The Melbourne Graduate July 2011

Periodical newsletter of the graduate union of the university of melbourne incorPorated Print Post aPProved PP337834/00022. registered association no. aa0023234b June 2011 volume 66 no.2 www.graduatehouse.com.au

the graduate union of the university of melbourne inc.

Graduate Council invites you to attend the Graduate Union’s

‘FOUNDERS DAY ’ORATION to be given by

Major General Michael Jeffery AC, AO(Mil), CVO, MC (Retd)

Former Governor-General of Australia at

MELBA HALL Thursday, 14 July 2011 at 5pm On 14 July 1911 the Melbourne University Graduates Association came formally into existence, holding its first general meeting of past graduates in the Independent Church, Collins Street. Dr James Barrett, who hosted this first meeting, was a sponsor with Mr F A Campbell. At the first meeting of the MUGA Executive Council, Colonel John Monash was elected Chairman. ‘Founders Day’ celebrates the establishment of the Melbourne University Graduates Association and its aim of setting up a residential club. This unique day in our history will be celebrated each year with a special event.

Please rsvP your attendance by 8 July 2011. tel: 9347-3428 or e: sec@graduatehouse.com.au July 2011 Volume 66 No.3 – 1

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

contents CALENDAR EVENTS

2

NEW MEMBERS

2

LETTERS

2

DONATIONS

2

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 3 NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL 3 FROM THE CHAIRMAN

4

SCHOLARSHIP

5

RESIDENTS

5

SPEAKERS

7

calendar of events 14 Jul - FOUNDERS DAY ORATION AT MELBA HALL ORATION BY RETIRED GOVERNOR-GENERAL MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL JEFFERY 26 Jul - RESIDENTS XMAS IN JULY ‘ROCK N ROLL’ MEET & GREET 3 aug - MONTHLY LUNCHEON - SPEAKER: DR ROBIN HIRST 25 aug - CENTENARY TWILIGHT LECTURE SPEAKER:

MAJOR GENERAL PROFESSOR JEFFREY ROSENFELD 7 seP - MONTHLY LUNCHEON – SPEAKER: DR TONY GOULD 5 oct - MONTHLY LUNCHEONSPEAKER: SR BRIGID ARTHUR 13 oct - WINE APPRECIATION SPRING DINNER 9 nov - MONTHLY LUNCHEON - SPEAKER: MS WILMA FARROW

new members

CENTENARY LAUNCH EVENT 8

DONATIONS building fund: Miss G Jones, Dr J Pyper, Mr M L Worsnop, Ms M Cole residents assistance fund: Prof V Sarafis, Dr C Pawsey, Miss G Jones bursaries/ scholarship fund: Mr R W Manuell stella langford fund: Dr G N Vaughan AO We thank Dr Elizabeth Shaw for her gift of $500. Dr Shaw is a member of the Stillwell Family and contributes each year to the Graduate Union.

OFFICE BEARERS President: The Honourable John Cain Vice President: Vacant Chairman: Mr David N Sparks Vice Chairman: Mrs Glenda Fisher Acting Secretary: Mrs L Weston The Melbourne Graduate is normally published four times a year by The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated. It is edited by Lyn Weston and Rhonda Lu, under the direction of the Graduate Council and its Executive Committee.

The Melbourne Graduate welcomes letters from readers and reserves the right to edit them for publication.

Please keep word count to a maximum of 250 and address to The Editors, The Melbourne Graduate.

Registered Address: The Graduate Union, 220 Leicester St., Carlton, Vic. 3053 Australia.

Telephone: (03) 9347-3428 Facsimile (03) 9347-9981 www.graduatehouse.com.au – email: sec@graduatehouse.com.au Printed by: FSG Design & Print, 1 Argent Place, Ringwood, Vic 3134.

