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AUTUMN 1999Volume 2 Number 6

Host of talent In the Box

1999 QUT Celebrations

Alumni Review

Bequest benefits koala researchKoala research at QUT has been boosted by the bequestof a Victorian woman.

Ruth Oulton Whyte, who died last year, left $35,000 forkoala research to Associate Professor Peter Timms in theSchool of Life Sciences.

The bequest will fund a PhD Scholarship – the first everat QUT funded by a bequest – to conduct a researchproject on koalas.

By arrangement with Ms Whyte’s trustee, the bequestcame to QUT through the Australian Koala Foundation.

Last year a sub-committee of the QUT Foundation whichdirects the Planned Giving Program received eightbequest notifications, a significant increase on previousyears, by individuals who have made or will makebequests to QUT.

The sub-committee hopes this year to even better thebequest notifications.

Chaired by retired former Deputy Vice-ChancellorEmeritus Professor Tom Dixon, the committee aims toachieve 100 bequests in the next five years.

Ms Whyte’s realised bequest increases the total bequestincome to QUT to $265,000.

The remaining bequests will benefit a variety of areasincluding specific faculty projects, the library and researchand university priorities.

$5,865 towards bursaries for socially and financiallydisadvantaged students;

$8,985 towards building the university's endowmentfund which will provide for the universityfuture priorities;

$1,260 towards the development of librarycollections and services;

$6,725 towards the Law Founders' Scholarship, anendowed scholarship fund for socially andfinancially disadvantaged law students;

$6,978 towards the Joan Penridge Fund, anendowed award for final year QUT nursingstudents; and

$19,190 towards the Optometry Alumni SponsorshipFund, which in 1998 supported thedevelopment of a Multi-Media Centre in theQUT Optometry Clinic, to be accessible toboth the profession and students.

Donations to the QUT Alumni Fund during 1998exceeded expectation. Gifts from graduatessupported important areas of the universityincluding:

Thank you to our generous Alumni

Your thought will makea real differenceBy thinking of QUT in your will, you can make a realdifference to research and teaching programs whichdirectly benefit the community.

In health, for example, QUT researchers have madestrong, practical contributions to our understandingof leukaemia, Ross River virus, diabetes and cancer.

QUT scholarships too, help bright students becomeoutstanding professionals with their feet firmlyon the ground.

If you’d like to make a real difference, contact

QUT Development Office,on (07) 3864 1833.Queensland University ofTechnologyGPO Box 2434 Brisbane 4001

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Thank you for your commitment in 1998 towards thedevelopment of scholarships and services at QUT.

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Culture and theuniversityUniversities have long been a centre for discussionabout the performing, literary and visual arts.More recently, many universities have becomecentres for training arts practitioners, in the process

producing many new works and performances.We at QUT are particularly proud of the role of parts of the universityin training talented young practitioners in the arts and in encouragingthem to produce creative work.These areas include the Academy of the Arts, the film and televisionproduction programs in the School of Media and Journalism, andthe design disciplines within the School of Built Environment andEngineering.In the past, there have been scattered performance and displayfacilities for these programs, but the university has lacked a singlefocus for showcasing arts activities.This year, QUT will create a cultural precinct on the Gardens Pointcampus that will both display work produced by QUT staff andstudents and offer important cultural facilities for people outsidethe university.The precinct includes a 400-seat theatre that is currently beingrenovated to produce a first-class performance facility, the QUT artmuseum that will be built in the ground floor of the administrationbuilding, and possibly a coffee shop or restaurant in the formerConservatorium of Music building.The university has decided to manage the precinct as an integratedwhole – we will appoint an overall precinct manager who will beresponsible for developing a coherent marketing and programmingstrategy for the precinct.The theatre and art museum will be important additions to thecultural life of Brisbane, and with the construction of the footbridgelinking South Bank with the Gardens Point campus, they will bewithin walking distance of the cultural and recreational facilities atSouth Bank and the city itself.

Professor Dennis GibsonVice-Chancellor

QUT Links is published by the QUT Corporate Communication Department, in co-operationwith the QUT Alumni Relations Unit.

Design and production by QUT Publications Unit.

Photography: Tony Phillips, Suzanne Prestwidge.

Editorial material is gathered from a range of sources and does not necessarily reflect the opinions and policiesof the QUT Foundation or QUT.

A range of quality corporate products (pictured above) is offered to QUT Alumni.A description of each with its price, well below retail, is provided on the order form.

Please photocopy this order form before completing it.Allow three weeks for delivery of goods. Orders may be faxed or posted.Please make cheques payable to Whatsinaname. Payment must be receivedbefore goods will be despatched.

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QUT Links, like the university’salumni, is growing and exploringnew connections that will bevaluable to many of our readers.

Many of you will have importantnews, ideas and questions toshare with your peers, so to helpus meet that information need,the editorial team invites you tolet us know what you would liketo see covered in future editions.

It could be a news or featurearticle, a profile or some othertype of report that would be ofinterest to a broad cross-sectionof graduates.

All you have to do is drop aline to:

The Editor

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GPO Box 2434

Brisbane Q 4001

OR call (07) 3864 1150.

Coming up...1Cassandra and a host of QUTtalent are a smash hit with the tiny tots

2In brief...

4Modern art inspires constant creation

5Deborah Mailman is hot property acrossAustralia

6Super Rosemary is the one to watch

7Joseph’s special interest in transformingbuildings began in Townsville

8Career mentor scheme buildsconfidence

Breakthrough drug treatment saveslives after surgery

9Gritty documentaries areBronwyn’s passion

101999 shapes up as an exciting yearfor QUT

1110/150 celebration highlights

12Alumni collaborate in showpiececampus development

13There’s no looking past Mary Magee

14Jeanette honoured for her part inoverhauling Queensland virology

16Last Word ...

17Keep in Touch ...

Cover:Tracey Fleming with Bop.

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Q U T L I N K S

1

Every morning more than threemillion young children sing and dancealong with In the Box, the nation’s newsmash hit preschool show that has itsfoundations in QUT research andshowcases a swag of staff and graduatetalent.

The hit show is the work of QUTresearcher Cassandra Weddell from theCentre of Applied Studies in EarlyChildhood and a committed team oftalented people. The original conceptwas created with Ann Patchett-Gough,a former children’s television host.Cassandra now produces In the Box forNetwork Ten.

QUT Bachelor of Educationgraduate Tracey Fleming co-presents theshow with Brett Annable and puppeteer,Esther Haskell, who operates a puppetcalled Bop.

All 120 original songs have beenwritten by QUT Bachelor of Arts(Music) graduate Rhonda Davidson-Irwin, who plays a myriad ofinstruments in the show. Valerie Foley,a freelance writer for the show, is also aQUT graduate with a graduate diplomain Early Childhood.

In the Box co-producer SandraMakaresz is also a QUT graduate, with adegree in Communication under her belt.

Already the program averages ratingsequal with Sesame Street and TheBookplace which screens in the same8.30am timeslot, and will be part of themorning television scene for the nextfive years.

The secret of its success may well bethe troupe of wide-eyed two to five-year-olds who join Tracey, Brett and Bopin the studio each episode to check outwhat will be delivered in a box.

Surprises from the box have includedfantasy items like dragons and fairies, butalso everyday things like cutlery, teddybears and mirrors. Each object is thebasis of play, art, movement and songs,and there are visits to preschools wheremore children join in the daily fun.

For Cassandra Weddell the show is a“dream come true” that has been nearlyfive years in the making. The show hasits roots in 1994 research undertaken toascertain what parents and teacherswanted to see in a new preschooltelevision program. It continues to beinformed by ongoing doctoral researchthat Cassandra has undertaken todetermine the influence of television onyoung children’s aesthetic sensibility andtheir aesthetic sensitivity.

The research has attracted a greatdeal of interest both nationally andinternationally.

Cassandra said a network ofQUT graduates and colleagues scatteredthroughout Brisbane kindergartens,preschools and childcare centres had putin an enormous amount of effort to helpcreate the popular on-location segments.

“If I had to list the number of ex-QUT people (who have helped us withthe program) right now, I am sure theQUT Education Faculty and ArtsFaculty would be completely amazed,”she said. “Every shoot we have been on,our (graduate) teachers have been

Cassandra and a host of QUT talentare a smash hit with the tiny tots

amazing and organised the mostwonderful things for the children.

“Brisbane’s leading cultural centres,the Sciencentre, art gallery and museumin particular, have also beenoverwhelmingly positive by allowing usto film children with families onlocation.

“I feel blessed, absolutely blessed.I work with a team of people who aretotally committed to making theprogram a success. There are only threepreschool programs in Australia (that aremonitored by the AustralianBroadcasting Authority), and we areproducing one of them.”

“I feel blessed, absolutely

blessed. I work with a team

of people who are totally

committed to making the

program a success.”

QUT graduates Tracey Fleming (presenter), Rhonda Davidson-Irwin (music director) with QUT lecturerCassandra Weddell (producer) and Bop the puppet on the set of In the Box.

2

In brief...

GRADUATES SCOOPPOSTGRAD FULBRIGHTS

three-nation tour of LouisNowra’s acclaimed comedy,Cosi, as part of the thirdOlympic Arts Festival, and tocelebrate QUT’s 10/150anniversary.

The festival, called Reachingthe World, is a year-longshowcase of Australian artscompanies and events on tourto 50 countries.

Acting and theatreproduction students left forSingapore in late February thentravelled on to England and theUnited States. A Brisbaneseason is planned for August.

The production is one oftwo events presented byQUT as part of the 1999Olympic Arts Festival.QUT Academy dancers aretouring South Africa in Juneand July with Tensions, a newwork by Academy graduateNatalie Weir.

UN HERALDS PUBLICJOURNALISM TRIAL

The United Nations hasawarded the School of Mediaand Journalism with a UNAssociation of Australia MediaPeace Award for its boldpublic journalism project.

Australia’s first experimentin public journalism, whichseeks to engage the public inmore direct debate, is a jointproject between QUT, TheCourier-Mail, Australians forReconciliation (Qld) and theEthnic Communities Councilof Queensland. It has receivedpart funding from theAustralian Research Council.

IT EXPERTISE REWARDEDQUT’s expertise has been

recognised and rewarded inthe 1998 Queensland

Information Technology andTelecommunications Awardsfor Excellence.

QUT teamed up with theMitchelton High School totake out the school projectaward which involved anInternet-based mathematicalproblem-posing program,which was created by studentsfor students around the world.

The awards also recognisedQUT’s Information SecurityResearch Centre (ISRC)which received an Award forExcellence in the Researchcategory for its work in“information security.”

