Melbourne Graduate December 2016

The Melbourne Graduate

Barbara Anne Funder

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 1

The Melbourne Graduate Contents

OUR COLLEGE

MEMBERSHIP

Message from The Graduate Union

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VA L E T E Barbara Funder

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H e Fo r S h e Raising Awareness for Gender Equality

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T H E A N N UA L G E N E R A L M E E T I N G 104 th Annual General Meeting Mr Leigh Clifford AO

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Our Members recognised Valete Welcome to new Members Donations Our Members Margaret Mayers Yuliia Velichenko David Allinson Fatema Yasmin United Board Program Visiting Fellows Ed Dickinson Rural Australians for Refugees by Joan Ansell Dennis Danipog National Student Leadership Forum

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F O U N D E R S A N D B E N E FA C T O R S D AY Celebrating Benefaction and Generosity Julian Burnside AO QC

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O U R PAT R O N S Acknowledgement of Patronage

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968)

The Melbourne Graduate December 2016 – Volume 69, Number 2 Periodical Newsletter of The Graduate Union Print Post Approved PP337834/00022 Incorporated Association Registration Number A0023234B Editorial and Photography The Publications Team. All other images have been obtained from publicly sourced domains.

Printing City Copy December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 2

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The Melbourne Graduate Message from The Graduate Union Dear Members, Welcome to the December 2016 Melbourne Graduate.

As we reflect on the year that has been, a certain richness resonates through the halls of our Graduate House. 2016 has not been left short of triumph, progress, collaboration, rejuvenation and happiness. This year has seen a distinguished membership come together to share its journey through education for social good.

Our Members – you – proudly reflect the great diversity that we see in the world. Within this Melbourne Graduate, we share your stories showcasing your world-class minds, and how you use your intelligence and influence to produce admirable outcomes.

The disparate nature of our Membership is unique. You are multi-disciplinary, multi-ethnic and multi-life stage, and so your achievements, as evidenced by your stories, are omnipresent.

Wherever time may take our Members, your work will not go unrecognised as we at Graduate House and of The Graduate Union continue to seek and publish your ‘graduate pathway’ stories.

In this Melbourne Graduate, like others, we also honour Members who have left us.

In 2016 we said a very sad farewell to Barbara Funder, one of the most pivotal figures in the history of Graduate House. While she may be gone, we recall many fond memories and continue to honour her work that enabled a future for us as a college and membership association.

As we look towards 2017, there is a sense of optimism and excitement with that same richness from 2016 ensuring a continued commitment to social good and magnificent outcomes.

Enjoy and see you in the New Year , from all of us at Graduate House and in The Graduate Union.

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The Melbourne Graduate Vale Barbara Anne Funder Barbara Anne Funder, 1930 - 2016 Barbara and Bill would attend graduation ceremonies at Wilson Hall and hand out pamphlets to the recent graduates. This direct approach at every ceremony led to The Graduate Union, at its peak, having around 6,000 Members.

Honorary Life Member Barbara Anne Funder passed away on Tuesday, 6th September, 2016.

Barbara was integral to the establishment and development of Graduate House - our graduate residential college and meeting place - as well as to the sustainablity and growth of The Graduate Union - our international collegium of graduates.

Life Member, Heather Kudeviita, began her long association and friendship with Barbara early in the 1960s when the college opened its doors to residents (1962). Heather, who later became a Trustee, along with Barbara, of The William Berry Post-Graduate College Trust, remembers Barbara as a beautiful and welcoming young woman.

“I found her very friendly when I was a new Member of The Graduate Union, and when I came to any function at Graduate House either she or Bill Berry would take me under their wings and introduce me to people,” said Mrs Kudeviita. “I thought she had a very good manner for making new Members welcome. That’s very important,” she added.

Heather said Barbara was essential to Mr Berry.

“She had all the gentleness,” she added.

“Barbara was a vibrant and sociable woman who took great care in making everyone feel welcome,” said Mrs Kudeviita.

She was well-loved by everyone for her effervescence. Heather recalls being sent flowers after Barbara had died. The note attached included the words, ‘flowers in memory of Barbara, her bubbly personality, her hats and her friendship’.

“That really does sum her up,” said Life Member Elizabeth Carvosso who had also known Barbara since the early 1960s. “She was always very friendly. I just knew Barbara as someone who was quite organised, who was always pleasant, and a sociable person,” said Elizabeth.

Heather, Elizabeth and another longterm friend and Life Member Betty Keay all agreed that their collective fondest memories of Barbara are the colourful hats that she would wear and her affection for the past. “She was an old soul,” says Heather. “She always referred to herself as the last of the luddites,” she added.

Heather visited Barbara in hospital two or three times a week during the last few months. Though Barbara was often asleep, Heather’s last conversation with Barbara, just a few days before her death, is one of her warmest memories.

Barbara started work as office secretary in January 1962.

Barbara and typewriter in the terrace office in the late 1970s.

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“The last time I saw her we had a lovely little talk about the good old days. She even chuckled a couple of times, and it was really nice,” said Heather. “I knew instinctly that this might be our last conversation and it felt like a warm and just way to end.”

The Melbourne Graduate Vale Barbara Anne Funder What would Barbara have liked to have seen for the future of the Graduate Union?

sorely missed, as will her kindness and friendship,” she said.

“I think continuing to expand would have been her vision for the future,” said Elizabeth. “She fully supported the acquisition of the now central wing, and the ensuing developments also on the south side to more than double the number of residential rooms for graduates.”

Born in Melbourne, Barbara was the only child of Mr Thomas Ellis and Mrs Anne Margaret Funder.

She attended Kildara College Malvern. Upon attaining Leaving Certificate (now the year prior to VCE) she worked at the British Trade Commission as a secretary for five years and then became an air hostess with Ansett Airways for two years.

“Besides seeing that the Monthly Luncheons continue, Barbara would like very much to see the dreams and vision of William Berry continue” said Heather, “particularly through the continuation of The William Berry Post-Graduate College Trust.”

Barbara’s loyalty to The Graduate Union was unfailing, and upon her retirement in 1985 she continued to attend events, her last being the Thank You Donors Luncheon in August of 2015.

Heather said that the things that struck her about Barbara were her dedication and devotion to the ‘Union’ and the ‘House’ and her happiness with her life.

Dr Kerry Bennett, CEO and Head of College of Graduate House, said that Barbara will be remembered as the ‘founding mother’ of our Graduate House. “She was warm, genuine, gregarious and engaging. Her passion for our Association was infectious. Her blue eyes, cheeky smile, quick wit and extraordinary memory about every Member, resident and historical event will be

Barbara’s first contact with The University of Melbourne was as a secretary for three years in the Audiovisual Aids Department. She was then recruited to International House, owned and operated by The University of Melbourne, as secretary to the Warden. After one year at this college she moved on to work as a secretary to an architect for about six months. Her subsequent return to the university sector would become a lifetime involvement and dedication.

In the January of 1962 Barbara began work as the office secretary at Graduate House. In time, her role quickly became very much wider and intertwined with that of William ‘Bill’ Berry. In 1966, Bill appointed her as Assistant SecretaryWarden. In addition to her secretarial duties she was involved with public relations work for The Graduate Union, a role that came very naturally to her. She arranged social activities for both the residents and the non-residents including house parties and outings, barbecues and lunches and dinners at weekends. This introduced many international scholars to Australian hospitality.

The oldest continuous activity conducted by The Graduate Union is the Monthly Luncheon. It was not until 1975 that the luncheons moved to the dining room at Graduate House. Before this time, Barbara was in charge of organising the luncheons at the Victoria Coffee Palace in Little Collins Street.

She prepared the guest lists and assisted with the speaker contacts and helped host these events.

The opening of the Johnston Library in 1971 was one of the most significant events in the history of The Graduate Union and in her later years Barbara often expressed the view that the Johnston Library should never be altered. “It is the place where I really feel in College” she reflected.

Barbara being appointed an Honorary Life Member at the 101st AGM in 2013.

According to Barbara, the purchasing of Kidd’s Warehouse was a big challenge in 1974. Despite

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The Melbourne Graduate Vale Barbara Anne Funder the lack of enthusiasm from the Council (governing body) at that time about the proposal, the Secretary-Warden was not deterred. He pursued his idea and told the councillors that the University was also keen on the building. He said “I know the University people who are interested ... if the Council does not decide to purchase the building, I will take the John Danks people to see the ViceChancellor tomorrow morning so at least they will buy the site.” Fortunately, the Council agreed to the acquisition. The rest is history!

For Barbara, her biggest highlight whilst employed was the affiliation of The Union and her beloved Graduate House as the 11th College of The University of Melbourne in 1972, and as the only graduate-only college residence. She noted that the University Statute envisaged a college of graduates having both Members and Membersin-residence, and as hosting many postgraduate scholars who have been predominantly doctoral or master’s degree candidates including many distinguished overseas academic visitors.

When William Berry retired in December 1984 after 36 years, Barbara was appointed as the Acting Secretary-Warden for six months until her retirement in June of 1985. In 1987, William Berry told Barbara of his intention to stand for the Graduate Council and suggested that she also nominate. In the event, they were both elected.

Miss Funder was elected for a term of one year to fill the balance of the term of a former councillor who had resigned. In 1988 she was re-elected for a term of three years until 1991.

When Bill Berry died in 1999, he left $100,000 to be administered by the Past Graduates and

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Postgraduates Society (PGPS) and the further sum of $20,000 to pay for the administration of this Trust. The Trust was renamed the William Berry Post-Graduate College Trust in 1999. In 2004, the PGPS was dissolved and Barbara Funder and Heather Kudeviita were appointed as Trustees.

Together they have since applied funds from the Trust to the maintenance and refurbishment of the William Berry Wing of terraces.

Barbara continued her connection with The Graduate Union till her death. In addition to comanaging the Trust, she assisted with mail-outs, attended all AGMs and was seen at most dinners and luncheons. Her personal involvement is an important part of our history. She devoted her life to what she saw as the best interests of The Graduate Union during a period of great change and development. She made many friends.

At the 101st Annual General Meeting in 2013, on being awarded Honorary Life Membership, Barbara expressed a feeling of warmth and gratitude on receiving this honour “for simply being a part of the progress of a place that I have loved for all these years.”

Over her many years with this Association, Barbara made a special place for herself in our hearts. We salute and thank her for her extraordinary, personal and lifetime contribution to The Graduate Union of the University of Melbourne.

Vale Barbara

Johannes (John) Funder with his granddaughter Barbara.

The Melbourne Graduate HeForShe

Raising Awareness for Gender Equality Although it was a cold winter’s morning on Tuesday 23rd August, two male Resident Members proudly walked around University Square carrying the HeForShe banner with ‘pursuing gender equality’ printed in oversized pink text, capturing the attention of onlookers. They frequently paused to take a photo.

It was the launch of the ‘give a flower, get a smile’ campaign at Graduate House, which supports the United Nations (UN) Women’s HeForShe gender equality campaign.

Close behind the banner holders were more people holding carnations, handing them out to any passersby. “Support gender equality?” they would ask, holding out a stem.

While some hurriedly walked past, others stopped briefly, and accepted this marker for change, for the pursuit of equality. “They’re beautiful, thank you,” said one passer by. “You’ve just made my day,” said another.

President of The Graduate Union, Dr Ken Loughnan AO and Chairman of Council, Mr Rhys Watson were also in attendance, as were many Residents and non-resident Members and staff who had congregated at University Square, just in front of the Leicester Street terraces.

Dr Loughnan, who is also International Vice President of Variety The Children’s Charity and Chair of the Victoria Police Corporate Advisory

Board, addressed the crowd with profound opening remarks.

“The HeForShe program is a significant event.

We’re actually linked here with the United Nations global program. Every one of you are part of that,” he said.

Dr Loughnan is familiar with gender inequality in the workforce, having worked within a system which once saw full-time public service female employees having to immediately resign if they got married. “There were no ifs, buts or maybes, no exceptions, as far as I’m aware, anywhere that was regulated,” he said.

Dr Loughnan said that while in some ways we have come a long way, in many ways we still have not.

“The fact that we’re standing here this morning is a clear indication we’ve still got a fair way to go.”

“We are not going to actually change everything unless we start to change the psyche. It’s the thought process. It’s the culture where still it very much seems to be a man’s world.”

He pointed out the astonishing pay gap between men and women, and the recent statistics that have shown a 14 to 20 percent differential, even in the area of sports where the gaps are even more pronounced.

The workforce today is still a battleground for many women who have to deal with less than favorable attitudes. The recent sexist comment by

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The Melbourne Graduate HeForShe “I think it’s very important to raise awareness within the community for gender equality,” said Cr Watson. “It’s an ongoing issue, not just in Australia but overseas and I think it’s very important for people to respect each other.”

He said that it is imperative to be aware of our behaviour and actions and to be respectful to people of all genders, particularly to help and encourage women wherever possible to have equal opportunity and to not face discrimination.

“Whatever society they’re living in, whatever culture or background, it’s vital that they have an opportunity to be independent and live a good life,” he added.

Member Professor Stephen Peterson, who worked for more than 25 years at The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, spent many years working in developing countries in the field of public finance, where he said that there are “virtually no women”.

President Dr Ken Loughnan AO addressing the crowd.

Saatchi & Saatchi global Chairman Kevin Roberts, for instance, received such a backlash, he was then forced to stand-down.

Mr Roberts was alleged to have asserted that the debate on gender equality was ‘over’ in the advertising world, that it was ‘way worse’ in other sectors such as finance and that the ambition of women ‘was not a vertical one.’

“I’m quite sure that the majority of his employees would be horrified. So we do have a long way to go. Today is about starting to change our attitudes, doing something positive ourselves, and showing we can do something,” said Dr Loughnan.

Dr Loughnan then thanked staff, Members and Dr Bennett, and handed her the first flower of the launch. The crowd came together for a group photo, and then moved on to begin handing out flowers to the general public.

Chair of Council Rhys Watson, who showed his support in the lead-up to the campaign by writing a note to Members, again shared his support for gender equality.

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“I really pushed for women to be involved in the training and I think that had an impact and showed that they could do it and that they were as good if not better. When competence is demonstrated in training, I think that there is no issue.”

Half an hour into the launch, the flowers were being handed out and accepted at rapid speed, The Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation volunteers also receiving healthy donations in their collection tins, as all the funds raised from the launch went directly to the Foundation.

“It’s an absolutely lovely thing to do. It’s so good to see the partnership between the Women’s Foundation and Graduate House coming together,” said Jan Chisholm, CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “What’s also great about the HeForShe effort is that it’s men and women standing together to address inequalities that are still in place for women around the world,” she added.

Further down University Square, close to Pelham Street, the other participants, including many males, were taking part.“It’s a pretty good occasion. We haven’t done something like this before at Graduate House. It’s a simple idea and it gets the message out there,” said Avi Gandhi, a Resident Member of Graduate House.

The Melbourne Graduate HeForShe

Volunteers for the day.

Resident Members giving flowers and smiles.

Receiving a flower from staff Member Natasha Sedman (left).

Jan Chisholm (right), CEO of the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation.

He believes that it’s important for males to be involved in such a campaign.

“If you have a sister, or a mother, or a grandmother, you should be out here and supporting the cause,” said Resident Member Thomas Nantz. “I’m here for my sister,” he added.

The UN’s Goodwill Ambassador for HeForShe, Emma Watson, at the launch of the HeForShe Impact 10x10x10, asked the question, “young men - have you spoken up in a conversation when a woman was casually degraded or dismissed?”

that we are all indeed equal despite gender, age, ethnicity, background, faith, occupation and persuasion.