Tel: (03) 9873 5144

2 – July 2011 Volume 66 No.3

10 nov - CENTENARY TWILIGHT LECTURE SPEAKER: LAUREATE PROFESSOR PETER DOHERTY 7 dec - MONTHLY LUNCHEON - SPEAKER: MS PHILIPPA CHALLIS, ‘LIVE LIFE LAUGHING’ 9 dec - CHAIRMAN’S COCKTAIL PARTY 16 dec - MEMBERS CHRISTMAS PARTY

corPorate

Australia India Institute Dept of Mathematics & Statistics Nossal Institute

life

Ms Claire Moore, member since 2009 Mrs Elsie Graham, member since 1992 Ms Natasha Klos, member since 2009

ordinary

Mr David McMullen, MEc(Monash) Mr Ian R Muchamore, BScHon(Glasgow) Mr Colin Kline, BSc Dr Meredith Anne Doig, BA Monash Mr Adam Alexander Ford, Mstrs Tech (RMIT)

Degrees above are from the University of Melbourne unless otherwise noted. Degrees are stated as presented on members’ application forms.

student members

australia Mr Dudley Yariyari, ACT Mr Renuka Karlapur, ACT Ms Nicole Baker, ACT Ms Hui Wong, ACT Ms Katrina Reynolds, NSW Ms Elizita Abella, NSW Mr Subhash Joshi, NSW Ms Chin Leng, NSW Mr Mathew Price, NSW Mr Jesse Braid, QLD Ms Gabrielle Appleby, QLD Dr Luke Droney, QLD Mr Andrew Stone, QLD Ms Margaret Gomes, QLD Ms Joanna Cull, QLD Dr Yvonne Low, SA Dr Carlo Yuson, SA Dr Kiran Singh, SA Ms Jennifer Marie, SA Dr Jinghao Xue, VIC Dr Patricia Klinck, VIC Assoc Prof T Kowalski, VIC

Dr Takashi Ushiki, VIC Mr Nader Ghasemi, VIC Mr Tomoki Mita, VIC Ms Bor-yi You, VIC Miss Astin Pepper, VIC Dr Justin Curtin, VIC Mr Allan Tran, VIC Dr Chris Tray, VIC Ms Jennifer Wu, VIC Dr Gergely Nyilasy, VIC Mr Philip Lucas, WA Dr Rosemarie Godfrey, WA Dr Marguerite Cullity, WA Dr Sze-Ann Woon, WA Mrs Abigail Davies, WA austria Dr Koji Takayama canada Ms Lisa Meister Mr Christopher Paul Cook chile Mr M F Opazo Mr Vladimir Carrasco colombo Mr Alejandro Trujillo

denmark Miss Frida Hastrup egypt Dr Abdullah Sharafeldin france Dr Elise Billoir Mr Nicolas Montfort germany Mr Lucas Otto Dr Gisela Schulz Ms Regina Riphahn hong Kong Ms Louisa Au iran Mr Arash Ramezani Miss Elham Khajehali ireland Mr Paul McDwyer italy Mr Lorenzo Colitto Japan Mr Masahiro Suzuki Mr Toshiyuki Onodera Prof Masaharu Kaneda malaysia Mr Vincent Ng

new Zealand Ms Xi Wang Mr Ashley Cheung netherlands Mr David Fernandez Rivas singapore Ms Bridget Tee Mr Samuel Chacko Mr Paul Ho switzerland Mr Florian Hanke tehran Dr Reza Gilani united Kingdom Dr Robert M Stevenson Ms Diana McCarthy Ms Katie McClymont Ms Ruth Carey usa Tara & Darin Copeland Prof Mark Sidel Mr Chris Shearer Mr Jonathan Bittner Mr Daniel Buchalter Ms Brittany Smith

letters From Alexander Mitchell, UNSW I am writing to express my appreciation and thanks to the Chef and catering staff of Graduate House for arranging a most enjoyable lunch with my uncle, Geoff Dye, on Wednesday, 2 March 2011. I was extremely impressed by the facility of a spacious private dining room, the excellent 3 course meal and drinks served, and the professionalism, attentiveness and high standards of hospitality exhibited by the staff at Graduate House.

It was truly an enjoyable and memorable experience.

April 2011 From Dr David McCredie, Honorary Life Member I am particularly honoured to receive this Award (Honorary Life Membership) in this century year, and sincerely hope I shall be able to enjoy the fellowship and participation of affairs in Graduate Union for many years to come (perhaps not 100).

