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The University ofNewcastle VOLUME NO. 20 OCTOBER 1988
The GAZETTEAND CONVOCATION NEWS B
signal processing software for analysingcracks, and the communication systemlinking the remote vehicle to the centrallocation.'
A third project concerns the developmentof a computer based power system loadscheduler. This system facilitates schedulingof loads, including water heaters, in order tooptimise the power utilisation and has evolvedfrom an undergraduate project which won acontrol system prize from the Institution ofMeasurement and Control in 1987
Professor Goodwin said that in addition toindustrial-related projects, CIGS was engagedin collaborative research with variousgovernment bodies, including the Departmentof Defence. Some examples were: amanoeuvre autopilot which allowed aircraftto be flown through pre-specified manoeuvres;a technique for predicting the rolling motionof ships in heavy seas to facilitate the landingof helicopters, and techniques for faultdetection and diagnosis for gas turbineaircraft engines.
A final project of interest is the developmentof an industrial adaptive controller. ProfessorGoodwin explained that an adaptive controllermonitored its own performance and readjustedso as to ensure that the control systemoperated at optimal efficiency. Such systemsused ideas from artificial intelligence andself-learning systems.
'It is important to point out that such hightechnology applications could not be possiblewithout a strong parallel commitment tobasic research work in the area of controland systems science,' he said, 'All of theprojects listed involve the use of new ideasand design paradigms which have been thesubject of theoretical research work over thelast six years. The commercial adaptivecontroller, for example, is based on some 20man years of theoretical research work onthe dynamics and performance of self-tuningcontrol algorithms.'
The basic research work carried out bymembers of the CICS has appeared inseveral hundred international publicationsproduced by the group, as well as a numberof books. (Indeed, one of these books wasselected as the best textbook in the area ofcontrol engineering over the past three years- by the International Federation ofAutomatic Control at its 1987 WorldCongress.)
At the end of the day, the members of CICSnot only hoped to have contributed to basicscientific and theoretical research, but to itsapplication in the development of newindustrial control products, ProfessorGoodwin added.
laboratory is being established with assistancefrom various Australian companies andshould prove a major resource both forteaching programmes within the Universityand as a technological base within theHunter Valley Region.)
Secondly, 'to establish a team ofresearch engineers to develop a rangeof applications-oriented design projects.There will eventually be approximately 30staff associated with the Centre, includingpeople funded from University sources andthose engaged in projects directly supportedfrom industry,
Finally, 'to invite experts from withinAustralia and from overseas to theUniversity in order to establish aframework for collaboration and researchprogrammes at the highest internationallevel.'
As Professor Goodwin pointed out, apartfrom direct research benefits obtained fromthe work in control systems design andmicroelectronics, there was also a flowthrough to the educational programmesconducted at the University. 'For example,the availability of high technology laboratoriesin the area of control systems andmicroelectronics will allow new courses tobe developed, both for undergraduatestudents and as continuing educationprogrammes for practising engineers.'
The research team is currently involved insome 20 major design projects many ofwhich involve collaboration with industry.
One project, for example, is concernedwith the design of an inclined orbit satellitetracking system. Professor Goodwin saidboth the hardware and software, for thissystem would be designed and built at theUniversity. The project is being carried out incollaboration with CSIRO and OTC and is anevolution of the group's previous activities inthe design and construction of the servosystems for the new Australian RadioTelescope project, he said.
Asecond project concerns the design andconstruction of a vehicle for automaticcrack detection in underground pipelines.The project uses advanced computertechnology to detect small cracks in pipesand relays the information back to a centrallocation.
In Professor Goodwin's words: 'This work isbeing carried out in conjunction with a localHunter Valley company, for the SouthAustralian gas pipeline project, and hasworld-wide significance for natural resourcepipelines. CICS's involvement in the projectincorporates a range of acJivities includingthe motor drive for the vehicle, the computer
Software foradaptive control is usedfor manyapplications including robot joint control e.g. robots toshearsheep. Someof the members of the Control centre team are: L-R (back row) Car/os de Souza, Iven Maree/, Bflan Cook, RickMiddleton and /an Webster. Front (L-R): Andrew Mears, Brett Ninness, Steve Weller, Ross Cockrill, Peter Stephienand Professor Graeme Goodwin.
This year sees the new Centre for IndustrialControl Science (CICS) established in theDepartment of Electrical and ComputerEngineering.
The Department gained "centre ofexcellence" status when the FederalGovernment announced large on-goinggrants to seven Australian universities underthe aegis of the Universities Special ResearchCentres Program.
The Commonwealth has assured fundingof $670,000 a year each year until 1990, tocarry out research in general area of controlsystems design.
In addition, the research team will beseeking support from other sources includingindustry and expects to operate on an annualresearch budget of $1 million per year for thenext six years.
The general area of the proposed researchwork is control systems design. In broadterms, control is concerned with themanipulation of the inputs to a system so that't performs in some desired fashion. Simplexamples of control systems include
automatic braking systems in cars, flightcontrol systems in aircraft, and controlsystems in industry which regulate theoperation of various processes including, forexample, blast furnaces, rolling mills,hemical plants, etc.The Centre for Industrial Control Science is
led by Professor Graham Goodwin andProfessor Robin Evans. Professor Goodwin'smain interests lie in the areas of industrialcontrol, adaptive control and estimationtheory, while Professor Evans' interestscentre on industrial control, radar systems,fault tolerant computing and computercontrol application. CICS has also appointedan Administrative Assistant. Greta Davieshas been seconded from the Department ofElectrical and Computer Engineering toassist in the administration of the ResearchCentre.
Other members of CICS have researchinterests in electrical machine control, realtime software, numerical analysis, powersystems control and security assessment,theory of nonlinear interconnected systems,dynamic routing of telephone signals andVLSI design.
Professor Goodwin explained that controlwas crucial in extending the performance ofhigh technology systems and in improvingsafety, efficiency, product quality, and wasteminimisation, 'In order to carry out thesegoals, control systems research bringstogether a number of basic results in signalprocessing with recent developments incomputer technology, microelectronics anddata communication systems,' he said.
Process control and automation wereamongst the most important areas foreconomic development and industrialcompetitiveness and were emerging worldwide as key components in the industrialbase of advanced societies.
