Lumen | The University of Adelaide€¦ · University of Adelaide's role in helping users to kick...

SUMMER 2002

LUMEN - The University of Adelaide MagazineRegistered by Australia Post No 56500/00097

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F A D E L A I D E M A G A Z I N E

INSIDE:

Solar ChallengeOur bid for 2005

Cultivating researchNew Plant Genomics centre

Antarctic adventuresUnder down under

No fantasyAuthor’s favourite Adelaide spots

Hard Wiredchallenges of heroin treatmentGLOBAL RELATIONSHIPS - INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

INSIDE:

Solar ChallengeOur bid for 2005

Cultivating researchNew Plant Genomics centre

Antarctic adventuresUnder down under

No fantasyAuthor’s favourite Adelaide spots

Hard Wiredchallenges of heroin treatmentGLOBAL RELATIONSHIPS - INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

he six months since the last issue of

Lumen have been dynamic for the

University of Adelaide. T

lumen page 2 summer 2002

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E V I C E - C H A N C E L L O R

Our new Santos Petroleum Engineering Building was opened by the Prime Minister,

Mr Howard, work began on an $8 million upgrade of the Elder School of Music, a

new international alumni chapter was launched in Sarawak, and we welcomed a host

of international graduates back to Adelaide for our first alumni Homecoming event.

Innovations in education and research have continued apace. The University is

introducing a new Space Science degree, Australia’s first high-tech microchip testing

facility was opened on the North Terrace campus, and one of our medical research

teams was awarded $8.3 million by the National Health and Medical Research

Council to continue cutting-edge investigations into women’s reproductive health.

It has been a stimulating start to my term as Vice-Chancellor.

I was especially pleased to participate in the Australian Universities’ International

Alumni Convention in Melbourne in September and the subsequent Homecoming

celebrations in Adelaide.

The Homecoming (which features elsewhere in this issue) was a wonderful occasion.

It provided an opportunity to welcome back some of our most distinguished

international graduates, reacquaint them with their alma mater and update them on

the exciting developments that have been taking place here. Such events are

important because they help to ensure that the relationship with our international

graduates continues to flourish in mutually beneficial ways.

International alumni are more than ambassadors for a particular university. In my role

as Secretary General of the International Association of University Presidents, I have a

keen appreciation of the part universities can play in reducing the economic and

social differences between countries and people. International alumni are a key

element in this. By strengthening links with our graduates overseas we are also

promoting global awareness and competence and making an increased contribution

to international understanding.

PROFESSOR JAMES A. McWHAVice-Chancellor and President

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F A D E L A I D E M A G A Z I N E

Ice TripIt seems like a world away, but Antarctica and

Adelaide are closer than you think, especially for ageology student and a member of staff.

Solar challengeBuilding a state-of-the-art flagship solar car will

require more than just the University of Adelaide’sconsiderable engineering expertise – the entire Universitycommunity can help.

lumencontentsS U M M E R 2 0 0 2

4 Brooke’s storyBrooke Summers left Mount Gambier to study

at the University of Adelaide because she knew exactlywhat she wanted to do.

Hard WiredHeroin poses a huge challenge for treatment

services and researchers.

6

Plant GenomicsThe University of Adelaide’s proud tradition in

the field of plant science has provided the perfectspringboard for a new age of plant research.

Koonamore StationKoonamore Station is the venue for one of the

longest-running and most successful research projects ofits type in the world.

12

16

18

Adelaide sets sights on spaceIs Adelaide becoming the "space university"? Our

space activities are blasting off... let the countdown begin!

22

21

International leaderscome "home"

Adelaide alumni played a key role at this year’s AustralianUniversities International Alumni Convention.

14

Far-SightedPrime Minister John Howard takes a shine to the

University of Adelaide’s new School of PetroleumEngineering and Management.

23

Connect and CommunicateHow two of the Alumni Association’s chapters,

the MBA Alumni Association (MBAAA) and theCommerce Chapter, are connecting and communicating.

27

Fantasy author’s “spiritualhome” revealed

Author Sara Douglass waxes lyrical about some veryspecial places at the heart of the University.

28

Recognising ExcellenceEach year the Alumni Association recognises the

significant achievements and contributions of its alumniand friends through a variety of awards and prizes.

25

F E A T U R E S T O R Y

The Lumen masthead is derived from the University of Adelaide motto “Sub Cruce Lumen” – the light (of learning) under the (Southern) Cross.

Lumen Online: www.adelaide.edu.au/lumen

Executive Editor: John Edge • Production Manager: David EllisEditorial Committee: John Edge, David Ellis, Sharna Pearce and Elaine Baker

Contributors: John Drislane, David Ellis, Ben Osborne, Rosslyn Cox, Joan Soon, Kim McBride, Elaine Baker, Lauran Huefner, Nicole StonesPhotography: Claudio Raschella, David Ellis, Ben Osborne, Alumni, Community Relations and Development, NASA, Chris Crerar,

The Australian, David Cronin and Brenton Edwards, The Advertiser, AFL, John Edge and Brett NoyeFront Cover and Hard Wired article photos: Drew Lenman, Orange Lane Studios

Design: Chris Tonkin Pre-press & Printing: van Gastell Printing

Editorial Enquiries: Marketing & Public Relations Office • Phone: +61 8 8303 5174 • Fax: +61 8 8303 4838The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia

Copyright © 2002 The University of Adelaide ISSN 1320 0747 • Registered by Australia Post No 56500/00097

Views expressed by contributors in LUMEN are not necessarily endorsed by the University of Adelaide. No responsibility is accepted by the University, editor or printer for the accuracy of information contained in either the text or advertisements. Material may be reproduced without permission from

LUMEN with acknowledgment of its origin.

lumen innovation


The race is already on for theUniversity of Adelaide’s entry in the2005 World Solar Challenge—despite the finish line being almostthree years away.

The University plans to enter itsfirst solar car in this world-renownedevent, and aims to finish high in thetop 10.

The World Solar Challenge is abiennial race for solar cars fromDarwin to Adelaide, a distance of3000km. The cars’ only source ofenergy is the sun’s rays.

While the next race is in 2003,the University has set its sights onthe 2005 event due to the timeneeded to mount a serious entry.

Lead organiser AssociateProfessor Gus Nathan from theSchool of Mechanical Engineeringsays Adelaide will break the traditionof such projects being the exclusivedomain of engineering faculties.

“We are looking to make it aUniversity-wide project, in reflectionof the multi-disciplinary nature ofthe project,” he says.

taking on the in flagship caBuilding a state-of-the-art flagship solar car willrequire more than just the University of Adelaide’sconsiderable engineering expertise – the entireUniversity community can help.

lumen innovation

lumen page 5THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE

disciplinary learning experiencesand has a strong environmentalfocus.”

Work is already underway on thecar for 2005, with two MechanicalEngineering Honours students,Jimmy Yeoh and Yin (Kenne) Tsui,developing the concept designfor the vehicle in their fourth yearof studies.

This concept design draws uponexperience gained in the developmentof an earlier design within theEngineering faculty in 1996.

The concept design will be used toplan a range of task-force and multi-disciplinary teams, which will beginwork in 2004.

For more information about theUniversity of Adelaide’s entry inthe 2005 World Solar Challenge,contact Dr Gus Nathan [email protected] ■Story Ben Osborne

“Even within the engineeringfaculty multiple disciplines arerequired, spanning aerodynamics,materials, structural design,vibration, electrical drives, controland optimisation, but the projectalso requires expertise in manyother areas.

“These include marketing andfinance, project management,business planning, publicity,sponsorship, communicationsystems and environmentalassessments.

