e v e n t s w i t h i n c r e d i b l e g u e s t s p e a k e r s .
L U N C H E O N S
R O B I N B O W L E S
D R A N D R E W P R E N T I C E
W o r l d l e a d i n g m a t h e m a t i c i a n a n d a s t r o p h y s i c i s t
R O B E R T M C G A U R A N A M
A w a r d w i n n i n g a r c h i t e c t a n d f o u n d i n g d i r e c t o r o f M G S
A r c h i t e c t s
T W I L I G H T L E C T U R E S
P R O F E S S O R I A N H O W I E
A d j u n c t P r o f e s s o r i n I n t e r n a t i o n a l S t u d i e s a t R M I T U n i v e r s i t y
a n d B o a r d M e m b e r o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s A s s o c i a t i o n o f
A u s t r a l i a
P R O F E S S O R S A L L Y M A L E
C e l e b r a t e d E n g i n e e r i n g E d u c a t o r a n d D i r e c t o r o f t h e T
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a t t h e U o M
C e l e b r a t e d a u t h o r a n d A u s t r a l i a ’ s t r u e c r i m e q u e e n 2 0 2 6 a t G r
a n d o t h e r s u r p r i s e s !
Graduate House November Monthly Luncheon
Jon Faine AM and the disordered mumblings of a failed shock jock
Jon Faine is a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne. From 1997 until resigning in 2019. Previously, Jon was the host of ABC Radio Melbourne’s morning radio broadcast. From 1996 to 2019, Faine hosted ABC’s local radio morning program in Melbourne, from 8:30 am to 12:00 noon. He is known for vigorous debate and for fostering conversation on politics, law, arts, and sport. His highest ratings peaked in September 2002, and in 2003, he received the ABC Local Radio “Broadcaster of the Year” award.
Compared with the previous Graduate House luncheons, more people attended on 12 November to hear Jon Faine speak than at any previous luncheons. The topic of Jon’s talk was “The Disordered Mumblings of a Failed Shock Jock.” We are not sure whether everyone attended because
they had listened to Jon on the radio or because they wanted to listen to disordered mumblings. However, Jon’s talk was memorable for many reasons. Jon did not disappoint the audience.
Early on, he mentioned that he always regarded John Laws and Alan Jones as “opposite role models” for what he was doing on the radio.” He said,” The people who purport to run this country were unable to bring themselves to tell the truth about these two disgraceful individuals.” As Jon said, “the idea that a Prime Minister or a Premier can be spoken to the way they used to speak to people in power always absolutely chilled me to the bone’”.
Jon also said he learned many lessons from John Howard, who is now often trotted out by the Liberal Party.
“First of all, in politics, one of his great teachings was that in politics, you can’t fatten a pig on market day... In other words, you can’t govern for two and a half years in one style of government and then suddenly turn around during an election campaign and pretend that there’s something else. It doesn’t work. Your brand is on display from day one of your government.”
Jon explained how John Howard maintained a perpetual conversation with the Australian people through Talkback Radio. “He taught me that Talkback was a great leveler. And there was not a week of John Howard’s long tenure when he didn’t appear on Talkback radio somewhere in the country as he traveled. And he was very generous.” He talked about Howard’s commitment to the power of the medium of radio, its intimacy and how we would always come in without any notes, “just the connection between his hearing aid and the earphone jack”, and he would answer any question on any topic. One day, Jon had a particular question: “Mr. Howard, yesterday the Broadcasting Tribunal found that John Laws, Alan Jones, Steve Price, and Jeremy Cordeaux are corrupt and unethical. He winced. And I said, given the finding that they are corrupt and unethical, he winced again. Will you continue to appear on their programs? I thought that was a shit-hot question. John Howard smiled, which was a bit of a novelty, and said to me, John, I’m sure you think when I come in here that I’m coming to talk to you, but I’m not. I’m coming to talk to your audience. And as long as those gentlemen have an audience, I’ll talk to them too. Game, set, match. John Howard understood what we were doing better than I did.
It was a great insight.”
Now, beyond his relevant role on Australian broadcasting and his many anecdotes. Jon wanted to talk to us about an urgent issue our country is facing, and that is the loss of social cohesion. He says society is under stress like never before, and at a point where we are complacent about democracy. “I think it’s absolutely unarguable,” he says, “that what we take for granted is under threat like never before since World War II.”