'We have three main research objectives,'Professor Goodwin said. They are: firstly, 'toestablish a number of high technologylaboratories at the University. One ofthese will concentrate on Computer AidedDesign work using the latest work-stationdesign tools, and will be one of the largestsuch facilities in Australia.
'(Associated with the CAD laboratory willbe a facility for Very Large Scale Integration(VLSI) design for computer chips. This
NEWCASTLE SPECIAL RESEARCHCENTRE - $2,100,000 INITIAL GRANT
Dr. Elizabeth Evatl, President ofthe Australian Law ReformCommission, has been Chancellorof the University since early thisyear. Graduation Dayceremoniesopened with the admission of thenew ChancelJor(previously ChiefJudge of the Family Law Court)10 an honorary doclOrate and herinstallation in the highest office inthe University.
The new Library.
The campus in winter. View ofthecourtyard adjacent 10 the Unionand the Library.
CREDITS-Published by: The University of Newcastle.Edited by: John Armstrong (InformationOfficer).Design and Layout by: Marie-1. Wisniowski.Photographs by: John Fruend.Manuscript setting by: Linda Aurelius.Typeset and Printed by: Neweyand Beath P/L.
CONTENTSNewcastle Special Research Centre 1
Profile: Maureen Strazzari 2
Library exemplifies change 3
What happened to? Graduates'business venture 4
Convocation News 5-8
Link between cities confirmed 9
Newsfront 9
Origins 10
Where Are They Now? 11
Sporting Roundup 12
OUR COVER-Section of the Hunter Tapestry and Mary and LarryBeeston at work on the tapestry in their studio atKilaben Bay.The Friends of the University officially presented thetapestry, which comprises 12 panels, to the University(as a gift for the Bicentenary) at a ceremony held in thepresence of the Governor, Sir lames Rowland, onAugust 6.
1
The availability of cheap photocopiersshould mean that students should not feelthe need to steal library books or to mutilatethem by ripping out chapters and articles. Itseems clear, however, that the main reasonfor theft and mutilation is not to save moneybut to deprive fellow students of essentialresources. Readers detected in this antisocial behaviour, of this conduct unbecomingto a member of this University community,will certainly suffer severe penalties and will,if the University Librarian prevails, be expelledfrom the University.
Borrowing conditions are designed toensure equitable access to the Libraryresources available. The Library is open fromearly morning to late evening, Monday toFriday, and on Saturday and Sundayafternoons, thus ensuring excellent studyconditions, and access to material notavailable for borrowing, for both full-time andpart-time students.
Resources and services and workingconditions have improved considerably overthe years, thus enabling the Library tomaintain its role as an adequate study andresearch centre for the whole of the University.Students should be proud of this superbfacility provided for them, they should makethe most of it and not only treasure itthemselves but ensure also that their fellowsdon't spoil it. Any ideas they have forimprovements, any complaints they haveabout resources or services or workingconditions, should be communicated toLibrary staff for consideration and, if possible,action.
University Librarian, Mr Ted Flowers, who kindly wrote this article, will retire on December31. Mr Flowers joined thestaff of the Newcastle Technical College Library in 1948. He was associated with Newcastle and Lake MacquarieLibrariesbeforemoving toNewcastle UniversityCollege asLibrarian in early 1961. Whilst at the Universityhe hasalsoworked as library consultant for Australian Government bodies and developments and acted as advisor on librarydevelopment and library education.
It is imperative that students find their wayaround the Library and learn as quickly aspossible how to tap this vast informationresource. In many ways the Auchmuty Libraryresembles closely the school library studentsare familiar with, but its size and the richnessand variety of its resources may confusenewcomers. To help overcome this is thepriority task of the Reader Services staff about half of the total Library staff of 66 who offer assistance at several levels ofcomplexity. On their first visit, students areoffered orientation tours, the purpose ofwhich is to explain the layout of the Library,the location of the various parts of thecollections and the service points at whichthe assistance of staff maybe sought. Librarystaff offer reader education directed at specificsubject areas, e.g. Architecture andEngineering, at lectures included in theacademic programme. In lateryears detailedsubject bibliographic instruction is given inspecific subject areas in co-operation withacademic staff. Available to readers are notonly the print versions of the great referencetools to the world's research literature butalso the computer-based versions, linkingthe user on-line directly to massive digitaldata bases throughout the world. Studentsshould make themselves familiar withbrochures explanatory of the whole range ofAuchmuty Library information services.
Twenty-five years ago students sat formany hours in the Library diligently copyingfrom books and serials. There is less of thiscopying done now because of the availabilityof photocopiers providing what seem to beaffordable copies. The Library staff hope thatour students study photocopies as diligentlyas they make them.
Those familiar from 1951 with thecongestion on the Tighes Hill site as theNewcastle University College wasshoehorned into the already crowdedNewcastle Technical College buildingscannot fail to be impressed by the University'spresent quarters on what is the most attractivecampus in Australia. The most dramaticdifference, for the students from those earlydays is in library provision. Tighes Hillstudents will remember the original TechnicalCollege Library which continued to housesome of the SCience-Technology collections,and then the Arts Library on the top floor ofthe semi-circular building, with the SerialsLibrary and the library staff work areas under.
1966-67 students will remember the libraryin temporary accommodation on the bottomfloors of the McMullin Building on the rawShortland campus.
Stage Iof the present library was occupiedat the end of 1967, with a branch librarypresence continuing at Tighes Hill until 1970,by which time all academic departments hadmoved to Shortland.
The years from 1965-75 were years ofconsiderablf; growth in all aspects of libraryprovision, w:th staff increasing from 17 to 68and the COIl'3ctions from 98,000 to 303,000.To commernorate the Foundation ViceChancellor's considerable support for thebuilding of this outstanding research library,the library from 1974 has been known as theAuchmuty Library.
Stage IIA completed in 1972 doubled thespace available, increasing reader placesfrom 500 to 916. Stage liB, completed andoccupied in 1988, takes book capacity toapproximately 1,000,000 volumes andreader places to approximately 1,400.
Students coming to the University now andfor the nex1 several years will enjoy betterlibrary conditions in terms of readeraccommodation and availability of resourcesthan any of their predecessors enjoyed.
