Vol. 27, No. 22;'; February 1990 Centre reflects a new maturity - Hayden THE study of all things Australian received a vice-regal push recently when the Governor-General , Mr Bill Hayden launched the univer­ sity's National Centre for Research and Development in Australian Studies. The establishment of the centre coastline. the establishment of an was evidence of an increasing Australian Studies Database. the national pride in Australian achieve­ Cambridge Bibliography of Austra­ mem , Me Hayden said . lian Literature and the preparation "One might only have hoped that of various publications. such a centre could have been estab­ One of the risks in a nalional lished sooner .•. centre for Australian studies, said its But. he reminded the audience of director, Professor Peter Spearritt, about 500 in the foyer of Robert was the assumption that controver­ Blackwood Hall. it was not until sial aspects of Australian life and 1949 that the first professor of Aus­ culture would be avoided. tralian history. Manning Clark, was "This is not the case. The ques­ appointed. tion of Aboriginal land rights "Since then, and panly due 10 figures in a number of our projects, Professor Clark's inspiration. we've as do questions of conservation and discovered how rich and complex equity." he said. and compelling Australian history "We even hope to convince one and culture is - a view that is of the major museums to take on our underwritten by the sheer range of proposed exhibition on the role of the material included in the centre's the Crown in Australian life. " research projects." Professor Spearritt said that Mr The Governor-Gmeral, Mr Hayden, with the Via-Chancel/or, Professor Mal Logan (left) and the director of the National Centre for Research and Development in Australian Studies, Professor Peter Spearritt. Picture: TONY Mlu.ER Nevertheless, said Mr Hayden, Hayden's present role and his ser­ the nation sometimes fails to pro­ vice in a number of Australian vide sufficient incentive or reward governments qualified him to com­ for Australian academics 10 Slay ment on changing attitudes about here and pursue their studies. Australia. , 'There is an element of the "We are mindful of his remark Sister university accord 'casino society' here. which tends to that the national self-denigration of put greater store on skill at the .he pas. should no. be replaced by a gambling tables than it does on self-regard oblivious to the outside products of the intellect. world. which we take to mean the "But still. the difference between world beyond the universities as the present and the Australia of. well as the world beyond Aus­ say, 30 years ago", is this : many ­ tralia." he said. perhaps the majority - of those The Vice-Chancellor, Professor who leave have already made their Mal Logan said Monash had always reputations. possessed a strong commitment to "One can only hope . in this inter­ Australian studies. national age. that eventually they "From the beginning, we adopted too will be encouraged to return." a position of valuing things Austra­ Established last year with funding lian. from the Federal Government and " There is a visual image that this additional support from Monash, is an Australian university - for the centre already has become a example, we have an all-native focus for Australian studies, both planting policy and the Jock Mar­ here and abroad. shall Reserve for Australian fauna. It is helping to promote Australian studies by organising and taking "We have also realised the im­ part in conferences. seminars and portance of Australian studies in short courses. It also conducts history. geography. politics. teaching and consultancy work. pre­ librarianship, visual arts , engineer­ Some former students afthe University ofGadjah Mada. Yogyakarta, were among those at a reception held to mark its pares exhibitions and provides ing and biology. agreement with Monash. Pictured wilh the director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies. Professor Margaret . advice to both the public and private .• Monash was named after a great KUr10mi (third from left) are (from left) Rismini Pram/woo YekJi Maunati, the Indonesian Vice-Consul, Broto Uromo, sectors. Australian, unlike some other uni­ Ibrahim Ambong, Bambang Parikesil and Ed; Basuki. The centre's current research pro­ versities here which have been THE first sister university The agreement also provides for The IUC project leaders are jects include the impact of urban named after members of the British agreement between Australia the creation of five Inter-University Associate Professor Sangkol Mar­ development on the Australian aristocracy..