INPRINCIPIO IN THE BEGINNING POLITICS OF INSTAGRAM ALUMNI POPULISM RESEARCH AUGUST 2017 • VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 1 — VICE CHANCELLOR RECEIVES HONORARY DEGREE — THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME AUSTRALIA THE OBJECTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME AUSTRALIA ARE: a) the provision of university education within a context of Catholic faith and values; and b) the provision of an excellent standard of – i) teaching, scholarship and research; ii) training for the professions; and iii) pastoral care for its students. INSIDE 4 HONORARY DEGREE FOR 14 LIFE ON THE EDGE VICE CHANCELLOR Real sense of community on University of Portland, USA, Broome Native Reserve confers honorary degree on Professor Celia Hammond 16 SMALL STEPS TOWARDS RECONCILIATION Uluru summit puts spotlight on 6 CELEBRATING NOTRE DAME’S Indigenous rights CLASS OF 2016 More than 2000 students, 17 THE CENTENARY OF THE FATIMA EVENT nine graduation ceremonies A century later still the subject of intense interest 8 REGIONAL HEALTH CARE BOOST New rural training hubs to 18 TALKING PHILOSOPHY transform health care Improved literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills 9 NOTRE DAME EXCELS IN NATIONWIDE STUDENT SURVEY 19 HEALTH MATTERS Top rankings in five key indicators Solving the growing problem of obesity 10 BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH 20 THE POLITICS OF POPULISM FOR STROKE TREATMENT Seismic shift in voter mindset Simple injection, significant reduction 22 NOTRE DAME’S SPORTS STARS SHINE in brain damage ON WORLD STAGE 10 WORLD-FIRST IN CHRONIC Elite athletes ‘punching above their weight’ MIGRAINE TREATMENT 24 MOST INSPIRING Research hope for three ‘WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2017' million Australians Notre Dame Medicine studies 11 LOOKING FOR ANSWERS IN METASTATIC graduate joins illustrious line-up BREAST CANCER TREATMENT 25 CHALLENGING THE POLITICAL STATUS QUO Critical information for those who fear recurrence Graduate stands up for State elections 12 INSTAGRAM STUDY 25 A DEGREE FOR TEACHING, AND FOR LIFE Alarming response from young, Masters in Theology a major bonus female students 26 EVENTS INPRINCIPIO | 3 FEATURE HONORARY DEGREE FOR VICE CHANCELLOR Notre Dame Vice Chancellor, Professor Celia Hammond, has received an honorary degree from The University of Portland in the USA. The Doctor of Public Service honoris causa was conferred on Professor Hammond by Father Mark Poorman, President of long-standing international partner, the University of Portland, for “changing the landscape of education in Australia”. The University of Portland, a long standing international partner of Notre Dame, was established by the Congregation of the Holy Cross in 1901 in Portland, Oregon. It is currently home to more than 4000 students and over 1000 faculty and staff. For the last 22 years Portland has earned a top-10 ranking by US News & World Report in its annual list of best colleges in the United States. Professor Hammond, was also honoured to be invited to deliver the Commencement speech to nearly 1000 graduates and their families at Portland’s 2017 Commencement Ceremonies. A series of excerpts from her address throw a spotlight on her journey through life. …ON LIFE AND LOVE ›› In 1982, I wanted to win an Oscar – the best I can be, and about trying to do just like Meryl Streep. something ‘good’. I am an ordinary girl, born a long This is what I have learnt: contrary ›› In 1985, I wanted to be a time ago in a place far, far away (in the to so many popular songs, films, books supermodel (I had front teeth by late sixties in a small country town – we can’t all “be whatever we want to then, but no other qualifications). in Western Australia – who has been be” nor can we “have it all” (whatever blessed beyond her desserts to be doing ›› Through my university years I dreamt that means). We can’t all be the ‘best’ in what she does, to be living how she does, of becoming a female partner at a law a Hall of Fame. to be loving and being loved as she is. firm before the age of 30 – with five The ‘best’ that I can be is the best Like all of us here, I have my kids. I also dreamt of becoming the ‘me’. The best that you can be is the best own unique gifts and talents. And first female Prime Minister. you. We should direct our hopes, our I assure you, to make it clear, this is dreams, our aspirations and our prayers I have achieved none of these things not false modesty. I also work very to (i) having the insight and openness and if I were to judge my life against hard. But I am not extra-ordinary, to recognise our own uniqueness, our these childhood dreams I have failed I am an ordinary girl who has been own gifts and talents, our calling, our miserably and