Because of the downturn in Universityfunding and the decline of the Australiandollar, the research collections are not beingadded to at the 1965-75 rate, but this is oflittle concern to the majority of undergraduateswho are assured, subject to the inroads oftheft and mutilation, of all of the print andmicrofilm information resources that theyneed. Today's student has for his use,furthermore, audio-visual resources andmachine-readable information resourcesbarely dreamt of 30 years ago. Computersoftware for Computer Aided Learningprogrammes, slides, films, videodiscs, audiorecordings in various formats, have gainedwide acceptance in the alert student'slearning regimen.
Readers now benefit from computerapplication in library operations. The majorkey to the Library's vast information store isnow the OPAC (on-line public accesscatalogue) for which the card catalogue, notadded to since 1985, acts as supplement.Users, especially younger students show aclear preference for this catalogue formatand use the old technology, the cardcatalogue, for books not recorded on theOPAC or at time of computer downline, withconsiderable reluctance. The circulationsystem is also computerised, recordingloans and returns, reservations, and, for thewayward borrower, generating overdue andfine notices.
Library exemplifies change
At the time she spoke to The Gazette,Maureen was establishing the Ethnic AgedServices Office in Beaumont Street, Hamilton,funded under the Home and CommunityCare (HACC) programme.
'The people I deal with have a lot ofproblems. In Australia, and particularly in theHunter Region, we have a fast growing,ageing ethnic population, becausethousands of ablebodied men and womenemigrated here from Europe after the war.They received the tough jobs. Many of themare now retired and isolated, sufferingdisabilities or becoming frail. They needassistance to cope in their older years andare not aware of the services which areavailable. Often these services do notconsider the needs of people from culturallydifferent backgrounds.'
Maureen became a Migrant HealthEducation Officer with the Department ofHealth while she was still writing her honoursthesis. She confesses that although intenselyproud of her poor, working class background,this had led to a feeling of inadequacy whendealing with people in authority.Consequently, she was determined to get ajob which would test her capabilities as bothan individual and a fully-trained professional.
Nowadays, she has much more selfconfidence and is co-ordinating HACCworkers, health workers, the Ethnic DiabetesSupport Groups, programmes for Ethnic DayCare Centres and ethnic caring groups andorganising the extension of the HACCprogramme to members of smallercommunities such as groups from China andeastern Europe.
'Some people are getting sick of hearingabout multi-culturalism, because they claimthat community services are available toeverybody but many service providers arenow realising that people from non-Englishspeaking backgrounds are not gainingaccess to them.
'The communication problem is very real,mainly because professional workers are notoften trained to understand the contrastsbetween the migrants' cultural and socialvalues and our own. For example, ethnicpeople from asmall village background havelearnt to rely on their families or priests forassistance. This may be totally inadequatehere, especially as they grow old, but it'soften very difficult for these people to accepthelp through our formal health and welfaresystem.'
Reflecting about how important highereducation was to her, she tells how she oftenhad a dream about going back to school andgetting very upset because she was sittingfor an exam which she couldn't do. Aftercommencing the Open Foundation Course,she stopped having the dream.
Whilst a member of staff in the Departmentof Economics (she was Professor C. Tisdell'ssecretary) she became inspired by theUniversity environment, finding the studentsfriendly and the academics helpful. As shetyped papers for members of staff she foundthat, for the first time, she was forming herown opinion about questions.
'I just loved studying at the Uni. It opened upa wonderful new world,' Maureen Strazzariadded.
Maureen Strazzari
and in the process re-evaluating the learningprocess and her own personality.
Having got the taste for study throughthe Open Foundation Course, which is formature age 'beginners' who have no formalqualifications, Maureen Strazzari won herdegree with areally outstanding performance.After four years of study, the former OpenFoundation student had four HDs, four Osand one C and, a few years down the track,she also had Honours Class I and theUniyersity Medal. Then she worked as aTutor in Sociology for two years.
The challenge at the moment, she explains,is making people from non-Englishbackgrounds aware of the various communitynetworks and how they can be used to assistaged ethnic people.
Maureen Strazzari was appointed HunterRegion Ethnic Aged Services Co-ordinatorlast year. She is a wife and mother and has aBA degree in this University, with HonoursClass I and the University Medal.
Maureen Strazzari mused that her careerin migrant health and care was the result of aprovidential appointment as a secretary atthe University.
Embarking on a degree was not an obviouspath for a young mother who came from aworking class Catholic background andwhose widowed mother had struggled toraise a family of three. At 16 she had leftschool because she hated school. But she isa rare soul - a vital, intelligent person whohas an abiding interest in people.
As an undergraduate she threw herself into'subjects about people', majoring in sociology
PROFILE:
MA UREEN STRAZZARI
23
WHAT HAPPENED TO?Graduates are partners in speeialist business ventures
CONVOCATION NEWS
The ceremony was held in the RafflesConvention Centre. It was followed by areception and that in turn was followed by agraduates' dinner.
The Occasional Address at the ceremonywas given by the Australian HighCommissioner to Singapore, Ms M. R.McGovern. The guest speaker at the dinner,Mr Chew Heng Ching, a graduate of thisUniversity, is a member of the SingaporeParliament.
A group of graduates headed by Mr PeterTay, Director of Planning for the SingaporeTechnology Corporation, assisted in theplanning of the function,
Other members of the committee are: MrTao Yeoh Chi, Mr Chow Kok Kee, Mr OngThiam Huat, Mr Anthony Chia, Mr Lim ChongHin, Mr Lee Kwong Weng, Mr James Png" MrA1vin Lee, Mr Ng Peng Hong, Ms JeannleKoh and Mr Barry Sim M. H.
To the pleasant surprise of the Newcastlevisitors, the Singaporean and Malaysian'new graduates' made a donation of $850 tothe University to establish a prize for theoverseas student who has the best academicrecord in a third year undergraduate course.
The Chancellor presents a University Medal toPengHong.
At a 'graduation' in Singapore in July theUniversity presented testamurs to formerstudents resident in Singapore and Malaysiawho qualified to graduate at the end of lastyear.
Forty-four graduates received their degreesat the ceremony - the first to be held by theUniversity outside Australia - and anestimated 300 people were present.
The Past Warden of Convocation, The Rev.James Bromley, proposed that the Universitymount a graduation in Singapore when hespoke at a farewell dinner organised by theSingapore Students' Association in 1985.
