Prize-winning works of ‘budding bards’ to be performed

August 31, 2006

“Budding Bards”, a newly-established competition to encourage school-age playwrights in regional NSW, will culminate in an awards evening at The University of New England on Friday 8 September.

The Executive Dean of UNE’s Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies, Professor Victor Minichiello, will announce the winners of the UNE School Drama Monologue Prize (UNESDP) during the evening, and UNE Theatre Studies students will perform the winning dramatic monologues. The free event will be in the Arts Theatre at UNE, starting at 6 pm and continuing until about 7.30 pm.

“We encourage all the students, their families, and community members to come and celebrate our local and regional talent and support budding young Australian writers,” said the competition’s organiser, Dr Lynn Everett.

Dr Everett, a lecturer in UNE’s School of Education, explained that the competition, which was held for the first time in July this year, would become an annual event. “The competition links with and supports the Higher School Certificate Drama syllabus,” she said, “in which students perform a monologue as part of their assessment. The UNESDP helps students to develop dramatic expression by writing a script that explores themes relevant to their own lives.”

“The mono-drama gives students an insight into the work of playwrights through the development of character and dialogue,” she continued. “Creative self-expression is especially important in isolated and rural areas, where teenagers have fewer opportunities to voice their feelings, thoughts, and unique life situations in artistic ways.”

The UNESDP is open to all Year 10, 11 and 12 students – at both government and non-government schools – in NSW. For more information, contact Dr Lynn Everett on (02) 6773 2723.

Friday 8 September is UNE Open Day 2006. As part of the Open Day program, Theatre Studies students will give short performances in the Drama Studio (School of English, Communication and Theatre), scheduled for 11.15 and 11.45 am. The UNESDP awards evening will be a fitting finale to a day of celebration and excitement.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here, taken in the Drama Studio, shows Dr Martin Mantle directing Theatre Studies student Kate Coward in a rehearsal of one of the monologues.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:40 AM

Many pathways to success at UNE

August 30, 2006

The University of New England's flexible entry options are making a high-quality university education possible for people from a widening range of backgrounds. A five-star rating in the 2007 Good Universities Guide for “entry flexibility” recognised the variety of pathways that can lead to a highly-regarded UNE degree and a chosen career.

The University was also rated highly in the “toughness to get in” category, reflecting the high academic standards required for admission and the big demand for UNE courses, while its five-star rating for overall “educational experience” (which includes “teaching quality”) helps to explain that demand.

Two UNE students who have benefited from these alternative entry pathways are Brent Johnson and Matthew Westgarth (pictured here).

Brent Johnson did his HSC at Barraba Central School. He elected to study courses that were typically of interest in his home town of Barraba in north-western NSW. “I studied courses such as Metalwork and Primary Industries for my HSC,” Brent said. “These subjects were not conducive to gaining a UAI (University Admission Index) number that qualified me for entry at UNE. I decided, however, that I wanted to become an agronomist, and for that I needed to go to university.

“So, after completing Year 12, I did a Diploma of Agriculture course at the New England Institute of TAFE's Rural Skills Centre in Armidale. I successfully completed this diploma course in two years, and then applied for entry into the Bachelor of Agriculture degree program at UNE and was accepted.”

“My studies at TAFE didn't just open the door for me at UNE,” he explained. “I was also eligible for advanced standing. This took nearly a year off my Bachelor of Agriculture studies at UNE, lowering my overall HECS bill. The prior studies I did also helped me to make an informed decision about what area of agriculture I wanted to focus on.”

“I was first attracted to UNE because it offered the agriculture degree that best suited me,” Brent continued. “There is the right mix of theory and practice related to both agriculture and associated industries.

“UNE also offers a rural lifestyle, plus a smaller, one-on-one learning environment that appealed to me. You get more time with your lecturers than I reckon you would get in the city-based universities. I'm treated like an individual student here, not just another number. What I'm learning at UNE – and the great people I've met – is all part of an experience that I'll carry with me for life.”

Matthew Westgarth also gained entry into UNE after completing a Diploma of Agriculture course through TAFE in Armidale. Matthew grew up in Warren in western NSW but completed his HSC at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in Tamworth.

“It meant a lot to me that UNE had a range of flexible entry methods,” Matthew said. “I was very keen to study at UNE because of the nature of its Bachelor of Agriculture degree program, and I was already enjoying life at Robb College (one of UNE’s residential colleges) and didn't want to move to a city.”

“UNE offers a wide variety of courses in the areas of Natural Resources, Rural Science and Environmental Science that are of interest to me and are respected by industry,” he continued. “I've got a broad range of options here at UNE. These options provide me with great career prospects and the ability to structure my studies to suit the direction that I want my life to take.”

Another flexible entry option at UNE is the "principal's recommendation scheme", which has also proved very popular among regional students. These options combine to enhance the accessibility of a high-quality university education and the benefit of the “UNE experience”.

For more information on flexible entry options at UNE, phone 1800 818 865.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:15 PM

National award for 'outstanding contribution' to children's literacy

August 29, 2006

Len Unsworth, Professor of English and Multiliteracies Education at The University of New England, has received a national award for his work with teachers and teacher educators on enhancing the literacy skills of Australian schoolchildren.

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, during a ceremony at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on Friday [25 August], presented Professor Unsworth and five others from around the nation with individual awards for their “outstanding contribution to improving literacy and/or numeracy”. The event served as a prelude to National Literacy and Numeracy Week (28 August to 3 September). Minister Bishop said the work of the award-winners had provided “a bridge to hope and a pathway to progress for countless Australians in an ever-changing world”.

Guests at Friday’s ceremony were told that Professor Unsworth (pictured here with his award certificate) had made “an enormous contribution” to literacy education “both within Australia and internationally over an extended period of time”. “His work has included the use of digital literacy and learning to support both teachers and students,” the citation continued. “A key focus of his work in all areas is on educationally disadvantaged students and those who find difficulty with literacy and learning. Through his invaluable contribution to teachers’ professional development, he has been a catalyst for change in teaching practice.”

The Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy and/or Numeracy are worth $10,000 each. Professor Unsworth said the award ceremony – and National Literacy and Numeracy Week as a whole – was “an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of literacy education in this country”. “The awards recognise the combined work of teacher educators, teachers and students,” Professor Unsworth said “– people working together at all levels of the education system. On international measures, Australia is one of the world’s highest-performing nations in terms of the literacy of its young people.”

He said one of the guiding principles of his own work had been “the integration of well-established and innovative teaching strategies” – for example, the integration of the traditional focus on printed books and the contemporary fascination with computer-based material. His recent book E-literature for Children: Enhancing digital literacy learning (published by Routledge in London and New York) emphasises what he calls “the continuum of traditional and multimedia narratives that now make up the story worlds of our children”.

His earlier book Teaching Multiliteracies Across the Curriculum (Open University Press, UK, 2001) is a pioneering work on teaching school students to appreciate the subtleties of the verbal/visual texts that are now such an important part of electronic communication. In 2004 he won a Citation of Merit award from the Australian Literacy Educators' Association for his research in literacy education.

Professor Unsworth is the Principal Investigator in two large research projects funded by the Australian Government on the subject of “multimodal reading”. He said the support of his UNE colleagues – and of the University itself – had been a vital factor in the success of his “multiliteracy” research.

That research has led to new understandings about the effectiveness of grammar as a resource for improving literacy and learning. Professor Unsworth will give a talk at UNE this Friday [September 1] titled "Systemic Functional Grammar as a resource in developing children's understanding of the linguistic 'constructedness' and verbal art of literary narrative". The talk - one of a series organised by UNE's School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics - will be in Seminar Room 2, Psychology Building S_06_31, from 2 to 3 pm.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:33 PM

UNE forges links with Latin America

August 28, 2006

The head of a Mexican university has spent a week at the University of New England as part of a program to encourage links between Australian and Latin American universities. Dr Felix Gonzalez Cossio is the Secretary General (the Mexican equivalent of Vice-Chancellor) at the Colegio de Postgraduados in Montecillio, Mexico. He spent a week at UNE touring facilities, talking to senior staff and participating in a variety of forums, including Academic Board and the International Committee.

