The Graduate Union Newsletter - December
2015
Welcome to the December 2015 Newsletter This Issue:
3 4 6
GU Festive Season Products
10
November Monthly Luncheon Review
28
At Graduate House We Remember The Fallen
Coming Events
End of Year Function Menus Chairman’s Cocktail Party
LIVE
LEARN MEET
Member’s Christmas Party
Tools For The Good Life Women’s Forum Review
17 22
How To Build Your Career Resident News University Sector News Puzzles Get To Know The Doughnut Discovering Melbourne Academic and Professional Development Meetings
Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year
is our message to Members and all other graduates as well as the inscription inside the elegant Graduate House cards now available for purchase in ribbon-wrapped packs of five (5) for $10 and of ten (10) for $19 from reception at 220 Leicester Street, Carlton. Postage charges apply for packs sent in the post. Blank Cards are also available.
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Christmas Gifts Purchase our GU festive products in Christmas Gift Boxes or individually Select from the following sets of Christmas Gift Boxes
Package 1:
$ 60
3 Fruit Chutneys 3 Jams (your choice) 1 GU Tie 1 GU Pen
Package 2:
$ 80
Package 3:
1 Fruit Chutney 1 Jam (your choice) 1 Polo Shirt 1 Winter Scarf 1 GU Keep Sake cup
$ 100
1 Fruit Chutney 1 Jam (your choice) 1 Merino Jumper 1 set(3) Shopping bags
or Customise your Christmas Gift boxes
Christmas Gift Box 1: $65 (Choose any 4 items) 1 Fruit Chutney 1 Jam (your choice) 1 GU Tie 1 GU Pen 1 Sports Cap 1 Metal Handbag Holder
Christmas Gift Box 2: $70 (Choose any 3 items)
Christmas Gift Box 3: $90 (Choose any 4 items)
1 Fruit Chutney 2 Jams (your choice) 1 Polo Shirt 1 GU Tie
3 Fruit Chutneys 3 Jams (your choice) 1 Winter Scarf 1 GU Tie 1 GU Keepsake cup 1 GU Key Ring 1 set (3) Shopping bags
Or Purchase individual items Fruit Chutney 500ml
$7.50
Blueberry Jam 350ml
$5.50
Middle Eastern Dates Jam 350ml
$5.50
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Coming events We invite you, Members and non-members, to attend.
November Our GU Silk Scarves are here. Measuring 200cm by 30cm, they come in two designs with the angel GU Logo print and are available at $35 each.
BRIDGE NIGHT
Wednesday
25/11/2015 Jo i n a g a m e o r l e a r n t o play the card game Bridge. Enjoy a shared platter for s u p p e r, a s w e l l a s t e a a n d coffee.
Silk Scarf Beach to Sea
7:20pm for 7.30pm Members
$2
No n - m e m b e r s
$5
Silk Scarf Our Land
December I TA L IA N C O N V E R S AT I O N DINNER
BRIDGE NIGHT
C HA I R M A N ’ S C O C K TA I L PA RT Y
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
1, 15/12/2015
2, 9, 16/12/2015
4/12/2015
Come along to dine while l e a r n i n g t o s p e a k It a l i a n with an experienced t e a c h e r.
Jo i n a g a m e o r l e a r n t o play the card game Bridge. Enjoy a shared platter for s u p p e r, a s w e l l a s t e a a n d coffee.
The Chairman of Council i nv i t e s all Me m b e r s to celebrate another w o n d e r f u l y e a r.
6:00pm
7:20pm for 7.30pm
5:30pm to 7:00pm
Members
$15
Members
$2
No n - m e m b e r s
$20
No n - m e m b e r s
$5
FREE for Members. By invitation only for non-members.
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Book now via our website, by phone 03 9347 3428, through email to admingh@graduatehouse.com.au or at the venue, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton. S P E C IA L M O R N I N G B R E A K FA S T
M E M B E R S’ C H R I S T M A S PA RT Y
WO M E N ’ S F O RU M
Tuesday
Friday
Wednesday
8/12/2015
11/12/2015
16/12/2015
No n - r e s i d e n t Me m b e r s are welcome to join R e s i d e n t Me m b e r s f o r a hearty breakfast.
Jo i n Me m b e r s a n d t h e i r guests for a traditional C h r i s t m a s d i n n e r. Mo r e details on page 9.
Come join the ladies for their end-of-year session of laughter and c o nv e r s a t i o n . S t a y f o r lunch if desired.
7:30am to 8:30am
6:30pm for 7:00pm
10:00am for 10:30am
No n - r e s i d e n t Members
$15
Resident Members
FREE
No n - r e s i d e n t Members No n - m e m b e r Concession No n - m e m b e r o t h e r
$48.50
Forum is free. Lunch is at dining room prices.
$52.50 $58.50
T h e G r a d u a t e Un i o n c l o s e s f o r t h e f e s t i v e s e a s o n o n t h e 1 8 t h o f D e c e m b e r, 2 0 1 5 , a n d r e - o p e n s o n t h e 4 t h o f Ja n u a r y, 2 0 1 6 .
O u r s i s a c o n t r i b u t i n g a n d g e n e r o u s m e m b e r s h i p. Thank you to all who have participated, advocated, supported and felt a part of our unique international collegium of graduates. We w i s h y o u a h a p p y f e s t i v e s e a s o n a n d a s a f e and prosperous 2016.
