The University of Newcastle

[SSN [032-2272 Number 20. June 1992 Registration NBG 9467 HONORARY DOCTOR OF MUSIC TO PRIMA BALLERINA

A memorable start was made to the when she performed, not only to see her 1992 Graduation Ceremony when an dance but also, because she received so Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music many curtain calls we would be paid around him finishing the ballet. When was conferred upon Prima Ballerina, overtime. the curtain carne down, someone had to Miss Marilyu jones. "At 191 joined the BorovanskyBallet, saw through the floor boards to get the The Honorary Degree was conferred a commercial company, and performed poor dancer out," Dr jones said. during the first session of the Grad­ my first ballerina role of Princess Aurora "The Australian Ballet has become a uation Ceremony on Friday, May 1 in in 'The Sleeping Beauty'. In Australia in company of international standard, recognition of Miss Jones' magnificent the 1950's there were no subsidised touring continually since 1965. I have contribution to the art of dance in companies. The Borovansky company been with the company to many pans of Australia. had seasons of approximately 18 the world including China, North and The Dean of the Faculty of Music, Mr months at a time, touring Australia and South America, Europe,South East Asia Michael Dudman, said it gave him great New Zealand. and the Soviet Union. It has been a very pleasure to present Miss Jones for admis­ "From there, my husband, Garth rewarding career," she said. sion to the honorary degree as she had Welch, and I were accepted into the Dr jones has also seen her two sons, established for herself a place of great Marquis De Quevas company, an inter­ Stanton and Damien, take up ballet as a eminence in her an. national company based in Paris. The career to become second generation He said that in our own time and company toured Europe extensively and dancers of the Australian Ballet country, the deep affection in which the ] had wonderful roles to perform and At the moment, Dr Jones is perfonning art of ballet is held, simply demonstrates wonderful partners to dance them with, in a ballet, written and choreographed the ongoing popularity of dance as a including Rudolf Nureyev who had by Stanton, called 'A Blessed Memory', strong strand in everyday life. recently defected from Russia. currently enjoying a season at the ]n her occasional address which delig­ "By 1962, at last a national Australian Sydney Opera House. Stanton has dedic­ hted the graduates and their guests Ballet Company, funded by the Govern­ ated the ballet to his mother and it tells gathered in the Great Hall, Dr jones said ment, was formed. Dame Peggy van the story of the parenUchild relationship she was extremely proud to receive this Praagh was the Company's first Artistic from birth to when the ties are broken. honour and all the more so because it Director and Garth and I were invited The ballet will also be performed in had been conferred by The Universityof back home to perform in the inaugural London in July. Newcastle. season in Sydney. Apart from guesting Two years ago she was awarded an "] had a wonderful childhood here, so with the London Festival Ballet, ] Australian Artists Creative Fellowship Newcastle is very special to me," Dr remained with the Australian Ballet until by the Australia Council which has jones said. my retirement, one of several, might ] enabled her to establish a new organis­ "] started my early ballet training here add," she quipped. ation, The Australian Institute of Class­ at five years of age, under the tuition of Dr jones treated her audience to a ical Dance (A.l.C.D.). As the Artistic Tessa Maunder who taught me until ] humourous insight into her early career. Director of this organisation, Dr Jones was 15 when] was fortunate to win a She said that during the early days of aims to assist, support and unite the scholarship which enabled me to con­ the Australian Ballet Company there classical ballet teachers of Australia and tinue my studies at the Royal Ballet were hard times financially and during to provide an Australian system of asses­ School in London. these periods the Company would be sment of students' standards. "My first professional job as a dancer split into two groups to tour the country ''This honorary doctorate, which you was with the Royal Ballet Company. ] areas. have so graciously conferred on me, I was then 1 7 and during my time with "Some of the halls we had to perform see also as an honour for the art of the Royal Ballet, the company toured in were pretty appalling and on one classical dance, of which ] am a represen­ the United States and Canada. Dame occasion one of the dancers jumped and tative. Margot Fonteyu was the Prima Ballerina went through the floor up to his waist. "] thank you, both personally and on and we, the younger dancers, loved it The other dancers continued to dance behalf of my art." Dr Jones concluded.

CONTENTS Editor FRONT COVER Sonja Duncan, lnfomJation Windennere House P4 This striking artwork was painted by and Public Relations Unit renowned local artist and Muswellbrook art A Love Affair with Literature Contributing Writers teacher, Max Watters (AM) in 1982. Thisoil P9 Cae Pattison painting, entitled "Farmhouses Jerry's Plains Road" Fonns pan of the Universitycollection, Bush Tucker P12 - 13 John Miner Sonja Duncan It was presented to the University by Convocation News PIS - 19 graduates of the Faculty of Economics and Design and Artwork Commerce and L'niversity Staff of 1982 in Graduation 1992 P20 - 23 Gill Hughes the memory of Neal J. Dickinson. William Mitchell

Page 2 SWATHED IN A CLOUD OF MAN MADE Pollution is now recognised as a major The resolution is now in effect and it is problem confronting the human race. expected that full international cooperation Whether global, such as greenhouse gases on this important issue will result. Com­ and fluorocarbons, or local, with PCB mission 15 of the IAU, a large Commission chemicals and heavy metals, the quality of which deals with planets and satellites, has life on planet Earth is under threat. elected Professor Keay to its ranks in recog­ But the damage does not end at the nition of his efforts in its interest boundary of our planet. The various national "nK Because of his leading role in international space agencies are starting to worry about scientific affairs, Professor Keay has since the level of pollution in the region of space 1985 been listed in the annual Yearbook of surrounding the Earth, extending almost as the International Council of Scientific Unions, far as the Moon. which embraces Science, Engineering and Four years ago. a Conference convened in Medical Science. He is the onlyNovocastrian Washingron by the US National Aeronautics among the sixty Australians listed in the and Space Administration was shown yearbook. alarming evidence of the dangers produced by the rising tide of junk in cislunar space. A Upon induction as President, Professor video movie produced from radar tracking Keay drew attention to a number of problems data showed our planet swathed in a cloud facing his Commission. He suggested that of man -made junk. The effect was just as if the Commission should take the initiative in the Earth were a hive of bees. preventing the pollution of interplanetary The frightening aspect of this situation space while there is still time to do so. The lies in the risk of collision between pieces of Commission members agreed unanimously junk travelling in opposite directions at and, at Professor Keay's suggestion, speeds up to fifteen kilometres per second. appointed Professor Iwan Williams, of One collision can produce hundreds to thous­ London, as convener of a working group of ands of fragments. Each extra fragment senior international space experts, from all multiplies the chance of further collision, of the world's major space agencies, to until the existing space junk is ground down achieve a consensus on the steps to be to dust particles, It is an accelerating process taken. which, according to some estimates, could The replies were highly constructive and take less than a century. formed a basis for progress. While Professor Tiny particles in orbit are far from harm­ Keay was Visiting Professor in London in less. A space shuttle mission nearly 1990, the two Professors drafted a resolution succumbed to the impact of a fleck of paint forthe General Assembly of the International less than a millimetre in size. It bored its way Astronomical Union in Buenos Aires last almost completely through a window panel year. Other related Commissions were invited of the shuttle. to endorse the resolution and, when a A dust cloud surrounding the Earth could proposal agreeable to everyone was reached, make future space missions very difficult, if it went before the Closing Session of the not impossible. This includes the proposed Assembly and was adopted unanimously. space station. The final form of the Resolution on the Scientists are concerned for another reason Prevention ofInterplanetary Pollution reads: also. Man-made dust particles will cont­ The 2 I st General Assembly of the Interna­ aminate samples of natural interplanetary tional Astronomical Union, recognisingthat ,hotographic dust which is not dense enough to pose the pollution of the space environment in much of a threat to space missions. Scientific the close vicinity of the Earth is now of competition investigation of the solar system environ­ serious concern, and that pollution of the ment will slow to a halt if the pollution near remainder of the Solar System is only a the Earth becomes much worse. matter of time, recommends that steps be These concerns worried Professor Colin taken immediately to ensure that inter­ ENTRIES CLOSE Keay, Associate Professor of Physics at The planetary space throughout the Solar Universiry of Newcastle, in 1988 when he Systems is protected as far as possible from JUNE 30TH, 1992 was elected President of Commission 22 of all forms of pollution, urgesthe International the International Astronomical Union, the Astronomical Union to establish an inter­ further enquiries supreme world body for astronomy. Com­ Commission Working Group on the Pre­ mission 22, with over 100 members, has the vention ofInterplanetary Pollution and that Ph: 216444 responsibility for matters related to all natural the Working Group should consult widely objects in the solar system smaller than with CaSPAR, otherrelevant Unions, Space Information and comets and asteroids, ranging all the way Agencies and the United Nations Committee down to interplanetary dust particles. for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Public Relations Unit Page 3 ENGINEERING EXPERTISE HELPS HISTORIC HOUSE WINDERN In an example of how modem engin­ A Gracious ReITl eering knowledge can be applied to evel}'day life, one University academic has been able to give specialised advice which has assisted in the preservation of an historic Hunter Valley house. The first sight of the rusty, black-iron Duke of Wellington) believed that by looking Professor Rob Melchers from the Depart­ convict chains hanging on the whitewashed after an army well, they fought well. Here in ment of Civil Engineering and Slllveying, wall hits home and momentarily strikes you Australia, 13,000 miles and six months was approached by Mr Peter Capp, the with the same sort of terror that the wearers apart, Winder had the same attitude and was owner of Windermere House at Lochinvar must have experienced when they felt the treating the convicts well. In fact he was for advice on an ongoing problem of water weight of them for the first time. reprimanded by Governor Macquarie for seeping into the basement level of the house. The chains, some with vel}' rudimentary doing so. Windermere House, built with convict links and others with perfectly symmetrical "He would let them off the chains while labour in 182 I, is set in gentle countl}' just ones. are part of a collection of authentic they worked so they could do a more efficient outside ofLochinvar and is the oldest historic memorabilia at one of the Hunter Valley's job. He also made sure they were given good house in the Hunter Valley. It was built on a oldest and most historic houses, Windermere rations, including corned meat and a pint of grant of land by Thomas Wright Melville House. wine each day. The corned meat probably Winder, an English sea captain who later Owners, and keepers ofthe history, Peter replaced their salt intake while the wine became a successful businessman in the and Lorna Capp and their daughters, Annabel made sure they got a good sleep. newly established colony. Winder is credited and Philippa, are the fourth and fifth generat­ "There's no record of any daring escapes with growing the first grapes in the Valley. ion of the Capp family to live in the house or bloody murders. That's a very good record Peter and his wife, Lorna and their daught­ which was built in 1821 with convict labour. for 47 convicts recorded at the time, both ers, Annabel and Phillipa, are the fourth and Located in gentle country just outside male and female. It was the largest number fifth generation of the Capp family to live in Lochinvar, Windermere House was built by assigned to anyone particular person," he the house after Peters great grandfather Thomas White Melville Winder, 33 years of says. purchased the property in 1870. age at the time, an English sea captain, a When Winder was first granted the land, When assessing the situation. Professor man of vision and reputedly the son of there was a cedar forest, a very important Melchers came up with the idea of digging Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, commodity in the colony. 1.8 metre trenches around the house, placing and Lady Mal}' Melville. Initially the convicts spent their time agricultural drains, and installing heavy The house is the subject of a labour oflove winning the cedar and transporting it to plastic sheeting at a 45 degree angle, to for Peter, whose dream is to preserve the ships, whieh by the way, were owned and channel the water well away from the historic homestead. operated by Winder. He operated a fleet of building. Notwithstanding the $30,000 loan from packet ships which plied up and down the The work was undertaken with funds the Heritage Commission of New South coast, weaving this business in with his provided by an indexed refundable grant of Wales, Peter admits that finances have been other commercial interests of the Lachlan $30,000 from the Heritage Commission of a problem when it comes to preserving a and the Waterloo Flour Mills in Sydney and New South Wales, which has allowed the house of this calibre. But if his ingenUity in also bond stores. Capps to tackle the moisture problem. solving problems is any indication, his dream He realised that the soil was very rich, "This situation has been causing con­ should be realised. fertile and suitable for growing grapes, and siderable difficulties for us for some years," He refers unconsciously to 'wings' of the is credited with having planted the first Peter said. house and such wondrous things as 'the grapes in the valley. He also planted wheat, "We found that the moisture was having butler's pantl}", the 'smoking room' and the oats, barley and maize as well as raising an effect on the handmade brick walls in the 'selVants' quarters' of bygone days. cattle, horses and sheep. Under his direction basement level. It was causing them to Peter says the house was originally built a dail}' was fully operating by 1827. become powdel}'. with four wings forming a central courtyard. He atranged that the convicts generate "This is the area where the convicts were Now there are only the East and South the cash flow by winning the timber, housed in the 1820's and is of great historical Wings, the others demolished after being preparing the soil, planting the crops, reaping significance. It was of the utmost importance damaged by fire in 1882. the halVest and looking after the stock. In to rectify the problem, not only to preseIve He says it was completed before East their 'spare' time they built the house which the house, but also the histol}'. Maitland and West Maitland were estab­ was considered to be less necessary than the "The work that has been done appears to lished in 1829. The area was then known as business. be working quite efficiently and it is proving Wallis Plains. ''The whole exercise was organised over a to be worth the effort of having it done," he "Many houses of that time were built in period of six years which meant that by the said. this fashion and it's said that it was to time the property was established, the con­ Local contractors carried out the work provide a safe place for children to play so victs' sentences were up and they were free which was completed within two months. they wouldn't be stolen by the Aborigines men and women," Peter said. Professor Melchers is delighted to have who felt that the white children weren't "Bearing in mind that the house was twice been able to solve the problem and said it being brought up properly and were not its present size and the coach house had was yet another example of how the Uni­ being taught anything about life. However, another storey then, there must have been a versil}' is involved with the community. there is no record of any children being very large numberofbricks made. And these taken from here," Peter says. were made by hand. "It's interesting that some years before "There were also horse and cattle yards. Winder established the house here, his father The fencing for these was vel}' labour intens­ had been leading soldiers into battle in the ive, first having to fell the timber, fashion the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. Wellesley (the posts and rails and build the fences. And Page 4 ERE HOUSE nder of Bygone Days