A delegation from the University, headedby the Chancellor, Or Elizabeth Evatt,conducted the 'graduation' i~most
The former students received their degreesin the Faculty of Architecture, Faculty ofEconomics and Commerce, Faculty ofEngineering and Faculty of Mathematics.They included one PhD, Soh Yeng Chai, whogained a doctorate in the Department ofElectrical and Computer Engineering.
There were two University Medallists - NgPeng Hong and Yong Ming Mao, both inMechanical Engineering.
The former students who received their testamurs in Singapore, with the delegation from the University.
'GRADUATION'IN SINGAPORE
Some years ago Ted Harkness' interest inacoustics as they affect musicians-led to himdesigning some 'boxes' which scatter thesound behind musicians while they areperforming. 'The inventions helped themusicians in two important respects - theycould hear themselves and they could hearthe ensembles.' The ABC and the SydneyOpera House are among the organisationswhich have availed themselves of OrHarkness' boxes.'
He was consulted by the Sydney OperaHouse Trust about an acoustics problemfaced by the musicians in the orchestra pit ofthe Opera Theatre. His use of absorbers,baffles and flaps was abig success in returningto the full range of frequencies of theinstruments to the musicians.
'I also sectioned off the woodwinds fromthe brass, French horns and tympani andhung pieces of carpet to screen the stronginstruments. This greatly improved the soundof the overall ensemble.'
Members of the company have joinedforces on several noise assessment studiesfor local industries and hotels.
In 1986 a partnership was formed betweenthe Harkness group and Architect Lan YapPty. Ltd., for the purpose of preparing apackage proposal for the design, constructionand operation of the Black Marlin Marina atNelson Bay. The design was successfulagainst six other tenderers and accepted bythe State Government.
The work on the marina is nearingcompletion, with more than half of the 210yacht berths now being used. A workshopand chandlery are taking shape and work willcommence soon on the construction of arestaurant and shops.
Or Harkness is Chairman of Directors ofBlack Marlin Marina Limited the developersand his group of companies holds 35 percent equity in the project. He and hiscolleagues have also been commissioned toact as Architects for the re-development ofthe Sea Breeze Hotel which overlooks thenew marina.
Asked if he thought the fishing village ofNelson Bay was being over-developed, hesaid Nelson Bay was under-developed andthat was the tragedy. The peakof developmentwould not be reached for some years.
His company is endeavouring to balancethe nuances of commercial town planningand tourism in a town plan which it isproducing for the Nelson Bay Commercialand Tourism Corporation.
Furthermore, Or Harkness and the three UNgraduates who work with him delight indesigning solar houses. He explains that in aperiod of 12 months it is possible to movefrom concept and models right through toCouncil approvals, tenders and constructionand it was a particular pleasure to see aclient's eyes light up at the sight of newconcepts for residential design.
From the wide range of activities carriedout by the companies which he heads, aswell as his publications and overseas trips,Ted Harkness' career is certainly a Newcastlesuccess story. It has been asuccess story forthe University of Newcastle too.
horizontal elements) Or Harkness proposeda new technique which traced the path of thesun in front of the window in an arc.
Harkness Sunscreens employed the novelsystem for the new TAFE College at Orange,completed last February at a cost of $9million.
The company is presently engaged ondesigning sunscreens for the proposedNational Biological Sciences Building inCanberra, which will cost approximately $60million. The challenge for the company is toprotect some of the laboratories from the sunwhile maximising the view from and thedaylight in some other parts of the building.
When Ted Harkness launched his lecturingcareer at Tighes Hill the young University ofSydney graduate found that despite beingresponsible for the acoustics course he hadno acoustics laboratory. 'I read very broadlyon this subject. When I discovered thatvirtually nothing had been written on thequestion of acoustics as they affectedmusicians - and Iam a musician, Idecidedto mix my interest in acoustics with playingmusic.'
In 1973 he enthusiastically went overseason study leave so he could pursue hisresearch in Europe. He visited a total of 38concert halls and asked himself questionsabout the acoustics and the building materials.Alter meeting some leading acousticsspecialists he received a great deal ofsupport and encouragement to publishpapers.
The acoustics arm of the Harkness groupof companies, Edward Harkness Ply. Ltd.,has completed a numberof projects includingthe acoustics design for the Newcastle FamilyLaw Courts and the Dubbo Law Courts.
In the four years since Or Ted Harkness leftthe University to embark upon a businesscareer his companies have had someinteresting achievements, especially in theareas of sunscreen design, acoustics andmarina development.
And three University of NewcastleArchitecture graduates are playing a big partin the companies' successes.
Or Harkness was a member of staff in theDepartment of Architecture from 1967 until1984. The three former students who havejoined him in business are Mr AndrewTweedie (BArch 1986), Mr Hisham Noori(BArch 1985), and Mr John Bailey (BScArch1986). Mr Richard Jacombs, a member ofstaff in the Computing Centre, is a Director.
Mrs Shirley Byron, formerly a secretary inthe Department of Psychology is alsoemployed as secretary.
Or Harkness is being helped by the othersto develop his architectural, acoustics, energyand solar specialisations. They form the coreof the effort to develop the Black MarlinMarina at Nelson Bay, a $6 million portdevelopment project.
Or Harkness said he could see in hindsightthat his business and professional careerreally commenced in 1967 when he wasappointed a lecturer at the University, thenlocated at Tighes Hill.
He ascribes his knowledge of building andscience to the responsibilities that he wasallotted at that time. 'In order to gain therespect of my students I made a consciousdecision to read broadly on the subjects that Itaught and to publish papers.'
Despite the accepted way of designingsunscreens (using mainly vertical and
L-R: John Bailey, Andrew Tweedie, Hisham Naari, Gabriel Chong, Robert Pullar, An Yap Lan and Ted Harkness withthe Winning model for the marina at Nelson Bay.
4 5
I CONVOCATION NEWS CONVOCATION NEWSNEW WARDEN ELECTED BICENTENNIAL WARDEN'S COLUMN
disciplinary in nature - involving mutualsupport between the humanities andsciences, indeed all the faculties. Suchcross-fertilisation is optimised in smalluniversities; it is often crushed in larger ones,for it reWes significantly on the kind of naturalcontact which large institutions inhibit.