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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End of Year Function Menus Set Menu For Lunch or Dinner
Traditional Christmas Menu Two course - $48.50 per person or Three course - $58.50 per person (includes Canapés on arrival)
Entrée
Fresh Seafood Platter of Oysters, Prawns and Smoked Salmon with Cocktail Sauce and a Grilled Mediterranean Vegetarian Platter
Main Course
Seasoned Turkey Breast with Apricot and Macadamia Stuffing, served with Gravy or Maple Orange Salmon served on Sweet Potato Puree with Mango Salsa
Dessert
Plum Pudding with Custard and Brandy Sauce or House-made Profiteroles with a rich Chocolate Sauce and fresh Strawberries Fresh Fruit Platter at additional cost of $35.00 per platter
Minimum 15 guests Available from 2nd November till 17th December 2015
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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End of Year Function Menus
Christmas Summer BBQ $43.50 per person (in the Graduate House Courtyard)
Main Course Lamb Loin Chops, Rump Steaks, Gourmet Sausages, Tandoori Chicken, Onions, Vegetarian Burgers and a selection of summery Salads
Seafood-Prawn Kebabs and Oysters Natural are available for $8.50 extra per person
Dessert Pavlova, Fruit Salad and Ice-cream
Minimum 15 guests Available from 2nd November till 17th December 2015
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Mr RhysWatson Chair of the Graduate Council invites members to the
Chairman's Cocktail Party Graduate House, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053 Friday, 4th December, 2015 5.30pm to 7.00pm Dress: After five
R.S.V.P Wednesday, 2nd December, 2015 tel (03) 9347 3428 or email admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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MeMbers' ChristMas Party Friday, 11th December, 2015
6.00pm for 6.30pm
with traditional carols and a visit from Santa! Entrée Fresh Seafood Platter of Oysters, Prawns and Smoked Salmon with Cocktail Sauce and a Grilled Mediterranean Vegetarian Platter Main Course Seasoned Turkey Breast with Apricot and Macadamia Stuffing, served with Gravy or Maple Orange Salmon served on Sweet Potato Puree with Mango Salsa Dessert Plum Pudding with Custard and Brandy Sauce or House-made Profiteroles with a rich Chocolate Sauce and fresh Strawberries $48.50 non-resident members free for resident members
$58.50 non-member other $52.50 non-member concession
Book by Monday, 30th November 2015 via our website, by telephoning 03 9347 3428 or by emailing admingh@graduatehouse.com.au ABN 5561066496
IAR No. A0023234B
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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November Monthly Luncheon Review Wednesday, 11th November 2015 U is for University, Unity, Uniform, Unity and Us “We spent 10 days hiking those cliffs, we learned the harsh realities of the terrain, covered in bruises and pierced skin from taking a fall down a rubble, dusty path, the smell of thyme beneath our feet I had welcomed until I learned it had been planted to cover the rotting flesh. One misplaced foot on these steep cliffs and there would be a great distance to the ground. My full attention turned to my next step, how could they have done this under gunfire? How could they have done this carrying 20kg packs? This heavy sinking feeling phased not only myself but many of the students who I travelled with. Unlike me, some felt strong connections and knew the stories of their great grandfathers and families. At Lonepine memorial I struggled to comprehend the volume of names remembered. Those without graves it is easier to walk by them and not know their stories. I touched a name on the wall and said a prayer just in case his loved ones had never had the opportunity I had to visit them. I am a 21 year old girl. A pacifist. I had always believed that war was bad and not to be glorified, but here we commemorate the fallen. Turks, ANZACS, women, men, anyone. We are united by the memory of their sacrifice at this scared place. And I suggest that united is the most lasting memory of all.” – Monash student who visited Gallipoli in April 2015 On the one hand Bob’s talk was about the need to increase awareness and understanding of Australia’s involvement with war, of those who served for Australia, and those who lost their lives for Australia. Although they represent a time that is very different from our own, a reality that most of us may never experience, we are still connected to them. So dig a little deeper, and Bob’s talk was about our connection to those individuals who served. They walked where we walk, lived where we live, worked where we work, but felt what we may never feel – a certain fear that can only come with fighting for your country, but also a certain inextinguishable honour that only comes with fighting for your country - and so we commemorate them.
Our November Monthly Luncheon was held November 11th, Remembrance Day. For this important occasion, our address was by Brigadier Bob Slater, a returned serviceman who served for 36 years in various capacities throughout Australia and overseas in the Australian Army, retiring as a brigadier. Mr. Slater is also a Life Member of Graduate House.
At the time, universities were greatly involved with the war, students from various faculties enlisting and being conscripted. But today is there an effort made to commemorate university contributions to the war effort? This is also what Bob’s talk aimed to explore – how to best engage universities in such a commemoration, bearing in mind, explained Bob, that not everyone in the university can commemorate such a thing as war, so it is therefore essential to be commemorated in a way that can appeal to everybody. Today there are marches and much ceremony around memorials and cenotaphs commemorating those who served and especially those who died giving that service, explained Bob. In many ways memorials or cenotaphs have become the focus to the community collectively, and ordinary individuals who served and died
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are remembered individually mainly by their families. And in so many ways over the years, commemoration of November 11th has been about the war, about events, and collectively about people, but it hasn’t always been about individuals. And as the centenary commemoration of WW1 comes closer, 11th November will become more significant than ever in Australia and we all become better acquainted with the bloody battles as their centenaries are reached, and we will all inevitably become more focused on the many sacrifices Australians made. School communities are now also showing their interest by researching the extent of their own community’s involvement. In fact, all over, sections of the community have shown interest in reflecting and exploring their own community’s contribution, and their effects on others and every individual. One way that they do this is by personalising the names on local honour roll boards, and war memorials, firstly by checking their service records and enlistment addresses, and then exploring wider aspects of their lives to discover who these people really. They were not just soldiers, in fact, they were regular, everyday Australians, just like you and me who took a leap of faith, whether they chose to or were required to fulfil their national duty. Bob was selected to speak at a local primary school regarding war time, and saw it as a prime opportunity to share with the students what connection it is that we share with the lives of the fallen. He picked names from the Honour board, conducted some research by looking at service records, and shared information such as a building that had been built in 1878 which in fact would have been the building that those young men would have gone to primary school in. He also explained the significance of the Dawn service, the meaning of the march and more, in an effort to connect the lives of these young children with the soldiers, somewhat personalising the concept for them. Universities are such communities with a special richness because they provided highly skilled leaders and specialists during WW1 and of course since, explained Bob. It is worth reflecting contribution the University of Melbourne could make to this period of commemoration leading up to the centenary of WW1. Bob then took us through the following universities that had a prominent involvement with the war. It is important to note that these were the universities that existed before the First
World War. •
University of Sydney
•
University of Melbourne
•
University of Adelaide
•
University of Tasmania
•
University of Queensland
•
University of Western Australia
Bob started with The University of Sydney, where through his research he found that 2,037 students fought. Of those, 230 did not return home. Of those there were 560 medical officers, of whom 23 died. October 29th 1919, the university held a garden party to honour the returned servicemen and all eligible members of the university union were made life members of the union, simply because they served. According to historian C W Bean, Bob discussed, there was a Brigadier General Williams Holmes, who considered his militia trained officers as either too old, or lacking the leadership qualities. His solution was to replace with university graduates. This is where the universities played a big part: The Melbourne University Rifles, which then became Melbourne University Regiment, was very much designed to train citizen soldiers to become officers. It was the university graduates who were more likely to become the officers in the militia. The University of Adelaide saw 14 staff and almost 500 students and graduates in war. In 1916 when information was filtering back, the registrar wrote to all families enquiring how they were faring and received huge responses showing they were spread across all battlefields. Then to be sure that South Australians knew why sacrifices were being made, Professors all got together and travelled throughout metropolitan and rural areas to explain what was at stake. They reassured what family members were doing in France was for the good of the country. Doctors for the frontline Treating the wounded became a major challenge for the allied forces, as the terrible injury toll mounted. In Australia we didn’t realise that there was shellshock and there was gas, which were not the sort of things that you’d treat in normal hospitals, so most soldiers went to England for recuperation. In an effort to look after all the returned servicemen that came back to Australia after WW1, Caulfield hospital was
