April 2009 Newsletter
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The newsletter of the Australian–American Fulbright Commission VOLUME 22 | NUMBER 1 | APRIL 2009 promoting educational and cultural exchange between Australia and the United States. the fulbrighter AUSTRALIA Photos: The 2009 Fulbright Australian Scholars with Mr Tom Pascarella (4th from left, back row), Mr Dan Clune (5th from left), Prof Daryl Le Grew (right) and Dr Joe Hlubucek, Executive Director AAFC (left). Fulbright celebrates the 2009 Australian Scholars The 2009 Fulbright Presentation Dinner, held “The Scholarships are a testimony to the in Tasmania for the first time, was co-hosted vision of the late Senator Fulbright – and of by the University of Tasmania, and held at the United States as a whole – for a better the spectacular Moorilla Estate in Hobart world based on the sharing of knowledge.” on 12 March 2009. Professor Daryl Le Grew, Vice Chancellor inside Twenty-three talented Australians were and President, University of Tasmania, awarded their Fulbright Scholarships at the announced matching funding from the Executive Director’s Update 02 Presentation Dinner. The Scholars will work University for the Fulbright Tasmania New Fulbright 03 in the U.S. on a range of exciting projects Scholarship, and with Mr Daniel Clune, Scholarship for NSW including management of pain in critically Chargé d’ Affaires and Head, U.S. Embassy, ill patients, cancer research, economic also addressed the guests about the ARC grant to fund the Australian 03 development for poorer communities, importance of education, and the objectives Fulbright Program’s history cybercrime prevention, improving nerve of the Fulbright Program. regeneration and the effects of smoke on 2009 Australian Fulbright Scholars 04 CONTINUED PAGE 2 wine grapevines. 2009 Fulbright Symposium 06 The Hon. David Bartlett MP, Premier of Applications now open for 06 Tasmania, addressed the 210 dinner guests, Fulbright Alumni Initiative Grant and announced Tasmanian Government Fulbright U.S. Senior Specialist 06 funding for the Fulbright Tasmania Program Scholarship for a further three years. News 07 The Premier commented that “the Fulbright Events and dates for 2009 08 scholarships are a magnificent international statement about the power of ideas. Australia and the United States of course have enjoyed a long and fruitful friendship for generations.” “How significant then that the first treaty ever signed between our two countries was not about defence, or free trade or fishing rights – but about these Scholarships – with the setting up of the Australian-American Fulbright Commission by treaty in 1949.” the fulbrighter | VOLUME 22 | NUMBER 1 | APRIL 2009 In December, we farewelled Mark Darby, with at the Dinner that the Tasmanian a function by the lake in Canberra. It was Government and the University of well-attended by Fulbright Commission Board Tasmania have renewed joint funding members, Selection Committee members, of the Scholarship for the next Alumni, staff, and other friends. The Board three years. Chair, Tom Pascarella, thanked Mark on behalf The establishment of the Fulbright NSW of the Commission for his many contributions Scholarship was also announced by the over eight productive years and to wish him NSW Premier, the Hon. Nathan Rees MP well for the future. at a launch on 17 March, for the first It has been a busy start to the year with the NSW State Scholarship to be awarded in Fulbright 2009 Presentation Dinner and 2010. The Scholarship is jointly funded orientation program for the new Scholars, by the NSW Government and the NSW held in Tasmania at the picturesque Moorilla universities, with additional funding to Estate Winery, and sold-out weeks in advance. be sought from sponsors to establish We are most grateful to the Vice-Chancellor, the award in perpetuity. Professor Daryl Le Grew, and his colleagues In the U.S., we were pleased that many at the University of Tasmania for co-hosting alumni were able to enjoy Australia Plays the Dinner and the excellent arrangements Carnegie Hall as part of the G’Day USA ED’s Update and entertainment. We were pleased to have program, and sincere thanks to Alumnus Dan Clune, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Jonathan Miller and Richard Archibald at I have enjoyed my first four Embassy, and the Premier of Tasmania, the the Australian Consulate-General in New months as Executive Director Hon. David Bartlett MP as guests of honour. York for coordinating the arrangements. with the Australian-American The Presentation Dinner introduced the The schedule for Fulbright State receptions Fulbright Commission (AAFC). impressive cohort of 23 Australian Fulbright in April-May has been finalised with Scholars for 2009, including the two Fulbright the dates listed in the Calender on our It has been a steep but exciting learning Tasmania Scholars, Dr Peter Jarvis and website. I am looking forward to these as curve as I familiarise myself with the Dr Gretta Pecl. The Scholarship will continue an opportunity to meet with more Fulbright extensive Fulbright networks, upcoming to support Tasmanian scholars to undertake Scholars, Alumni and supporters. events, and meeting with Fulbright Scholars, research in the US on topics of importance Alumni and supporters. to the state, with the welcome announcement Joe Hlubucek Executive Director The Premier of Tasmania, Mr David Bartlett addresses FRONT ROW FROM LEFT: Premier David Bartlett; Dr Gretta Pecl and Dr Peter Jarvis, the 2009 Fulbright Tasmania Scholars. the dinner guests. PHOTOS: SEAN FENNESSY BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Mr Dan Clune, Dr Joe Hlubucek, Mr Tom Pascarella, and Prof Daryl Le Grew. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dr Tony Worby, National President of the “We are honoured and excited to be Australian Fulbright Alumni Association. The highlight of the evening was the recipients of these awards, and will certainly introduction of the Scholars. They were Mr Tom Pascarella, Chair of the Australian- do our best as Ambassadors for Australia presented with Fulbright Pins by Premier American Fulbright Commission Board and and the Fulbright organisation,” Dr Pecl said, Bartlett; with Certificates signed by the Managing Director and Country Executive and thanked the AAFC, and the organisations Prime Minister, The Hon. Kevin Rudd, Officer, Bank of America, introduced and individuals that generously support the and the U.S. Ambassador, presented by Fulbright Tasmania Scholar, Dr Gretta Pecl, Fulbright Program. Mr Clune; and with Letters of Congratulation who responded on behalf of the 2009 from the Prime Minister, presented by Fulbright Australian Scholars. 2 New Fulbright Scholarship for NSW Talented postgraduates and when governments around the world are postdoctoral scholars in NSW looking increasingly to scientific research and higher learning to find solutions to Photo: Dr Alice Garner will now have the additional our global problems,” Mr Rees said. opportunity to apply for a specific Australian-American Fulbright state Fulbright Scholarship. Commission (AAFC) Board Chair, ARC grant to fund the Mr Tom Pascarella, congratulated the Australian Fulbright NSW Government and the NSW universities The scholarship is valued at up to Aus on the establishment of the Fulbright $50,000 for research or study for up to Program’s history NSW Scholarship, adding: 12 months in the US on a topic of relevence The history and impact of the 60 year “This Fulbright NSW Scholarship will to NSW. The first applications will be Fulbright Program in Australia will give talented young people from NSW invited in June this year. be told through a project funded by special opportunities to participate in The Hon. Nathan Rees MP, the Premier an Australian Research Council the prestigious Fulbright Program. It of NSW, announced the establishment Linkage Grant. will promote professional and academic of the Fulbright NSW Scholarship at a links between the U.S. and NSW, with The proposal from La Trobe University, meeting of NSW Vice-Chancellors, held research projects that will provide Deakin University, the Australian- at the University of New South Wales long-term benefits to the state.” American Fulbright Commission and (UNSW) on 17 March 2009. the National Library to undertake the The AAFC is grateful for the support The Scholarship is jointly funded by the for the Scholarship from the NSW research was successful in October 2008. NSW Government and NSW universities, Government and the NSW universities— The Fulbright program was initiated with additional funding to be sought from Charles Sturt University; Macquarie in 1949, as Australia entered a period sponsors to establish this Scholarship in University; the University of New England; of significant expansion and growth in perpetuity. The Scholarship will be awarded the University of Newcastle; Southern institutions and in a period of social and to the applicant whose project will have the Cross University; the University of NSW; cultural change. greatest potential benefit to NSW. the University of Sydney; the University The ARC project will examine the part “This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen of Technology, Sydney; the University of that the Fulbright Program played in this the ties between the Government and the Western Sydney and the University of period of social change. It provided the higher education sector in NSW at a time Wollongong. opportunity for many young Australians to spend time in the U.S., developing skills and being exposed to new experiences and relationships. Heading up the history project are Fulbright Alumni Professor Diane Kirkby, (Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow in History, 1985) Professor Dennis Altman (Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar 1964) both from La Trobe University, and Professor David Walker, Australian Studies, Deakin University. Dr Alice Garner, Postdoctoral Fellow in History from La Trobe University will be contacting Australian Fulbright Alumni and interviewing them for the project over the next two-three years. The National Library is providing support with their expertise and technical equipment for the collection of oral histories. Alice may contact you in the near future. If you have any questions about the project you are welcome to contact the Communication Manager at the AAFC Announcement of the Fulbright NSW Scholarship.