May 2011 From Geoffrey Shaw, Life Member Thank you for sending the information regarding the Annual General Meeting of 26 May 2011. In relation to this matter, I wish to write concerning a letter I received dated April 2011 with a number of names under ‘Issued by’. While not implying anything improper on the part of those who sent the letter, it raises for me the question, how have they obtained my

personal details? If you’ll pardon the rural analogy, are they entitled to let the cattle out of the paddock?

I think that a level of privacy should apply. The letter refers to ‘disturbing decisions’ on the part of the ‘Graduate Council’. It is not possible to make an assessment based on those words only. Thank you for all you do on behalf of the Graduate Council. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

April 2011 From Nina Netherway, Life Member I am writing to ask if you would pass on my thanks to the staff in the dining room for their wonderful service when we came down last Wednesday for lunch. We were greeted in a most friendly manner and greatly enjoyed our meal. As it was my birthday, we had invited my sister to come along also. The big surprise was the birthday cake brought out with the cake cut in 3, a candle and Happy Birthday piped in chocolate around the plate - that was just wonderful and so thoughtful. It really made my birthday - and they are pretty forgettable as one gets older! We then went to view the Grainger Museum at Melbourne University which was terrific. Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful service to members with such wonderful staff.

April 2011

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

the graduate union ninety-ninth annual general meeting More than 75 members attended the Annual General Meeting on 26 May 2011. For the first time in several years a strongly contended election was held for the five available vacancies. The redundancy of the former Chief Executive Officer in November 2010 was the subject of many questions, and the Chairman expanded on his published report in the April edition of The Melbourne Graduate following which he answered questions specifically about events leading up to the redundancy. He also answered questions relating to the commissioning in December 2010 of a forensic report from Pendleburys Chartered Accountants and the particulars contained therein.

By the conclusion of the Chairman’s address it appeared members had a better understanding and were satisfied with the way in which these matters had been addressed.

The Chairman’s Report and Financial Statements were accepted.

There was considerable discussion and many questions before the motion was finally put to the members who voted by a show of hands – 23 for the motion and 34 against the motion. The proxies decided the final result and the motion was passed.

The meeting proceeded and under Item 7, the Returning Officer was requested to advise the result of the recent election, following which the President declared Phillip Cobbin, David Bellair, Ross Weber, Robert Gibson elected for 3 years and Leo Santalucia for 2 years.

Under Item 8 the Auditor was re-appointed to deal with the 2011 accounts. Moving on to Item 9 – Other Business, the questions continued as additional matters were raised and replied to.

With great foresight the President had requested that the usual dinner following the AGM be cancelled to enable members’ sufficient time to voice all of their concerns. Members took advantage of the opportunity and the meeting did not conclude until after 8pm, by which time there appeared to be no more questions to which answers were required.

(The full transcript of the Annual General Meeting is available on request, together with Minutes of the Meeting.)

new members of council PHILLIP COBBIN Although my working life started as a chartered accountant working in Melbourne and London I eventually found my way into education. As an academic of long-standing I currently teach Auditing and Corporate Reporting at undergraduate and postgraduate level. I also have an active research agenda that focuses primarily on accounting history although my present work integrates a long-held interest in military history. As part of my work for the university I have travelled extensively throughout Asia on promotional activities. My wife Dianne and I travel regularly and extensively and as we are unashamedly besotted with London where we regularly base ourselves for wider travel.

To return to the Council table as an elected representative is an honour that brings with it great responsibility. I look forward to contributing to the future with great anticipation and expectation sure in the knowledge of the place of the Union in the wider university community.

DAVID BELLAIR David is married to Rosemary with three adult daughters, all of whom are also Life Members of the Graduate Union. His degrees were in Electronics and then Physics, but he soon realised that Computing was his true vocation and has worked with CSIRAC, mainframes and PCs in both hardware and software roles. He is now retired, spending some of his time assisting with the technical side of the mainly music program in the Anglican Parish of Banyule, and helping in a small way with the garden at St John’s Anglican church at Heidelberg. David is not ambitious or self-promoting but has served on committees for kindergartens, schools and the Graduate Union, along the way developing a concern for good corporate governance and becoming a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. David and Rosemary no longer relish long flights, but each year visit Rosemary’s mother (now aged 96) in Devon and see two of their daughters who are living in London, doing a bit of sightseeing in the USA along the way.