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built but only with 200 beds. The university was called on again, as in the University of Adelaide’s Faculty of Medicine; there was a great response to the urgent call for more doctors (100 were needed) on the frontline by fast tracking the medical degree. Students continued their studies throughout the vacation period so that qualifying exams could be held two months earlier, and teachers in the Faculty of Medicine readily accepted the proposal and continued their lectures during the scheduled breaks. One of the medical students that had their studies accelerated was Clive Britton. Clive died in tragic circumstances. After spending a month in the trenches in France, he caught measles, was sent as an invalid to England but because he was weak, while catching a train, he fell on the tracks and was killed. But because he was really trying to get back into the field, he was still given full military honours. “Those who served the country were looked after,” said Bob. The effort that Adelaide University has now gone to is to identify these soldiers, by detailing what they did. Take for example Rhodes scholar Allan Wilson Morey, a Lieutenant who after recovering from injury due to his aircraft falling mid-air, which as records stated, saw him crippled so much so that he could only walk with the aid of two sticks, continued nonethelessly to fight on. He later died in France when the wing of his aircraft was ripped off. He was only 24 and was later awarded the Military Cross. From The University of Melbourne there were 1,723 past and current students, teaching, administrative and ground staff had enlisted. Of these, 241 were either former students of law, or students that suspended legal studies to enlist. As enrolments to the School of Law were cut in half, students leaving for the armed services, the Law Student’s Society felt the impact of members enlisting, and an ensuing argument over conscription divided the campus. A small number of opponents confronted the overwhelming majority in favour. Dean William Harrison Moore supported conscription, gave public lectures of war time issues, and provided high-level advice to government, explained Bob. Within this muck and mire, of the former law students who had enlisted, one of the most prominent was General Sir John Monash – arguably the most successful general, and the founding father of The Graduate Union. There were many students who dropped out of study and went to war, came back and continued on to have great careers. Harold Pompey Elliot,
a legal student who went to war, was wounded on the day of landing at Gallipoli. He was later promoted to Brigadier-General and commanded an Australian brigade in France. Upon returning to Australia he continued his legal work but he felt inadequately compensated for his dues and committed suicide in 1931. He was 52. 251 former Melbourne University students died in battle or from wounds. The role of dentists In the first three months of the Gallipoli campaign over 600 soldiers were evacuated for dental reasons. They went to the base hospital in Egypt to get dental treatment. It was an inefficient system, and due to the frequent serious health problems, there was a call for dentally trained soldiers. “Apparently in that month before they were evacuated, dentists at Gallipoli performed 180 fillings, 320 extractions, and 60 denture repairs,” said Bob. Gordon Clunes Mathison, known as an excellent medical student completed his science degree and then his Doctor of Science at University College (London). Upon his return to Australia he was to take up the position of sub-director at the clinical pathology labs at Melbourne Hospital, but the call for doctors was made, and Mathison enlisted. A field ambulance captain in the AIF, Mathison was shot in the head and died while at his post in Egypt, May 1915. “The medical faculty was the only faculty to share such information as other faculties must have such information, but have not yet shared it,” said Bob. The connection that is explored by the medical and legal faculties is probably explained by the nexus these faculties have with the military leadership and professional service. What else comes through clearly is the support servicemen in WW1 would have felt from not only their families but also their alma maters and contrast this with how servicemen in Vietnam felt. “When I was in Vietnam I had all these servicemen coming to me because they were getting all these letters and university people who were looking at their grand vision but losing sight of the fact that individuals count. And some of those people really suffered psychologically through that activity,” said Bob. The Graduate Union has strong well known visual ties with WW1 through Sir John Monash being the first President, and Sir William Wallace Stuart Johnston (of the Johnston library) an army medical officer. The ties that we share are clear,
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so what else might the Members of the Graduate Union wish to do to commemorate? Bob shared with us a few thoughts: •
Lead faculties and colleges commemoration activities
in
•
Encourage websites
•
Personalise and immortalise memories of those who served
•
Encourage recognition of those who resided in the university precinct
•
Opportunity for genealogy/history/ sociologist/writer Members to combine in project development
From an aerial view, we can see that University Square almost forms a U shape. Around the square, as we know, there any many people living in the iconic terraces today, and a lot of the people who lived in those terraces around University Square went to the First World War. “The University is not just about the staff and the Graduates, but the university has a precinct, and the precinct almost is a town or a city in itself. And people around here, whether they went to university or not, they were the neighbours, they were part of this community, and maybe once again the university can take a lead in linking up with the community,” said Bob. Here are some of those who lived where we pass through everyday. •
John Fleming, 141 Barry Street (a police constable, lived with his mother, became an artillery man, left November 1916. Returned.)
•
Edward Gordon Holder, 228 Leicester Street (single labourer, lived with his mother, left July 1915. Returned.)
•
John Charles Cherry, 129 Leicester Street (driver with field ambulance, merit service medal. He took great risks to take rations to the troops. Returned.)
•
Stanley Earles Craig, Medical Student (lived in Parkville, 23, hadn’t graduated, joined Aug 27 1914, gave up studies to go overseas, served with field ambulance. Returned in 1915 because he was wounded.)
•
John Gordon, 67 Leicester Street (enlisted at 18, joined singles company and came back in 1918)
•
James Gordon, 67 Leicester Street (also enlisted at 18. He was a yardman before he joined up. Killed July 1916)
“Every one of these people has a story, whether their local, residents, or whether they were students, or whether they were graduates or staff. This idea of immortalising names who served in WW1 could extend to other precincts around the university in recognition of former neighbours,” suggested Bob. He added that since only 723 graduates went, it could indeed be feasible for a university – particularly The University of Melbourne – to make an effort towards remembering them. As Bob explained, “To achieve any result in life, one must first have a champion or champions who are driven by the cause, and have access to necessary approval from the resources.” “In this case the champion has to be The University of Melbourne, or at least an influential element of it and The Graduate Union, which is about people, about people who’ve served and been part of university, or any university, would be a wonderful way to do it,” said Bob. This, explained Bob, is an approach to engage all sections of the university community including those whose leanings are away from recognition of any aspects of war. One definition of left-wing politics includes concern for those in society who are perceived as disadvantaged related to others, and those who served in return or who return in poor shape and their families certainly fit that definition. Whether or not one accepts the concept of war, loss has a universal sentimentality attached to it. We all have lost someone, or will do so. An unfortunate point of life that is painful but inescapable, but through this should come empathy and understanding, that a lost life is a lost life, and those who lose their lives in the hope to save another should be commemorated. And so we unite to commemorate the fallen, “we are united by the memory of their sacrifice at this sacred place. And I suggest that united is the most lasting memory of all.” Over to U. Thank you Bob. Your presentation was inspiring and touching!