He mentioned a few incidents involving antiforeigners’ rhetoric here in Melbourne and Sydney and the amplification the media gave to their message.
In Jon’s opinion, a way to counteract these ideas is multiculturalism. “Multiculturalism,” he says, “Is like kryptonite to racism. But we’re not investing in multiculturalism anymore. We’re neglecting it. We lack any sense of urgency and we’re complacent. You don’t get social cohesion by saying, you’re all going to get on together, aren’t you? Be nice to each other.” Jon explains that what we must do “is create the conditions where people do it themselves. Bottom up, grassroots. You promote community festivals. You promote food exchanges. You promote cultural and artistic exchanges. You promote musical events. You use your infrastructure like schools and town halls and neighborhood houses to make people welcome and to bring people together, to break bread.”
“If we don’t do the work, if we don’t do the maintenance, like any machine, it will break. And there are already signs of fatigue. We cannot take it for granted, and yet we do. So I urge you all, because
you’re all youthful and energetic, to use whatever influence you may still have, to encourage people, to reorientate, to look at some of the things we’re not doing that we should be doing if what we hold so precious is to be passed on to the next, and then the next generation”.
Jon explains we have to invest in social infrastructure as we do in engineering or transport infrastructure. We need to do it, because “if we don’t, the rest of what we have doesn’t mean anything and might not even work. “Look at America. Well, no, don’t.”
“When we talk about social cohesion, it can mean different things to different people. Australia has always been a multicultural country. But from the time when both Captains Cook and Philip arrived and onwards, we’ve always had some resistance against whoever came next. The English didn’t like it when the Scots arrived after the Highland clearances, and then the English and the Scots didn’t like it when the potato famine refugees arrived from Ireland. Then the English, Scots and Irish ganged up on the Chinese coming for the gold. I mean, on it goes.”
“The latest punching bag is the Africans, even after the Greeks, the Turks, the Italians and so on. You know, if you‘ve had any interaction with people in the emerging African communities, they just want the same thing as everybody else wanted when they arrived: somewhere safe to live, raise their kids, play a role in the community, and play football.”
“So, I don’t understand why we’re, in a way, so dishonest with ourselves about this. It’s like we maintain a different conversation from the one
that we should be having. Which brings me back to the media. Funny how this goes in circles. The media is part of the problem, dare I say, as it is so out of touch with the real Australia.”
“The landscape has changed, but the legacy gatekeepers, people who for all their working lives had great power, like editors of newspapers and people running newsrooms at television stations, they think they run things, but they don’t. Young people these days don’t read newspapers, listen to radio, or watch TV. They have wi-fi and social media, that is the future.”
“And to get to the new generations we can’t just lecture them, you connect with them by doing it yourself and showing them. How diverse is your circle of friends? When did you last go to Footscray or Sunshine for a meal at an African restaurant? It is easy to go to Brunswick Street, but it is even more exciting, I assure you, to try something different. Some of the best meals I’ve had recently have been of that kind. Not because the food was gourmet, but it was so enriching, and it breaks the stereotypes. If you’ve never met someone, it’s really easy to hate them and be scared of them. And then when you meet them, especially if you break bread with them, that whole mirage disappears.”
Thank you, Jon, for a remarkably interesting luncheon to end this 2025.
Graduate Union End of Year celebration: the perfect end for our 2025 at GH
Last Friday 28th of November, our members enjoyed a memorable evening at Graduate House at our End of Year Celebration.
A lively crowd came together to farewell an incredible 2025 full of events and interesting speakers such as Alison Vaughan from the National Herbarium of Victoria, author Dr Judith Buckrich, Professor Philomena Murray, Professor Mary Galea, Dr Ted Gott from the National Gallery of Victoria, Jon Faine AM and many others.
Over a hundred attendees enjoyed the fabulous food and drinks prepared by Graduate House staff and the wonderful show of our talented guest performer, Helen Kerr-Lawley, who with her incredible talent and wit (and a little bit of help of Martin Comte in the piano) gave the celebration the perfect touch of holiday spirit.
The Chair of the Graduate Union, Natalie Gray, thanked the attending members for joining
the celebration. She reminded everyone that our oganisation is in a crucial moment to build a long-lasting future. The Council has been working towards the Stage One Building Project, which will revitalise our organisation, and also the Parkville precinct. With this development, the Graduate Union stands in its historical relevance and keeps building a legacy for the future.
