Graduands urged to address 'global imperfections'

March 31, 2006

An eminent agricultural scientist and economist who has applied his expertise to the alleviation of world poverty has urged graduands at The University of New England to think about how they could address such “global imperfections”.

Emeritus Professor Jock Anderson was delivering the Occasional Address at the first of four UNE graduation ceremonies this Autumn. (The other three are scheduled for Saturday the 1st, Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th of April.) Today’s ceremony was for people graduating from UNE’s Faculty of Economics, Business and Law, and Professor Anderson congratulated them by saying: “Your future is outstandingly bright – particularly as you enter an increasingly globalised world.”

He went on, however, to say: “As you enter and progress through your careers, spare a thought for the global dimensions of imperfection, and how you can do something to help. Your professional training has equipped you very well to engage in a broad range of development activities. Opportunities for engagement are boundless.”

“It is to your humanitarian inner selves that I’m appealing today,” he concluded.

Professor Anderson (pictured here during his address today) is a former Professor of Agricultural Economics at UNE who now lives in the United States and works as a consultant for the International Food Policy Research Institute and the World Bank. During today’s ceremony the Chancellor of UNE, Mr John Cassidy, presented Professor Anderson with the honorary degree of Doctor of the University. Mr Cassidy also presented testamurs to about 250 graduands from the Faculty who could attend the ceremony. Altogether more than 580 people are graduating from the Faculty this Autumn, and more than 2,500 people from all four UNE Faculties.

The new Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, said it was “a great pleasure” to be involved in his first graduation ceremony at the University. “So many wonderful achievements are celebrated on this one occasion,” he said.

Today’s ceremony was held indoors (in UNE’s Lazenby Hall) because of wet weather, and broken into two sections – morning and afternoon.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:38 PM

'Cloak of silence' removed from rural crime

March 30, 2006

A book launched today at The University of New England removes what the authors call a “cloak of silence” that has concealed the true magnitude of crime rates in rural Australia.

The book presents the results of five years’ research revealing that the rate of violent crime in small rural communities exceeds the State average by 58 per cent. One of its authors, UNE’s Professor Kerry Carrington, said: “While property crime in rural centres is generally lower than the State average, violent crime exceeds the State average in many rural areas. This is contrary to the popular belief that violent crime is more prevalent in the cities.” (In fact, the book reports that the rate of violent crime in metropolitan Sydney is 9 per cent below the State average.)

"Policing the Rural Crisis", by Russell Hogg and Kerry Carrington, was published last month by Federation Press. Associate Professor Russell Hogg, like Professor Carrington, is a UNE academic. The research behind their book involved 230 days of fieldwork in a cross-section of rural communities.

“We found a significant under-reporting of violent crime,” Professor Carrington said, “with only one in ten such crimes being reported.” The authors discuss these crime rates in the context of changing race and gender relations in rural areas, the “rural crisis” fuelled by these and other changes, and the role of law and order campaigns in attempting to manage those changes.

Mr Hugh Dillon, a NSW Local Court Magistrate, launched "Policing the Rural Crisis" during a special function to celebrate the new book and its authors. "I hope it has a profound influence," he said, after congratulating the authors on the depth and quality of the book.

In dealing with the high incidence of violent crime in Indigenous communities, the book contrasts the “highly visible” nature of Indigenous crime with the “hidden” quality of its non-Indigenous counterpart. “We recommend that white communities acknowledge the problem as Aboriginal communities have done,” Professor Carrington said.

The authors emphasise that crime prevention and intervention procedures are largely based on urban models. “We need to devise models appropriate to rural contexts,” Professor Carrington said. “For example, in small towns refuges don’t work as an intervention procedure in cases of domestic violence: everyone knows where they are.”

“This raises another problem,” said Associate Professor Russell Hogg. “In the absence of necessary services there tends to be a fall-back on overly simplistic law and order responses to local crime problems.”

In his Preface to the book, the British criminologist Professor Tony Jefferson makes the point that, in addressing such problems, we need a “reality-based” starting point to “work through the painful, confusing and contradictory legacies of the past”. He concludes: “On the long-overlooked issue of rural crime in Australia, criminologists and criminal justice practitioners now have such a starting point.”

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 02:59 PM

Water policy expert receives international award

March 29, 2006

Professor John Pigram from The University of New England has received the 2006 Distinguished Service Award of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA).

He was presented with the award during the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City last week.

Dr Pigram (pictured here), who has more than 30 years’ experience in the Australian water industry, was Executive Director and Director of UNE’s Centre for Water Policy Research from 1987 to 2001 and is now an Adjunct Professor at UNE.