there was no fencing wire in those days. "We find it interesting that in spite of the his life and has inherited not only the Fences like that would have taken a tremen­ lack of parental push or money given to help trappings of a bygone gracious lifestyle, but dous amount of doing. him on his way, apart from a letter of vintage faom implements, a huge amount of "The convicts also tended the grapes, ran introduction tathe Governor, Winder, giving memorabilia dating back to those first convict a cooper's shop, a blacksmith's shop, a him due credit, was exceptionally enter­ days and also many problems associated harness shop and a wheelwright. Winder prising and ve!)' capable. Even though he with maintaining the house. Peter and Lorna had carefully selected his convict labour was well honoured with grants of land and talk about the house with infectious with particular skills in mind, making sure friendship with the Governor, he worked enthusiasm. The ceilings are more than 12 that their skills were passed on to others. ve!)' hard," he says. feet high and the rooms are large with the "In terms of having a good life, I don't The property was sold to a Mr Nott in lavish cedar joine!)' that is only found in old think the convicts enjoyed luxurious 1851 who then resold it to a Mr Green in houses. The Capps have decorated with conditions, but they were well looked after 1854. Peter's great-grandfather, Charles authentic colours and furnishings to keep and certainly weren't as badly off as others. Solomon capp, purchased the property from the original feeling of the house. "Winder was on friendly terms with Mr Green in 1870 and from there the Peter says an exercise conducted at the Governor Macquarie and the explorer, property has been passed down through the house in 1 984 by an architecture student, William Charles Wentworth, who both paid family. found that all the windows, doors, and walls regular visits to the house. Peter has lived at Windermere House all were perfectly symmetrical and absolutely precise in their measurements. The distance between windows and doors is exactly precise and is so geometrically correct that the walls are perfectly perpendicular and eve!), floor is level throughout the house. "It says a lot about the craftsmanship of those early convict builders," Peter says. The house has not only sUlvived the fire which destroyed half of it and most of its furniture and belongings in 1882, but also the Maitland Flood in 1955. Still it stands proudly as one of the reminders of the earliest days of the Hunter Valley. Peter and Lorna hope to develop the house further so that they can show it to tour groups and visitors. They would like people to see their extensive collection of history, convict items, clothing, china, furniture, historic newspapers, books, medals and household implements. ''The convicts' living and sleeping quarters as well as reminders of the methods used to detain them are always ofinterest to visitors and provide an eye-opening view of how life was in the early days of settlement. "We have both aspects here, the rem­ ainders from a grand lifesryle and the means by which it was created."

PrQ/essor Rob Melcher (r) with Peter and Lorna Capp at Windermere House.

Page 5 -ROLAND ROBINSON-1912-1992-

'I gave these things the greater worth and turned to wandering the earth, and took fortrade the tags of rhyme to justilY myself to time' Roland Robinson. 'Because I Wakened'.

Roland Robinson was everyone's idea of He used to have toscmb the floor and how a poet ought to be -passionate, mystical. ifhe didn't do it properly the woman a minstrel-like wanderer and an observant sat on a seat and switched him with a outsider, a person gifted with the ability to cane. He lived away from the house ... 'mesmerise people with the power of words'. and there was a cowbell on a string Dr Roland Robinson AD receiving his honorary In accepting the Honorary Degree of Doctor right across to where he slept down degree qf Doctor Q/ Lettersftom PrQ/essor of Letters at The University of Newcastle in in the yard (to summon him to the Keith Morgan (I) andjustice Elizabeth Evatt (r). May 1991, he told the packed gathering house). that, stripped to the vanity of his attainment, He was desperate, naturally, to leave such member of the Jindyworobak movement, 'verse and verse alone did he have to offer a miserable Dickensian situation. At sixteen which was nationalist, bush and Aboriginal­ them'. he made his escape and obtained work oriented and whose leading spirit was his He then proceeded to entertain and to elsewhere in the countryside as a boundary friend the Adelaide poet Rex Ingamells, The move his audience with a sparkling recitation rider, station-hand and groom. He erected Jindys were opposed to the Europo-centrtc from memory of several of his best regarded boundary fences, mustered and slaughtered outlook that prevailed in Australia'S literary and most striking poems that illustrated the sheep for the market, and learnt all he could world. Roland claimed that the Australian broad range of his undoubted accompl­ about horses. Horses were to become a poet's urgent task was to drive out the ishment. lifelong love and obsession with him, 'imponed menagerie' or 'satyrs, fauns, It was to be his iast important public Despite, or maybe because of his isolated nymphs, pans, elves, pixies and fairies' that perfonnance. Roland Robinson, poet, critic bush existence, he devoured every book he inhabited the imagined Australian bush and collector of Aboriginal folklore, myths could lay his hands on, He began to give under the influence of poets like Hugh and legends, died on Saturday afternoon, 8 himself, unaided, a rich literary education. McCrae and artists like Nonnan Lindsayand February 1992,aged 79, at Belmont Hospital During a bad outback drought, however, he to 'reinstate the indigenous inhabitants', near Lake Macquarie, where he had been lost his job and at nineteen headed for the During his years in the Top End, Roland met bedridden for a number of weeks as the metropolis of Sydney. He later recalled that for the first time fellow Jindyworobak poet result of a heart condition, A series of small at the time he 'was hungry for music and art William Hart -Smith at Thirteen Mile Camp strokes had left him increasingly frail over and literature' and wanted to make up for and the author WE (Bill) Harney. Both the past few years, however his intellect such a brief fonnal education. He did this by became life-long friends. remained as fertile. perceptive, compass­ haunting the Sydney Library on 'a voyage of Roland Robinson stayed for some time at ionate and sharp as ever to the end. discovery'. Deep Well, a small fettler's camp eighty He was buried at Belmont cemetery after a Roland obtained a night job in a hOSiery kilometres south of Alice Springs. Drawn private funeral attended (in the Gaelic factory in Rushcutter's Bay and read authors from his experience there, his poem Deep tradition) only by men on Monday, February like Tolstoy and William Morris during the Well, evokes the flashing colour images, the 10. day. He soon became an activist in the isolated spirit and mystical sensuous beauty A memorial service in his honour was textiles union and helped leadanation-wide of the place. held on the following Saturday at All Saint's strike for better working conditions. But I am at Deep Well where the fettlers' Anglican Church, Belmont and was attended after the union executive advised the hard car travels towards the cool blue by friends he had accumulated from many pressed. striking workers to return to their rising wave that is the Ooraminna parts of Australia over a long and a richly jobs immediately without any real gains, he Range, and starts those pure birds varied writing career. became disillusioned with the selfishness screaming from the scrub to sweIVe, 'Roland Robinson was born of English and double-dealing of the union bosses and reveal their pristine blush in wings parents on June 12, 1912 in Balbriggan, returned to outdoor work in the bush. and breasts, to scatter, settle and Ireland, and had migrated with them to With the Second World War fastapproach­ flower the desert-oak Australia at the age of nine, Throughout his ing. he took a courageous public stance as a Roland was to spend some years in the life he retained a great affinity with the place conscientious objector. When he was called 1940's working in the vicinity of the Roper of his birth, learning much about Irish oral up he refused to be examined and was River, which was to produce notable and traditions, and making a particular study of imprisoned in the locallock-up,afterrefusing emotionally striking poems like Black the Irish west coast and its folklore. to pay a fine of one pound. His decision Cockatoos in which he announces his credo His mother, who had strong interests in arose basically from his early childhood as a lyrical poet: literature and who played the mandolin, impressions of the human impact of the 'so shall I flnd me harsh and blendless died soon after the family's arrival in Great War: words/or barbarous beauty enough Australia. For the rest of his life, Roland My most vivid childhood memories to sing this land'. carried her mandolin as he travelled overthe are of women crying. It seemed that Roland's first collection of verse - Beyond vast Australian continent on his lyrical every woman had lost someone in the Grass-tree Spears - was published in wanderer's voyage of discovery. Without his that dreadful trench war.... and I 1944 and received a good critical reception, mother, aspects of Roland's fonnative years cel13inly wasn't going to war. It was followed by Language of the Sand in were harsh, but, nevertheless, they fertilised He was bailed out by a friend and soon 1949 which established him as a major his poetic imagination. He left school at after took part in a debate on conscientious lyrical poet Several other volumes of verse fourteen because his father had obtained for objection at the University of Tasmania. were to follow, including the prize-winning him a job as a houseboy on a sheep propertY Roland was sent to the Northern Territory Tumult of the Swans in 1953. Each poem near dusty Coonamble on the western plains as a labourer in the Civic Construction Corps that Robinson produced was sculpted with a of New South Wales. His employers were to in the last years of World War II. By this deep sense of place which hannonised with treat him harshly: time he was writing verse and was an active the texture and character of its subject He Page 6