We thank every member who participated in the End of Year celebration and any other event during 2025.
Special mention to Lyn Martin, who celebrated her 94th birthday with all of us that day, our best wishes to her.
We hope to see you all next year for another year of events here at Graduate House. Happy holidays.
Graduate House residents dining room curatorial project
Recently, a number of Graduate House residents have been engaged in a project to make Graduate House’s dining room feel more ‘personal’ with respect to the artwork on display. Several of the works now hanging on the walls will be relocated to the function rooms – where they will continue to have high visibility – and the dining room will be refreshed with works chosen by the residents. In addition, they have decided to install a ‘photograph board’ to enable residents to post photos they think might be interesting to others and will be regularly updated. Also, resident Prerana Chatterjee, has committed to painting some more permanent works for display.
Residents have selected works from the artwork on display, and also from the Graduate Union artwork archives, to give the space a more personal look, but also keeping in mind the history of the Graduate Union.
This is what the participants have said about the project and its significance to them and to Graduate House.
Prerana Chatterjee
I have always felt that the dining room and lobbies on the ground floor create the first impression for visitors of Graduate House. This area exuberates the energetic and scholarly personality of the Graduate Union community who reside here. As an architect who is into cultural heritage conservation, I personally feel that this identity is the true spirit of this place and needs to be preserved. This project is providing the best opportunity for conserving this heritage identity of the Graduate Union. It is an interesting challenge as the existing interiors showcase a classical architectural design that is very old; this is particularly true for the paintings adorning the walls of the Dining Room that were prestigiously curated during the 100th anniversary of the Graduate Union. I believe that the brilliance of this curatorial project is in its central vision: “to conserve the past legacy while being inclusive to future contributions”. This is being achieved
through carefully preserving and relocating the old paintings while making space for new artwork that represent the present academic fervour as well as the future ambitions and hopes of the Graduate Union. I feel honoured be part of this project and contribute my thoughts and expertise to its development.
Qi Gao
I’m pleased to contribute to this project because the dining room serves as a quiet backdrop to many shared moments in our daily lives. I’m deeply drawn to the way artwork can transform a room’s atmosphere without a sound, gently softening the space, warming it, or inviting a moment of reflection. The idea that a single piece can subtly shift someone’s mood or perception feels profoundly beautiful to me. Being involved in selecting works that reflect our community and elevate this shared environment is both meaningful and rewarding.
Yee Lok Constance Jim
Weiwei Zhao
I’m pleased to be involved in the project because, as a resident, the dining room is one of the few places where we naturally meet each day. People from different cultures and backgrounds sit together, share small conversations, and slowly become part of each other’s lives. Helping shape this space feels like helping shape the heart of our community. It’s a chance to make the dining room feel warmer and more welcoming, and to let it show the shared moments that connect us as a community.
This project has been both engaging and inspiring, as it allowed us to plan how art can reflect what Graduate House residents truly value in our shared space. Exploring the stories behind the existing drawings and gathering diverse opinions from fellow residents on their artistic preferences highlighted how deeply we all care about fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and professional community.
Through this collaborative effort, we aim to create a dining space that is not only elegant and relaxing but also representative of the unique character of Graduate House. While not every idea or artwork may find a permanent place on the walls, these contributions collectively convey the vibrant and one-of-a-kind atmosphere of Graduate House—something that resonates with residents, members, guests, and visitors alike.
This Christmas, give your loved ones the gift of a legacy at the Graduate Union
As Graduate Union, this year we offered our Life Members an opportunity to start building a legacy in our beloved Union by inviting a young family member or close friend to join us as Associate Members for a year.
During this time, over 20 of our Life Members have taken the opportunity and invited their younger loved ones to become part of the Graduate Union and enjoy all of the member benefits, such as discounted lunch and dinner, access to all of Graduate House events, accommodation and our network of reciprocal clubs around the world.
In this pivotal time of change when we look at the future of what our organisation will be, we warmly invite all of our Life Members to help carry the legacy of friendship and camaraderie that you all have shaped with your participation in this community. For a special total rate of $100, you may nominate up to two members. A wonderful
opportunity to introduce the next generation to our cherished Graduate Union community. Whether they are tertiary students or young professionals, they may take an interest in this introductory experience and feel inspired to become full members.
