IP V19 - No.1 26/6/08 3:36 PM Page 1 InPrincipio IN THE BEGINNING Semester 1 2008 Volume 19 - No.1 ISSN 1448-076X IP V19 - No.1 26/6/08 3:36 PM Page 2 Contents Vice Chancellor’s Report 2 University News The University 3 Broome Campus 6 Fremantle Campus 8 Dr Peter Tannock Sydney Campus 10 Feature This, my last In Principio report, will be brief. Educating for the Future 12 On 1 August 2008 Professor Celia Hammond of the Church takes over as Notre Dame’s third Vice Chancellor. She has all the qualities – College News personal, professional and spiritual, to lead Arts & Sciences 14 this very special Catholic University to the Business 16 next phase in its development. She has my total support and I wish her all the best in Education 17 a long term of office. Health Sciences 18 Notre Dame is special in so many ways. Law 20 Its quality, direction and influence within Medicine 21 and beyond its immediate community in Fremantle, Sydney and Broome, give it a Nursing 22 unique and valuable place in Australian Philosophy & Theology 23 higher education. The University has been well served by the Campus Ministry 24 wonderful people it has attracted to its staff Student Life 25 and its Trustees, Directors and Governors. Alumni & Development 26 It has been well supported by successive Federal and State Governments. It has attracted many generous, thoughtful and inspired benefactors. It owes an enormous debt to the University of Notre Dame in the United States and its leaders for their remarkable example, their constant advice, and their love and care during this challenging foundation period. It has been particularly fortunate to have had the dedicated and unswerving commitment of leaders of the Church whose vision and faith the University has tried to live up to. I have loved my time as Vice Chancellor. I am grateful for the immense support I have had from so many quarters. I love Notre Dame, which I know is at the very beginning of its illustrious path as a major Catholic higher education institution in Australia and the world. I know its graduates will have an enduring love for the institution and pride in their carriage of its very special brand. Front Cover: Dr Peter Tannock and Professor Celia Hammond. IP V19 - No.1 26/6/08 3:36 PM Page 3 3 I UNIVERSITY NEWS New Vice Chancellor Appointed Dr Michael Quinlan, Professor Celia Hammond and Dr Peter Tannock. The Acting Chancellor, Dr Michael Quinlan, areas of corporate, property, and experience who will be strongly supported announced the appointment of Professor insolvency law. She also has experience in by the entire Notre Dame community in Celia Hammond as the University’s third industrial relations policy and practice, and leading and managing this unique Vice Chancellor on 27 May 2008. in public policy relating to higher Australian university, and in taking it to the Professor Celia Hammond succeeds Dr education in Australia. next stage of its development.” Peter Tannock, who retires on 31 July 2008 Professor Hammond is 39 years of age. Dr Quinlan paid tribute to Dr Peter Tannock after 16 years in the position. She has She is married and is the mother of three for his extraordinary achievement in guiding been appointed for an initial term of five boys. She was appointed, following an the University from its planning stage to its years. Professor Hammond currently holds international search process, with the present highly acknowledged place in the the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor at unanimous approval of the University’s Australian tertiary education system. Notre Dame with direct responsibility for Board of Directors and its Trustees. “Peter Tannock’s contribution to education managing and overseeing the University’s Her appointment has been endorsed by in Australia is unparalleled. He has played 6,000 student Fremantle Campus. the Archbishops of Perth and of Sydney, a leading role for over forty years, Professor Hammond is a legal practitioner and the Bishop of Broome, in whose including serving as Chairman of the with experience in private practice in dioceses the University operates its Commonwealth Schools Commission, Western Australia. She has held senior campuses. Director of Catholic Education in Western leadership, management and teaching The retiring Vice Chancellor, Dr Peter Australia and Chairman of the National positions at Notre Dame, where she has Tannock, said that in Professor Hammond Catholic Education Commission. been a staff member for over ten years. the University had found a person of “Throughout his career he has been a She was Head of the University’s School of outstanding quality with a deep wonderful visionary who has the rare ability Law, and served as the University’s General understanding of, and commitment to, to be able to turn his visions into reality. Counsel, Executive Director of the Vice Notre Dame and its Objects. The University is indebted to him for his Chancellery, and Assistant Provost. He said, “Celia Hammond is