, {

VOL. 2 N

Newsletter for The University of Newcastle

S.R.C. ELECTS COUNCIL DELEGATES The Students Representative Council has elected N.U.S.A. delegates to the AUS annual council meeting at Monash ~niversity from January 13 to _2, 1977.

They are Paul Drinkwater (President 24th S.R.C . ), Leo Walsh (Media Officer and delegation leader), Ali Ben

ahn (Women's Officer), Peter ul1gren (Honorary Secretary) d Adrian O'Connel (A.U.S.

Secretary) . Observers wi 11 be Anne McCosker (Environment Officer), Janet Hal1inan (Hon­orary Treasurer) and Peter Law (Race Relations Officer). N.U.S.A . has three votes at the annual council and N.U.S.A. decisions are made on caucus votes.

ORIENTATION AND AL\ LTERNATIVE ~ANDBOOKS, 1977

Submissions (articles) are be­ing sought for inclusion in the

_ Orientation Handbook, 1977, and the Alternative Handbook, 1977. This is your opportunity to tell newcomers to the Univers-ity all about your organisation, faculty, department. group. and so on. Tell them about the university. its way of life. cliques. prej­udices. etc .• and what they can expect to get out of it. apart from a degree. Submissions will be received at the S.R.C. Office in the Union. up to December 3. For further information, contact Janet Hallinan. Director of Student Publications. or Leo Walsh. Media Officer, C/- the S.R.C. Office.

PROFESSOR OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE

Or Stephen Leeder. Professor­elect of Community Medicine at this university. has taken up duties as Adviser in Community Medicine to the Regional Dir­ector of the N.S.W. Health Commission (Hunter Region) prior to joining the University full-time in September, 1977. He is also completing the third year of a National Health and Medical Research Council Clin­ical Sciences Fellowship in Epidemiology and participating in the development of the undergraduate medical curric­ulum and research programme of the Faculty of Medicine.

NEWCASTLE CANDIDATE FOR UNIVERSITY BOOKSHOP BOARD Mr John Birch. Faculty Secret­ary in Medicine, is seeking election to the Board this year. Mr Birch joined the Board in 1974 while he was an Adminis­trative Officer in the Faculty of Arts of the University of New South Wales. He had been coopted to fill a temporary vacancy. He served as a mem­ber for two years - the latter part of his term whilst he was with the Faculty of Medicine at this university.

Or Leeder is married (his wife is a general practitioner) and has two sons - aged 7 and 5. He graduated from the Univers­ity of Sydney in medicine in 1967, working thereafter at the Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney until 1974, in various capacities. He retains his clinical interests in thoracic medicine and has undertaken epidemiological research con­cerning dust illness in school age and pre-school children at the University of Sydney and St Thomas's Hospital Medical School in London. He returned to Australia after spending a year at McMaster University Health Sciences Faculty in Ham­i 1 ton. Ontario. "I see community medicine as including all forms of medical care for individuals in the community, the most important being general practice", Or Leeder commented. "But there is also the concern about the health of communities as ~ of individuals - how to prevent illness and how best to arrange medical services for their needs. "So I hope to help to introduce these two strands of community medicine into the educational. research and service activities of our Faculty. "We have unique opportunities in the Hunter Region which must be taken with the utmost ser­iousness", Or Leeder said, "to contribute to the health of the Region and for training some of tomorrow's doctors".

Mr Birch describes his main concerns as: 1 The elimination of unnec­

essary delays in supply of undergraduate texts, partic­ularly at the beginning of the academic year, and of academic books of overseas origin.

2 The development of buying practices that would allow the Bookshop to hold down prices and maintain a sat­isfactory dividend.

3 The proper investigation of complaints about prices and services. and

4 The expansion of branch premises to allow a good range of general books to be displayed.

page two

LfITERS TO THE ·EDITOR

In reply to the Vice-Principal's article, "Campus Parking", in the September 23 University News, the pressure has not eased and overflow parking is not going to be the answer to the parking problems that are going to be caused by the new Medical Faculty . A decisiort should be made soon as to whether the car parks are going to continuously expand or the number of students ' cars going to be limited. I would suggest that the latter should occur, with car pools being formed and better public transport and pushbike facil­iti~s being arranged. Overflow parking as a solution should be discontinued, espec­ially around bush areas like the Wilderness area of the CAE, which is already impregnated by carborne exotic grasses . And how much further can park­ing extend down the hill before people start to say it's a drive-in University. A study should start immed­iately of parking facilities needed in the future and the number of spaces that should be provided. The University cannot continue to grow without this problem being faced. Quick, before the University in the bush becomes the University in the carpark.