David enjoys Graduate Union events and Rosemary likes lunching at Graduate House with her school friends from Wimbledon County School for Girls.

David is looking forward to once again contributing to the Graduate Council.

July 2011 Volume 66 No.3 – 3

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE New Members of Council (contd.)

LEO SANTALUCIA Leo was born in Carlton – just a few hundred metres down the road from the GU. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and currently works for a national medical indemnity insurer in the area of business solutions (i.e. IT, Applications and Process Improvement.)

With a career spanning over 25 years, he has worked in various finance, line and project management roles with several organisations including a publicly listed insurer, an airline & related travel provider, a property developer and a few member-based mutuals (personal lines insurance, motoring services and professional indemnity). When he is not working (or thinking about work), he enjoys spending time relaxing with his wife and two daughters, travelling, enjoying the arts and watching/attending AFL football and the tennis.

Leo is honoured to be able to represent the members of the GU and contribute to the effectiveness of the Council to achieve the agreed goals and objectives under its Mission of embracing academic, cultural and general diversity within a collegiate environment.

ROSS WEBER Ross completed both his BA Hons and MA in Political Science / International Relations followed by graduate studies in Economics and Contemporary History and an MA in Criminology. He also holds a PhD in Modern European History from the University of London where he was the last student of the prominent German scholar Professor FL Carsten.

He has taught at the tertiary level in Canada, the UK and Australia, and was an Honorary Associate within the Dept of History at the University of Melbourne (1987-2002). He continues a modest research program privately. Ross served as Chairman for the residents’ committee of London House (now Goodenough College) and was awarded an Honorary Life Fellowship for service to the Frederick Goodenough Trust.

Outside of academe Ross has worked in a variety of economic sectors. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and serves on a number of not-for-profit boards. He is married to Dr Kate Burridge, who is Professor of Linguistics at Monash University, author and a regular guest on ABC TV and Radio regarding the history and use of language.

4 – July 2011 Volume 66 No.3

From the Chairman...

The election process and the Annual General Meeting are now behind us. You, the members, have elected four new members to the Council and re-elected one sitting Councillor. It was very pleasing to see the large attendance at the AGM and the way in which our members joined in a spirited debate of the different points of view. I released important information regarding the departure of the CEO and as a result I felt members were happy to have that additional knowledge. I felt also that members were very appreciative that their wide range of questions could be asked and answered. I would like to believe everyone left that evening with a clearer understanding of the events which had occurred.

We can now move forward and leave behind the problems which have dogged us for the latter part of 2010 and early 2011. While not all the issues have been satisfactorily resolved as yet, they will be in the fullness of time. One very positive result has been the increasing support for my desire to improve our governance, which will provide increased protection against the issues which have been identified recently.

As you know, in July 2010 I organised a two day Retreat for Council Members and senior staff where discussion centred on issues for the Graduate Union to move forward. From this came the Mann Judd Report which identified areas, particularly in governance matters, which required change.

Following on from this, and as a result of commissioning the Pendlebury Forensic Review at the end of 2010, policies and procedures have been put in place which give greater control over financial matters and more transparency in all areas of operation. This will be an ongoing task for me.

The year ahead is a very important one for the Graduate Union. Not many organisations can claim a centenary. From reading the minutes of meetings from 1911 and also the Short History it is clear that the Graduate Union has been through trying times over its 100 years. It has come through and in 2011 it is a great organisation and more robust than ever. May the next hundred years be as interesting and diverse.

I hope you will join me at the Oration and Dinner on 14 July this year. You may not be aware that we have commissioned a special musical piece – the Graduate Union Fanfare – which will be played at the Oration by a brass quintet. It is to be the Graduate Union’s ‘Anthem’ and we hope a reminder of our centenary for generations to come.

A Bequest: During the AGM I announced that Dr Phillip Law had very generously bequeathed $500,000 in his will to the Graduate Union. I also indicated in my announcement my wish that the Council engage with you the members for suggestions as to how we could utilize Dr Law’s generosity in a lasting manner. This desire of mine has yet to be considered by the Accounting and Audit committee and the Council and you will be kept informed.