The citation for the award says it was “in recognition of his outstanding and dedicated lifetime of service to research and education in global water management”. “Dr Pigram has been a driving force behind the development of key national and international policy initiatives,” it continues. “His publications are evidence of a deep understanding of the unsustainable development and use of water resources in Australia and the need to implement a research agenda to explore more sustainable approaches to water management.”

As an educator, the citation points out, “Dr Pigram has supervised more than 50 graduate students at Doctoral and Master’s levels, many of whom are now active in the application of water policy initiatives and water reform in Australia and elsewhere”.

”I was surprised and delighted to be presented with this award,” Dr Pigram said. “It is a great honour - and an exceptional award - which caps off many years of commitment on the international water scene.”

Dr Pigram chaired the organising committee for the Tenth World Water Congress in Melbourne in 2000. He served as Director and Vice-President of IWRA before being elected President in 2000 and appointed to the rank of Fellow of the Association in 2005. He was a founding member of the Board of Governors of the World Water Council in 1996 and continued on the Board until 2006.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 01:18 PM

Social science research centre launched into the community

March 28, 2006

A research centre officially launched yesterday at The University of New England will give both government and non-government organisations easier access to UNE expertise in social science research.

The New England Centre for Applied Research in Social Science (CARSS), established in January 2005, has already generated external research income of more than $200,000. Yesterday's launch, attended by representatives of government and community organisations as well as by CARSS members and supporters, introduced the Centre to the New England community.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, launched the Centre, saying it represented “a great opportunity for UNE”. Professor Pettigrew said he believed the Centre could attract the support of the Australian Government as part of the new Commonwealth focus on research quality and collaboration. He commended the multidisciplinary nature of the Centre, and emphasised “the crucial importance of the social sciences”.

CARSS aims to maximise research networking in the social sciences across the University. It brings together an interdisciplinary team of 23 researchers in the fields of sociology, demography, geography, economics, criminology, environmental regulation, political science, social statistics, and professional ethics. One research project for the Australian Government already under way at CARSS is a major study for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Professor Kerry Carrington, the Director Designate of CARSS, said the Centre was currently involved in tendering for more government research contracts.

Professor Carrington, from UNE’s School of Social Science, has a background in Government-sponsored research, having headed the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in Canberra. Such experience, she said, gave her an insight into the Government’s research requirements and funding strategies.

The Centre has an established network of contacts and collaborators at regional, State, national and international levels. Associate Professor Tony Sorensen, the Deputy Director of CARSS, pointed out that the Centre had national connections through the involvement of some of its members in a “Network for Spatially Integrated Social Science” funded by the Australian Research Council. Other national connections are with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the Australian Research Alliance on Children and Youth. There is an international connection with the Centre for Time Use in the UK.

Associate Professor Jeff Archer, who has been the Director of CARSS for the past year (and will shortly hand the position over to Professor Carrington), said: “I see it as the start of a new era in applied social science at UNE.”

The photograph displayed here, taken at yesterday's launch, shows (from left) Associate Professor Jeff Archer, Professor Alan Pettigrew, Professor Kerry Carrington, and Associate Professor Tony Sorensen.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:34 AM

UNE to host careers expo

March 27, 2006

Matching kids with careers is the aim of the Armidale and District Careers Expo, to be held at The University of New England on May 4. The expo, which will take place in the Wright Centre from 9am to 1pm, will draw exhibitors from across NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

Organisers expect more than 1500 visitors throughout the day. Year 10, 11 and 12 students from as far north as Tenterfield and as far south as Walcha will attend the market to learn more about their options when they finish school. But while young people will make up the bulk of visitors, the market is by no means limited to those fresh out of school.

“In recent years the Armidale Careers Expo has been more of a tertiary education expo, but this year we’re really aiming to bring it back to being a general careers expo,” said Brian See, a member of the organising committee.

“We’ll have information not only for school kids, but also for parents and people looking to make a career change,” he said.

More than 80 exhibitors will have stalls at the expo, including UNE and other universities, TAFE, private colleges, the police, Army, Navy and Air Force, and a variety of trade and industry groups. Local tradesmen will also be on hand to share the inside story of working in a trade with potential apprentices and trainees.

Throughout the morning UNE Careers Officer Rhonda Leece will be giving talks on how to choose a career, including matching your strengths to a career and picking the right subjects at school.

The Armidale and District Careers Expo is supported by a number of government and community groups, including Armidale Partnerships in Industry and Education, the NSW Department of Education and Training, Armidale Dumaresq Council, Joblink Plus and The University of New England.

School students and other people interested in attending the market, as well as exhibitors interested in booking a stall, should contact the UNE Conference Company on (02) 6773 2154.