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Tools For The Good Life by Francesco Caso, Resident
In many areas of life, an essential strategic insight is to understand that the absence of negatives does not necessarily mean the existence of positives. For example, the absence of debt is not the same as the creation of wealth. The absence of weakness does not mean the existence of stamina. etc. If we have a value of -5 and we restore the minus value, it simply gives us zero. It does not give us +5! This insight is easy enough to understand when we focus on it but it is so often overlooked in its application in life. The same is true when we think of psychological interventions,. We tend to think of interventions designed to overcome negative states like depression, anxiety, insecurity and stress; but overcoming the negative states does not mean an automatic enabling of positive states. As Professor Lea Waters, of Melbourne University’s Centre for Positive Psychology said in her recent Dean’s Lecture: “In a good life, we can aim to go beyond the overcoming of depression and stress and aim towards the enabling of hope, optimism, courage and gratitude. And, this is the aim of positive psychology”. The value of positive interventions is not new and has been well understood since the writings of Marcus Aurelius and K’ung Fu Tzu also known as Confucius. However, in the
past 20 years, in the field of psychology, much research and science has been undertaken to demonstrate the effectiveness of positive psychology, not only in therapy but also in the promotion of wellbeing in life, sport and business. There is a vast amount of study to show how negative emotions harm the body causing illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Chronic anger and anxiety can disrupt cardiac function by changing the heart’s electrical stability, hastening atherosclerosis and increasing systemic inflammation. We now have a wealth of science-based literature to demonstrate the positive benefits of happiness. Happier people are more likely to live longer, to learn faster, be more creative, have healthier bodies and have longer relationships. People who are happier than their stressed-out peers have increased probability of getting a degree, of getting promoted to a better job with higher pay and leadership responsibilities. So what are the tools of positive psychology? The basic toolkit consists of PPIs or Positive Psychological Interventions. PPIs are usually simple but very effective actions, techniques or activities that have been shown to increase positivity (positive affect) in individuals. For example, lab oratory experiments have shown that certain exercises can help develop positive emotions within individuals. PPIs are often short exercises that are to be carried out for fixed time periods. These ‘interventions’
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Tools For The Good Life are essentially changes in routines that provide numerous emotional benefits to the practising individual. A variety of psychological interventions have been developed for facilitating positive emotions, creativity, growth, fulfillment, wellbeing, and other desirable positive consequences for individuals. These positive psychological interventions may be nothing more than minor changes in an individual’s daily routines. So, how are these PPIs different from other self-help exercises? The main difference is that these psychological interventions are designed and tested according to scientific reasoning and research. This does not mean that the same exercises work for everything; the activity and its length can vary from individual to individual. It’s a good idea to try to take a bespoke approach to PPIs. How do I know which PPI is right for me? Scientists have set a five question criteria for determining the right fit of a PPI for each person. Here are the questions used: • • • • •
Does it feel natural? Do you value doing it? Do you enjoy the activity? Would you feel bad if you do not engage in the exercise? Are there any factors that motivate you to do the activity?
At the end of the day, the key aspect to these PPIs is the time invested in the repetition of the PPI. Just like the physical interventions we do at the gym, the more practice the better the results. Here are one of my favourite PPIs … Good Pillow Thoughts. Try never to let the sun go down on negative and bad pillow thoughts. Why? It’s because humans have a negative bias.
not have as much effect on our behaviour. We often recall bad events rather than good ones not because the first are more common than the last (think about it) but because they have a greater effect on our psychological state. Also, we don’t focus on the good events and often we take them for granted, for example simply having a nice meal. As you no doubt have seen, bad events usually make a bigger impact on our brain. That’s why we often remember the bad things about people rather than the good … and for a longer period of time. The brain evolved this way to keep us alive during the highly threatening and dangerous evolutionary process. We needed it to survive. Regrettably, this negative bias plays a role in our everyday lives: work, family, friends, relationships. To live a happy life and flourish we need to switch our attention from negative to positive. PPI #1: Good Pillow Thoughts (instructions): • Write down, or just consciously say to your partner or yourself on your pillow before going to sleep, 3 good things that happened to you today. • Get into the habit of doing this every day. It’s also fun to do. The 3 things can be big or small as long as they are positive. • For example: a nice meal, a stroll in the garden, buying some flowers, receiving a compliment, hugging your child, getting a new client, scoring well in an exam, making a friend happy, losing a kilo, etc. This powerful but simple method was designed by Professor Martin Seligman, the ‘father of positive psychology’. We are grateful to Francesco Caso, Director Positive Business, GradDipPsych(Melb), JD(Nap), Student, Master Applied Positive Psychology, a Member of the Graduate Union, for this article.
This means that even when we experience an equal number of negative and positive thoughts, our brain focuses more on the negative ones and so the positive thoughts may www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Women’s Forum Review Wednesday, 21st October, 2015 “The Flight of the Homeless” The following are salient points discussed at this forum. Accommodation for homeless people is diminishing as high rise public housing in desirable locations is converted to luxury apartments. Rental properties are rapidly becoming beyond the reach of low income people and certainly those with no income already existing on social welfare payments. An increase in the recipients of social welfare in these times of high unemployment combined with others who have managed to “rort” the system means that available resources are stretched beyond the limit. How do we discriminate between the genuinely needy and those who have found an easy way to “lean” on society? People reliant on public housing are sometimes required to re-locate frequently, creating further problems of settling into a new neighbourhood, changes of schools for children, etc. Professional support and the need for a secure routine by mentally and emotionally disturbed people are removed when institutions are closed and clients are relocated to the wider community in the name of personal dignity and independence. There is much media attention at the moment given to the massive refugee problem in Europe with many thousands of people fleeing war zones and seeking safety and security elsewhere. As the numbers increase many countries initially willing to accommodate refugees are now closing their borders, realising that the initial emotional response to provide refuge is unsustainable in the long term. This problem is further complicated by the fact that there are vast cultural and religious differences between Eastern and Western European residents which have the potential to flare up once people become settled in a safe place. There is also the problem of separating those genuinely in need from others simply seeking a more economically promising future. Here in this lucky country of Australia, “girt” by sea we are, at present, far removed from the problems in Europe but we do have the problem of the “hidden homeless”. To broaden the definition of “home” as a place of love, security and acceptance, there are many for whom home is anything but ... it may be a place of domestic violence ... verbal, physical, emotional or sexual. Some young people escape to the streets and seek available social welfare; other less confident ones remain and endure. As with so many problems in any society, appropriate education in practical living skills may be the answer: the skills of developing self-confidence, self reliance, how to deal with disappointment and failure, how to live harmoniously with difference (cultural, educational, religious and sexual preference). These are human traits present in every society and usually absorbed within the context of a stable, loving, supportive family. Unfortunately, in these rapidly changing times where much of a young person’s views on life and how to handle it are formed by social media, the ideal of a stable, supportive family context is rapidly diminishing and there are many who seek alternatives which are anything but helpful and frequently destructive. As those deprived of this ideal of upbringing grow and have families of their own, many do not have the modelling to break the chain and find more constructive ways to live, especially when money is scarce, and selfesteem low.