Thank you to all of the Resident Members and staff who attended the launch, organisers Parisa Shiran, Chanchal Chandramouli, Fatema Samina Yasmin and Yaw Hui Ping, Dr Ken V Loughnan AO, Cr Rhys Watson and everyone who accepted a flower of equality.

If you think something’s not fair, say something.

The focus isn’t on men with the intention to separate, because for too long that’s what it has been about. It’s time to admit wholeheartedly

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The Melbourne Graduate Annual General Meeting The 2016 annual General Meeting (AGM), our 104th, followed in the tradition of past meetings: an open forum for all to learn of the Association’s intentions, work and key outcomes.

The evening commenced with presentations of this year’s Graduate House Research Scholarship, the Graduate House Coursework Bursaries and the Graduate House Acknowledgement Awards.

The winner of the Scholarship receives $3,000 to use for research academic pursuits. This year’s award was to PhD student Yuliia Velichenko for her research entitled ‘The Development of Novel Dual-Action Antihypertensive Medicines’. Yuliia has been a Resident Member at Graduate House since 2015 and is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy (Science) at The University of Melbourne. Yuliia also holds a Bachelor of Science, from Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University (Ukraine) and a Master of Science. In an overview of her research via a pre-recorded video Yuliia explained that she was currently in Japan having used the Graduate House Research Scholarship funds to attend the 13th International Conference on the Chemistry of Selenium and Tellurium in Gifu, Japan.

Graduate House Research Scholarship winner Ms Yuliia Velichenko.

Graduate House Bursaries to support coursework studies were then awarded to Members David Allinson (Juris Doctor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne), Ms Vu Hong Duan Hoang (Master of Public Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of

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Recipients from left: Yicheng Zhou, Hui Ping Yaw, Thomas Nantz, Fatema Samina and David Allinson.

Melbourne), Mr Thomas Nantz (Master of Public Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne), and Ms Fatema Samina Yasmin (Master of Public Policy, School of Global, Urban and Social Sciences, RMIT).

The Graduate House Acknowledgement Awards were then presented for research to Mr Damon Luo (A Study on the Conflict of Laws in Commercial Contracts between Australia and China: Status Quo, Challenges and Possibilities), Ms Milena Nadgorny (Three Dimensional Printing of Functional Materials) and Ms Hui Ping Yaw (Platelets Physiology and Function in Neonates and Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation); and for coursework to Ms Imogen She, Mr Riyan Stephan, Ms Rofan Teo, Mr Francis Yang and Mr Yicheng Zhou.

At 5:43PM The President declared the 104th annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association open.

The first item on the agenda was the President’s address. This was the first General Meeting of The Graduate Union for Dr Ken V Loughnan AO, who became President in August 2015. Dr Loughnan announced that it was indeed his honour in having

The Melbourne Graduate Annual General Meeting been appointed to this position, and to follow in the footsteps of an eminent Australian in Major General Professor J V Rosenfeld AM OBE KStJ. Dr Loughnan expressed that Professor Rosenfeld is a dynamic and well regarded person in the community and wished him well for his future, particularly in his new role as Founding Director of the Monash Institute of Medical Engineering.

meet the challenges and demands of the future.

Although only having been President of the Association for ten months, Dr Loughnan had already commenced great work to enhance the reputation of the Association, but more importantly, its offerings, benefits and dedication (through action) to facilitating social good.

He discussed the positive responses he has received to his invitation to eminent high office bearers late in 2015 to join the Association as Honorary Members. Since the commencement of this initiative, Justices of The High Court of Australia, including the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, had now joined, as had many Ambassadors of and to Australia.

In his closing remarks, the Cr Watson thanked the President, Council and committee Members, the CEO/Head of College and all staff. He expressed his excitement in continuing to work with Members in the year ahead to build a happy and friendly Association.

Dr Loughnan had also been instrumental in facilitating opportunities to the Association’s Graduates by assisting them with gaining positions on the boards of ‘Tents’ of Variety the Children’s Charity in Jakarta, Singapore and, potentially, Taiwan. The President expressed his hope over time for more programs to facilitate similar project, volunteer and governance opportunities for Graduate House Resident Members.

He expressed his commitment to an active and productive time during his tenure, and expressed hope that Members would continue to support the Association through attending and participating in the Association’s many activities and by donating to the Annual Appeal.

The Chair of Council, Mr Rhys Watson, was then invited to the podium. Cr Watson expressed his privilege in reporting on the last twelve months of The Graduate Union, explaining that 2015 marked the successful attainment of the key priorities of the 2013-2015 Strategic Plan, and that having now adopted the 2016-2018 Strategic Plan, the Association was ready to enter a period of opportunity. This new period is distinguished by a focus on the development of the ‘intellectual capital’ of the college and Association, as well as on the physical development of the college to

Noting that The Graduate Union is an inclusive Association with a foundation built on the leadership and benefaction of its supporters and Members, the Chair of Council encouraged Members to donate to the 2016 Annual Appeal to help continue the legacy and endurance of the Association.

It was then time for the report from the CEO/ Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett who began by thanking the President and the Chair of Council, and by informing Members that 2015 had been another year of significant change and major activity.

She reported continuing support from the membership for GU Collegiate functions which included the Monthly Luncheons, the Twilight Lectures, Bridge nights, Italian Conversation Dinners, as well as the increasingly popular Women’s Forum and College Tables.

All main business units of the Association, she explained, had flourished in the previous year.

Meeting services, for example, saw over 23,000 attending the 1,080 academic and professional development meeting and function service events organised by 270 charitable and not-forprofit organisations. 2015 also saw an average occupancy rate of over 90% with several months of 100% occupancy and over 730 people having resided at Graduate House throughout the year.

Moving away from figures, and looking towards the culture of the college, Dr Bennett noted that the residential college has a great cultural diversity, as well as housing individuals who are concerned citizens, interested in contributing something greater to the world. She expressed her gratitude to the Resident Members who are engaged proactively with collegial and social good activities, as well as ensuring an inclusive environment in Graduate House.

Dr Bennett continued to mention exciting developments such as the Annual Ball and the

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The Melbourne Graduate Annual General Meeting newfound partnership with the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation, which will see 50% of all ticket proceeds to the Foundation. Another exciting (continuing) development is the Association’s commitment to the 17 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr Bennett explained her vision of leveraging international connections. The provision of opportunities and linkages for graduates would position the Association well to not only address these Goals, but also to foster relationships with influential leaders, introducing them to graduates who could help build a strong, intelligent and proactive network of increasingly in-tune and influential groups doing social good around the world.

Cr Leo Santalucia then made his way to the podium to deliver the key results for the financial year ending 31st December. It was a positive year of financial developments, he expressed. 2015 saw a healthy increase in net operating surplus, as well as marginally lower expenses. Accommodation and catering continued to be the most profitable operating units.

Along with the land and building assets having been re-valued at a higher figure from four years ago, it was with great pleasure that Cr Santalucia reported on the reinstatement of the Association’s Payroll Tax and Land Tax exemptions by the State Revenue Office (SRO). A long four year proceeding, this reinstatement removed a significant and increasing contingent liability and confirmed the Association’s continued charitable status and deductible gift recipient status.

Cr Santalucia expressed his deep gratitude to those who had worked tirelessly to achieve this successful SRO outcome over the last four years, including Mr David Lilja and Yu Lee Li of the then-named accounting firm WHK, Ms Kay Gulenc (external accountant), Mr Gerry Bean of DLA Piper, a legal firm that provided probono support, and to Graduate Union Members and former Members of Council, Mrs Jennifer Batrouney QC and Mr Daniel McInerney. More information about key financial results are in the financial report published in the April 2016 edition of The Annual Report.

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Mr Ron Ritchie, the Returning Officer, then reported that in relation to the 2016 Election of Members to Council, three valid nominations had been received for three vacancies on Council and a ballot had not therefore been required. The President thanked Mr Ritchie for his report and for his services during the elections, and declared Mr Vincent Mirabelli, Mr Keith Ryall and Mr Leonardo Santalucia elected until the 2019 AGM. The appointment of new councillors of course meant that there were those who were outgoing.

It was with great sadness and immense gratitude that we farewelled Councillor David Sparks who had been a Member of Council since May 2007 having joined as the Association in 2005.

Mr Sparks is an electrical engineer - having graduated from the University of New South Wales - a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and a Member of CIGRE, an international electrical engineering society. Since 2007, Mr Sparks had been Chair of the (then named) House Board and, later, of the now-named Buildings and Facilities committee, a Member of all of the other committees and Vice Chair of Council before being elected as Chair of Council, remaining in that position until 2013. The President acknowledged that Mr Sparks had worked tirelessly and selflessly for the good of the Association. An award for outstanding contribution to the governance of The Graduate Union is to be given to Mr Sparks upon return from his travels of Europe and the United States. [This award was presented at the December Chair’s Cocktail Party.]

A unanimous show of hands by Members at the AGM.

The Melbourne Graduate Annual General Meeting It was then time to announce the appointment of the new auditor, Mr Sam Claringbold of JTP Assurance. This appointment signifies that Mr

Anthony Law receiving a Graduate Union Outstanding Service Award from President Dr Ken V Loughnan AO.

Anthony Law has now completed his voluntary work with the Association. The President extended his personal thanks for his service to The Union, which began in 1985. This 31 year tenure saw Mr Law working closely with staff on internal financial controls, and with Council and the Finance and Audit committee to develop a sound and comprehensive portfolio of finance and audit related policies. It was with great honour and pleasure that Mr Law was presented with an Outstanding Service Award.

The next item on the agenda was a Special Resolution (carried by Members) to amend Rule 38.1 Use of Technology. The provision for the use of technology to attend and participate in General Meetings had been introduced in 2014, and the resolution proposed by Council was to replace ‘…may be permitted’ (in the current rules) with ‘…may, if permitted by Council to do so, elect’. The consequences of this allow Council to decide in advance of a General Meeting, whether it would be appropriate for Members to participate through the use of technology. Such a decision would be based on an assessment of whether the technology to be used would be affordable, reliable and allow for simultaneous communication.

The following item also resulted in the passing of a Special Resolution to amend provisions in the rules relating to postal voting. The President

alerted Members to minor editorial changes to the circulated proposed amendments, which were also set out in the Explanatory Memorandum sent to Members with the Notice of this year’s AGM. In summary, this set out that the proposed amendments provided for postal voting by Members should they not be able to attend General Meetings of the Association.

By this point, the AGM had progressed very efficiently. It was then discussion and question time. One Member expressed his concern regarding ‘unequalisation [sic] of society.’ He explained that as we live in a world that is technologically driven, those in engineering and science ought to take responsibility to move towards a more modern way of handling business.

He expressed his interest in seeing a charter developed by the Association for cross-disciplinary activity in a meaningful sense to utilise technology to protect small business from bigger business.

The Association, he explained could be the catalyst to improve society for the better.

The President acknowledged this suggestion, adding that it will be taken to Council for discussion. He commented that there is great opportunity for many non-resident Members to mentor Resident Members as well as to implement cross-disciplinary action.

Another Member expressed concern about the lack of competition to fill vacancies on Council. The three people who were nominated were elected, and she questioned what that had to say about interest in the Association.

The President agreed that it was disappointing, and that it would be good to see more interest not only in positions for Council, but also for Members to engage more with the Association’s events and urged Members to continue the great work in energising interest in the Association through their own networks to build a greater membership base.

After thanking Members for their attendance and helpful participation in the AGM, the President closed the meeting and invited all to attend the following dinner and presentation by Mr Leigh Clifford AO. Thank you to all who attended the AGM and for making it such a successful gathering.

We hope to see you next year.

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The Melbourne Graduate Leigh Clifford AO My Graduate Pathway - from graduation to Chairman of Qantas Mr Leigh Clifford AO is the former CEO of Rio Tinto (RTZ), and the current Chairperson of QANTAS. He began his career as a mining engineer but describes himself as a mining guy on the wingtips of aviation.

The focus of his talk was on his graduate pathway – what he has done, how he did it, and, perhaps, to reflect a little on it all.

The son of a banker, Mr Clifford was born in South Australia, matriculated in Queensland and subsequently attended The University of Melbourne, where he met Cr Ryall during his studies in Engineering and as a resident at International House. He later went to an Institute in Geneva which he found interesting as it was during the time of the second oil crisis, and Geneva was close to where OPEC met.

The start of his journey for him, however, began when he went to Broken Hill in 1970. As he was progressing his studies, he found that apart from the fact that mining paid more than being an engineer, it also gave him tremendous experience.

“I think that you’ve got to understand the challenges that the average miner or the average engineer feels, and also the safety issues,” he said.

In 1976 he was moved to Wollongong to work in the underground coal industry. This, said Mr Clifford, was a culture shock as the coal industry in many respects was quite backward compared to the mining industry. Nevertheless, he ran the maintenance engineering facility of 140 for many years. One day he “got the tap” and was told that they wanted him to start selling coal. “I’d have to say at 29 selling coal to Japan, Korea, Taiwan,

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India, UK, Philippines and Romania (Chauchesku was still in power) was a pretty interesting experience,” he said.

A couple of years later he found himself back at Broken Hill as he was involved in a restructuring of the organisation. The idea, explained Mr Clifford, was to flatten the organisation with fewer management levels.

After having done this for a few years, he was then moved to run the coal in New South Wales. The coal industry was influenced dramatically by the joint coal board that was established after WWII. It was heavily regulated and the industry had a very powerful union group that had national wage negotiations. Notwithstanding the fact that Utah Development Company, (which operated five coalmines in Queensland and which later became BHP’s coal operations) was very competitive – we’re in the south with much tougher conditions, everybody’s wage went up 5%.

There were then national coal strikes for up to ten days. Consequently, the Japanese opened up some coal mines in Canada even though they were very heavily dependent on Australian coal, which was a financial disaster for them.

Mr Clifford was then sent to Melbourne where he had some businesses including Biotechnology Australia. In the early 90s, biotechnology was starting to flourish, but Rio Tinto questioned why they, a coal mining group would invest in biotechnology. One idea, explained Mr Clifford, was to use microbes to eat finely disseminated copper ore.

The problems of introducing biologists to mining was that the reports were not easily comprehended, apart from by Gus Nossal AC CBE, a distinguished research biologist, who was on the Board at the time. Mr Clifford was thus presented with the challenge to sell this new technology. He sold half for $35 million. John Ralph set him the challenge: if he got above $35M he would give him a bonus.

In 1994, Mr Clifford received a call from John Ralph to tell him that Mr Clifford was going to London

The Melbourne Graduate Leigh Clifford AO as Mining Director of Rio Tinto. The first day he landed, Mr Clifford recalled, there was a Royal reception, to give Robert Mugabe an Honorary Knighthood. “You may find that surprising, but I was sitting there and in came Mugabe, and things were pretty cosy at that stage, and he got his honorary knighthood which has since been retracted,” he said.

His role as Mining Director had responsibilities in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Madagascar and North and South America.

Then in late 1995, a deal was made to merge Rio Tinto and CRA (RTZ’s Australian subsidiary Conzinc Riotinto of Australia, of which Rio Tinto owned more than 40%). The reality of this was that RTZ was financially able, strategically savvy and good at negotiations. CRA on the other hand was good at construction, operation and geology. Putting those two together, would certainly be more successful than if they remained separate.

Clifford was then relocated to Australia to be Managing Director of Rio Tinto. After some changes, he took over Global Energy which encompassed the uranium coal around the world.

It was an interesting time as Mr Clifford made up his mind that they were going to make the coal industry competitive.

