2009 Edition 1 12 14 ‘Blokey’ NT image Digesting croc may be a myth secrets – from the Understanding one sector of inside out the NT population How crocodiles have survived environmental catastrophes 18 19 20 Karrabing: keeping Nomad fi nds a home Way forward in country live in e-learning PNG’s maternal Archiving three families’ Engaging students in self- mortality crisis social, historical and directed learning Addressing the desperate cultural knowledge situation of some new mothers 4 News 30 Regional Russian immigrant fi nds a new life in Gove 8 First Person Alison Elliott explores the importance of quality early childhood education in the academic and social 31 Limited Edition development of youngsters Alan Griffi ths’ etching Jooba 10 Charles, My Hero 32 Opinion Tim Berra examines the man who Wendy Brady explores Indigenous changed a world view Australians and the “Great Chain of Being” 26 Alumni 38 Publishing Distance educators REACT to need News from CDU Press 28 Q&A Aaron Devine is Director of VET and Teaching Quality 2 CREDITS Origins Origins is produced by Charles Darwin University’s Corporate Communications. Editor Contributors Robyn McDougall Project manager Lynda Baxter keith christian Animal physiologist and ecologist, Design Keith Christian has spent more than two decades Sprout at Charles Darwin University (and its precursors) Printer where he is currently Professor of Zoology. He also Finsbury Green Printing has research interests in biological control and evolution. For this issue, Professor Christian explores the emerging research behind the science which Corporate Communications is grateful to the has allowed crocodiles to survive major catastrophes following people for their contributions and over the millennia. assistance in compiling this edition: Wayne Barbour, Tim Berra, Wendy Brady, Anne Chivas, Keith Christian, Aaron Devine, Peter Doherty, Christine Edward, Alison Elliott, Peter Eve, Mike and Cheryl Flynn, Kate Golebiowska, richie hodgson Now into his fourth edition of Origins Sarah Hanks, Rob Harcourt, Greg Holland, Sue as a contributor, CDU’s Media Offi cer Richie Hodgson Kruske, Mark Meekan, Robyn McInerney, Olga has written several articles for this issue based on Postans, Elizabeth Povinelli, Shane Thamm, Bill Wade, Suzanne Wilson. interviews with CDU researchers, lecturers and alumni. His story on the desperate situation of maternal mortality in Papua New Guinea offers a disturbing Opinions and views expressed in this edition insight into a crisis which continues to cripple the do not necessarily refl ect those of Charles country’s health system. Darwin University. Reproduction of any material appearing in this edition requires written permission from Robyn McDougall, E: [email protected] row booker Row Booker recently joined CDU’s Published May 2009 media team after immigrating to Australia from the United Kingdom, where she worked as a radio reporter and news producer for the British Forces This edition is also available at www.cdu.edu.au/corporatecommunications/ Broadcasting Service. She currently is CDU’s Marketing publications.html Communications Offi cer. Row writes several articles in this edition of Origins on the upcoming Charles CRICOS Provider 00300K Darwin Symposium, “Charles Darwin: Shaping our Science, Society and Future”. She also writes about the generosity of an NT family in donating a Design and Printing notes substantial sum of money to support environmental Text face Caecilia research students. Display face Meta Black Italic www.sprout.com.au jason mcintosh Jason McIntosh is CDU’s Public Relations Offi cer in Alice Springs. He enjoys showcasing the successes of staff and students across CDU’s regional campuses and centres. Jason says he’s never looked back since returning to Alice Springs from “the big smoke”. His contributions to this edition include an article about a Russian immigrant who has established a new Origins is printed from vegetable-based inks and all waste life in Nhulunbuy after learning English through CDU. and by-products of the process have been recycled into garden mulch and low-grade solvents. The paper used in this edition of Origins has been cover Courtesy of Sprout manufactured under the environmental management system ISO 14001 using Elemental Chlorine Free (EFC) inside front cover Alan Griffi ths Jooba from the Waringarri Suite 2008 Etching on paper image pulp sourced from sustainable, well-managed forests. 