New trends in the marketplace support theneed for such cross-fertilisation. To citemerelyone example: Over the past 18 monthsthere has been a striking increase in thedemand from computer companies forgraduates with majors in Philosophy,especially with a hefty strand of formal logic.And as our beloved Godfrey quite rightlynever tires of telling us, you can't have agoodPhilosophy Department without a goodClassics Department to keep its foundationssolid.
To the computer companies, and thus tothe whole earthy world of engineering,science and business as well as the traditionalprofessions, the humanities now more thanever have a pragmatic cash value. Thoseresponsible for determining funding for highereducation (including Dawkins et a~ must becognisant of this sordid reality if amonumentally inefficient misallocation ofresources is to be avoided.
After four years in office, at the end of July, Ihand over the Warden's mantle to Vic Levi.As the graduates' chief watchdog he will findthe immediate future offering many challengesand opportunities. He has broad shouldersand clear eyesight - with your activesupport, Convocation under his leadershipwill continue to develop into a world-widebody of scholars constantly enriched by astout heart beating strongly in Shortland.
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.
Fr. James Bromley,PAST WARDEN OF CONVOCATION.
What price a Newcastle degree?
Whether as graduates (who have earnedone) or as staff members (whose professionalbusiness includes introducing students tothe disciplines of research in order to acquireone), readers of the Gazette all have urgentconcerns for the worth in the open world ofNewcastle degrees.
No such concern is immediately apparentin Federal Minister Dawkins' recent GreenPaper on Higher Education. This documentpurports to justify (interalia) a contention thatpriority in future funding for research andeven for teaching should be given to thoseinstitutions with an enrolment of at least8,000 EFTSU. The message to smallerinstitutions is blunt: to consider the options ofaffiliation, 'networking' or outrightamalgamation with other bodies, and to takeaction before the 1989-91 Triennium if theirresearch and teaching programmes (someof which have taken years to develop) are toremain intact.
The Green Paper speaks much of costeffectiveness; however apart from a passingreference to 'instruction' (a term moreappropriate to driving schools than touniversities), nowhere in its89 pages is thereany consideration of 'education' per se.Having failed to define its terms, the Paperoffers university and college administratorsaround the country aplethora of tangents outof which some hard sense needs to besalvaged. This will involve some hard andrapid decision-making; it is not a time forbovine procrastination:The worried cow would have lived till nowIf she had saved her breath;But she feared her hay wouldn't last all dayAnd she mooed herself to death.
The greatest anxiety to some of us is theapparent failure of Mr Dawkins and hisadvisors to appreciate that today much of themost valuable activity in universities is inter-
The thirteenth recipientaf the Newtan-JahnAward, Anne van Bertauch, andthe Vice-Chancellar. PrafessorKeithMargan, admire the Julia Santas glass bowl presented by the Warden af Convocation, Father James Bromley(The pale pink bowl was encircled by a blue wave, a reminder af Anne's recent vayage with the First Fleet)
Her strong affection for Australia's past andthings which people produce using theirhands was her main motivation for buying apassage on the First Fleet Re-enactment.
WINNER
NEWTON-JOHN
Anne's contribution to the promotion of thearts, and her service to Newcastle and thisUniversity, earned her a nomination for theNewton-John Award.
According to Anne the Bicentenary shouldnot be simply a reiteration of what occurredbefore and an expression of satisfaction forwhat has been achieved, it should be asecond start - a new beginning - and let'shope we can do it right a second timearound.
Anne von Bertouch won Convocation's1987 Newton-John Award. (Each yearConvocation recognises an outstandinggraduate who has made a noteworthycontribution to the community by presentingthe winner with a work of art executed by aNewcastle artist.)
Anne and Roger von Bertouch opened thegallery von Bertouch in Newcastle in 1963.Six years later agroup of terrace houses nearthe gallery, which were threatened withdemolition, were acquired and converted tothe present home of the gallery.
Ms von Bertouch, gallery proprietor-authortraveller-conservationist, sailed in one of theships which formed the First FleetRe-enactment. The 11 ships set sail fromPortsmouth in England in May, 1987, and,after an epic journey, arrived in Port Jacksonfor the nation's birthday party, January 26.
AWARD
ABC journalist, Mr Geoffrey Simm, askedher, prior to the fleet setting sail fromPortsmouth, what she expected from thevoyage. She replied: 'The only thing I canexpect is the totally unexpected.' Anne saysthe eight months of sailing across the worldproved this to be the case.
Ms von Bertouch is the author of threebooks (February Dark, The Ride Home andGuy Boyd - the Sculptor and has a fourth,an account of her experiences on there-enactment, which she hopes will beavailable in the immediate future.
r\
perturbation theory and computer simulation;applications of statistical mechanics tof1uidphase chemical equilibria problems;compter-aided process design andoptimisation and applications of expertsystems in chemical process engineering.
Peter Cummings is recognised as a majorcontributor to the development of a solidconceptual foundation for the behaviour ofdense fluids and for the application of theseconcepts to practical problems.
While he is noted for his independentcreativity and is well launched on a trulypromising research career, his constantconcern and real interest in the personal andprofessional development of his studentsshow him to be a true 'teacher-scholar'. He isalso a resource person on whom hiscolleagues may call for consultations onmany scientific matters.
These are the qualities which prove hisprofessional excellence in the areas ofteaching and research in the field of ChemicalEngineering.
The Standing Committee of Convocation isdelighted to award the Inaugural ConvocationMedal for Professional Excellence toProfessor Peter Cummings.
Winner of the InauguralConvocation Medal
Professor Peter CummingsProfessor Peter Cummings, BMath
(Honours Class I and University Medal),University of Newcastle, 1976, PhDUniversityof Melbourne, 1980.
In 1980 Professor Cummings received aCSIRO Research Fellowship in the PhysicsDepartment at the University of Guelph inOntario, Canada.
From 1981 to 1983 he was a researchassociate in the Department of Chemistryand Mechanical Engineering at the StateUniversity of New York, Stony Brook, NewYork.
Since September 1983, ProfessorCummings has worked in the faculty ofChemical Engineering Department at theUniversity of Virginia in Charlottesville,Viriginia where he received a Camille andHenry Dreyfus Foundation Award for NewlyAppointed Faculty in the Chemical Sciences,one of 13 such awards given annually in theUSA to outstanding new professors inbiochemistry, chemistry and chemicalengineering departments.