Ron Leslie, Architecture IV.

NORTH QUEENSL·AND LAND RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Vacation Programme: to finance University students to work on Aboriginal reserves and tribal areas in the Christmas vacation. The students would find their own way to Cairns for briefing and bring their own pocket money. Our Committee would pay their way to the area concerned - Palm Island, Mapoon, Holroyd, Buddabadoo, or Mona Mona and their own way back home, plus provide them with food and rudimentary accommodation. The students would have to stay for a minimum period of one month~ The work involved would be fishing, farming, building houses, and clearing airstrips. The students would have to abide by the rules of the Aboriginal community involved. Information contact: P. Law, Race Relations Officer, C/­S.R.C., Newcastle University. NQLRC, 27 Kevin Street, Edgehill. Cairns. Nth. Qld. 4870

MR DAVID SHORTLE Mr David Anthony Shortle coll­apsed and died at the entrance to the university on October 26. Mr Shortle's sudden death caused sorrow among students and members of staff who knew him. He had been a Lecturer in Education here from 1971 to 1973, when he left to take up a post at the University of Hong Kong, and was only 36 when he died. He was back in New­castle as a Visiting Lecturer . Mr Shortle is survived by his widow, Margaret, and young daughter, Yolande .

M~ S h o ~ tle and Yolande .

The Vice-Principal (Professor A. D. Tweedie) wrote the follow­ing eulogy to express the regret of members of the uni­versity at the funeral service: "No doubt the feelings that united us most strongly at this time is the sense of deep, personal and tragic loss and the compassion and sympathy we have for Margaret and Yolande. But mingled with these are proud and happy memories which we can share with Margaret and which bring comfort to us all. "For, as David's friends we are also united in our pride and gratitude for our association with a splendid life. We regret its brevity, but we are qrateful for the fact that

PROFESSOR EHRLICH VISITING MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

Controversial US environmental­ist Professor Paul Ehrlich has arrived at Macquarie University to be a Visiting Professor unti 1 January . Attempts have been made over the last few weeks to seek a visit to Newcastle by Professor Ehrlich. Unfortunately his itinerary is such that he will be unable to attend this University, but Macquarie University has

David displayed in such full measure those greatest of human qualities - courage, intelligence and above all sensitivity and compassion. We will have our personal memories of these qualities. "We know he had the courage to adopt a life style that he knew to put his life at risk, but which would produce its full measure of achievement . He had the intellect to enrich his chosen profession with advances of scholarship and learning. His luve of music, of art, 0 f po et r y, 0 f d-r a m a and of literature was a full blooded appreciation of human creativ­ity. His own life he added to it and our lives have been enriched by his efforts. "But above all, he displayed A sensitivity and compassion t~ fellow men - to understaAd and tolerate their failings, to encourage their aspirations and to appreciate and applaud their achievements. Individ­ually we will have been wit- A ness to many examples of thi"" sensittvity and compassion. "David was an active partic­ipant as reader in the 'talking books' programme which brought to the blind the literature he loved so well. He was an academic who not only pressed his students to the full measure of their ability, but also had concern that his own attitude was tuned to their sensibilities. In his recent cross-cultural experiences he was concerned that his own cultural background should A adjust to the different circ~ stances of his students. "These are the qualities, cour­age, intelligence and sensitiv­ity which made David Shortle such an outstanding teacher. He gladly taught and he taug~ us all. We are all the rich for his life and are grateful for having shared it with him. "To his wife and daughter we offer not only our deep and sincere sympathy. "To David and his memory we offer our thanks".

arranged a programme which includes a public symposium on Saturday, November 6. It is entitled "Energy and Man". Members of this Un'versity may. wish to attend and Professor Frank Talbot, Professor in Environmental Studies at Macquarie University, has indicated that he will be happy to receive members of the Uni­versity of Newcastle. Further details may be requested through Mr R.J. Archer, of the Secretary's Division or Prof­essor Talbot at Macquarie Uni­versi ty.

