'",- AUCHMUTY LIBRARY The UNIVERSITY :':~~".""'.~.' . of. NEWCASTLE. ".' '="II ~ AUSTRALIA ' !.l-f.... I . Sen''l l 24(; • Features: NHMRC grants announced - page 3 Staff profile - Architectural Brian English - page 6 solutions on display Central Coast News - final year student Lyndall Ryan - page 8 . exhibition - page 13 IESD news - page 17 Etcetera - page 18 a remarkable exhibition of Aboriginal artworks - Faculty of Art and Design Gallery page 10-11 this year. It is particularly .' pleasing to congratulate Associate Professor Geoffrey University delleg,i\Ii( Samuel on his promotion to the • the position of Professor of Anthropology. Three women will join the Associate Professorial ranks next year - lecture namely Dr Mary-Anne Williams Honourable Gordon Sapttie~, of the School of Management, Dr AC; Mirka Miller of the Department • the ongoing visits ,to .... th~t~: _ of Computer Science and Departments, Faculties ~~d:' ":,'1' Software Engineering and Dr other Divisions, -,.ot.d~~,:--~t' Lynette Lim of the Centre for University; -- '" - \ Clinical Epidemiology and • the Federal ele~tiQ~'~_ --ifi:' ~ . Biostatistics. October, and the enhaJ;l,«re.~ Among the many highlights participation of th~ AuSttiJrari- ,~-_ for me during 1998 are: Vice-Chancellors' Coll'Ui1.iU&' ~ '.' ' ""'" ,,_,."'f: • the opening of the Sports and and the University in rai~g· ,'~ Aquatic Centre, The Forum; major issues concerning higii~ ,>', • the retreat in February which education; '~. 0'" initiated our 1998-2002 Strategic • the restructuring of,' -tite Vice-Chancellor's Column Plan; Faculty of Art and Design • new senior academic the International appointments in Australian 1998 is rapidly drawing to a of the reviews and planning Studies and Business (Central One as an el"ctronicaUY: close and I would like to wish activities. Staff have responded Coast Campus), and in Fine Art, all staff and students of the well to the challenges and it is Clinical Psychology, Economics, • Emeritus University an enjoyable appropriate that we recognise General Practice, Clinical Dutton's farewell; Christmas season and best excellent performance. Pharmacology and Biological • the ongoing and wishes for 1999. I found it to hI? For the first time, the Sciences; development of-,'! a challenging year but one that University is giving special • the opening of the IanStewart partnerships with was both stimulating and recognition to a number of Wing of the Chemical and Central Coast enjoyable. We have many things general staff members who have Engineering building; Services, to be thankful for at this been nominated and judged as • the graduation ceremonies CommunitY Services; University but I am most providing excellent service. I and celebrations of the • planning for thfi!' grateful for the commitment of would like to congratulate Paula achievements of our graduates at Central Coast Re!?OII1\ our st~ff and their excellent Jarvie, Gionni Di Gravio, George Callaghan, Ourimbah and in for oUir C.mbralC",.. rO endeavours in teaching, research Florek, Elaine Swift, Peter Singapore; • watching the Knig1j;~;1 and research training, and Thomas, Chris Cuthbert and • honorary degrees and awards rugby league; service activities. We also enjoy Helen Doheny on the high for Dr Bru~e Baird, Dr Peter • meeting with local"irirl full support from the Hunter standards in their work and on Hendry, AO, Professor John groups over and Central Coast communities, receiving the Vice-Chancellor's Harding, Justice Michael University; which we cannot take for Award for General Staff McHugh, AC, Dr Rein von • the appoint~ent .', granted. Excellence. High Gendt, Ms Robyn Walmsley and Deans of Medicine ancff!8 1998 saw the implementation commendations also go to Dr Tan Chin Nam; Sciences and EconoIl!!i~l~ of the Change Management Richard Bale, Jenny Kirkby and • the inaugural Exceptional Commerce; Plan, initiated following the Rod Lewis. The Awards provide Service Medal awarded to Dr • the developme~~ announcement in August 1996 for the recognition of excellence Brian Smith; 'Graduate Sch.ool' of major funding cuts for the by general staff and I strongly • the reappointment of our University and the higher endorse and commend them. Chancellor, Mr Ric Charlton, AM coursework education system. The savings Congratulations to the 23 for a further four year term; profile. and revenue enhancement target academic colleagues who were • the establishment of Hunter Again, best of $14million over 1997-98 will promoted this year in Medical Research Ltd as a joint Christmas/New v ••.; ,,;,.1Iil be met. albeit at some cost to staff recognition of excellent venture with the Hunter Area season to you and }'ouldilim~t, positions. The plan has provided performance of their teaching, Health Service and the local