should feel grossly extra-ordinarily blessed. vocation in life – and to (ii) trying to unfulfilled. And there was a time when live a life in which we use and develop I did, dark days which were actually what we have been gifted with for the …ON AMBITION one of the biggest blessings I received betterment of the world in which we live. I spent the first two decades of my life as they made me open to accepting my This does not need to be big, grand as a Walter Mitty type dreamer (in the own frailties and imperfections: open to or take place on the world stage. We original James Thurber sense). accepting me for me; open to accepting do not need to be in a Hall of Fame to the help of others and open to God. ›› In 1976, at age eight, I wanted to be live a good and fulfilling life, to make a Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci. difference and to do good in the world. As wonderful as achievement ›› In 1977, I wanted to be a pop singer …ON LIFE LEARNINGS like Agnetha from Abba (which, and success may be they are poor with short hair, glasses, freckles Today my dreams, my hopes my substitutes, indeed no substitute, for a and no front teeth was never going aspirations and my prayers are no longer life guided by faith, a life of love, and a to happen). about being someone else – but rather life in which you develop and use your they are about embracing what has distinct, unique gifts. ›› In 1981, I wanted to win Wimbledon been gifted to me, about striving to be – just like Chrissy Evert. INPRINCIPIO | 4 …ON GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD I know that without my dark and challenging times I wouldn’t be here today. Once again, this ordinary girl from a small country town a long way from here has been blessed beyond her desserts to be here with you: at this beautiful university and at this wonderful time of your life. Today is your day to celebrate what you have achieved and to do so with all those who love you and have supported you – congratulations to you all. It is also a day to look forward. To dream, to aspire, to hope about what lies ahead. My prayer, my dreams and my hopes for all of you as you leave this beautiful university and walk out into the world, is ›› that you embrace your own God given unique gifts, skills and talents; ›› that you embrace your life, live your own life, and do so in a way that is good, which is decent and which serves others; ›› that in times of joy you laugh, take pleasure and are filled with gratitude for the blessing which you have been given; ›› that in times of darkness and challenge, you find the strength and courage to get through them with an openness to yourself, an openness to others, an openness to and trust in God, so that one day you can look back on them with gratitude for the blessing which they gave you; and ›› that you truly love and know that you are truly loved throughout every moment of every day. INPRINCIPIO | 5 CELEBRATING NOTRE DAME’S CLASS OF 2016 Notre Dame has celebrated its largest ever graduation ceremonies with more than 2000 students conferred degrees at nine ceremonies nationally in 2016/17. Family, friends and the University community gathered in Fremantle, Broome and Sydney to farewell the 2016 graduates who received qualifications in more than 200 undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Notre Dame also conferred two honorary degrees to valued members of the legal and education communities for their commitment to their professions. FREMANTLE GRADUATES SET TO LEAD, CONTRIBUTE & PROSPER TOP UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE A HALLMARK FOR SYDNEY GRADUATES The achievements of more than 1000 Notre Dame Fremantle The historic Sydney Town Hall provided the perfect Campus graduates were celebrated at the University’s backdrop for Notre Dame’s Sydney Campus in March 2017 Graduation Mass and Ceremonies in December 2016. as 1035 graduates shared memories of their university Celebrations commenced with the annual Graduation experience and walked down the now-famous blue carpet for Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth. More than 1100 guests the final time. attended the special ceremony in which graduates were Monica Cunneen (Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and presented with their graduation crosses – a traditional icon Arts) and Natasha Stark (Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of of the University and a commemorative symbol of a student’s Surgery (First Class Honours)) were the highest achievers in time at Notre Dame. their graduating cohorts. Monica attributed her success to Notre Dame paid special recognition to the top graduates the welcoming and personalised learning environment at who delivered the Farewell Addresses at each of the four Notre Dame.