A QUT Equity project,the WWW-based Uni-Talk –which aims to increase theparticipation rate in universityof students from rural andisolated areas – won theaward for Electronic ServiceDelivery in Regional andRural Communities.

YOUNG SCIENTISTS PUT TOTHE TEST

From making rocks thatglow like fireflies to predictingrain, Queensland’s top studentscientists were put to the testat QUT in January.

More than 500 of theState’s brightest studentsenjoyed hands-onexperiments at the annualSiemens Science Experience,organised by QUT, theUniversity of Queensland,Griffith University and TAFE.

The annual sciencesummer school offers Year 10students the chance to meetnetworking scientists.

NEW ERA FOR CARSELDINEThe QUT Arts Faculty has

undergone a major

restructuring which has seenthe formation of a separateSchool of Human Services atCarseldine campus.

The two existingCarseldine-based schools willfocus on humanities andpsychology.

Former Director-Generalof the Department of FamilyServices and Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander AffairsRuth Matchett has beenappointed Head of the newSchool of Human Services.

QUT School ofHumanities senior lecturerDr Adam Schoemaker hasbeen appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor (NorthernCorridor Development) tousher in a new era ofcommunity involvement andbetter facilities.

TRANSPORT PLAN BOOSTS QUTQUT staff and students will

have dramatically improvedaccess to the Gardens Pointcampus under plans for apedestrian bridge, light railand bikeway networks for thecity, that will literally end atthe campus doorstep.

The initiatives are part ofState Government andBrisbane City Council movesto encourage more people touse public transport or bicycleand pedestrian power in thecity. Significant projectsinclude:• a $15 million pedestr ian

and cycle bridge to linkthe Botanic Gardens withSouth Bank Parklands.If given the go-ahead,construction is expectedto be finished by August2000;

Two QUT graduates havethis year become theuniversity’s first to winprestigious FulbrightScholarships to pursuepostgraduate studies in theUnited States.

Jacoba Brasch, QUT’sFreedom-of-Informationofficer and law graduate, willstudy a Masters of Law inhuman rights and psychiatriclaw at New York University.She plans to return toQueensland to overhaul theState’s “archaic” mental healthlaws.

Jacqueline Peel, anenvironmental law specialist atAllen, Allen and Hemsley inBrisbane, will studyinternational environmentallaw. She has yet to choose auniversity. Jacqueline has agraduate certificate inenvironmental law from QUT.

QUT STORMS OLYMPICARTS STAGE

Sixteen Academy of Artsstudents have returned from a

Jacoba Brasch

• a $235 million BrisbaneLight Rail (tram) systemwhich links key city sitesand includes a single lineup George Street and astop at QUT’s GardensPoint campus. The systemwill be operating by 2001;and

• a $135 million inner-northern busway linkingthe CBD and Herston.The 4.7km busway willallow buses to travel alonga dedicated lane andinclude a bus stop at theVictoria Park Golf Coursebehind S Block at QUT’sKelvin Grove campus.Construction is scheduledto begin in 2001.

Public transport to KelvinGrove and Carseldinecampuses will also be boostedunder multi-million dollarbusway proposals. Regularbus services to Kelvin Groveand the city have alreadybeen improved.

WHO’S WHO ON YOURALUMNI BOARD

who represent your interestson the QUT Alumni Board.

Graham is a civilengineering diploma graduateof the former CentralTechnical College (a QUTpredecessor institution) with agraduate diploma in businessadministration from QIT.He also sits on the QUTFoundation’s ManagementCommittee and its FinancialCouncil and recently chairedthe CTC ReunionCommittee. A formerQueensland Confederation ofIndustry president and a GoldFlame Award holder with theAustralian Gas Association,Graham is an active memberof the Gas TechnicalStandards Council, anassociate of the Institute ofEngineers (UK) and a fellowof the Australian Institute ofManagement.

Karyn is an electedrepresentative of alumni onQUT Council with aBachelor of Business(Communication) from QITand a Master of Business(CommunicationManagement) from QUT.She worked for theuniversity in the publicaffairs area before becomingthe Port of BrisbaneCorporation’s marketingmanager, a position she helduntil recently. Karyn alsoserves on the council of theAustralian Institute ofManagement and is deputychair of the Brisbane Writer’sFestival.

The Alumni Board meetsevery month or so and can becontacted through itssecretary, Chris Goninon, at

c.goninon@qut.edu.au or on(07) 3864 2389.

QUT COUNCIL UPDATENine top Queensland

professionals will join QUT’s19-member Council this year.

Bob Grice, a partner atKPMG Chartered Accountants,will serve for a year as Deputy-Chancellor.

The new nominees of theMinister for Education DeanWells are Peter Chen (PeterChen and Partners Pty Ltd),Glenys Fisher (Commissionerwith the QueenslandIndustrial RelationsCommission and theAustralian Industrial RelationsCommission), Keith Hilless(managing director and CEOof NRG Asia-Pacific Ltd) andDr David Wyatt (director ofPanBio Pty Ltd).

Two council nomineesappointed in February areMr Frank Haly, director ofthe auditing firm DeloitteTouche Tohmatsu, andDr Douglas McTaggart, chiefexecutive officer of theQueensland InvestmentCorporation.

Carseldine campus managerElaine Harding was chosen asone of two elected non-academic staff members, andDr Bob Cope, secondarypractice teaching co-ordinatorfrom the Faculty of Education’sSchool of Professional Studies,was elected as an academic staffmember.

Council also includesQUT Student Guildpresident Makelita Cull andgeneral secretary AdamLadhams, as well as electedalumni Karyn Brinkley andAnn-Maree McDiarmid.

AM FOR HEALTH DEAN

Meet Allgas Energy LtdChief Executive GrahamDrummond and AgforceQueensland’s GeneralManager Marketing &Commercial Services KarynBrinkley, two of 10 members

Ken Bowman

Graham Drummond and KarynBrinkley two of 10 Alumni Boardmembers

QUT’s Dean of Health,Professor Ken Bowman, washonoured in this year’sAustralia Day Awards,receiving the Member of theOrder of Australia (AM) inrecognition of his passion anddedication to optometry andhigher education.

Professor Bowman becamethe foundation head ofoptometry at QueenslandInstitute of Technology in1981. The school remains oneof only three optometryschools in Australia.

He established the Centrefor Eye Research in 1989and was its first director.Professor Bowman wasappointed Dean of theHealth Faculty in 1991.

Professor Bowman is amember of the NationalHealth and Medical ResearchCouncil.

His other influentialexternal appointments haveincluded deputy chair andchair of the Optometrists’Board of Queensland, 1988-94; member of the BrisbaneNorth Regional HealthAuthority, 1991-95; andmember of the RoyalChildren’s HospitalFoundation 1991-93.

4

When Peter Alwast emerged fromhis first visit to a contemporary artgallery, he confesses he felt confused, butalso intrigued.

“I remember going to university infirst year and going to contemporarygalleries and saying ‘why is this art?’,”he said.

Several years later, Peter not onlyunderstands modern art, he is fastbecoming a master in the field.

Peter has won one of eightprestigious 1999 Anne and GordonSamstag International Travelling VisualArts Scholarships.

Samstag is Australia’s largest artscholarship, giving visual artists theopportunity to study overseas. It isawarded to the country’s most promisingarts students.

Worth $60,000, the scholarship paysfor airfares, a year’s living expenses andtuition at one of New York’s finest artschools where Peter will complete hisMasters in Fine Art.

Though he is yet to confirm whichart school he will attend, the 23-year-oldQUT graduate has applied to three topschools, including Columbia University.

Modern art inspires constant creation

b y A m a n d a O ’ C h e e

“I remember going to

university in first year and

going to contemporary

galleries and saying

‘why is this art?’.”

“New York is the centre forcontemporary art, besides Berlin, and alot of artists I’m interested in have comefrom New York,” Peter said.

Artists like minimalists Donald Judd(sculpture), Mark Rothco (1960sabstractionist) and Robert Ryman havehad a marked influence on Peter’spassion for modern art.

Creating 3D paintings, Peter usespolyurethane, silicon and air brushing in

his works, constantly pushing theboundaries of convention.

Though a talented real-life artist,Peter said abstractionism allowed himthe freedom to comment through hispaintings, to experiment with materialsand to express emotion.

Modern art, he said, has “always beenin crisis with the general public”,evoking criticism and controversy.

Modern art though, was notdesigned as “mass communication”.With its own jargon and dialogue,modern art was aimed at a niche group,Peter said.

Graduating with a Bachelor ofVisual Arts (hons) in 1997, he spent sixmonths working in his own studio.

Peter will close his studio whilestudying in the US, but his work is beingexhibited and is for sale at the Smith andStonely Gallery on Stratton St, Newstead.

Like most young Brisbane-basedartists, Peter knows it will be difficult, if

Peter Alwast

not impossible, to work as a full-timeartist at home.

Without a large arts community andthe money or willingness to commissionor buy from artists, Peter said he mayhave to relocate overseas to achieve hisdreams.

“There are times when I doubtwhether I’ll keep going forever, butthat’s rare.

“I’m constantly obsessed by makingart,” he said.

“What keeps me going? Just the factthat my creativity is insatiable.

“In the end, you can never make ‘thepiece’. Art is a process; it’s neverultimately finished. Work comes fromwork.

“It’s nothing to do with my being aperfectionist. I think it’s that art neversays everything.

“There’s always something leftunsaid and so you keep on making art,”Peter said.

5

Q U T L I N K S

QUT drama graduate DeborahMailman is riding high on a wave ofsuccess since winning the 1998 AustralianFilm Institute award for Best Actress.

Her winning portrayal of exuberantNona in Radiance, written by LouisNowra, confirmed what many in thetheatre industry already know: Deborah isa young star with a bright future.

Late last year Radiance –astonishingly, Deborah Mailman’s firstforay into film – received rave reviewsfrom critics and audiences when itscreened at the London Film Festival.

Since then the film, directed byRachel Perkins, has been in such heavydemand on the international festivalcircuit that its sales agent has had to turndown several invitations because of theunavailability of prints.

Life for “Australia’s best film actress”has now locked into top gear as thewhole of Australia seemingly vies for26-year-old Deborah’s time and talent.

In February she was co-MC at theFilm Critics Circle of Australia Awardswhere she won Best Actress for Radiance,a judge in the Tropfest Film Festival andguest at a Cosmopolitan dinner after themagazine named her one of Australia’s“most successful under 30s”.

Early this year she also recordedsegments for the ABC childrens’television show Play School and is nowconsidering other projects.

In May she will play Rosalind in theNeil Armfield production of As You LikeIt for Company B, Belvoir Street. SinceRadiance she has also starred in the filmDear Claudia with Bryan Brown.