There is no set topic for the last Forum on 16th December, 2015. Come along and join the friendly ladies and bring along some laughter. The forum is free. Lunch is at Member and non-member prices. www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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How to Build Your Career
Péter Tanács came to Melbourne from Hungary to complete a Master of International Business degree at The University of Melbourne and upon graduation, he needed a job. Thanks to the career strategy advice of Agnes Banyasz, he is now working in a sought after position with the Employment and Enrichment Services Team at the Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne. “I really enjoy it,” said Péter who is one of Agnes Banyasz’s past students. He attributes his employment success as an international student to the career development sessions he participated in with Agnes. “The fact that I was an international student is very important.” he explained. “The circumstances that international students face upon arrival in Australia largely differ from what local students inherit. Unlike locals, international students usually don’t have family connections, networks and friends here that could help them to achieve what they want. So international students first have to make friends and networks as well as develop realistic career expectations. They also have to have a better understanding of the Australian job market and start gaining Australian experiences.” he said. “And this is why it’s even more beneficial to work with someone like Agnes who can help.” Due to these difficulties that Péter faced, he sought professional career advice from
Agnes, who taught him important knowledge pertaining to the individual and career success. Career building is more than just being able to identify the job that you want, as there are many other interpersonal factors to consider also, and this is what the process of working with Agnes is like. “We discussed what I had to do. The very first step that Agnes identified was to increase my self-awareness. We then defined four factors: two internal and two external,” he said. For the external factors, which are usually out of our immediate control, Agnes worked with Péter to discuss his visa situation, which is most pertinent, and then to look at the demand of the Australian job market, and in which industry Péter would likely to find the most success. The internal factors that they focused on were Péter’s experience and expertise. He already had more than six years of experience in his field, but from Hungary – the question of whether or not this experience was applicable here was an issue that needed further exploration. Finally, they looked into Péter’s ideal role and organisation, and the strengths and opportunities that would be available for him. “Strengths and opportunities are what you have to match in order to be successful,” said Péter. “The most important thing that we discussed was whether I have the chance to get into certain areas and industries, and if it turned out that I don’t have those strengths or
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opportunities, to then not waste resources on that,” said Péter. The important insight from Agnes was to not waste resources on career options that aren’t viable – focus your energy somewhere else where there is greater potential for career success. In other words, don’t tire yourself chasing after specific opportunities that have a greater probability for loss. Agnes’s career advice is also quite broad, as she discusses many aspects that may affect a career path, such as life and other personal matters that one would be willing to discuss. “I think that you have to be very open and frank, and disclose a lot of information that you have about yourself and the Australian Labour market, and if you do that then there is a very large chance that you will succeed and will work towards your goals,” advised Péter on
the best attitude to adopt when being mentored by Agnes. What can we expect in a typical session with Agnes? “We assessed and talked through the questions that I had: what was planned for the weeks or months ahead, and she answered the questions that I have planned for her,” said Péter. “She provided me with very good suggestions, recommendations regarding networking, and how I could get the networks that I would need,” he said. “What is important to note is that Agnes doesn’t give you the fish, so to speak, she wants to teach you how to use the fishing net,” he added. This is what Péter most admires, because Agnes gave him the knowledge that he can continue to use in the future, on his own.
Have you shared your story with us yet? Remember any act small or large is still something. Write to us and tell us what you’re doing to make the world a better place.
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Resident News “The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent.” - Alfred Brendel (1931 -) Where are they now?
Title Internship with the MG Corporation (Yawoorroong Miriwoong Gajirrawoong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Aboriginal Corporation), which is an Aboriginal Native Title Body,” said David. “They represent the interests of their local Aboriginal community, in terms of their land rights and native title claims, or cultural heritage issues,” he added. He applied a few months ago, and was offered a placement in Kununurra, Western Australia. “We’ll be in an office environment for most of the time, and going out into the country and community quite a bit as well,” said David.
We recently chatted with Candice Tan, a proactive and collegial Resident from 2014. We asked her a few questions to follow her postGradaute House life journey. Here is Candice’s story: After graduate life, I’m currently trying to get back in it again as I’m applying to PhD programs here in Melbourne. My proposed research area is in media effects and public perceptions. In addition to that, I am expanding my academic editing business to include postgraduate students as well as focusing on some aspects of IELTs exam preparation. I also hope to publish more as a writer as my study time curtailed that somewhat. My highlights from my time at Graduate House include being a part of the Student Group committee and generally enjoying the camaraderie shared among residents and staff. Particular events such as the Graduate House Ball, Mid-Autumn Festival and some fun birthday celebrations stand out as well. Thanks Candice and best of luck with your future plans! Volunteering in Kununurra, Western Australia David Allinson, a resident of Graduate House since November 2014, will embark to rural Western Australia to complete a legal internship to assist with Indigenous issues. “I’m going to be doing an Aurora Native
The internship provides him with an opportunity to put his legal training into action over the summer break. The work he will be required to do will be broad, but will also assist with issues to do with land law, and negotiating land use agreements with mining corporations, amongst other things. He has worked in an area like this previously, serving as a Policy Officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services in Queensland. He then commenced his law degree at The University of Melbourne to receive training to improve his work generally in public administration. “Working for a Native Title Corporation is something that I’d very much like to do in the future, and I hope that this will be really valuable experience,” said David. “The Aurora Internship Program that facilitated this is very well respected and I hope that it will give me the skills and experience that will stand me in a good stead in the future.” David will also be sending us updates throughout his time in Western Australia so we can follow his journey! Best of luck, David.
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University Sector News Innovation
Any Other Name
Every month my primary school would have an assembly to give awards to the achievers of the month. Those who were awarded the small yellow certificates signed by the principal would run straight to their parents after school, their grins essentially indestructible. The student assigned to read the names on the certificates would do so effortlessly, and one by one students trotted out to the front of the stage. Then, he paused. The auditorium paused. “Staff-a...Stepha...Stefatina?” The only Stefatina in the school got up, looked at the certificate and shook her head. It wasn’t hers. I knew exactly who that certificate belonged to but I sat quietly waiting in the hope that they would eventually pronounce the nine letters in the name with ease. In a recent study by Laham et al, it was found that in general those with easy to pronounce names have things a bit easier. In the five studies conducted it was found that compared to those with difficult to pronounce names, people with simpler names are judged more positively, tend to be hired and promoted more, receive more positive impressions and even occupy a higher status in law firms. Names shape thought more than we may consider. In 2009, a study by Coffey and McLaughlin tested the Portia Hypothesis – that females with masculine sounding names were more likely to become judges simply because of a certain androgynous character of their names. Named after Portia, from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, who disguised herself as a man in order to attend legal proceedings, the researchers found women with more masculine
sounding names, or names that are unisex, fare better than females with typical feminine names. However, their data did not show whether the overrepresentation of males played a role in skewing the results. It was Wolfgang Köhler who showed us that words tend to share other ideas beyond their meaning. He tested people with two words Malumas and taketes asking them to correspond each to a shape. Naturally people related malumas with a rounded shape, and taketes with the jagged shape. Maluma is a rounded sound, taketes more jagged. Apply this kind of rationale to names and people, and some very interesting ideas can be formed. The simpler something is to pronounce, the easier it is to understand, or so we may feel. Back to the assembly, where I was drowning in embarrassment of my difficult to pronounce name, the student at the front was still struggling himself. Eventually the teacher had to come up and assist him, where he finally said, with some of his own muffled embarrassment, Stamatina. Stewing, I reluctantly got up to get my certificate, aware of the sniggers in the background. The award may have been mine, but so was a longstanding battle of having to repeat myself when meeting someone new, or having to correct people when they read out my name. But such is life, and life was not meant to be easy, so we march on, with too many vowels and awkward mixes of consonants to fight the good fight. https://ppw.kuleuven.be/okp/_pdf/ Laham2012TNPEW.pdf
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University Sector News
Stories that may be of interest to our Members
Words, a Future
In our November issue we listed words that are now obsolete, permanently eradicated from the modern day lexical pool.
Blood will tell You cannot conceal family characteristics.
This month it only seemed somewhat fitting to have a list of words that have recently been accepted in to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
To tell the bees To tell the masses of important information. From the English customer, telling of the bees in which bees were told of the important events of their keeper’s live.