The coal industry was characterised by what Mr Clifford calls ‘profitless prosperity’. The Japanese did well - they got a decent price. The employees did well - they were paid. However the companies made nothing. “We ended up with a different coal industry, more enterprise focused, and coal started to make a few dollars,” he said. It was then time again for “the tap” as he was once again relocated to London where he was still heading the energy business. A year later in 2000 he was asked to be the CEO of Rio Tinto. “Frankly it was something I wanted to do and I’d hung around in the hope that I’d have a shot at it. I had a few other opportunities, but that was what I was interested in doing,” he said.

In his time Mr Clifford admitted to having been the protégé of great mentors, such as Ron Carnegie and John Ralph. Tom Bartlett was another mentor, described by Mr Clifford as ‘tough as nails, smart and fair, and the best boss he ever had’. He also worked for Sir Robert Wilson who was the Chairman of Rio Tinto, and also Fred Hilmer, at

the time a Director of McKinsey (who moved to become CEO of John Fairfax Holdings Ltd. and then Vice Chancellor of the University of NSW), who Mr Clifford had known for many years.

In 2007 he returned to Australia, after seven years as CEO of Rio Tinto, and a few months later, on the 1st of May, he completed his journey as a CEO. “The next morning I felt like a backpack had been lifted off my back that I didn’t know I had.“ But fate had more opportunities in store. While on a train in Finland, ready to attend a friend’s wedding, he received a call about QANTAS asking if he would become the next Chair of QANTAS. “I’d have to say I thought a lot about the role and I would describe it as this: mind in, fingers out.

Publicly supportive, privately challenged. And don’t compete for the microphone. You’re not the face of the company. The best chairs have got to be comfortable in taking a public backseat. Now some people aren’t comfortable, especially those who are still trying to prove themselves. I think the chair’s role is a focus on big capital, the key people appointments, governance and a strategy of business,” he said.

Upon arrival at QANTAS Mr Clifford saw a few issues that he felt could be improved, and after major strategic change, the state of QANTAS improved greatly. “We have not lost one hour through industrial strikes. People realise we’re fair dinkum. We are now much stronger. We are in a better cost position, and our employees are convinced that we are serious about the competitive environment that we work in,” he said.

Some of the improvements to QANTAS include the arrangement with Emirates that allows one to fly on a QANTAS route to Dubai or you can take QF9 to London, or up to 38 other cities in Europe.

“We have a better customer focus, we’re getting better reports on our planes, we’ve renewed the fleet, we’ve improved our balance sheet, and we’ve got 5,000 fewer employees,” he said.

With these closing remarks it was clear that Mr Clifford’s pathway was a remarkable one marked with opportunity, hard work and business savviness.

Thank you Mr Clifford for your informative and wonderful presentation to our Members at the 2016 AGM Dinner.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 15

The Melbourne Graduate Founders and Benefactors Day The Founders and Benefactors day celebrated the generosity of Graduate Union Members and friends at a high tea with prominent Australian lawyer, Julian Burnside AO QC. The 2016 Annual Appeal focused on generating endowment funds for general purpose, and to support postgraduate research and coursework students. The Appeal received a generous response, totalling $27,075.

“I think this is a fantastic opportunity to say thanks to people, and it’s going to be a really interesting afternoon and a fantastic experience,” said Member Wendy Seng Hpa.

The commencement speech was delivered by President Dr Ken Loughnan

“The event is a wonderful annual event now which we all look forward to and it will help make The Graduate Union move forward even more,” said Councillor Kingsley Davis OAM. Guests made their way to the Stella Langford Wing, where Dr Loughnan gave the commencement speech, while Members sampled the high tea delights which included minicupcakes, scones with jam and cream, macarons and savoury finger sandwiches.

“What we do at The Graduate Union is so important to so many people’s lives as they move forward,” said Dr Ken Loughnan AO. “There’s nothing better in this life than doing something for other people.”

He said that the Founders and Benefactors Day is an opportunity for us to say thank you to those who have supported Graduate House in so many ways. “The financial support that you give is something that just doesn’t disappear into a black hole,” he said. “It actually goes into a range of bursaries and scholarships.”

“What we’re endeavouring to do is to give people opportunities. There would be so many people in this room who have achieved so many things in this life because of the opportunities that somebody or some organisation gave them.”

Thanks to the generosity of many donors, funds have been allocated to scholarships and bursaries, assisting Residents Members with their academic and professional pursuits.

Two of this year’s Graduate House Scholarship and Bursary winners were Resident Members Yuliia

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 16

Donors and their guests took part in the SDG quiz.

Velichenko and David Allinson. They were both invited to speak about their pursuits on the day.

Yuliia Velichenko was the recipient of the 2016 Graduate House Research Scholarship for her study on ‘The Development of Novel Dual-Action Antihypertensive Medicines’. Yuliia has been a Resident Member at Graduate House since 2015 and is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy (Organic Chemistry) at The University of Melbourne.

Yuliia spoke of her research explaining that hypertension and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming more lives than any other causes like cancer and car accidents, combined.

The research is being undertaken with a global partnership and collaboration to overcome this global issue. “My study seeks to not only promote global care on health but also provides opportunities for sustainable development,” she

The Melbourne Graduate Founders and Benefactors Day said. The support that she received from the scholarship facilitated her trip to Japan where she attended a conference to present her work.

“Being a recipient of this scholarship is both a great honour and responsibility. I used this opportunity to present my academic interests at a conference,” she said.

“I think it’s very important to have this support in the early career stages for researchers because it gives them more motivation to move further and create new ideas,” she said.

David Allinson was the recipient of both the 2015 and 2016 Graduate House Coursework Bursaries, as well as of support for his volunteering in Western Australia. Mr Allinson has been a Resident at Graduate House since 2015, saying that he quickly came to appreciate the unique environment at Graduate House, such as “the dinner table conversations with people from many nations, academic disciplines and professions,” he said.

“The diversity here is something I see reflected in my own international upbringing and also in what I value.”

In 2015 David gained practical experience in his field of law by volunteering for the Miriuwung Gajerrong Aboriginal Corporation in Kununurra, Western Australia. “Supported by this funding provided by The Graduate Union, I was able to engage with the corporate realities of the Native Title regime,” he said.

pursue strategically challenging corporate goals,” he said.

David currently works part-time for the firm Slater and Gordon, and explained that he had been contributing to a case which was addressing the treatment of asylum seekers in the Manus Island detention centre.

It was then onto the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) quiz, hosted by Dr Kerry Bennett (CEO/Head of College) and Professor Stephen Peterson, who was featured recently in our Professor Profiles. The quiz was a way to address the SDGs and raise awareness about the types of global issues that they represent.

In many ways, the quiz was about bringing global issues of poverty, hunger, miscarriages of justice and so on to the forefront, so that we do start to realise that, as United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon said, “there is no Plan B because we do not have a Planet B.” As Dr Bennett and Professor Peterson read out the quiz questions there was plenty of discussion and murmuring from the crowd. When it came to question nine (Which region’s daily per capita emissions were at 73kg in 2010 - 4x the world average?) the answer was clear to everyone, one Member excitedly banging on the table, fighting for their answer to be heard - Australia!

When the quiz ended, the scores were tallied, and Table Two was the winner of the Sustainable Development Goals Quiz for 2016. Each person on the table won a Graduate Union branded calico bag and a keep-cup.

Member Ewan Colson found the quiz thoughtprovoking, reflecting that it didn’t matter if the answers were unknown, rather the exercise brought these problems to the forefront. “It concentrates the mind on the kind of problems there are in the world,” he said.

Yuliia Velichenko

David Allinson

“Working for a small Aboriginal organisation was a fantastic experience. I found corporate law to be a wonderful way to apply the theories of law that I find intellectually stimulating while being able to

Chair of Council, Mr Rhys Watson, then came to the podium to deliver his address which rested on the legacy and ethos of the Association.

“Prepare for the future is what we’re telling people who learn, research, innovate and lead our communities for the benefit of society, a future that will encourage and inspire others to do the same,” he said.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 17

The Melbourne Graduate Founders and Benefactors Day Cr Watson said this was the vision of Graduate Union founders who imagined a residential college for postgraduates. Graduate House was the first college for postgraduates, built on the international collegium, inspiring Resident Members and scholars, creating a living environment that is egalitarian and inclusive.

Professor Stephen Peterson (left) and Dr Bennett tag-teaming the delivery of SDG Quiz questions.

When conducting some research, Cr Watson came across an anecdote drawn from The Graduate Union Centenary History. Many years ago when William E F Berry, then Warden, helped a slightly dishevelled woman gain refuge in Graduate House from a storm. As it turns out that woman was Stella Langford. “The Stella Langford wing today – which we are all in - is a reminder of that moment in the history of this college of Graduates,” said Cr Watson. “That is what being part of The Graduate Union and Graduate House family is all about. We are graduates for postgraduates,” he added.

“Today is a very important day as we thank our donors and supporters for this college. We have achieved, we are achieving and we will achieve due to the generosity of our Life Members, friends and benefactors.” He thanked everyone for their support and for sharing in the vision to build a postgraduate college and an international collegium through donations.

Winners at Table Two, Alexandra Veuthey, left and Francesca Folk-Scolaro with their prizes.

“The Graduate House Society is a bequest program that invites you to help build the future of our Association. Bequests can assist our college and its resident scholars in many enduring ways, from improving the buildings, to assisting scholarships,” he said. “A bequest is a gift that can last a long time, an enduring gift. We invite you to consider joining those who have already remembered Graduate House through a bequest.”

The event was a success. By the end, the trays once full of scrumptious sweets and sapid savouries had depleted, quiz winners victorious, and the audience satisfied with the philosophical musings of Mr Burnside.

But the day was not over without the surprise singing of Happy Birthday to Members Joan Ansell and Associate Professor John Harcourt OAM.

Chair of Council, Mr Rhys Watson, delivering his speech at the podium.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 18

Final words from Dr Bennett capped off a wonderful afternoon, and guests then mingled, reminisced and felt great warmth in being a part of this inclusive and giving Association.

The Melbourne Graduate Julian Burnside AO QC The Transience of Existence

“I said that when I arrived here I used to wear my school uniform weekends, I thought I’d escaped that but I should have! I really should have!” joked one of Australia’s most renowned lawyers, Julian Burnside AO QC. His comment was to suggest that he was underdressed, wearing amber trousers, a navy vest with a blue shirt underneath. But he was far from underdressed, rather true to the colourful and creative personality for which Mr Burnside is treasured.

“I didn’t know I was going to be a lawyer. I didn’t know I was going to be a barrister. At the end of matriculation, I did quite well and I had no idea what I was going do to. I was accepted into about five different faculties (“because the standards were lower then”) and I didn’t know what to do but my sister had been going out with a guy who had been doing law at Monash.

“I thought I’ll do law at Monash and then I will know someone!” That is how Mr Burnside came to be doing law, also picking up an economics degree along the way with the thought that he could perhaps be a management consultant.

In the late 60s mooting (mock court) was something that “nerds tended to enjoy” so, he said that he gravitated towards it and enjoyed it.

In 1970, he was invited to represent Monash in the Australia and New Zealand intra-varsity mooting team that was going to New Zealand. “I hadn’t even been to Tasmania, so the idea of a free trip to New Zealand was incredibly exciting.”

Perhaps it was this excitement and enthusiasm that won him the best individual speaker and what caught the attention of the Chief Justice of New Zealand.

Mr Burnside recalls the drinks function after the event. A young Julian Burnside found himself talking to the Chief Justice, who had presided over the final moot. The Chief Justice asked him what he was going to do. Become a management consultant is what Mr Burnside had responded.

The Chief Justice recommended that he go to the Bar. “That was my career plan! That ten second conversation was my career plan!”

“It only occurred to me a couple of years ago that what he really meant was go and get another glass of wine,” joked Mr Burnside who in 2004 won the

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 19

The Melbourne Graduate Julian Burnside AO QC Sydney Peace Prize. “I like the idea that my whole career has been based on a misunderstanding.”

But it is this ‘misunderstanding’ that has allowed Mr Burnside to act on landmark cases including Rose Porteous (Porteous v. Rinehart), the Maritime Union of Australia (Patrick Stevedores v. Maritime Union), the Alan Bond cash-for-comment inquiry, and the Stolen Generation (Trevorrow v. South Australia). But his modesty was persistent, constantly describing his work as “accidental” or “mistaken” such as when he was asked by “accident” to litigate in the controversial Tampa case (Ruddock v. Vadarlis).

Cast your minds back to 2001 when the Norwegian Cargo ship MV Tampa had rescued 438 people, mostly Afghan asylum seekers who were attempting to flee the severe persecution of the Taliban. MV Tampa was refused entry to Australia.

The Captain of the Tampa, Arne Rinnan, declared a state of emergency, defying Australia’s orders, and proceeded to enter Australia, dropping anchor just off the coast of Christmas Island. Prime Minster at the time, John Howard, ordered SAS troops to board the vessel. The law and politics behind the Tampa became murky, and the result was a civil suit by the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties and Victorian Solicitor Eric Vadarlis seeking a writ of habeus corpus (reporting unlawful detention before the court) for the asylum seekers. Valradis was represented by a number of barristers including Mr Burnside.

The verdict on the 11th of September (handed down at 2.15PM, just 10 hours before the attack on America) by North J held that the refugees were unlawfully detained and should be brought into the migration zone to be dealt with according to the law.

The Commonwealth appealed, arguing that as a Sovereign nation it was an inherent power to be able to determine who enters the nation.

The following week the Full Court allowed the appeal, and the refugees and asylum seekers were transferred to Nauru as part of the Pacific Solution.

On the 17th of September, a new Border Protection Bill was voted in, overriding previous laws, and ultimately giving the Prime Minister power to turn the Tampa, and other vessels, away at their discretion.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 20

It was through this case that Mr Burnside’s empathy for the treatment of asylum seekers was realised. “That’s when the whole world seemed to have changed ... I was in shock because I didn’t really know anything about our treatment of refugees, had no reason to investigate it, but doing the Tampa case, I discovered what was going on, and that was very shocking,” said Mr Burnside.

Mr Burnside found himself receiving case after case for refugees, all pro bono, and it was depressing he said.

“Every case seemed to throw up facts that were more terrible and so I became actively concerned that the law was so bad, that really what we needed was a change in the policy, but the Coalition was making enormous electoral advantage out of harsh treatment of refugees.”

He came to the view, that if we haven’t yet changed things, the way to do so would be by persuading the public that the policy was wrong.

Only then would politicians change their mind and start to do things properly. So he began talking publicly. “Arguably one of the great career blunders of my life,” he said self-effacingly.

His work for refugees and asylum seekers since has been tremendous. Spare Room, set up by his artist wife Kate Durham, is, as the name suggests, a spare room in their home which is open to refugees who have been recently released from detention.

In 2004, he published From Nothing To Zero: Letters From Refugees which presented an anthology of edited extracts from letters written by asylum seekers.

He has spoken widely about his deep frustration with the Australian government’s treatment of asylum seekers and refugees. In his speech entitled Australia’s Refugee Policy: The Great Lie at the Brisbane Social Forum in May 2004 (then printed in Human Rights Defender, Vol 13, Issue 2, 2004) he said, “Ninety per cent of the people who have come to Australia in the last ten years asking for help have turned out to be genuine refugees.

Yet we lock them up and effectively destroy them. The cruelty seems to be a matter of official government policy.”

As he worked on more and more asylum seeker

The Melbourne Graduate Julian Burnside AO QC and refugee cases, he engaged more in the public discourse surrounding the contentious issues.

being a QC means anyone is interested in listening to your opinions, why don’t you f*** off and die?”

It was from here that hate mail made its way to Mr Burnside’s letterbox. Hate mail, he said, comes in two forms: written letters which are addressed to your home or your chambers. Those who write hate mail in pen and paper are a very forgetful lot, he said tongue-in-cheek, ‘forgetting’ to put their name and address on their mail.