• --:fHE MINSTREL POET.-- TUNRA win ContractJor searched always for fresh language that ature Board Grants in 1973 and 1977 anda would bring his responses alive on the page: Fellowship in 1976. In 1988 he was awarded sight, hearing, taste, smell and 'the great the Medal of the Order of Australia for his colour images of this land'. services to literature as well as the highly OTC At Woodenbong, a New South Wales prestigious Patrick White Award, and finally, village and Aboriginal settlement on the in 1991 the Honorary Doctorate at Mount Lindesay Highway near the Queens· Newcastle. Such richly deserved honours land border, Roland gathered much came late. Roland Robinson was at the very Aboriginal lore from members of the core of the poetic reawakening in the Second Bandjalang tribe and with their penuission World War years in Australia . are· transcribed some of it into English verse awakening that directed Australians unself· which was published. He did the same in the consciously towards their own landscape: 'a Shoalhaven district on the south coast of barbaric country of burning colour' with New South Wales with the Walbangas and 'corrodingblood·red hills' and 'sanded rivers the Wandandiars, whose oral traditions were the Gulf rain fills'. Life after death had no recorded and celebrated in his book Black· terrors for the lyrical voyager. Feller, White·Feller published in 1958. He was able to write his own epitaph in Robinson's collecting work among 'I'll wake somewhere': Aborigines bore other fruit in the field of Where do IIie? prose with the publication of Aboriginal break the wind that hurls the star· Myths and Legends in 1966 which was shoals across the night? reprinted several times and became a Earth reels under me. ['/[ wake some· standard text, widely used in schools, where, I know, again to hear honey OTC's Sydney Satellite Earth Station colleges and universities. It was a much eaters'songs shaken out from ridges appreciated, well·received pioneering work ofgrass·tree spears. and it was followed by Altjeringa and other ['/[ set out again for mountains at the TUNRA, the University's commercial Aboriginal Poems in 1970, and Australian end of the world. Where casuarinas company, has won a development contract Aboriginals in Colour and Wandjina in 1971. fringe the turquoise sea. ['/[ find my for OTC worth $200,000 in association with As well as being one of the founding cave, scrawl my verses in charcoal on the Centre for Industrial Control Science members of the Jindyworobakclub, through· the walls. (CICS). out his life Roland Robinson supported, The project involves the developmentofa with great generosity, the work of young JR. prototype antenna tracking controller for an Australian poets. He established the Lytebird unstaffed earth station in the Cook Islands. Writers Group which published several collec· OTC has a contract to supply and install tions of verse under his editorship and was a six satellite earth stations in the Cook Islands distinguished editor of Poetry Australia for to provide automatic telephone selVices to many years. He was also a President of the PROFESSOR CLARKE six remote island communities. Each station Poetry Society of Australia. - THE 1991 EXXON will use solar power. During a long nomadic lifetime before DISTINGUISHED The satellites will service OTC's PACT· settling in Belmont (a suburb of Lake LECTURER AT Pacific Area Cooperative Telecom­ Macquarie) in the late 1970s, Roland munications - network, whose members Robinson worked in various colourful and 'OLE MISS' include Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Niue, unusual occupations: he was a country Deputy President of the Academic Senate, Nauru, Tuvalu and New Zealand, as well as jockey at picnic races, a breaker and trainer Professor Frank Clarke, undertook a quick Australia and the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is of horses, a dancer who toured with the trip to the United States during the first two the switching hub of the network's satellite Kirsova Ballet Company after which he was weeks of December to fulflllecturingcommit· links. a ballet critic with The Sydney Morning ments to Doctoral candidates at the Uni· The Chief Executive Officer ofTUNRA, Mr Herald, an artist's model, the groundsman at versity of Mississippi. Professor Clarke was Karel Grezl, said the OTC development built the Woollahra Golf Course for many years, invited by the Graduate School at "Ole Miss" on the success of TUNRA and CICS in and a book reviewer for both The Sydney to be its 1991 Exxon Distinguished Lecturer. winning a $1.2 million contract from AWA Morning Herald and The Newcastle Herald. Whilst in the US Professor Clarke also pres· Defence and Baulderstone Hornibrook to He was a tall distinguished· looking man, ented a paper at the Research Methodology deSign, build, install, commission and with a flowing mane of white hair, piercing conference conducted by the Academy of support an antenna tracking project near blue eyes and fiery eyebrows. He married Accounting Historians, held at the University Geraldton in Western Australia. twice, but had no children. He once said 'my of Mississippi. Mr Grezl said the production systems for poems are my children' - and these were In transit, the Deputy President visited the the West Australian project, which were many and distinguished, but like many Chinese University in Hong Kong. In Britain ordered under a 1990 contract, had been Australian writers he had to earn his living he collected materials on the privatisation of assembled and were being shipped now. by other means. He won the inaugural first public enterprises and on creative accounting He said a market sUlVey had been commis­ prize in the National Book Council Award by failed companies pursuant to research sioned by Austrade to identify demand for for Australian Literature in 1974 (the Banjo projects to be funded by ARC and RMC antenna tracking controllers. Future opport­ Award) for his 1973 autobiography Drift of grants in 1992. At "Ole Miss" Professor unities were expected to be largely outside Things and in 1982 was awarded an Clarke also discussed potential staff and Australia, making the developments sig· Emeritus Fellowship by the Literature Board student exchange programmes with The nificant in terms of Australia'S balance of of the Australia Council. There were Liter· University of Newcastle. trade.

Page 7 SECONDMENT FOR PROFESSOR WARD

Professor Ward, Professor of History at the University of Newcastle, has been invited to take the position of Chief Historian in a new unit being set up under the aegis of the Minister ofJustice in Wellington, New Zealand, to process Maori claims to Crown land. Under the Treaty ofWaitangi Act, Maori New Zealanders can bring claims against the Crown for breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi since 1840 when the Treaty was signed between the first British governor and Maori chiefs. The Maori believe that many of the Crown's aquisistions of their land during colonisation were in breach of the Treaty. Recently the New Zealand government transformed most of its instrumentalities into private corporations which are now selling off land in surplus of their requirements, much ofit valuable urban land. Efforts have been made in the Waitangi Tribunal, set up in 1975, to hear Maori claims regarding this land. Progress has been slow and corporations have customers ready and willing to buy much of the surplus land. They can still sell, but only with a memorial on the title noting that Maori claims against the land might eventually be found valid. This of course diminishes the value of the land. It is therefore in the interests of both Maori and Crown to clear the land of the Maori claims and sell it at full market value. To speed things up an agreement has been signed between the Maori Congress, a pan-tribal organisation with nineteenth century antecedents and the Queen represented by the New zealand Minister ofjustice, to establish a joint working Party to fast-track claims respecting the more important and valuable lands and, on the basis of historical research into the Maori claims, establish whether or not at least a prima facie case exists. Maori and Crown representatives on the Working Party will be negotiating com­ for the past four years. It is expected that two part-time research pensation on the basis of the historical report and sell the land with a Masters students will begin work on New Zealand related topics in clear title (unless, that is, the Maori wish to retain it themselves). the Department of History, and visit Wellington for archival work Professor Ward, who is New Zealand's leading authority on early while Professor Ward is there. Professor Ward says he does not colonisation as it affected Maori land. is one of vel)' few historians expect an easy year and will probably be very glad to return to who was acceptable to both Maori and Crown to fill the post of Chief academic life in January 1993. This is the first time that Maori and Historian to the Joint Working Party. He will conduct much of the Crown representatives have really sat down together systematically research himself and supervise a small team of fellow historians, to redress the grievances relating to land arising from colonisation. some of whom he hopes will be Maori. He will retain links with the The invitation to assist the process is both a privilege and an Waitangi Tribunal itself for which he has been a consultant historian opportunity for important and enriching responsibility.

SCHOLARSHIPSFORABORIGINALSTUDENTS sides of issues without emotional involve­ The University Scholarships Committee with another II due to graduate this year. ment Since Jack saw education as the key to has recently approved the conditions for The Warden of Convocation, Mr Vic Levi, says Aboriginal advancement, the Newcastle Jack Doherty Undergraduate Scholarships compared to the thousands of non­ Aboriginal Support Group has chosen to for Koori Students. AbOriginal Australians who have taken out continue his work by offering the Scholar­ Established by the Newcastle Aboriginal degrees from this University, there is ship. Support Group, the Scholarships are named certainly room for improvement He believes The Support Group is seeking donations after the Group's founder and late President, that while this situation is improving since towards the scholarships, so that they may Mr Jack Doherty. the establishment of the wollotuka be offered to three 1993 continuing students. The Scholarships will be offered to three Aboriginal Centre althe University, scholar­ You may like to consider donating. All Aboriginal students at The University of ships like these will certainly be an incentive donations are tax deductible. Newcastle who have successfully completed for Aboriginal students. To send your donation or for further their first year of study, to assist and jack Doherty retired from his position as details, please write to encourage them to continue with their Head of the Physical Sciences Department Newcastle Aboriginal Support Group, studies of the former Newcastle COllege of Advanced PO Box 79, Broadmeadow, 2292 The Support Group, which consists of Education in 1976. jack died at the end of or telephone Mr Rodney Knock on 63 6143. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people 1990 at the age of 76. Founder of the If you are donating, please make your cheque working together towards equity for Kooris, Newcastle Aboriginal Support Group in payable to The University of New castle and would like to see the number of Aboriginal 1980, he was held in high regard by the attach a note requesting the University to students who graduate from University AbOriginal and non-Aboriginal community. use your donation for the jack Doherty increase. A total of 44 Koori students have Members of the Support Group remember Undergraduate Scholarships for Koori graduated since the University's inception, him for always being able to look at both students. Pages