Posted by Leon Braun at 02:47 PM

Thousands to visit Armidale for Autumn Graduation

March 24, 2006

About 2,500 people will join the ranks of The University of New England’s alumni after the University’s Autumn Graduation ceremonies over the next two weeks.

The University expects the four ceremonies (on Friday 31 March, Saturday 1 April, Friday 7 April and Saturday 8 April) to attract about 5,000 visitors to Armidale, including those graduands who are able to attend the ceremonies, members of their families, and friends.

UNE’s new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, taking part in the University’s graduation ritual for the first time, will introduce a different distinguished Occasional Address speaker at each ceremony, introduce the recipient of an honorary Doctorate, and present an award for outstanding teaching.

The honorary degree of Doctor of the University will go to Emeritus Professor Jock Anderson, a former Professor of Agricultural Economics at UNE who now lives in the United States and works as a consultant for the International Food Policy Research Institute and the World Bank. Professor Anderson will give the Occasional Address, and receive the honorary Doctorate, at the ceremony on Friday 31 March. During that ceremony the Chancellor, Mr John Cassidy, will present testamurs to graduands from the Faculty of Economics, Business and Law.

On the following day, Dr John Scott, a Senior Lecturer in UNE’s School of Social Science, will receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognises Dr Scott’s outstanding achievements in his teaching of criminology. The Occasional Address speaker at that ceremony – for graduands from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – will be George Torbay, Chief Conductor of Choral Music for the Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education and Training. Among Mr Torbay’s many achievements was the conducting and recording of the National Anthem for the closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympics, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and members of the Sing 2001 Choir.

The speaker on Friday 7 April, at the ceremony for people receiving degrees in Sciences and Health, will be Professor Mary O’Kane, who was Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide, and later became Vice-Chancellor of that university (1996-2001). The speaker on Saturday 8 April (Education and Professional Studies) will be Dr Paul Brock, Director of Professional Learning and Leadership Development for the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Along with their degree testamurs, seventeen graduands will receive the New England Award. They have qualified for this award by achieving a high level of involvement in extra-curricular activities – including leadership positions, community work, and additional training. They will be the second cohort of UNE graduates to receive the award.

Robyn Muldoon from UNE’s Teaching and Learning Centre, who manages the New England Award, said that last year’s recipients had found it very useful. “One graduate, who has successfully found work in his chosen field, reported that the award had built his confidence in his capabilities,” Ms Muldoon said. “His employer was impressed by the award, as it gave an indication of his commitment to achieving his goals. It was discussed in his interview when he was asked to give examples of his skills and abilities.”

Posted by J Scanlan at 04:23 PM

Bars no barrier to dedicated student

March 22, 2006

As Nicholas Mitchell was not able to attend his graduation ceremony at The University of New England, the University took the ceremony to him.

It took place yesterday at Junee Correctional Centre, when the Head of UNE’s School of Economics, Associate Professor Euan Fleming, presented Nicholas with his Bachelor of Commerce testamur.

Twenty-eight-year-old Nicholas, in academic gown and mortar board, graduated in the presence of his mother, Ann Swift, and his sister, Sarah Mogan, who both travelled from the United States for the occasion. “It’s not every day someone gets a chance to change their life,” he said. “I wish opportunities like this could be given to more people.” He is hoping that his example might help to promote greater engagement with education in prisons. “Education is the only way out of trouble,” he remarked.

He explained that he had decided to study for the degree because, “if I didn’t do something positive, the time would just be wasted”. “I’ve always been interested in business, economics and politics,” he said, “and have now been accepted into UNE’s Master of Economic Studies degree program. I’m hoping these qualifications will open some doors of opportunity for me after my release.”

There have been many difficulties for Nicholas to overcome – not least of them the lack of access to a computer in some of the prisons that held him before his move to Junee two-and-a-half years ago. Dr Fleming said his outstanding results in econometrics were truly remarkable considering that he had often performed all his computations without the help of the software that most students rely on. On the other hand, the prison environment can be conducive to study: as Nicholas pointed out, “from 5 pm onwards there are no distractions”.

One of his lecturers, Dr Renato Villano, said Nicholas was one of the best external students he had taught in his five years at UNE. “I’ve been impressed by his intelligence and his perseverance,” Dr Villano reported. Dr Fleming said Nicholas’s achievement was “a good example of the life-changing benefits of education”. “And it’s good for society as a whole,” he continued, “if prisoners are able to return to the workforce after their release. UNE, as a major provider of distance education, could play an important role in that process.”

