suffered burns to face when fumes ignited as he answered a call during fuelling. The third reported case resulted in an individual suffering burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited after the phone rang in his pocket.

Why did it happen? Mobile phones are able to ignite fumes. It is believed that the more modern phone (those that light up when switched on or when they ring) have enough energy to provide an ignition spark.

Lessons to be learned Mobile phones should be switched off before exiting the vehicle when stopping at a filling station; Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations; These circumstances could also apply when opening and testing atmospheres in confined spaces such as sewers and drains and it is recommended mobile phones be switched off.