--.-, ...... ,...... ,... A LOVE AFFAIR WITH LITERATURE

Dr E.G. Miller came to this University in Dr Miller and PrQ/essor Hammond at change in the direction of Miller's research. 1980. He began a degree in Arts, because, Grantchester near Cambridge. More emphasis was placed upona Platonist as he recounts: "he wanted to get on 'first rather than an Aristotelian reading of the name' terms with some of the great minds epic. The influence of Plato's allegories of which have surfaced through the ages," and the cave, the Sun, and the Divided Line was particularly in the field of humanities. identified by textual analysis. The arguments He had enjoyed a successful career, first were greatly assisted by research into the as an engineer, then later as a senior manager Platonist ideas surviving in Cicero. P!otinus, in a multicultural company concerned locally Bonaventura, Boethius, St Augustine, and, with making glass. That particular oper­ particularly in the cappadocian fathers, such ation' Leonora Glass, was to be closed in as Gregory of Nyssa. 1982 due to competition from overseas. Its Examiners of the completed thesis in­ closure ended this country's abiliry to manuf­ cluded Professors of Classics and Philosophy acture hand-made glass on a commercial at two major British universities, A pleasing scale. result received from another eminent Miller did not wish to become part of some 'dantesca', Professor P. Boitani in Rome. He executive scrap-heap. Because much of his suggested that Dr Miller's work, particularly life had included a strong 'work ethos', he in the Paradjso 'goes beyond past criticism ... remembers: "that he recognised that his and it shows originality in its parallel... with spare time pursuits such as golf (poor), Plato's Divided Line. All three examiners bowls (indifferent) or sailing (fair) would were interested in the 'binary structure' of not be sufficient for fulfilment:' He had been the poem as argued by Miller. to the University first in 1978 to promote Dr Miller, after six years experience as a the manufacture and sale of a commem­ part-time Tutor in Classics has been a full­ orative giftware (which is still being sold by There were other things going on during time member of the staff of that department Convocation). this decade of study. In 1982 he was as a Tutor since March 1991. He lectures on This visit probably inspired his idea in President of the English Society and in 1984 a variety of subjects but prefers to con­ 1980 to enrol as a part-time first -year student of the Classics Society. A continuing support centrate upon literary subjects such as epic in English. This experience taught him how for the Language and Literature Board in the poetry and ancient comedy. to integrate into the student society, to Faculty of Arts resulted in his becoming His four children have all been graduates concentrate upon a narrow and deep degree, Chainnan of this body in 1991. of this university: three as teachers and one and to compete with the preponderance of Wishing to be continually aware of the as medical practitioner. Dr Miller has a deep bright minds around by applying the lessons opinions of his peers, Dr Miller presented loyalty to this university which is exem­ learned in the market-place regardingwork. papers on Prudentius at the IXth Patristic plified, in part, by having taught at the He recognised poetry as the most important Congress at Oxford in 1987, on Dante and Central Coast Campus since the first year of medium in literature for him. Plato at AULLA in 1989, and each year on its inception. In teaching he recognises a A return to Latin and then Classical Studies various epics at the Sydney College of familiar 'hunger for learning'. resulted in 1984, with Honours I, after an Divinity conferences. He sees himself as a continuing student inspiring introduction to ancient epics like Other publications have included sundry for the remainder of his life: a 'lifer' was the Homer & Virgil. The following year, 1985, mediocre verse and a piece on Henry Lawson term applied by a close friend, Professor brought another happy honours year in and the Erl-Konig for ABC Radio Helicon. N.G.1. Hammond ofCIare COllege, cambridge. English, with Blake, Eliot and Milton. These After the MA, Dr Miller intensified his He is the first to see himself as lucky; one double Honours earned him a good BA in study of the Italian language with private who has exchanged a successful engineering 1986. study assisted by Mrs 1. Moelle, and by Mr and senior management life for a love affair Then began the 'journeyman's' task of his B. Wales of the Italian Dept, University of with literature. first postgraduate work. Realising that epic New England. His aim since 1980, was to He lives happily at the lake with Ruby - poetry was his speciality, Miller directed his work on Dante's Divine Comedy. With the his beloved wife of nearly forty years. But research around the overt and covert anti­ encouragement of Professor RG. Tanner, a there are other odd interests: he has been a pathy toward Islam in the Italian and Portu­ preliminary thesis was submitted to an Rotarian, on and off, since 1966; he is guese epic poems of the cinquecento. This eminent Dante scholar, Professor Patrick chainnan of the Toronto Private Hospital work resulted in the award of an MA in Boyde of St John's College, cambridge. His Board; and lately has become an ordinary 1989 for his thesis on Orlando Furioso. severe criticism brought about a major seaman in the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol.

Page 9 CENTRE FOR Call for Nominations for the 1992 Con­ vocation Medal for Professional Excellence LEGALEDUCATION The Convocation Medal is awarded annually to a graduate of the University of Newcastle (includinggraduates of the fonner ESTABLISHED Hunter Institute of Higher Education. the fonnerNewcastle College of Advanced Edu­ cation and the Newcastle branch of the ConseIVatorium of Music) with the mostout­ The Law Foundation of New South wales' Add to these numbers, standing record of professional excellence latest initiative, the Centre for Legal Edu­ the effect on the system of the new or that can be found. cation, was launched by the Chief Justice, proposed law schools in canberra, Newcastle, The Selection Committee will look at the The Han Mr Justice Gleeson, SC, ata function New England and Western Sydney, as well curriculum vitae of possible grantees, but in at the Law Society of New South Wales on as Bond University, particular will be seekinga discovery, a new April 30, 1992. increasing numbers of foreign lawyers understanding or a new development. which With the fonnation of the Centre for Legal seeking admission; has significantly advanced some particular Education, the Law Foundation has achieved new legislation opening up the possibility field. The graduate can be working anywhere a long-awaited ambition. of much freer entry to the New South wales in the world. The challenges now facing legal educ­ jurisdiction; and The award may have to be announced in ation demand both good ideas and decisive the increasing popularity of the BAB/SAB absentia, but it will be given much publicity. action. However, ideas and actions some­ courses - 2400 enrolled currently. The medal will be forwarded, and the names times cannot go hand in hand. The legal profession is faced with fundam- of winners will be recorded on a plaque at Over the last 20 years distinguished ental questions including; the University for all time. The award will lawyers have produced numerous reports what the study of law should achieve, not be made in any year in which the on legal education which contained good what resources are required; and Committee is of the opinion that no work ideas. However, many remain to be impleme­ how to take account of the inevitable notified to it has reached the high standard nted. diversity of careers to which law graduates required for this medal. Five of the current, pressing questions in will go. legal education are, The Centre for Legal Education, under its How can a law degree satisf'y both the director Christopher Roper, has set itself an CalI for Nominations for the 1992 requirement of the University to provide exciting agenda. Proposals for a number of Newton-Johrt Award general academic training and the requirem­ practical research projects are being de­ The Standing Committee of Convocation ent of the profession that it be preparation veloped in conjunction with other bodies. At invites nominations for the 1992 Newton­ the same time statistics are being collected for practice? John Award. How can law graduates be prepared for which will form a databank of relevant practice in a way that is both economical The Award recognises graduates of the statistics for policy makers and researchers. University of Newcastle who have made a By the end of the Centre's first year it and reliable? substantial contribution by way of inn­ Should law graduates be required to work hopes to have a rapidly growing library of ovation or creativity in any field. towards in a legal environment before being admitted material on legal education, both that enhancing the quality of life in the com­ as solicitors? published and that hidden away in files and munity. How can we ensure that lawyers are archives. This material may not stop the re­ equipped with the proper ethical attitudes? invention of the wheel but it will at least give The Award was instituted in 1974 with selection being based on the following How do we deal with the enonnous growth researchers a solid base from which to work. in the number of law graduates expected criteria: A newsletter reporting on all recent pub­ Graduates of the University of Newcastle within the next few years? lications and developments in legal edu­ or graduates of the University of New South These are among the questions which cation is about to be published. This digest Wales or the university of New England. have been addressed by the Bowen, Brown will become a useful resource both in New and Pearce Reports, but the persistent hard who spentat least three years as students of South Wales and beyond. the Newcastle University College are eligible work required for the implementation of Several projects in the Asian region have to be nomirtated for the Award. their recommendations has yet to be done. already begun. The Centre is acting as the The Award is given for innovation or The Centre for Legal Education will have secretariate forthe legal education committee creativity in any field with the emphasis.on . the resources to undertake or manage much for Lawasia.lt is involved in the design and originality, or lasting value or aesthetic value of this work. presentation of a seminar for law societies or benefit to the community. Its agenda is to be a research and policy and bar associations in developing countries development unit for all of the bodies on how to establish a continuing legal involved in legal education, and to be a education programme. It is also compiling a resource centre, collecting and disseminating directory of law courses throughout the Any graduate who would like to be COnSid" infonnation necessary for the development Lawasia region: infonnation which so far is ered for either of these 1992 awards, or any of policy. In addition it will generally unavailable. person who would like to put forward a . encourage and support developments in The Centre is currently operating from the nomination, is invited to forward all relevant . legal education. Law Foundation premises. infonnation including a curriculum vitae. to On top of the need for refonns in legal You are invited to contact Christopher the Convocation Officer, UniversityofNeW~ education come the particular pressures of Roper on (02) 2995621 for more inform­ castle, NSW 2308, by August 31, 1992. All the rapidly growing numbers seeking entry ation. infonnation received will be treatedasstri~ti.Y to the profession. In 1992 there will be confidential by the Selection Comnrittee. "'. 1,285 graduates from New South Wales law For further infonnation telephone (04~);.;'; schools - in 1999 there will be a staggering 21 6464. ";:}. increase of 62% in numbers graduating '3~;;r\i:~

Page 10 NO ESCAPING THE TOXIN SOFTHE20TH CENTURY

Traces of pesticides reach even the supposedly pristine environment of the Antarctic, where penguins have been found with body fat tainted by organochlorines. And, in the air, water and soil of our everyday environment exist constant low levels of contamination from a range of chemicals used in industry and agriculture.

The direct effects on the human body of large doses of toxins have been well docu­ mented. But the impacts of long-term exposure to the almost routine levels of potentially poisonous substances now found in the environment are less clear. It is questions about this enduring low­ level of exposure that the Bioanalytical Research Group (BRG) hopes to answer with its latest research initiatives in the area of environmental medicine. The BRG consists ofOr Hugh Dunstan, Dr Ray Murdoch, Associate Professor Tim Roberts, Dr Brian Conroy and Ms Pam Lake. It was fonned within the University's Depart­ ment of Biological Sciences in 1990 chiefly to expand the University's cell biology research and to give environmental research the cellular and molecular perspectives it was missing. The group's program of environmental medicine arose after Hugh Dunstan saw an ABC television program last year that voiced concerns about the effects of routine agri­ Mrs Pam Lake (I), Dr Hugh Dunstan, Dr Brian Conroy and Dr Ray MurdochJrom the cultural chemical use on rural populations. Bioanafytical Research Group; Dr Dunstan approached a Sydney medical has the analytical expertise, developed at The potential of the research is enonnous. practitioner who appeared on the program, Oxford and Melbourne Universities during The BRG's work in this area could provide Dr Mark Donohoe, about the potential of the the past decade. the basis for directly relating medical effects BRG's expertise for research in the area. Dr Dunstan is using the GC-MS to with environmental cause. For example, it is At the time, the BRG had embarked on determine levels of pollutants such as possible -some medical practitioners would research supported by the Hunter Water pesticides and PCB's in human cell samples say probable - that the cause of a range of Board to investigate the effect of water supplied by the Sydney doctors. By cancers and baming 20th century maladies pollution on marine and freshwater plants comparing the profiles of contaminated cens such as chronic fatigue syndrome may lie in and animals. with those of nonnal cells, he hopes to trace levels of environmental contaminants. Dr Donohoe and a numberoflike-minded identifY the extent to which toxins in the It may also prove possible to predict the Sydney associates have since fOImed Environ­ samples are interfering with nonnal cellular response of an individual's immune system mental Health Technologies (EHT), a biochemical reactions. to low level exposures of toxins in the company which has provided the BRG with Dr Murdoch will be able to provide further workplace. Forexample, a person's immune a $105,000 grant to start up its environ­ detailed interpretations of the results. He system may show particular susceptibilities mental medicine research program. has a particular understanding of the sub­ to certain toxins. This sort of information At the core of the research are the many stances, known as enzymes, that control the could be used to identifY the suitability of thousands of complex biochemical reactions reaction within cells. people to work in high risk jobs that involve that take place inside every human cell. The Working closely with Dr Dunstan, he greater than normal exposure to solvents, end-products of these reactions are mole­ should be able to identifY whether pollutants pesticides or other chemicals. cules such as amino acids or sugars which interfere with the cell by de-activating The BRG hopes to eventually conduct fonn the basis for the perfonnance of the specific target enzymes. Compensations for analyses of samples on a commercial basis human body. these disturbances could prove to be effective and to plough any money raised back into For any particular cell type, a profile can in countering cell contamination. research. be built up of the biochemical pathways, At the same time, Professor Roberts will Dr Dunstan is confident of continued reactions and end-products that occur under establish the effects of the contamination on funding for the research from EHT. He nonnal circumstances. It is then possible to the human immune system. It has been hopes that a continued relationship with the identifY what, if any, effects the presence of recorded in the scientific literature that as company will also attract Australian a contaminating pollutant might be having little as 10 molecules of dioxin can interfere Research Council funding through the Colla­ in a cell. with the division of cells important to the borative Research Grants Program which The BRG has particular capabilities for immune system. matches industry input on a dollar-for­ this type of cell profiling. A $150,000 Professor Roberts hopes to identifY the dollar basis. machine known as a gas chromatograph minimum levels at which other common Imass spectrometer (GC'MS) provides the pollutants start to interfere with human technology to assess samples. Dr Dunstan immunity. Page t I j