Richard Parnell, Programs Manager for The GEO Group (operator of the Junee Correctional Centre), said Nicholas had “shown a desire to use his time to improve himself personally and professionally”. “Geo is committed to the rehabilitation of inmates through the provision of educational, therapeutic and vocational programs at Junee,” Mr Parnell continued. “The Centre’s dedicated Educational Officer, Janelle Phillpott, who assists inmates to access educational resources and courses, has played an important role in Nick’s success. Nevertheless, Nick’s dedication and drive to improve himself have been significant factors in this major achievement.” Both Mr Parnell and Ms Phillpott were at the graduation ceremony.

Also at the ceremony was Pastor Fred Veerhuis, who has encouraged Nicholas throughout his time in prison, has become a friend of the family, and is featuring Nicholas in a book he is writing. “Nicholas has gained a qualification and a passion for the field of economics that he can build on when he’s released,” Mr Veerhuis said.

Dr David Kennedy, who visits Nicholas weekly as a representative of the Kairos Prison Ministry, was another graduation guest. “This has given Nick a life,” he said. TAFE, through which Nicholas has learnt woodworking skills and gained a certificate in horticulture, was also represented at the ceremony.

A highlight of the event for Nicholas was being able to meet Dr Fleming face-to-face, and discuss the academic interests and aspirations that are changing his life.

The photograph displayed here shows Nicholas Mitchell (right) with Associate Professor Euan Fleming at the graduation ceremony.

Posted by J Scanlan at 04:03 PM

Thai educators visit UNE, tour schools

March 21, 2006

A group of 20 Thai academics, PhD candidates and trainee teachers was welcomed to The University of New England yesterday (March 20). The group, which includes school principals and regional education supervisors, as well as three freshly-graduated trainee teachers, is in Armidale to get a first-hand look at the Australian education system, and build links between their home institution – Naresuan University – and UNE.

The majority of the group will spend a week in Armidale, visiting schools, attending lectures and presenting the results of their research. The trainee teachers will remain in Armidale for three months, working as teacher’s assistants in local schools.

In his welcome to the Thai visitors the Executive Dean of Education, Health and Professional Studies, Professor Victor Minichiello, noted that UNE had developed strong links with Naresuan University over the past two years, especially in the areas of health and now education.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Entrepreneurial) Professor Robin Pollard said UNE and Naresuan University shared many “common interests”.

“Like Naresuan, UNE is a regional university. We aim to work with the region to look after the educational needs of the region,” Professor Pollard said.

“You have come to the right place if you want to look at teacher education in Australia,” he said. “Australia is the top university in Australia [in that field].”

The leader of the Thai delegation to UNE, Dr Chantana Chanbanchong, said the visit had three main purposes:

“Firstly, to give hands-on experience to our PhD students in educational administration, and allow them to see schools in foreign countries.

“Secondly, for our undergraduate students to work in schools in English-speaking countries.

“Thirdly, to build further cooperation between UNE and Naresuan University in teaching and research collaboration.”

Next year, 12 teaching students from UNE will travel to Phitsanulok province in Thailand, where Naresuan University is located, to complete a teaching practicum in four Thai government schools. Dr Chanbanchong expressed hope some of those students would be interested in staying on to work as English teachers in those schools when their practicum was completed.

“I have spoken to the principals at those schools and they have expressed great enthusiasm for having UNE students,” Dr Chanbanchong said.

For more information contact David Gee on (02) 6773 5010 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Pictured: Professor Victor Minichiello, Dr Chantana Chanbanchong, Professor Robin Pollard.

Posted by Leon Braun at 03:49 PM

Honorary degree for former Dean

March 20, 2006

A former Professor of Agricultural Economics at The University of New England, now living in the United States and working as a consultant for the International Food Policy Research Institute and the World Bank, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of the University when he visits UNE next week.

Emeritus Professor Jock Anderson, who came to UNE as a PhD student in the 1960s and stayed on as a staff member, became Dean of UNE’s Faculty of Economic Studies. He moved to the World Bank in 1989.

Professor Anderson (pictured here) will be presented with the honorary degree on Friday 31 March, during the first of UNE’s four Autumn Graduation ceremonies for 2006. He will also give the Occasional Address at that ceremony.

The day before (Thursday 30 March), he will present the annual John L. Dillon Memorial Lecture in UNE’s School of Economics. The public lecture, in the John Dillon Lecture Theatre (Faculty of Economics, Business and Law), will report on current international policies to address famine in Africa and elsewhere. The point of reference for the lecture will be Professor Dillon’s influential publication “Technology versus Hunger: Problems and Prospects” (1984). Professor Dillon, whose UNE career spanned three decades, was a leading figure in international agricultural research policy and administration. For more information on this year’s John Dillon Memorial Lecture, phone Dr Maxine Darnell on (02) 6773 3595.