A New Chief Executive Officer: A consultant has been appointed to assist with the selection of our new CEO and a small working party has been working with the consultant to put into words the experience and personal attributes we would like this new person to have. A position description for the new position has been written and the position descriptions and duties of senior staff reassessed. There has been considerable interest and we hope to have the new Chief Executive Officer ‘in the chair’ by October, if not earlier.

David Sparks

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

Winner of the 2011 Graduate House Scholarship Karen Van Eden I have had the pleasure of living at Graduate House since 2010. More than convenience and independence, it provides a sense of community. I have received much kindness as well as emotional and academic support, and had the opportunity to invest in friendships with people whom I would otherwise not have met. We take an interest in each others’ lives, support each other through difficult times, celebrate each other’s joys and achievements, and are fortunate to be part of this unusual, dynamic and caring family.

I moved from Cape Town to Melbourne to do a Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology at Melbourne Uni. It has involved a vertical learning curve in more ways than one, but definitely counts as one of the best experiences of my life. I love this city’s quirkiness, café culture and outdoor lifestyle, which in many ways is very similar to Cape Town.

Although I still have to fend off homesickness now and again, I hope to settle in Melbourne after I graduate.

Research for my thesis is in the area of Epilepsy and memory. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. It crosses all demographic boundaries and often has profound effects on the quality of life of patients and their families.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is one of the more common types of Epilepsy and is accompanied by significant memory impairment and depression in up to 50% of patients. TLE is often drug resistant and for many patients surgical resection of part of the temporal lobe represents the sole hope of a cure. This surgery, however, frequently encroaches on the neuroanatomical structures involved in memory and language and is therefore not without risk to cognitive function. Preoperative neuropsychological evaluation plays an important role in determining the nature of these surgical risks. My study is concerned with postsurgical verbal memory impairment following surgery for the relief of drug-resistant TLE. The aim of this research is to explore whether right-sided temporal lobe surgery compromises aspects of verbal memory function. This research has clinical implications regarding the advice given to patients who must make a potentially life-changing choice.

residents GARETH OGILVIE Originally from a town in regional Victoria, I moved to Melbourne to undertake undergraduate studies in logistics and supply chain management at RMIT University.

Following graduation in 2008 I worked as a replenishment planner for Mars at the Coles Group before coming to Melbourne Law School to study the Juris Doctor.

My study interests mainly relate to the physical aspect of international trade which involves transportation and distribution of goods. Therefore my focus over the next few years will be on marine commerce and admiralty law, involving the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans. I try not to be too one dimensional by focusing on study all the time so outside study I try to find time for meeting attractive women, yoga and jogging.

CHRIS SHEARER Chris grew up in the state of Ohio in America, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Civil Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.

With support from the National Science Foundation East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (NSF EAPSI) program, he is currently researching fly ash geopolymers at The University of Melbourne under Dr. John Provis. Chris’ research interests include the multi-scale investigation on the structure and performance of sustainable concrete materials technology. He is a member of many professional societies including the American Concrete Institute, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has interned at the Ohio Department of Transportation and worked on power plant design as a structural engineer for URS–Washington Division. In his spare time he is an avid movie-watcher, reader, traveller, musician, and supporter of Yellow Jackets sports.

July 2011 Volume 66 No.3 – 5

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

HANNAH SHIPMAN

I’m a PhD student from Cardiff University in the UK. My background is in the Biological Sciences and Genetic Counselling.

More recently I have trained in Language and Communication Research, which I am undertaking here at the University of Melbourne for 6 months. I’m carrying out qualitative research, looking into consent processes applied to new genetic technologies in clinical practice and research.

I’m 2 months into my trip and I’m enjoying life in Melbourne-there is never a dull moment! In my spare time here you’ll find me helping out at my church, exploring the city or enjoying one of the fabulous Melbournian cafes.

MASAHIRO SUZUKI

I come from Ehime prefecture in Japan. I am starting my Master of Criminology at the University of Melbourne in the second semester of 2011. I graduated from Kyushu University (Bachelor of Law). I intended to go to Law school to become a lawyer at first, but I became interested in Criminology and wanted to pursue Criminological studies after I took a lecture on Criminology and participated in a Criminology seminar when I was a third-year college student. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watching and playing sports, especially soccer and tennis. This is my first visit to Australia, so I am looking forward to having a great time here and seeing you all at Graduate House.

soccer team ‘graduate gorilliZ’ For those of you are not aware the residents of Graduate House have a ‘Five A Side’ indoor soccer team.