MEDICAL RESEARCHER WANTS HEART ATTACK VICTIMS TO ASK OUESTIONS- Dr Jonathan S. Silberberg's advice is family," Dr Silberberg says. A 'protective' family history is when the dramatic. ''The first step - get the infor­ "As well as the need to define high risk family is large, yet few have developed mation. If it's uncertain. check it against people, there is also the need to rationalise disease, when most members have lived to a death records." the exploding health care costs connected ripe old age and when no disease develops The statement sounds extreme, but then with heart disease," Dr Silberberg says. despite a large number of smokers. so is the toll of heart disease, both in tenns of It is usual to define either a 'positive' However, Dr Silberberg warns of imitat­ the high mortality statistics and the human family history where the risk would be ions. Large families about which the person suffering left in its wake. considered high, and a 'negative' family knows nothing are uninfonnative, not Dr Silberberg, a senior lecturer in the history hich most likely would indicate a negative. Likewise some other event, ego University's Faculty of Medicine is also a low risk. However, the 'negative' family war, may have intervened before coronary clinical cardiologist at the John Hunter could still be what Dr Silberberg refers to as heart disease might reasonably have devel­ Hospital's cardiovascular Unit. 'protective', oped. With responsibilities in research as well "We need to get away from YeslNo definit­ The research team have developed a step­ as teaching, Dr Silberberg and his co­ ions and start really questioning. We want by-step guide to evaluating family history of researchers are developing a scoring system to know what is the meaning of a strong coronary heart disease beginning with, which enables relevant family medical family history in terms of metabolic 1. Mapping out the first degree relatives history regarding heart disease and its processes, and how these can be measured. such as parents, brothers and sisters. symptoms to be calculated, thus providing a "We also need to know about the shared children. clearer picture of the degree of risk that a environment, notonlyin relation to smoking, 2. Checking that they are all blood relatives. person faces, but diet and food preparation," he says. If not, discount them altogether; if half­ The team has devised a straight-forward A strong family history is when several relatives, their infonnation is only worth questionnaire to enable medical practitioners first degree relatives have been affected (the half that of a full relative. to ask suitable questions and encourage precise number depends on how many 3. For each family member, ask, are they patients to trace their family history with relatives there are), when disease developed alive or dead? If alive, how old are they? Do direct emphasis on gathering specific at a young age, when cases have included they smoke? What medical problems have information about the pointers to heart females and when the affected persons did they had? If dead, at what age did they die? disease symptoms. not smoke. (Coronary disease is less common Did they smoke? How did they die? What Their research comes in the wake of in females and nonsmokers), other medical problems did they have? At alanning statistics which indicate that one what age did these first become evident? person in two will suffer a heart attack at 4. Review all the 'No' responses. Do they some time in their life. really mean 'Don't Know'? Dr Silberberg, the principal investigator, 5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 for second degree and two other researchers, Dr John relatives, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Wlodarczyk, the statistician with the Depart­ This adds infonnation but the genetic simil­ ment of Respiratory Medicine at the John arity is only half as strong. Hunter Hospital, and Associate Professor The validation study links into another Michael Hensley from the Discipline of University of Newcastle project, the Monica Community Medicine, have been working Project, which is tracing the pattern of on the project for the past two and a half coronary heart disease in the Hunter Region. years. They see a horizon offive years before This linking provides an efficient means of the research is completed. gaining cases to study. They are working with a $54,000 grant With 360 cases from the Monica Project over two years from the National Heart and 720 controls chosen randomly from the Foundation. electoral roll, Dr Silberberg plans to study "There is a real need to improve the 1080 people and their family's measurement nation's health by educating people about of the heart disease risk scale, gaining a healthy lifestyle, but we still need to know clearer picture on risk. why some people are more susceptible than Half of the actual coronary heart disease others. cases will be male and half females and will "For instance when a person smokes. be in three age groups, under 45 years, from then you have an explanation. But if a 45 to 55 years and from 55 to 65 years. person has had a heart attack and there is no "We are hoping to build an accurate and clear explanation such as smoking, high reliable road map for preventing heart disease cholesterol, high blood pressure or stress, where the costs and benefits of each route then we need to look at other factors such as are clearly mapped out, also providing family history. adequate information about previously "We ask the question 'What is the process neglected areas," Dr Silberberg says. in this family that leads to heart disease "Family history is cheap and available. If a despite being at apparently low risk?' person is serious about heart disease "We find that most people are unaware of prevention, it could be very worthwhile for their family's medical history until they them to take the trouble to find out about actually ask the questions about their their family's health history," he says.

Page 14 NEWCASTLE'S GRADUATE BECOMES Warden's CAMBRIDGE FELLOW COLUMN

It gives me great pleasure to report on the outstanding success of this year's Con­ vocation Annual Dinner and presentation of the Newton-john Award and Convocation medals. More than 130 guests from a wide cross section of the community attended the dinner in the University Union on March 27. The presence of our former Deputy Vice­ Dr janice Muir, who was awarded a PhD Chancellor, ProfessorBrin-Newton john, the from the University of Newcastle in 1988, man who inspired the award which bears I would like to place on record myappreci­ has been made a Fellow of Lucy Cavendish his name. helped to make the function an ation of the excellent work done by our College, Cambridge University. even more memorable occasion. Convocation Officer, Margaret Wells, who janice completed her PhD, on the effect of Our 17th Newton john Award winner, has just taken leave of absence to complete stress on behaviour and development, under Marjorie Biggins, proved to be one of the her Law degree at Macquarie University. the supervision of Dr Peter Pfister from the most popular choices and a large group of Margaret has been a tower of strength for Department of Psychology. her family and friends came along to help both Convocation and the University and I In 1988 she moved to Cambridge to take her celebrate. They included her husband, look forward to her rejoining us in about up a position with Dr Trevor Robbins in the Associate professor Dennis Biggins, and eight months time. Department of Experimental Psychology. their three children, Penny, Felicity and Her replacement, Alison Kinder, is no Dr Muir is currently investigating the jonathon, who are also well known in their stranger to students and staff at the neural systems which are affected in own fields of music, ABC journalism and University. Alison has been a long serving Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The theatre and radio respectively. student leader on campus and is the current aim is to understand more fully the con­ The two Convocation Medal recipients. President of the University Union. She has tribution of neural changes to the cognitive our University's own Dean for Research, already fitted in well in her new role for deficits observed in these patients. Using Professor Ron MacDonald, and Associate Convocation. animal models, and behavioural tasks analo­ Professor Marlene Norst, a friend and fonner The two Graduation Balls organised by gous to those used to test actual patients, Dr colleague of professor Newton john, were Convocation this year proved to be tre­ Muir is attempting to identity the underlying also very popular winners. mendous successes. More than 300 Grad­ causes of· the memory and attentional Other highlights of the dinner were the uates and friends attended the first Ball on problems which these people suffer. presentation ofa special award in recognition Saturday, May 2 and nearly 700 attended In the past few years Dr Muir's work has of the continuing standard of excellence of the second Ball held the foil owing Saturday. taken her regularly to Sweden, where she is Dr William Coleborne, the first person to Last year the two Balls attracted a crowd of involved in an ongoing collaborative project receive a degree from our University in its 300 each. with Professor Anders Bjorklund at Lund own name after it gained autonomy, and the I was pleased to hear that the University University. conferring oflife membership of Convocation Scholarships Committee has approved the This work focuses on aged animals, which on the University's former Information conditions for the jack Doherty Under­ show remarkably similar neural changes to Officer, Mr john Armstrong. graduate Scholarships for Koori students at those that occur in aging humans, and on I will take this opportunity to pay tribute our university. the possibility of brain repair to alleviate to both men for their support of Convocation My congratulations to the Newcastle age-related impairments. over many years. John served as Convocation Aboriginal Support Group who established Dr Muir is one ofvery few scholars whose Secretaty for 15 years and there were times the scholarships and named them after the degrees come from other countries to be when the organisation could well have group's founder, Mr jack Doherty. accepted by one of the prestigious Cambridge foundered had it not been for his dedication The scholarships will assist three Colleges. and hard work. Aboriginal students who have successfully ''I'm delighted to be accepted as a Fellow," Two new initiatives have been introduced completed their first year of study and will she said. by Convocation this year for our students. prove to be an excellent incentive for all "It's a great honour, and Lucy Cavendish Your management committee combined tog­ Aboriginal students. is a College with a growing reputation for ether with the University Union and the OUf "Where are you now?" segment in women in science." Students' Representative Council to stage a Uninews has proved vety popular but we barbecue for new students at the Union need to hear from more membersofConvoc­ during Orientation week. ation. Don't be shy. Please let us know THE CONVOCATION SHOP The other initiative was the presentation where you are and what you are doing these of Convocation Book Prizes to five students days. Offers a Wide Range of nominated by the Deans of their faculties. Finally,l would like to remind you that we University of Newcastle mementos, ceramiC The prizes went to Brett john Pollard and still need funds for our appeal to build a ware and pot pourri, painted terracotta pots, Mark Robert Chase (Architecture), Mark common room for students at International handcrafted jewellety, folk art. caneware William Tinson (Art, Design & Communicat­ House on campus. My thanks go to all those The Concourse, Hunter Building ions), Kylie Ball (Arts) and Gai Suzanne who have already made a donation. However, The University of Newcastle Clothier (Economics). we are still well short of our $200,000 target Tel. (049) 21 6464 Hopefully, we will sustain these awards so please help if you can. annually. Vic Levi Warden qf Convocation Page 15 p R o F E s s o R ALAN ROBERTS AM A PROFILE From an apprenticeship at Cockatoo Island was to receive awards and distinctions from to the directorship of Australia's leading many national and international bodies, Engineering School is a journey longer than who recognised and rewarded his out­ Alan Roberts probably contemplated at the standing contributions to the field of Mecha­ age of 16. nical Engineering The following awards With his Leaving Certificate in his pocket, have been bestowed upon him, The Sir but unable to afford the cost of Un iversity in George Julius Medal, Institute of Engineers, 1947, the young Alan Roberts began making Australia, 1982; the Award of Distinction, the daily journey from his horne at Leichhardt lOth Anniversary International Conference to the naval dockyard, where Daring class on Powders and BulkSolids, Chicago, United destroyers were being built and passenger States of America, 1986;the A.G.M. Mitchell ships converted into troop caniers for the A ward and Medal, Institution of Engineers, war were being refurbished for their civilian Australia, 1989. life. He was elected Fellow of the Australian "It was a golden age of engineering," he Academy of Technological Sciences and says, "and Cockatoo was a great place to be Engineering(FTS) in 1989, and in 1992 was indentured awarded an AM (Member of the Order of "It was probably in the tradition of British Australia - General Division) for services to dockyards. The foremen didn't wear bowler mechanical engineering, particularly in the hats, but they did wear suits and felt hats, field of bulk materials technology, research DID and they looked after their apprentices. It and technology. GRADUATEYOU60 S had an apprentice training school, one of the Professor Roberts is currently the Director first in the country." of the Institute of Bulk Handling (Newcastle IN THE While still indentured, Professor Roberts University) and has been Dean of the Faculty completed his professional qualification in of Engineering at Newcastle University since Ifso, would you be interested in attending mechanical engineering at Sydney Technical 1974. He has also held the position of a 1960's Reunion for evelYone who College and was enticed to work at the new Director of TUNRA since 1974 and is the studied at the University of Newcastle and University of Technology as a professional current Director of the Hunter Technology grnduated during the '60's77? officer. Development Centre. Convocation is planning to hold the First That was his first step on the path which And, if all that isn't enough, Professor University of Newcastle Reunion for the led to his being made a Member of the Order Roberts has written six books and design students and lecturers of that time. of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day manuals and has published over 300 Unfortunatley, we do not have current Honours this year. research and conference papers in the field mailing addresses for evelYone who Over the past 40 years, Professor Roberts, of bulk materials handling. His commitment grnduated during the 60's. Director of the School of Engineering at the to this field is highlighted by the fact that he Ifyou know ofanyone who grnduated University of Newcastle, has accumulated has been supervising and administering a during this time, could you please let us an impressive number of degrees andawards. program of research in this field for the past know of their whereabouts or how we In 1951 he was awarded the Diploma in 32 years. might contact them so that we may send Mechanical Engineering with Honours and Professor Roberts says that considerable invitation to them. If you are interested in five years later received a Bachelor of interest has been shown, by industry in attending, please advise, Engineering Degree with Honours Class I. Australia and overseas, in the bulk solids He continued his studies and in 1962 was handling research at Newcastle. Alison Kinder awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from the "Over the past 10 years over 400 projects Convocation Office University of New South Wales. In the same for some 250 companies have been under­ Box 12 year, Professor Roberts received the Ins­ taken. These projects have been concerned Hunter Building titution of Mechanical Engineers, United with the design and analysis of bulk University ofNewcastle 2308 Kingdom, Engineering Applied to Agri­ materials storage and handling systems," he Ph(049)216464 culture A ward and five years later was said. awarded the Medal of the Institution of The projects have been administered by Engineers, Australia. TUNRA, the University's Research Company. Over the next 25 years, Professor Roberts Professor Alan Roberts Page 16 ROBERT PATTERSON -POWERSTA TIONS ARE HIS SPECIALITY