Hoverboard, n From the Back to The Future trilogy, we first saw the Hoverboard 21st October 2015 in Hill Valley, California. A skateboard that, well, hovers. Athame, n A double-edged knife, typically having a black handle, used for ritual purposes in Wicca and other neopagan movements.
To hole below the waterline To be badly damaged. For more of the OED’s newest entries visit, http:// public.oed.com/the-oed-today/recent-updates-tothe-oed/september-2015-update/new-words-listseptember-2015/
Waterbuck, n An antelope found in Africa. Student radical A student that embodies radical political thought and activism. Student uprising A student or students who take matters into their own hands through protests or other measures. Student-at-law A law student who is undergoing legal training at a firm. www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Puzzles Mind benders for our Members
Sudoku Sudoku is an 81 square grid comprising of nine square blocks, each with nine cells. To complete this puzzle, all blank cells must be filled with a number between and including 1 and 9. Each number can only appear once in each nine celled block, row and column.
Last edition’s results
Kakuro Use the numbers 1 to 9 to fill the empty cells so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the clue on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on top. Each number can only be used once per row/column.
Last edition’s results Please note that there might be more answer combinations possible.
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Cryptic Crossword
Across 1. Follower putting record on new pile (8) 6. Dine in The Athenaeum (3) 9. Fibre from old ropes - or wood - universal material’s origin (5) 10. A symbol of authority must involve respect (7) 11. Attempt to get placed in field event (4,3) 13. Woman’s mealtime prayer (5) 14. Chaperone expected girl back (6) 15. Start to show to advantage (3,3) 18. Alter dance again? (5) 20. Fir cone might come from this sort of tree (7) 21. Two beastly males providing stiff fabric (7) 22. A board game for you and your mates? (5) 23. Affirmative start to yesterday (3) 24. Building material for start of construction on Greek island (8)
Down 2. Tedious smoker I put out (7) 3. Coat turning up in river (3) 4. See Pat exchanging foreign currency (6) 5. Holly, perhaps, always caring for the environment (9) 6. Out of context, rather more (5) 7. Trees oft hewn in Hants? (3,3,6) 8. Have boys in cradle changed much? (12) 12. Eulogy upsetting gay prince (9) 16. Unconventional - like retired policeman? (7) 17. Man with cue, getting break, displays keen perception (6) 19. Devices for lifting cards? (5) 22. Vehicle beginning to cross a river (3)
Last edition’s results Across: 7. Lubrication 8. Lavish 9. Hatred 10. Settle 12. Indeed 13. Rum 14. Stalls 16. Petite 18. Tartan 20. Sirius 22. Countenance
Down: 1. Alma 2. Oboist 3. Lighters 4. Wash 5. Gifted 6. Interest 11. Entrance 12. Imposing 15. Litmus 17. Throne 19. Note 21. Used
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Get To Know The Doughnut: A Tool For Understanding Sustainable Development How do we deal with the needs of people and planet at the same time? How can we hold all that complexity — reflected in the 17 Goals — in our minds? Here is one way: with a Doughnut. Most people know the “doughnut” as a tasty snack. But increasingly, the word “doughnut” means something else: a visual model for thinking about how we must integrate the ecological limits of planet Earth, with the social and economic needs of the planet’s human inhabitants. It starts with the idea of “planetary boundaries” — the notion that there really are hard, physical limits to what humans can do on planet Earth, without radically messing things up for our civilization and for the rest of life. A large group of prominent researchers figured out, back in 2009, that these limits were both real and measurable. They published a breakthrough article, in the leading science journal Nature, that showed more or less exactly how far humans had pushed nature over the line in three key areas: climate change, the extinction of species, and spreading fertilizers into ecosystems in the process we call “eutrophication.” (Think, among other things, yucky algae blooms and dead zones in the sea.) There are six other areas where we are definitely at risk for going over the line, ranging from how we use land and water to the chemicals we dump into nature. In order to keep the environment in a condition that can actually sustain life, they said, we need to stay “under the line” and in a the “safe zone” for humanity. Then along came former Oxfam researcher Kate Raworth. That’s all fine, she noted, but what about people’s needs? Yes there is a ceiling, a limit that we should not breach, when it comes to growing our presence on the Earth. But there is also a floor: a minimum amount of economic sufficiency and social fairness, which every human being deserves. Thus was born the “Doughnut”: a representation that combines the notion of staying underneath Nature’s ceiling of tolerance, but above the floor of a decent living and fairness for all human beings. Sustainable development, says the Doughnut, is about aiming for the “sweet spot” that is in between those boundaries. But what does the Doughnut really mean? And how can you actually use it (since you can’t eat it)? The 17 Goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda are, in many ways, another way of describing the Doughnut. There, in the SDGs, are the environmental boundaries of the Planet — climate, pollution, waste, habitat for life — but also the many dimensions of an economically sane, socially healthy, humanly desirable life. And with the Doughnut, it’s all in one picture, together with the notion that there is a kind of “optimal space” towards which we should be aiming. The Doughnut provides us with a kind of “overall goal” or destination: the ring of the Doughnut itself. If we can arrive there, the indicators would show us happily living in harmony with the Earth … and with each other. Explaining this “big picture” is often no easy task. And while there are many other ways to do that explanation, the Doughnut is a particularly good one. So, if you are a teacher or trainer or someone whose job involves making decisions that could affect, well, any of the SDGs, consider the Doughnut. Introduce it to others. Show them how we need to make decisions that pull back on those things that are frankly destroying the natural world (on which we absolutely depend) … while pushing forward on those topics where not everyone has enough. Granted, the Doughnut is not a very simple picture … but it helps make the complexity of our world, and the 17 Goals challenge, a whole lot easier to take in. And to digest. The website www.doughnuteconomics.org links you to Kate Raworth’s personal blog, where you can learn a lot more about this framework. For more on the original “planetary boundaries” concept, on which the Doughnut was built — and which has its own life as a crucial tool for understanding the physical limits of our planet — visit this web page at the Stockholm Resilience Center. This article was first published on 17Goals, a Graduate House Content Partner, October 15, 2015. It has been republished with explicit consent. www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Discovering Melbourne We present to you some picks of Melbourne’s great destinations and events. Whether on land, or on sea, whether inquisitive or culinary, Melbourne’s unique cultural environment will have something for anyone with any interests.
Adventure Sails
Question Time The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne
Boatman’s Landing, Docklands Why not book a 40ft luxury catamaran? Experience life at sea with on-board gourmet catering, spacious saloons, lounges, rollicking entertainment and other luxuries. Sail the seas and experience the allure of the nautical. It’s question time at the Wheeler Centre, where no question is too small, or too insignificant. Mimicking the question time we’re all familiar with, but focusing on a range of topics relevant to us.
Lûmé South Melbourne
Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei National Gallery of Victoria
Boasting one of Melbourne’s most sensory degustation experience, the folks at Lume have introduced a no-menu approach to food. Trust them with your taste buds or opt for the fine a la carte menu. Whatever the case may be, you will be in for a treat.