“It’s kind of hard to answer that,” he joked.

“Every case seemed to throw up facts that were more terrible and so I became actively concerned that the law was so bad, that really what we needed was a change in the policy.“ However, Mr Burnside said that most of the hate mail came via email, meaning that consequently, you can always (in theory) reply.

“I decided that since these were people who didn’t agree with me, I should answer my hate mail and try and persuade them one at a time,” he said.

“Very naive politically.”

“People are willing to be unbelievably rude to someone who they’ve never met. The hate mail would be screaming, full of vituperative comments and I’d stay up every night biting my tongue saying dear so and so thank you for your email, I gather you don’t agree with me, but do you realise but here’s one fact, another fact and so on,” he said.

Nearly all of them answered, Mr Burnside recalled, and were also polite. But what it suggested was that it wasn’t necessarily about asylum seekers, but rather people perhaps felt that they weren’t engaged with the society in which they lived.

By the end of 2006 the hate mail dwindled, policies had been in action for years, and asylum seekers and refugee issues were reported on as heavily by the media.

But a few years later Mr Burnside was in Perth doing a case and received some mail, he quoted directly, “Dear F***wit, what makes you think that

He says that the only hate mail he has ever answered, saw him writing back impertinently saying ‘Dear so and so the offer of your sister is interesting, please send photographs.’ “I could imagine his face exploding and his hair falling out,” joked Mr Burnside.

That person wrote back, almost immediately, responding that perhaps his initial comments were indeed over the top to which Mr Burnside responded saying that he has received plenty of insults over the years, but wondered why this person had just written to him now considering Mr Burnside has been talking about asylum seekers for quite some time. Did it all get too much, or did he just stumble across it?, he asked.

As it turned out that person confessed to having had quite the night out. He’d had a fight with another person about refugees and ended up emailing Mr Burnside. “He said that he should’ve just emailed him! I actually think you’re doing quite a good job so please ignore me,” he said.

Apart from his legal work, Mr Burnside has been a passionate supporter of the arts. In 2009 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for patronage of and fundraising for the arts, service as a human rights advocate, and, of course, service to the law. He regularly commissions works, mainly sculptures and music, and has even written a rather successful children’s book that he initially wrote for his daughter.

In fact, originally, Mr Burnside’s interest was not in human rights or refugees, rather it was the arts.

He was brought up, by his father, on the Rubiyaat, a selection of poems by the Persian poet Omar Khayyam that were later translated by Edward FitzGerald.

There are two verses from Omar Khayyam that Mr Burnside appreciates, one of which, he sees as a guiding principal. “The transience of our existence is something that is really important to recognise, especially if you’re going to be philanthropic,” he said.

He also likes another about the transience of human endeavours and human activities from a

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 21

The Melbourne Graduate Julian Burnside AO QC book of short stories, Oxbridge Blues by Frederic Rafael.

The story was of a young man who as a teenager, liked writing poetry. After enrolling into university where he chose to study law he met the girl who later becomes his wife. She gently persuaded him to forget about poetry and concentrate on law. He obliges. He becomes a successful lawyer, eventually obtaining silk and then being appointed to the Bench. This means that he has to spend a weekend in his chambers going through all of his papers in order to move on.

“He had quite forgotten about his adolescent poetry and was astonished to come across a batch of it at the bottom of a cupboard. He smiled – golly! – at the sight of it and took it out and started to read, for a laugh. He expected clinching evidence of the folly of youthful pretensions.

Instead, the poems passed sentence on his life … He cowered on the floor of the dusty cave and saw that the years of his life had escaped, like Odysseus’s men under the panicky sheep of the blind, deluded Polyphemus. ‘Who are you, who are you?’ he cried. And the voice of the man who had blinded himself replied ‘No-one. No-one.’”

“I don’t think that I’ve ever read anything that so beautifully sums up the importance of the arts in our society. And it occurred to me that one of the few things that we can do in our transient existence is something that will last. Our names don’t last,” Mr Burnside said.

“It was really interesting sitting out in the foyer earlier and seeing the plaque to Dr Phillip Law [in the Phillip Law Members Lounge]. Of course I’ve heard of Dr Law but I haven’t thought about him for years, and his name will live on beyond my generation, and his name will live on because there’s a plaque there acknowledging the things that he did.”

“Most people don’t have plaques to them, but most people, if they’re lucky have the capacity to do something or make something that will leave a mark that will benefit the future. The arts is an obvious way.”

“The arts in my opinion is one of the most important and enduring activities that the human species have ever come across.”

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 22

He asks the crowd to consider for a moment, a room full of people, such as the one at this Founders and Benefactors Day. If you give them a list of names from the last half dozen centuries he guarantees you that disproportionately people will recognise the names of writers, poets, painters, sculptors, composers – they will not remember economists, accountants, lawyers – one or two politicians maybe - but really by and large, the arts are what we remember because there’s something deep inside us that recognises that the arts matter.

Education is the other thing. “Education is what enables our society to continue, hopefully, in a way that’s better than it has previously been doing,” he says.

“Kerry [Dr Bennett] didn’t ask me to say this but I guess those of you who are benefactors of Graduate House and The Graduate Union are doing something that will endure. You are doing something that will endure beyond the transience of your mortal existence,” he says with that trademark Burnside perspicacity. “And I don’t know why, maybe it’s because it’s coming to that stage, but I think it’s kind of important to be able to do something that will endure beyond our transient existence.”

His final and fitting words: “If you can’t be an artist or a composer, be a benefactor, why not, you’re doing something marvellous for the future.”

“Those of you who are benefactors of Graduate House and The Graduate Union ... are doing something that will endure beyond the transience of your mortal existence.“

Thank you, Mr Burnside, for making us reflect on how to contribute for ‘in perpetuity’!

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members Recognised Australia Day 2016 Honours List His Excellency Mr Tony William Negus AO APM

awarded Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration, particularly through senior law enforcement roles, to governance reform, and to national and international inter-agency counter-terrorism cooperation.

Mr Negus was Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police from 2009 to 2014.

Mr Philip Stanley Moss

Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to public administration, particularly in the areas of law enforcement integrity, anti-corruption and human rights.

Queen’s Bir thday 2016 Honours List Professor Glenn Bowes

awarded Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to medical education and its administration, to the advancement of child health and welfare, and through contributions to government and professional organisations.

Dr Deborah Fielding Seifert

awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to education through a range of teaching, consultative and administrative roles, and to the community.

Mr David Theodore Bottomley

awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, particularly to the social and market research profession, and as a mentor of young researchers.

Valete We extend condolences to the family and friends of Members deceased in 2016.

The year of joining The Graduate Union is indicated.

Mr Barkat Usman Ali, 1967 Miss Jean Marvis Barbor, 1954 Mrs Jocelyn Bradley, 2008 Ms Linda Angus Bruce, 2003 Mr Lindsay Frederick Bruce, 1973 Mr Albert Leslie Campain, 1948 Dr Peter Ellis Campbell, 1973 Dr Brian Arthur Chalmers, 1962 Mr John Donald Chamberlain, 1975 Dr Harry Alfred Derham, 1964 Miss Joan Forrest Eltham, 1960 Miss Barbara Anne Funder, 1977 Mr Ronald Leslie Greenaway, 1984

Dr Margaret Holmes, 1966 Mr John Hulskamp, 2003 The Rev Canon Donald Walter Johnston, 1951 Dr Henry J A McMahon, 1974 Miss Bessie W B Montgomery, 1984 Miss Winifred Nance Morsby, 1956 Mr John M S Pike, 1957 Ms Joyce E L Richardson, 1961 Dr Elizabeth Sinclair, 1973 Mr Hector Ivon Stebbins, 1956 Miss Jean Cassandra Tindall, 1951 Dr John Vasey Wilkinson, 1951 Dr Angelika Zimmerman, 1970 December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 23

The Melbourne Graduate New Members We extend a warm welcome to new Members of The Graduate Union.

You have joined a membership Association, a residential college and a meeting place for graduates.

Life Subscriber Members Mr Richard Henry Clarkson Mr Marcus Leslie Lancaster

Honorary Members His Excellency General, The Honourable David Hurley

Organisation Members Advancement Office, The University of Melbourne Children’s Protection Society Inc (CPS) Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI), Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne.

The School of Physics, The University of Melbourne Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)

Members Mr Peter Acton Ms Sari Nella Baird Mrs Jane Marjorie Beer Dr Tom Beer Dr Colin Brown Professor Lynne Cohen AM Mr Eamon Cole-Flynn Ms Rebecca Anne Curtis Mr James Demetriou Mr Michael Fromholtz Mr John Furness Ms Gwendolynn Joan Gage Ms Patricia Gillard Professor Junjie He Dr Berise Therese Heasly Miss Penelope Jane Homewood Mr Mark Johnson Mr Thomas Kearney Mr Wallace Kirsop Mr Charles Kovess Mr Douglas Marshall Mrs Dubravka MartinHanson Ms Ruth McDonald Mr Adrian Eugene Mirabelli Mr Steven Moon

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 24

Mr Vincent Morfuni Ms Roberta Munro Ms Viv Nguyen Mr Paul Southwick Ms Jennifer Standish Dr Andrew Turner Mr Richard Watkins Dr Katrina Witt Dr Yang Yao Dr Leo Francis Zeller

Associate Members Lady Josie Blyton (Voon Chin Liew)

Non Resident Student Graduates Ms Becky Black Ms Tracey Colley Mr Egi Dilianda Miss Luana Felber Mr James Henshall Mr Simon Scott

Resident Members Mr Tarik Aboulhak Dr Nimmi Abraham Ms Afra AlDhaheri Miss Kimberley Auyong Mr Steven Baker Mr Jonathan Balls

The Melbourne Graduate New Members Our key purpose is to advance education for the benefit of the community.

It is the collective intelligence and actions for this purpose that make this organisation influential and effective. Each Member’s input is important and of value.

Miss Ying Barnett Mrs Anna Beneria Mr Clement Beugnet Mr Prakhar Bhargava Miss Laetitia Van Den Bossche Dr Louis Brennan Ms Leona Brust Dr Rachel Burrows Ms Claudia Butera Mr Louie Cagasan Mr Mauricio Cardoso Mr Teeraroj Chanchokpong Dr Anwar Chaudhri Ms Luyao Chen Dr Orarat Choukuljaratsiri Dr Fiona Jane Clay Dr Gabriel Da Silva Mr Parashar Das Mr Vincent Louie Delfin Ms Anne Doody Professor Gillian Douglas Dr Michal Dudek Mr Zheng Fang Mr Felix Fattinger Professor Allan Fenigstein Mr Matthew Fu Mrs Ainara Galarza Mateo Mr Tim Gibney Ms Bruna Goldani

Dr Mariangela Guidolin Mr Jeremie Guillaud Dr Wendy Gunn Mr Alexander Gunner Dr Yusuke Hamamoto Mrs Olive Hammon Mr Ian Hansberry Mr Sangram Hansra Ms Zhenzhen Hao Ms Thandiwe HaraMsulira Mr James Harpur Ms Yuko Hayakawa Mr Diego Alberto Hincapie Ossa Ms Sandra Hogue Ms Ayako Honzawa Dr Anand Irimpen Ms Ariane Jaccarini Dr Gillian Elizabeth Jean Mr Ye (Alex) Jin Professor Yan Jin Dr Iven Jose Miss Mahwash Kamal Dr Shashank Kanade Dr Seo Young Kang Miss Myitzu Khaing Dr David Kiss Dr Ryuichi Kumagai Mr Shivang Kumar Mr Yiming Lai

Dr Christine Lau Dr Sarah Lause Dr Junseo Lee Ms Louise Lever Dr Iren Lohr Mrs Mallika Maitri Ms Yiyun Man Mr Chun Ho (Alvin) Man Mr Callum Henry McNair Mr Rehan Saeed Memon Mr Umair Saeed Memon Ms Vicky Morgan Ms Florence Moureau Mrs Alexandra Naylor Professor Christopher Nicholls Ms Alicia Nieto-Reyes Ms Heather Niven Ms Emma Elizabeth Nolan Dr Vladimir Noveski Dr Nuria Nunez Mr Gareth Ogilvie Mrs Chinenye Ogunde Ms Jennifer Pan Mrs Aachal Pande Mr Georg Pfusterschmied Dr Carissa Phillips Dr Tan Bee Piang Mr Alex Pitono Mrs Vanessa Pouthier Ms Katie Price

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 25

The Melbourne Graduate Membership Ms Victoria Pupo Mr Heng Yee Qi Ms Asma Qureshi Ms Priyanka Rajani Mr Antoan Rangelov Mr Shubham Rawal Ms Daniela Rivera Miss Emily Robins Miss Rachel Saldanha Professor Marcelo Sanchez Mr Miguel Angel Sandonis Ms Mayu Sasakura Dr Adriano Sciacovelli Ms Ruidi Shang Dr Sai Shankar Mrs Xiao Lei (Sherry) Shen Dr Pushparaj Shetty Ms Simona Simmen

Mr Tejpratap Singh Dr Shampa Sinha Mr Jonathan Siow Miss Zoe Sole Ms Lauren Sosdian Professor Ronald Steer Mr Muhammad Sufiyan Dr Zenabia Talati Ms Corinne Tan Professor David Tan Dr Kelvin Tan Mr Sebastian Teo Mr Samir Thapa Mrs Gail Tillman Mrs Alba Toll Privat Mr Angus Turner Dr Peter Turner Mr Andre Ullal

Professor Matteo Vaccaro Incisa Mr Francisco Jose Valenzuela Mr Adolphus Wagala Mr Daniel Wang Miss Jiayu Wang Ms Stella Wang Dr Tashi Wangdi Mr Kunliang Wu Miss Chen Xin Mr Francis Yang Ms Lu Yang Ms Jeaney Yip Dr Chi Lap Yuen Miss Yutian Zhou Mr Chengjun Zou Miss Dongxue Zou Dr Marta Zubia Martin

Donations We are grateful to the following people and trusts for their donations.

Your benefaction is reflective of the generosity of our Membership. Thank you.