FACULTY OF MEDICINE CURRICULUM WORKSHOP The Facu l t y of Medic in e is making steady progress towards the day when it will admit its first undergraduate students. An important landmar k in its deve l opment was the recent residentia l curriculum work­shop held at Hawks Nest from October 16 to 20. Ten members of the Faculty's staff were present and, in addition, Dr Stephen Leeder, Professor-elect of Community Medicine (at present Adviser on Community Me dicine to the Regional Dir­ector of the Health Commission) and Dr Trefor Morgan, Professor­elect of Med icine (to take up his appo intment early next year). The f ormal sessions of the work­sh op were programme~ from 9 a.m. t o 4 p . m. and from 8 to 10 p.m .

•

" day, but as the activities d towards the making of 1 decisions on the frame­

work of the undergraduate curr­iculum much midnight oil was burned. Fate also intervened against any participants who m.o t have planned to fit in 5 sun-baking! T Faculty has affirmed its commitment to an innovative five-year curriculum which ~il1 have the following principal characteristics: clear instruc­tional objectives, based on what have been identified as essen­tial knowledge, skills and att­itudes at graduation, strong emphasis on independent and small group learning, an inter­disciplinary approach to learn­ing through the solving of clinical problems. T~workshoP led to the estab-1 ent of an Admissions Comm-i , chaired by Professo~ Tony Vinson.

NEW PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY WOMEN

Mrs Judith Sphiris, a Science Teacher at Kotara High School, was elected President of the Australian Federation of Uni­versity Women - N.S.W. Hunter Valley Branch at the Annual General Meeting held on October 27. Other positions filled were : Vice-Presidents - Mrs E1aine Sheehan, Miss Joyce Winney

Honorary Secretary - Miss Kathy He i ne r

Honorary Treasurer - Miss Jess Dyce

Assistant Secretary - Mrs Anne Morris

Committee - Mrs Pame1a Hayes, Mrs Maureen Lynch, Mrs Mary Ma11ey, Mrs Nare11e Patterson .

COMMUNITY CHILD CARE CENTRE

It is anticipated that the Child Care Centre, located within the grounds of the university off Rankin Drive and near Newcastle C.A.E., will commence opera­tions on Monday, February 21, 1977 • Approach roads will be from Rankin Drive or University Car Park No. 2. Professionals in the field have described the design as one of the most exciting ever con­structed in Australia. The architects have planned the building to look like a family home rather than an institu­tion. The ground floor, which is on two levels, has a nursery, cot room, three play rooms, two kitchens, laundry: dining room, five toilet blocks and offices. All floors are carpeted or tiled. There is also an up­stairs staff room, store room and observation area. It is expected that the Centre wi 11 operate between the hours of 8 . 30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. each week day and will cater for 60 children aged one to five. It wi 11 be open 48 weeks in each year. On present estimates the fees for full day care will be approximately $27 per week. Pro-rata fees will be deter­mined for part time attendance. While initial arrangements for the Centre have been adminis­tered by a Management Committee, thi s committee is soon to be replaced by a Board of Trustees compr isin g a Chairman appointed by th e Vice-Chancellor, the Director of the Cent r e , three members of the University Coun­ci1, representatives of staff and students of the University and Co llege of Advanced Educa ­tio n and three representatives of parents whose children are e-nro11ed.

page three

It is expected that the person appointed as Director will be engaged in teaching at either the three-year or four-year level, in addition to assuming

' responsibility for the overall day to day management of the Centre. Part time secretarial assistance will be available to help the Director with her administrative duties. The numbers of children in the various age ranges: 1-2, 8; 2-3, 10; 3-4, 20; 4-5, 22 children. Total 60 full-time children. Consistently high attendance figures must be maintained if the Centre is to qualify for the maximum Australian Govern­ment subsidies. It thus seems likely that the admissions policy may have to favour the admission of children entered for full-day care, or at least half-day care, rather than casual attendance.

The Centre will cater for the children of parents residing in the surrounding community, as weJ1 as children of students and staff of the University and the College of Advanced Educa­tion. Priority categories for the admission of children have been di sc ussed by the committee and it is proposed that preference will be given to children in need. The "in need" categories are presently: (a) a ch i ld of a one-parent

family (b) a child either of whose

parents commenced perman­ent residence i n Australia within three years from the application for enrol­ment .