hope that 1999 the University with a sound research and service duties. The community; successful year , platform for the future and success rate for promotion was • my appointments to the University and for each of created opportunities to the highest since 1992, reflecting Board of the Hunter Area Health personally. strengthen our profile as a result high standards of performance Service and the Hunter Instihtte 1 Page 2 UNINEWS 1 i lin news Heart project one of major grant recipients modifications and symptom reduce the financial burden on management, the team hopes to the health system which results reduce the number of hospital from the amoWlt of time these re-admissions. people are re-admitted to Other team members include hospital." Dr Jill Cockburn, Head of the The University received a Discipline of Behavioural total of $3.77 million for new and Science in Relation to Medicine continuing grants - more than from the Faculty of Medicine last year's total of $3.18 million. and Health Sciences, and While the average success rate Professor Laurie Howes, for organisations applying for Professor of Clinical NHMRC fWlding this year was Pharmacology at St George 24 percent, Newcastle had a Hospital. success rate of around 29 "This is a significant grant, as percent. Of the 22 research A three-year program to have been previously admitted it's the first time such a rigorous organisations in NSW to receive improve the quality of life Jor to the hospital with heart failure. approach to improving the re­ funding, the University received people with a debilitating heart "We will be taking a admission outcomes for heart the third highest amount. condition and reduce hospital re­ multidisciplinary approach to failure patients has been Research in the areas of cancer, admission rates has received working with people who have proposed," Jill explained. heart disease, attention deficit substantial funding in the latest congestive heart failure. This "lt will not only lead to hyperactivity disorder and round of National Health and will involve p~ysiotherapists, greater quality of life for people preterm labour are among the Medical Research Council occupational therapists, social with congestive heart failure, but new projects to receive funding. (NHMRC) Grants. workers, pharmacists, dieticians A project team headed by and nursing staff at St George, Newcastle tops table for new research grants Newcastle PhD student Patricia in consultation with The University has achieved the. highest success rate of any Davidson has received $123,041 cardiologists," Patricia Australian university for new research grants. to trial the program at, the St explained. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Ron MacDonald, said the George Hospital and Congestive heart failure is the University had received $1;381,297 in new research grants from Community Health Service, most common reason for the Australian Research Council (ARC). "That means 32.4 percent where Patricia works as a admission and re-admission to of new first year ARC grants we applied for were furided,''he said. Clinical Nurse Consultant. The the St George Hospital The national average was 20.7 percent. 'tOurs was the highest randomised controlled trial atSt Cardiology Unit. Through success rate of any'Australian university ·and was a better George will assess the impact of education about the importance . achievement than the major metropolitan Universities. program interventions on re­ of appropriate exercise and the IIARC funding is extremelic;ompeti~ve and Newcastle has done admission rates for patients who encouragement of dietary extremely well." UNINEWS - December A readership survey was staff, students and research. A Classified advertisements and .other contributions for Etcetera conducted in the July edition of greater emphasis will be placed should be sent to Rose Roohan, phone: ext 6463, email: Uninews and results were on pictorial stories as our feature [email protected] published in the August edition. article and the photographic 1999 Schedule In response to your feedback, we content will be maintained. Edition Copy deadline Circulation date will make a few changes next Thank you to all those who 1 February 4 February 18 year. responded to our survey. 2 March 11 March 25 We currently run several The editor and Marketing 3 April 15 April 29 stories or sections over one or and Media Services staff wish 4 May 13 May 27 two pages and the rest as half you a safe and joyous Christmas 5 June 17 July 1 page or less. As a result of the and look forward to reporting on 6 July 22 August 5 survey, we'll reduce the number the University's stories and 7 August 26 September 9 of full page stories in favour of a achievements in the New Year. 8 September 30 October 14 greater