UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA December 2009 • Issue 36 100 YEARS OF BIOLOGY ORIGINS OF WORLD LEADING RESEARCH ENGINEERING 50TH ANNIVERSARY ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE INDIGENOUS EDUCATION TASMANIANS IN THE OUTBACK The Friends’ School, PO Box 42 North Hobart, Tasmania 7002 Australia Telephone: (03) 6210 2200 - Facsimile: (03) 6234 8209 [email protected] - www.friends.tas.edu.au T H E F R I E N D S ’SC H O O L H O B A R T Leading-edge school on the quiet rim of the world Friends’ School Hobart is a pre-K to 12 co-educational school with residential facilities. Our students and staff live and work in Tasmania’s quiet, clean and natural environment. Established by Quakers in 1887, Friends’ has a reputation for academic excellence. In 2008, 98% of our final year students qualified for university entrance. Academic Excellence At Friends’, we believe in providing the widest possible range of educational opportunities. That’s why we offer our Year 11 and 12 students the choice of the International Baccalaureate, the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) and Vocational Education and Training. We’d like to tell you more about Friends’ School. For a copy of our prospectus or to arrange a visit, please contact us. MOTIVATED BY CHALLENGE AND A SENSE OF DISCOVERY? THINK POSTGRADUATE STUDY. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, LEARNING AND RESEARCH. Our postgraduate programs span a diverse range of specialised and traditional disciplines. UTAS students gain a competitive advantage through strong professional links and programs tailored to meet the needs of industry. Our flexible study modes include part-time, weekend, online and block schedules. It is these study options that allow our students to balance lifestyle and learning. Contact UTAS today to find out why UTAS is your way forward. YOUR WAY FORWARD. 13UTAS www.utas.edu.au UTAS5109rj CONTENTS Alumni News is the regular magazine for graduates and friends of the University of Tasmania. It is prepared for the Development and Alumni Office by the Communications and Media Office. Contributors Kathy Grube, Sharon Webb, Cherie Cooper, Michelle Grima, 4 Patrick Cranny, Jess Tyler, Penny Thow, Mark Bennett. Design Digital Ink Advertising enquiries Media Centre, Hobart 8 17 Pone +61 3 6234 8588 2 Alumni and friends 16 Rhodes to success Let us know your story at A big thank you to everyone who supported Tasmania’s two most recent Rhodes [email protected] the 2008 Alumni Annual Appeal. Scholars reveal what is driving them to Phone +61 3 6324 3052 pursue further research into health. 4 100 years of biology Fax +61 3 6324 3402 Distinguished Professor Jim Reid recounts 17 Indigenous education in UTAS Development and some of the significant events and colourful the outback Alumni Office characters who helped form today’s Meet the passionate Tasmanian teachers Locked Bag 1350 teaching and research in biology at UTAS. who have dedicated their lives to making Launceston Tasmania 7250 7 Bush Research brings rewards, a difference in remote indigenous communities in the Kimberley and by gum Northern Territory. Gum tree expert Brad Potts reveals some of the secrets of this Australian botanical icon. 20 Courting a life of criminal justice Alumni News catches up with law academic 8 Engineering milestone full Kate Warner who is currently braving a UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA of energy cold English winter as a visiting fellow at December 2009 • Issue 36 The School of Engineering took a walk back Oxford University. down memory lane this year as it celebrated 50 years at the Sandy Bay campus. 