(c) a child either of whose parents is sick or incap­aci tated.

page four

NEWCASTLE RESEARCH GRANTS The Australian Research Grants Committee has made 30 grants totalling $221,354 to academic staff of the university. The grants are for new, and contin­ui ng, research projects in 1 g 77 . This compares with the 1976 allocation of $183,393. The largest single grant is $2 7,0 41 for continuation of studies into air/sea inter­action . This work is being conducted by Professor R.A. Antonia and Dr A.J. Chambers, of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Professor Antonia has been granted a further $18,338 for continuation of work on trans­fer processes in turbulent shear flows. Professor R.W. Robinson, of the Department of Mathematics, will receive $18,706 for a continu­ing project relating to the numerical implementation of unlabelled graph counting algorithm. The other research projects for which grants have been approved: HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES NelJ Projects Dr R.E. Barnard, 'The moderniz­ation of agriculture in a Malay peasant community' $3,727 Professor M.G. King, 'Aversive autocontingencies affecting the corticosterone response' $4,600 Dr F. Walla, 'Critical edition of works by J.N . Nestroy' $1,000 Continuing Projects [) r J. L. Se g g i e, ., Ani n v est i gat ion of the development of formal operational thought in concept learning' $5,289 . PHYSICAL SCIENCES Continuing Projects Associate Professor C.A. Croxton , 'Liquid-solid and liquid vapour phase transitions' $9,244 Professor C.D. E11yett, ' Temp­oral and spectral analys is of re mote sensing data' $10,032 Dr B. J. Fras er, 'Propaga tion studies of hydromagnetic waves between spaced stations' $8,842 Dr E.R. Smith, 'Th e stability of arrays of microscopic part­icles' $6,904 Associate Professor W.D. Wallis 'Construction and investigation of block dp~iqns' $15,104 CHEMICAL SCIENCES NelJ· P.rojects Dr R.P. Cooney, 'Analysis at the electrode-electrolyte interface ' $7,911 Continuing Projects Professor W.F.J. Pickering, 'The effect of electrolytes and comp1exing agents on the absorption of metal ions by clays and soils' $11,34 0 Professor W.F.J. Pickering, 'Preconcentration procedures for use in evaluating the trace metal content of waters'

$50 0

Mr Brian Marsden, Technica~ Officer in Mechanical Engineering , Mr Alan Taylor, a Lecturer at NelJcastle C.A.E. and a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, and Mr Bede Jordan , a member of HERSU 's staff pictured ope r ating apparatus for the measurement of strain e in materials. "

It provides technical advice on

UNIT PROVIDES TECHNICAL ADVICE

The Educational Technology Section of the Higher Educat­ion Research and Services Unit is located in Room 102 in the Arts/Administration Building. The Section was established to produce audio visual aids for all departments of the univers­i ty .

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (PLANT AND

the selection and usage of equipment and materials, while also designing and producing educational, single concept programmes. The section also provides photo-

. graphy . services·, vi~eo and audio tape, and a photographic reproduction service which has been well used by a number of departments. Teaching video­tapes have been prepared for use with undergraduate lectures and for research.

ANIMAL BIOLOGY) ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES Continuing Projects NelJ Projects Dr B.A. Conroy, 'Genetic anal- Professor J.A. Campbe11, 'Auto-ysis of hybrid zones in Tisi- matic programming applied to phone abeona' $1,400 the extension of symbolic Dr P. J. Quinn, 'Studies of computing systems' $3, 000 mammalian embryo development Professor I.McC. Stewart and and differentiation' $1,637 Dr T.F. Wall, 'Entrainment, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (MOLECULAR mixing and ignition in particle BIOLOGY AND CELL METABOLISM) laden jets' $5,750 NelJ Projects Professor J.B. Moore, Professor Dr R. N. Murdoch and Mr D.J. Kay, B.D.O. Anderson and Dr A.C. 'Uterine alkaline phosphatase Cantoni, 'Control and commun-and reproduction in mice' $8,08i ication systems analysis and Dr R.J. Rose, 'Chloroplast DNA synthesis' $15,535 segregation in cells and isol- Continuing Projects ated protopl asts' $7,300 Dr G. C. Goodwi n, 'Computer Continuing Projects aided techniques for multi -Dr J.W. Patrick, 'Hormone- variable system identification promoted transport in shoots' - experiment design and data