A pioneer in the popart movement, Andy Warhol’s legacy continues to this day, more than 40 years after his death. He was renowned for his social commentary and widely encompassing creative bent. Activist and artist Ai Weiwei is leaving a similar legacy behind today with his evocative works. In this landmark exhibition the two artists come together to showcase art at its finest. If you have any recommendations for places or events of interest for our Members, please email us at publications@graduatehouse.com.au
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Academic and Professional Development Meetings Thank you for your patronage The following groups from The University of Melbourne have convened meetings, workshops and seminars at Graduate House Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning
Department of Finance Lunch
28th October 30 attendees
16th, 23rd, 30th October 15 attendees
Department of Infrastructure Engineering Staff Meeting, Prof Geert Dewulf with PhD students
Facilities & Sustainability Team Workshop
6th, 21st October 47 attendees
5th, 15th October 35 attendees
Faculty of Arts Planning Day 2015
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Services Physiotherapy, MDHS Finance Staff Conference
20th October 27 attendees
19th , 27th October 42 attendees
Health Economics, Centre for Health Policy Workshop
Melbourne University Car Club Inc 60th Birthday Celebration
9th October 21 attendees
21st October 40 attendees
University Services University of Melbourne Kanban Training
UoM Commercial Ltd Study Design in Clinical Research
8th, 14th, 15th, 22nd, 23rd October 101 attendees
19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd October 40 attendees
The patronage of organisation Members in charitable, not-for-profit, government and professional development sectors is acknowledged, as is that of our many Members who organise functions.
We look forward to welcoming you again soon. Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law Inc (ANZAPPL)
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
5th October 20 attendees
1st October 30 attendees
Australian Asian Association (AAA)
Australian Film Base (AFB)
5th, 12th October 66 attendees
6th, 13th, 27th October 45 attendees
Australian Market & Social Research Society (AMSRS)
Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM)
20th October 20 attendees
7th, 9th, 27th October 41 attendees
Bob Slater - Duntroon Society Luncheon
Carlton Connect UoM & DEDJTR Roundtable
15th October 19 attendees
30th October 20 attendees
Clean Air & Urban Landscapes Hub
CRC for Spatial Information
28th, 29th October 105 attendees
8th October 15 attendees
Graduates in Early Childhood (AGECS)
Human Resourses - Melbourne Early Career Development Program
5th October 10 attendees
9th October 25 attendees
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Academic and Professional Development Meetings
SLAVERY LINKS
International Coach Federation
McCaughey Centre
15th October 25 attendees
21st , 22nd October 8 attendees
Melba Group
Modern Greek Teachers Association of Victoria (MGTAV)
30th October 18 attendees
22nd October 8 attendees
Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria (MLTAV)
National Excellence in School Leadership Initiative
19th October 20 attendees
14th October 27 attendees
Order of St John Evening Event
Organisation Development Australia (ODA)
5th October 8 attendees
27th October 15 attendees
PHILE Network - Onemda VicHealth Koorie Health Group
Research, Innovation & Commercialisation
30th October 14 attendees
12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th , 30th October 105 attendees
Robert Pratt - 1966 Chemical Engineers Reunion
Probus Club Inc Carlton - Parkville
21st October 20 attendees
13th October 70 attendees
Rotary Club of Carlton - D9800, Heritage Cluster, Lunch and Board Meetings
School Library Association of Victoria
1st, 6th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 27th October 169 attendees
29th October 80 attendees
Slavery Links
Supply Chain Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA)
12th October 4 attendees
15th, 29th October 18 attendees
Social Work Department Writing Group
St John Monash Institute (Anthony Cree)
13th October 10 attendees
20th, 27th October 12 attendees
The Graduate Union Collegiate Events and Governance Meetings
UNSW Canberra at ADFA Laser Safety Course
6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 29th October 417 attendees
19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd October 66 attendees
The Lowitja Institute Half day Event
Turkish Teachers Association of Victoria
6th October 4 attendees
30th October 10 attendees
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) Board Meeting No. 38
Western & Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (WCMICS) - Chemo redesign
8th October 19 attendees
8th October 34 attendees
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At Graduate House
Stories around Graduate House A Visit From Professor Dewulf, University of Twente, Netherlands.
Engineering PhD students from The Universtiy of Melbourne participated in a preparatory viva, led by Professor Dewulf of the University of Twente in The Netherlands.
professional and academic level.
“In previous years we’ve had tours around the university’s research department. This year we all voted to have an update on what the department is doing, and George Frank gave us a presentation on that,” said Robert Pratt, a graduate of Chemical Engineering.
Professor Dewulf, who is Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Technology and a world expert on public private partnerships in engineering construction projects, works closely with Melbourne University’s Associate Professor Colin Duffield, Engineering Project Management in this area of research.
This presentation, he explained, was quite an eye-opener. He initially discussed the routes through chemical engineering – how you can do straight chemical engineering, or chemical/bio-chemical or chemical business. Alternatively, you could get in by doing a straight science degree (chemistry) initially, or you could do commerce/arts so long as you had the mathematics background.
The event saw PhD students of Professor Duffield, who cover a variety of subjects including civil engineering, contracts and procurement receive extremely valuable feedback from world experts in engineering.
“A straight science degree can get you into a two year Master’s degree, but if you did it though a different route after you would have to either have 2.5 or 3 years to get your Masters,” said Robert.
“The students presented their research to the professors and received really great feedback,” said Dr David Wilson, Infrastructure Engineering.
The second half of his talk went through the different research areas.
1966 Chemical Engineers Reunion
This November saw the 49th reunion of the 1966 graduating class of Chemical Engineers. The group gathered at Graduate House to discuss the state of Chemical Engineering at a
Robert himself has worked in minerals, mineral processing, LNG offshore platforms and chemical processing. “I spent the last 30 odd years in process design, and I’m a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers. My interest is in analytical and problem solving,” he said. He retired seven years ago, but still does what he can to keep his brain active! The Chemical Engineers group used to meet every five years and have been doing so since graduation in 1966, their very first meeting immediately after the graduation. These meetings now occur every year and have moved from University House to Graduate House three or four years ago. They love it here – they wouldn’t go anywhere else now.