The ‘Graduate Gorillaz’ had a very successful season and won the Footscray Men’s League.

Back row: l-r Dexter Franklin-Paddock, Julian Amaya, Agustin Velasco This promoted a move Front row: l-r Victor Ching, Robert of leagues to the Albert Goodman, David Koohsari Park Indoor League where they have maintained a very successful start to the season, winning four out of six games and currently in second place just two points off the leaders.

This is a great opportunity for residents to get together and get to know each other. The matches have been very exciting including scoring two goals in the last minute to win the game nine goals to eight. We hope they go on to win the league again this season.

seen dining at graduate house

DARIA CAMILLA BOFFITO

I come from Milan, the city that has been recognized as the World’s fashion and design capital. In spite of this, I have not left myself be attracted by the enticing and glamorous world of fashion and image but I decided to dedicate myself to the experimental science par excellence: the Chemistry. I got my Master Degree in Industrial Chemistry and Management cum laude at the University of Milan, where I am now attending my Ph.D. in Industrial Chemistry. My research deals mainly with fuels and in particular with the synthesis of biofuels. I came to Australia in January to carry out part of my research work at the Sonochemistry Group of the School of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne, where I am being initiated to the mysterious world of ultrasound.

My stay here is funded by the Australian Government that awarded me an Endeavour Research Fellowship.

In my spare time I usually listen to music, go to theatre or concerts, read books (I am a very sci-fi addicted!) or meet up with friends. I love tasting restaurants from all over the world, early morning runs and above all I love drinking good coffee!

Ken Haddock & Friends enjoy the day

Leonard Bailey & grandson

Leonard Hingley’s birthday

Birthday Girls, Margaret Mayers & Elizabeth Carvosso celebrate

3 Rotarians share their birthday party

Residents Alan Hodge & Dinisha Fernando

6 – July 2011 Volume 66 No.3

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

sPeaKers APRIL

The Honourable Dr Kay Patterson is a retired politician. She is currently the Director and Vice-President of Interplast Australia New Zealand and a passionate proponent of the work done by this organisation. Her address was a very informative and enlightening insight into a voluntary organisation which provides free treatment to people living with a disability from a congenital condition such as cleft lip and palates or aquired conditions such as burns scar contractures. Dr Patterson explained that voluntary medical teams of experienced reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses generously donate their time to provide reconstructive surgery. The teams also teach, train and mentor medical personnel in the areas so that they can carry on the work into the future. In 2009/10 43 of these medical services were delivered in 16 countries to treat populations who would otherwise not be able to afford or access such services.

Dr Patterson began her address by explaining the need for such work to be undertaken. In the year 2000, nearly 250 million people died as a result of burns – 95% of these people were in the developing countries. Burns cause children to stop going to school because they cannot use their hands to write; mothers cannot pick up their babies because they can no longer bend their arms; and fathers lose their jobs because they can no longer walk, plunging a poor family deeper into poverty. Educating and training the population to seek medical treatment is vital because traditional remedies for burns range from using egg or salt on the wound to slathering it in mud from the bottom of ponds; this of course greatly increases the risk of infection and can lead to further complications.

Dr Patterson described their goal as ‘to not be needed anymore’ The Interplast team train local staff so that the work can be continued, and to further develop local health practitioner skills. Thus more and more of the reconstructive surgery can be undertaken by the local staff. For example in Sri Lanka over the last 8 years Interplast volunteers have helped establish hand surgery services. They now have a Hand Trauma Clinic within their ‘plastics’ department and no longer need Interplast in this area, competently performing these procedures independently. Instead they requested development of the country’s craniofacial surgery training and services.

During the discussions much praise was given to Dr Patterson for her work in promoting the work the numerous volunteers provide.

(Rhonda Lu)

JUNE

Professor Jack Keating from the Melbourne Graduate School

of Education at the University of Melbourne spoke on School Funding, it’s future and the issues behind it. Schools funding is repeatedly identified as one of the policy areas most in need of reform to Commonwealth-State relations.