22 Observatory for UTAS – Join us on our road to discovery 10 Beaut memories of 30 years An appeal to raise funds to build a new at AMC optical telescope in Tasmania’s southern Two AMC graduates recall their days midlands has been launched. studying at AMC and their overseas adventures. 24 Support for Tasmanian devil 100 YEARS OF BIOLOGY The iconic Tasmanian devil is attracting ORIGINS OF WORLD LEADING RESEARCH 13 Support from those who have some equally iconic supporters. ENGINEERING 50TH ANNIVERSARY ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE gone ahead of him INDIGENOUS EDUCATION 2009 Alumni Appeal Scholar Cameron 26 Books from UTAS Alumni TASMANIANS IN THE OUTBACK Ritchie shares the highs and lows of his first Profiles of some of the many books year studying at UTAS. published by UTAS Alumni from around Australia and overseas. Cover: Preserved specimen 14 Collaborative southern marine collection from the UTAS research focus for IMAS 29 Alumni accolades School of Zoology. Find out which Alumni made news headlines The University of Tasmania’s new Institute Photograph: Lisa Gipton for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) will during the past year. enhance Tasmania’s international reputation 30 Vale in Antarctic, marine and climate change Farewelling some of the people who made research. UTAS great. DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 36 ALUMNI NEWS | 1 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS 2008 Annual Appeal Thanks THE University of Tasmania Foundation wishes to thank everyone who generously supported our 2008 Alumni Annual Appeal. Your gifts make a real difference towards developing excellence at UTAS and provide real opportunities to students for educational and social growth. Thank you to our 2008 Annual Appeal Donors: Anonymous (57) Mrs Gwendoline Fellowes Mrs Joan Kelly Mrs Kaye Rickwood Thank you to Donors Dr Nigel Abbott AM Dr Bruce Felmingham Mrs Edith Kerr Dr Julie Rimes who have supported Mrs Marguerite Alford Mr Heinz Fickler Mr Nigel Kidd Mrs Norah Rodgers The University of Professor Craig Anderson Dr Timothy Flanagan Mr David Kirby Mrs Helen Rolton Tasmania Foundation Ms Susan Andrews Mr Donald Frankcombe Dr Colin Kleinig Mr Meinard Rook OAM USA Appeal Ms Diane Ashley Professor Maurice French Mrs Shin Ching Ko Woo The Rev Dr Peter Rudge Miss Edith Backhouse Ms Carol Fuller Mr Jeffrey Langdon Ms Marion Sargent Mr Roderick Armstrong Ms Diane Baillie Mrs Alison Gaden Mr William Lannin Mrs Angela Schramm Mr Mark Bewsher Dr Janice Baker Mr Donald Gaffney Chin Lau Mrs Leone Scrivener Mrs Heather Brice Mrs Claire Bamford Mr Richard Gardner Professor Alec Lazenby AO Professor Jan Sedivka AM Dr Paul Cossum Mrs Hilda Bardenhagen Mrs Noreen Gibson Mrs Ann Lazenby Dr David Seymour Dr Christopher Eastoe Miss Karenne Barnes Mr Peter Goddard Mr Anthony Le Clerc Ms Patricia Shires Dr Charles Geard Mrs Janice Bassett Mr Peter Gorman Ms Kerry Le Rossignol Mr Peter Skinner Ms Barbara Hayes Ms Anne Batt Ms Robyn-Maree Gottschalk Mrs Cynthea Leahy Miss Elizabeth Smith Mr Andrew Heyward Sir Max Bingham QC Mr Richard Gould Mr