Industry recognition has also broughtwith it a relocation from Brisbane toSydney, though she steadfastly maintainsthat Queensland – and the family basein the mining town of Mt Isa – willalways be home.

While Deborah today exudesvivacious confidence, her years at schoolwere dogged by low esteem. At hermother’s suggestion she took up acting.

The youngest of four children, shesaid she probably would have followedher siblings into the mines if it hadn’tbeen for her school drama teacher.

“Both my brothers are boilermakersand my sister is an electrician by trade.So I guess I would have followed themand learned a trade from the mines if ithadn’t been for my teacher DeniseMurphy,” she said.

With Ms Murphy’s encouragementDeborah finished high school andenrolled in the QUT drama program.

“I think the most important thingthat QUT gave me was a sense ofconfidence to articulate myself as anactor because there were momentswhen I didn’t know what I wanted tobe,” she said.

“When I graduated I had theconfidence to believe I’d be an actor.”

Deborah began her professionalacting career at Brisbane’s La BoiteTheatre in a production of The Taming ofthe Shrew.

Deborah Mailmanis hot property across Australia

b y A n d r e a H a m m o n d

“I think the most

important thing that QUT

gave me was a sense of

confidence to articulate

myself as an actor.”

Deborah MailmanPicture: Anthony Weate (courtesy of The Courier-Mail)

She then co-wrote and performed inthe one-woman show The 7 Stages ofGrieving with Kooemba Djarra TheatreCompany director Wesley Enoch –another QUT graduate.

The play was a hit at the Festival ofthe Dreaming in Sydney and overseas.

She performed the role of Nona in astage version of Radiance with theQueensland Theatre Company andKooemba Jdarra in 1997.

The announcement that she hadwon the Australian Film Industry awardcame as she stepped off the stage of theSydney Opera House after playingCordelia in Bell Shakespeare Company’sKing Lear.

b y A m a n d a O ’ C h e e 6

Although she oversees theAssociation of Superannuation Funds ofAustralia, with members’ funds worthsome $300 billion, Rosemary Vilgan hasmore than figures on her mind.

Looking out across a rainy panoramaof Brisbane, Rosemary sighs.

“There’s not going to be enoughmoney for everyone’s retirement andthat worries me,” said Rosemary.

“People just aren’t saving enough, ifyou think that you work for 40 years toage 65 and then retire, you could live foranother 30 years maybe,” she said.

“At the moment the aged pension isunfunded, that is, there’s no money putaside to fund it. It comes from currenttaxpayers. As older people retire, youngpeople pay for the pension.

“The aspect that worries me is that theaffordability is going to be a big problem.

“People are living longer, the healthsystem is getting more expensive, andthere are going to be fewer youngpeople to support the older people.”

Rosemary tells it straight, but hercomments are always underpinned by aheartfelt concern for the elderly. Hervision on how best to support an ageingpopulation – as well as her keen intellectand enthusiasm – have earned her

Australia, she represents 85 per cent ofthe assets in the country’ssuperannuation funds, worth astaggering $300 billion.

Recently named by leading USsuperannuation magazine US Pensionsand Investments as one of the world’s 25leaders “to watch” in the globalsuperannuation industry, the 34-year-oldhas achieved success at a tremendouslyfast rate.

Super Rosemary is the one to watch

Two years later she became directorof superannuation policy with the office,and seven years later, at the age of just33, Rosemary was appointed actingexecutive director, a job which becamepermanent last year.

In 1997, Rosemary became theyoungest and only woman to hold thepresidency of the Association ofSuperannuation Funds of Australia – thetop position in an industry which ownsa quarter of all shares traded on thestock exchange.

Though she describes Australia’sthree-tiered superannuation system –including an aged pension safety net,compulsory superannuation andvoluntary superannuation – as the bestin the world, Rosemary says the systemstill needs major changes.

Complex and constantly-changinglegislation needs to be simplified,compulsory superannuation rates needto be increased to ensure people retirewith sufficient money, and people needto be encouraged to voluntarilycontribute more money intosuperannuation.

“The rules are too hard and they’rechanging all the time and that’s turningpeople off,” she said.

“A lot of people could put involuntary amounts of money, but therules are putting them off.”

Determinedly, Rosemary says theFederal Government needs to includesuperannuation in its tax reform, sayingit is unfair that people pay tax on theirsuperannuation payments now, eventhough they do not receive the moneyuntil retirement.

“There’s not going

to be enough money

for everyone’s retirement

and that worries me.”

international acclaim and made her aleading figure on the world’ssuperannuation stage.

As the executive director ofQueensland’s GovernmentSuperannuation Office, Rosemaryoversees $15 billion worth ofgovernment employee superannuation-funded assets.

Nationally, as president of theAssociation of Superannuation Funds of

Rosemary Vilgan

A QUT graduate, Ms Vilgan studiedpart-time for her Bachelor of Business(marketing) degree while working full-time for the Government.

Rosemary started in thesuperannuation industry as a researchassistant at the QueenslandGovernment’s Superannuation Office in1988 and played a key role in developingthe Q Super Scheme.

7b y A m a n d a O ’ C h e e 7

Q U T L I N K S

Amid the rubble of a cyclonewhich tore through Townsville’s heartsome 25 years ago, Joseph Kwan, then astudent, uncovered his passion fordesigning for the elderly and disabled.

“I had my first experience ofdesigning for people with disabilitieswhen I was working in Townsville as astudent,” said Joseph from his HongKong office.

“A cyclone went through Townsvilleand demolished half the town. There wasa disabled woman there and I had thejob of restoring her house for her,”Joseph said.

“It’s quite a rewarding area, workingwith such a group and providing themwith the means for mobility in theirdaily lives.”

Joseph has become a world leader inthe design of accessible buildings andpublic transport for the elderly anddisabled.

One of only a dozen specialists inthe world, he has been commissioned bythe Hong Kong authorities and theUnited Nations to establish guidelinesfor designing better building access forpeople with disabilities.

After graduating from QUT with aDiploma of Architecture in 1976, heworked as a general architect in Europeand Hong Kong. For the past 11 yearsJoseph has concentrated on making“barrier-free buildings”.

Joseph said improving theaccessibility to buildings would benefitvirtually everyone during some stage intheir lives, from pregnant women, andparents pushing prams, to a person witha temporary injury.

“There is a real need for makingenvironments accessible for the elderlyand disabled,” he said. “There has been alack of concern in our area (in the past),especially in our own field.

“Our elderly population is certainlygrowing by the year and the decade andthere’s also a global trend now to makeplaces more barrier-free.”

Based in Hong Kong, Joseph is theDirector of the Environmental AdvisoryService of the Rehabaid Society – asemi-government organisation whichwas established to transform Hong Konginto a more “barrier-free environment”.

As well as advising during the planningof new buildings, he also redesigns oldbuildings and improves access to publictransport. Last year he helped redraft thelegislation and design manual for HongKong’s Buildings Department.

In 1995, the United NationsEconomic and Social Commission forAsia and the Pacific commissioned Josephto develop a publication on the subject.

Joseph is a firm believer in the needfor a network of specialists and he hasbeen crucial in networking with hisinternational peers.

Joseph’s special interest in transformingbuildings began in Townsville

Joseph Kwan

“I had my first experience

of designing for people

with disabilities when I was

working in Townsville

as a student.”

Joseph visited QUT last year and puteffort into cultivating networks wherehis career began.

As the founder of the Federation ofAustralian Alumni Associations HongKong, Joseph said alumni organisationswere crucial to maintaining professionallinks.

Participating in the QUT CareerMentor Scheme gave nursing studentNarelle Powis large doses of confidencein her chosen career – and a new friend.

For Sunnybank Private Hospital nurseJan Ferrie, acting as a mentor opened hereyes to the needs of graduate nurses.

Both women found the entwining oftheir student and professional livesthrough the Career Mentor Scheme apositive experience.

In 1998, more than 100 final-yearQUT students from 11 differentdisciplines were paired with industry-based mentors.

Activities encouraged by the schemeincluded “shadowing” the mentor atwork, sitting in on workplace meetings,participating in work activities, anddiscussing issues over lunch or coffee.

Narelle worked alongside Jan once aweek for almost a year during Jan’s shiftsin the recovery ward of the SunnybankPrivate Hospital.

The pair also held weekly coffeemeetings.

They continued to meet even afterNarelle’s graduation last year andsubsequent placement at GreenslopesPrivate Hospital.

Narelle and Jan had met briefly beforethe scheme began and now they are firmfriends.

Both are working mothers, membersof the same church, and have childrenattending the same school.

“The mentor scheme gave me theencouragement I needed to make thatbridge from university to work,”Narelle said.

Jan said the experience of being amentor gave her the chance to share herinsights.

Alumni who would like to becomeparticipants in the QUT Career MentorScheme should contact Careers andEmployment Service head Col McCowanon e-mail: c.mccowan@qut.edu.au orcall (07) 3864 5098.

Career mentor scheme builds confidence

Narelle Powis and Jan Ferrie

b y A m a n d a O ’ C h e e a n d A n d r e a H a m m o n d 8

Excessive and potentially fatalbleeding after a heart bypass is significantlyreduced by using a drug treatmentresearched by a QUT PhD graduate.

Working with the Prince CharlesHospital, Dr Michael Ray found that atreatment of high-dosage aprotinin,given during surgery, lowered the rate ofexcessive post-operative bleeding byabout 35 per cent.

In turn, this significantly lowered theneed for blood transfusions andemergency repeat surgery, as well asreducing the morbidity risk (the relativeincidence of a particular disease in aspecific locality).

Michael, who has received signficantsupport from the Prince Charles HospitalFoundation, has also developed a screeningtest to predict excessive bleeding aftercardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Breakthrough drug treatmentsaves lives after surgery

part of his PhD study, which wassupervised by School of Life SciencesAssociate Professor Neville Marsh.

Michael is the first student at QUTto earn his PhD by submitting a seriesof studies published in medical journals.

Michael’s findings from severalstudies of more than 100 patients allowsdoctors to predict which patients arelikely to suffer excessive bleeding aftercardiopulmonary bypass surgery, andprovides them with a treatment toreduce the risk.

The significance of the findings is thatthey lead the way to more appropriatetreatment in the prevention or reductionof excessive postoperative bleeding.Previously, excessive bleeding after heartbypass surgery had been so severe in3.5 per cent of patients that surgeons hadto perform immediate follow-up surgery.

As a result of his research, aprotinin hasbeen introduced at the hospital and everycardiopulmonary bypass patient is tested todetermine their risk of postoperativebleeding. Aprotinin is prescribed for aboutone in three patients.