Professor Anderson served as Deputy Director and Chief Economist of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics and directed the 1984-5 Impact Study of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. After moving to the World Bank, he became the Bank’s Adviser on Agricultural Technology Policy, and later spent two years in the Operations Evaluation Department, where he evaluated Bank lending and non-lending operations in agriculture (including agricultural research), health and education. He also served the Bank as Adviser on Strategy and Policy.

He is an elected Fellow of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, the American Agricultural Economics Association, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, and an Honorary Life Member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists.

The UNE graduation ceremony on Friday 31 March will be for those graduating in Economics, Business and Law. The three other ceremonies will be: Saturday 1 April (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences), Friday 7 April (Sciences and Health), and Saturday 8 April (Education and Professional Studies).

Posted by Leon Braun at 03:43 PM

Research workshop looks 'beyond the thesis'

March 15, 2006

Research students from as far away as Melbourne are taking part in a three-day workshop at The University of New England that is preparing them for the successful completion of their research projects – and what might lie beyond.

The Research Students’ Workshop, in UNE’s School of Human and Environmental Studies, is running from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 March.

The workshop participants are both on-campus and external students, and represent the full, diverse range of disciplines – Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology, Geography, and Urban and Regional Planning – within the School.

Associate Professor Wendy Beck, who organised the workshop in collaboration with Catherine Clarke from UNE’s Teaching and Learning Centre, said it involved 11 of the School’s academic staff. "The students are working at all levels of research – from undergraduate Honours to PhD," Dr Beck said. "The School conducts these programs twice a year, and the theme of this week’s workshop is 'how to write your thesis'".

She said a major aim of the current participants was to have submitted a research paper for publication by the end of the year. "The workshop aims to set them on course to achieve that goal," she said. "In addition, some of the students are able to present, during the three days, formal talks that are a requirement of their degree programs."

Other subjects covered over the three days include applications for research funding, "ethics" approval for research procedures, and jobs. "It’s all within the context of finishing a thesis or dissertation, and what might happen then," Dr Beck said.

The photograph displayed here shows Dr Barbara Rugendyke, Senior Lecturer in Geography, with student Robert Pursche during the workshop.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:44 PM

Workshop to explain national environment legislation

March 14, 2006

The Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law (AgLaw Centre) at The University of New England is hosting a public workshop to explain the practical implications of the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Professor Paul Martin (pictured here), the Director of the AgLaw Centre, said the free workshop on Thursday 23 March would be of vital interest to anyone involved in land use or environmental issues.

The 1999 Act is a key piece of environmental legislation. It establishes a Commonwealth environmental assessment and approval process that is additional to State or local law. It regulates activities that have potential impact on features of the environment such as World or National Heritage sites, threatened (or migratory) species, ecological communities, Ramsar wetlands, and Australia’s marine environment.

Professor Martin said the Act was unusual in focusing on desired outcomes rather than providing clear and detailed prohibitions. “This approach probably represents the future of environmental legislation,” he continued, “but it does introduce many potential uncertainties.” Some of those uncertainties, he explained, could relate to remnant vegetation (particularly small pockets of important or threatened species), and land use adjacent to wetlands.

The event is part of the EPBC Project – a community information service run jointly by WWF-Australia, the Australian Council of National Trusts, and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust. Professor Martin said the AgLaw Centre’s involvement in the project arose through its collaboration with WWF-Australia and various farmers’ organisations in a number of research projects.

The workshop on March 23 will be in the Lewis Seminar Room (UNE Faculty of Economics, Business and Law), starting at 1 pm and ending at 4 pm. It will begin with an explanation of the Act itself: its referral, assessment and approval processes. Participants will then put these principles into practice by working through a case study. This will be followed by a discussion about Australia’s new National Heritage regime, and then an open question-and-answer session. Those interested in attending should contact Julie Martin on (02) 6773 2405 (or e-mail: julie.martin@une.edu.au).

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:32 AM

The sky is the limit for Skye

March 10, 2006

When she left school, Skye Gabb was unsure whether she wanted to become a teacher or a scientist. An 18-month stint as a jillaroo in Queensland and the Northern Territory, “sleeping out in the thousand-star motel”, decided her. She applied, and was accepted, to study rural science at The University of New England.

Now she'll begin her studies as the recipient of a prestigious Charles Allan Seymour Hawker Scholarship, which will cover the costs of her tuition, text books and living expenses at Robb College.

Since 1991, the Hawker Scholarship Trust Fund has awarded more that $1 million to 25 young Australians on the basis of their personal qualities and academic ability. Recipients must be accepted into an approved course of study at one of seven universities, including UNE and Cambridge. The scholarship was created to perpetuate the memory of Charles Allan Seymour Hawker, a noted South Australian scholar, soldier, pastoralist and statesman.