“Since the entry will be a flagshipfor the University, it is necessarythat we put in the best entrypossible, and this requires drawingupon all the skills and expertisefrom across the University.

“However, we want the entry tobe flagship not only because of asuccessful entry, but also because itdemonstrates holistic and cross-

Initial designs for the solarcar are putting students’learning into practice.

Images courtesy ofMechanical Engineering.

worldr

summer 2002

"It's true to say that if you look across illicit drugs, in termsof the total cost to the community and the individual, heroin hasthe greatest impact," says the University of Adelaide's Professorof Addiction Studies, Jason White.

Professor White, who is also the Head of the Drug & AlcoholServices Council’s Maintenance Pharmacotherapies Unit, shareshis work between the university and one of Adelaide's drugtreatment clinics.

He and his colleagues in the Department of Clinical &Experimental Pharmacology have spent years investigating illicitdrugs and their treatment. The treatment clinics are the publicface of their work, providing opportunities to conduct a range ofresearch projects into heroin use, and opportunities to put theresults of research into practice.

For someone who spends much of his time with people livingon the edge, desperate for help, Professor White is calm andoptimistic about improving the lives of hardcore heroin usersand the wider community.

"There's a significant proportion of heroin users who becomedependent—certainly not all of them, but a significant number—and dependent users tend to have very poor health and a highrisk of engaging in criminal behaviour, and that produces a costto the community," Professor White says.

"If you can address heroin problems you can have a verysignificant impact on an individual and a community ingeneral—relatively easily and relatively inexpensively, if youcompare it to a lot of other health areas. It's really not a hugeamount of money that you spend per person involved, but theimpact on that person, the people around them and thecommunity is really huge," he says.

Heroin is the most destructive illicit drug hurtingour society today. DAVID ELLIS reports on the

University of Adelaide's role in helping users to kickthe habit, and what challenges (and discoveries)lay ahead for treatment.

lumen community

Photos: Drew Lenman

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HOW OUR DRUG EXPERTS ARE HITTING THE HEROIN PROBLEM

lumen community


While there are many successstories of users who have kicked thehabit and blended back into thecommunity, often the damage isalready done. Heroin users suffersevere health problems, and by thetime they have actively sought helpand been successful they might havealready contracted Hepatitis C orHIV. Another major side-effect ofheroin use is an extreme sensitivityto pain—one of the many issues thatthe Department is currentlyresearching, in collaboration withthe University of California, LosAngeles (UCLA).

The problem is that dependentheroin users often don't seektreatment until well into their heroin"career".

■ $200 dollars a day

While the costs vary, a heroinuser who is injecting three times aday can spend up to A$200 a day ontheir habit.

"That is a lot of money—day in,day out," says Professor White. "It'snot like you can take a day off.

"That's where crime comes intoit, the pressure for money. Thereare many different scenarios, andsome of them seem like a moviescript. There are people whocommit frauds and finance theirhabit in the same way that you readabout people with poker machineaddictions. Then you hear ofanother case where someone gets aninheritance and then blows it all onheroin, tens of thousands of dollarsgone within a few months. Thesethings happen, we see these peopleevery other day."

The good news is that mostdependent heroin users have givenup the drug by their 40s. But if theystarted using in their 20s, that is along and disastrous career path.

"A typical scenario is that peoplecommence in their late teens, early20s. If they do become dependent,

it may be an average of 10 years’dependent use, on and off. They tryto give it up by themselves, fail, thentry again, and fail again. They don'tstart to look at serious treatmentoptions until they get to around age30, and again they may have severalattempts at doing that over a periodof years before they settle down andthings start to work out for them."

Getting to heroin users at anearlier age is one of the manydifficulties faced by healthprofessionals, Professor White says.

"People have made attempts, butnone of them have been terriblysuccessful. The problem is the sameright around the world.

"Heroin users know that if theyenter into long-term treatment it'sgoing to be a period of years, therewill be difficulties, there'll benegative aspects to the treatment aswell as the positive aspects. Theyare no different to anyone else—they prefer a quick solution and so

This is the fifth time this30-year-old heroin addict(left) has sought help forhis drug problem.

lumen community


they try to withdraw themselves, gocold turkey, and they might try thata few times over several yearsbefore deciding that 'no, I can't do itthat way, I need help'.

"There is a sort of 'maturing out'aspect of this. People in their early20s sometimes like the idea ofidentifying themselves as a heroinuser—it gives you an immediate setof acquaintances, if not closefriends, and you have this sense ofbelonging. It's also a means ofgetting out of responsibility—ifyou're a heroin junkie you're not

going to be a very responsibleperson. But when you get to 30years old and you have a couple ofkids, and when you wake up in themorning and you're trying to figureout how you're going to make $200a day so you've got enough heroin—that's just not exciting anymore. It'snot what you want to do.”

Those social factors are verydifficult to influence, he says."Trying to get a 22-year-old to takeup treatment can be like hitting yourhead against a brick wall, asopposed to putting your resources

into people who are a little bit olderand a bit more motivated, and aremore likely to go through with it.

"However, it's very satisfyingwhen you can help people at arelatively early stage of their heroin-using career, because you knowwhat you've prevented. You knowyou're saving them from a lot ofproblems and a very difficultlifestyle that they will, in the end,deeply regret. Normally, by the timeheroin users have wised up, theyrealise they've spent the last 10years wasting their life and ruiningthe lives of the people around them.

"How early we get to them iscertainly a very important issue, butit's one we haven't cracked yet."

■ Heroin trials - pros and cons

Professor White was a speakerand delegate at this year's DrugSummit held by the StateGovernment of South Australia.Positive about all the agreement atthe summit, Professor White saysthose who have responsibility forputting its many recommendationsinto action have a tough job.

One of the issues discussed at thesummit was the idea of anexperimental heroin trial, where asmall number of users are givenaccess to prescribed heroin andfacilities where they can take itunder the supervision of healthprofessionals.

There are pros and cons to thisapproach, Professor White says, butone of the important benefits is

Drugs for treatment

Methadone is a substitute for heroin, and is administered to help weenusers off the more deadly drug. Itself a strong and addictive drug,methadone has been used for many years in treatment programs.Methadone users still run the risk of overdose.

Buprenorphine, a relatively newer development, has some keyadvantages over methadone. Trials of the drug have shown that it has lessrisk of overdose and creates less dependence in users than methadone."We would anticipate that within a few years the majority of people seekingtreatment in South Australia will be on buprenorphine rather thanmethadone," Professor White says.

Naltrexone is an antagonist, blocking the effects of heroin. The problemis that people relapse from naltrexone at a relatively high rate, much higherthan buprenorphine. Research is currently underway around the world tofind a better method of administering naltrexone, so that the drug isreleased slowly and has a longer-term effect.

Professor Jason White (centre)and samples of drugs used fortreatment and research.

lumen community


being able to provide treatmentadvice to users at an earlier stagethan usual.

"It's really an experiment to say, ifyou do this, a) does it reduce crimeand other costs to the community,including health costs, and b) one ofthe really big potential benefits is,does it lead to a greater number ofpeople coming into treatment,potentially at the earlier stage?

"It's about getting them in contactwith health services. Heroin usersoften have poor health but limitedcontact with health services, andvirtually no contact with people whoare involved with drug treatment.But if it's seen to be non-threatening, and the transition intotreatment is seen to be relativelystraightforward as opposed to a bigchallenge, then I certainly thinkpeople are more likely to committo treatment.

"One of the outcomes of theSwiss heroin trial was that a lot ofpeople went over to standardtreatment, they didn't necessarilystay with heroin all that long."

However, Professor White says aheroin trial "is something that Ithink is quite difficult to do, andrequires significant will on the partof governments who have to providemoney and other resources".