Power is a commodity that Robert 7:iT":" Patterson is accustomed to. "..,. t;tt Not power in the hackneyed phraseology of modem day usage, but real power, elec­ tncity, the kind we can't do without. Bob, who graduated from The University of Newcastle with a Bachelor ofEngineenng (Chemical Engineenng) in 1969, is the Manager of Bayswater Power Station, the largest installation of Pacific Power (previously the Electncity Commission of New South Wales). Bayswater, one of six thennal power stations within Pacific Power, produces 35 per cent of the State's electncity. Appointed to the position of Manager in August 1990, Bob's whole career has been with the Electncity Commission, having gained a traineeship with the authonty in 1963. He attended university on a part-time basis for six years from 1963 to 1968 with an honours year completed as a full-time student in 1969. Eighteen hours per week over four nights as well as a full working fault conditions. It was the first simulator in He mainly concentmted on designing week, not to mention personal study time, operation in a power station in Australia vanous multi-skilling progmms forthe work­ was a pretty tight schedule to maintain. In and therefore an innovation for Eraring. force and negotiating those packages with fact it did not allow him to become too "It was a high point of my career. the unions. With more than a dozen unions involved in the social atmosphere of the "From there I became involved in maint­ involved, as well as liaison with the New campus, a point he mentions by describing enance at Eraring. In those days it was South Wales Labour Council, this was a himself as being on the 'sidelines' as a recognised that plant performance in the major exercise. It has paid dividentls not part-timer. commission and plant maintenance was in only creating a more skilled workforce, but Dunng this time he worked mostly at a very run-down state due to inflexibility of increasing Ilroductivity as well. Central Coast Power Stations and even the resourcing maintenance. We weren't able to Bob says these poliCies are now being old zaam Street PowerStation at Newcastle's use contract labour and we weren't using fully implemented with the emphasis being east end. shift work. on multi-skilling. This has been achieved In 1970 he was posted to the Com­ "Whilst Maintenance Engineer at Eranng, with substantial assistance from TAFE who mission's Head Office in Sydney where he we tned to rum that situation around Dunng helped with the design of the self-paced gained first-hand knowledge of the adminis­ that time we changed a lot of our work tmining modules. tmtion and design functions of the organ­ practises and processes to improve plant At present Bob is involved in prepamtion isation and in 1972 returned to Vales Point availability. Resourcing maintenance is now for the development of the East Coast Gnd where he was responsible for monitoring very flexible and effective. where Bayswater and the other power turbine efficiency and plant condition. "It had to be done! stations have begun competing for market In 1985 he went back to Munmomh "We knew we had a problem and we share in Australia'S first electncity market Power Station as the Turbine Operations knew that if we kept going the way we were Power stations are now dispatched on the Engineer. It was similar work. but involved a going, that we would need to build more basis of merit order based on minimum higher level of responsibility forplantopemt­ plant. So we changed. operating cost ions and operator training. "Maintenance was put onto a shiftwork He says the industty is faced with major "Then in 1977 I went to Emnng. at that footing and outside resources such as contmc­ economic challenges in the 90's and Bays­ time the largest power station in the State. It tors and a supplementaty maintenance water is pOSitioned extremely well to was not exactly a step up, however a vety group were introduced. These were able to compete in this open market. challenging job because it entailed com­ go to different power station sites where the As for his continued involvement in power missioning a brand new plant, starting from resources were needed. stations, Bob said that is where his expertise square one. This happened in all sorts of "Over a penod of about three years we lies. ways from stafftmining, prepanng opemting have pulled the availability up to much "My specialty is power stations. That's manuals, commissioning of plant and testing higher figures, an improvement across all where I find the greatest challenge," he said. of plant and debugging of control systems. power stations in the State from about 56 "It was an engineer's dream," Bob said. per cent to about 85 per cent since 1988. "There was a lot of commissioning work Our force outage rate has decreased and we and testing of models on what was then the have been able to lower the spinningreselVe, first plant simulator in the ElectncityCommi­ the power we have to keep in store for un­ ssion.lt was set up as a room identical to the precedented extra demand or emergencies," power station's control room in every way, he said. but completely computer based The plant In the penod from 1988 to taking up his operators used the simulator to practise run current position at Bayswater in 1990, Bob ups, shut downs, emergency situations and was heavily involved in the local arm of industrial relations in the Commission. Page 17 Laughter and Bacb

The Convocation Dinneron March 27 was Sciences and Medical Sciences buildings matters. a nostalgic night for the majority of the would be erected in the future. If it was considered that the University people present. The plan of the Shortland site showed an was dragging its heels, the students marched Some fe-visited "their University" as part area which resembled a shark's bite, up the hill to see Professor Newton-John. of the annual presentation of awards to inscribed "Teachers' College Site", in the At least once, I remember, they were outstanding graduates. And some attended centre. particularly angry and occupied the Admini­ because they are close friends of those who When the engineering students transferred stration. accepted awards -Mts MarjOrie Biggins (the from Tighes Hill. they staged a mock funeral Every 20-year-old was compelled to 1991 NewtonJohn Award), Dr William Cole­ procession consisting of about 100 students register for national se!Vice (The Draft). As borne (the Special Award for Continuing and some 60 cars. A police escort had to be most of our students were aged 17-22, a Excellence), Associate Professor Marlene provided. Inscribed "Tighes Hill, RIP", a card­ large group of students and staff took part in Norst and Professor Ron MacDonald (1991 board coffin was carried around the Uni­ the anti-war movement and could be seen in Convocation Medals). Mr John Armstrong, versity by the students before it was cremated the Moratorium marches. who was the University's Information in the Union Courtyard. From here on, the process of democrat­ Officec.and who retired recently. received an When student numbers increased from isation gathered speed at the University. award for his contribution to the growth of 1600 in 1965 to 2000 in 1970 (about half Membership of Faculty Boards, Senate and Convocation's activities in the seventies and were part-timers), the Deputy Vice­ Council was eventually widened to include eighties. In this article he recalls some of the Chancellor, Professor Brin Newton-John, students. big changes in the early years and some of suggested that a Staff/Student Consultative My original links with the University the campus's real personalities. Committee be fonned to achieve greater went back to the filties and sixties, when I "By 1970, when I was an enthusiastic student participation in University affairs. worked as a journalist on The Newcastle new arrival at Shortland, the University was Professor Newton-John said that as the Morning Herald. I covered meetings of the five years old. University had grown to the point where Lord Mayor's Committee for the Establ­ A major building program had been under­ "grapevines tend to get tangled" there was a ishment of an Autonomous University of way since 1964 aimed at accelerating the need for a campus newspaper "to distribute Newcastle and met Professor James transition from Tighes Hill. factual infonnation about ourselves to our­ Auchmuty. The Staff House had become a useful selves." meeting place for academics and the design By the end of 1970, I had been editor of had earned the architects a B1acket Award. this news sheet, University News (later Materialising at the top of the site was a Bulletin), for about four months. I went to building which would later become an meetings of Faculty Boards, Senate and important University and community Council. By covering all the main campus amenity. The Great Hall was being funded issues as they arose and running Letters to by a very successful public appeal. the Editor, the journal proved to be a commu­ The University looked fOPNard to providing nications landmark in the history of the students with live-in accommodation on the University. Most people agree that the pertod campus, rather than in hostels, boarding 1970 to 1975 was a time of hope. houses or private homes. Work had begun Students at a number of universities were on the first Hall of Residence (Edwards making protests against the Vietnam War Hall). and other political issues. Despite the physical development, the Women students wore mini skirts; men University remained a most attractive swathe grew their hair long; staff stopped wearing of natural bushland. ties; and jeans became almost universal. (Some even wore thongs.) In this atmosphere, Professor Godfrey Tanner compromised - he wore shorts and sandals, but enjoyed wearing a traditional academic robe to lectures. Marijuana was freely available, as you realised when you visited the SRC Office and Prqfessor James Auchmuty breathed in the smoke. Movements for sexual freedom arrived in Professor Auchmuty was an Assistant Newcastle about this time. Students began Professor of History at Farouk University in "living together" in Edwards Hall after a Alexandria before he was expelled from move to segregate men and women in Egypt following the people's revolution. separate living blocks had failed. We even He lost everything in the flight from Egypt saw "unisex" toilets introduced in the Union. and lived briefly in a Housing Commission When you walked up from the cacparks, The SRC's officees had high expectations home at Stockton. there was no Great Hall, no Mathematics of change. In addition to striving for a Being a particularly visible and audible Block, Social Sciences Building or Drama greater role in decision-making they Vice-Chancellor, Auchmuty cottoned onto Theatre. organised courtyard meetings on course anybody who was willing to talk about his West of the Library, there was a large content, overcrowding oflecture rooms, the wonderful, new University. grove of eucalypts where the Biological . introduction of assessments and other He claimed that forthe first \0 years of the Page 18 A NEW LINK An historic event took place on campus recently which 'bridged the creek' in a physical sense as well as a metaphorical one. in the Trees It was the official opening of the new footbridges which will make the journey between the eastern and western sides of the campus much shorter and take pedes­ Rugby Club's existence he watched more with the Talbot Prize being awarded for the trians on a mini 'bushwalk' at the same time. University Rugby games than any other best poetry. The footbridges which were constnlcted living and breathing person. In 1970, the prize was given for epitaphs, byC & WConstmctions,link the paths at the He was first and foremost, however, a and this one won: back of the Chancellory and the Shonland scholar - an intellectual from Trinity College Here lies the body of Norman Talbot Union (just near the Co-op Bookshop) and Dublin who was still writing history papers Who could bowl quite well obviate the need to negotiate the traffic on when he died in 1981. And others said he could bat. the campus ringroad. There were eccentricities in his dress: he But for all the exercise, he never grew When cutting the ribbon to officially open was renowned for his bright waistcoats and thinner, the bridges, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor the carnations in his lapels. Because of all the booze that he drank at Morgan, said the 'bridging' was something Although he did not suffer fools gladly, he dinner. that had been talked about for many years could be a most channing chief executive The History Society also held dinners, at and he was pleased that it had finally and kept a well-stocked bar. which great historians gave greataddresses, happened. The outdoors on campus provided a or that was the intention. Professor Manning "The engineers, deSigners and builders pleasant environment for study and the Clark agreed to come from the ANU to be the have managed to maintain the bushland atmosphere was very relaxing. James guest speaker. setting and natural beauty of the area and Alichmuty's laughter and Brio Newton­ congratulations must go to them," Professor John's music (usually Bach) made walking Morgan said. near their offices an entertaining experie nee. The opening was attended by repres­ Auchmurywas the Chairman of the Aust­ entatives of the University Council, the ralian Vice-Chancellors' Committee for three University's Department of Physical years. Despite the pressure of all his duties, Planning and Estates, C& W Constructions he liked to teach a unit of the History and also those who had been involved in the Honours course. In 1971. I was one of his actual construction. students. With other honours students I went to the Vice-Chancellor's office late on Monday after - noons and waited in the vestibule. When James had found his notes and put on his moth-eaten academic gown, Ms Prqfessor Manning Clark Nancy Perkins, his secretary, announced: "Professor is ready for yOll now." He arrived early and enjoyed drinks with We took our seats in the hallowed office, Professor Geoffrey Cranfield and members the walls of which were covered with books, of the History staff during the day. including the complete works of the great At the dinner, he sat at the high table and, British historians - Gibbons, Macaulay, as the evening progressed, he enjoyed some carlyle, Lecky, Toyubee and others. Hunter reds and was seen by everybody to Rememberingall this about a period of the If you were naive enough to ask which put his hand on the shoulder of the woman University's life when the campus was still books by one of the historians you should Sitting next to him. (We should not disclose thickly timbered and "small" was, indeed, read, he replied, ''The lot, of course." her name.) "beautiful", I'll try in the future to find a way The extraordinary influence the staff had He looked very bedraggled when he gave of persuading my grandchildren to go to on the students at this time can be attributed his address, which was truly uproarious. small educational institutions." to the fact that the University was so much smaller than to-day and everybody knew everybody else. One reason why we knew each other was COUNCIL'S HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE the acceptance by the University that it had UNDERWAY a responsibility for the physical as well as In August of 1991 the Council of the University established a Human Resources mental health of staff and students. Committee which meets bi-monthIy to pursue its charter of establishing comprehensive Recreation facilities were key items in the policies in relation to Human Resources. The committee, chaired by one of the two lay building program. members of Council, includes one academic staff elected member of Council, the general staff Inter-Faculty cricket competitions were elected member of Council, the EEO Coordinator, the DeputyVice-Chancellor(Academic), the held formanyyears. In 1970, 10 teams took Iieputy ViceChancellor (Administration) and the Deputy President of Academic Senate. part I rememberthe Administration defeated The Committee has already made signicicant progress in its short life. A program initiated Commerce/Economics team, Darryl Doherry by the Committee, aimed at encouraging staff to undertake further study, has met with scoring 83 runs. Support from Council. The program will provide concessions, concerning general fees and Staff members were given concessional HECS charges, for staff as a training and development initiative. . . leave during the week so that they could While specific and individual staff concerns already have appropriate fomms for mqUlry take part in the matches. which were played and resolution, the committee is interested in hearing from staff and staff groups on broader on the University's wickets. issues related to staffing policies to enable it to fulfil one of its tenns of reference in keeping The English SOciety held dinners in the the Council infonned on current staffing matters. Staff House and they were riotous affairs, The committee can be contacted through the Secretary, Ms C. Wood, Level 2, Chancellery.