If you are interested in nominating someone, please contact us to ask for the nomination form. You can reach out to us by emailing admingh@graduatehouse.com.au, calling us at (03) 9347 3428 or stopping by our reception desk the next time you visit us.
We thank the members who have already taken advantage of this opportunity and hope others will embrace this invitation to share the spirit of Graduate Union with those close to them.
Together, we can keep the legacy of connection and fellowship alive for generations to come.
New membership rates for 2026
Dear members,
Please be advised that our membership fees will increase next year. All the new rates are shown in the table below.
If you have any questions regarding this change, please send us an email to admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
A message from the Chair: an update on our redevelopment progress
Dear Members,
Before we wind down for the summer break, I thought it timely to provide an update on planning for the Graduate Union.
The Council has appointed a specialist consultant to support Graduate House redevelopment transition
The Gladstone Project Control Group (GPCG) has appointed specialist consultancy Future Tense (FT) to develop a comprehensive financial model that will guide Council through its upcoming business transition during the redevelopment of the Graduate House site.
The appointment follows a targeted tender process led and endorsed by the Gladstone PCG, and after assessing the submissions, Future Tense was selected for several key reasons:
• Strong grasp of the brief and project objectives, including the financial and operational challenges ahead.
• Specialised commercial advisory expertise, identifying FT as best positioned to deliver robust business transition modelling.
• Immediate availability, allowing work to begin in December 2025 and ensuring the financial model is ready in time to
inform the Development Partner selection process.
• Competitive pricing, with a fixed lump-sum fee that was the lower of the two proposals received.
Future Tense will report through the Gladstone PCG, with all information requests to be reviewed by Daniel Clark, Cr Jane Tisdall, and Cr Russell Maisner, as the data required is largely financial. The project will be co-ordinated by Cr Virginia Ross.
Anticipated Benefits
This work will play a critical role in shaping Graduate Union’s long-term direction, with expected benefits including:
• Strengthened long-term financial sustainability
• Modernised services and improved member experience
• Enhanced appeal to a broader and more diverse membership, helping to address current trends of declining and ageing membership
Timeline
• Project commencement: Early December 2025
• Deliverable: Development of the financial model will support transition planning and be included as part of the AGM.
Objectives of the Business Plan
The financial modelling will focus on developing the operating budget for the next 10 years, equipping Council with high-quality insights to navigate significant upcoming changes, including:
• Organisational restructuring to support future members services.
• Redevelopment of the Graduate House building.
We look forward to keeping members informed as this important work progresses.
Summer Break
I thank members for your support during 2025. I hope you all have a wonderful summer break and festive season. We gathered last Friday to celebrate the end of another eventful year and to wish everyone a happy New Year.
Seasons greetings,
Natalie Gray
Graduate Union members tour to China
We are glad to announce that the Graduate Union is organising its first international members trip next September and October of 2026. The chosen destination is China, where our members will enjoy a tour that will take them through 8 cities exploring China’s millenary culture and modern cities.
The trip will have a total duration of 15 days, and will start in Shanghai, where members will visit some of the most famous places in the city, such as the Yuyuan Garden with its magnificent architecture, the Jade Buddha Temple and The Bund with its impressive city views.
From there, the trip will follow along a route that will take you to Suzhou to visit the Grand Canal and the Ancient Water Town, then to Hangzhou to visit the West Lake and Hefang Street. On day 7 of the trip, our travelers will start the day in Beijing, where they will spend two days visiting historical places such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall. Then the trip moves to Xi’an for a visit to the Datang Everbright City and the Terracotta Warriors. After, members will visit Panda Base in Chengdu and the Temple of
Marquis Wu. To finalise the trip around China, the trip makes a stop at Chongqing, to visit the Three Gorges Museum, Hongyadong and a night cruise around Yangtze River.
These are only some of the places the Graduate Union group will visit, but there is so much more to see.
The tour also includes visits to some Chinese universities in Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, and Xi’an.
The cost of the trip will be $6,300 per person (not including return international fares from Melbourne to Shanghai and Shanghai to Melbourne).
For more details on what is included, other activities to be done or to send your expression of interest, please email: membership@graduatehouse.com.au.
We are very excited to offer this opportunity to all of our members, and to keep expanding the range of activities we offer to you all.
THE GRADUATE UNION
of The University of Melbourne Inc.
220 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)3 9347 3428
Australian Business Number: 55 610 664 963
Incorporated Association Registration Number: A0023234B
