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Roo skulls give students opportunity to scrutinize biology

June 07, 2005

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A set of kangaroo skulls that show the marsupial’s evolution during climate and environmental change has been donated to a school by The University of New England.
Dr Paul Frazier, Senior Lecturer at UNE’s School of Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management (SESNRM), (pictured right with some of the students from O'Connor Catholic College) said the display was donated by the University to coincide with the opening of O’Connor Catholic College’s $780,000 refurbishment of its Science laboratories.
“The kangaroo skull display illustrates the various evolutionary adaptations made by New England region kangaroos as they developed in response to their environment,” Dr Frazier said.
The University also donated a selection of Earth Science reference and text books to complement the display, which is housed in a lit, glassed cabinet.
“The skull display will be a useful aid for the teaching of biology and natural history in the school science curriculum for students from Years 7 to 12,” Dr Frazier said.

He added the SESNRM has plans to extend this link with local high schools by developing and funding other displays in the future.
Said Dr Frazier: “We particularly want to develop resource material that is relevant to the high school science curriculum, so that we can assist local students to learn science.”
The refurbished laboratories were opened on Sunday by the Hon Pat Farmer MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training.
They will assist the College’s 400 pupils access latest, state-of-the-art implements to learn science.
O’Connor Catholic College began in 1975 and takes its name from Bishop O’Connor, Bishop of Armidale from 1904 to 1930.
The College’s Acting Principal and a Science teacher, Mr Tony Spiller, said the college was “delighted” with UNE’s generosity.
“The kangaroo skulls will help us to teach our curriculum relating to Biology and Earth and Environmental Science,” he said.
“The skulls will be used to look at the classification of organisms and to show us what is distinctive about marsupials.”
For more information phone Dr Frazier on 6773 2404 or
Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779.

The photograph shows: Rebecca Partridge, Frances Spiller (UNE), Kate Gollan, Emily Hanlan, Ben Creagan, and Paul Frazier (UNE) (left to right) gather around the UNE display. Dr Frances Spiller is holding a Sabre Tooth Tiger Skull that was loaned to O’Connor School for the open day.

Posted by Lydia Roberts at June 7, 2005 12:53 PM