■ Research - the future oftreatment

Money is getting harder to comeby in the research arena. To itscredit, the Department of Clinical &Experimental Pharmacology hasestablished a working relationshipwith UCLA.

Together they have received$US1.6 million in funding from theNational Institute on Drug Abuse inthe United States, for a projectlooking at acute pain in formerheroin users.

This project, which has spin-offsfor other members of thecommunity, especially back painsufferers, is just one of the manyrequired to drive treatment and evenprevention of serious drugdependence in the future, ProfessorWhite says.

"We have looked at drugs thatcan be used as substitutes forheroin, like methadone, or partialsubstitutes, like buprenorphine, orantagonists like naltrexone, and wecan probably push those a bitfurther in terms of technology ofdrug delivery, but I'm not sure wecan improve on those drugs assuch," he says.

"The area that I think is going tobe our future—over the next 10 or20 years—is the process of alteringdependence itself.

"The scientific community isdiscovering more and more whatmechanisms in the brain areunderlying dependence. Once we dothat, we can start to say, 'can weactually modify those? Could wealter the level of dependence in theindividual?'"

Laboratory tests in animals haveshown that by co-administeringcertain drugs with a drug ofdependence, scientists can preventthat dependence occurring.

One of the drugs being looked atis found in common cough

Above: 1000 files representthe extent of the problem atthis one clinic.Right: Counselling is availableto those who seek help.

lumen cover story


be tested in Adelaide, ProfessorWhite says he is keen to investigateit, particularly as that work crossesover with the US-funded researchinto pain.

"We think, that drugs that preventdependence can possibly preventand turn off the hyper-sensitivity topain that we're looking at. And thatcould have some real benefits formany people in the community,"he says. ■

PhD student Mark Hutchinson (Clinical & Experimental

Pharmacology) is one of the many students at the

University of Adelaide to benefit from a Postgraduate

Travel Grant from private health fund Mutual

Community.

The grants offer a much-needed helping hand to young

researchers, enabling them to attend conferences and

other important events within Australia and overseas.

Mark was able to present a paper at the annual

conference of the College on Problems of Drug

Dependence in Quebec City, Canada. His attendance

also provided him with the opportunity to meet other

researchers in his field from around the world. During

the conference, he was invited to a dinner with the

heads of a number of research groups involved in his

field of research.

medicines that inhibit coughing, adrug known as dextromethorphan,which blocks the action of a certainreceptor in the body which is knownto play a critical role in thedevelopment of drug dependence.

"If you give dextromethorphanwith morphine to a laboratoryanimal, for example, you canprevent tolerance and dependenceoccurring in that animal," ProfessorWhite says.

This research has potentialapplication for heroin users.

"Not only could we preventdependence, but for people who arealready dependent on an opiate druglike heroin, perhaps we can reducetheir level of dependence by co-administering one of these otherdrugs. That could make comingoff heroin easier for some people,"he says.

While this technique has yet to

Left and above: Methadonedispensing to addicts. The drugis often sweetened with cordialto counter its bitter taste.

"This was a fantastic opportunity to meet a number of

people who I would otherwise have not met by chance.

Over dinner we discussed their research interests and

dreams; the differences between the Australian and

American research climates; the possibility that they

could attend Australian conferences and present their

work; and I attempted to explain the intricacy of

Australian Rules Football," Mark says.

"All of these researchers are at the top of their fields

and it was an honour to speak to them."

Following the conference he travelled to various

departments on the east coast of America, and again

presented some of his work and discussed future

research goals.

"The trip was very eventful and extremely helpful in

solidifying my research goals," says Mark.

Travel grant supports drug researcher

lumen legacy


Koonamore Station is a long wayfrom anywhere. Located 400kmnorth-east of Adelaide, the propertysits in saltbush country in SouthAustralia’s arid interior.

It’s also the venue for one of thelongest-running and most successfulresearch projects of its type inthe world.

Koonamore is home to the TGBOsborn Vegetation Reserve, namedafter Professor TGB Osborn, whoset up the project in 1926 throughthe University of Adelaide’s thenDepartment of Botany.

Amid concerns about the impactovergrazing was having on theState’s pastoral lands, ProfessorOsborn fenced off a 400-hectaresection of the station to permanentlyexclude sheep. (Since the 1970s thereserve has also been kept largelyrabbit-free.)

University of Adelaide staff andstudents have subsequentlymonitored the reserve regularly forvegetation change and regeneration.

Dr Russell Sinclair, now a visitingresearch fellow with the University’sDepartment of Environmental

Biology, has headed the Koonamoreproject since 1975.

“It’s one of the very few long-term monitoring projects of its typein the world,” he said. “Manyquestions about vegetation and theimpact of pastoralism remainunanswered, and can only beanswered from long-term studies.

“The Reserve contains severalpermanent quadrats, on which werecord the position, height andcanopy dimensions of trees andshrubs. There are also many fixedphoto-points. From these records we

Long-running success forvegetation reserve……now it needs a ‘decent dunny’

For 75 years, Koonamore Station has been home

to a unique environmental research project.

After all this time, the researchers are now

seeking help for a very basic necessity.

lumen legacy


can build up a detailed picture ofchanges in the vegetation, whenplants regenerate and when they die.

“Over time these pictures andquadrat charts add up to be a veryaccurate record of the reserve’svegetation patterns.”

The 75th anniversary of theKoonamore project was celebratedin 2001 with a party at the reserveheadquarters cottage, known asBindy-I.

“The anniversary was a chancefor many people who have workedon the project over the years to

catch up and reminisce, and also todiscuss its future,” Dr Sinclair said.

“While we hope work will be ableto continue at the reserveindefinitely, support for such long-term projects is difficult to find.One thing we all agreed the projecthas lacked from Day One is adecent dunny!

“It may seem like a funny thing tohave a fundraising appeal for, but asanyone who’s worked at Koonamorewill tell you, it’s a very necessarything for us—we’d love a functional,environmentally sound dunny that

won’t fall over like previous models!“Beyond this immediate aim I

hope to establish a fund whichwill support continuing work onthe project.”

For more information about theKoonamore 75th Anniversary DunnyAppeal, contact Dr Sinclair on+61 8 8303 4730 or email:[email protected], orAlumni, Community Relations andDevelopment on +61 8 8303 5800or email:[email protected] ■Story Ben Osborne

Above: Kirrily Blaylock andBrian Webby, mappingplants, December 2001.

Left: Jarrod Eaton (left)and Des Colemanmeasuring the height ofan Eremophila longifoliatree, December 2001.

Above far left: H.E. Ding’smail truck transportingstudents to the reservefrom Yunta, June 1946.

Far left: Bindy-I cottage1929.

Middle: Pegging outquadrat 10A, May 1926.

Middle right: ProfessorT.G.B. Osborne 1928.

lumen alumni


A Who's Who of Adelaide alumnitook part in this year's AustralianUniversities International AlumniConvention (AUIAC).

Delegates to the conventionincluded senior politicians fromMalaysia and Cambodia, seniorengineers, lawyers, doctors andenvironmentalists—and that was justthe Adelaide graduates!

Close to 700 graduates ofAustralian universities met inMelbourne in September,representing 17 nations around theworld. Prominent among them wereAdelaide alumni from Malaysia, witha large contingent from Sarawak andSabah, East Malaysia, and delegatesfrom West Malaysia, Singapore,Indonesia and Cambodia.

The biennial convention hasbecome one of the biggest events onthe alumni calendar, offering aunique opportunity for internationalalumni from Australian universitiesto network, share experiences, andrenew their connections and linkswith Australia. The theme for 2002was "Networking in the KnowledgeEconomy", with corporate, socialand education issues on the agenda.