Skye, who grew up on a property in western Victoria, said she had always been set on coming to UNE, even before she won the scholarship.

“I'd visited UNE last January and really liked it,” Skye said. “I was attracted to the fact that it's a small university in a rural area.”

“UNE surprised me. It surpassed my expectations. I love the family atmosphere. The lecturers are so open, and it's just great how much support you get.”

Skye said she chose to study rural science as a result of her experiences growing up on the land and working as a jillaroo. She hoped to “bridge the gap between farmers and environmentalists” in Australia, she said.

Skye has long been a high achiever. At Ballarat Grammar she was Vice-Captain of her senior year and excelled in hockey, rowing and debating. She received a school award for community service and was selected as a Youth Envoy for the Centenary of Federation Celebrations in 2000.

Her House Head at Ballarat Grammar said Skye had “demonstrated her class” throughout her school journey.

“Skye excelled in attitude and performance across an impressive range of school and community-based interests,” she said. “She has tremendous people skills. We have not the slightest doubt that Skye will succeed in her chosen field of endeavour.”

The Master of Robb College and Residential System Manager at UNE, Michael Maas, said having a Hawker Scholar at the university was “very exciting for Robb and UNE”.

“We're very happy to be involved with this prestigious and worthwhile program, and delighted that Skye has decided to come and study with us,” he said.

For more information contact Michael Maas on (02) 6773 1701 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Posted by Leon Braun at 09:47 AM

Giants measure up in close-fought contest

March 09, 2006

After an incident-filled weigh-in yesterday, the judges pronounced a 124.5 kg pumpkin the winner of its class in the third annual University of New England Veggie Growing Competition.

Dr John Stanley, producer of the giant pumpkin, said the secret of his success was “lots of composted sheep manure, lots of water, and continual pruning of other pumpkins from the vine”. “It’s the biggest pumpkin I’ve ever grown,” said Dr Stanley, winner of the competition for the third successive year.

The pumpkins in second and third place weighed in at 114 and 77.4 kg.

The lawn adjacent to UNE’s Agronomy Building was the scene of the weigh-in and award ceremony, with a spectacular display of entries (including several that were ruled to be fraudulent) in the giant pumpkin, zucchini, and sunflower classes.

UNE’s School of Health was a keen competitor, and the judges agreed that the School’s entries were the “healthiest looking” pumpkins and zucchinis on display. Angie Smith, one of the Health team, referred to “intravenous feeding” and “intensive care” as components of the School’s veggie-growing regime, and “pumpkin soup” as its outcome. Ann Moir-Bussy, also from Health, remarked on the level of “nursing care” and “medical technology” that had been lavished on the entries.

Pumpkin and sunflower entries by one competitor, after arousing the judges’ suspicions, were declared “non-veggie” and disqualified. The competitor responded with an impassioned plea – supported by photographs – for the supremacy of a pumpkin that he said he had grown in a secret location (following attempts at sabotage by his rivals) and that, because of its “enormous size”, he had been unable to transport to the weigh-in. It was all part of the fun.

Todd Naylor (UNE Printery) produced the heaviest zucchini (5.3 kg), and Mark and Tieneke Trotter (Agronomy) won both sunflower classes: “largest head” (42 cm diameter) and “tallest” (3.3 metres).

Dr Stanley (Rural Science) said the competition was “just for fun”, and that he would like to see it expand to the Armidale community (maybe next year). Many of the entries will find their way to the Armidale Show this weekend.

The photograph displayed here is of Todd Naylor with his prize-winning zucchini.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:02 PM

UNE retains 'woman-friendly workplace' status

March 08, 2006

The University of New England is celebrating International Women’s Day in the knowledge that it has once again received a national “Employer of Choice for Women” citation.

The citation, awarded by the Australian Government’s Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), recognises the success of UNE’s policies and practices in promoting women’s interests in the workplace. UNE’s citation for 2006 – its fourth annual citation in succession – is one of 116 awarded this year to organisations throughout Australia.

Lyn Tucker, Equal Opportunity Officer at UNE, said the citation was based on statistics from March 2005. These showed that women represented 40 per cent of UNE’s academic staff (including 20 per cent of all academic staff above the level of Senior Lecturer) and 58 per cent of its general staff (including 39 per cent of all general staff at or above Level 10). These figures represented significant increases on the previous year, Ms Tucker said.

Programs and policies at UNE aimed at helping women employees realise their full potential include a “Pathways to Careers and Preparation for Promotion” program for academic staff, established in 2004. Ms Tucker said that all participants in this program in 2004 who had applied for promotion had been successful in the 2005 promotion round.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, said he was pleased that the University had been recognised once again for its achievements in implementing such programs. “It’s an indication of the strong policies introduced here in the past,” Professor Pettigrew said, “and we’ll be continuing the University’s work in this direction.”