Dr Gonzales said he had enjoyed his trip and was looking forward to forging links between his university and UNE.

“I have been very impressed with your university, particularly the quality of your work in agriculture,” Dr Gonzales said. “The Colegio de Postgraduados is focused mainly in agriculture and I think we have an excellent opportunity to collaborate in this area.”

Dr Gonzales said cooperation between his university and UNE would take the form of staff and student exchanges and research collaborations. “I am sure we can reach a good agreement,” he said.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Development & International) at UNE, Professor Robin Pollard, said that the university was seeking recognition from the National Council of Science and Technology in Mexico to take Mexican scholarship students to study at UNE. He said the university was also investigating the possibility of scholarships for UNE students to study in Mexico.

Prof Pollard said there was “a lot of commonality” in research between the two universities, in areas such as bio-informatics, agribusiness and animal genetics.

Dr Gonzales said he had found everyone at UNE to be helpful and that he was grateful to the Australian government and UNE for the opportunity to visit an Australian university.

“I have had a good time here, and I like the 'open doors' policy of the faculties,” Dr Gonzales said. “Everyone was friendly and willing to talk to me.”

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

Posted by Leon Braun at 09:27 AM

Humanities writing program helps scholars reach wider audience

August 25, 2006

The University of New England is hosting a program of seminars and workshops that is helping scholars reach a wider audience with their published work.

Presented under the title “Writing Out”, the two-day program has already run successfully at universities right around Australia. UNE’s Dr Stephen Harris, a member of the organising committee for the Armidale event, said UNE would be the final venue for the program, which has been on tour for the past year. “They contacted us in UNE’s School of English, Communication and Theatre, and we leaped at the chance,” Dr Harris said.

He explained that “writing out” referred to the process of writing and publishing scholarly work in a way that would interest readers who were not specialists in the field.

The program, initiated by the Humanities Writing Project and funded largely by the Australian Research Council, is directed principally at academics in the humanities, with special reference to postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for aspiring academics and early-career researchers who are interested in communicating with a more general audience,” Dr Harris said.

The program consists of seminars followed by writing workshops. The two seminars – from 10 am to 12 noon on both Friday 1 September and Saturday 2 September – are open to all interested people. They will involve discussions among scholars, writers, editors and publishers on the process of presenting scholarly material to a wider, general audience. The panellists for Friday’s seminar, titled “Editorial Practices”, will include UNE’s Emeritus Professor Julian Croft, Professor Margaret Harris (Chair of the Humanities Writing Project), Phillipa McGuinness (Commissioning Editor, UNSW Press), Dr Catherine Cole (Sydney-based cultural historian, academic and novelist), and Paul Cliff (Editor, National Library of Australia). Several of the visiting panellists will also contribute to Saturday’s seminar, titled “Writing and Research”, and will be joined by prominent UNE academics including the distinguished historian Professor Alan Atkinson.

Friday’s seminar will be in Arts Lecture Theatre A1, and Saturday’s in Arts Lecture Theatre A2. People interested in attending one of both of the seminars should contact Gill Willis on (02) 6773 2023 (or e-mail: gwillis2@une.edu.au).

The writing workshops – from 2 pm to 5 pm on both days – are restricted to registered participants, who will be working on their own material. They will work directly with selected panellists to develop skills and techniques relevant to their discipline and publishing interests.

“There is a lot of valuable research being done,” Dr Harris said. “If some of it can reach a wider audience, our society will be enriched and scholars will be rewarded with wider circulation of their work and ideas.”

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows members of the UNE organising committee for "Writing Out" – (from left) Associate Professor Michael Sharkey, Ms Gill Willis, Associate Professor Dugald Williamson, Ms Rose Williamson, and Dr Stephen Harris.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:26 PM

UNE celebrates achievements, potential of Business School students

August 25, 2006

The New England Business School (NEBS) at The University of New England has celebrated the academic achievement of its most outstanding students at the annual CPA Australia Merit Awards Evening.

The winners of 50 of the awards, along with their relatives and friends, were able to attend the event at UNE last week, at which the guest speaker was the Director of the NSW Division of CPA Australia, Ron Switzer. Mr Switzer, along with the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, and NEBS Senior Lecturer Robert Shannon, presented the awards. Later, Professor Pettigrew (pictured here, at right) moved a vote of thanks to Mr Switzer (at left of photograph).

Local business people and members of the accounting profession joined the students, their guests, and UNE staff members at the event, which is co-sponsored each year by CPA Australia.

The Merit Awards – this year totalling 260 – went to students whose results were in the first 5 to 6 per cent for any NEBS unit taught in Second Semester 2005, the 2005 – 6 Summer School, or First Semester 2006. One student won four of the awards, and several won two or three each.

Mr Switzer’s address outlined the diversity of career paths available to Accounting graduates. In his own career, before becoming Director of the NSW Division of CPA Australia, Mr Switzer was a partner in KPMG and held chief financial positions in prominent insurance and information technology companies.

CPA Australia’s Recruitment Executive, Catherine Baker, accompanied Mr Switzer to UNE and spoke earlier in the day to UNE Accounting students about the advantages of membership of the association – the largest professional accounting body in Australia – which now has branches in Europe, Asia and New Zealand.

“The New England Business School and CPA Australia have a strong and long-term relationship that has realised enormous benefits for both students and staff at UNE,” explained Professor Larry Smith, the Interim Head of NEBS.

“A key feature of the relationship is the regular visits by high-profile CPA Australia members to the University,” he said. “These regular visits significantly negate the potential professional isolation of being in a regional area, and help establish strong and productive national networks not only for our staff but also for our students. When they visit, the people from CPA Australia spend an extraordinary amount of time talking one-on-one with students, as well as giving more formal talks.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 10:57 AM

Grant helps UNE German reach collaborating campuses

August 24, 2006

The University of New England has won a Commonwealth Government grant of $195,000 to support the continuing development of a modern-language teaching program that is already delivering UNE German courses to students at two other universities.

UNE’s Associate Professor Kerry Dunne (pictured here), the leader of the project, said the Carrick Competitive Grant would allow the project team to develop innovative teaching material in the form of "podcasts" that students could download to a computer or MP3 player. These would be designed not only to teach the German language curriculum, she said, but to “foster independent learning in students doing much of their work over the Internet”. The University of Newcastle and James Cook University in north Queensland are the two universities collaborating in the project.

“As subjects with relatively low enrolment numbers, languages are vulnerable in the current tertiary-education climate,” Dr Dunne said. “Models such as ours (the ‘UNE Blended Model’) can ensure that low-enrolment subjects survive over a range of campuses.”

She explained that Newcastle and James Cook students followed the same program (course materials, assignments, exams, etc.) as UNE students, and that those studying on the Newcastle and Townsville campuses received some face-to-face teaching from local tutors. “It is important that people who chose to study on-campus should have some face-to-face teaching,” she said.

“They do much of their work online,” she continued, “including innovative activities such as ‘Webquests’ and interactive games. They also use the Internet to participate in language practice sessions with the wider student community.

“This 18-month grant from the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education will enable us to develop teaching ‘podcasts’ that contain built-in learning strategies. We need to foster students’ thinking about how they learn, and encourage them to share with other students the strategies that work for them. Through reflective practice, students become better independent learners. In addition, we will also develop a training protocol for online tutors. Tutor-style interaction – both cognitive and social – is an important ingredient of our ‘Blended Model’.”