Michael, who works in the PrinceCharles Hospital’s haematologydepartment, researched the therapy as

Dr Michael Ray

With one Young Film-makers’Award to her credit, young QUTgraduate Bronwyn Roy is proving she’sgot what it takes to succeed in a toughindustry.

Last year Bronwyn won the Womenin Film and Television Award: Best NewFemale Talent for her short film, OneBread, One Body.

She followed this up with a prize inthe Amnesty International AustralianFilm Festival and received the

Q U T L I N K S

Gritty documentaries about peopleare Bronwyn’s passion

7b y N o e l G e n t n e r 9

“It was my final university

course project and I always

wanted to do something on

my grandmother.”

Bronwyn Roy

Documentary Portrait Award at theWoodford Folk Film Festival.

Bronwyn, who majored in film andtelevision at QUT, completed herstudies in 1998 and then landed a job asa tape operator at Channel 7.

Her real love is film and televisiondocumentary production and she isdetermined to work hard in a field sheadmits is “really hard to break into.”

“You have to be dedicated, it’s reallyhard work, and it can be incrediblydemoralising,” Bronwyn said.

“I know a number of people whohaven’t got work and are not eveninvolved in film production which can bevery depressing.”

One Bread, One Body, was based onher grandmother’s life.

“It was my final university courseproject and I always wanted to dosomething about my grandmother,”Bronwyn said.

“Throughout my life, she has given melittle snippets of what had happened to herwhen she was an orphan.”

Bronwyn said she likeddocumentaries because “you learn abouthuman behaviour, and the ridiculouspassions and obsessions people have”.

Bronwyn is now concentrating onher next documentary and already has atitle for it, No Standing Anytime. It’s abouta takeaway store in the inner-Brisbanesuburb of Windsor.

“The takeaway has been operated bythe same people for many years, and it’sright next to a McDonalds and anothertakeaway,” Bronwyn said.

“These people are incredible. They areGreek immigrants and have been in theshop for 35 years, and I want to get that‘doco’ underway – if I get funding great,but if not, I will do it under my ownsteam.

“The short film market is hard, andyou need to cut your material to suit it,with anything over ten minutes gettingtoo long,” Bronwyn said.

Her aim is to work on majortelevision productions. She has a highregard for the ABC’s Australian Story andthe Gamblers series and is an admirer ofworks such as Rats in the Ranks.

1999 shapes up as anexciting year for QUT

This year marks the celebration of QUT’s 10th anniversary as a university and150 years since QUT’s earliest predecessor, Brisbane School of Arts, was established.Health Dean Professor Ken Bowman leads a special 10/150 committee to promotethe event.“Apart from our usual graduations, the fun run, our popular Course and CareersDay and building openings, there will be a range of special events to mark ouranniversary,” he said.Special events include a three-nation tour and a Brisbane season for Louis Nowra’splay Cosi by Academy of the Arts students, while dance students are off to SouthAfrica mid-year to perform Tension.He said faculties across the university would also get on board the QUT Train whichwould visit a large number of rural and regional destinations in the latter half of the year.Student Administration promotions officer Carlee Hay has been appointed the train’sproject manager.QUT’s Faculty of Business is organising an anniversary lecture as well as a

technology exhibition, while the Faculty of Built Environment and Engineeringwill mount a sustainable development exhibition.

A history of QUT will be published and a photographic exhibition willbe staged at the State Public Library.

QUT’s own art museum will open towards the end of the year.Special events officer, Myrene Angeles, who is based in the

Development Office, has been appointed to co-ordinate10/150 events.

QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Dennis Gibson said itwas important for students and staff to see and hearabout the university’s celebrations throughout 1999and, wherever possible, to be involved.“The celebrations will demonstrate to students andstaff the depth of history we have as an institution,”the Vice-Chancellor said.“We’ve been here for a long time and we have a richhistory. I think it’s important for today’s students tounderstand that they’re a part of this history.“And we are lucky to have had the calibre and quality

of staff who have built the university to this point.“They have a commitment to professionalism, they

deliver high-quality teaching, they specialise in appliedknowledge and they are committed to their professions.”

After 17 years at this institution, most of them as its chiefexecutive, the Vice-Chancellor – who hails from the United

Kingdom – said it surprised him that people in Brisbane andQueensland avoided talking about their history.

“I believe it’s important for institutions like ours to talk about where wecame from,” he said.

“Looking back, though, does not mean we’re ‘backward-looking’, just that wewant to celebrate what made us what we are today.”An online calendar of events, at http://www.qut.edu.au/pubs/ten_anniver/ten_year_program.html, will be updated regularly.

10

QUT is celebrating10 years as a university

in 1999. Of course, we’vebeen around for a lot

longer under othernames, going right

back to 1849.

711

Q U T L I N K S

April 6-May 26

Brisbane graduation ceremoniesApril 21

Opening of new D Block, GardensPoint, for design professions

April 30

Vice-Chancellor’s alumni event(Melbourne)

May 6

Business Faculty alumni theatre night:Corporate VibesMay 22-23

QUT On Show, Singapore

May 28-July 11

QUT history photographic exhibition atQueensland Museum

June TBA

Carseldine campus design competitionfor Built Environment and EngineeringstudentsJune 8-12

Dance Collections, Woodward TheatreJune 25-July 11

Tension dance tour to South Africa

July 18

Course and Careers Day

Aug 8-Sept 10

QUT Science and Technology Trainlaunch, tours regional QueenslandAug 12

Cosi opening at new QUT Theatre

Aug 18

Chancellor’s Cup golf tournament -Indooroopilly Golf Course

Aug 25

Outstanding Alumni Awards breakfastSept 2-11

Angels in America, QUT Theatre

Sept 4-5

QUT On Show, Hong Kong,QUT Hong Kong alumni event

Sept 11-17

QUT Science and Technology Trainopen to public, Roma Street Station

10/150 celebration highlights

Earlier events in 1999:February 24

Vice-Chancellor’s Orientation Welcome

February 25–March 4

Cosi Tour of Singapore,United Kingdom and the United

States

February 28

Commencement service,St John’s Anglican

Cathedral

Samsor Safi and Trenton Shipley perform inLouis Nowra’s Cosi, as part of QUT’s 10/150celebrations this year.

Sept 15

10th anniversary of Dean’s seminarcompetition, Built Environment andEngineering

Sept 26

QUT Fun RunSept 30

Honorary doctorates luncheon

Sept TBA

Carseldine campuscybercafe launch

Sept TBA

10th anniversary of theCentre for MolecularBiotechnologyOct 1-9

A Midsummer Night’sDream, QUT Theatre

Oct TBA

Project Expo, ElectricalEngineering projects

Oct TBA

Launch of Construction Hall of Fame

Oct 23-Jan 30

Business practice and culture exhibitionat Queensland Museum: Everyone’sbusiness: business practice and culture(1949-1999)Nov 10

Industry lunch

Nov 17

Anniversary public lecture

Nov 17-20

Dance graduation, QUT TheatreNov TBA

Sustainable Development exhibition

Dec TBA

Interior Design, Industrial Design andArchitecture exhibitions

b y A m a n d a O ’ C h e e

QUT is destined to become ameeting place, exhibition site and asource of inspiration for Brisbane’sarchitects, designers, and plannersfollowing the completion of a dynamic$10 million building.

Alumni have played pivotal roles inthe building of the new D Block andother building and landscaping projectson the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grovecampuses.

Six architects from Bligh VollerNield, who worked on the D Blockproject, are QUT graduates.

Shane Thompson was the principal-in-charge, and Patrick Querengasser,Paul Owen and Andrew Bock were allproject architects. David McRae andCraig Taylor also worked on the design.

D Block is the new home of theSchool of Architecture, Interior andIndustrial Design and the School ofPlanning, Landscape Architecture andSurveying.

Celebrated industrial designers fromQUT, including Russell Hall, and PaulFairweather, have also beencommissioned to produce a series ofchairs for the School of Architecture,Interior and Industrial Design.

A ground floor exhibition space inD Block will feature work from QUTstudents, alumni and leadingprofessionals from across the world.

Gordon said a rolling series of lunch-time guest lectures, exhibitions, apermanent display of historical relics anda drop-in-centre featuring architects’ anddesigners’ work would cement theschool’s standing as an intellectually andprofessionally stimulating centre.

“We want the centre to be acceptedby the professional community as ‘the’place, and for people to drop down fromtown during lunch,” he said.

“The concept was designed sopeople in practice, when they thinkabout architecture, interior andindustrial design and landscapearchitecture and planning, think of us as‘where discussion happens in the city’.”

Gordon said D Block was designedwith wide open corridors, a series ofbrightly coloured walls and with displaycabinets and exhibition spaces on everyfloor.

Landscape architecture and urbandesign firm Tract Consultants has a largestaff of QUT graduates. They include

Alumni collaborate inshowpiece campus development

Dennis Eiszele, a graduate in landscapearchitecture and urban and regionalplanning, who has worked on theD Block courtyard, Main Drive and thecourtyard between the library andadminstration building on GardensPoint. Paul David from HutchinsonBuilders also worked on the courtyard.

Architecture graduate Brett Hudsonfrom Peddle Thorp Architects isworking on the refurbishment of theformer Conservatorium of Musicbuilding (X Block on Gardens Point).

On the Kelvin Grove campus,construction management graduate MarkStanley, who works for A W Edwards PtyLtd, is the site administrator forredevelopment of the refectory. QUT’ssenior project manager, Grahame Wright,is a project manager for the job, andanother QUT graduate.

Construction management studentPaul Patty, who works for ProjectConstructions, is managing thedevelopment of a coffee shop andcourtyard at Kelvin Grove. Projectmanager for the job is QUT graduateRon Goward, principal architect inQUT’s Capital Works Section.

A number of QUT graduates, working for Bligh Voller Nield architects, were part of the team whichdesigned Gardens Point’s new D Block. They include (from left) Paul Owen, David McRae, AndrewBock, Craig Taylor and Patrick Querengasser.

“We want the centre to be

accepted by the professional

community as ‘the’ place and

for people to drop down from

town during lunch.”

Overseeing the D Block project wasanother graduate, QUT’s Capital WorksManager Tom Moore.

Construction of D Block wasdirected by the Faculty of BuiltEnvironment and Engineering.

Head of the School of Architecture,Interior and Industrial Design, ProfessorGordon Holden, said strengtheningalumni links would be a major aim forthe new centre.

12

Mary Magee’s 40-year reign as oneof the very few women pharmacyowners in central Brisbane will moveinto a new realm from next year whenshe becomes the international presidentof Zonta International.