Miss Joan Ansell Dr Peter Ashton Mr Leonard Bailey Mr Michael Barden Mrs Deirdre Barnett Mr Alan Bell Ms Marja Berclouw The William Berry PostGraduate College Trust Professor Ruth Bishop

Mr Michael Bolam Mr David Bottomley Miss Gweneth Bowles Mr John Brearley Dr Desmond and Dr Ruth Bright Mr Douglas Brooke Mr Clive Brookes Ms Leona Brust Mrs Nancy Burns

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 26

Miss Elizabeth Butt OAM Mrs Kathleen Cameron Mr Paul Carlin Dr Allan and Mrs Andrea Casey Mrs Diana Cherry Mr Sean Chua Mrs Yvonne Clarke Mr John Cleeland Miss Wendy Cobcroft

The Melbourne Graduate Donations Mr Ewan Colson Mr Stuart Colvin Mr Roger Cook Mr Lloyd Davies Dr Arthur Day Mrs Margaret Dean Mr Edward Dickinson Dr Graeme Duke Ms Patricia Elvins Mr Kurt Eppinger Ms Deirdre Farrell Ms Francesca Folk-Scolaro Mr Frank Ford Chief Justice Robert French AC Dr Elizabeth Shaw Ms Gwendolynn Gage Miss Elisabeth Giddy Mr George Goode Ms Elsie Graham Ms Phyllis Grave Mr John Green Ms Olive Hamilton Assoc Prof John Harcourt Dr Richard Harcourt Mr Roy Hardcastle AO Mrs June Harvey Dr Berise Heasly Dr John Herrin Professor Brian Howe Rear Admiral Anthony Hunt Mrs Christine Iseli Miss Betty Keay

Mrs Judith Kefford Ms Mary Kelleher Miss Frances Kelly Dr Zoltan Kiss Mr John Landy AC, CVO, MBE Mr Frank Lees AM MBE Mr Kenneth Lee Dr Sharon Lierse Dr Leonard Lloyd Mrs Sheila Loudon Mr Richard Manuell Mr Fausto Marasco Mr George and Mrs Connie Markou Dr Lynette Martin Mrs Mary Maslen Mr Kenneth Mawson OAM Mrs Desma McDonald Mr Callum McNair Mr Edward Miller Mr Philip Moss Mr James and Mrs Anne Mulholland Mr Edward Muntz Mr Alan Noble Mr Donald Pemberton Ms Margaret Pope Miss Judith Price Ms Katie Price Mr Ian Proctor Dr Joanna Pyper His Hon Judge Peter Rendit

Mr Keith Richards OAM Mr Robert Richards Mr Ronald Ritchie Dr David Robson Mr James Rowan Ms Ann Scott Mrs Wendy Seng Hpa Mrs Elizabeth Sevior Dr Elizabeth Shaw Wright Mr Frank Shaw Mr Peter Sholl Mr John Skuja Professor Richard Southby Mr David and Mrs Prue Sparks Professor Max Stephens Ms Gillian Stevens Mr Kevin Stevenson AM John Stillwell Dr Rodney Taft Dr Bernadette Taylor Ms Margaret Toomey Miss Barbara Tynan Dr Geoffrey Vaughan AO Dr Ben Wadham Miss Joy Wellings Mr Peter Wetherall Mr Mark Worsnop Dr Kenneth Wu Thank you also to those who contributed to our Donations Box and to those donors who have nominated to remain anonymous.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 27

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members Margaret Mayers, Life Member 1978 For Mrs Margaret Mayers architecture was a combination of all the things that she enjoyed.

Describing it as a mix of mathematics and art, two of her greatest passions, she ventured to begin her six year study of the discipline in 1951. When she graduated in 1957, she was officially the 8th woman architect in Queensland.

“There weren’t many women studying architecture in those days,” she said. “We were very thin on the ground, and there weren’t many women engineers at that stage either.”

“I felt a bit chuffed at the idea. I didn’t know it until the Courier Mail informed me that I was the eighth woman architect graduate in Queensland,” she said.

Margaret Mayers was born in Brisbane, the middle child of five: two sisters and two brothers. Her parents met in Wisconsin where her father was doing a PhD. Her American mother was an arts graduate from Ivy League College Mount Holyoke - she was in Milwaukee studying librarianship.

Margaret attended Clayfield College and Eagle Junction State School.

In 1942, with the threat of invasion by the Japanese in WWII, the American army came to Australia. Her father, Dr Bill Kerr, a science graduate from Queensland University was posted to Melbourne by the Federal Government to supervise the quality of food for the armed forces.

The Americans would supply the arms and the Australians the food.

Her secondary education was at Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) where she matriculated in 1950 with mathematics and science subjects, plus a love of art. She sang in the MLC choir and madrigals and was also learning piano and ballet. Through her ballet she was asked to audition for ‘Peter Pan’

by J M Barrie to be put on by J C Williamson at Her Majesty’s Theatre. She was successful and given the part of Michael.

The play was performed during the 1947 school

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 28

holidays and was great fun - her first paid employment.

She was offered the part of one of the children in Annie Get Your Gun, and Evie Hayes had come from America to play Annie.

However, a stage career to her, seemed a little precarious and so she returned to her studies at MLC. In 1950 her father was appointed First Director of the Sugar Research Institute in Mackay Queensland. Well-known Brisbane Architect Dr Karl Langer was chosen to design the Institute and family home. This was the spark needed for Margaret’s decision to study architecture. The family moved north from Melbourne to Mackay and Margaret resided at Womens’ College, Brisbane, to study at Queensland University – a six year course – three years as a day student and three years as an evening student while working full-time in an Architect’s office.

There was a history of architecture within the Mayers family. “I found out that my father had tried to do it but got sidelined to doing science.

My brother nearly did it, but became an engineer.

My husband nearly did but chose chemical engineering instead.”

Now I’ve got a granddaughter who is studying for a Master of Architecture in Adelaide,” she said. She would describe herself as independent and having a mind of her own which assisted her in pursuing that which she liked, despite the social and gender constraints of the time.

Her father, who had completed a PhD, had told

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members her that six years for a degree would be a long time, but Mrs Mayers was adamant and confident with her decision: this is what she wanted to do because she had always loved drawing and art as well as structures, proportion and mathematics. It was inevitable.

After writing her thesis on Brisbane Architect Lange Powell (which was deposited in the University of Queensland library, someone having borrowed it as recently as two years ago), she moved to London to get married. Her husband who she had known since primary school days had already received a scholarship to complete his PhD in chemical engineering at Cambridge. Mrs Mayers managed to find work as an architect for David Roberts in Cambridge.

In 1958 a competition for a modern college was announced to be called ‘Churchill College’ and David Roberts was one of 20 architects to submit designs – existing colleges had begun as early as Tudor times during the reign of Henry VIII. She worked on Clare College, Barclays Bank at Saffron Waldon, Essex, and other interesting projects.

After her husband graduated with a PhD, in 1959 they moved to The Hague in the Netherlands where he worked for Royal Dutch Shell.

“After my children were born, before I became a maths/science teacher, I went back to do a Diploma in Education at Hawthorn Institute (which is now part of The University of Melbourne) in 1971. And it was my technical background in architecture and my technical experience that

Margaret Mayers (first row, second from right) with students of Whitehorse Technical School in 1975.

meant they accepted me because they then sent me to a technical school to teach,” Mrs Mayers recalls.

She taught at Box Hill Girl’s Technical School (renamed Whitehorse Technical college, now Box Hill College of TAFE) in both maths and science and technical drawing. Then in 1975 they invited her to lecture in Mathematical Methods and later Principles of Teaching at Hawthorn Institute.

Meanwhile she was also completing a Master of Education at The University of Melbourne and graduated in 1978, teaching Diploma of Education students in the transition to a Bachelor of Education.

Having taught at Hawthorn Institute for twelve years, she was then instituted as Head of Mathematics at Camberwell High. But in 1991 she thought it time to begin working in another field that she was infinitely passionate about: the arts.

She proceeded to undertake intense theoretical training to be a guide at the National Gallery of Victoria, which she continues to this day.

She enjoys attending the National Gallery of Victoria lectures every Tuesday as part of her guiding commitments. Each fortnight she does general guiding of the Gallery Collection for the general public. She has guided in the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces Exhibitions including the most recent - Degas: A New Vision.

“I love portraiture as well as landscape,” she says. “I enjoy the work of Dutch artists such as Rembrandt.” Mrs Mayers has had a history of exploring the arts, both visual and performing.

Prior to teaching she went to the Victorian Artists’ Society and painted under three artists, one of whom was William Frater, President of the Victorian Artists’ Society, to study oil painting, her work even being exhibited there. “I have also had pieces commissioned, so I was pursuing that artistic side for a while,” she said.

In regards to the physical arts, she was a singer and acted for a time. She had trained as an opera singer, but then moved to folk. “I had learned piano and singing, but decided to learn guitar and started to accompany myself,” she said. Collecting

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The Melbourne Graduate Our Members and singing folk songs was popularised with the visit of Burt Ives, an American folk singer, and the formation of the Folklore Council of Australia - of which she was a Member.

“We would sing a lot of Australian folk songs and were invited to sing for the Governor General at Government House in Victoria because the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were in Australia.” The Duke had been Governor General during WWII and returned at the invitation of the Right Honorable R G Casey, the then Governor General. She has always enjoyed participating in quiz programs and appeared with some success in several television shows, including Time For Terry, Great Temptation and Sale of The Century. But she gave this all away when she joined the workforce in 1971.

“I think doing architecture has enhanced my life. It means I look at things differently – I look at things from a design point of view and even when you choose clothes, you’re aware of colour and design.

I think it has fine-tuned my artistic sense and my aesthetic sense,” she said.

“I think architecture has given me a great deal of enthusiasm for life – I’ve been widowed for 19 years – but I just take off. I think in a way it’s appreciation of life. Four things are important

when you get older: that you’ve got good health, sufficient money, live in the present, and look to the future.”

Mrs Mayers leads a busy and fulfilling schedule revolving around her main passions. “But my family is important to me. One of my daughters is a year 12 Maths Teacher and my other daughter who lives in Adelaide is a Chemical Engineer like her father,” she said. She also has five grandchildren all pursuing academic careers.

Having lived a diverse, rich and rewarding life, Mrs Mayers has a wealth of advice to lend to her children and grandchildren. “I was just talking to my grand-daughter today. If you want to do something, don’t let anyone tell you to do something else,” she said. “My grand-daughter is in a class of 90, and where 90 architects are going to work in Adelaide, I don’t know.”

“She’s doing brilliantly with high distinctions, but I’d say set your goals straight, know what you want to do and just go for it. If you’re determined and confident you will get there and you will be appreciated for your ability. It’s probably easier now for a woman to get a job because it wasn’t always easy, but I think if it’s what you want to do … don’t play second fiddle.”

Mrs Mayers loves travel, music, singing and acting. She has enjoyed opera tours to Europe, and a Frank Lloyd Wright tour of America, travelling with one of her sisters. She recently enjoyed cruising earlier this year from Dubai, through Mediterranean Ports, Portugal, Spain, England, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and Russia – St Petersburg.

Last year she was a volunteer extra with Opera Australia, in the Verdi Opera Don Carlo at the State Theatre Melbourne. Currently she is a volunteer extra in Der Ring der Niebelungen, Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle Operas now performing in Melbourne.

Besides singing and playing the piano, Margaret also plays the guitar.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 30

Life is for Living!

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members Yuliia Velichenko, Resident Member 2015, The 2016 Graduate House Research Scholarship recipient After two internships at Oxford University, Yuliia Velichenko, PhD candidate in Organic Chemistry at The University of Melbourne was looking for a placement somewhere else in the world.

She considered all the top universities and then, focusing her search on facilities and research topics, she found that the most interesting supervisor was Professor Carl Schiessler who had the idea to make “sweet molecules” - seleno sugars - to treat cardiovascular disease and diabetes, also with the potential to treat arteriosclerosis.

that would repair blood vessels. Currently she’s at the stage where she has made the compounds and now needs to do the testing and move closer to clinical studies.

Yuliia says that she has always been interested in medicine, how our body works and chemical reactions – even when you eat something, there is a chemical reaction, she explains. “I felt that at the end of my schooling I wasn’t sure if chemistry was the right way for me, but when I started it at university, I found that it’s very interesting and it explains a lot of things for me. Having a background in chemistry, helps me to understand a lot in medicine, and my side interest, nutrition,” she says.

Today Yuliia is in her second year with Professor Carl Schiessler, Graduate House Research Scholarship at The University of Melbourne, winner Yuliia Velichenko. where she not only conducts When she was choosing which particular area research in the laboratory, but also has developed to focus on, she was lucky to win a grant from her skills in related areas like pharmaceuticals so the Ukrainian government to undertake her first that in the future she can do bio-testing of her internship at Oxford University. “There I was so compounds. inspired by medicinal chemistry and by making “The project is important and we have a lot of compounds that could save lives. I was inspired collaborators,” she explains. “We not only have that at some point the medicines that I made in a group in Melbourne but also in Italy, Brazil and the lab could be on the market.”

Denmark. It’s just made me feel curious about this project, and I’m happy I chose this place and person.”

Yuliia’s research, entitled ‘The Development of Novel Dual-Action Antihypertensive Medicines’, sees her utilising target compounds that would prevent high blood pressure, and at the same time treat damaged blood vessels. For this, she explains that they need to combine one part of the molecule that would be able to prevent high blood pressure and the other part of the molecule

She admits that it can be hard to find people who can advise on the problems that she may experience with her research as it is quite new. But the scholarship that she received from Graduate House, gave her the opportunity to attend a conference in Japan where she could network with people relevant to her field. With the funding awarded, she attended the 13th International Conference on the Chemistry of Selenium and Tellerium in Gifu, Japan.

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The Melbourne Graduate Our Members “The conference was regarding making potential medicines composed with selenium and tellurium,” she said. “It was a great experience because my research is quite new, and it’s very difficult to find expertise on this topic. It’s very difficult to find people who can advise on problems that I may experience. This conference was very close to what I’m doing. I was able to connect with people who are doing similar chemistry and research and I was able to seek advice because I had challenges with my research at that time.”

David Allinson, Resident Member 2015 Bursary Winner 2016

“It was very helpful and I made friends from different countries.”

Yuliia says that she is honoured to have won the scholarship adding that it looks great on her curriculum vitae and helped her to get to Japan. She is also proud that she managed to receive a scholarship that supports all her stay in Melbourne, and that she was chosen by prominent professionals in the areas she’s in - like Professor Jeremy Robertson in Oxford and Professor Schiessler.

Her achievements and support are motivations for her future. “I know that I really want to continue working in my area. I definitely want to work with medicinal chemistry, working with compounds and testing them and then hopefully I can also participate in clinical studies and support my compounds until the end. I would say that I’m happy that I made this choice because it’s what I’m interested in doing and it just makes me happy,” she said.

The support from Graduate House has been invaluable to Yuliia, who says that “it gives you the opportunity to live among intelligent people who have aims to achieve something that can also support you as a professional.”

“You can make new networks and connections and discuss projects at interdisciplinary levels.

At the same time I’m surrounded by very good and cheerful people that can support me. The life of a PhD student is not that easy. You have to always stay late in the lab and often you’re tired and exhausted. But it’s very helpful to have a place where you can go to find others who are experiencing that which you are also. They can understand and support you.”

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Due to my father’s work as a trader, advisor and manager for the Shell International Group, I grew up in Hamburg, London and Singapore. As a young man I remember the family holidays to Australia, the country that we would one day call home. In 2000, the Allinson family moved to Brisbane.

Motivated by a deep curiosity, I excelled in my studies of philosophy at the University of Queensland. I’m a bit of a humanitarian and an idealist, and organised conferences advocating for environmental causes, and occupied the role of President of the UQ Philosophy Association.

I didn’t like the environmentally reckless behaviour of a lot of big corporations, but enjoyed the heated discussions with my father about the realities of international business and world issues.

It was during this time that I became increasingly interested in the legal, social and economic issues facing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who traditionally owned the country I’ve come to appreciate so much.

After completing my first degree I was employed as a policy officer in the Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services.

There I learned to advise on practical solutions to extremely complex cultural, political, economic and legal problems. I especially enjoyed developing

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members relationships and professional partnerships with Aboriginal communities in Central and North Queensland, and frequently felt disheartened by the poverty and dysfunction in many of them.

In order to answer some theoretical questions relating to Australia’s legal and political environment, I moved to pursue PhD research at the University of Sydney in 2010. I quickly realised, however, that what I enjoyed was the application of ideas and theories rather than their endless debate, and eschewed an academic career. In line with my previous experience, I believed that training in law was the natural choice for a practical profession that would allow me to marry my intellectual and social aspirations. To accomplish this, I enrolled in a JD at Melbourne Law School in 2014.

I joined The Graduate Union in 2015 and took up residence at Graduate House. I quickly came to appreciate the unique environment there - the dinner table conversations with people from all nations, all academic disciplines, and all professions.

The diversity there is something I see reflected in my international upbringing. In contrast to that diversity, the like-mindedness of The Graduate Union in their philanthropic and humanitarian objectives is something I’m deeply grateful to be a part of.