John Lennard Mrs Alison Smith Dr Nicholas Hope Mrs Heidi Blanchard Mrs Teresa Grabek Mr Donald Lennox Ms Anita Smith Dr Andrew Innes Mr Ian Bonner Mrs Linley Grant Mr James Lillas Miss June Smith Dr Susan Kelly Mr Warren Brewer Pastor Alexander Grant Mr Robert Loring Mrs Heather Spicer Mr Charles E. Petty Mr Kenneth Briggs Ms Alison Green Mr John Lownds Dr Fiona Stennard Dr Justin Ridge Mrs Edna Brock Miss Barbara Greenstreet Mr Charles MacLean Mr Michael Street Professor Michael Sharpe Ms Virginia Brown Mr Peter Griffin Mr Timothy Maddock Dr Frederick Sutherland Mr Derek Thomson Ms Anne Brown Mrs Joan Grimmond Mr Malcolm Maney Mr Guy Swifte Mr David L. Thun Mr Anthony Burridge Miss Grace Guerzoni Mr John Matthews Miss Chia Tan Mrs Jane Byrne Reverend Hugh Hadrill Dr Christobel Mattingley Mr Ching Tan Dr Sara Cameron Ms Julie Hamilton Mr Donald McDermott Mr Charles Tate Mr Roger Campbell Mr Stuart Hamilton AO Mrs Betty McKenzie-Tubb Mr David Taylor Dr Robin Cantrill Ms Lynne Hanlon Ms Judith McKernan Mr Wah Liang Teo Mr John Carey Mr Stewart Harvison Mr Barry McNeill Dr Emma Terwiel Mr Roger Carrington Dr Geoffrey Haward Mrs Bronwen Meredith Dr Barrie Thistlethwayte Mr Terence Childs Mr Ian Heddle Mr Luke Miller Ms Clare Thompson HOW YOU CAN Ms June Mee Keow Chow Justice Peter Heerey Dr Kenneth Milton Mrs Bonnie Tilley SUPPORT UTAS Professor Wah Soon Chow Mr L Heinrich Mr Neil Moore Mr Jerome Toonen Professor Allan Clark Mr Barry Hine Ms Sylvanie Morgan Dr Chris Trevitt Make a donation Ms Penny Cocker Mrs Janferie Hirst Ms Lisa Morisset Mr Marcello Verrocchi to support the 2009 Ms Ingrid Colman Mr Pat Ho Mr Leon Morrell Dr Mark Von Bibra Annual Appeal. Dr Geoffrey Coltheart Mrs Veronika Hofto Dr John Morris Mr Bernard Walker Mr Philip Crisp Mr Anthony Hogg Mr Rene Mouchet Mr John Warner Phone the Development Mr Peter Croger Miss Ann Hopkins Mr David Murray Mr John Watson and Alumni Office on Dr Peter Davis Mr Peter Horne Mrs Nairn O’Rourke Dr Michael Watt 03 6226 1920 or visit Mrs Andrea Dean Mrs Debra Howard Miss Melanie Oates Ms Melanie Webb www.utas.edu.au/ Mrs Debra Dean Assoc Prof Peter Howell Mr Kasinathan Palaniappa Mrs Barbara Weissflog foundation to donate Mrs Mary Dean Mr Ian Howie Miss Frances Parsons Mr Michael Weitnauer or find out more Commissioner Barbara Mr John Hudson Miss Diana Paterson Ms Claire Williams about how you can Deegan Mrs Patricia Hudspeth Ms Dorothy Pearce Mr Malcolm Wilson support UTAS. Mr Anthony Dell Mrs Carol Hughes Mr Benjamin Plunkett Mr John Wilson Mrs Gladys Dodson Mrs Anna Hyslop Mr Shane Poulson Dr Tania Winzenberg For those alumni with Dr Janet Dunbabin Mrs Anna Jackiewicz Mr Ambika Prasad Mr James Wishart a USA address wishing Mrs Helen Dunford Dr Robinson Jacklyn Miss Margaret Price Mrs Doris Wong to receive USA tax Mrs Christine Duniam Mrs Margaret Proudlock Mr Charles Wong Mr Struan Jacobs deductibility for their Dr Lawrence Dunn Mr Roderick Jager Mr Frederick Ralph Mrs Derris Wood gifts contact the Mrs Thu Nga Duong Ms Chelsea Jager Mr Peter Ramshaw Mr Michael Woolley UTAS Foundation USA Dr Christopher Edwards Dr Anthony James Ms Kaye Ranson Mrs Roslyn Woolley PO Box 3995 Ithaca NY Ms Jacqueline Elliott Mrs Jane James Dr Keith Reeve AM Dr Kim Wright 14852-3995 USA; Mrs Beverley Ewins Mr Anthony Jones Ms Melina Reyes-Lijauco Reverend Dr Robert Faser Mr Kee Yew Kan Mrs Annabel Richards Fax +1 607 2777 0078.