ISSUE 9 WINTER 2008 www.VU.EDU.AU VU CONNECTIONS NOAH’S PRIDE FAT AND Fit . JocKEYS FIRst . GAME JUNKies . CLIMAte OF CHANGE 1 21 24 17 CONTENTS 4 4 8 10 VC WELCOME IN BRIEF IN THE SLAM-DUNKED DRIVER’S SEAT TO FAME The VC writes about VU’s Tackling diabetes, a groundbreaking Performance Studies student Paddy VU alumni and former basketball commitment to green values and agreement with the University Macrae wins a Transport Accident star, Danny Morseu, represented its responsibility to adopt and of Melbourne, and a new centre Commission prize of $20,000 Australia at two Olympics. promote sustainable environmental for vocational and work-based to make a short film about safe He has now been inducted into practices through innovative education research are just three driving for young drivers. the VU Sport Hall of Fame. projects and research. of this issue’s in briefs. 15 16 17 18 CLIMATE CREIGHTON BURNS EMPOWERING GOURMET OF CHANGE 1925–2008 REFUGEES SECRETS Signing up with the Greenfleet VU’s inaugural Chancellor, and VU’s work with government and For years, VU’s three training program is just one of VU’s many former editor of The Age newspaper, local community partners to support restaurants have been providing environmental initiatives that dies after a long illness aged 82. Melbourne’s growing number of Horn invaluable training for students are helping to reduce the impact of Africa refugees wins a national aiming for careers in the hospitality of greenhouse gas emissions. award for community engagement. and tourism industry. 23 24 26 27 NOAH’S PRIDE FAT AND FIT KNOW THE SCORE SOCIAL CONSCIENCE Eighty-year-old Bill Pride teaches Dr Steve Selig says overweight VU’s research facilities and strong Thirty-two, single and with four the ancient craft of traditional people wanting to improve their links with industry and the community children, Maree Corbo brought wooden boatbuilding at Newport health should throw away their are allowing researchers to produce plenty of life experience to the Campus. This year he received bathroom scales and focus on work that is locally relevant and classroom when she enrolled a Medal of the Order of Australia. getting fit, not on getting thin. internationally significant. in a Bachelor of Social Work. 31 32 VU FACTS VU ART Facts about VU. Recent artwork by a VU student. 2 18 4 23 11 12 14 VICTORIA GAME JUNKIES JOCKEYS COME STREET SMART UNIVERSITY IN FIRST CONNECTIONS So-called ‘addicted’ computer Research into the horse racing A driving program for schoolchildren PUBLISHER gamers are often stereotyped as industry has resulted in significant is teaching them practical skills Marketing and Communications Dept. lonely nerds lacking self-esteem improvements to the working behind the wheel before they get Victoria University, Australia and social skills. A VU researcher and non-working lives of jockeys, their learner permits and venture PO Box 14428 disagrees. trainers and stable employees. onto Victoria’s busy roads. Melbourne VIC 8001, Australia © Victoria University CRICOS Provider No. 00124K 20 21 22 CONTACT US A LONG JOURNEY FOOTBALL LEARNING SPACE Phil Kofoed – Managing Editor LAWYER CHANGING FACE PHONE +61 3 9919 4956 VU’s Karen Jackson is a Yorta Wayne Henwood’s career included Combining libraries with IT and EMAIL [email protected] Yorta, Barap Barap woman. She playing with the Sydney Swans learning support, learning commons www.vu.edu.au is committed to the recognition of and the Melbourne Demons before are part of VU’s response to the This publication is printed on recycled paper. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studying law at VU. He now sits educational needs of students heritage and rights to land. on the AFL Tribunal. in the 21st century. PHOTOS Sharon Walker 28 30 31 Tim Burgess BATTING EXTRAORDINARY NEW BOOKS Ann Marie Angebrandt FOR GREEN LIVES COVER PHOTO Greg Dingle says the future of A new book of poems, stories and Marketing museums in the 21st Bill Pride, VU teacher of traditional professional and amateur sport hinges interviews by and about women century and the moral dilemma boatbuilding at Newport Campus. Awarded a on them reducing their contribution living in Melbourne’s west, shows of an Indian officer taken prisoner Medal of the Order of Australia at this year’s to global warming and adapting that so-called ordinary people can in WWII are among the topics Australia Day celebrations. to the impending world oil crisis. have extraordinary lives. of new books by VU authors. 