The high-profile women’s clubcould hardly find a more ableambassador – Mary has had a lifetime ofleadership experience since graduatingfrom QUT’s predecessor institution, theCentral Technical College, in 1955.

Her immersion in ZontaInternational issues in 68 countries willmean she may have to temporarily putaside her pharmacy work andcampaigning for Queensland-basedwomen’s issues.

As chair of a GovernmentMinisterial Advisory Committee, shetargets all major women’s issues andnetworks with some of the mostpowerful women in the State – many ofwhom are also Zonta members.

Mary was named 1998 TelstraQueensland Business Woman of the Year,and also the 1998 Westpac BusinessWoman Owner of the Year.

“Zonta International is a group ofprofessional and executive womenworking together to improve the legal,political, economic, professional, healthand educational status of women,” shesaid.

“The issues at stake are so important.And though the education standards andhealth standards (of women) are notappalling in Australia particularly, theyare appalling in places like South Africa,Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and SouthAmerica.

“We have the enormous ability to beable to do something to influence thegovernments there to do somethingabout it.”

It was probably Mary’s indomitablespirit in the (then) mostly-male field ofpharmacy that inspired the fledglingBrisbane Zonta International Club tofirst invite her to join in 1973.

By that time she was already ownerof the Alexandra Pharmacy in WickhamTerrace which she had bought at the ageof 23 and paid off within the first year,thanks to winning a contract to supply amajor private hospital.

“I signed myself ‘M.Magee’ hopingthey would think I was Michael or Markor Matthew or something, and I wonthe contract and of course when I wentup there they looked straight past me tosee whose secretary I was,” Mary said.

“That’s a good story of mine, but it’sabsolutely true. I had a wonderfulrelationship with that hospital. I was oncall 24 hours a day, seven days a week.But when you are young you can dothose sorts of things.”

She was later part of a group thatincluded nine doctors which helpedbuild Queensland’s first strata titlemedical centre on the old AlexandraPharmacy site. The medical centre wasofficially opened by the QueenslandDeputy Premier Gordon Chalk in 1968.

Mary sold Alexandra Pharmacy andwent on to establish The Mill Pharmacyin 1980 as part of the Watkin’s MedicalCentre.

Mary was the only woman amongeleven men elected to the

There’s no looking past Mary Magee

Pharmaceutical Society of Queensland’sState Council in 1976.

In 1988 she was the first womanpharmacist ever invited to join thePharmacy Board of Queensland.

Mary tendered for and opened theTransit Centre Pharmacy, in Brisbane’sTransit centre, in 1986.

It is here that she prefers to work inwhat time there is left over after tripsoverseas as a Zonta International Boardmember to help establish new clubs andto fulfil up to 50 speaking engagementsa year. It forms part of her familycompanies in which husband PeterMagee is a part shareholder.

Her eldest daughter Caroline hasfollowed in her mother’s footsteps tobecome a pharmacist and manager ofThe Mill Pharmacy.

b y A n d r e a H a m m o n d

Mary Magee

“We have the enormous

ability to be able to do

something to influence the

governments there to do

something about it.”

Q U T L I N K S

13

14

Picture this scene: a young child,struggling to breathe, collapses at home.She is rushed to the Royal Children’sHospital. The child’s respiratory samplesare sent to Queensland’s HealthPathology Service at the Royal BrisbaneHospital campus.

Treatment begins. But is itappropriate? Just a year ago doctorsneeding a viral diagnosis result wouldhave had to wait five to 14 days. Butnow, thanks to breakthroughs in virologytesting techniques, turn-around timeshave been cut to between 24 and 48hours. If the illness is confirmed asRespiratory Syncytial Virus or anothervirus, unnecessary and potentiallyharmful antibiotics can be ceased.

The two-person team responsible forthe overhaul of Queensland virology arethe supervising scientist of the ClinicalVirology Research Unit at the RoyalChildren’s Hospital, Dr Theo Sloots, andQUT-QIT graduate, medical scientistJeanette Williamson. Jeanette has won aQueensland Institute of Medical Research(QIMR) scholarship for her contribution.

She graduated from the QueenslandInstitute of Technology in 1970 with aCertificate in Biological LaboratoryTechniques.

She reeled off her extraordinarylaboratory work experience:microbiology, histology, biochemistry,haematology and cytology are some ofthe areas she has covered in a career thathas taken her to private and hospitallaboratories in Queensland and England.

Jeanette, who has three sons, alsofound time to sail around the worldwith her husband, Isaac, yet in mid-career, she hankered to do more.

“I hit 40 and thought, ‘What now?’.That’s when I went back to QUT to domy degree, a Bachelor in Applied Sciencein Medical Technology,” Jeanette said.

Working and studying part-time, shewon the prize for best student of theyear in haematology in 1994 andcompleted her degree in 1996.

With her diverse experience she wassnapped up by the Queensland HealthPathology Service, which had just thencentralised its diagnostic virologylaboratory at the Royal BrisbaneHospital Campus.

“The service was established in the’70s and it delivered a good buttraditional service. Virology results tookfive to 14 days to process,” she said.

Jeanette and Dr Sloots were asked torethink diagnostic virology services forthe State.

They embarked on an extensiveliterature review to benchmarkdiagnostic virology in Australia andoverseas and travelled to Adelaide, Perthand Melbourne.

From their research flowed twotechniques new to the Queenslandvirology service: molecular diagnostics –Dr Sloots’ area of focus – and theCulture Amplified Direct FluorescentAntibody (CA DFA) technique whichJeanette developed.

The CA DFA technique means avirus culture can now be grown rapidlyand test results can be made available inone or two days.

Jeanette has presented two papers onher findings to microbiology conferences

Jeanette honoured for her part inoverhauling Queensland virology

and last year she participated in ResearchWeek at the the RBH for which she wasawarded the inaugural QIMRscholarship. The scholarship will enableher to study for a postgraduate degree orembark on a new research project. She isstill uncertain what direction her workwill take but what is certain is thatAustralian virology has not heard the lastof Jeanette Williamson.

Jeanette Williamson

Do you know anoutstanding QUTgraduate?

QUT has produced outstandinggraduates in many fields. If youknow a graduate who’s made asignificant contribution to aprofession and to the community,nominate that person now for the1999 QUT Outstanding Alumni(Graduate) Award.

All graduates of QUT, QIT, BCAE,Central Technical College and theirpredecessor institutions are eligible.

For more information and anomination kit, phone (07) 38642821 or write to Jill Dale, AlumniRelations, QUT Development, GPOBox 2434, Brisbane 4001.

Nominations close Friday, June 25.

b y C o l l e e n R y a n C l u r

15

Q U T L I N K S

Services and facilities for QUT AlumniQUT Alumni can take advantage

of a growing number of services andfacilities QUT has to offer, including:

Facilities for hire – facilities formeetings, functions and otheractivities are available for hire,including: classrooms and lecturetheatres; dance, drama and visual artsstudios (at Kelvin Grove); theatres;gymnasiums, ovals and tennis courts;support services (including audiovisualequipment, catering and refectoryfacilities); and more. For details,phone (07) 3864 2888.

Health clinics – the Faculty ofHealth runs three health clinics atKelvin Grove which alumni can utilise,including the Optometry Clinic(07 3864 5695), Podiatry Clinic(07 3864 5652) and WeightManagement Clinic operated by theSchool of Human Movement Studies(07 3864 5819). Parking is available forclinic patients.

Library benefits – QUT graduatescan apply for associate membership ofthe QUT Library at a discounted rate.This membership offers borrowingprivileges for $75 a year.

Fitness and sports centres –QUT’s fitness centres are open to thepublic and offer competitive rates.These centres offer gym, aerobics, circuittraining and pump. For moreinformation, phone (07) 3864 2945(Gardens Point), (07) 3864 3710 (KelvinGrove) or (07) 3864 4716 (Carseldine).The Joint Sports Centre on the GardensPoint campus also offers discounts toalumni. It features a pool and squashcourts, and offers special programs suchas adult and children’s swimming classes,and aqua-aerobics. Contact AlumniOffice on (07) 3864 1837 for a letter ofintroduction.

Educational Television (ETV)services – QUT’s ETV unit undertakescommercial work in all aspects of

electronic media. The unit canproduce videos for clients for trainingand promotional work.

Video conferencing services arealso available through Audio VisualServices.

For more information, phone(07) 3864 2207 or (07) 3864 1780.

Continuing education coursesand conference management – theContinuing Professional Educationunit offers professional development,vocational support and continuingprofessional education courses.Through CPE, employers can alsoaccess the specialist expertise ofacademics for tailor-made design andpresentation training programs.Conference management services arealso available. For more informatione-mail cpe@qut.edu.au or call(07) 3864 2196 or (07) 3864 3354.

advertisement

1616

ENGINEERING GRADUATETOPS ASIA-PACIFIC

recognition would helpprevent security breaches atbanks, government agenciesand other organisations.

James founded theAustralian Students’ SpaceAssociation, which wasresponsible for last year’sinaugural Queensland YouthSpace Forum.

BUDDING FILM MAKERDIES IN ACCIDENT

Just months aftercompleting her journalismstudies at QUT, SimoneKnox was killed in a caraccident while travelling inSouth Africa in January.

The talented journalist,film maker and actress, whoinspired and impressed fellowstudents and staff with herboundless energy, had alreadyachieved internationalrecognition before her tragicdeath.

An accomplished shortfilm maker, one of Simone’sshort films was shown at theNew York Short Film Festivalin early February, just twoweeks after her death.

The 26-year-old and herboyfriend had been visitingSimone’s parents, who run awinery in the Cape, whentheir car rolled down anembankment.

Simone and another friendwere killed instantly.

Her boyfriend survived theaccident and has made a fullrecovery.

In honour of her dedicationand enthusiasm, the School ofMedia and Journalism hasestablished the Simone KnoxAward to be given to the mostcommitted journalism studentin third year.

LAW MEMORIAL GROWS QUT law graduates KernNewton and Moire Farrellinitiated the idea of thememorial prize fund andreceived the blessing ofGerard’s parents Peter andMadeleine Connolly beforeapproaching the QUTFoundation and Faculty ofLaw.

Money donated – throughthe QUT Foundation – to theGerard Connolly MemorialFund is matched dollar fordollar by the QUT Vice-Chancellor.

KATHRYN GOW’S A JOLLYGOOD FELLOW

School of Psychologysenior lecturer and Faculty ofArts Assistant Dean, DrKathryn Gow, has beenawarded Fellow status by theAustralian Institute ofTraining and Development.The Institute recognisesoutstanding achievement inthe areas of training anddevelopment over a sustainedperiod of time.