The collaborative program, initiated by Dr Dunne in 2004 and supported by the Head of UNE’s School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, Associate Professor Herman Beyersdorf, began the delivery of UNE German courses to Newcastle University students in 2005, and to James Cook students this year. The development and implementation of the program was funded by an initial 18-month grant from the Commonwealth Government’s Higher Education Innovation Program. “The grant recognised UNE’s outstanding track record in language teaching – including, of course, distance education – and our possession of the infrastructure necessary for providing a program at another institution,” Dr Dunne said.

She pointed out that aspects of the procedures developed with the Carrick grant – and the knowledge gained as a result – could be readily adapted and applied to the delivery of a wide range of UNE courses.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:11 PM

ALP would consider Federal takeover of health: Julia Gillard

August 23, 2006

Urgent health reform would be the first-term focus of a Federal Labor government, even if it meant a Federal government takeover of the health care system, Shadow Health Minister Julia Gillard told an audience at the University of New England last night.

Speaking at the 23rd Annual Earle Page Politics Lecture, Ms Gillard said a Labor government would not rule out putting the Commonwealth in charge of the nation's hospitals – provided the benefits outweighed the costs.

“A Beazley Labor government would look to the long-term and be prepared to examine the need for big changes,” she said. “That includes being prepared to genuinely discuss the arguments for and against a single funder for health care.”

Ms Gillard praised former Prime Minister and Minister for Health Earle Page, calling him “a doctor to the nation” and crediting him with laying the groundwork for the modern Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. He was also committed to universal access to health care, she said, and floated the idea of a Medicare-style national insurance scheme as early as 1928. (It would take 44 years and a Whitlam Labor government before that idea would become a reality, Ms Gillard noted.)

“Earle Page left a solid legacy of achievements that made a real difference to peoples’ lives, right through to today,” Ms Gillard said.

In contrast, the Howard Government was “in desperate need of his vision, his initiatives, his commitment to universal access, and his farsightedness in health care policy”, she said. “Under the Howard Government, the life and function of Medicare depends solely on electoral politics. On any day they sniff an opportunity, the Howard Government will end universal Medicare and replace it with an American-style system where Medicare is no longer universal but is confined as an under-funded, welfare-style system.”

A Labor government, on the other hand, “would be a government of reform, prepared to build the health system we need for this century”, she said. Such reforms would include strengthening the relationship between the Commonwealth and the States, building better partnerships between the public and private hospital systems, and giving “serious consideration” to a handover of responsibility for health to the Commonwealth, she said.

Ms Gillard also welcomed the recent announcement of a rural medical school at the University of New England, and said it was "about time" more was done to address the shortage of rural medical personnel.

Following her speech, Ms Gillard took questions from the floor on a wide range of issues, including mental health, access to abortion drugs and the role of women in politics. Afterwards, UNE Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Pettigrew moved a vote of thanks to Ms Gillard, praising her for the content of her speech and her “honesty and candour” in answering questions.

The Earle Page Annual Politics Lecture is held in conjunction with the Discipline of Political and International Studies within UNE’s School of Social Science. Previous speakers include Dr Carmen Lawrence, Peter Garrett, and the Hon Philip Ruddock. Last year’s speaker was the Hon Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, after whom the College and lecture series are named, was chairman of the advisory council for the University of New England College from 1938 until 1954, and the University’s first Chancellor from 1954 to 1960. He was also Prime Minister for a brief period in 1939.

A full transcript of Ms Gillard's speech is available at: http://www.juliagillard.alp.org.au/news/0806/spad22-01.php

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

Posted by Leon Braun at 12:41 PM

Signing of Partner Agreement paves way for more Chinese students

August 22, 2006

A senior delegation from Huaiyin Institute of Technology, in Jiangsu Province, China, formalised a Partner Agreement with The University of New England last week during a visit to UNE’s Armidale campus. It is the first international agreement that the university-equivalent Institute has made, and it was the first visit by its senior officials to Australia.

The signing coincided with the publication of UNE’s five-star ratings in several categories – including “overall educational experience” and “teaching quality” – in The Good Universities Guide 2007, and the inclusion of UNE in the Shanghai Institute of Higher Education’s list of the “top 100 Asian universities”.

The Vice-President of Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Professor Liu Jianhua, said these accolades confirmed that they had chosen an ideal international partner for the future, and he was sure UNE’s recognised tradition of providing high-quality education would appeal to his students considering studies overseas. Displaying the Armidale Independent newspaper with its front-page headline about UNE’s five-star ratings, he said: “UNE is one of the best universities we have visited, and has the educational disciplines we are looking for – particularly in the areas of science, and economics, business and law. I can’t wait to show our University President how highly Australia values this university.”

The Director of the Institute’s Office of Foreign Affairs, Associate Professor Dai Meisheng, said Chinese students currently at UNE were very positive about their cultural, social and academic experiences in Armidale. “This provides reassurance for us to promote UNE to students in our region, as they will not only be able to visit a beautiful area, but will benefit from living in a very friendly community and learning from excellent teachers,” she said.

Associate Professor Dai explained that the association with UNE began when UNE’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Development and International), Professor Robin Pollard, visited the Institute’s trade display at an education expo in Seattle, USA, in May 2005.

After returning to China she searched for UNE on the Internet and was sufficiently impressed to take the next step and host a visit by Professor Pollard and the former UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ingrid Moses, in October 2005. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the visit. After visits this year by UNE’s Executive Dean of the Faculty of The Sciences, Professor Margaret Sedgley, and Head of the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Professor A.S.M. Sajeev, arrangements were made for a visit to UNE to formalise relations.

Stuart Allardice, Armidale Dumaresq Council's Tourism and Marketing Manager, visited the Huaiyin Institute of Technology in November last year to assist in the development of closer links with UNE and Armidale. “It was wonderful to see the delegation from Huaiyin visiting UNE,” Mr Allardice said. “The comments and feedback from the visitors have been most reassuring, and look promising for further growth and development between Huaiyin, UNE and the Armidale community.”

“This is only the beginning of our association,” said Professor Liu. “We plan a long and fruitful arrangement with UNE. The current Agreement is for undergraduate students only, and we hope to cooperate to send postgraduate students also. We have many good photos of UNE for our promotion in China, and after we get back we will ask the President for a special office for us to carry out our program to send many students to UNE in the future.”

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, receiving a token gift from the Vice-President of the Huaiyin Institute, Professor Liu Jianhua.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:20 PM

Absent farmers can keep a high-tech 'eye' on their properties

August 21, 2006

A cutting-edge farm monitoring system that allows farmers to see what's happening on their properties from virtually anywhere in the world is entering a commercial trial phase.

Developed by The University of New England's Institute for Rural Futures (IRF) and Telstra Country Wide, the system uses the Internet to give farmers a real-time visual connection - through a computer or mobile phone - with their properties.

"The overriding benefit of this system is that it can save farmers money," said Brendan Doyle, the Assistant Director of IRF. "The cost of running farming operations is on the rise. The costs of fuel, and vehicle repairs and maintenance, are rising rapidly, as is the cost of labour on the land. With the falling costs of telecommunication services, this farm monitoring technology responds to the need for a cost-effective means of monitoring farms and their operations."

"The applications are virtually limitless, but along with the cost-savings to the business, our focus at this point is farm security and the peace-of-mind that comes with that," said Telstra Country Wide's General Manager for North West NSW, Elise Munsie. "In this area, our partnership with the Institute for Rural Futures at UNE has given farmers a fighting chance when it comes to farm security. If one or both members of the farming partnership work off-farm, or the farm is large, this technology provides a level of security and peace-of-mind, that they currently don't have."