• and Indonesia represents a Centres (lUCs) in the priority teach­ lOki (Biotechnology). Professor significant step towards closer ing and research areas of biotech­ Merle Ricklefs and Dr Herb Feith bilateral relations, according to nology, social studies, food and (Social Studies). Associate Pro­ the Indonesian Consul in Mel­ nutrition, engineering and fessor Anhur Williams (Engineer­ economics. Inside this issue bourne, Mr Gunawan Tjipto­ ing) and Dr Robert Rice Research students will have the (Economics). * A total or panial smoking ban will be introduced at Monash from sumiarso. opportunity to swap between cam­ I July 1990. For details on the two options see page 2. The IUC in Food and Nutrition puses, and special classes in Indo­ will be led by Professor Mark Wahl­ Dr Alan Farley of the Accounting and Finance Department, has been At a reception to mark the agree­ * nesian language and culture will be qvist of the depanmenl of Medicine nominated as one of the seven finalists in the 1990 Franz Edelman ment between Monash and Uni­ held at UGM for Monash students. at Prince Henry's Hospital. Award. Page 3. versi.as Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yog­ It is expected that a large number of yakana, Mr Gunawan said the in­ * The Occupational Heallh and Safety Policy Committee has issued IWO UGM academics will upgrade their "Australia could learn much from augural link would benefit both detailed policies to prevent staff at Monash becoming infected with qualifications by taking higher the link between food and health in nalions. hepatitis B. Page 4. degrees at Monash. Indonesia. while Indonesia might * The Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education is fulfilling a national Under the agreement. both uni­ As well as helping the UGM learn from the errors we have made role by offering degree nursing courses by distance education. Details versities will carry out a range of library expand its Australian collec­ which have contributed to chronic page 5. collaborative activities, including tion. Monash staff will provide degenerative disease." Professor Wahlqvist said. * The concrete square outside the Main Library is getting a green training programs, research. and the assistance in setting up new courses facelift. The plans are displayed on page 7. exchange of scholars and scientific in Australian studies on the Yogya­ materials. karta campus. Continued on page 2 Page 2 - MONASH REPORTER February 1990 STUDENTS TAP INTO TELECOM Editorial WELCOME to the Monash major research projects. The Reponer for 1990. content and coverage will also be The new decade will see a broadened to include comments dramatic transformation of the Aus­ from academics on significant tralian higher education system. national and international issues. with Monash set to merge with In time it is hoped the Reporter Chisholm Institute of Technology will become more like a newspaper and Gippsland Institute of Advanced serving the wider university com­ Education on 1 July. munity. As such, it will operate like In light of these changes, it other newspapers, adhering to strict seemed a review of the Reporter deadlines and coping with limited was also in order, to ensure the space. university has an interesting and The Reporter will aim to give all relevant publication. campuses and faculties equal The look and format of the coverage. This is considered not Reporter, therefore, will gradually only fair but also in the best interests be revamped to reflect a large. of the paper to reflect the diverse modern, muhi--<:ampus university. It activities of the university. is expected that no issue will be less We welcome ideas for the paper than 12 pages and the average and criticism, either through our edition will he 16 pages. letters to the editor column or by In this edition you would already way of a personal note. have noticed a change in the size of Finally, to a large extent, the the paper and a new maslhead. The success of the paper depends on the Reporter will appear monthly and co-operalion of the academic staff at infonn staff and students as to what the university. This is your publi­ is happening at the university, in cation - we urge you to assist us in panicular, significant events and making it a worthy one. Telecom Australia Education Fellows. Gregory Findlow (left), Simon Pullan (second from left) and Ellis Brover (second Sister university agreement from right) talk with Acting Professor Bill Brown (centre) and Mr Brover. Continued from page I lead to a better understanding be­ MONASH received four of the fellows, Simon Pullan. Ellis Brover Ferra, is doing a PhD in applied tween Indonesian and Australian J8 Telecom Australia Education and Jonathon Spring, are from Elec­ mathematics. He is beginning the The Vice-Chancellor, Professor university communities. Fellowships for undergraduates trical and Computer Systems second year of his PhD and decided Mal Logan said: "This is a time for Negotiations between the two uni­ in their final years of study and Engineering, while Gregory to apply to Telecom because he building strategic alliances linking versities were carried out by the one of the three Tel~com Findlow is from Compmer Science. wanted to do something practical. universitives across the world. director of the Institute for Contem­ Research Laboratories Post­ Jonathon Spring is presently in The Fellowship ~wards were pre­ .