CRASH CLAIMS GRADUATEQUT alumni Abdul Ghani

was killed in a car crash inMalaysia in early March. Hisparents and one of hischildren were also killed inthe head-on collision.

Abdul, who completed aGraduate Diploma in ProjectManagement in 1994, workedas a senior manager withCelcom – the second largesttelecommunications carrier inMalaysia – before starting hisown engineering andtelecommunications serviceprovider company.

Abdul had maintainedstrong links with QUT.

Last word...

QUT Engineeringgraduate James Moody hasbeen honoured as a topuniversity student in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 22-year-old, whorecently graduated fromQUT with double degrees ininformation technology andelectronic systemsengineering, has beenawarded the Golden Key AsiaPacific Scholar Award.

Worth $US10,000, thescholarship will help fundJames’s PhD studies inelectrical engineering inEngland.

“I’m hoping to go toCambridge at the end of thisyear to pursue furtherstudies,” James said.

“Cambridge is surroundedby the space industry, inwhich I have a particularinterest, and I would like tosee some more of the world.”

He has been researchingand developing a speech-recognition system using acomputerised video processorto record and recognise lipmovements. Computerised lip

James MoodyGerard Connolly

The tragically short life ofQUT law graduate GerardConnolly, who died of cancer,prompted his close friends toset up a steadily-growingmemorial fund in his honour.

Two years after his death, theGerard Connolly MemorialPrize for OutstandingCommunity Service awards aprize each year to a Faculty ofLaw student.

Gerard, described byfriends as a gentle and caringman, was only 30 when amelanoma on his toetriggered a cancer that spreadthrough his lymph system. Hedied in 1996 after a six-month battle with the disease.

Gerard studied law at QUTbetween 1985 and 1988 andthen completed the LegalPractice Course in 1989.

He worked as a solicitor inprivate practice in Brisbaneand Cairns, and then for theCommonwealth GovernmentDepartment of Finance, andthe Department of IndustrialRelations, in Canberra beforehis death in May 1996.

Friend and fund co-convener Neil Laurie and

Q U T L I N K S

17

Keep in touch...

17

Michelle AshmoreBTeach(EC) 1996

Michelle is director of AspenCommunity Centre, Inala, whereshe has worked for more than10 years, r ising from an assistant togroup leader and, finally, director.07 3372 2243.

Rachel BairdGradDipLegalPrac 1991; LLM 1996

After serving for five years with theRAAF as a legal officer, Rachelreturned to study in 1996 tocomplete her Master of Laws atQUT. She is now a senior solicitorwith Clayton Utz in Melbourne,after having joined the firm inCanberra in its environmentalplanning section, a position shegained, she said, because of theknowledge gained during her LLM.rachel.baird@mel.claytonutz.com.auor (03) 9286 6000.

Scott BiggsBEng(Civil) 1988; GradDipMunEng1991

Scott is resident director withMaunsell Pty Ltd based in Jakarta,Indonesia. He has recently beenworking in Manila on the NorthLuzon expressway.maunsell@rod.net.id or+62 21 798 3651.

Kim BlankBEd(EC) 1993

Kim spent 1994-96 overseas and,upon her return, worked with theRedlands Sporting Club and didsome supply teaching. She now hasher first permanent position atBarcaldine State School teachingpre-school. 07 4651 1223.

Joan BreakeyMAppSc(Research) 1995

Joan is a consultant dietitian inprivate practice and is continuingresearch into the role of diet inbehaviour and other assortedproblems. She has published a book,titled Are You Food Sensitive?(http://www.ozemail.com.au/~breakey) and contributed to aninternational book, Food Additives.breakey@ozemail.com.au or07 5496 8207.

James BurnettGradDipEd 1993

James recently established apublishing and in-service companythat writes and publishes books forprimary school children and teachersof mathematics. prime.ed@bit.net.auor 07 3285 5377.

Derek ButlerAssocDipCivEng 1968

Derek worked for majorconstruction companies involved inhighway, pipeline and airportprojects and within the miningindustry on project infrastructureworks. He is now manager withAust-Wide Estimating Pty Ltd, acivil consultancy practicespecialising in cost estimating forprojects throughout Australia, Asiaand the Middle East. 07 3374 0773.

Nicole CatakovicBAppSc 1989

Nicole has worked inmicrobiological laboratories overthe past 10 years and is now qualityassurance manager for FoodSpectrum, a medium-sized foodmanufacturer in Brisbane.quality@foodspec.com.au or 073271 4799.

Barrie ChadwickDipArch 1962

Barrie lives in Vancouver, Canada,and has been principal of a busyarchitectural practice, BarrieChadwick Architect, for the past14 years. He is now finding timefor artwork, his first love, and inFebruary opened his own gallerycalled “Merino”. +1 604 926 9313.

Bruce ChungBBus(Accy) 1996; MBA (International)1998

Bruce is assistant manager withAustream, an Australian companyfocussing on highway-relatedproducts in China. It aims to helpAustralian highway and trafficmanagement product supplierspromote their products in China.bruce@austream.com or07 3257 3828.

Tonia CollinsBAppSc(Diagnostic Radiology) 1991

Tonia and her husband CraigCollins – DipAppSc(DiagnosticRadiology) 1990 – are job-sharingthe radiographer-in-charge positionat Bowen Hospital, where they havebeen since the end of last year. Theywere both previously working atthe Princess Alexandra Hospital inBrisbane. ccollins@tpg.com.au or07 4786 1422.

Ainslie DaviesDipAppSc(Pod) 1992

Ainslie recently completed herBachelor of Science upgrade inpodiatry with Queen MargaretCollege in Edinburgh, Scotland,where she majored in diabetic footcomplications. She is now seniorpodiatrist with Buderim PodiatryCentre. ainslied@bigpond.com or07 5445 1376.

Joy DoughertyGradDipLibSc 1985; PhD 1996

Joy left her position as seniorresearch assistant at QUT in Maylast year to take over as co-owner/manager of The Women’sBookshop. The Bookshop, now onthe Internet is setting up mailinglists – email and snail mail.wimbooks@ribbon.net.au or07 3844 6650.

Paul DugganBBus(Computing) 1992

Paul is a customisation integrationservices (CIS) analyst/programmerwith Mincom Pty Ltd, Brisbane,and recently had the opportunityto visit Manila, Philippines, toconduct a report-writing trainingcourse. pduggan@mincom.com or0416 244 588.

Elizabeth DunphyAssocDipHlthSurv 1985

Elizabeth is an account manager/consultant with CheckmateInternational in the UK, where shehas lived for the past eight years.Elizabeth married Lt. Cdr. AndrewLoring last September and they arebusy renovating an old farmhouse.lizzie@mcmail.com or+(199) 388 3300.

Sherridan EmeryBBus(Mgt) 1990

Sherridan operates a small publicrelations consultancy, SherridanEmery Public Relations,Paddington, specialising mainly inthe tourism industry.semery@onthenet.com.au or07 3367 3417.

Ross FazelBBus(Comn) 1987

Having spent the past four years asdeputy advertising manager on TheCourier-Mail, Ross has recentlybeen appointed to the position ofclassified advertising manager forQueensland Newspapers. Ross willfinish his MBA (International) thisyear. fazelr@qnp.newsltd.com.auor 07 3666 6566.

Bradley FletcherBNursing 1994

Bradley recently joined the RoyalBrisbane Hospital as a level-oneregistered nurse to work in theneurosurgical intensive care unit.07 3350 4361.

Megan FletcherBBus(Comn) 1991

Having spent a number of yearsworking for senior politicians inQueensland, Megan moved toMelbourne and is enjoying thechallenges of managingcommunications in a public sectorenvironment, where she ismanager of corporatecommunications with the City ofMelbourne. (03) 9658 9157 ormegfle@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

Karlee FranzBEd 1996

After teaching grade 5/6 atGeebung State School, Karlee saysshe has settled in and had afantastic time teaching grade 7 lastyear. 07 3265 6472.

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Dale GilbertAssocDipMechEng 1970

Dale is director of builtenvironment research with theDepartment of Public Works,Brisbane. He won QUT’s overallOutstanding Alumni Award in 1998.gilbertdl@corporate.pwh.qld.au or07 3224 5070.

Simon GreenhalghBAppScBltEnv 1984; GradDipArch1987

Simon is director with KowalskiGreenhalgh Architects, Spring Hill.kga.architects@bigpond.com or07 3236 9699.

Gwen Gregg (nee Poacher)DipPharm 1958

Gwen travelled overseas to work inEngland and, following her marriagein 1961, she worked in retailpharmacy and then as an educationofficer with the Family PlanningAssociation. During the ’80s, Gwencompleted a science degree and isnow co-ordinator of a peer-assistedstudy scheme at the University ofQueensland. 07 3848 2101.

Warren GriffithsBAppSc(QuantSurv) 1996

Building manager with Quanting &Partners, Warren recently establisheda new identity for the companyafter becoming registered with theQBSA. Their business now operatesin the quality designed homemarket, commercial constructionand quantity surveying services.quanting@bigpond.com.au or07 3886 9950.

Tung Ing (James) HaBAppSc(QuantSurv) 1992

James joined the W.T. Partnershipin Singapore, where he stayed for12 years, later returning to Sarawakwhere he is now bidding andprocurement manager with HockSeng Lee Berhad. +60 82 332755or titnha@tm.net.my.

Hilman HakimMBA(Professional) 1997

Hilman is a business consultant andsays he is happy to provideinformation to anyone conductingbusiness in Jakarta, Indonesia.+62 21 8379 4701.

Cameron HarrisBAppSc(PropEc) 1994

Cameron has been with KnightFrank (NQ) Pty Ltd since early1995 and was made director in1997. cmh@knightfrank-nq.com.au or 07 4031 1388.

Allan HeinrichBBus(Mgt) 1990

With several years of experience inthe pharmaceutical industry, Allanhas recently been appointed fieldmanager for the Queensland ParkeDavis Pty Ltd sales team.07 3847 5575.

Lorrie HicksGradDipEd(EC) 1989; BEd 1991;MEd 1995

Lorrie is a lecturer in earlychildhood studies at CooloolaSunshine Institute of TAFE, andintends to teach English toSunshine Coast migrants during1999. 07 5459 3530.

Andrew HowgateAssocDipCivEng 1990; BEng(Civ)1994

Andrew is a project engineer forcivil construction projects withBielby Holdings, Kenmore.07 3378 6938.

Julie HufferGradDipComn 1995

Julie is working as a full-timejournalist with the Sydney Weeklyand as a freelance for The Sun-Herald. chandler@one.net.au or(02) 9495 4617.