The list of organisations receiving citations this year includes universities, schools, hotels, banks, manufacturing companies, community and health service organisations, legal firms, and others. The Director of EOWA, Anna McPhee, said: “Employers on this list understand and address the barriers to women’s full participation. From the school principal to the Vice-Chancellor to the CEO of a non-profit organisation or a multinational, they understand their business can’t thrive on under-utilised talent.”

Ms McPhee said the organisations on the list had demonstrated that their policies and practices in support of women had had “a positive outcome for both women and the business”.

Yesterday, on the eve of International Women’s Day, more than 50 women from across the UNE campus gathered in The Chancellory restaurant, Booloominbah, for a morning tea to celebrate the achievements of women at UNE, as well as throughout Australia and abroad.

The photograph displayed here shows Jenny Post (left) and Shelley Harvey at yesterday’s morning tea in Booloominbah.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:30 PM

Free therapy for persistent fatigue

March 07, 2006

A research group at The University of New England's School of Psychology is offering free psychological treatment for people suffering from persistent fatigue.

The treatment is being offered as part of a study to assess the effectiveness of a new treatment for persistent fatigue. The treatment involves looking at psychological factors that contribute to persistent fatigue. Those who qualify to enter the study will receive several weeks of private sessions with a qualified therapist.

Persistent fatigue is defined as fatigue that is long lasting and persistent over a period of time. People suffering from persistent fatigue feel tired most or all of the time, and get little relief from sleep.

Constant fatigue can lead to a downward spiral of people's mental and physical health, according to Dr John Malouff, one of the psychologists supervising the study.

“Some people get distressed about being fatigued, which makes them worse,” Dr Malouff said. “They become limited in what they can do. They just can't seem to get caught up on their rest.”

Dr Malouff said the root cause of the fatigue was often unknown, although some sufferers mentioned contracting a serious infection, such as glandular fever, prior to experiencing the fatigue. Whatever the medical causes of the condition, it could be exacerbated by psychological factors, he said.

“The fatigue may be set off by a medical condition, but we think other psychological problems may keep the fatigue going.”

Dr Malouff and his colleagues are seeking another five or six subjects to receive the new therapy. People interested in participating should contact Janette Mills or Sam Bjone at The University of New England on (02) 6773 3777, or by email at sbjone@une.edu.au.

Posted by Leon Braun at 11:18 AM

UNE workshop addresses Asia-Pacific refugee crisis

March 03, 2006

The alarming magnitude of refugee problems throughout the Asia-Pacific region has emerged more clearly than ever before during an international workshop at The University of New England.

The workshop brought together more than 30 participants from various countries in the region, including key speakers from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Hong Kong, and an interdisciplinary group of UNE researchers.

UNE’s Professor Amarjit Kaur, who organised the workshop, said it had highlighted the need for an approach to the “refugee crisis” that focused on human rights as well as border control. “It’s become very clear that, in some Asian countries where governments have not signed the 1991 United Nations Convention on Refugees, refugees are classified as illegal migrants and are subject to imprisonment and, in some cases, corporal punishment and fines,” Professor Kaur said.

“In the past few years the national governments of the region have become increasingly closely engaged in negotiations on cross-border flows of people,” she explained. “However, these negotiations are often conducted at a bilateral level, and frequently focus on collaboration to strengthen border controls. Meanwhile, international treaties and organisations designed to protect the rights of refugees have faced new challenges in the international environment of the twenty-first century.”

One of the keynote speakers at the workshop, Malaysian Human Rights Commissioner Professor Hamdan Adnan (pictured here, at right, with Professor Kaur), developed this theme when he argued that individual security, with its focus on human rights, was ultimately more important than a national security that involved the proliferation of detention camps.

Professor Adnan, who is Chairperson of the Complaints and Inquiries Working Groups of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, said the workshop had been a useful exercise in sharing information that could be used in efforts to reduce the flow of refugees. “Australia, as one of the more developed nations in the Asia-Pacific region, could play a bigger role in finding solutions to the region’s refugee problems,” he added.

Professor Kaur said participants in the workshop had agreed that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees was not doing enough to address the crisis in the Asia-Pacific region – particularly when it came to resettling refugees in a third country.

Other keynote speakers at the workshop were Professor Koki Abe from Kanagawa University in Japan, who is a Board member of the Japan Civil Liberties Union and a member of the Refugee Studies Forum, Japan; Dr Riwanto Tirtosudarmo, from the Research Centre for Society and Culture, Indonesian Institute of Science; Ms Devi Novianti, Program Manager, Christian-Action, Hong Kong.