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At Graduate House
Stories around Graduate House
Students from The University of Melbourne are looking to tackle the ever-growing issue of Urban Heat Island effect (UHI) in Melbourne’s CBD. Supervised by Dr David Wilson, Department of Infrastructure at The University of Melbourne, their work is starting to unearth potential solutions that could greatly benefit cities. To begin with, the researchers are applying a complex environmental model to compare and contrast various urban modifications by using specialist program, ENVI-MET to simulate the city with different buildings heights, materials and vegetation at various coverage proportions. As a starting location, they are looking at The Kelvin Club, a reciprocal association of Graduate House. The modelling results will evaluate the effectiveness of building heights, and vegetation on the UHI. “We set up a small scale of where Kelvin Club is located and we set the model in three scenarios: one using a very simple and small scale to test if all the data put in is correct, and that all the levels are the same, said Aong Yung Wang, one of the researchers. “The second is the comparable scenario where all of the building heights were recorded but without tree carbon. The last one is with tree carbon so we’re comparing the data output from the model to see whether if those with tree carbon and the building heights will have an impact on the land surface temperature and
air temperature,” she added. “We’re going to kill people if we don’t do something like this because the heat island is quite significant and if the air conditioners go off, you’re basically going to have an oven down in Melbourne CBD,” said Dr David Wilson, Department of Infrastructure Engineering at The University of Melbourne. The effects of the UHI have displayed their extremity before. August 2003 in Paris saw up to 15,000 people die when city temperatures reached an unprecedented 40 degrees. Hospitals were consequently unable to cope with the increasing number of people admitted, as well as morgues and funeral homes running out of space. What’s more, is that during the Victorian bushfires, more people died in the city because of the increased heat, than those who actually died in the bushfires. The heat island is certainly serious and the design, structure, materials and vegetation need to be carefully chosen so as to mitigate the heat effect and bring the temperature down a few degrees. “As a geographer I’m very much aware of that, and I’ve got the good fortune to be in the engineering department, and so we’ve got colleagues like Dr Rishmanchi who is a mechanical engineer doing work in the area of energy and energy management, and students who are interested in this problem. What we’re doing is just simply working on it to develop an understanding,” said David.
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At Graduate House
Stories around Graduate House “We also receive data from external sources which sees them working collaboratively to try and better understand what is being done now, how it’s being done, and how the sustainability of a dense high-rise urban environment can be improved,” he added. In a report by the Federal Government in 2013, it was revealed that the Melbourne heat island was caused by such factors including the prevalence of “heat-absorbing materials, such as dark coloured pavements and roofs, concrete, urban canyons trapping hot air, and a lack of shade and green space.” While there is a lot to learn about how heat is stored in the city and how to stop it being stored in the city, the most important thing to understand is where the heat is and how hot it is. It has been stated in various climate reports, that it is necessary for cities, like Melbourne, to be cooled by 4 degrees for a recognisable difference to occur. One proposition for how to achieve this includes increasing the amount of vegetation in the city. Around the world, there are mitigation and prevention schemes already in practice. In North America, for example, they have implemented cool and green roofs. Others have been looking into options including green walls and streets with trees, parks, and using water to cool. The findings from this project will help build a knowledge base of a very complex subject. Research on this area is essential, especially from local academics that focus on Melbourne, as they are the best sources of information for this issue. “The information that our friends have already provided is a platform that can be used later on, so we want to validate this platform by gathering real data and then putting it together to validate the result of the simulation and then experiment with the whole city. If it’s possible and that’s going to be the next step,” said Dr Rismanchi. “And because Dr Bennett, The Kelvin Club and the Kelvin Club laneway, we’ve actually begun the project and that laneway, and that city block and so hopefully we’re going to instrument the laneway and put in a baseline so that we can actually measure the impact of what we do
over the course of the next few years on that laneway, so it’ll be like our laboratory and it’s very, very exciting, and we thank Dr Bennett for her encouragement and support,” said Dr Wilson. “We would like a beautiful laneway and we would like to work with the residents to create a beautiful laneway which is sustainable, beautiful to walk in and to enjoy,” said Dr Wilson. We also want to use it as a pedagogic laneway so that we can experiment with different types of vegetation, different types of materials on the walls, and different types of facilities to actually make it a living and enjoyable laneway,” he added. The ultimate goal, says Dr Wilson, is to develop the building standards to prevent or mitigate urban heat islands so as to reduce potential deaths in the summer, in dense cities, to not only make Melbourne the most liveable city, but the most sustainable city in the world. Thank You for Your Feedback I appreciate being able to come to the lounge to work between meetings. Natalie Gray After a vibrant meeting of the Women’s Forum, we continued on over a delightful lunch. How can you improve on excellence. Well done for a thoroughly enjoyable day. Margaret Mayers Excellent customer service, excellent food and beverages and excellent value for money. We could not find any fault at anything John Johnson Everything was in excellence. Today’s lunch was delicious and offered a wide choice, and despite the large numbers of patrons, the staff as usual were friendly and helpful James Mulholland Organising a function at Graduate House is very easy and professionally done. The function room was fantastic . T-----he food was high quality and perfect. The staff were very helpful in both before and during our event, they cannot be more complimentary - highly professional. Everything else was superb and perfect. Thank you. David Wilson, Uni Melb Infrastructure Engineering
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Respond To Us
Orders, competitions and forms Your feedback is important
So we can serve you better
Submit a Dining Room Feedback Form to be in the monthly draw and in the running for the year-end prize of a $500 Coles Myers Gift Voucher
Due to the increase in our costs, we are increasing our prices to continue to provide the quality and service you have come to expect. We have avoided raising our prices for as long as possible, but we can no longer prolong the inevitable. We thank you for your business and appreciate your understanding the necessity for this price increase. Kindly note that the new prices are effective from 4th January 2016.
The lucky feedback-giver for October was
2016 Dining Room Lunch/Dinner prices Dining Room Lunch prices Members: $12.00 Loyalty card holders $15.00 Non members $18.00
David Wilson who won a bottle of Emeri De Bortoli Chardonnay Pinot Noir
Dining Room Dinner prices Members: $17.00 Loyalty card holders $20.00 Non members $22.00
Don’t Forget to submitted your entry Members (only) have the opportunity to win a Christmas Hamper or an overnight stay in one of our lovely apartments. Fill in the Draw Entries on the last page of your 2015 calendar (sent to Members late last year), cut them out and send in to The Graduate Union at 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053.
Entry in a draw one night in a GU apartment
Entry in a draw to win a Christmas Hamper
sample only See on back for details
sample only See on back for details
All prizes are drawn on the 11th December, 2015 at the Members’ Christmas Party. You are still eligible to win if you are not able to attend the party. If you are one of the lucky winners we ensure that your prize reaches you. Having said that, it’s wonderful to have you join in our end of year festivities!
Calendar 2016 order form Full Name:
Please tick:
I do not wish to receive the Graduate Union 2016 Calendar
In addition to my free 2015 Calendar, I wish to order additional copies.
Number of copies.
Cost of calendar
Cost of postage
($12.50 each)
($2.00 each, int. post differs))
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
Total Cost
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Lest We Forget
The following people died 'on our watch' during the 70s, 80s and 90s urban drug wars. Arthur, P.
Rae, F.
Robert, M.
Gungor, E.
Naomi, V.
Danny, R.
Robert, S.
Sandy, F.
Liz, S.
John, F.
Stephen, P.
Stuart, P.
Stavros, V.
Kenny, B.
George, V.
Mark, B.
Kasim, S.
Richard, M.
Jason, K.
Sam, A.
Toby, W.
Peter, G.
Wayne, M.
Andrew, S.
Jason, L.
Susan, P.
John, Ts.
Leigh, P.
Matthew, M.
Leanne, T.
Essie, E.
We commemorate those of Leicester and Barry Streets who fought for Australia. We remember those who returned and keep in our prayers those who lost their lives. John Fleming
Bert Larcombe
EdwardGordon Holder
John O'Sullivan
John Charles Cherry
Harry Taylor
Stanley Earles Craig
Harry Woolf
John Gordon James Gordon Charlie Johnson
www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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