Gabrielle Ingram (neeDuncan)DipAppSc(Nursing) 1990

Gabrielle is director and websitedesigner with Wild Lime Media,North Cairns. She left nursing in1994 to pursue further study inhuman resource management.gabby@wildlime.com or07 4041 4866.

Elissa JenkinsBBus 1997

Elissa worked as a marketing andadvertising co-ordinator with alocal real estate agent, moving onto become a real estate featurewriter with QueenslandNewspapers (The Courier-Mailand The Sunday Mail). Elissa alsodoes freelance corporate writing.race@xenon.net or 07 3252 6273.

Cathie KeillorDipEd 1989

After eight years as a preschoolteacher and a year as an educationadviser in the Gladstone district,Cathie has been transferred toCaboolture East Preschool.07 5499 1806.

Basant KumarBEng(Elec&CompEng) 1993

Basant is a standards engineer withthe Fiji Electricity Authority, alongwith two other QUT graduateswho work in telecommunications.The authority is being restructuredat the moment with a view tobecoming more business orientated.basantkumar@fea.com.fj or+679 664555.

David LaneBBus(Accy) 1991

David has worked as a stockbrokerand is now an investment adviserwith BNP Equities Private inBrisbane. He gained a GradDipApplied Finance and CPAqualification at the SecuritiesInstitute of Australia. Judy Carson– BBus(Accy) 1991 – David’swife of four years, is a seniormanager in taxation with Ernst& Young. dlane@bnp.com.au or07 3815 7253.

Alan LeeGradDipUrban&RegPlan 1982;GradDipBusAdmin 1989;MBA(Professional) 1996

Alan is pr incipal environmentalscientist and managing director ofEnvironmental Impact Services,Ashgrove, an environmentalconsultancy he started in 1997.Alan specialises in impactassessment and environmentalengineering. 07 3366 3198.

Ruth LindeDipEd(EC) 1990; GradDipBusIndRel1997

Ruth is call centre manager withHutchison Telecoms, Spring Hill.07 3836 2543.

Peter LujicBAppSc(PropEcon) 1996

Peter has been living in Melbournefor two years and is asset managerwith Lend Lease Corporation. Hehas kept in touch with a few of hisQUT friends and says it is great tosee other graduates from 1996doing so well. plujic@hotmail.comor 0417 722 686.

Paul LutveyLLB 1986

Paul was admitted as a solicitor in1986 and has practised as a partner atMullins & Mullins since 1990 in theareas of commercial litigation andinsolvency. mullins@tpgi.com.au or07 3229 2955.

Patricia McDuffCertTeach 1962

Pat has been a full-time teacher(primary) for 37 years, in whichtime she obtained her GradDipEd1978 and BEd 1980 from GriffithUniversity and her MEd 1989from the University of Queensland.07 3355 2118.

Pamela McHardyDipTeach 1971; BEd 1989; MEd(Leadership) 1996

Pamela works for EducationQueensland in the Isis-Burnettdistrict office and has justcommenced an Educationdoctorate at QUT as part of theMaryborough cohort.pam.mchardy@qed.qld.gov.au or07 4121 8611.

Liam McStravickB.Nursing (with Distinctions) 1996

Liam is working in the cardiaccatheter theatres at St Andrew’sHospital, Spring Hill, and islooking forward to postgraduatestudy in the near future.liammcs@hotbot.com or07 3834 4378.

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Penny MartinBBus(HIM) 1996

Last year Penny becameco-ordinator of researchadministration with the researchoffice at the Royal North ShoreHospital, Sydney, after working asstaff development manager in themedical records department.pemartin@doh.health.nsw.gov.auor 02 9926 6313.

Michael MatherBAppSc 1992

Michael is a research fellow withthe department of infectiousdiseases and microbiology at theUniversity of Pittsburgh, USA,where he has recently startedresearch into HIV immunology.+1 412 648 9827.

Andrew MeinBAppSc(ConstMgt) 1994

After working for Watpac andWestfield Design & Construction,Andrew established a propertydevelopment company, MeincorpPty Ltd, Red Hill, specialising inunit block refurbishment.meincorp@powerup.com.au or0412 199 229.

Joanne (Jo) MiersDipEd 1989; BEd 1990

Jo is both general manager andclient manager with Kieren PerkinsManagement, Brisbane.07 3211 1500.

Lynn MizenBInfTech 1995

Lynn worked for UNISYS in theBrisbane office after graduation,but early last year was transferredto their Slough branch in the UK,where she is the developmentmanager for a large web-basedproject. lynn-mizen@unisys.com.

Shafi MohamadMBus(Accy) 1996

Shafi is a lecturer with ITMSarawak, Malaysia.+60 82 672153 ext. 324.

Shane MuloBAppSc(Biol) 1987; GradDipCompSc1989

Shane is an analyst/programmerwith the Department of PrimaryIndustries, building decision-supportand management systems forcommercial horticultural producers.He has produced a number ofsystems in use throughout Australiaand overseas. mulos@dpi.qld.gov.auor 07 5441 2211.

Ravendra NarayanLLM 1994

After working as a solicitor in Fijiand New Zealand, Ravendramigrated to Australia in 1992. Heenjoyed immensely the challengeof studying for his Master of Lawsand has since joined the Aboriginal& Torres Strait Islander LegalServices in Townsville as a cr iminallawyer. 07 4721 5148.

Martin NeilsonBAppSc(AppChem) 1974

Martin is process-supportsuperintendent with AustralianPaper’s Maryvale Mill, where heleads a technical support group.Martin was awarded a PhD fromJames Cook University in 1980and became QUT’s OutstandingAlumni Award Winner for theFaculty of Science in 1994.03 5136 0774.

Samantha Organ-MooreBBus(Comn) 1990

Samantha is manager ofcommunication strategy withQueensland Transport, where shehas been leading a team thatproduces road safety publiceducation campaigns, contributingto a reduction in the road toll.saorgan@transport.qld.gov.au or07 3253 4276.

Colin PalmerGradDipEd(Music) 1989

Colin finished his MEd last year atthe Luther Seminary in Adelaideand teaches at Grace LutheranCollege, Rothwell, where he is co-ordinator of co-curricular activitiesin the performing arts department.palmco@globec.com.au or07 3203 3639.

Doug PittardAssocDipBusiness 1986

Doug is marketing and accountmanager with Amcor FibrePackaging. pittard@powerup.com.auor 07 3850 8700.

Tania Pollard (neeThompson)BNursing 1993

Tania recently moved to Sydneywith her husband. She now worksin the intensive care unit atSt George Private Hospital and isexpecting their first baby inAugust. 02 9527 5406.

John RandallBBus(Accy) 1985; GradDipInfTech1994

John is an ENTG engineer withInteractive Business Systems Inc.in Michigan, USA.jrandall@ibsentg.com or+1 248 442 7344.

Warren RenewDipMech&ElectEng 1956

Warren is principal environmentalofficer with the Department ofEnvironment and Heritage,Brisbane. He specialises in noiseand ozone depleting substances.warren.renew@env.qld.gov.au or07 3227 6439.

Sean RyanBEng(Elec)/BInfTech 1993

Sean is a technical consultant withInformation Dynamics International,Milton. He recently returned frommore than two years working andtravelling in the UK and Europe.sean_j_ryan@yahoo.com

Hamdan SaidMEd 1996

Since 1996, Hamdan has been alecturer at the University ofTechnology, Malaysia, with theFaculty of Education. His tasksinclude supervising students’projects, co-ordinating thedistance learning program andrecently becoming the externalexaminer for other universities inthe area of managementeducation. hamdan@fp.utm.my or+60 7 550 4343.

Suriani SanusiBAppSc(PropEc) 1996

Suriani is working as an executivewith Sunrise CondominiumManagement in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia. + 60 3 253 7455.

Bev SchneiderBEd 1990

Bev is an early childhood educationofficer with the Lutheran Church(Schools Department), Milton.07 3369 0800.

Geoff SpeakmanCertArch 1970

Geoff worked in severalarchitectural practices in Londonand Brisbane before becoming abuilder. Now semi-retired, hespends his time gardening, playingtennis and managing his investmentproperties. 07 3390 1044.

Jenny StevensDipTeach 1985; BEd 1990

Jenny has taught in small countryschools at Bororen and Springsure,spent a rewarding five years atCarina State School and is nowentering her eighth year atKimberley Park State School witha composite 6/7 class.jenste@uq.net.au

David StubbsDipEduc 1982; BEd 1993

David is teaching at Pioneer HighSchool in Mackay, and is involvedwith Mackay’s Big Band and CityBand as a performer. He has alsobeen contracted by the MackayEntertainment Centre as musicaldirector for their April productionof The Sentimental Bloke.stubbsda@mpx.com.au or07 4942 4318.

Vijay SubramanianMEngSc(EngMgt) 1997

Vijay is a research scholar withJulius Kruttschnitt MineralResearch Centre (JKMRC) atIndooroopilly, Brisbane.v.subramanian@mailbox.uq.edu.auor 07 3365 5888.

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Maree TrimsBEd 1994

Maree is a teacher with MountSt Michael’s College, Ashgrove.07 3366 5944.

Anthony TuckettMA (Research) 1996

Anthony is a lecturer in health careethics with the undergraduatenursing program at the AustralianCatholic University, McAuleycampus.a.tuckett@mcauley.acu.edu.au or07 3855 7224.

Antony VardanegaBE(AeroAv) 1996

Antony entered the RAAF via itsundergraduate scheme and, upongraduation, completed officertraining. He is now posted to theelectronic warfare squadron inAdelaide where he is a strikeengineer. This position involvesproviding software support andengineering advice for electronicwarfare systems on F-111 aircraft.08 8393 4710.

Mal VaritimosLLB(Hons) 1986

Mal is a barrister with chambers inBrisbane. During 1997-8 he wasbriefed to appear for Sir Julius Chanin Papua New Guinea in the firstand second Sandline Commissionsof Inquiry. 07 3236 1788.

Heidi VogelsangBAppSc 1992

Heidi is a technical officer withCSIRO Tropical Agriculture, StLucia. heidi.vogelsang@tag.csiro.auor 07 3214 2251.

Sally-Jane WalkerDipTeach 1988

Now living on the Gold Coast,Sally-Jane previously taught atWynnum North Primary Schoolbefore being transferred toCoombabah State, where she isnow teaching a composite6/7 class. dansk@qld.net.com.auor 07 5577 2611.

Paul WalshCertElecEng 1978

Paul is an engineering officer withthe secondary systems section ofPowerlink Queensland. He isinvolved in the maintenance andcommissioning of protectionsystems on high-voltage plants.07 3860 2228.