The workshop was sponsored by the International Centre of Excellence in Asia Pacific Studies and the UNE Asia Centre, and forms part of the Asia Pacific Regional Migration Network Forum Program led by Professor Kaur, Professor Tessa Morris-Suzuki (Australian National University) and Professor Kang Sangjung (Tokyo University).

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:39 PM

Secrets of 'old bones' to be revealed in public lecture

March 02, 2006

The University of New England’s annual public lecture series honouring the founder of the University’s Museum of Antiquities, Dr Maurice Kelly, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month.

Iain Davidson, Professor of Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology at UNE, will present the Tenth Maurice Kelly Lecture on Tuesday 14 March. It will be in UNE’s Education Building (Lecture Theatre 111) at 5.30 pm.

In his lecture, titled “Getting Power from Old Bones”, Professor Davidson (pictured here) will talk about his introduction to archaeological analysis in the Stratigraphic Museum at Knossos, Crete, and in the Prehistory Museum in Valencia, Spain.

"Both museums hold (or held) large collections of animal bones," Professor Davidson said. "The bones from Knossos allow comparison between the myths about animals at Knossos, the Linear B texts about animals, and the reality of animals in everyday life." The Spanish bones, he said, allowed him "to construct arguments about the emergence of hunting in Ice-Age Spain". "In combination with the study of art from the same cave (at Parpallo)," he continued, "I have been able to investigate the emergence of socially defined power – and changes in the symbolic construction of identity – before the introduction of agriculture to Western Europe."

Professor Davidson, who has a long-standing interest in the archaeological prehistory of the Iberian Peninsula, is also a specialist in the archaeology and ethnography of north-west Queensland, Australian rock art, archaeology and heritage, and language origins. He has held major grants from the Australian Government for the investigation of Aboriginal archaeology, rock art, and resource use, and has worked as a volunteer at archaeological sites in England, France, Jordan, Crete, Turkey, and other parts of the east Mediterranean. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities, and the foundation Director of UNE’s Heritage Futures Research Centre.

The Museum of Antiquities Committee established the Maurice Kelly Lecture series in 1997. Each year the Committee invites a distinguished speaker to deliver a lecture that relates to some aspect of museum work – whether research, conservation, or its role in education. The lectures are published.

Dr Maurice Kelly came to UNE in 1954 as a lecturer in Classics, and established the Museum of Antiquities in 1959. Dr and Mrs Kelly live in Armidale.

Inquiries about the Maurice Kelly Lecture should be directed to Professor Greg Horsley on (02) 6773 2390 or (02) 6773 2555.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:31 PM

Students open virtual door to real career prospects

March 01, 2006

An annual event that gives university students throughout Australia and New Zealand an opportunity to explore the graduate job market began today.

The Virtual Careers Fair (VCF) – an initiative of The University of New England – is an online, interactive meeting place for students and employers. This, the sixth annual VCF, continues till Friday 10 March. The VCF Web site is: www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au.

Rhonda Leece, Manager of UNE’s Counselling and Careers Service and organiser of the VCF, said that by lunchtime today the Web site had attracted visits from hundreds of students at universities in every Australian State and Territory, and in New Zealand. “We’re very happy with the way it’s going,” she said, “and gratified by the level of support from employers, students, and other universities.” Last year, more than 18,500 students “attended” the VCF, and more than 90 employers from the public and private sectors took part. Ms Leece (pictured here) said she was expecting at least a similar level of participation this year.

She said the event had the backing of the majority of Australian and New Zealand tertiary institutions. “It gives students the ability to explore future employment options with employers,” she explained. “Students can attend forums run by expert presenters, participate in chat sessions, win door prizes, and play the ‘Virtual Interview’ game. Employers can participate interactively by hosting forums in a simple ‘chat room’ style.”

“Employers can advertise details such as their industry, the location of positions available, the types of degrees (and the skills) required, and application details,” she continued. “Additionally, their company logo and Web site can be profiled, testimonials from current graduate staff included, and electronic brochures made available.” Last year, almost 17,000 students accessed employer profiles.

Ms Leece pointed out that the VCF had its origin in the recognition that students at regional universities could be disadvantaged in the graduate recruitment market. “The event offers all students the ability to be exposed to the same opportunities, no matter what their location, schedule, or study mode,” she said. “This has particular importance for regional students, external students, and those metropolitan students who are unable to attend their own university’s ‘physical’ careers fair.”

The VCF has secured sponsorship and support from Graduate Opportunities, the premier resource for graduate employment, and Graduate Careers Australia, the official graduate Web site of Australia’s universities. It is endorsed by the National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services.

For more information, phone Rhonda Leece on (02) 6773 3408.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:30 PM