a young great work and legacy,” said Dr Quinlan. She has wide experience teaching in woman of exceptional ability and commercial law and has published in the IP V19 - No.1 26/6/08 3:36 PM Page 4 4 I UNIVERSITY NEWS THE University Darlinghurst site to host visit by Pope Benedict XVI 1 His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will visit the University’s Darlinghurst Campus, Vice Chancellor Awarded Sydney on Friday 18 July as part of his World Youth Day commitment. Vice Chancellor, Dr Peter Tannock, The Holy Father has requested to meet young people at risk of alcohol and substance abuse, homelessness and other forms of disadvantage and this visit will be hosted at the was the recipient of the University University’s Darlinghurst site. He will enter Sacred Heart Church in the University precinct of Portland’s highest honour - the and meet young people together with representatives of Notre Dame, Centacare, the Christus Magister Medal (‘Christ NSW Catholic Education Office and other organisations working with local youth. the Teacher’). The incoming Vice Chancellor of Notre Dame, Professor Celia Hammond, commented, He was presented the award in the USA “There is clearly no greater honour for a Catholic University than a visit from the Holy at the University’s commencement Father. We are privileged to host both him and the young people chosen to meet him on ceremony held on Sunday 4 May 2008 at this great day for Notre Dame. Pope Benedict XVI will be warmly welcomed among us and the University. The Christus Magister we greatly look forward to his visit.” Medal is awarded by Portland annually to men and women of international The visit to Notre Dame will be the only visit Pope Benedict XVI undertakes outside the distinction in the fields of art, science, WYD 2008 schedule and his meetings with religious and civic dignitaries. education, and government. Dr Tannock was recognised as being widely considered the architect of modern A Personal Reflection – The Wisdom of Applying Knowledge Catholic higher education in Australia. He was described as being instrumental in Standing out from the crowd is not theories to practical case studies and creating Notre Dame, which began with always easy, but it can be what investigating why we should act morally and his dream of starting the first Catholic gives someone enough of an ‘edge’ whether this is a rational course of action. teachers’ college in Western Australia. over the rest of the field to set them Through studying the Bible, Church history Dr Tannock was also acknowledged for on the road to success. and doctrine, Theology considers in an his days playing football for the East Graduates of Notre Dame cannot help but academic manner ‘ultimate’ questions like: Perth Football Club and being chairman stand out from the crowd. At Notre Dame, How did it all begin? What purpose does of the National Catholic Education students not only gain high-quality, suffering serve? What happens after Commission, chairman of the Australian profession-specific knowledge and death? How is the Gospel relevant today? Schools Commission, director of Catholic experience, they also dedicate time to Cumulatively, the Core Curriculum education in the State of Western Australia, and Professor and Dean of Education at personal development of intellect, presents Notre Dame students with a The University of Western Australia. conscience and spirit, through studying range of intellectual, moral and spiritual the University’s Core Curriculum of tools that can enable them to comprehend In his speech, University President, Rev E Philosophy, Ethics and Theology. the world with a wide-angle lens informed William Beauchamp, C.S.C said, In the Core, students step out of their by classical philosophy, virtue ethics and “With the deepest admiration for a degree-specific intellectual comfort zones Christian theology. Employing the right colleague who devoted his life to and into the Catholic liberal arts tradition, knowledge at the right time is an act of Catholic education in his state and where they are taught to deal with applied wisdom, and this is what Notre nation; with astonished respect for a man unexpected challenges, to exercise right Dame aims to train its graduates to do. who dreamed a college and then made it social conscience and to understand the into a great university; with gratitude for positive role that Christianity can play in a colleague who helps bring sixty Australian society. University of Portland students to study in Australia every year; and with more than Philosophy teaches students to think a little awe for a man who played critically and argue logically, utilising the professional football in the roughest Socratic Method to pose a series of wildest league there is, the University of questions designed to elicit answers that Portland proudly bestows its highest together lead to a position of logical honour, the Christus Magister Medal, on soundness on particular philosophical issues.