The new system combines practical rural knowledge and innovation with Telstra's CDMA mobile network, and will be capable of operating on the new 3G 850 network when that arrives early next year. Each unit consists of a sturdy but portable steel stand, electronic switching components and telecommunication technology, and a solar panel and camera. Successful on-farm trials in the New England region over the past 18 months have demonstrated the system's unique strengths and cost-effectiveness.

Chris Weber, an IRF Project Officer, conducted the farm trial phase of the project. Sitting in his office at UNE, he demonstrated how he was able to operate a video camera on his property near Walcha, about an hour's drive away, and "look through the camera" at his farm.

"This is a project we've been talking about and working on for a long time, so we're all very excited to see it coming to fruition," Ms Munsie explained. "The two units that will be showcased at our site at Ag-Quip in Gunnedah from the 22nd to the 24th of August represent our first commercial prototype. We will be moving on from this point to have 20 units - manufactured at UNE's Science Engineering Workshop - rolled out to farms and other businesses across Queensland, NSW and Victoria for commercial testing. Ag-Quip is one of the vital forums through which we can get feedback from potential users, factor in their input, and gauge their needs for the future".

Mr Doyle said the new system represented "a quantum leap in farm security". "Every year, farmers lose hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of livestock and equipment to thieves," he said. "With the exception of emerging electronic identification strategies, there has been perceivably very little advancement in the fight against rural crime - until now.

"Through our farm trials, the concept has proven to be reliable, convenient, and - above all - user-friendly. The development of the unit into the future will see farmers able to monitor water troughs, electric fences and livestock movement. In the near future, this technology could be developed towards remote-controlled farming. We are currently opening and closing gates on properties from virtually anywhere in the world. It provides a whole range of possibilities to farmers that just weren't there before.

"The purpose of the commercial trial phase we are entering into is to get some hard data on how the technology works - and its benefits, and so on, according to the farmers who will be putting it into practice."

For more information please contact Brendan Doyle: 02 6773 3077 or 0428 597 113.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here was taken in UNE's Science Engineering Workshop. Standing around a solar panel and camera for the farm-monitoring system are (from left) Nathan Axelsson (Telstra Country Wide's Marketing Specialist - North West NSW), Elise Munsie, Brendan Doyle, Mike Beveridge (Science Engineering Workshop), Chris Weber, and Andrew Gasbarri (Science Engineering Workshop Manager).

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 03:04 PM

Grain industry leader to give Robb College Rural Focus Lecture

August 18, 2006

The Managing Director of GrainCorp, Tom Keene, will be keynote speaker at the Annual Robb College Rural Focus Dinner and Lecture at The University of New England on Tuesday 12 September. His topical subject, "The changing grain industry", will provide insights into modern agriculture and grain markets.

Mr Keene (pictured here), a UNE graduate, was raised in country NSW and lived at Robb College while he completed his Bachelor of Economics degree. He has enjoyed an extensive career in agriculture and agribusiness – at the forefront of a changing grain industry – since the 1980s.

In 1983 Mr Keene was appointed General Manager of the Prime Wheat Association, and was responsible for the merger of the Hard and Soft Wheat Growers Associations and the subsequent acquisition of GrainCorp Limited from the NSW Government in 1992.

Since then, he has led the organisation through an extensive program of change, including listing on the ASX in 1998 and the merger with VicGrain in 2000. As managing director of GrainCorp, he is responsible for an agri-food business employing more than 1,000 full-time staff, and supervises bulk handling logistics, grain trading, farm inputs, and other activities throughout NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the lecture at Robb College, which is scheduled for 8 pm, but should book through the College office on (02) 6773 1700.

The Master of Robb College, Mr Michael Maas, said it was always a pleasure to welcome back one of the College’s past students – particularly as a guest speaker, like Tom Keene. “There is a real sense of giving back to the College for the time they had and the experiences they enjoyed while living here,” Mr Maas said. "We are very proud of our Robb College alumni. Our current students, our guests, and the public will certainly be inspired by Tom's achievements."

Mr. Keene has described UNE’s reputation as “second to none” for producing graduates who are well prepared for the agribusiness world. “It is a great honour to be invited to give this lecture,” he said. “Being a Robb College alumnus provides me with an invaluable network of contacts that links agricultural sectors around Australia and overseas.”

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:44 AM

School students feel all the fun of scientific discovery

August 17, 2006

From using stone-age tools to programming robots: school students from around northern NSW had a hands-on experience of scientific adventure at The University of New England yesterday.

More than 300 students from schools in Armidale, Uralla, Guyra, Inverell, Dorrigo, Toormina and Gunnedah visited UNE for the University’s fourth annual “Science in the Bush” event.

The students, all in Years 7-10, took part in activities with evocative titles such as “Weed Wipeout”, “Skull and Bone Challenge”, and “Out of the Swamp”. Other activities included freezing wattle in liquid nitrogen, finding buried treasure, and using fluorescence to identify an unknown substance. “Science in the Bush” is scheduled each year as a UNE contribution to National Science Week.

The Executive Dean of UNE’s Faculty of The Sciences, Professor Margaret Sedgley, welcomed the students, emphasising the importance of “fun” in the work of scientific discovery. The coordinator of the event, Dr Chris Fellows from UNE Chemistry, said it was “important for students to understand that science is not something that is unapproachable, but rather a real part of life here in New England”.

“A lot of students see the capital cities as where the ‘cutting edge’ of science is,” Dr Fellows continued. “I hope that days like these will help students realise that the same courses and learning experiences are offered right here at UNE.” Professor Sedgley, too, spoke about the advantages of a top-quality scientific education in a country environment.

Visitors from CSIRO and the Anglo-Australian Observatory contributed to the day’s activities, and there were two guest speakers sponsored by the Australian Institute of Political Science’s “Young Tall Poppies” program. These were Associate Professor Naomi Rogers from the University of Sydney and Associate Professor Suresh Mahalingam from the University of Canberra.

These two speakers also presented talks for the general public yesterday evening. Dr Rogers talked about the “science of sleep”, and Dr Mahalingam about mosquito-borne viruses. “The public lectures provide an opportunity for the general community, as well as students and academics, to participate in the world of science and the many avenues it opens up,” Dr Fellows said.

Two students from Dorrigo High School – Emily Johnson and Katherine Sangster – won the “science trivia quiz”. Contributors to the “Science in the Bush” program, hosted by UNE, included the University itself, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training, the Australian Poultry CRC, the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC, the “Young Tall Poppies” program, CSIRO, the Anglo-Australian Observatory, and the Universities of Sydney and Canberra.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Dr Chris Fellows (left) with UNE students Alex Fell and Samantha Turner, who were among the team of UNE staff and students involved in the presentation of "Science in the Bush".

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:49 PM

UNE a five-star performer in Good Universities Guide

August 16, 2006

The University of New England has achieved top rating (five stars) for all three primary categories of students’ “educational experience” in The Good Universities Guide for 2007. UNE has held this maximum rating for seven of the past eight years, out-performing every other university in Australia.

The Good Universities Guide is compiled using statistical data from various sources, including surveyed graduating students. The “educational experience” rating is based on information from the national Course Experience Questionnaire, which comprises feedback from graduates on teaching quality, their acquisition of generic skills, and their overall satisfaction with the course.

“Our surveyed graduates have given us the five stars in ‘teaching quality’, ‘graduate satisfaction’, and ‘overall graduate rating’,” said the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew (pictured here). “This is essentially a resounding endorsement of the educational experience at UNE. It means that UNE will stand out – thanks to our graduates – when high-school leavers consult this national resource and choose which university or college they wish to attend.”

“Full marks for ‘the UNE experience’ is truly rewarding for all staff at the University,” Professor Pettigrew said. “We are proud of their continuing efforts and commitment to teaching and to every individual student. I am grateful to our graduates for recognising their dedication."