Among those driving the event isone of Adelaide's most distinguishedalumni, the Chief Minister ofSarawak, YAB Datuk Patinggi TanSri (Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud,who was one of the patrons of this

year's convention. At the opening ofthe convention, the Chief Ministercalled for stronger links betweenAustralia and Asia. He urgedAustralia to engage at the highestlevel with university alumni to buildthese links, and said this was therole not just of Australianuniversities to engage with theiralumni, but also of Australianpolitical and business leaders.

"The globalised world has notcome with a common perception,"he said. "We must grow togetherto become partners in a world thatis changing."

Among the delegates were 14Vice-Chancellors of Australianuniversities, including Adelaide'sProfessor James McWha, whochaired a session on "Communities

in the Asia Pacific". One ofAdelaide's prominent alumni, HisExcellency Uch Kim An, CambodianMinister for Trade, was a speaker atthe session. He spoke about hisnation's past turmoil, its currentchallenges and future directions."Cambodia wants to be a part of theglobal environment, even if it is achanging one," he said.

Other speakers included Dato IrLee Yee Cheong AO, President of theWorld Federation of EngineeringOrganisations, and Mr Peter Mullins,CEO of Greenpeace AustraliaPacific, both University of Adelaidegraduates.

At a session on "Challenges of theGlobal Community", Dato Lee dealtwith the issue of the worldwidedecline in engineering and

International leaders

His Excellency Uch KimAn, Cambodian Ministerfor Trade.

Dato Ir Lee Yee CheongAO, President, WorldFederation of EngineeringOrganisations.

Peter Mullins,CEO, GreenpeaceAustralia Pacific.

YAB Datuk Patinggi TanSri (Dr) Haji Abdul TaibMahmud, Chief Ministerof Sarawak.

Adelaide alumni played a key role atthis year’s Australian UniversitiesInternational Alumni Convention.

The Homecoming event was hosted by theUniversity of Adelaide in conjunction with theGovernor of South Australia, Her ExcellencyMarjorie Jackson-Nelson, the Premier of SouthAustralia, Mr Mike Rann, and the Lord Mayorof Adelaide, Mr Alfred Huang.

The event gave the opportunity formany international graduates to returnto Adelaide and see their Universityas it is today, and included campustours and updates on leading-edgeresearch at the University.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE MAGAZINE

Adelaide Homecoming

come "home"

mathematics enrolments, and theneed for engineering bodies to assistin education. "The engineeringprofession must innovate itselfto lead the way to sustainability,"he said.

Speaking on "The Earth - Friendsand Enemies", Mr Mullins discussedthe difficulty of encouragingpoliticians and businesses to tackleglobal environmental issues, and the

problems associated with enforcingenvironmental constraints on localcompanies who ran globaloperations.

This year's AUIAC was the thirdsuch event, following the inauguralconvention in Adelaide in 1998, andKuching, Malaysia in 2000, both ofwhich were highly successful. Thehost agency of this year'sconvention, IDP Education Australia,

estimates that 150,000 internationalstudents have been studying atAustralian universities in 2002,which means there is great potentialfor the event to grow.

The next AUIAC will be held in2004 in Hong Kong, and will behosted by the Federation ofAustralian Alumni Associations HongKong Limited. ■Story David Ellis

(Above far left) Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha and his wife, Lindsay, at theUniversity of Adelaide booth; (above left) a meeting of Adelaide’s international alumnichapters; (above, from left) YABhg Datuk Amar Puan Sri (Dr) Hajjah Laila Taib, LindsayMcWha and Professor McWha; (above right) cultural performers from Sarawak, Malaysia.

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Prominent University of Adelaide graduatesfrom Malaysia and Singapore were among the 60international alumni and guests who returned toAdelaide for a Homecoming event immediatelyfollowing the convention in Melbourne.

Leading figures from Adelaide alumnichapters in Sarawak and Singapore, the ChiefMinister of Sarawak, YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri(Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, and Mr MichaelKhor Teik Hean, were honoured withDistinguished Alumni Awards during theHomecoming.

lumen adventures


By the time summer has well andtruly settled over Adelaide, Geologystudent Kirsty Brown might bewishing for a slice of it.

Ms Brown has left Adelaide,Australia to spend three years in...Adelaide, Antarctica. AdelaideIsland to be exact.

A PhD student, Ms Brown hasbeen awarded a highly sought-afterposition working with the BritishAntarctic Survey. In Antarctica,she'll be working with a team ofresearchers looking at the impact oficebergs on animal and plant life atthe sea floor.

The new position will put herscuba diving skills to good use. MsBrown has been diving for the pastseven years, including off the coastof Greenland.

Her diving also came in handyduring her research at the Universityof Adelaide. For the past four yearsthe British student has beenstudying sediment produced by

organisms that live on seagrassesalong the South Australian coast.

"My main survey point was WestIsland near Victor Harbor —I spentabout two months out of every yearthere," Ms Brown said.

"I've been diving right along theSouth Australian coast, from StreakyBay down to Robe. I've donetropical, temperate, Arctic and nowI'll be doing Antarctic diving, so Ifeel very lucky," she said. "I'll bedown there scuba diving every dayof the year, if I can."

Ms Brown's research hascombined elements of marinegeology and biology, and her newposition will move her further intothe marine biology field.

The research involves looking atthe damage caused by icebergs asthey scrape along the sea floor. Thisprocess, known as "grounding" or"berging", destroys flora and faunaon the sea floor.

"We'll be looking at how the

organisms down there survive inthose conditions, and how fastthey recover.

"The overall scope of that projectis that with increases in globalwarming, the number of icebergsproduced will increase. It's possiblethe animals and plant life may notbe able to survive with increasedrates of berging," she said.

Someone who has already seenthose icebergs up close is Universityof Adelaide staff member John Edge.

Mr Edge, a maintenanceplumbing foreman, realised a life-long dream when he spent fivemonths on Antarctica's Davis basebetween November 2001 and Marchthis year.

“It’s something that I’ve wantedto do for a long time, and it endedup nothing short of being one ofthe best life experiences I’ve had,”he said.

Mr Edge was employed as amaintenance plumber through the

ICE TRIPICE TRIP

It seems like a world away, but Antarctica

and Adelaide are closer than you think,

especially for a geology student and a

member of staff.

lumen adventures


Australian Antarctic Division andspent most of his working hoursoutside.

“The coldest it got to was -10ºC,and one day it got as warm as 6ºC,so it wasn’t as bitterly cold as it getsin winter when apparently it getsdown to -35ºC or -40ºC,” he said.

“While the weather was fine itwasn’t usually a problem—but ifthere was a wind, or cloud cover,

Mawson never had the benefit ofa helicopter, but the landscaperemains as spectacular as ever.Photos courtesy of John Edgeand Brett Noye.

John Edge (left) andKirsty Brown—theAntarctic spirit liveson at Adelaide.

then it became a bit of a hassle. Youtried to spend as little time as wasnecessary outside becauseconditions quickly becameunpleasant for working.”

Apart from the obvious aspectsof being in Antarctica, one of thehighlights of Mr Edge's trip wasmeeting and working with the morethan 70 people stationed at Davis.

“I was amazed at the tolerance

and good-naturedness of everyonewho was down there,” he said.“There was a large number of peoplefrom all walks of life in a veryconfined space, but everyonegot along really well and it wasreally easy to fit in and feel partof the group.” ■

Story Ben OsborneStory David Ellis

lumen innovation


For nearly 80 years, plantscientists at the University ofAdelaide’s Waite campus havehelped Australian farmers to growhealthier, higher-yielding varieties ofcereal crops.