His current research interests include:statistical mechanics of dense molecularfluids, fluid mixtures and liquid metals usingthe technique of integral equations (bothanalytic and numerical solutions),
Mr. Vic Levi.
Asenior journalist and aformer President ofUniversity Cricket Club has been electedWarden of Convocation.
A BA from the University, with majors inEnglish and History, in 1973, Mr Vic Levisucceeds the retiring Warden, The Rev.James Bromley.
Mr Levi was educated at Fort Street HighSchool and this University. He was ajournalistwith the former afternoon newspaper, theNewcastle Sun, for 28 years, becomingAssistant Editor.
For six years he was Advertising Managerfor the Newcastle Herald and the Post. MrLevi is now Manager of the Post
He was President of Warners Bay RotaryClub in 1986 and is currently Chairman ofRotary District 967's Public RelationsCommittee.
He served two terms on the StandingCommittee of Convocation and was adelegate to the Australian University GraduateConference.
He remarked that the would continue towork to bring the two worlds of 'town andgown' closer together in Newcastle. As aRotarian he helped organise the University'shighly successful first Summer ScienceSchool for high school students last January.
Mr Levi took up the Warden's position afterthe annual general meeting on July 26.
The Standing Committee of Convocationinvites nominations for the 1988 NewtonJohn Award.
The Award recognises graduates of theUniversity who have made a substantialcontribution, by way of innovation or creativityin any field, towards enhancing the quality oflife in the community.
The Award was instituted in 1974 withselection being based on the following criteria:Graduates of the University of Newcastle orgraduates of the University of New SouthWales or the University of New England whospent at least three years as students of theNewcastle University College are eligible tobe nominated for the Award; the Award isgiven for innovation or creativity in any fieldwith the emphasis on: (a) originality,(b) lasting value or aesthetic value or benefitto the community.
Previous Award winners are: 1975 A1lanMorris, 1976 Errol Hodge, 1977 Brian Suters,1978 Mary Callcott, 1979 Alex Young, 1980Colin Anderson, 1981 Jess Dyce, 1982Trevor Waring, 1983 Roy Gilbert, 1984Robert Beal, 1985 Vic Rooney, 1986 BrianGilligan and 1987 Anne von Bertouch.
Nominations should be submitted to theConvocation Officer, University of Newcastle,2308 by October 30, 1988.
For further information contact theConvocation Officer at (049) 68 5370.
NOMINATIONSFOR THE 1988
NEWTON-JOHN AWARD
6 7
CONVOCATION NEWS1988 NEWCASTLE LECTURE
LINK BETWEEN CITIESCONFIRMED
South Seas Series by Uni Graduate
***Dr Monica Hayes and Mr John Broughton
are new members of the Council elected byConvocation.
They were successful in an election forwhich there were 13 candidates.
Five sitting members of the Council electedby Convocation were re-elected: Mr TrevorWaring, Or Noel Rutherford, Dr Diana Day, DrPeter Hendry and Dr Tom Osborne.
Dr Hayes is the former EEO Co-ordinatorfor the University and the HIHE and MrBroughton is Manager of the Union at theUniversity.
Administration Changes
Both institutions in Newcastle-Upon-Tynewere appreciative of the idea of staffexchangesand saw no necessary administrativeobstacles to them.
Professor Bates said he was received withconsiderable enthusiasm by the Corporationof the City and County of Newcastle-UponTyne. He had considerable discussions withthe Director of Social Services in the City, MrBrian Roycroft, who had visited Newcastlewhilst in Australia last year
Mr Roycroft is very keen that links at alllevels be maintained and would, for instance,seek sponsorship for airfares of anyacademics participating in exchangeprogrammes. Such avenues should,Professor Bates added, also be explored inNewcastle.
Professor Bates is pictured with a framedphotograph of the bridge in NewcastleUpon-Tyne on which the Sydney HarbourBridge was patterned. The photograph is amemento presented to him by Mr Roycroft.(The photograph was taken byahandicappedphotographer and framed by a handicappedperson.)
Mr Lance Hennessy, previously ChiefExecutive Officer at the CommonwealthTertiary Education Commission, took up thepost of Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Administration).
Mr Hennessy's appointment was part of arestructuring of the University's senioradministration.
Professor Michael Carter, Professor ofSociology since 1976 and Deputy Chairmanof Senate since 1979, took uphis appointmentas Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
Professor Ken Dutton, previously VicePrincipal, moved to the new position ofPro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Students.
Professor Geoffrey Kellerman, Professor ofMedical Biochemistry since 1976, took upthe appointment of Dean of Research.
Professor Ron MacDonald, Professor ofPhysics, was elected Deputy Chairman ofthe Senate. He will hold office for three years.
NEWSFRONT
direct implications of the twin-city relationshipbetween Newcastle and Newcastle-UponTyne.
He delivered a lecture at the NewcastleUpon-Tyne Polytechnic Law School on thetopic of the recently published report of theAustralian Law Reform Commission onmatrimonial property.
On the issue of the twin-city relationship,Professor J. B. Clarke, of the University ofNewcastle-Upon-Tyne, and Professor PHKenny, of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Polytechnic,said they were keen to continue to developlinks with the Department of Law.
'These will begin by an exchange ofresearch projects presently being conductedin law in the various operations involved,'Professor Bates said. 'In particular,developments in Australia which might notgenerally be available to English academicswill be especially appreciated.'
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, is verykeen to maintain links with Newcastle, NewSouth Wales, according to Professor FrankBates, Professor of Law, at the University ofNewcastle.
Professor Bates travelled overseas toattend a conference in London and visitNewcastle-Upon-Tyne to investigate aproposed academic twin-city relationship.
'Although I have spent considerableperiods of time overseas, I have neverexperienced such a warm and friendlyreception and generous hospitality as Ireceived on myvisit to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,'he said.
Professor Bates visited the Faculty of Lawat the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,where he was concerned with a family lawand social policy project.
Professor Bates also investigated the
'A people charming and sophisticated yetwith a completely unhurried life-style; alandscape that seems to combine all thefeatures which give the Pacific Islands theirspecial quality; an ease of communicationthat makes every activity a pleasure allthese greet visitors to these beautiful islands.'
The publishers of the recent guides areCreative Associates, of Sydney.