Page 19

/ WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Dr Chelakara S. Subramanian Mrs Julie Sutton Usman Bakar Dr Chelakara S. Subramanian (PhD, 1983) Mrs Julie Sutton (nee Goffet) (BA, DipEd) Usman Bakar (MedStud, 1988) is a is an Assoc. Professor at the Florida Institute has been a language teacher in State schools Lecturer at IKIP Padang. Since graduating of Technology. Since graduation he was for the past 24 years. She was elected in Mr Usman Bakar has been a Lecturer in Adjunct Research Professor in the Depart­ 1980 to the Warringsh Shire Council and in BiochemistI)' at the Faculry of Education mentof Mechanical Engineering, Naval Post­ 1989 served two tenus as Deputy Shire and TeacherTraining, a researcher in Science graduate School, Monterey, California President Julie stood unsuccessfully against Education and a staff member in the Public (1991); Senior Design Engineer and Group Mr Terrey Metherell in State elections, Quel Service at the Institute of College and Teacher Manager with the British Maritime Tech­ dornmage! Training at IKIP, Padang. nology, wal1send Research Station, New­ castle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Mr Paul Szyjan Mr Paul Szyjan (BScArch, 1976, BArch, 1979) is DirectorofDryka SzyjanArchitects and was the winner of two international architects competitions. Mr Robert (Bob) Cameron MrRobert (Bob) cameron (MBA, 1985) is Mark Lennard the Managing Director of Preston Coal Co. Pry. Ltd. Early in 1989 Bob left Coal & Allied Mark Lennard (BSurv., 1985) is Regional to form a consortium to buy Preston Coal Manager - Art Gal1ery and Workshops in Company from RW. Miller (Holdings) Pty. Alice Springs. Mark organises exhibitions Ltd. The consortium, known as Preston Coal both national1y and international1y. He has Holdings Pty. Ltd" took over operation of travelled abroad and worked on cultural Preston CollieI)' at Curlewis (nearGunnedah), exchanges and co-written and published a producing 350,000 tonnes of high grade book on Aboriginal Paintings of Central steaming and blending coal per annum for Australia. local and export markets.

So where are you now? We would like to hearJrom more members Q/ convocation. Don '( be shy. Please let us know where you are and what you are doing these days. Phone us on (049) 21 6464.

Page 20 GRADUATION 1992

UNIVERSITY PLANNER AND ARCHITECT NEWCASTLE'S ~~ATIONAL RECEIVES HONORARY FESTIVAL~ AWARD OFTHE L ~

In his Occasional Address given at the Festival but for a major International Festival final graduation ceremony on Saturday, May of the Arts to celebrate our Bicentenary. I 9, the Yice-Chancellor, Professor Keith suggest that this would be both appropriate, Morgan, quoted from a Government dis­ timely and achieveable," he said. cussion paper before presenting his own Professor Morgan stated that there are vision of our region's cultural and artistic good reasons to justifY his high ambitions. future. "The Bicentenary of Newcastle and the The quotation came from a paper dealing Hunter should be celebrated nationally, inter­ with the efficiency and effectiveness of nationally and regionally," he said. "We Universities under the title of''The Quality of should be remiss if we failed to acknowledge Higher Education" and not, as Professor the Significance of 1997 in the history of Morgan pointed out, "from the romantic Australia as well as the Hunter Region". vision of an academic idealist". Professor Morgan also emphasised our The quote reads "Universities are central Region's importance in the generation of to development ofa civilised society that can wealth for the nation. "But of critical lay claim to being intelligent; a socially just importance in economic development is and culturally ctch society that will expect to recognition of the depth of cultural and be wisely governed and led; and one which artistic life," he said. An Honorary Degree of Doctor of the will have the capacity to learn from the past Could such a vision be transfonmed into University was awarded to a "true Novocast­ while creating and moving toward a new reality? rian", Mr Don Morris. Dr Morris was educated vision", "In logistical tenms it is indeed all possible at Mayfield East Primary School and Before presenting his own vision, Professor but there is certainly no time to waste: an Newcastle Boys' High School and joined the Morgan outlined the responsibility of immediate decision would be needed," he firm of Rodd and Hay as trainee architect Newcastle University to the cultural affairs encouraged. "There would even be time to upon leaving school. He pursued his studies, of our Region. He stated that two-thirds of build the necessary hotels and provide the obtaining the Diploma in Architecture and our students are drawn from the Region and airport facilities," he added optimistically. the degree of Architecture from the Uni­ that over 80% of all those in the Region In tenms of financial feasibility he outlined versity of New South Wales as a student of attending University come to the University that "studies of the economics of spending Newcastle University College. of Newcastle. He emphasised the potential on the Arts indicate that this is one of the Dr Morris was appointed University strength of the University in "developing most effective means of stimulating Planner in 1975, a position he held until cultural studies and making contctbutions to economic activity and growth and in addition 1988. He contributed greatly to the Uni­ the Regional community in these areas". it carnes one of the most substantial multi­ versity campus and in the words of the Vice­ Professor Morgan told of the great artistic pliers of return on investment. Chancellor, Professor Keith Morgan, "This and cultural strengths of our Region. "In ''The economics, if not the accounting, is campus, the most beautiful bushland campus music, theatre, the fine arts of painting and entirely encouraging," he added. in Australia, owes its character to the policy sculpture, poetry and dance, this region has Professor Morgan stated that the role of he (Dr Moms) pursued so successfully ... He a proud record of tradition and achievement," the University in realising such a vision is sought to maintain the forest cover within he said. obvious. And the benefits forthe University, the building precincts throughout the then "But like so many other aspects of our life the City and the Region are numerous. campus of the University." here, it is maintained as a well-kept secret," "Almost certainly there would be no way In accepting the award, Dr Moms acknow­ he added. of preventing the achievement of the Festival ledged the support and contribution made Professor Morgan called upon the City to providing continuing and long tenm social, by many others throughout his time at the host an International Festival of the Arts in economic and academic advantage for the University, in particular, Professor Eric 1997 - the Bicentenary of the European future," Professor Morgan concluded confid­ Parker, the University'S first Planner "who amval in the Hunter, adding that we did not ently. was unfailing in his support and enco­ necessarily have to wait until then. He further encouraged all graduands to uragement of my efforts to protect the "Indeed this year will see at least two aspire to an ambitious vision - a vision bushland character of the University site," major music festivals at the cathedral and which will create a society that is socially Dr Moms said. the University Conservatorium and the just, culturally rich and wisely governed and "I believe this award is an acknow­ Hunter Orchestra will present a full season; led. A society that has the capacity to learn ledgment by this University of the value it there will be important exhibitions at the ''while creating and moving towards a new places upon its landscape and the effort Regional Gallery, the Museum and the Univ­ vision". which is necessary to maintain the natural ersity; the Hunter Yalley Theatre Company ''This is a challenge which my generation character of this landscape. will provide a continuing focus and the sets you, and sets it with confidence," he "The challenge facing the University is to Mattara Poetry Festival will attract wide­ said. find the funds to enable the constantly spread interest; Hunter Opera and HUnter ''There is much for you to do. You will increasing area of man-modified site to be Dance Company are both active," he added. need commitment and detennination. Please maintained in a way which will ensure the "For 1997 all of this and more can be do not fail us now." ongoing viability of natural forest cover." readily co-ordinated into a major Regional Dr Moms wished the graduands well, Festival. But my ambition would be larger reminding them that "learning is a life-time than this. I wish to propose that for 1997 our occupation. The real challenge," he said, "is objective should be not just for an out­ to encourage and facilitate this ongoing standing Regional Festival, or even a National learning process in yourselves and others." Page 21 GRADUATION 1992