Now a new age in plant researchat the Waite is about to begin. After

a keenly contested selection process,the University and partners havebeen awarded the Australian Centrefor Plant Functional Genomics, afacility that will attract $55 million(cash and in-kind) from theAustralian Research Council, theGrains Research and DevelopmentCorporation (GRDC), the Federaland State Governments, and theUniversity itself, over the nextfive years.

Work on a $9.2 million newbuilding at the Waite starts early in2003. Initially, the building willaccommodate 100 scientists

(including postgraduate andpostdoctoral researchers) as well asspin-off bioscience companies.

“Our vision of the centre is that itwill act as an international magnetfor people who want to work incereal genomics,” says interimDirector Professor Peter Langridge.“It will be one of the key centres inthe world doing this kind ofresearch.”

In bidding for the centre, theUniversity faced strong competitionfrom other research institutionsacross Australia. The successful bidwas developed in conjunction with

Plant Genomics centre to cutting-edge research

The University of Adelaide’sproud tradition in the field ofplant science has provided theperfect springboard for a newage of plant research.

The University of Adelaide’sproud tradition in the field ofplant science has provided theperfect springboard for a newage of plant research.

lumen innovation


the University of Melbourne, theUniversity of Queensland, and theVictorian Department of NaturalResources and Environment.

Research at the new centre willfocus on the range of stresses towhich crop plants are exposed (eg,heat, drought, frost, waterlogging),as well as toxicities such astolerance to saline and acid soils.

“Techniques developed from thehuman genome analysis now allowus to look at the entire geneticmake-up of organisms in one seriesof experiments,” says ProfessorLangridge. “We can compare, on a

massive scale, the ways in which thegenes of a plant respond to a varietyof stresses.

“In the first instance, theinformation we gather will be usedto support conventional breedingstrategies. In the longer term, wewould see the technology beingapplied through geneticengineering. Clearly there are stillproblems with communityacceptance of genetically modifiedcrops, and those issues will need tobe addressed before we proceed inthat direction. One important taskfor the centre, therefore, will be to

cultivate

develop education programs thatkeep the community informed aboutwhat we’re doing.”

Professor Langridge saysresearch staff will be encouragedalso to participate in undergraduateteaching programs.

“When fully established, we willhave a much greater capability forteaching plant molecular biologythan we have at present. We wantto attract more students andpromote the message that plantscience is a fascinating and excitingarea of study and research.” ■Story John Drislane

Professor Peter Langridge.Photo by Brenton Edwards, courtesyof The Advertiser.

Conceptual design of the new centre.

lumen prosperity


Our alumni and friends have supported a widevariety of projects, programs and facilities over theUniversity’s 128-year history. Most recently, theHonours Scholarships in Science Appeal, BarrSmith Library Annual Appeal and Vice-Chancellor’sScholarships Annual Appeal have receivedgenerous donations.

The impressive buildings on theUniversity's North Terrace campus are acompelling reminder of how fortunatewe are that people such as Sir WalterWatson Hughes and Sir Thomas Elderhad a vision for building a prestigiousuniversity in the heart of Adelaide.

The University of Adelaide has grownto the prominent institution that it istoday because of the foresight of manygenerous benefactors who have giventheir support so willingly over the past130 years.

Much of that support has been byway of bequests to provide funds forbuilding projects, research, artworks,books and equipment, or to endowacademic chairs, travel grants,scholarships or prizes. Some of thesevalued benefactors are:• Sir Thomas Elder, who in 1897

bequeathed the sum of £65,000 forMedicine, Music and general purposesof the University. The ElderConservatorium of Music wasestablished with these funds;

• Mr Peter Waite whose benefaction waslargely responsible for thedevelopment of Agricultural Science atthe University in 1922;

• more recently, the Benjamin PoultonFoundation was established in 1989from the Cynthia and Frances Poultonestates.Making a gift to the University by way

of a bequest in your will is an intenselypersonal gesture and should be done inconsultation with your legal adviser.

All bequests, no matter how modest,are beneficial to the University and havethe power to make a lasting difference tothe quality of research and education atthe University of Adelaide.

Leaving a bequest in your will tothe University of Adelaide requiresspecial wording. This can be done atthe time of preparing your will or canbe added as a codicil to provide foryour bequest.

Staff in the Alumni, CommunityRelations and Development Office of theUniversity are happy to work with youand your adviser in strictest confidenceto provide any information you requireabout making a bequest to the Universityof Adelaide.

Please phone +61 8 8303 5800 formore information. ■

Elaine BakerSenior Development Officer

A Gift for the Future

“Acts of generosity from individuals can greatly assistthe education and training of some of our brightestminds and best talent, leading to great benefits for thecommunity in science, medicine, and many other fields.”

Professor James McWhaVice-Chancellor

To find out more about supporting theUniversity you can visit our new developmentwebsite. This is where you can read about theUniversity’s priority funding needs and the majorappeals we are running as part of the University’sfundraising program.

The new website has helpful information abouthow to make a gift to the University of Adelaide,tax advantages of making a gift, donating non-financial gifts, and making a bequest. There is alsoan easy-to-use online donation form.

If you are interested in ways to support theUniversity, please visit our website:www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/giving/ ■

Nicole StonesCommunications and Committees Officer

Hughes and Elder—two iconsof Adelaide.

A Tradition of Giving

A Gift for the Future

lumen prosperity


Brooke Summers left MountGambier to study at the Universityof Adelaide because she knewexactly what she wanted to do.

“I felt my personality suitedbecoming a scientist, and theUniversity of Adelaide was the bestchoice for studying science. Thechallenge of moving away fromhome and setting up a new life wasa bit daunting at first, but I havefound the experience verystimulating.”

The 20-year-old, in the third yearof her Biomedical Sciences degree,was able to secure residentialcollege accommodation, and was thewinner of an undergraduate supportscholarship.

If the challenge of moving fromthe country to the city wasn’t

enough, consider another factor—Brooke has been deaf since the ageof seven, something which has neverheld her back. Brooke is keen tocontinue her studies at thecompletion of her undergraduatedegree.

“I would really like to continuestudying honours and for a PhD. Iam keen to put something back intothe community, to find a cure forsomething. I hope to find aresearch project about deafness, to

VC’s Scholarships

put my skills to use in an area withwhich I empathise.

“Winning the scholarship meant Ididn’t have to work to supportmyself. This helped me achieve astronger balance in my universitylife between study and socialactivities. I believe this has reallymade a great difference to the goodmarks I have achieved. I feel I havebeen given a wonderful opportunityto make a strong start in the world,and I am looking forward to furtherchallenges in my academic career.”

By contributing to the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund, youcan help more students like Brookemake their mark. Phone the Alumni, CommunityRelations & Development officeon +61 8 8303 5800. ■

Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha andstudent Brooke Summers.

“Education for the next generation is the mostimportant task for the citizens of any nation.”

Sir Mark Oliphant

Brooke Summers.

Brooke’s Story

A university is often measured bythe success of its graduates. Overthe last 128 years, the University ofAdelaide has had some verysuccessful graduates indeed—namessuch as Bragg, Florey, Oliphant andThomas all easily come to mind,all significant contributors to the20th century.

Our current group ofundergraduate students may, in turn,have the opportunity to make asignificant contribution to the 21stcentury.. However, many worthystudents struggle to supportthemselves as they start theiracademic careers. New studentsface many financial pressures, fromfinding a place to live, to buyingrequired books and materials. Whencoming to Adelaide from the country

or interstate, the challenges may beeven greater.