“This acknowledgement of excellence in the independently compiled Good Universities Guide follows the recent recognition – from the Australian Government’s Carrick Institute – of UNE’s ‘outstanding contribution to student learning’,” Professor Pettigrew continued. The Carrick Citations are an initiative of the Australian Government to promote and reward excellence in university teaching. UNE was awarded the maximum number of 10 Citations for 2006.

UNE has also achieved the maximum five-star rating in “Indigenous participation”, increasing from four stars in the 2006 edition of The Good Universities Guide. “The five-star rating is welcome acknowledgement of our performance in this area,” Professor Pettigrew said. “UNE and the Australian Government have jointly funded the construction of a $2.3 million Indigenous resource facility. Now under construction, the new Oorala Centre will be a unique and innovative approach to facilitating Indigenous higher education.”

The Guide provides positive commentary on UNE’s provision of double degrees, which have seen a rapid rise in demand, and UNE performed strongly in both the “toughness to get in” and “entry flexibility” categories. In drawing attention to UNE’s “attractive scholarships, including those reserved for country students”, the Guide highlights the important role of the University in rural and regional Australia.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:20 PM

Scholarship to honour pioneering UNE botany researcher

August 15, 2006

With the help of the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, The University of New England is establishing a new scholarship that recognises the University’s key role in describing and conserving the native plants of north-eastern NSW.

The scholarship will be named in honour of John Williams, UNE’s founding lecturer in plant taxonomy, and will be awarded to a postgraduate student undertaking research on Australian native plant biodiversity.

Associate Professor Peter Clarke from UNE Botany said the J.B Williams Plant Biodiversity Scholarship would celebrate Dr Williams’s enormous contribution to the cataloguing of plant biodiversity in north-eastern NSW, while recognising the amount of work still to be done. “John Williams collected more than 11,000 specimens now in UNE’s N.C.W. Beadle Herbarium,” Dr Clarke said. “UNE researchers are still, however, discovering new species – and new populations of rare species – in this richly diverse environment, and there are many more wonders waiting to be discovered.”

“Scientific understanding of biodiversity rests on a legacy of natural history research that is left to universities and the broader community by scientists such as John Williams,” Dr Clarke continued. “Currently, researchers in UNE’s School of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management are working with the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) on a number of projects aimed at developing best-practice management of biodiversity in National Parks and other conservation reserves.”

Dr Tony Fleming, the Deputy Director of DEC’s National Parks and Wildlife Division, visited UNE earlier this year to launch a special issue (Volume 127) of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society containing a collection of papers, dedicated to John Williams, on the biology and ecology of the Gibraltar Range National Park. (Edited by Dr Clarke and Dr Peter Myerscough from the University of Sydney, the volume includes eight papers by UNE researchers.) Dr Fleming, who is a graduate of UNE and a former student of Dr Williams, then presented a cheque for $15,000 to the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, to initiate the J.B. Williams Plant Biodiversity Scholarship fund.

Dr Williams’s widow, Mrs Beth Williams, and some of his many friends, attended the presentation ceremony.

“DEC’s generous gift will form the basis of the J.B. Williams Scholarship fund,” Dr Clarke said, “and will be supplemented by other gifts to Botany. We hope to be able to award the first Plant Biodiversity Scholarship next year.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows (from left) UNE's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Peter Flood, Professor Alan Pettigrew, Mrs Beth Williams, Dr Tony Fleming, and Associate Professor Peter Clarke.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 02:56 PM

UNE researcher heads international science education body

August 14, 2006

Dr Terry Lyons from The University of New England has been elected Chair of the International Organisation for Science and Technology Education (IOSTE).

Dr Lyons (pictured here), who served on the board of IOSTE for the past two years, will chair the organisation until 2008. His election took place during the 12th Symposium of IOSTE, held in Penang, Malaysia, earlier this month.

He and Dr Debra Panizzon represented UNE at the Symposium, which was attended by about 200 delegates from more than 30 countries. The focus of the Symposium was "science and technology education in the service of humankind".

IOSTE is the most international of the major science education organisations, promoting dialogue across political and ideological borders. Established in 1979, it encourages informed debate, reflection and research on science and technology education. "The variety of papers presented at the Penang Symposium highlighted the diversity of IOSTE," Dr Lyons said, "and its commitment to exploring science and technology education issues in developed and developing countries alike."

In his inaugural speech, Dr Lyons said he was excited by the challenges of chairing such a large and diverse organisation, and was looking forward to the next IOSTE Symposium in Turkey in 2008.

Dr Lyons is Project Manager of a recently-conducted national survey of science, mathematics, and information and communication technology (ICT) education in rural and regional schools. The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, visited UNE last month to launch the survey’s published findings. The National Centre of Science, ICT and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR), from its base at UNE and assisted by its "SiMERR Hubs" at universities in every Australian State and Territory, conducted the National Survey – the largest education survey concerning rural and regional issues ever undertaken in Australia.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:33 PM

A talent for friendship: Jenny Post retires after 47 years at UNE

August 14, 2006

With her talent for turning colleagues into life-long friends, Jenny Post created what many of those friends have called a “comfort zone” in her office at The University of New England.

Mrs Post, who retired last week after a 47-year association with the University, spent the last twenty-five-and-a-half of those years as Executive Assistant to the Dean of Arts. Four of the five Deans she has worked with were at her farewell function in “Booloominbah” on Thursday. (The fifth was there in spirit, although called away on business.)

One of those Deans, Mrs Jennifer Crew, confirmed that Mrs Post, in addition to an exemplary efficiency, had the invaluable ability “to put everyone at their ease”. The current Executive Dean, Professor Michael Macklin, in listing Mrs Post’s “virtues”, numbered among them “discretion” and “loyalty” – “loyalty to friends, family, and work colleagues”.

Mrs Post joined the staff of UNE in 1959. Several of her very first colleagues were at the farewell function, as well as about 100 others from subsequent years. Her first position was in the Department of External Studies, where she contributed to the early success of UNE’s world-renowned distance education program. Her husband Max, who joined the staff of the University in 1961, was to become UNE’s Distance Education Coordinator. He retired earlier this year.

Mrs Post devoted the 10 years from the end of 1965 to bringing up her two children Carolyn and Christopher (and is looking forward, now, to spending more time with her five grandchildren). She returned to UNE on a part-time basis in 1976, and worked in several areas before moving to the office of the Dean of Arts. This led to the permanent, full-time position of Executive Assistant to the Dean – a position she held for the past twenty-five-and-a-half years.

Helen McKinnon from the Arts Faculty – now the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – spoke for all her colleagues when she said it had been “an honour and a privilege” to work with Mrs Post. “Her calm demeanour and grace under pressure are legendary,” Mrs McKinnon said.

Mrs Post received a gold necklace as a farewell gift. She also received an album of photographs from throughout her UNE career (and tributes from colleagues – including the five Deans) illustrating the respect and affection of all those she has worked with.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Mrs Jenny Post (second from left) with the current Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Michael Macklin (second from right) and former Deans of the Faculty of Arts (from left) Professor Graham Maddox, Mrs Jennifer Crew, and Professor Randall Albury.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:12 AM

Project explores ‘bio-banking’ value for farmers

August 11, 2006

A grassroots project is paving the way for the development of new financial opportunities for graziers in western NSW.

Environmental management could provide them with alternative sources of income.

Dr Ian Patrick (pictured here), a researcher at The University of New England’s Institute for Rural Futures, has been working with a dozen graziers in the Walgett area of western NSW, assessing their ideas about the potential value of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity on their farms.