In my role as the Vice President of The Graduate House Student Group, and as a Resident Member representative on the Buildings and Facilities committee I help facilitate a friendly, supportive and welcoming environment for Graduate House residents.

In December 2015 The Graduate Union provided support which allowed me to gain practical experience in the Miriwoong Gadjerawoong Aboriginal Corporation in Kununurra, WA. Through this funding, I was able to engage with the corporate realities of the Native Title regime.

Being part of a small organisation was a fantastic experience, and summer in the Kimberley region was a stunning way to spend the University break.

I found corporate law to be a wonderful way to apply the theories of law that I find interesting, while being able to pursue strategically challenging corporate goals. I presently work for Slater and Gordon, a large plaintiff law firm in Melbourne.

My work focuses on a case which brings an action in negligence against the Commonwealth government for the treatment of asylum seekers in the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea. I hope that, upon graduating from the JD, I am able to continue working in an environment that I find both mentally challenging, and a good fit for my values and interests.

Kununurra, Western Australia, where David Allinson did four weeks of volunteer legal work, working at Yawoorroong Miriwoong Gajirrawoong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Aboriginal Corporation (MG Corporation).

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 33

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members Fatema Samina Yasmin, Resident Member 2015 Bursary Winner 2016 Fatema Samina Yasmin has been a Resident at Graduate House since 2015, and was a Bursary winner in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Fatema has been a tireless contributor not only around Graduate House, which warranted the win of a bursary, but also to many causes in her own country of Bangladesh, including gender equality, and strengthening small local governments to in turn strengthen the disenfranchised in society.

In Bangladesh, explained Fatema, students are placed into courses based on their admission test results in public universities.

Political science happened to be Fatema’s determined tertiary destiny, and so she embarked upon the unknown.

“I had a science background,” she says. “I simply didn’t have any idea about what political science is - at that stage I didn’t even read the first page of the newspaper. But the fact is that the interest started when I went to class, and the teachers were talking about political philosophy.

I couldn’t understand what they were talking about, and I didn’t like that, so I started studying and gradually I just loved it. Finally, it just happened that my passion and my interests meshed.”

Fatema says that she had always wanted to work for international organisations such as United Nations, and after excelling at her studies, she got her first job within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). One of Fatema received one of four the largest programs that the 2016 Graduate House Bursaries.

UNDP in Bangladesh runs aims to strengthen the lowest tier of government. A Her hard work paid off, as she counts one of her major project was initiated by UNDP in partnership happiest life moments, when she topped her class. with the Bangladesh Government when Fatema It came as a surprise, she says, as she could see worked there, which also involved visiting rural that other people were studying hard, and she was areas where the local government empowerment studying because she enjoyed it. “That was one of programs were implemented. “I have seen how if the turning points of my life which made me see you give some power to the local level, how that that I must take my study seriously,” said Fatema. can contribute effectively for the wellbeing of their Her hard work continued to pay off when she was people because they know what is needed for the the recipient of a highly sought after scholarship people,” she said. the Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship from the The requirements of areas vary - some areas Australian government’s Department of Education. for example, if they are beside the river, their “It is particularly competitive - there is no quota, requirements will be completely different to an thousands of people around the world compete area that is beside a main highway. “This was real- for it, and only three people are selected from life education for me to understand that you need Bangladesh, and in total about 50 people were to include the local people, and to strengthen the given the scholarship in 2014. I was honoured.” local government tiers to help the people,” she Her wins and support certainly must have spurred added. her further to continue pursuing important She completed her Bachelors and Masters in causes, including gender equality - something Political Science from the University of Dhaka. that she holds very dear. “I think gender equality is very important in Bangladesh because back She admits that she wasn’t always interested in home politics and culture are mixed up and this political science.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 34

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members puts women in very subservient positions,” she said. “That’s what I want to fight for as a woman for myself, and for all the women and for my daughter.”

Fatema, along with other Residents, was involved with the planning of the Graduate House response to the United Nations HeForShe program designed to promote gender equality and to involve male support. “I am optimistic because I can say that from my mother’s generation to mine the women have fought hard and they have done a lot. Still, we have a long way to go. We already have gender parity in primary education but the number of women drops significantly at tertiary level as most do not receive support from the state or their families.

Women become victims of violence every day in public and private spheres. The country has welcomed women in working places as it needs their contributions for economic growth but it has not taken the essential steps to make the workplace, the streets or the family space secure for them. We need to fight to make the country safe for the women.” she said. She cites her mother as a transformative influence to her proactivity and pursuit of gender equality.

“My mother was a housewife, but that was her choice, and she was very young when she got married,” said Fatema. “She never really understood the reason to work or go for it, but she did when she gradually became older. The first thing she taught me was that you need to have your own identity, not just a mum, not just a wife.

You need to have your own identity and you need to work for it.

Until today I will say that whatever I am today is because of my Fatema was involved in the HeForShe rd mother.” campaign on the 23 August, 2016.

“In my personal life as a mum, I think I just want to be like my own mum.” Fatema reveres many female leaders including Michelle Obama. “I like the way she talks about things, the way she talks about family and so on. I look up to strong women like that, and right now another name that comes to mind is Gina Davis because she is a household name, but she has taken that fame and power for a common good. She advocates for positive social change. Kamala Bhasin‘s ideas and works on South Asian women and feminism have influenced me deeply” she said.

Fatema looks up to feminists and the women who fight for parity and empowerment, and feels like each of those women is someone that she wants to be. “I feel like each one of them is someone I want to be. In my professional life my mentors, Dr Farid Uddin Ahmed and Dr Arefin Siddique [Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Bangladesh] – I want to be an academic like them and if I ever get to a position like the Vice Chancellor, I would like to be someone like Dr Siddique.”

For her future, Fatema plans to channel her influences and inspiration through teaching.

She wants to teach and interact with young minds.

“I feel like these young fresh minds come into university with all these new ideas, and I love interacting with them,” she says. “But I want to work in politics later in my life because I feel like that’s where you can make real change. I know that people have differing views on politics but someone must get in there to change things. I hope that someday I will be able to hold a position in politics, I want to bring something good to the country in the education sector and for women.”

Fatema’s persistence and positivity is something that she wants to pass onto her daughter. She says she tells her to “be herself” and to “follow her dreams”.“I’ve faced a lot of hurdles in my life, I’ve gone through huge personal crises in my life, but the only thing that keeps me floating is that I’m a strong woman and I know that at the end of the day, at the end of the tunnel there is a light.”

“Follow your dreams, don’t ever break down due to hurdles, these are just obstacles that you can overcome.”

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 35

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members United Board Visiting Fellows Dr Junjie He and Dr Iven Jose

At the welcome dinner (from left to right) Cr Mary Kelleher, Professor Max Stephens, Dr Junjie He, Professor Anne Steinemann, Dr Iven Jose, Dr Kerry Bennett and Cr John Green.

In July of this year, two Visiting Fellows, Professor Junjie He and Dr Iven Jose came to Melbourne through the support of United Board, a Christian not-for-profit designed to provide grants and other support to facilitate involvement with and pursuit of higher education, where the needs are great in Asia.

United Board programs and grants support institutions to improve the quality of education.

They sponsor professional training for faculty, administrators, and trustees, and foster linkages and networks among Asian institutions of higher education. Their current focus is on five program areas: (1) leadership development for higher education; (2) faculty development for enhanced teaching, learning, and research; (3) campuscommunity partnerships; (4) culture and religion in Asia; and (5) special initiatives.

Dr Junjie He During his two-month placement Dr Junjie He, of Shannxi Normal University, Xi’an, reported that through the connections fostered by Professor Max Stephens and Cr Mary Kelleher he had had the opportunity to connect with many people at The Graduate Union of the University of Melbourne, the Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE), the Language Testing Research Centre (LTRC), the Australian Asian Association of Victoria (AAA), Asialink and the Asia Education Foundation (AEF).

They fund their programs by seeking contributions from individuals, foundations and alumni associations of Asian institutions to supplement the income from their endowment.

Dr Junjie He (left) with mentors Cr Mary Kelleher and Professor Max Stephens.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 36

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members He also attended two workshops convened by Professor David Clarke at The Melbourne Graduate School of Education on secondary education in China and explored key concepts in education, like the distinction between learning, development, and maturation; the distinction between different readings of “learning”, that as process and that as outcome; intervention in secondary school Maths teaching and its relations with motivation and engagement; and skills and technology used for publication in academic journals. He also reported participating in group meetings where he learnt more about working together as a research team.

which she supported my stay at Melbourne University.” “A quick responder, a silent listener and above all a pious and down to earth person. I always wondered how could a person be so very humble and I thank United Board for providing such a great place for my placement.”

His stay in Melbourne aligned with the arrival of eminent Professor Depei Wang, Chief Economist at Forecast ThinkTank in Shanghai. Junjie attended the ceremony where Professor Wang was appointed as an Honorary Member at Graduate House. In showing welcome and respect to Professor Wang, with He’s help, Graduate Union Member Professor Max Stephens presented a welcome speech in Chinese, which was sincerely appreciated by Professor Wang. “This was a sign of the sincere hospitality of the Australian people and the friendship between the Chinese and Australian people,” said He.

Every day was a new experience meeting people from different countries, different denominations, diverse cultures, varied academics, highly heterogeneous age group between 25 to 85 years, both men and women interacting sharing ideas across the dining table and exploring a whole lot of newer areas through experiences, living as one family.

“My special thanks go to the United Board, The University of Melbourne, Dr Kerry Bennett, Professor Max Stephens, Council Member Mary Kelleher, Professor Anne Steinemann, Professor Mark Considine, Professor Cathie Elder, Professor Ute Knoch, Professor Tim McNamara, Professor David John Clarke, Professor Sarah Maddison, Director Kathe Kirby, Lady Josie Blyton, and all staff Members at the Graduate House of The University of Melbourne.” – Junjie He

“My stay at Graduate House was just beyond words. Despite being away from my family for two months, it was a home away from home.

This place never gave me a chance of becoming homesick. May it be during my free time or be during the dinner/ breakfast or even the recreation time.

I would always wonder how Dr Kerry Bennett, the CEO, would manage the temperament of this diversity. It was such a warm feeling in being associated with Graduate House …

Finally this placement gave me an opportunity to meet and associate with several local families in Australia. Time spent over the weekends in assisting the activities at the Church and participating in community level programs will always remain fresh in my mind.”– Iven Jose

Dr Iven Jose Dr Iven Jose, of Christ University in Bengaluru, India, was also a Visiting Fellow facilitated through United Board. During his stay in Melbourne at Graduate House, he was mentored by Graduate Union Member Professor Anne Steinemann, stating that she was a “true motivator and exemplary person”.

“The proactive measures,” said Jose, “taken to ease out all hurdles were just remarkable. I appreciate her magnanimity and solidarity with

Farewell party on the last day at Graduate House, from left: Professor Anne Steinemann, Dr Kerry Bennett, Dr Iven Jose, Cr Mary Kelleher, Dr Junjie He and Professor Max Stephens.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 37

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members Edward Dickinson, Member 2006 WHY I STAMMERED and HOW I STOPPED DOING IT Introduction (setting the scene) I was born in 1937, two months ahead of schedule.

My mother was 44 and my father was 50. The Jessie McPherson Hospital nursed me through from my premature birth, with none of today’s modern medical equipment.

My Mum and Dad lived in a Melbourne suburb, which we called Newmarket (but which many neighbours called Flemington) with my Mother’s Mum – my only living Grandparent. At the time of my birth my Grandmother was 69 and almost bedridden due to angina; my mother’s single sister (my Auntie Em) also lived in the house; she was 46. In the tradition of my family, I commenced Sunday School at the Newmarket Baptist Sunday School at the age of four years.

My father was a returned soldier from World War I. He had lost an eye in the war and was the Victorian Treasurer of the Partially Blinded Soldiers Association. On some occasions he stuttered over one word in a conversation; it was hardly noticeable. He died as a result of World War I injuries; at the time of his death I was nine years of age.

I had what could be called a sheltered upbringing with lots of uncles and aunties who visited regularly, as my mother had two married brothers and one married sister, and they between them had nine offspring (my first cousins) the eldest of whom was over thirty and married at the time of my birth. They all visited our home regularly.

My father had two married brothers, and a married sister, who at the time of my birth had provided me with six cousins. They also visited us, though not as regularly as those who came to see my grandmother. The outbreak of World War II curtailed some visits.

At the age of six, I commenced school at the Bank Street State School in Ascot Vale. As far as I can remember, I began to stammer when I was in Grade 3. I would go through school from that time on, at Bank Street State School until 1949, at Moonee Ponds Central School in 1950 and 1951, and at Wesley College in Prahran from 1952 to the end of 1955 without ever answering a question in a classroom. I was never in a school play and if I met a fellow student in the street and he said “Hullo”, I was unable to reply. However, there were two notable exceptions; two occasions when I spoke and did not stammer.

Throughout that time I never spoke to a stranger.

Nor could I speak on the telephone; I could not even answer the telephone when it rang. I could speak to some very close friends and family members face to face (but not on the telephone).

People thought I stammered because I was shy.

They were wrong. I was shy because I stammered.

To give you a better picture, let me recount some embarrassing and difficult happenings from my life, which illustrate what I did and how I felt.

A Story from Life When I was in Form IV (year 10) at Wesley College, my English teacher had all the boys in my class read a paragraph from one of the works of literature we were studying. Each boy in turn would stand up and read a paragraph to the class.

Lets us suppose we were reading from “MAN-SHY”

by Frank Dalby Davison. When my turn came to read, the paragraph began with the sentence:

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 38

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members “Noiselessly, she went a step or two nearer”. [Page 25, 2nd paragraph] I stood. I tried to say the words – without success.

The following conversation ensued: Teacher:

“What is the first word, Boy?”

Me:

“Noiselessly, Sir.”

Teacher:

“Good. Say it again and continue with the sentence.”

Me:

“Noiselessly, …….” (a long silence)

Teacher:

“What is the second word, Boy?”

Me:

“She, Sir.”

for half an hour. It was hard at the first, but as I came to know him, my speech improved.

After six months of weekly visits, which I enjoyed, he surprised me by telling me that I did not have a stammer. He said I need not see him any more. He also said that when I was older I would understand why I had a speech impediment and it would then stop. I also stopped seeing Miss Winter, and him.

I was puzzled, even a little hurt, but not cured. I could not speak to anyone away from his office.

Similar therapy was given to me when I was at Moonee Ponds Central, but it seemed to me that my stammer became worse each time I went to a therapist.

“Say: ‘Noiselessly, she’ and continue At Wesley College, many of the masters tried a few ways to help. I knew they did so with genuine with the sentence.” interest in me as a person. My two French masters Me: “Yes Sir, Noiselessly, she ……..” were sure that I would not stammer when I spoke

(another long silence.)

French, but they were wrong. I never spoke in the If the teacher’s patience lasted, this pattern would French language. continue until I was able to say four or five words Midway through year 12 at Wesley College, the in a row. Then he would give up and say - with Vocational Guidance Master, who I knew well, great frustration: “Sit Down. You silly little boy!” interviewed me about my achievements in all aspects of my life and concluded by saying that I The following week in that English class the was an average student, average at sport, and not procedure would be repeated with a different famous or infamous in anything at school. Yet, he book. My classmates would sit patiently through said, every boy in the school knew me because I my attempt as on the previous week: I hated it. I was the boy with a stammer. He told me to find hated not being able to speak. some other way to attract attention to myself.

Teacher:

People who helped (or tried to)

In Grade 5 at Bank Street State School, my headmaster took an interest in me and spoke with Speech Professionals in the Education Department.