Brooke Summers is just oneexample of the bright and talentedstudents who will make a majordifference to our future. Brooke,whose story is told on this page, isone of many young students whomight never have achieved heracademic goals without the supportof an undergraduate scholarship.There are still others like her, whoneed the help of our privilegedUniversity of Adelaide community.

For these reasons I seek yoursupport for the new Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships Fund,which will help students to gain astart at the University of Adelaideevery year. Your generous donationwill enhance not only the status of

our institution as an outstandingplace of learning and research, butwill serve to maintain the highregard in which graduates of theUniversity of Adelaide are heldaround the world.

Your generous gift is tax-deductible and will be placed in anendowment fund to provide ongoingsupport for years to come. Don’tmiss this opportunity to help ayoung person make a mark inour community. ■Professor James McWhaVice-Chancellor

Is Adelaide becoming the "spaceuniversity"?

Several major happenings aroundcampus would make it seem so.

In 2003, the University ofAdelaide is launching a brand newBachelor of Science (Space Scienceand Astrophysics) degree, whichaims to produce graduates wellsuited to careers in space andastrophysical research.

The new degree explores thefundamental processes of ouruniverse, from the atmosphere ofthe earth and the other local planetsto the most distant regions.

"The understanding of thoseprocesses underpins much of theworld's research into astronomy,studies of the solar system and thepractical use of space, such as spacetravel and observation," saysAssociate Professor Iain Reid fromthe Department of Physics &Mathematical Physics.

In 2004, Adelaide will also launcha new degree in aerospaceengineering.

In the same year, the University isco-hosting one of the mostprestigious space education eventsin the world, the Summer Session ofthe International Space University.

Headquartered in Strasbourg,France, the International Space

University is the world’s leadingspace education institution. Eachyear the university's nine-weekSummer Session program is held ina different part of the world.

Although called the SummerSession, it will be held in our winter(June to August 2004), attractingmore than 250 of the world’s topspace professionals, researchers andacademics to Adelaide.

There's also been success for ourstudents and graduates who show aninterest in space.

Kimberley Clayfield, a PhDstudent in Mechanical Engineering,was chosen from among aninternational field to participate inthis year's Space Generation Summitat Houston, Texas—the home ofNASA.

Ms Clayfield, coordinator of theSouth Australian Space School, wasthe founding chairperson of theUniversity's student branch of theAmerican Institute of Aeronauticsand Astronautics, and was Program

lumen vision


Adelaide sets sights on spaceDirector of the SpaceFutures 2000conference in Canberra.

She was selected as one of 200young people aged between 18-35from around the world to attend theSpace Generation Summit; she wasone of only six Australians, one ofonly two Australian women, and theonly South Australian delegate.

Meanwhile, the University ofAdelaide's latest Rhodes Scholar, DrThomas Smith, is also doing his partto promote interest in space.

Dr Smith has been awarded aChurchill Fellowship to studyaviation and space medicine at theKennedy Space Centre, NASA, whichhe will do next year before headingto Oxford.

So what does our astronautgraduate, Dr Andy Thomas, think ofall this?

"I am very pleased to see thisinterest," Dr Thomas says.

"It is important for thecommunity to prepare the nextgeneration of leaders for thechallenges of the 21st Century. Thismeans that they must be given thecapability to understand thetechnical issues facing the modernworld as well as the vision to see thebenefits that embracing them canbring to Australia." ■

Story David Ellis

It is important for thecommunity to prepare thenext generation of leadersfor the challenges of the

21st Century’‘

lumen vision


The University’s new SantosPetroleum Engineering Building hasbeen given a personal stamp ofapproval by Australian PrimeMinister John Howard.

Mr Howard officially opened the$7.5 million building in August at aceremony also attended by SouthAustralian Premier Mr Mike Rann,and other senior staff from theUniversity, industry and government.

The new building is home forstaff and students from the Schoolof Petroleum Engineering andManagement, which began teachingthis year.

Santos is contributing $25 millionover to 10 years to the Universityfor the School. This includes fundingfor the new building, provision forscholarships, specialised teachingequipment, and a professorialposition, held by the school’s Head,Professor Peter Behrenbruch.

Mr Howard praised Santos for its“remarkable act of corporatephilanthropy”, and said the schoolwas an impressive example ofcorporate Australia working withgovernment and academia. He saidthe Santos gift of $25 million torealise industry opportunities wasboth generous and far-sighted.

The Federal Government has alsocontributed $1 million towards anadditional professorial chair, the RegSprigg Chair, and further funding tothe school.

Professor Behrenbruch said theopening of the building representedthe next major stage for the school’sstaff and students.

Far-sightedPrime Minister John Howard takes a shine to theUniversity of Adelaide’s new School of Petroleum

Engineering and Management.

“It is a purpose-designed home, abase from which we will provide aninnovative curriculum with state-of-the-art facilities, and provide thebest in research and consultancy toindustry,” he said.

“The school is focused on thepractical needs of the internationaloil and gas industry, and already wehave seen great support from otherindustry leaders such as BHPBilliton and Woodside Petroleum.”

The University’s Vice-Chancellor,Professor James McWha, said thenew School of PetroleumEngineering and Management wasdestined to become the pre-eminentschool for the South-East Asianregion.

“The international focus of the

Prime Minister John Howard experiences 3D visualisation technologyat the launch of the Santos Petroleum Engineering Building.Photo by Chris Crerar, courtesy of The Australian.

school has already been establishedin its first year, with staff recruitedfrom Australia, North America andEurope, and students from South-East Asia and India already studyingbeside the first intake of Australianundergraduates,” he said.

“The quality of the facilities inthe new building, the level ofteaching and research are alloutstanding, and this is one exampleof where the University and industryare working closely together toproduce real outcomes for the Stateand the nation.”

During his visit to the University,Mr Howard was also shown aroundthe stem cell research facilities in theMolecular Life Sciences building. ■Story Ben Osborne

Miriam Hyde (B Mus 1931)was born in Adelaide in 1913.She studied at the ElderConservatorium, achieved twodiplomas at 15, graduated at 18,won the South Australian prize forthe LAB in 1928, and won theElder Scholarship to the RoyalCollege of Music in London in1931. In London she won threecomposition prizes and wassoloist in her two piano concertiwith major London orchestrasincluding the BBC. She graduatedin 1935 with the ARCM and LRAMand returned to Australia.

She has composed more than50 songs, chamber music and

Miriam Hyde, AO, OBE – Composer & Pianist

sonatas for viola, clarinet andflute, composed overtures andother orchestral works, recordedand broadcast many of her works,performed in a variety of high

Making their Mark

Stephen Gerlach (LLB 1967)has made an indelible mark onSouth Australia’s corporateclimate, from his career atFinlaysons from 1969 to 1992, tohis role today as Chairman ofSantos, Australia’s largest naturalgas producer. Stephen is alsoChairman of Elders Australia Ltd,Beston Pacific VineyardManagement Ltd, ChallengerBeston Ltd and a formerChairman of Equatorial MiningLtd and Amdel Ltd.

Wayne Jackson (BEc 1968) iswell known as the current CEO ofthe Australian Football League.His involvement with football alsoincludes membership of the SouthAustralian National FootballLeague Commission from 1990-95, and life membership ofWoodville West Torrens FootballClub, with which he played 160games. Wayne also coached the

Wayne Jackson – Commercial & Sports

profile venues with majororchestras and conductors, andwritten poems.

She has undertaken a varietyof leadership roles includingPatron of the Music Teachers’Associations of NSW and SA, andPatron of the Blue MountainsEisteddfod and the AustralianMusicians’ Academy.

Miriam’s awards and accoladesinclude the OBE (1981), AO(1991), International Woman ofthe Year (1991-2) for Service toMusic (bestowed by theInternational Biographical Centre,Cambridge), Hon. F. Mus. A.(1995) and HonDLitt (1993).