The project relates to the NSW Government’s proposed ‘bio-banking’ policy, under which development would be allowed to proceed only if the developers agreed to offset the environmental impact by paying to improve environmental quality in a nearby area.

“With a ‘bio-banking’ Bill presently before the NSW Parliament, graziers may soon have the option of adding the provision of environmental services such as wildlife corridors, areas of native flora conservation, river bank restoration and the improvement of river water quality to their enterprise mix,” Dr Patrick said. “This could provide financial benefits to producers, improve the environment, and decrease the need for government regulation.”

The project, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, will see Dr Patrick back in the Walgett area in mid-September to conduct a thorough study of 50 graziers’ perceptions of the extent and value of biodiversity.

“This information will be a useful starting point in understanding the biodiversity credits that will be required as the NSW Government moves towards the development of biodiversity banking,” he said. “It will also provide graziers with a better understanding of this new ‘product’ that is likely to become an integral part of their farm plan in the future.”

“This project will play a vital role,” he continued, “in providing developers or entrepreneurs – indeed, any buyer of biodiversity credits – with estimates of what the suppliers (that is, the landholders) will need to be paid to ensure management specifically for conservation. The study will also determine how these landholders would like to be paid.”

“Internationally, we are already seeing considerable interest being expressed in this research project from agencies and policy makers in Canada and the USA,” Dr Patrick said.

For more information please contact Dr Ian Patrick on (02) 6773 3072, or visit:
http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/projects

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:21 PM

Middle East conflict: visiting expert to analyse past, predict future

August 11, 2006

A Visiting Research Fellow in The University of New England’s Asia Centre will reveal a future of “doom and gloom” when he presents his expert analysis of the origins and development of the Middle East conflict in a public seminar at UNE next week.

Dr John Kent, Reader in International Relations at the London School of Economics, will argue that a “continuing low-level conflict” is the most optimistic scenario for the future of a region blighted by the diplomatic failures of 50 years ago.

Dr Kent (pictured here), an international authority on foreign policy and military strategy in the Middle East, will explain how a problem that was potentially solvable in the 1950s has deteriorated into the violent and intransigent confrontation of today. His talk, titled “Israel, the US and the Middle East: the weight of the past and the collapse of the future”, will be at 5.30 pm on Tuesday 15 August in UNE’s Arts Lecture Theatre A2.

He will examine the progress of the conflict from its roots – among which he includes the unilateral strategies of Israel’s founding politicians and the unwillingness of Arab leaders to attempt to persuade their people to accept a State of Israel. In his view, the failure of the United States to find solutions to these initial problems – when there was, conceivably, “a way forward” – has resulted in the subsequent pattern of ever-deepening conflict, the development of militant groups confronting Israel on its borders, and “intransigence firmly embedded on both sides”.

“I find it very difficult to see any hope for the future other than a low-level mess,” he said, “with the likelihood of it’s developing into a bigger mess – for example if the Israelis attack the Syrians.”

Dr Kent’s talk, which is one of a series of Asia Centre Public Seminars at UNE, will include an examination of the difficult question as to why America is so committed to the support of Israel. “The United States is not, in the foreseeable future, going to put any pressure on Israel to compromise,” he said.

Dr Kent, who arrived in UNE’s Asia Centre towards the end of July, will be involved in collaborative research there until early September.

For more information on Dr Kent’s talk, contact the Asia Centre on (02) 6773 3499.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 11:02 AM

Pru Goward to give public lecture at UNE

August 10, 2006

The Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Pru Goward, will give a public lecture at The University of New England next week. Her lecture, while focusing on sex discrimination laws as they relate to university communities, will be of interest to members of the general public.

“It is very important that people in the UNE community – and in the broader Armidale community – take advantage of this opportunity to hear Pru Goward,” said UNE’s Senior Equity Officer, Lyn Tucker. “We do a lot of work to ensure that sex-based harassment and discrimination are eliminated from the University environment. This is a chance to get an update on the legislation and to hear some of the initiatives that the Commissioner has been involved with in recent years.”

The lecture will be from 2 pm to 3 pm in UNE’s Paul Barrett Lecture Theatre (Psychology building S6) on Tuesday 15 August. It will be free to interested members of the public.

“Pru Goward has done a lot of work to combat violence against women and to eliminate discrimination in the workplace,” Ms Tucker said. “She has also addressed the increasingly recognised need for workplace flexibility and work / life balance.”

“It is a wonderful opportunity for the general public to hear the Sex Discrimination Commissioner,” she continued. “Ms Goward's visit to Armidale will include other locations, including schools and business women’s groups. However, the lecture at UNE will be open and of relevance to a broad cross-section of the public. It’s always great to see people from outside the region coming to UNE and Armidale, bringing us up to date with the latest changes and thinking. The ‘tyranny of distance’ can be a challenge when striving to keep abreast of issues like the initiatives and legislation advocated by the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner.”

Ms Tucker pointed out that UNE is recognized as an “Employer of Choice for Women” by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. “We have maintained that status since 2002,” she said. “The Commissioner's visit is another means of keeping us up to date, and seeing what else we can do in the way of identifying any barriers that may prevent women from progressing in the workplace.”

Pru Goward (pictured here) became federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner in July 2001. Part of her role as Commissioner involves educational activities to promote laws that aim to reduce barriers – particularly within the workplace .

In 2004 she was nominated by The Australian newspaper as one of the 40 most influential Australians, and the Financial Review voted her one of Australia’s most important influencers of industrial relations and culture. Her speeches have been reproduced in published collections, and in 2001 she was awarded a Centenary Medal for her services to journalism and women’s rights.

For more information, contact Lyn Tucker on (02) 6773 3242.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 01:48 PM

Research students from around the world share ideas at UNE

August 09, 2006

A four-day conference at The University of New England is providing new skills and vital feedback to postgraduate research students from around Australia and abroad.

Students from throughout UNE's Faculty of Education, Health and Professional Studies are taking part in the Faculty's inaugural Postgraduate Research Conference. One of the conference organisers, Dr Terrence Hays, a Senior Lecturer in Education at UNE, described it as an opportunity for research students to develop their communication skills, get collegial feedback, and build research networks.

"While undergraduate students learn and study existing knowledge," Dr Hays explained, "PhD candidates delve into uncharted territory - researching new areas and creating new knowledge. They relish any opportunity to discuss their work with like-minded colleagues and gain professional feedback."

The conference is focusing on the politics, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies involved in research. "Whether the Faculty's PhD candidates were studying here at the campus in Armidale, or externally from within Australia or overseas, we knew they would benefit from this initiative," Dr Hays continued. "We are seeing a wide range of presenters gaining valuable feedback from academics and fellow students. For international external students, it has also been a welcome chance to meet their supervisors. Postgraduate research is usually undertaken on an individual basis, so it's important that we alleviate any sense of professional isolation."

More than 150 postgraduate researchers have converged on UNE for the conference, and many have voiced their praise for the opportunities it has provided. Masahiro Nishihara is doing his PhD externally through UNE and came all the way from Japan to attend the conference. Mr Nishihara teaches English at the Toyama National College of Maritime Technology in Japan, which has sent students to UNE's Language Training Centre for the past 10 years. "I am researching the history of English teaching," he said. "This is a convenient opportunity to meet my supervisors and to learn from other researchers in my field."

Another overseas external PhD candidate mingling with the locals is Cheryl Crippen. "I think this conference is brilliant," Ms Crippen said, "because most of the time PhD students don't get the time or opportunity to collaborate with students from other countries. It's giving us different perspectives on research questions. In the United States, PhD programs are very institution-specific and you only network with people within your own institution or maybe at professional conferences."

"My research topic is cross-cultural parenting," she explained. "I'm doing it through UNE as part a collaboration that was begun two years ago between Cal-State, Fullerton University in California and UNE. This arrangement has provided me with the flexibility to do my PhD while working full-time, which is ordinarily impossible in the United States."