I was sent to a Special School in Travencore which did their best to help me with speech therapy.

My Speech Therapist was a Miss Winter. She taught me how to breathe correctly and how to relax. When I visited her each week I would lie on a flat surface, and relax each set of muscles in my body, starting with my toes, and finishing with my neck and head. She would then lift my limbs in turn to check that I was fully relaxed. I remember that she talked to me, and about me, throughout the process but I cannot now remember exactly what she said. I never spoke back to her. The words didn’t come.

On the same weekly visits I sat with a Dr Cathcart who was, I believe, a psychiatrist. We would chat

At the time I was hurt, but I had a sneaking suspicion that he was re-iterating what Dr Cathcart had said.

I was sure I wished I did not stammer. I wanted to be able to talk. At times when there seemed to be no answer to my problem I prayed to God to help me, to show me how to lose the stammer, or for Him to cure me. I used to wonder if my prayers were heard, or how long I had to wait for an answer. There were two different chaplains at Wesley during my time there, but they were unable to help me at all.

During my time at Wesley the school prefects read the Bible Lesson at the morning School Assembly.

They were coached by a voice expert who was, I think, named Harry Trainer.

Long after leaving school I met him, and he discovered I still had my stammer, and that I had

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 39

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members never had a date with a girl because I was unable to either ask girls out or speak to them. I was 24.

Mr Trainer wrote down the name of an English woman, Margaret Eldridge, who had come to Australia to work as a speech therapist. He said she was very good at what she did and he believed she could help me. He went on to say she had worked in England with Lionel Logue who was the therapist to King George VI. My local doctor gave me a referral to see Mrs Eldridge. I knew very little about her then, but I would learn much later that she had founded the ‘The College of Therapists’ in London in the 1930’s and that Lionel Logue had also been a Founding Member.

I began going to see her once a week. It was the same as before; she had me doing all the same relaxation exercises I had done with other therapists. I wondered what was the point of it all.

As I had with Dr Cathcart, I could speak slowly to her after some months.

But one thing stands out in my mind. I told her one day about some of the suggestions that people and friends, and even therapists, had suggested - to rid me of my stammer. She told me they wouldn’t work for me. She told me I was different to other people who had a stammer. She told me that there were not two stammers or stutters that were the same in the whole world. I found this incredulous and said so. In fact, I told her (in slow speech) that I did not believe her.

She replied by saying, “Would you believe me if I said that there were not two identical personalities in the whole world?”

I nodded. I could accept that. She said then, that I was different to everyone else in the world, and that my stammer was different to any other stammer in the world. I accepted that from her.

She was a much older person than the therapists I had attended when a school boy. As I look back they were probably young women in their twenties.

Mrs Eldridge was probably in her fifties. She was almost a “mother figure” to me. I recall that she looked me straight in the eye and said, “Edward, not only is your stammer unique; you are unique.

When you accept that, you will not stammer!”

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 40

Some weeks after I had heard her advice that I was different to other people who stammered, and that my particular stammer was unique I was in a public meeting and the Chairman asked me a question. I knew the answer, I stood up, and without much thought answered the question in a strong, clear voice.

My colleagues were amazed. So was I! My stammer had gone.

Now, in my senior years, I remember that evening quite well. From that evening, I never stammered.

My Own Thoughts on my Stammer In Grade 3 at Bank Street State School, I had a mate who lived in my street who had a stutter. He repeated the hard consonants at the start of each word. L-L-L-L-L-Like th-th-th-th-th-this. Everybody made a fuss of him.

But for me, surrounded by a large family, and being well behaved, no people outside my family took any notice of me. I was just an average kid; not naughty, not better than anyone, and known to be a little bit religious. On the whole I received practically no attention from the adults around me, but my stuttering mate got a lot of attention from every adult.

Somehow, psychologically, and unknowingly, I copied my mate.

I always hated my impediment. I dearly wanted to be rid of it. Well, I really thought I did. The only letter I could sound without stammering was “S”.

I never went into a shop without a note, and I always handed the note to the person behind the counter. If what I wanted was ‘half a dozen eggs’, I couldn’t say ‘half’ but I could say ‘six’ eggs.

It seems that Dr Cathcart (who would later become the Head of the Mental Health Department in Victoria), and my Vocational Master at Wesley were right in their diagnosis. But I wasn’t ready to hear it from either of them.

All that I am aware of, that Margaret Eldridge did that was different, was convince me I was a unique person. I don’t know how that changed the sub-conscious desire to stammer - to one of not stammering. Perhaps she had a special aura of confidence which I caught. History tells us that Lionel Logue wrote no books and did not teach

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members other therapists. Perhaps he, too, had an aura which he passed on. (There are many references to ‘Margaret Eldridge, Speech Therapist’, on the web).

As for me, my advertising leaflets now carry the following short curriculum vitae with my photo and advertise the fact that I enjoy speaking.

Conclusion Today, when I coach people in public speaking and watch them nervously approach the dais for the first time, it’s not unusual to hear them say, “It’s easy for you. You’re a professional speaker.

You don’t know what it’s like to face an audience and not be able to say a word.”

I smile, and sometimes share of little of my unique story with them. For they – each and every one – is also unique. And I tell them so.

However, my story gives me the right to say to them: “If I can do it, you can do it.”

Now, in my retirement and being closer to 80 than to 70, I still make speeches, without a fee, to non-profit bodies. I still lead church services and preach because I believe the Bible stories are the best of any in the world. I still coach business men and women how to sell their message when called on to address an audience. I tell young people to make public speaking a hobby by joining the Rostrum Speaking Clubs of Australia. (They can find it on the web.)

Deep down, now, I wonder if speaking in public, which has been my profession on the speaking circuit, as well as university lecturer, and as a presenter of the Christian Message is ‘overcompensation’ for those 24 years of being mute, or is it my current way of attracting attention?

On the other hand, I now believe that God did hear the prayers I offered when all I could do was sing my testimony, and write its title on a sheet of paper to be announced. For whilst it seemed that no answer was evident, God must have had a reason to postpone His answer.

And, what a great answer it turned out to be.

Ed Dickinson, The Speaker of Renown, was accredited as a Professional Speaker by the National Speakers Association of Australia.

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Training and Development, a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, the author of two books, and a professional M.C. Ed has produced an audio CD and tape on speaking skills and is a Freeman of Australian Rostrum (Vic.) Inc. He is a Member of WellSpring, the Ashburton Baptist Church, the RACV Club and the Torch Society of Melbourne Legacy, and an Associate Member of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne.

Ed Dickinson reading poetry about war times on Remembrance Day at Graduate House.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 41

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members Rural Australians for Refugees

by Joan Ansel l , Life Member 1964 Without doubt, the efforts of Mr Julian Burnside AO QC to improve asylum seekers and refugees have been unparalleled. There may be less general knowledge, however, about one particular role in his efforts: it is that he has adopted the role of Patron to the organisation ‘Rural Australians for Refugees’ (RAR).

In early September 2001, this organisation had its genesis in Bowral, New South Wales, when Ms Anne Coombs became extremely concerned about the plight of 438 men, women and children asylum seekers and refugees who were crowded on board the Norwegian freighter, Tampa, captained by Arne Rinnan.

Since those early days, over 100 RARs, with 2,000 Facebook followers have been formed in Australia and it is anticipated that more will be formed in the near future.

Recently, in Bendigo, one of the larger and more active RARs, organised a national conference, to which they invited, as well as other RARs, groups such as ‘Academics for Refugees’ and the ‘Combined Refugee Action Group’. An invitation was also issued to the general public. The conference was held on Saturday, 3rd September and the morning of Sunday, 4th September, and bore the motto, ‘One Voice : One Vision’.

An outline of the conference serves to indicate RAR’s functioning.

Approaching the venue for the conference at St Andrews Church on the Saturday morning, one was faced with a huge banner, strung between trees, and bearing the proclamation ‘Refugees are Assets’. Attached thereto were three posters, wrought by various hands, proclaiming ‘Real Bendigonians Say Welcome’, ‘Justice for Refugees’ and ‘Close Nauru’!

The Tampa with 438 refugees on board.

After the Tampa had rescued the 438 at sea the freighter was refused entry to Australia by the Australian government: some of the complexities of the case are detailed in ‘The Transience of Existence’, the talk by Julian Burnside AO QC. The decision was taken to send the whole complement of people to Nauru but approximately 150 were taken in by New Zealand.

Ms Coombs wondered what could be done at the grassroots level to alleviate the situation of the asylum seekers and refugees and she contacted two friends, Dr Helen McCue and Ms Susan Varga, to seek their input. After discussing the whole affair, the three agreed that a public meeting should be called and they went ahead and organised one, through a letter to the local paper.

The meeting was heartening and successful and, as a consequence, RAR was inaugurated.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 42

All signs were admirable exemplars for any selfrespecting activist.

In the hall, after receiving carry-bags containing conference documents, we took our places among a very large gathering, to hear Ms Chris Cummins of Bendigo welcome attendees. She apologised that Mr Burnside was too unwell to attend.

She spoke of her nursing experience and she said she had served on Christmas Island, and that her service had caused serious reactions on her return.

She said she had been unable to forget one lady, Jamilla (not her real name), a ‘graceful and loving’ woman. Jamilla had had to leave Iran through having been tortured, was disabled with cataracts, had no belongings and could not converse with others. She was ‘terrified’ at the possibility of having to go to Nauru. Other women and Ms Cummins tried to help her with chores and so on.

Happily, Ms Cummins put her case forward and she is now re-located with her daughters on the mainland.

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members In one information/question and answer session, run by Mr Terry White and Ms Bonnie Carter, a short film was screened. It showed Mr Burnside advising that off-shore processing should be shut down and refugees possibly settled with other refugees in rural areas in Australia, when such areas would benefit from their spending.

Next on film, several Members of Ararat RAR commented on aspects of their own group.

Mr White, who had listed all groups present, stressed that all groups were in federal electorates and that submissions to local Members could be made to good effect.

The founders of RAR, (from left) Dr Helen McCue, Ms Annie Coombs and Ms Susan Varga.

Ms Cummins then introduced the three founders of RAR who were given an ovation as they took their places on the dais.

Ms Coombs, whose background was in the media, spoke warmly of her two friends who were both busy writers and, in the early phase, Dr McCue had been studying for her PhD. Dr McCue said that the acceptance of refugees and the work with them reminded her of the axiom, ‘Think globally but act locally’. Ms Varga, herself a refugee, said that, when people became ‘hardened’ it would be useful to advise them’, ‘know facts and open your hearts’.

Some activities, in which the three had been involved were collecting food, sending postcards and ‘welcome’ letters to Nauru, having refugees visit from Sydney and lobbying politicians.

Ms Coombs said Bowral, NSW was conservative and at times people had been ‘horrified’ to see refugees in the street, but with their settlement (not easy in rural areas), community attitudes had undergone significant change.

Perhaps the founders discovered the recipe for a lively rally, since, on one occasion, an older woman confided to Dr McCue, ‘I’ve had a ball, I’ve never been to a demonstration before’.

He advised that, to get an RAR started, the person concerned should enlist the help of ‘two or three people who could get things done’. Then a hall with several features should be selected. It should have cooling/heating, a kitchen and disability access. Food should be able to be stored for later serving.

Of all things, a ‘good’ speaker was the most important (Amnesty will provide speakers at no cost). Flyers should be circulated and radio and press advertisements should be organised. On the night of the meeting, names should be listed and attendees asked to donate a gold coin for ‘seed’ funding.

Ms Helen Musk conducted a workshop/discussion session, during which groups were given large sheets of butcher’s paper and thick pens to list items under the headings of ‘attract new members’, ‘get publicity’, ‘win hearts and minds’, ‘support local refugee population’, ‘raise money’, ‘maintain enthusiasm and commitment’ and ‘influence politicians’. The efforts of the various groups were discussed.

The program lists its next item as ‘Gorgeous Voices Performance’. The mystery of whom the ‘Gorgeous Voices’ belonged to was solved when a very, very large band of brothers entered the hall and subsequently took up a very, very large proportion of the stage. We were told they ‘enjoyed singing’ and indeed, they sang two (unnamed) numbers with much joy a cappella.

‘Where to from Here’ was covered by Ms Margaret Leser of the National RAR Working Party.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 43

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members Under ‘Campaign, Advocate and Administrate’ she advised ‘Enable consistent dialogue between RAR groups, between RAR and other refugee groups and between RAR and the community.

Mr Anthony Radford, a journalist, spoke briefly under the heading ‘The Power of One Message Media and Refugee Advocacy’.

The refugee advocate should work out his or her audience – what the audience is and what it is thinking. Language can dehumanise people and he referred to Don Watson’s ‘weasel words’. To try and eliminate negative overtones of words and phrases one might say ‘people seeking asylum’ rather than ‘asylum seekers’.

When discussing the emotional effect of words, he also mentioned the positive effect of a still photograph such as that of the Syrian boy washed up on shore. The refugee advocate should not ‘give up’, should ‘maintain hope’, should ‘mobilise’ and most of all should ‘CARE’.

Mr Burnside comments in ‘The Transience of Existence’ about his refugee advocacy by email are interesting in light of Mr Radford’s remarks. Mr Burnside could ‘work out’ his ‘audience’ and its ‘thinking’. He characteristically greeted the author of hate mail courteously and was polite in his remarks (despite one understandable blip). Using facts to bolster his comments, he succeeded so well in his efforts, that what replies he did receive were polite.

Ms Pamela Curr, then of the Asylum Seekers’ Resource Centre in Footscray, spoke of the recent visit she had made to Christmas Island with Sister Brigid Arthur. Ms Curr was so affected that she referred to it variously as ‘Little Third World’, ‘gulag’ and ‘prison’. All told she said ‘The situation for people in detention is worse than it has ever been’. Men were in fear of being bashed, men she saw were allowed out of their compounds for only two hours per day and ‘there were guards everywhere’. Partners were separated and detainees had no visitors. One woman could only communicate with Ms Curr through glass.

To solve the Christmas Island problem, we have no alternative but to close camps and bring detainees here. ‘Regional solution’ is no answer: Indonesia is over-burdened’. There are ways of avoiding deaths at sea.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 44

‘How can we deal with politicians? Could we not hold a summit? Could we not bring together Australian and overseas politicians? With a little help minds can be changed’. ‘Don’t you reckon we can do it?’ ‘Politicians change their minds’.

Two very, very welcome guest speakers were Mr John Millington OAM and Ms Margaret Millington OAM of Nhill. They had enormous success in settling and fostering Karen (Camp MaeLa) refugees and, during Mr Millington’s period of managing ‘Luv-a-Duck’ 1983-2013, not only did their units increase from 5,000 per week to 100,000 per week, but the population of Karens in Nhill increased exponentially.

The Karens are accepted in the community: 12 businesses employ them, 14 or more have bought houses and their babies are being born.

Ms Millington, a woman of deep faith, ascribes ‘a sign’ to her and her husband to foster the Karens when she discovered the name ‘Jodi’ of their lost daughter, at two years of age, was the name of a Karen baby.

A Question and Answer session was organised, featuring Walkley Award winners, Mr Anthony Radford, Mr Nick Olle and Mr Ben Doherty. Special applause greeted Mr Doherty in recognition of the part he had played in the coverage of the ‘Nauru files’ in Guardian Australia in August, in conjunction with 11 other journalists.

The ‘files’ revealed that, in Nauru, between August 2013 and October 2015, there had been 2,116 assaults, sexual assaults and self-harm, half of them, 1,086, involving children.

There was a conference photo taken, with attendees holding up a forest of sheets with the message #Bring Them Here (with reference to Manus Island and Nauru).