He is also a Director ofSouthcorp Holdings Ltd, FuturisCorporation Ltd, Riverland WaterGroup (Deputy Chairman), EldersRural Bank Ltd, and the formerManaging Director of Finlaysonslaw firm. Stephen’s charitablecontributions include thechairmanship of Foodbank SA andTrustee of the Australian CancerResearch Foundation.

Stephen is ranked 42nd in theBusiness Review Weekly’s Top50 Directors.

Stephen Gerlach – Legal & Commercial

club at seniors and reserves level.In addition to his football career,he was the Managing Director ofthe SA Brewing Company from1993-96, and Thomas Hardy &Sons 1981-92, and following thatwas Business DevelopmentManager for BRL Hardy.

Wayne is also a Fellow of theAustralian Society of CertifiedPracticing Accountants.

lumen success


lumen success


The Alumni University Medal andthe Postgraduate Alumni UniversityMedal (to be presented for the firsttime in December 2002)acknowledge outstanding academicexcellence in students. Only onemedal per award is granted eachyear. The winner of the AlumniUniversity Medal for 2002 was MsNajmeh Habili (Honours Degree ofBachelor of Laws).

The Adelaide Sarawak AlumniScholarship is a new scholarship,established through the generosityof the Chief Minister of Sarawak, topromote international alumnirelations by providing financialassistance to undergraduate studentsfrom Malaysia who have beenaccepted to study at the Universityof Adelaide.

The successful applicant will bechosen on outstanding academicability as well as a demonstratedcommitment to community service,and the first recipient will beannounced in 2003.

Mutual Community PostgraduateTravel Grants and the AUGU/RC

Recognising Excellence

Heddle Award support researchundertaken by doctoral candidates,providing funding for them to travelto a conference or researchinstitution essential to theadvancement of their research.

Graduates who have givenoutstanding service to the Universityand/or the Alumni Association,outstanding service to thecommunity or made an outstandingcontribution in their chosen fields

Alumni Association chair Greg Crafter and Alumni University Medallist medallist Najmeh Habili.

are recognised each year with aDistinguished Alumni Award.

Recipients in 2002 have includedMr Lance Dossor, Dr Richard Yung,Mr Michael Khor Teik Hean and YABDatuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) HajiAbdul Taib Bin Mahmud, ChiefMinister of Sarawak.

The various chapters of theAlumni Association also offer prizesand awards. Many of these awardswould not be possible without thegenerous donations and gifts madeby our alumni, and for this theAlumni Association is sincerelygrateful. ■

Kim McBrideCoordinator, Alumni &Community Relations

Professor James McWha, Vice-Chancellor of the University ofAdelaide, is also Secretary-General of the InternationalAssociation of UniversityPresidents (IAUP).

Founded in 1964 in Oxford,England, the IAUP is anassociation of university chiefexecutives from higher educationinstitutions around the world.

New VC — takes on international roleIts primary aim is to

strengthen the internationalmission and quality of educationof universities, to promote globalawareness and competence, aswell as peace and internationalunderstanding through education.

The University of Adelaide isone of 15 Australian universitiescounted among the association'smembers.

Each year the AlumniAssociation recognises thesignificant achievements andcontributions of its alumni andfriends through a variety ofawards and prizes.

Many of these awardswould not be possible withoutthe generous donations and

gifts made by our alumni‘

’Correction

The Winter 2002 edition of Lumencontained some factual errors in astory about the AustralianUniversities International AlumniConvention. The genesis of theconvention began in 1995, not in1998, and the convention wasestablished by people from all threeSouth Australian universities. Therewere 500 delegates at the firstconvention.

lumen in touch


Alumni Program January – December 2003

Your memories of the University ofAdelaide can remain alive with thenew and expanding range ofmerchandise available.

www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni

Your memories of Adelaide

DATE PROGRAM ORGANISED BY

January

February Call for Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations ACRDCombined Alumni Association Board & Chapters Meeting ACRD

March Mutual Community Postgraduate Travel Grants ACRDAUGU/RC Heddle Award ACRDOffshore Graduation Ceremonies – Singapore, Malaysia Graduations OfficeThe University of Adelaide Alumni Malaysia Bhd - The University of AdelaideReunion and Charity Dinner Alumni Malaysia BhdFriends of the University of Adelaide Library Chapter - Friends of the University ofEva Sallis, Winner of 1997 The Australian/Vogel Literary Adelaide Library ChapterAward will speak on Themes of refuge and exile.

April School of Commerce 10 year Anniversary School of Commerce/Commerce Chapter

Alumni Association Board Meeting ACRD

May Deadline for Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations ACRD

June Alumni Board Meeting ACRDAnnual General Meeting ACRD

July Mutual Community Postgraduate Travel Grants ACRD

August Combined Alumni Association Board and Chapters Meeting ACRDGraduations Graduations OfficeAlumni Association University Medal ACRD

September

October Alumni Association Board Meeting ACRDGolden Jubilee – 50 Year Reunion ACRD

November 30 Year Reunion ACRDCombined Chapters Meeting ACRD

December Alumni Association Board Meeting ACRDGraduations Graduations OfficePostgraduate Alumni University Medal ACRD

Further information on the above program or chapter events can be obtained from our website atwww.adelaide.edu.au/alumni which is updated weekly, through AdelaidE-Link (e-newsletter),

or from the Alumni, Community Relations and Development (ACRD) office at +61 8 8303 5800.

lumen in touch


Two of the Alumni Association’s chapters, the MBAAlumni Association (MBAAA) and the CommerceChapter, are connecting and communicating with theirmembership through separate websites and networkingprograms.

“Providing an effective online environment formembers irrespective of their global location haspresented an important challenge to the MBAAA,” saysPamela Lee, the Chapter’s President. In response tothis challenge, and in collaboration with the AdelaideGraduate School of Business, a new website will “golive” by the end of 2002. The site makes use of aproduct offered by Potentiality, a Melbourne-basedsoftware company.

The site includes the ability to register and amendcontact details, access to information on topics andevents of interest via a Bulletin Board, a search facilityfor fellow alumni, and the ability to post messages.

“Facilitating the formation and development of astrong community of Commerce professionals is crucialto the success of the chapter’s vision,” says Luc Bondar,Chair of the Commerce Chapter.

“The chapter recognised that facilitating contactand networking between its widely diverse members(both professionally and geographically) requiredconnectivity beyond the traditional methods used byalumni chapters.”

Having assessed alternative methods, the chapterapproached Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s (DTT) Adelaideoffice to sponsor the development and maintenance of a

purpose-built chapter website and relational database.DTT have subsequently provided ongoing financial,advisory and content support, with final planning,design and building of the site carried out by theUniversity of Adelaide’s Web Services.

The website represents the primary communicationsvehicle for the chapter, and can be found at:www.commerce.adelaide.edu.au/ alumni. It allowsmembers to register, to search for other membersacross a range of criteria and to contact each othervia email.

The development of these networking programsreflects the strong relationship between the University,its graduates and the business community at large. ■Kim McBrideCoordinator, Alumni & Community Relations

This past year has seenexciting developments inthe area of internationalalumni relations. Theaffiliation of the SarawakAlumni of the Universityof Adelaide brought theAlumni Association'sinternational chaptercount to five. We are alsobusy developingrelationships with alumniin Thailand, the United States, the Philippines andIndonesia, enthusiastic to expand our internationalnetwork into those countries. The future ofinternational alumni relations hinges on thedevelopment of a range of services deliverable to andaccessible by alumni regardless of geography.