David WangBBltEnv 1995

David is a mechanical designengineer with Delta Electronics inTaiwan. david.wang@delta.com.twor +886 3 452 6107 ext. 714.

Dale WareBAppSc(Surv) 1984

In 1985, Dale started his ownbusiness, Wares Security Products,in Gladstone. He now has six staffand services central Queensland.07 4972 5699.

Jacqualine WatchmanBEd 1994

Jacqualine is a home economics/hospitality and history teacher withNoosa District State High School.During 1998, her hospitalitystudents gained gold, silver andbronze medals at Salon Culinaire onthe Sunshine Coast. 07 5447 6622.

Sharyn WattsGradDipComn 1993

Sharyn is a performing arts teacherwith Maleny State High School.07 5494 2900.

Jan WebbGradDipEdLit 1983

Jan is a reading recovery teacherwith Education Queensland atAndergrove, after 10 years as alearning support teacher.07 4955 4388.

Mervyn WhimpDipEng(Mech&Elec) 1948;AssocDipMechEng 1970

Merv worked in the heavyengineering industry for 11 yearsand State Government WorksDepartment for 33 years. He alsolectured part-time at TAFE, QITand QUT before retiring in 1988.07 3378 7267.

Graeme WilliamsBBus(PubAdmin) 1990

Graeme has worked for EducationQueensland for 21 years and lastApril took up the position of MtIsa’s district senior finance officer,providing financial advice andservices to schools. During 1998he took long service leave whichincluded a quick trip around theworld!graeme.williams@qed.qld.gov.auor 07 4744 5405.

Boyd WillisBAppSc(AppChem) 1981

Since graduating, Boyd has workedin sugar, nickel and edible oilrefining plus mineral processdesign. He is now senior processengineer with Kvaerner Metals,Brisbane.boyd.willis@kvaerner.com or07 3246 9109.

Clifford WillmettGradDipUrbanDesign 1991

Cliff is a project officer/consultantwith the Department of NaturalResources, providing policy andplanning advice to governmentand private organisations. He hasworked previously in SouthAustralia, central and northernQueensland, the NorthernTerritory and the Brisbane CityCouncil. 07 3261 2261 or0414 257 854.

Keith WindowBAppSc(AppChem) 1993

Keith is a laboratory technicianwith ACS Laboratories, Kedron,where he has worked for the pastfive years. His role is performingsimulations on core from oil andgas reservoirs.kwindow@acslabs.com.au or07 3350 1222.

Libby WoodhamsMArts(Research) 1996

Libby has held seven solo and14 group exhibitions since 1993,including a solo exhibition held atthe Agricultural University inToulouse, France in 1997. Herforthcoming exhibition inTownsville this July is inconjunction with the InternationalRangelands Congress.07 4667 4208.

Kerry YatesBBus(Accy) 1976

Kerry joined the CRA/Comalcomining group where he has heldvarious senior accounting roles atWeipa, Boyne Smelters inGladstone and Brisbane. He is nowspecialist systems adviser – finance,with the Comalco InformationSystems Group in Brisbane.07 3867 1743.

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How to Keep inTouchIf you would like to sharethe latest news with otherQUT graduates, simplydrop QUT Links a line.

Alumni Relations loves to hearfrom graduates and can help keepyou in touch with your old QUT,QIT, BCAE, CTC and Teachers’College friends.

Alumni Relations ,QUT DevelopmentGPO Box 2434, Brisbane Qld 4001Phone (07) 3864 2821,Fax (07) 3864 1514 ore-mail: alumni@qut.edu.au

Our on-linealumni directoryThe QUT Alumni On-LineDirectory is coming soon.

Check out the QUT Alumniwww site: http://www.qut.edu.au/draa/alumni/ towards the end ofApril.Alternatively, send your name ande-mail address to alumni@qut.edu.auso we can advise you when it’s live.For first-time access you will needto use your Alumni ID password,which is listed above your addresson the flyer sheet accompanyingthis magazine.

Culture and theuniversityUniversities have long been a centre for discussionabout the performing, literary and visual arts.More recently, many universities have becomecentres for training arts practitioners, in the process

producing many new works and performances.We at QUT are particularly proud of the role of parts of the universityin training talented young practitioners in the arts and in encouragingthem to produce creative work.These areas include the Academy of the Arts, the film and televisionproduction programs in the School of Media and Journalism, andthe design disciplines within the School of Built Environment andEngineering.In the past, there have been scattered performance and displayfacilities for these programs, but the university has lacked a singlefocus for showcasing arts activities.This year, QUT will create a cultural precinct on the Gardens Pointcampus that will both display work produced by QUT staff andstudents and offer important cultural facilities for people outsidethe university.The precinct includes a 400-seat theatre that is currently beingrenovated to produce a first-class performance facility, the QUT artmuseum that will be built in the ground floor of the administrationbuilding, and possibly a coffee shop or restaurant in the formerConservatorium of Music building.The university has decided to manage the precinct as an integratedwhole – we will appoint an overall precinct manager who will beresponsible for developing a coherent marketing and programmingstrategy for the precinct.The theatre and art museum will be important additions to thecultural life of Brisbane, and with the construction of the footbridgelinking South Bank with the Gardens Point campus, they will bewithin walking distance of the cultural and recreational facilities atSouth Bank and the city itself.

Professor Dennis GibsonVice-Chancellor

QUT Links is published by the QUT Corporate Communication Department, in co-operationwith the QUT Alumni Relations Unit.

Design and production by QUT Publications Unit.

Photography: Tony Phillips, Suzanne Prestwidge.

Editorial material is gathered from a range of sources and does not necessarily reflect the opinions and policiesof the QUT Foundation or QUT.

A range of quality corporate products (pictured above) is offered to QUT Alumni.A description of each with its price, well below retail, is provided on the order form.

Please photocopy this order form before completing it.Allow three weeks for delivery of goods. Orders may be faxed or posted.Please make cheques payable to Whatsinaname. Payment must be receivedbefore goods will be despatched.

PRODUCT Unit costS M L XL XXL

Total cost

ACCESSORIES Unit cost Quantityrequired

Deluxe polo shirt with embroideredlogo (Australian-made) $38.50

Size

Key ring in brushed silver metal withQUT logo

Silver anodised coasters with QUT logo (boxed set of six)

Avanti stainless steel insulated mug with laserengraved QUT logo

Inoxcrom Wall Street ball point pen in stainless steel with24 carat gold-plated trim (made in Spain) – engraved QUT logo

Inoxcrom Wall Street fountain pen in stainless steel with24 carat gold-plated trim (made in Spain) – engraved QUT logo

Total cost

TOTAL (+ handling and freight $8.00) $

$ 9.50

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Fashion cap in navy cotton with suede peak and embroideredQUT logo

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Return form to: Whatsinaname, 72 Pembroke Road, Coorparoo Qld Australia 4151Phone (07) 3847 2466 Fax (07) 3847 2470

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$53.50

QUT Links, like the university’salumni, is growing and exploringnew connections that will bevaluable to many of our readers.

Many of you will have importantnews, ideas and questions toshare with your peers, so to helpus meet that information need,the editorial team invites you tolet us know what you would liketo see covered in future editions.

It could be a news or featurearticle, a profile or some othertype of report that would be ofinterest to a broad cross-sectionof graduates.

All you have to do is drop aline to:

The Editor

Corporate Communication Department

Queensland University of Technology

GPO Box 2434

Brisbane Q 4001

OR call (07) 3864 1150.

Coming up...1Cassandra and a host of QUTtalent are a smash hit with the tiny tots

2In brief...

4Modern art inspires constant creation

5Deborah Mailman is hot property acrossAustralia

6Super Rosemary is the one to watch

7Joseph’s special interest in transformingbuildings began in Townsville

8Career mentor scheme buildsconfidence

Breakthrough drug treatment saveslives after surgery

9Gritty documentaries areBronwyn’s passion

101999 shapes up as an exciting yearfor QUT

1110/150 celebration highlights

12Alumni collaborate in showpiececampus development

13There’s no looking past Mary Magee

14Jeanette honoured for her part inoverhauling Queensland virology

16Last Word ...

17Keep in Touch ...

Cover:Tracey Fleming with Bop.

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AUTUMN 1999Volume 2 Number 6

Host of talent In the Box

1999 QUT Celebrations

Alumni Review

Bequest benefits koala researchKoala research at QUT has been boosted by the bequestof a Victorian woman.

Ruth Oulton Whyte, who died last year, left $35,000 forkoala research to Associate Professor Peter Timms in theSchool of Life Sciences.

The bequest will fund a PhD Scholarship – the first everat QUT funded by a bequest – to conduct a researchproject on koalas.

By arrangement with Ms Whyte’s trustee, the bequestcame to QUT through the Australian Koala Foundation.

Last year a sub-committee of the QUT Foundation whichdirects the Planned Giving Program received eightbequest notifications, a significant increase on previousyears, by individuals who have made or will makebequests to QUT.

The sub-committee hopes this year to even better thebequest notifications.

Chaired by retired former Deputy Vice-ChancellorEmeritus Professor Tom Dixon, the committee aims toachieve 100 bequests in the next five years.

Ms Whyte’s realised bequest increases the total bequestincome to QUT to $265,000.

The remaining bequests will benefit a variety of areasincluding specific faculty projects, the library and researchand university priorities.

$5,865 towards bursaries for socially and financiallydisadvantaged students;

$8,985 towards building the university's endowmentfund which will provide for the universityfuture priorities;

$1,260 towards the development of librarycollections and services;

$6,725 towards the Law Founders' Scholarship, anendowed scholarship fund for socially andfinancially disadvantaged law students;

$6,978 towards the Joan Penridge Fund, anendowed award for final year QUT nursingstudents; and

$19,190 towards the Optometry Alumni SponsorshipFund, which in 1998 supported thedevelopment of a Multi-Media Centre in theQUT Optometry Clinic, to be accessible toboth the profession and students.

Donations to the QUT Alumni Fund during 1998exceeded expectation. Gifts from graduatessupported important areas of the universityincluding:

Thank you to our generous Alumni

Your thought will makea real differenceBy thinking of QUT in your will, you can make a realdifference to research and teaching programs whichdirectly benefit the community.

In health, for example, QUT researchers have madestrong, practical contributions to our understandingof leukaemia, Ross River virus, diabetes and cancer.

QUT scholarships too, help bright students becomeoutstanding professionals with their feet firmlyon the ground.

If you’d like to make a real difference, contact

QUT Development Office,on (07) 3864 1833.Queensland University ofTechnologyGPO Box 2434 Brisbane 4001

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