The Douglases are also editors of ThePacific Islands Yearbook, published byAngus and Robertson. They recentlycompleted work on the Sixteenth edition.
Before writing Cook Islands - a Guide,Norman Douglas produced Vanuatu - aGuide and with Ngaire, Fiji Handbook Business and Travel Guide. Theircomprehensive guides describe the countriesthemselves, the people, past events, systemsof government and (happily)accommodations, restaurants andcommunications to help travellers. Tongaa Guide is presently being written.
'Has tourism spoiled the Cooks, as somany claimed it would? More than a decadeafter the first of the big jets flew in, the answermust be a resounding "No"!
'There are certainly more visitorsaccommodations than there used to be, butmost of them are limited in size and likely toremain that way.
'There are more restaurants, but they arefrequented by locals also.
'There are more shops, but there is nopressure on the visitor to buy, such as occursin an increasing number of tourist destinations.
'In any event, this upsurge in visitors overthe past 10 years or so still accounts for onlyabout 28,000 annually, hardly a deluge.
'And even though the majority of them visitonly Rarotonga, the main island, itself with aresident population of only about 10,000there is never any sense of over-crowding.Elsewhere in these islands it is perfectlypossible to spend one's holiday and becompletely oblivious of the presence of othertourists.
GIVEAWAYMEMENTOES
Professor Donald Watts, President andVice-Chancellor of Bond University,Australia's only private university, gave theannual Newcastle Lecture at the Universityon September 13
He spoke on the topic 'Universities - NewDemands for Different Times'. He drewattention to the concerns in the UnitedKingdom and New Zealand which, as inAustralia, stemmed from moves to questionthe values of, and the value provided by theregulated public monopoly systems.
'It is interesting that left-wing governmentsin New Zealand and Australia are pursuingpolicy changes similar to those of theThatcher Conservative Government in theUnited Kingdom,' he said.
The last three Newcastle Lectures havebeen published by Convocation and alimited number of each is available free as acommunity service.
The Lectures are:* Technology and OurChanging Perceptions
of Life by the Minister for Science andTechnology, Mr Barry Jones.
* The Coca-Colonisation of Australia, by MrPhillip Adams.
* Peace by Miss Freda Whitlam, Moderatorof the Uniting Church, New South Wales.
* Why Feminists Have to Try Harder, by MsGeraldine Doogue, journalist, andUniversities - New Demands for DifferentTimes, by Professor Donald Watts, will beavailable early in 1989.If you would like copies of the lectures,
please telephone (049) 68 5370 or write tothe Convocation Officer (Secretary's Division,University of Newcastle, 2308). A largestamped addressed envelope (postage 58cents) is needed for delivery inside Australia. Convocation commissioned its own ceremonial banner for graduation ceremonies, inaugural lectures, annual
general meetmgs, etc. An anonymous donor paid for the banner.
A guide written by a graduate of NewcastleUniversity provides an interesting andcomprehensive commentary on the CookIslands - one of the most delightful groupsof islands anywhere on earth.
Cook Islands - a Guide has appeared asthe latest in the Series of Studies of the SouthSeas by Dr Norman Douglas, of A1stonville,and his partner, Ngaire.
Dr Douglas went to Newcastle University inthe mid-60s as a mature age Arts studentand gained Honours Class I in history. Heworked for a PhD degree at the AustralianNational University and, until recently, was alecturer in Pacific Studies at the University ofNew South Wales.
Norman and Ngaire, spend much of theirtime travelling in the South Pacific. They areoften engaged by cruise lines such as RoyalViking as lecturers and contribute tomagazines and journals interested in PacificIsland matters.
The Douglases' visit to the Cook Islandshas enabled them to provide interestinginsights into the effects of large-scale tourism.
8 9
11
Steven SandersMark Sutton
Roma Kane, BA 1982, is a course coordinator for WEA and assists in thedevelopment of adult education activities inthe Lower Hunter. Due to public responsethe planned growth has exceeded allexpectations and she hopes to remain withWEA to see more exciting changes in adultlearning habits.
Bill Menary, BA 1971, featured in ourlast Gazette as a Lecturer at South AustraliaCAE. Since 1987 he has spent five monthslecturing in China at Shaanx TeachersUniversity, Xian. As Australian representativein a group of international esperantists headvised the Shandong Govemment on aseries of television programmes for teachingEsperanto in China.
Susan Dobson, BA 1988, majored inFrench for her degree which has enabled herto gain employment as a CommunityRelations Officer with Tomago AluminiumCo.
Elizabeth Baynham (nee Miles), BAHonours 1983, DipEd 1981, is currentlyworking on a PhD in the Classics Departmentat this University while tutoring part-time.Previously she was teaching at WellingtonUniversity.
Mark Sutton, BCom 1986, becamean Associate member of the AustralianSociety of Accountants which took him to hispresent position as Company Accountantwith Cadds Man Ltd.
Rupert (Yu Kwan) Lo
Rupert (Vu Kwan) Lo, BSc(Arch)1986, BArch 1988, is now an architect inSydney where he is also pursuing furtherstudies in Town Planning.
Steven Sanders, BSc 1976, has doneconsultancy work with the National SafetyCouncil of Australia (NSW Division) and isnow Superintendent of Occupational Health,Safety and Rehabilitation. He is also acertifiedpractitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programmingwith the co-founder of NLP, Dr John Grinder.
Thank you tp all those who wrote or sentphotographs. It was impossible to includeyou all this year. Please continue to 'keep intouch'.
Bill MenaryDavid KarpinJulie Johnson
Winemaker and General Manager ofA1landale Winery, Pokolbin, WilliamSneddon, BEc 1981 , has been travellingoverseas between 1983 and 1988 on studytours of wine areas and markets. Winner ofthe 1988 New South Wales Wine Press Clubtravelling scholarship he will be spendingthree weeks studying winemaking in 1989 inUSA
Kin Wah Francis Li, BE (Mechanical)1977 and ME 1978, is now ChiefEngineer with Hong Kong Oxygen andAcetylene Co. Ltd.
Ma Elinor Sanvictores-Sunico,DipMedStats 1988, is now working in thePhilippines as a science research specialist(biostatistician) and is lecturing in biostatisticsfor office workshops.