, .:... ~\ :._,.... . ,: ~"':-'

HINDSIGHt', ,j.y. -(' ~~ ~- .' . .. FORESIGHt' ~~.~. ',' "1.~ INSIGHT I In introducing Professor Betty Anderson, graduands that she h'lt at one with them in I'! ~"- NProfessor McEniery outlined the many accepting her Honorary Degree. achievements ofthis remarkable and inspira­ "I feel at home among you", she told them. tional woman. She challenged them all to reflect on their MrLennyde Silva, or "Uncle Len",as he is Professor Anderson, nurse educator, own past and present so that they, too, may fondly and respectfully referred to by his theortst, cunrtculum developer and cons­ look forward and create a "vision for the people, was awarded an Honorary Degree of ultant, has sought to gain recognition forthe profession of nursing". Doctor of Letters, in absentia. His wife, DiScipline of Nursing, She has fought to Professor Anderson, when reflecting on Ethel, accepted the award on his behalf, as overcome the many obstacles which stand her own memories, said jokingly that she Dr de Silva was, sadly, in hospital atthe time in the way of the Discipline ofNursingbeing was a little surprtsed when she realised that of the graduation ceremony. recognised as both a practice and an she could make comment about the past six In her introductory speech at the Grad­ academic discipline. decades. "Time passes so quickly," she said uation Ceremony held on Saturday, May 2, Professor Anderson's commitment to with a knowing smile. Professor Lois Bryson, Dean of the Faculty nurse education took her, in 1958, to India Although she recognises that each pertod of Social Science, depicted Dr de Silva as a and Bangladesh where she worked until of the future will "generate mUltiple and 'wise educator with much to teach the non­ 1966. There she was involved in hospital varied activities", she nevertheless believes Abortginal as well as Abortginal Com­ construction and in the implementation ofa that the 90's will demand a "clarification of munity." "Len de Silva's life and achieve­ three year nurse training program in the our vision and identity". ments are the very epitome of a University's Bengali language. "It Is important for the future passage that scholarly commitment." she said From 1969to 1977 shedeveloped,imple­ clear goals and deliberate strategies be "Non-Aboriginal Australia has been slow mented and managed a combined degree devised which take account of the here and to recognise the wisdom and importance of and general nurse training course in con­ now but also of the living and working in the Aboriginal knowledge. junction with the University of NSW and 21 st Century," she said, reminding them This award is a small step towards such a also undertook cunrtculum development that the majortty of their major contrtbutions recognition and is especially timely because research for the transfer of Nurse Education to professionalism will be made in that next year, 1993, has been declared, inter­ into the tertiary sector. century rather than this one. nationally, the Year of Indigenous People," Professor Anderson was Headofthe Depar­ And in case any of the graduands doubted Professor Bryson conduded. tment of Health Studies at the former their own ability to influence to course of the Dr Bill Jonas of the Wollotuka Abortginal Newcastle College of Advanced Education future, Professor Anderson quoted Senator Centre, delivered the Occasional Address at from 1977 to 1984 and was the first Senior Tate in saying that "history does confinn the same ceremony, outlining that Lecturer and Course Director of Nurse that one person can change the course of Aboriginals are still "the most disadvantaged Teacher Education. history when that person captures the imagi­ group in Australian society in socio­ She was awarded an AM (Memberofthe nation and support of others". economic tenus," Order of Australia) in June 1986 for her She told them that by working together But things are improving for Australian services to nurse education and has they could realise the changes which inevi­ Abortginals. continued to excel in this field since that tably need to be made in the health care "There has been a great resurgence of time. industry. interest in Abortginal people's culture by In the words of Assoc. Professor McEniery, Professor Anderson continued her very AbortginaJ and non-Aboriginal people," Dr "Betty Anderson is highly respected by the poignant and inspirational address by Jonas said. nursing profession for her futuristic and reminding graduands that the "ups and "Abortginal people are obtaining tertiary innovative approaches to nurse education downs, mistakes and achievements, disapp­ qualifications in increasing numbers. This and problem based learning which have ointments and thrtlls alike will contrtbute to can be directly related to the introduction of provided guidance for the teaching and the definition of your identity as a person enclaves and support systems that started learn task in nursing". and as a professional. Of uttermost over ten years ago, and to the innovative In accepting her Honorary Degree of importance are not the events but your thinking and practices of institutions such Doctor of Science, Professor Anderson said response to them," she said. as this one," he said. that she was deeply honoured to be receiving Professor Anderson acknowledged that DrJonas made a plea to all new graduands: the award and acknowledged the effortS of in todays world, graduands will need to be "We must not and we will not see a return to those who worked "unbeknowns" to her to optimistic, descrtbing optimism as a "way of the conditions which Abortginal people have submit the proposal on her behalf. thinking about one's own behaviour and endured in the past." In her Occassional Address, entitled "Hind­ that of one's own community in a way that "You are the community leaders of the sight, Foresight and Insight", she reflected encourages initiative, persistance and bold near future. You have been trained in the on the past, discussed the present and dreaming." skills of crttical enquiry to help you search suggested a focus for the future of the No doubt, Professor Anderson has for meaning and truth nursing profession. She reminded graduands continued to view life optimistically, "I ask you now, as you continue to learn that growth is a long and cumulative process, enabling her to fulfil her own visions and the many lessons that await you, to always that is not haphazard but results from having pass her knowledge onto others. She apply what you have learned about critical a "vision forthe future infonned by reflection congratulated graduands, extending to them enquiry and the search for truth into all and a clear sense of identity". her 'fe!Vent wish' that they may feel the situations where you can contribute to Despite her many outstanding achiev­ exhilaration of victory. remedying dispossession and to overcoming ements. Professor Anderson assured the inequalities," Dr Jonas said. Page 22 GRADUATION 1992 HONORARY DOCTOR TEAMWORK HONOURED OF SCIENCE TO AT GRADUATION HUNTER VIGNERON CEREMONY

Mary and Larry Beeston, who helped to The Beeston's see the award as "recog­ forge Newcastle's cultural heritage, were nition of the contribution to the life and admitted to the Honorary Degree of Master culture of our community by the artists and of Arts, on Saturday, May 2. craftsmen of whom we are but a small part," The Beestons, according to Associate Profe­ Mrs Beeston told listeners about her ssor Graham Gilchrist, Dean of the Faculty father'S vision ofa Universiry ofTechnology of Art, Design and Communication, "have in Newcastle. "1 wish he could have seen our Harold William Tulloch, a well known not rested on their laurels but have continued University as it is today, bigger and broader Hunter Vigneron, has made an outstanding to be as involved and committed as practising in its scope than he ever dreamed of, and set contribution to the wine industry both in artists with the same enthusiasm now as in its beautiful campus which was part of his South Australia and the Hunter Valley. In when they were younger." vision," she said. presenting Harold Tulloch for his award, The Beestons worked together to produce Mary and Latty Beeston congratulated A/Professor David Finlay, Dean of the the magnificent HunterTapestry, a 4 7 square the new graduands, advising them to keep Faculty of Science and Mathematics metre masterpiece which adorns the Great their sense of discovery. described him as "the father of grapevine Hall ofthe University. "It's easy to get discouraged, and that's clonal research in Australia". Their search for inspiration and technical fatal ... You learn that survival depends on According to Professor Finlay, Dr Tulloch detail as exemplified in The Hunter Tapestry, determination and persistence above all. was one of the first people in Australia to led to their undertaking research and study "Now you have an opportunity to prove recognise the link between good quality tours to Scandinavia, Britain, Mexico. yourself. Go for it with all your heart." wine and premium quality fruit. Thailand, Nepal. India, Kashmir, Pakistan, A befitting conclusion from two very great Dr Tulloch said that the University's Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece and Japan. achievers. Hunter Wine Research Committee, estab­ In her Occasional Address, Mrs Beeston lished by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor expressed their deep appreciation of the Keith Morgan, could now become instru­ honour awarded upon them. mental in helping to maintain the Hunter's "No attist is ever completely satisfied with reputation as a maker of premium quality work done, always there is the determination wines. to do better, to reach higher, probe deeper, "The industry is very important to this take a step forward, break fresh ground, region and it has grown enonnously in the achieve the impossible. This award is and past 20 years," Dr Tulloch said. "There has will remain a stimulus for us, especially been an increase in demand for premium when the going gets tough. It presents a quality wines in Australia and an expansion continuous challenge for us to prove in wine exports and viticulture research has ourselves wotthy of it," she said. provided a means by which we can take advantage of these things." Dr Tulloch has undertaken extensive UNIVERSITY HONOURS "A TRUE ACHIEVER" research into vine breeding and selection. His research led to drastic improvements in In his introductory speech, Dr Dunlop, Dean Dr Dunlop described Dr Wilcox as a "true grape quality, eliminating a troublesome of the Faculry of Economics and Commerce, achiever" and a "friend of this University", vine virus and bad wine types through more shared with listeners the manygreatachiev­ In accepting his Honorary Degree, Dr informed selection. ements of Dr John Wilcox AM, who was Wilcox said that he felt humbled and moved "I have received a great deal of satisfaction awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of by the ceremony. "In a person's lifetime, and pleasure from research work and had Science at the Graduation Ceremony held on truly outstanding events can be counted on some reluctance when leaving this field to Friday, May 8. the fingers of one hand," he said. "This is start a small vineyard and winery of my own Dr Wilcox, who began his working career one such event in my lifetime." at Mt View after the Tulloch family winery as a telegram messenger in the Postmaster Dr Wilcox outlined the development of was sold in 1969," he said. General's Department, was to become a Australia's coal industry, which, he says, In establishing his vineyard, Mt View driving force in Australia'S coal industry. In has emerged as one of the most efficient and Estate, Dr Tulloch set to work himself - the words of Dr Dunlop, "Once a telegram safest coal mining industries in the world. putting in the posts, running the wire and messenger, he now plays a very important "It follows that Australia relies very heavily planting the vines. He built the winery role in Australia'S coal industry as a very on this industry for the nation's economic almost completely by himself and waters, honoured "messenger" to Australia'S trading well-being. weeds, prunes and sprays his vines each partners, bringing the news and knowledge "This is very significant today for two year. of this nation's capacity to train others in all reasons. On the one hand, we live in an age aspects of coal technology, to export coal to of acute concern about the environment and meet exact requirements and to assist devel­ coal is perceived to be a dirty fottn of energy. needs and environmental concern there has oping countries". On the other hand, despite the potential emerged an idea of a training program for In 1992, DrWilcox'scontribution to Austr­ shortage of oil, the concern about nuclear developing countries on the logistiCS and alia's coal industry was recognised when he energy and the limitation of hydro-electricity, economics of coal for power generation. was made a Member of the Order of Australia we have a world-wide burgeoning demand "It is the development of that idea that I (AM) for services to the Australian Coal for energy," he said. believe is being recognised here today," he Industry. Out of this conflict between economic said. Page 23