3 Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Harman with Sport and Recreation students David Stokes and Kerryn Schmal. VC Welcome In Brief Welcome to the winter 2008 issue of Connections. We need hardly be told that we all – as individuals, as organisations, and as communities – need to take responsibility for the impacts we have on the environment. This is perhaps even truer for universities, which have a responsibility both to lead and to innovate. VU REACHES SUMMIT It is in this spirit of forward thinking that Victoria University has committed to a ‘green value’ of Victoria University staff were among those sound environmental stewardship for future generations. Further, all VU programs in construction, taking part in the Federal Government’s manufacturing and transport related areas will in future have a green focus. Australia 2020 Summit, with Vice-Chancellor VU also strives to ensure its impact on the natural environment is managed in a responsible and Professor Elizabeth Harman saying she took sustainable manner. The University is working to achieve a 10% decrease in water consumption between ‘some very clear messages’ to Canberra. 2008 and 2011, and reduce the use of both electricity and gas by 15% over the same period. Professor Harman had previously participated As a multisector university offering higher, vocational and further education, VU can make positive in local summits, and the outcomes were contributions to a sustainable future through teaching, practice and research across a broad variety formally submitted to the national summit of fields and industries. for consideration. The Werribee Centre for Sustainable Water Use at VU’s Werribee Campus is a good example of Among concerns Professor Harman conveyed VU’s capacity to effect meaningful responses to the impacts of climate change on our water supply. were “a national vision for a holistic approach Work at the Centre is focused on developing water and wastewater treatment technologies. The State to education that works at a local level in Government has granted $1m over 5 years towards the centre, and VU has committed a further $3.6m. Melbourne’s west”, ensuring the western As you read through this issue of Connections, you will see that VU staff and students are exemplars region of Melbourne has a competitive of the University’s green value, and are committed to sustainable environmental practices through regional profile, the need for climate change innovative projects and research. to be taken seriously and the local lead that Melbourne’s west could provide, and The articles also explore other developments across the University. You will read how VU is overcoming Melbourne’s ‘”massive east/west expanding its teaching and learning spaces to ensure students are prepared for the challenges divide” in services and urban renewal. of the modern workplace. Professor Harman was one of four VU people Another article discusses a VU academic’s research that has yielded surprising results on the represented at the summit. The others were relationship between body weight and fitness level. Associate Professor Santina Bertone from the You will also read about the University receiving a national award for bringing together community Faculty of Business and Law; Ken Loughnan, AO and government partners to support newly-arrived African refugees to the west of Melbourne. from VU Council; and Elleni Bereded from VU’s Office for Industry and Community Engagement. Collectively, these and other stories demonstrate how we are not only an active community within the University but are keen to export our knowledge and expertise locally, nationally and abroad. Professor Elizabeth Harman Vice-Chancellor and President June 2008 4 Eric Lund at the unveiling of his portrait with grandson James Gooden. In Brief In Brief KICKING GOALS NEW RESEARCH POSITIONS PORTRAIT UNVEILED Thousands of students from schools in VU has launched its new Work-based Education Victoria University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Melbourne’s western region are learning about Research Centre (WERC). Senior Deputy Elizabeth Harman has unveiled a portrait healthy and happy living in an innovative Vice-Chancellor (Education Services) and of the Foundation Director of the Western program launched by the Western Bulldogs Director TAFE Professor Richard Carter said Institute, Emeritus Professor Eric Lund, AM. in partnership with VU and AFL Victoria. the centre “marks a major innovation in The occasion, in February, marked the a vocational education faculty on a matter The ‘Bulldog Friendly Schools’ program 20th anniversary of the establishment of that is of national significance”. delivers messages to Grade 3 and 4 students the Western Institute, now part of Victoria about the importance of building fitness and Professor Carter said the new centre’s cutting- University. The portrait by VU graduate developing broad values of harmony, fair play edge research in vocational education will focus Shannon Smiley will hang in the VU Gallery and teamwork. on improving trades education and how skills at City Flinders Campus. are best taught or learned in workplace settings. The program is supported by 50 trainee Lund was Director of Western Institute teachers from VU, in conjunction with He said skills shortages and the large dropout 1986–91 and Deputy Vice-Chancellor classroom teachers in schools. rate from apprenticeship courses were of of VU 1991–95.