Ronald Woolley, BSc, DipEd 1968,was science teacher at Gloucester HighSchool for 16 years before training at ChristianOutreach Centre Ministry School. He is nowHeadmaster at Christian Outreach College inBrisbane.
Susan Barter (nee Cowen), BMath1986, after completing a DipEd at NCAE isnow teaching mathematics at East Hills Girls'School.
JulieJohnson, BMath 1988, isnowacomputer programme/analyst for aNewcastle firm doing contract work for largeindustry, both locally and overseas.
David Karpin, BCom 1964, sinceleaving his position as Accounting Lecturerat this University has held a range of positionsin the mining industry in Australia and PapuaNew Guinea. He is currently a ManagingDirector of Argyle Diamond Mines Ply. Ltd.
Ma Elinor Sanvie- Ronald WooI/eytores-Sunico
Susan Barter
Greg Powell, BA 1988, is author andphotographer of the book, Ben Hall Country,aimed at recording the sites and events of thebushranging history in Central West NewSouth Wales. Fifteen years in the making,this book is to be the first of aseries concemedwith regions associated with Australia'sgreatest bushrangers.
Sandra Cornish, BEc 1988, recentlyresigned from a graduate trainee positionwith the National Australia Bank to becomeAssistant to the Chief Executive Officer of theAustralian Catholic Social Justice Council.
John Goth, BCom 1962, is nowDirector of Transpacific Industries Ply. Ltd.and writes and sells computer software forsmall businesses. He is married to RachaelGoth (nee Lieberman), BA 1961, andthey have four children.
Karen McCaffery, BE (Chemical)1988, is now employed as a ChemicalEngineer with the mineral processing groupCRA Advanced Technical Development.
Louis Fenelon, BMed 1983, presentlyworks as a partner in a three-man practice inJindabyne. Over the winter season, however,he runs the Perisher Valley Medical Centrespecialising in ski trauma.
Carol Luty(nee Fairleigh), BMath 1985,and her husband, lan Luty, BE(Computer) Honours, 1986, are bothComputer Programmer Analysts with BHP inNewcastle.
Tracey Bristow, BA Honours 1986,is Professional Officer in Admissions for theFaculty of Medicine at this University.
Christopher Dibley, BMath 1974,left his position as tutor at this University tostart a computer business with his brotherthat has now expanded from a two-manshow to become a business earning $10million per year.
Ronald Blackwell, BE Honours1977, has worked in A1ice Springs and theUnited Kingdom but returned to this Universityto teach part-time (1982-84) while pursuinga BA He is currently a Senior StructuralEngineer with Rankine and Hill Ply. Ltd
Kin Wah FrancisU
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?.1. I
northern railway line, a rough road whereRankin Drive now is and homes in BirminghamGardens. The present campus was the sitefor picnics and games of two-up.
A private railway was used by coal trains,picking up at mines in Wallsend and, on theirway to Newcastle, roaring as they crawledthrough the cutting near the site of the presentUniversity entrance.
• •
The same view today.
The same view today.
NOW.
Staff in the Archives, Auchmuty Library,tumed up some photographs whichantecede the establishment of the University.They show an attractive bushland areasurrounded by Steel Works Golf Course, the
Some fascinating insights into theUniversity's past were included in acollectionof pictorial memorabilia exhibited duringOpen Days (September 3 and 4).
THEN ...
Coa/ company'S rm/way.
Looking up to Great Hall site.
Looking at Jesmond School from the Great Hal/ site.
ORIGINS
10
SPORTING ROUND-UP
Men's Hockey
Netball
12
University Men's Hockey Club is one of themajor sporting clubs on the Shortlandcampus, currently fielding seven teams inthe district competition.
The First Grade team won the 1986 and1987 Newcastle premiership and Fifth Gradeside won the 1986 grand final. Universityfielded two teams in Fifth Grade in 1987,taking out all the honours. One team won theminor premiership and the other the majorpremiership.
For the first time since the formation of theUniversity Netball Club many years ago, theclub's team has won the Newcastle District BGrade Minor Premiership. A well-disciplinedapproach to training throughout the year wasfurther rewarded when the team won themajor premiership.
First Grade player, Peter Sweeney, won the1987 Newcastle Hockey Association's'Player of the Year' award.
When The Gazette went" to press itappeared certain that First Grade wouldagain be a semi-final contender. It seemedthat five of the remaining six teams were alsoset to contest the semi-finals.
This year University is fielding a team in theNewcastle District Competition in A4 Grade.The team seems set to take out the minorpremiership. A second team has beenentered in the Howzat Indoor NetballCompetition.
The University (front) and the Hunter Institute of Higher Education (rear, left) from the air. The RAAF Base. Williamtown, kindly provided these photographs.
The new Greater Newcastle Teaching Hospital at Rankin Park, which will be the base for several specialities in the University's Medical School.
GLASS COMMEMORATIVE PLATEMade of glass, designed and manufactured by Newcastle Glass Works.
COST: $25 rn NumberRequired
(For an extra $5 the plate will benumbered and engraved with the
name of the graduate.)
ALBUM & GREETING CARDSSketches & A set of six greetingdescriptions cards & envelopes
of the University by (illustrations by AIIanthe Gamble). -
artist AIIan Gamble. COST: $3.50 rn Number
COST $ rn Required: 7.50 NumberRequired
rn NumberRequired
GLASS PAPERWEIGHTThe glass paperweight features theArms of the University and is 8 cms
in diameter.
COST: $10
WALL PLAQUESMade of teak and embossed
metal, suitable for mounting inoffices, living rooms and
studies.
COST: $30 rn NumberRequired
UNIVERSITY BOOKThis new 16 page publication is an overview of
the University, its system of government,research strengths, courses and student
services, etc., with beautiful colour illustrations.
COST: $5 rn NumberRequired
ACADEMIC DRESSThis well-illustrated publication
is a brief guide to the origins andhistory of the various items ofapparel seen on graduation
days at Australian universities,written by K.R. Dutton.
COST: $3 rn NumberRequired
Please tick the momentolmementoes you wish to purchase. Complete the form below and either send it together with yourremittance or debit the cost to your Mastercard or Bankcard. Cheques should be made payable to Convocation, c/- TheUniversity of Newcastle, New South Wales, 2308.
Name and full delivery details (postal address, not Po. Box).
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