Locally, we saw the establishment of three newchapters comprising the Adelaide University SportsAssociation Inc., Commerce Chapter and Friends ofthe University of Adelaide Library. With theaffiliation of these chapters, a more diverse range ofofferings is now available to all alumni.

With the increased interest from alumni interstate,this year the Alumni Association welcomed the startof a Melbourne Network. The enthusiasm of ourMelbourne alumni signals the success of this networkfor years to come. We are currently working onestablishing contacts with other interstate alumni andhope to welcome more interstate networks in thecoming year.

Growing enthusiasm for new chapters

A souvenir exchange at the launch of the Sarawak alumni chapter. YBDato Sri Haji Adenan Satem hands over a souvenir to Dr Harry Medlin,witnessed by the Deputy Chief Minister YB Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and theOrganising Chairman Mr Rodger Chan.

Connect and Communicate

lumen gratitude


could barely be parted from theBarr Smith. It both frightened meand awed me. I had never seensuch a collection of books. Then,as I moved into postgraduatework, I realised what a splendidcollection it truly is. Thetreasures I found tucked away insmall, dusty, forgotten alcoves!

“I can still remember standingin absolute delight at finding someforgotten volume, often with itspages uncut, never opened sincethe library acquired it in the 19thcentury, my hands grimy from thedust on the cover, sneezing,wondering how I could bear to beparted from it. Now, much of mytime is spent haunting rare bookdealers around the world seekingout copies of these books, tryingto recreate in my world here inBendigo some of that delight I hadfound in the Barr Smith.

“The library has had, andcontinues to have, such anastounding influence on my lifethat—to be honest—I don't thinkthere is anything I can do thatcould possibly repay bothinstitution and staff... but a fewdollars now and again doesn'thurt. I'm very glad to be able tosupport the Barr Smith LibraryAppeal.” ■Story John Drislane

On her official website,Australia’s most successful fantasywriter, Sara Douglass, reveals thelocation of her true “spiritualhome”: the Staff Club of theUniversity of Adelaide.

Visitors to the website(www.saradouglass.com.au) arealso told: “I loved and still lovethe University of Adelaide, notonly for the people but for itsremarkable library, the BarrSmith Library.”

The Bendigo-based novelist’saffection for the University resultsfrom the nine years she spent inthe Department of History as anundergraduate, postgraduate andtutor. Under her real name ofSara Warneke she was awarded aBA (1985), a BA Hons (1986),and a PhD (1991).

Today, she remembers clearlythe impact of the first lectureshe attended.

“I was about 25 and hadsomehow fallen into doing a BApart-time. One afternoon Iwandered in for a lecture by DrRoger Knight of the HistoryDepartment. It was somethingabout the sugar industry inBorneo, and it made an absolutelystunning impression. I was beingasked to think! I fell in love withuni study at that moment and havenever fallen out of it.”

Later, there were “fantasticyears” sharing a two-roomed

departmental office with sevenother postgrads.

“The sense of discovery, thewarm collegiate atmosphere, theshortbread-and-champagnemorning teas for cash-strappedpostgrad tutors hosted in the StaffClub by Professor Trevor Wilson... what can I say? The Staff Clubwas always such a warm, invitingretreat, and I miss it enormously.But the person who has had thegreatest influence on me was mypostgrad supervisor, Dr LynnMartin. I owe him a huge thankyou for his inspiration, influenceand support over the years.”

After completing her PhD (in16th century English history), DrWarneke left Adelaide to lecture inmedieval history at La TrobeUniversity in Bendigo.

As well as 12 fantasy novels,she has published a non-fictionwork, The Betrayal of Arthur(Pan Macmillan 1999), exploringthe legend of Camelot.

During her years at theUniversity of Adelaide, DrWarneke developed an enduringlove for the Barr Smith Library.The bond has been strengthenedin more recent years by theLibrary’s acquisition of theoriginal manuscripts of two ofher most acclaimed works,The Axis Trilogy and TheWayfarer Redemption.

“When I first began my BA I

Sara Douglass.

Fantasy author’s“spiritual home”

revealedAuthor Sara Douglass waxes lyricalabout some very special places at the

heart of the University.

lumen gratitude


anonymous (x 67)Audrey K AbbieAdela Alfonsi

Barry AndersonRoger N AndreBetty D Andrew

Marjorie W AndrewPeter R Appelbee

Siriporn ArjhansiriRaymond B ArnoldMohamed S AwangViolet T Baddams

Elaine BakerPeter W Baker

Peter P Bateman

Sally L BatesHarold L BeaneyDarrel W Beckley

Albert BenjaminsonAnthony C Beresford

Jeremy J BolandElizabeth A BonnarCaroline M Bowden

John G BowdenDavid R Box

Colin H BridesonAlan T Brissenden

Rex R BrockClive J BrooksLois B Brooks

Roger N BrownSuzanne M Brugger

Jane E BrummittPaquita M Bulbeck

Grant W BurgePatricia M Burgess

Basil F BurneMarjorie R BurnsColin S ButcherAnita J ButlerPeter D Byrne

Christopher N CatonMark R CawthorneGiuseppe Ceravolo

Janez F Cernelc

On September 23, donors tothe Barr Smith Library Appealwere given a special thank youin the library's magnificentReading Room.

Vice-Chancellor ProfessorJames McWha thanked the morethan 300 people who contributedto the appeal. They raised inexcess of $48,000 to support thelibrary, which is one of theUniversity's (and the State's) mosttreasured resources.

Professor McWha said theassistance provided to theUniversity by donors wasinvaluable, because they alsobrought with them "a wealthof goodwill".

"Investment in the Universitywill provide immense benefits forthe students and staff, develop ourexpertise and provide for thecontinuation and improvement ofour unique resources, such as theBarr Smith Library," he said.

The event also saw the launchof the Friends of the University of

Barr Smith Library Appeal

Adelaide Library—the newestchapter of the Alumni Association.

Guest speaker at the event waswell-known author Professor TomShapcott from the EnglishDepartment's Creative Writingprogram. A highlight of the eventwas a performance by Flight OfIdeas, a choir formed mostly of

The University would like to thank the following people fortheir generous support of the Barr Smith Library

Dennis G ChambersYee L Chan

Jacqueline Chee Mei LingChristofer F ChengLouis Christodoulou

Robert L ClisbyRonald G ColemanDebrah F ColwillShirley E Coombe

Christine H CooperDavid O Crompton

Ilana F CulshawDenise Cusack

Leslie H DarlingDavid J David

University of Adelaide studentsand graduates.

If you would like to contributeto the Barr Smith Library Appeal,or are interested in supporting thelibrary in other ways, please callthe Alumni, Community Relationsand Development officeon +618 8303 5800. ■

(Above from left) Deputy LibrarianPaul Wilkins, Vice-ChancellorProfessor James McWha,Professor Tom Shapcott, andLibrarian Ray Choate.

lumen gratitude


Margaret L DavyCurtis G DelandBice Della-PuttaKym Della-TorreLois I Denholm

Alexander A DiamantisMargaret J Dickson

Trevor J DillonDino A Donati

Donald R DouglasGoran A Drapac

John E DunnBruce C Eastick

Adrienne M EcclesWilliam J EwingZaid D FarranGianna FerraraPeter R Fienieg

Donald N FilmerRoss J FordH F Foster

Valdis FrancisGrant A Frazer

Yoshie FurusawaG H Fuss

Geoffrey T GibbonsJohn M Gillis

Hugh R GilmorePhyllis M GoldingSamone P Goulder

K M GrahamJean C HabichGeoffrey C Hall

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Barr Smith Library Appeal donors

Summer Short Courses

Professional & Continuing EducationLevel 2, 10 Pulteney StreetThe University of Adelaide

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