The conference program includes keynote addresses, panel forums, and the presentation of 45 papers by students. The presenters are being given the opportunity to see their papers published by the Australian College of Educators.

Funding for the conference, which will conclude on Friday 11 August, was provided by UNE's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Peter Flood, and the Faculty's Executive Dean, Professor Victor Minichiello, and Associate Dean (Research), Professor Anne Eckermann.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Cheryl Crippen and Masahiro Nishihara at the UNE conference.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 02:56 PM

Julia Gillard to deliver Earle Page College Politics Lecture

August 08, 2006

The Shadow Minister for Health and Member for Lalor, Julia Gillard MP, will present this year’s Annual Earle Page College Politics Lecture at The University of New England on Tuesday, 22nd August. The title of Ms Gillard’s lecture will be: “From Earle Page to turning the page – Australia’s next health system”.

A large audience is expected, in addition to College members and official guests, according to Mr David Ward, Master of Earle Page College. The public lecture – at 8.30 pm – will follow a formal dinner for College members and invited guests at which Ms Gillard will be the guest of honour.

“The Annual Politics Lecture is a significant town-and-gown event for UNE, Armidale and the region,” Mr Ward said. “We are delighted to have another high-profile politician deliver this, the 23rd one. The series aims at providing Earle Page residents, guests and members of the public with a diverse range of political opinions on significant public issues.”

Each year Earle Page College invites a prominent political figure to speak at its Annual Politics Lecture, held in conjunction with the Discipline of Political and International Studies within UNE’s School of Social Science. Previous speakers include Dr Carmen Lawrence, Peter Garrett, and the Hon. Philip Ruddock. Last year’s speaker was the Hon. Alexander Downer, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

“The Earle Page Politics Lectures are intended to stimulate thought and discussion,” Mr Ward said. “The lecture should also provide a forum for thoughtful questions to Ms Gillard.”

Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, after whom the College and lecture series are named, was chairman of the advisory council for The University of New England College from 1938 until 1954, and then the University’s first Chancellor from 1954 to 1960. He was also Prime Minister for a brief period in 1939.

Ms Gillard was born in Wales, migrating to Australia with her family in 1966. She studied Arts and Law at the University in Adelaide. In 1982 she was elected as national Education Vice-President of the Australian Union of Students, and became president of that organisation the following year. She began work as a solicitor with the law firm Slater and Gordon and became a partner in 1990. In May, 1996, she was appointed Chief of Staff of the Victorian Opposition leader, John Brumby.

Ms Gillard was elected to Federal Parliament in 1998, and has been a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations and the Joint Statutory Committee for Public Accounts and Audits. She has also been a part of the Caucus Committees on Living Standards, Economic Development, National Security, and Trade.

In 2004, after her re-election, Ms Gillard was reinstated as Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business.

The lecture will be in the Earle Page College Dining Hall. Those wishing to attend are asked to call the College office on 6773 5300 in order to reserve a seat. For more information phone David Ward on 6773 5300 or John Kauter on 6773 2779.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at 04:16 PM

Global perspectives to be gained at UNE

August 07, 2006

The University of New England is to meet a growing need for global perspectives, as international trends and developments increasingly impact on Australian economic, social and political life. UNE will better prepare students to understand and cope with the increasingly turbulent international environment through recent changes to Political and International Studies (PAIS). Located with the School of Social Science, PAIS has been formed through the amalgamation of Political Science, International Relations and Asian Societies.

“Political and International Studies represents a new and vibrant area of teaching and research that will ensure that students at UNE are introduced to knowledge at the cutting edge of a rapidly changing world. We are in the process of developing a new and innovative curriculum for students, which we feel will assist them to address some of the big issues confronting Australian society, and its place in the wider world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region,” said PAIS convenor, Dr. Andrew Brown [pictured here with a global focus].

“We are also looking to enhance the range of skills we teach our students. We plan to provide an interesting and topical spread of subjects, through which students can develop a broad range of skills and knowledge of both a practical and theoretical nature,” he said.

“We will have a focus on globalisation and its impact on Australia’s economy, politics and society from a community and local perspective (such as the North West of NSW), as well as from a wider Australian regional and national level,” said Dr. Brown.

“Our students are facing an increasingly competitive market place when they graduate. We have found that they require an appreciation of broad local, regional and global viewpoints through which they may gain a sound knowledge of the interconnections between political, economic and social processes. We have students working in the public service and the private sector where they are engaged in a diverse array of occupations.

"What we’re finding is that in equipping students with a range of skills and knowledge, we are enhancing their capacity to successfully compete within their chosen career paths. We currently have students working in intelligence, foreign aid, diplomacy, trade, marketing, human resources, as well as in local government. It’s an increasingly competitive market out there and we are here to assist students to launch or further their chosen career paths”.

“We will be expanding our range of course delivery tools. Podcasting and other flexible options will better facilitate the learning and understanding of Political and International Studies among our external students,” said Dr. Brown.

“The days are long gone when we could produce university graduates with knowledge of Australian politics and society in isolation from wider regional and global developments. We’ve got to take a global perspective now. We have an increasingly inter-dependent world, and Australia is forging a new position within that world and this will carry enormous implications for all aspects of Australian life”.

The first of several new units will be introduced by PAIS in 2007 with some further unit development occurring in 2008. Dr Brown said that “In developing the new syllabus we are drawing on the rich experience of PAIS staff as well as paying close attention to the feedback we have been receiving from our students. From 2007 all our units will have a PAIS code which will make the process of enrolling much easier for everyone.”

For further information about Political and International Studies at UNE please contact Dr Andrew Brown on (02) 67732557 or abrown2@une.edu.au. Media contact: (02) 6773 3049

Posted by Gary Fry at 04:57 PM

UNE’s raking in the rewards of new Native Grass Seed Crop

August 04, 2006

The University of New England has a new native grass on the market. Far reaching benefits are expected, after years of development and trials. A ceremony at UNE marked the commercialisation of Microlaena stipoides or Weeping Grass. Proud researchers and industry representatives reflected on the long developmental process and the future implications for Australia and the University.

The CEO of Melbourne based Native Seeds Pty Ltd, Ian Chivers presented the first royalties cheque from commercial seed sales to the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew. It was the culmination of a developmental process, and a relationship between UNE and its commercial partner, Native Seeds, which spanned over two decades.

Associate Professor Wal Whalley, an Honorary Fellow in Botany at UNE led the Microlaena project at UNE, where efforts to develop commercial varieties began in the mid-1980’s. Three varieties evolved: Griffin, a fine, soft turf; Shannon, a low growing, dense amenity variety for roadsides and golf course roughs; and Wakefield, a leafy forage variety. These three varieties of Microlaena were registered under Plant Breeders Rights by UNE in 1995, following support from a number of funding bodies.

Perseverance and weed control were the key elements to overcoming difficulties in producing commercial quantities of seed from these varieties. “Our biggest overall hurdle in producing seed bearing crops was weed control. With native grass, you sow the seed, it germinates rapidly and the seedlings can then achieve little or no growth for up to five months, depending on the time of year. In that time, weeds can crawl all over them,” said Dr. Whalley.

“Weeping grass has a broad range of applications. It can thrive in almost all Australian climates, aside from the really arid. We’ve found pasture applications, mine site rehabilitation or roadside re-vegetation, lawns, local parks and gardens, and many more applications. We’ve been successfully selling the Griffin variety for low maintenance, low water requirement lawns. The grass is native and hardy but still a high quality option,” said Mr. Chivers. “We’ve also found horticultural applications, under rows of vines for example, where low maintenance but persistent ground cover is sought after.”