It has to be structured across the federalist frame so that we don’t have different levels of government funding for different school sectors, as is currently the case. Public

and private school lobbies have been arguing about public funding of non-government schools since the Whitlam government began providing funds in the 1970s. In the last 30 years or so, there has been occasional debate on this subject.

Professor Keating spoke on reform under the Howard and Rudd governments. The extended process of the Commonwealth Government’s review of school funding, is an indication of the political sensitivity of the issue.

However, for most people the issue is that non-government schools receive public funds yet also charge fees, and can decide which students they will take. It is left to government schools to carry the responsibility of educating all children.

Private schools are publicly funded in most developed countries. However, this funding typically comes with restrictions on fees and enrolment practices. Australia is pretty much unique in allowing publicly funded private schools to have the above practices.

The core issue is selectivity in schooling. The responsibility for educating all children is not shared equally across schools. However, this is not simply a public versus private school issue. There are plenty of government schools that are selective in their enrolments and plenty of non-government schools that take all-comers. In Australia, there are few rewards for schools that take all-comers, and especially students with poor education and behaviour records.

With these students, the job of teaching becomes tougher, schools’ test scores fall, and their public image can be damaged.. Collectively the evidence suggests that schooling in Australia, especially secondary schooling, is becoming more selective.

(Shirley Ho)

APRIL WINE APPRECIATION DINNER Graduate House chef Rob Goodman has done it again – he has served up a superb meal to the fifty or so attendees at the latest wine appreciation dinner, and we who were there salute him! Indeed we did salute him with a hand clapping French jingle, although not being used to such abandoned frivolity, some of us were a trifle embarrassed. The French theme was continued throughout the meal in both the food and the wine. Pre dinner, we had canapés of Gruyere’s garlic snails served with a sparkling rose. Entrée was a very light and creamy chicken liver parfait with orange jelly, with a 2008 blanc from the Rhone Valley. The cries, which accompanied the next course of “Oh I never eat oysters”, quickly changed to, “These are sensational” and they were. Poached in a leek stock with butter and cream they absolutely melted in the mouth and were well accompanied by a 2007 muscadet from the Loire Valley. Eye fillet beef cooked to perfection with beef bourguignon followed served with a 2007 bourgogne rouge from Burgundy. Dessert was a cloud like pineapple ile flottante with a 2005 ‘Cerons’ from Bordeaux leading to the finishing touch to the meal of macaroons and coffee. In a welcome change to the dinner format, Ross from the French Wine Company did NOT lecture us on how to taste the wines but gave us instead an interesting journey through the wine regions represented with each course. Ross and his wife Bev spend a lot of their time in France so are well qualified to talk about the French countryside and the people who live there. The night was a great success because of the artful combination of food and wine, the cheery MC, Daniel, and the usual excellent table service from Rosie and the Graduate House staff.

(Prue Sparks)

July 2011 Volume 66 No.3 – 7

THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE

100 YEARS—CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATE UNION

Chairman, David Sparks welcomes guests

What a grand night it was! There was such a happy atmosphere and a feeling of occasion. The President spoke of the long history of the Graduate Union— its beginnings in 1911, the important people along the way and some of the milestones in a journey spanning 100 years.

Centenary Committee Chair, Glenda Fisher

A highlight was the presentation of Honorary Life Membership to Dr David McCredie whose long contribution to the Graduate Union was recognized, as was his work in childhood medical research.

Elizabeth Carvosso, Marguerita Adam and Margaret Mayers

Mary Maslen & Anne Campbell

After the formalities an impromptu toast was proposed and guests raised their glasses, toasted the occasion and sang a stirring rendition of “Happy Birthday Graduate Union”

Gary Israel & Ann Rusden

Dinusha Fernando & Nana Tsurudome

Dr McCredie ‘does the honours’

Chef Nelson Kee Fai mans the wok creating delicious Asian morsels Mr & Mrs Bottomley

Robert & Lyn Nicholson Darren Room, Kitty van wees Miller & Allan Bell

Dianne Cobbin with Councillors Chris Booth & Phillip Cobbin

8 – July 2011 Volume 66 No.3

Caitlin Shortell