25 x 25cm paper size 52 x 40cm photograph Courtesy Northern Editions Origins VICE-CHANCELLOR EDITORIAL 3 On the move As the Northern Territory’s premier tertiary education provider, Charles Darwin University performs a crucial role in the wider community. The Territory’s much-vaunted vitality is, in part, the result of the dynamism of its own university. CDU has intense working on the theme, “On the move”, and provide a taste of the relationships with a great variety contributions CDU is making in higher education and VET of individuals and organisations teaching, to the community through our partnerships, and to throughout the NT and beyond. We the lives of many individuals. The theme helps to illuminate are indeed fortunate to work within the dynamism that is required of CDU as we meet our one of the world’s most culturally and responsibilities to the NT community, face the geographical biologically diverse regions. challenges of our location, and work with our diverse but small population base. At the same time, the Territory’s unique challenges are also In this issue you will read about research that will assist well-documented, and part of policy-makers to understand the movements of overseas the mission of the university is to immigrants who come to the Northern Territory. This group develop knowledge that will solve represents a signifi cant sector of the NT population and little complex problems existing in our work has been undertaken in the past to understand the region. In doing so, CDU is indeed demographic and economic impacts of these people. a valuable asset in the social, You will discover how CDU is helping to address a maternal cultural, intellectual and economic mortality crisis in Papua New Guinea, which is ranked development of Northern Australia. among the worst in the world in regard to women dying The Territory has every right to be in childbirth. proud of our achievements, not And you will learn about how a university lecturer from the only in helping to build a strong former Soviet Union is working to rebuild her life in Gove community in the north, but also with the help of English classes offered through CDU. in providing higher education and vocational education and training This edition also showcases the Charles Darwin Symposium for local, national and international which will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles students. We are young and, for an Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication institution that straddles the entire of “On the Origin of Species”. Territory, we are nimble. We can The Symposium’s keynote speaker, Professor Tim Berra, respond quickly to new demands along with other prominent presenters, opens up the and opportunities. discussion in this Origins ahead of the September event. As an institution, we must be agile I hope you enjoy these and other articles and regular and our agility is refl ected in the columns in this edition, and that you gain a deeper sense theme of this edition of Origins. of the impacts of our university. The articles that follow are based Professor Barney Glover 4 NEWS Origins Researchers win Birds Australia award Two prominent CDU researchers have received a national award to honour their outstanding contributions to the fi eld of birds in the Australasian region. Director of the School for Environmental Research, Professor Stephen Garnett, and the Biodiversity Information Offi cer with Tropical Savannas CRC, Dr Gabriel Crowley, were awarded the prestigious D. L. Serventy Medal by Birds Australia (previously the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) for their contributions to publications in the fi eld of ornithology. Partners in life and work, Professor Garnett and Dr Crowley have made a signifi cant, pivotal and unique contribution to the knowledge and conservation of Australian birds. This contribution has been made through hands-on intensive research, the compilation of systematic overviews of the conservation status of Australian birds, and the development and maintenance of networks of ornithologists and others, nationally and internationally, with interest in the management of Australia’s threatened birds. left Award winners, Professor Stephen Garnett and Dr Gabriel Crowley. NT academic tops Australia in vocational teaching CDU has blitzed the rest of Australia’s training providers to take out the Institute of Trade Skills Excellence (ITSE) Teacher of the Year award for 2008. CDU’s NT Manager of the Primary Industries and Community He said he had strong Services Industry Division, Dr Brian Heim was announced competition in the awards. “I have the winner. to say the quality of the other VET teachers nominated for the It was the fi rst time the Territory has participated in the award was amazing. I actually awards, with Dr Heim scooping not only the Agricultural had picked out in my own head Teacher of the Year Award, but also the ultimate accolade who I thought was most likely to of ITSE Teacher of the Year 2008. win and of course it wasn’t me, Originally from Texas, USA, Dr Heim has worked at CDU’s but to be told I had won – it was Katherine campus for the past six years. just an amazing surprise.” “To win this award is a tremendous honour. It goes beyond The award comes with a $10,000 explanation to say what it actually means to me,” he said. cash component designed, in part, to help fund a project to above Dr Heim said he believed that an agricultural course he had benefi t industry, students and Dr Brian Heim plans developed in direct response to industry demand secured the the winning teacher.