“We are genuinely excited! We are now able to get significant quantities of seed onto the market and start to meet the huge demand out there for native grasses. It’s taken a lot of people and a lot effort to reach this point and hopefully we can increase the abundance of native (particularly weeping) grasses in Australia.

“Look, things are changing. There’s climate change, the increasing prevalence of drought, flood, higher temperatures, and rising costs of farming and government operations. People are looking for lower cost, lower maintenance grass options. Native grass like Griffin Microlaena meets a growing need in Australia. It’s only natural, rather than planting an exotic species and struggle to quench its thirst, you can plant this native and get essentially the same result, without the fertiliser and water demands. It’s a pretty compelling argument,” said Mr. Chivers.

In years to come, the UNE developed Microlaena could mow down its exotic rivals in the species turf war. Griffin Microlaena seed is now available commercially, with Shannon and Wakefield seed expected to become available within several years. “Obviously, botanical experiments and trials are restricted by the speed with which plants grow, so patience is essential,” said Dr. Whalley.

Pictured here at the ceremony are CEO of Native Seeds Pty Ltd, Ian Chivers, UNE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, and Honorary Fellow in Botany at UNE, Associate Professor Wal Whalley, proudly holding a sample of the native grass, ‘Griffin’ Microlaena.

Posted by Gary Fry at 04:42 PM

Italian dignitary to launch The 3rd Armidale International Film Festival

August 03, 2006

The Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Sydney, Dr Gerlando Butti, will be officially launching Armidale’s 3rd International Film Festival, August 4-6. Dr Butti is an Italian Government representative in Australia, and Vice Consul for Cultural Affairs. He will be welcomed by Armidale Dumaresq Mayor, Cr Peter Ducat, at the Festival Opening at 6:30pm Friday 4th August. There will refreshments after the opening film.

“Dr Butti is invited to countless cultural events but rarely travels out of Sydney, due to his hectic schedule. His visit is a clear endorsement of the highly regarded teaching of Italian language and culture at The University of New England,” said Senior Lecturer in Italian, Dr Franko Leoni.

“UNE’s close relationship with the Italian Government has been demonstrated by the very substantial funding of the Italian Section since 1996 to support the teaching of this language at UNE through the appointment of an Italian lecturer,” he said.

“Italian is the second most widely spoken language in Australia. UNE currently has a total of 320 students of Italian and a strong international reputation,” said Dr Leoni.

The 3rd annual festival will include 13 films from many countries and will include a film in every language taught at UNE. Encompassing all genres, there promises to be something for everyone, from visiting international guests to local movie buffs, according to UNE’s Andrea Schalley, Chair of the 2006 Festival Organising Committee.

“This year, the language to be showcased on opening night will be Italian and the film shown will be Manuale d’amore (Manual of Love), nominated for 12 Italian Oscars,” said. Dr Schalley.

“Dr Butti is responsible for most of Italy’s and cultural arrangements in Australia. That he and his wife are coming here speaks volumes about UNE’s Italian Section and the credibility of the Armidale International Film Festival,” said Dr. Schalley.

Tickets for the festival, including the gala opening night, are available online or from the Belgrave Twin Cinema and cost just $50 for 13 films. Tickets to individual screenings are available at normal cinema prices. For more information visit the website: http://www.une.edu.au/iff.

Pictured is Senior Lecturer in Italian at UNE, Dr. Franko Leoni showing Italians are big on entertainment.

For further information please contact: Dr. Andrea Schalley 61 02 6773 3655.
Dr. Franko Leoni (Sen. UNE Lect. in Italian) 61 02 6773 3133.

http://photodatabase.une.edu.au/albums/incoming/2005/staff/Leonie%20Franco%20%20TV.jpg

Posted by Gary Fry at 09:36 AM

Interest rates - Where is the building boom? Why and How to dampen it

August 02, 2006

Researchers at the Institute for Rural Futures at the University of New England, Armidale have warned that interest rates do not control the harmful effects of inappropriate development. “Interest rate rises do not produce sustainable planning for the future,” said Institute Director, Professor David Brunckhorst [pictured].

The Reserve Bank raised interest rates by 0.25%. There have been several rises in the last four years.

“Society can no longer rely on economic market forces, such as interest rates, to control unfettered development that is occurring in the wrong place. Planning and design for sustainable communities, our ecological resources, including future water supplies are needed. Perhaps the ultimate market correction for bad development in the wrong place might be an environmental correction as was unfortunately experienced in New Orleans,” he said

Recent economic commentators, on meeting to consider an interest rate rise, have seemed mystified that the traditional capital city indicators, house prices and building activity in Sydney and Melbourne have been down. So where is the pressure coming from?

“Of course the Reserve Bank takes a whole range of other factors into its assessment”, said Director of the Institute for Rural Futures at the University of New England, Professor David Brunckhorst. “However, most building development pressure in recent times has actually been outside metropolitan areas, up the NSW coast and in south-east Queensland. The building and development boom is being driven by shifting baby-boomers, and “Sea-Change” lifestyle migration.

“Much of this development and rapid land use change is likely to have negative effects on future sustainability, including environmental degradation, loss of habitat and water quality, loss of good agricultural land and soils”, Professor Brunckhorst pointed out.

“Managing the effects of these development pressures, particularly on the environment, should be a priority, but this requires much more thoughtful design and more integrated planning of whole regions,” said Prof. Brunckhorst, “Such development will not be correctly positioned or controlled through interest rates or the economy.”

Dr Brunckhorst and Karl Bock are leading a project that is examining the rates and pressures of change on the northern NSW coast over the last 30 years and what the future might hold.

“Future options for coastal regions will become increasingly limited if the current, rapid development continues without due consideration to ecological and social sustainability. These increasingly populated areas of Australia need a more scientific approach to planning to include for example, environmental services such as soil and water, agricultural production areas, and sand dune ecosystems that might buffer climate change induced storm surges. “Understanding current and future pressures of change can help us design and plan for an enjoyable and more sustainable future across regional landscapes” Karl Bock said.

For further information contact Professor David Brunckhorst, Director - Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England, Armidale, NSW. Ph: 02 6773 2220 / 02 6773 3001.
Coping with Sea Change project: Regional Alternative Landscape Futures for the Northern Rivers of NSW

Posted by Gary Fry at 01:23 PM

Information forums for people with a disability

August 02, 2006

Where can you get help in finding work if you have a disability? What support can you get if you study at TAFE or university? Hosted by The University of New England, Information Forums will be held in Tamworth and Gunnedah next week to give public access to the latest information on education and employment support for people with a disability.

The forums are organised by the Disability Coordination Officer (DCO) Program in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training. The DCO Program is hosted by the University of New England as a community service to the region.

“The Post School Information Forums are for everyone - members of the community as well as school leavers, parents and teachers,” said Gwen Johnson, the Disability Coordination Officer at UNE [pictured]. “Support agencies are keen to let people know about their services, and we want people to have access to education, training and employment opportunities”.

“These forums will be casual and open to everyone. Members of the public and representatives of relevant organisations will have the opportunity to chat over a cuppa after the forum, if they have further questions. Speakers from Centrelink, Job Centres, TAFE and other support providers will talk about their services and answer any questions,” she said.

“Disability support services, particularly those associated with further education, are constantly evolving. UNE and the Department of Education are addressing a great need by facilitating this process in the New England North West region” said Ms. Johnson.

The Information Forums are:
4pm – 5.30pm at Tamworth UNE Centre, 24 Fitzroy Street on Thursday 10th August; 4pm – 5.30pm at Gunnedah TAFE K Block, Hunter Street on Thursday 17th August.

Forums will also be held in Armidale and Inverell in the next month.

For further information, contact Gwen Johnson at UNE on 6773 2130.

Posted by Gary Fry at 12:56 PM