While I was familiar with councils having declared themselves ‘refugee welcome zones’ (144 councils

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members have so declared themselves), I was unprepared for the next stage of the campaign. This was to create a ‘Welcome Scroll’ on which co-operating councils should have their names inscribed. The scroll would travel from place to place before ending up in Canberra in Refugee Week 2017.

The attendees walked holus bolus to the Bendigo Municipal Offices, where the launch of the scroll took place. Bendigo’s Mayor Rod Fyffe and Mount Alexander Mayor Christine Henderson stood on the Council steps where they were joined from time to time by Crier John Trainor and Mr Asher Hirsch of the Refugee Council of Australia.

The Welcome Scroll was a joint iniative of the RCA and RAR. On Saturday evening at the Shamrock Hotel, Ms Curr spoke entertainingly, sprinkling her talk with anecdotes and introduced Ms Hani Abdile, a young woman refugee from Somalia.

Ms Abdile’s family had considered her at risk from Al Shabaab and arranged for her to make her way to Christmas Island, travelling through Kenya, Malaysia and Indonesia. She was placed in detention for eleven months on Christmas Island and then in community detention in Sydney for ten months. She taught herself English and is studying for her High School Certificate, although she had not previously received any schooling. Ms Abdile is a poet and read some of her poetry.

A second workshop was Amnesty International’s ‘Changing the Conversation’.

The initial remarks of this workshop were missed.

Some points, however, were that open questions should be asked, should the person being spoken to clearly wish to discuss personal worries, interest should be taken in these and positive language should be used throughout the conversation.

Role playing ensued. Ms Abdile read some more of her poetry, which was applauded strongly. Ms Jan Govett, a leading light in Bendigo RAR, suggested tentatively that some re-structure take place in RAR and called for volunteers to fill several roles should this occur.

For information and approval, she then read out a short letter to be sent to all Federal Members of Parliament: it explained the nature of RAR and asked for their co-operation in efforts to close Manus Island and Nauri Nauru and to bring all those in detention to Australia.

Newsflash! Benalla Rural Australians for Refugees wishes to settle some Syrians!

Thank You Joan for a beautiful story on RAR. We hope to see you again soon at Graduate House and to learn more about Australia’s regional activities for social good.

Ms Faye White sang refugee songs, accompanying herself on guitar. Ms Gayle Carr ran a workshop ‘Refuge from our Rhetoric’.

Language experts investigated suitable language to decide on how best to influence opinion on seeking asylum as a fundamental right. All people have a right to live in peace.

Nine ‘messaging principles’ included Lead with values like family, freedom, fairness and treating others as you’d want to be treated.

Under the heading ‘Words that Work’, eleven principles were given; for example, “Replace ‘Be settled in Australia, be placed onshore’ with ‘Integrate into our community’, ‘Best leading arguments’ included the ‘golden rule’ message”.

Twenty per cent of people needed no persuading, 56 per cent were ‘persuadable’ and 24 per cent were hardened.

Joan Ansell at The Founders and Benefactors Day on 21st August 2016 when we all sang ‘Happy Birthday!’

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 45

The Melbourne Graduate Our Members The 2016 Summer School in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

by Dennis Danipog, Resident Member 2014 The 2016 summer school of the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA) was held at the University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, 21st - 26th August, 2016. The ESERA summer school is a biannual event specifically designed for PhD students in science education. It is composed of lectures on contemporary science education research issues, workshops with an emphasis on research methods and paradigms, group work sessions and meaningful social programs.

Dennis’s group in the summer school was composed of participants from Germany, England, the USA, Sweden and South Africa. Dennis is pictured on the far right.

This year, 51 PhD students in science education from 22 countries participated in the weeklong summer school. These participants were selected from a total of 106 applications from around the world. In addition, 21 experienced researchers from 14 countries served as plenary speakers, workshop leaders, and mentors who closely worked with small group of PhD students. The funding for the summer school was allocated by ESERA. In the summer school, each PhD student was a Member of a small group with six other students and two experienced researchers (who served as mentors) who worked collaboratively throughout the week. Each student was able to present their research design and preliminary findings within the group. After the presentation, each student received detailed feedback from the whole group and the mentors separately for the betterment of their research project.

December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 46

All PhD students in each group worked consistently and intensively in order to build capacity and create a voice in science education research, and to establish connections with the international research community. This part of the summer school was a very rewarding experience for everyone.

In my case, I am happy that I learned about my research project’s strengths and weaknesses that I need to address from an international perspective.

This is very useful for me to effectively polish my research before final submission. I was also informed of the future directions and additional works that I need to undertake to make a significant contribution to the field.

It was truly a great experience to interact with other PhD students and established researchers from all over Europe and America. I was able to establish friendships and networks with researchers from various countries like Germany, the U.S.A, U.K., Finland, Norway and Sweden.

These keep me abreast with the latest trends in science education research. Moreover, the informal social programs organised by ESERA were really enjoyable and refreshing, suitable for relaxation after an intensive day of academic works. This gave me a chance to meet and chat with other participants from different groups and be educated about the culture of other countries.

As part of the social programs, I visited some of the Czech Republic’s historic and picturesque places like Cesky Krumlov, Otakas II Square with Samson Fountain, Piarist Square, Black Tower and St Nicholas Cathedral. These places were really amazing!

Because the ESERA summer school was very multicultural, I became more open to learning and understanding the research culture of various institutions around the world, which gave me a wide perspective on doing educational research.

This introduced me to the challenges of 21st century science education and the possible research approaches to address these challenges.

I am very satisfied with my attendance at the ESERA summer school. It was a one-of-a-kind PhD experience for me.

The Melbourne Graduate National Student Leadership Forum The National Student Leadership Forum, held in Canberra over the course of four days, is a program designed by the Members and Senators of the Australian Federal Parliament to “inspire and equip young people to become servant leaders.”

Abby Chen Abby Chen, past Treasurer of The Graduate House Student Group, Communications Officer in the Law School Student Society and past Treasurer of the Melbourne-China Law Society was sponsored by The Graduate Union to attend the NSLF. She left with positive reviews of the program, stating that it was a “mind-blowing experience.”

“Because I am from overseas, I really wanted to know what the best Australian students at my age think, where they are going to put themselves in society, what their dreams are, and what their concerns are,” she said of her motivations to attend.

One particular experience left Miss Chen enthused about helping people in the future. This involved her participating in some community service, undertaking gardening for an elderly lady who was living alone.

She recalled that the lady’s opinion of people changed the moment their hard work ended.

“She literally said to us that ‘Before this I didn’t think that nowadays there are still people willing to help each other for nothing in return’. I was so surprised, and also very grateful for this opportunity to be able to influence other people and make them believe in human kindness again.” “I really want to help people.

I really want to look for any chance now, to help people, it was a really lifechanging event for me.”

For Chen, the Forum’s focus on creating small, tight-knit groups was one of the greatest assets of the program. The connections established

and personal experiences led to a journey of selfdiscovery for Abby. The post-NSLF experience has been about finding new motivation to help people and to voice out opinions, despite how small she believed she was in the community.

Abby also made some professional connections including with a fellow law student who came from a similar background and they hope to start up a business together in the future. “We found that we have a lot in common. We both saw some business opportunities. Some ideas and opinions that we had thought were uniquely held by ourselves were actually, as we found through our communication, shared.” The exposure and opportunity to interact with other students and future leaders, allowed Abby to exercise her networking skills, but, most importantly to change her perspective on social good and what we can do to achieve it.

“No matter how small you think yourself in the community, you should voice out. Before this opportunity, I really treated myself as a normal student doing things well. I didn’t think that broadly about how do I help the community, can I help others. I’ve really realised how strong we actually can be.” “I’m very excited that Graduate House supported this opportunity for me. It was a fantastic experience, and all of the speakers, from Deng Adut to the Prime Minister and Opposition leader, were utterly inspiring.”

Callum McNair and Abby Chen at the 2016 NSLF in Canberra.

Callum McNair Anticipation, Airborne, Arrival.

Wednesday, 31st August, 2016 Today, a journey of a couple of months in the making takes off. QF 618 Adelaide to Melbourne, had a Graduate House Member who, when flying through the clouds was smiling contemplating, he couldn’t wait for the adventure ahead; he was attending the National Student Leadership Forum in Canberra. Like the never-ending clouds he saw out of the window, the possibilities and opportunities at the Forum were endless. I was fortunate to be one of two Graduate House Members to be attending this prestigious forum. After a brief layover in Melbourne airport, I was off again to Canberra.

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The Melbourne Graduate National Student Leadership Forum Thud as the wheels of the plane landed and as the reverse thrusts slow down the plane, reality sets in, I was in Canberra. It was real. An efficient check-in (at the Park Hyatt), a quick bite to eat and off to bed. Tomorrow the adventure begins.

A sea of faces. Opportunities endless.

Thursday, 1st September 2016 I was well rested and ready to go. Once registered, I met some new friendly and nervous faces, but I was soon put into my small group. Group 13, some may say it is an unlucky number, but what ensued shows that it was far from that. I met my group, comprising of six delegates (Ana, Emily, Sam, Sophie, Tim and myself), our small-group facilitator (Linton) and our assistant small-group facilitator (Maddie).

After breakfast, we boarded a bus to Parliament House. We were introduced to the Forum and the five elements of leadership (skills, talent, character, values and faith) by Dr Stuart Bade, who defined leadership as ‘the legitimate use of power to achieve outcomes on behalf of other people.’ An inspiring definition.

We then heard from two Members of Parliament (MPs) who are also very good friends, The Hon. Scott Morrison MP (Treasurer) and The Hon Jason Clare MP (Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment). Both spoke about what leadership meant to them and how it is possible for two Members of Parliament with different political ideologies to not only work together but to travel together (they trekked the Kokoda).

As impressive as it was to hear from these two politicians, I was more impressed to hear from a man I very much respect, the Prime Minster, the Hon Malcom Turnbull MP who spoke candidly about how he defines leadership through love, be it for his community (in this case Australia) or for his family and that he centres his leadership around this.

The next speaker, Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten MP spoke about what drives him and how he centres his leadership around this. I found that the Opposition Leader spoke in a more political sense possibly trying to persuade potential voters, whereas the Prime Minister spoke more about his own feelings and emotions.

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At dinner, Mrs Geraldine Doogue AO, spoke about the role of the media in leadership and emphasised how you can learn from your mistakes. We returned to the Hyatt after dinner where I met my roommate, and our small group reconvened for our first formal small group discussion. During these discussions, each Member of the group, including the assistant small group facilitator, shared their story. We were encouraged to be candid, open, honest and nonjudgemental; here was an opportunity to selfreflect. Of course what we learnt about each other and ourselves remained within the group and is confidential.

Awash of names. Awash of energy.

Friday, 2nd September 2016.

Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial, started the day by telling us what leadership means for Members of the Armed Forces; he told stories of heroism and sadness, in an incredibly moving speech. The bagpipes played as we walked around the Memorial and passed row upon row of names of Australian service personnel who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

We then travelled to Parliament House where we heard from Senator David Fawcett (Senator for South Australia) and Anthony Byrne MP (Member for Holt). They spoke about the challenges which the media imposes on politics and politicians.

Both also spoke about their values and their faith which resulted in them wanting to become involved in politics.

At a group discussion later, I shared my story. For me this was an interesting experience as it forced me to reflect on what was important to me and what my faith and values were.

A shortened Sports Festival followed in which each small group competed in volleyball games.

Now I must emphasise that it absolutely bucketed down with rain for the whole festival. On the plus side, it was a lot of fun and any delegate who had forgotten to shower the previous day was now clean (well very wet at least). With one win and two losses in the Festival, a shower and clean clothes, it was time for another small group discussion.

We then listened to a talk given by Mr Deng Adut

The Melbourne Graduate National Student Leadership Forum

2016 NSW Australian of The Year, Mr Deng Adut

(Ed: Deng Adut was snatched from his family and forced to fight as a soldier in Sudan in NorthEastern Africa, and later arrived as a refugee in Australia in 1998. Today he is a respected criminal lawyer, and received the 2016 New South Wales (NSW) Australian of The Year award.

Mr Adut is a true inspiration who showed courage and the ability to forgive those who tortured and brainwashed him. It was humbling. It was amazing to listen to the struggles he faced and his strength in overcoming them was moving and motivating.

Here. There. And around.

Saturday, 3rd September 2016.

A broken back was the first topic of discussion, the broken back of NSW Premier Michael Baird, who was meant to be speaking but was unavailable.

In his place we heard from the former Managing Director of Pickles Auctions, Mr Tim Pickles, who spoke about the challenges of leading in business and the impacts it can have on your home-life and family. Small group discussion and Community Seminars followed. There were choices of five seminars; I chose the Business Panel and a talk

by Jordan O’Reilly which I found fascinating, especially the work of Dr David Cooke, Chair and Managing Director of Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia and of Mr Joseph Assaf, Founder of Ethnic Business Awards.

Both discussed various cultural challenges that they as leaders faced and how their life experiences, from education to upbringing, provided solutions to the problems they faced.

I heard from Jordan O’Reilly who discussed what it was like growing up with a brother who is severely disabled and how he cared for his brother after his father passed away at an early age. Mr O’Reilly also discussed his charity, Fighting Chance Australia and his start-up company Hireup.

Through his personal experience of assisting his brother, he knew changes must be made to improve the lives of people living with disabilities; he wanted to make a difference so he created a charity as well as starting a business.

In the afternoon all the delegates went to the outer suburbs of Canberra and helped out in the community. My group cleaned up a backyard for a single father; it was really enjoyable to give back to the community and to do some hands-on work.

(And I quite like gardening and tidying).

At free time, I went for a walk by Lake BurleyGriffin. We then had a small group discussion and prepared for the barn dance. Those who know me would also know my dancing (lack of!) abilities.

The barn dance was a lot of fun; however I wish to state I will not be dropping my Masters of Law to become a professional barn dancer (I was the person who turned right when everyone else turned left).

Deeper understanding. Deeper knowledge.

Departure - Sunday, 4th September 2016.

On this day, being Father’s Day, a special breakfast mention was made to all fathers who had given up their time to assist in the Forum. Karen Stephens, Director of the NSLF, spoke about what the Forum means for all of us in the long-term and how we should all aim to reflect on the Forum two, six and twelve weeks after the forum finishes.

We had our final group discussion and de-brief where we discussed what we had learnt and what we valued about each other. I was touched to learn that my small group facilitator Linton thought that I was humble. After our de-briefing we all said our goodbyes and then it was off to the airport. I was tired but I knew I had learned a lot about leaders and myself. I am delighted and felt honoured and privileged that Dr Kerry Bennett and Graduate House nominated and sponsored me to attend the National Student Leadership Forum.

The Forum was an opportunity for me to reflect on my leadership abilities. I learnt a lot about myself.

I am a lawyer and I deal in facts and this Forum certainly made me step outside my comfort zone.

I encourage all Graduate House Members to apply to attend this Forum in 2017.

Thank you so much for sending me to the NSLF. It has been an incredible experience. I greatly appreciate the support. - Callum McNair December 2016 Volume 68 No. 2 Page 49

The Melbourne Graduate Acknowledgement of Patronage We thank our Organisation Members for their continued patronage.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION

TRINITY COLLEGE

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The Melbourne Graduate Acknowledgement of Patronage

AUSTRALIAN ASIAN ASSOCIATION

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The Melbourne Graduate

Australian Business Number: 55610664963 Incorporated Association Registration Number: A0023234B 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia Telephone: +61 (0)3 9347 3428 Facsimile: +61 (0)3 9347 9981 www.graduatehouse.com.au admingh@graduatehouse.com.au

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