$5,500 analysis' $6,911 Dr T.K. Roberts, 'An immun olog- Dr F.J. Lidgey, 'Investigation ical approach .to the study of of the second harmonic locking semen, particularly sperm- characteristics of high powered seminal plasma interactions' mic rowave LSA oscillators' $850

$1 200 Dr F.J. Lidgey and Dr K.K. EARTH SCIENCES Sa 1uja , 'Fault diagnosis in Gunn Co ntinuing Projects 1 ogi c networks' $1,960 Associate Professor B.A. Engel Dr P.J. Moylan , '<;tability of and Associate Profes sor J. non linear con tr .i systems' Roberts, 'Evol uti onar·y and $2 ,640 ecological variatio n in Carbon- Dr T.F . Wal , , irect rec'lction iferous marine invertebrate in electron cal' " Igmented zones of eastern Australia' flames' $2 5

$10,791

THE CREDIT UNION

The Annual General Meeting of the University of Newcastle Staff Credit Union was held on Monday, September 27, 1976. It was decided to allow members to borrow $2,000 with secur i ty after becoming a savings member for three months . The following a re now Directors and Official s of the Credit Union :

Mr M. Edmonds (Planner's Div ­ision)

Mrs C. Rodda (Union) Mrs M. Davie (Computing Cen­tre)

Mr R. Dear (Computing Centre) Mr G. Sear1 es (College of

Advanced Educ atio n) Mr W. Picker ing (College of

Advanced Educat io n) Mr T. Askie (Salaries Section) Mr L. McLardy (Civil Engineer­

ing) Mr D. Robertson (Chemical

. ngineering) 4IIJ. R. Richardson - Secretary

(Purch~sing Section) Mrs S . Stevens - Treasurer

(Credit Union Office) Mr M. Covi11 - Supervisory

ommittee (Personnel) N. Tay10r - Supervisory

Committee (Accounting Section)

Mr H. Gennette - Supervisory Committee (Civil Engineering)

Members are now advised that all mail should be addressed to the Credit Union Office as it is now included in the Univers­ity Mail Delivery Service.

It must be stressed that all phone calls be made direct to the Credit Union Office on Ext .

•

' on Tuesdays and Thursdays, , n to 2.30 p.m., which are

e office hours. Officials of the Credit Union cannot be expected to attend to Credit Union business during normal working hours.

~GARET DAV lE

UNIVERSITY SLOPE GLIDER CLUB1S GENERAL MEETING Date: November 9, 1976 Time: 7.30 p.m. Venue : Room G1 2, Department

of Physics Agenda: Discussions on

recommendations for f utu re activities of the club and confirm­ation of matters raised at the Annual Gene ra l Meeting.

All members are urged to attend this meet ing. All persons who are interested in the Club's activities would be welcome at the meeting.

SPORT The Blues Association, at its meeting on October 26, prepared a list of university sportsmen/ women for submission to the Vice-Chancellor for endorsement as this year's Blues . The Sports Union has also invi­ted clubs to nominate members for selection as Sportsman of the Year and Colours . . The awards will be presented at the Blues Dinner on April 29, 1977 . A structure to provide protec­tion in wet weather will be erected above the barbecue area at No. 1 Oval . At its meeting on October 27, the Sports Union resolved to ask the Planner's Divis ion to proceed with the project and to incorporate a concrete exten ­sio n of the existing deck on the pavilion. The Sp or ts Union expressed its gratitude for the assistance which the Planner's Division gave whilst the work was being designed . '

CHANGES TO STATE SUPERANNUATION FUND Contributors to the Fund were sent circulars earlier this year on the proposed changes . However, there are additional alterations, which it is understood have been approved

page five by tne N.S . W. Government, and will be incorporated in legis­lation in the near future. Some of the main changes are: (a) A new contributions sys-

tem, where contributions and entitlements are adjusted on one particular day eac,h year .

(b) A new optional scheme to provide relief to those ~ver the age of 47, from the high cost of units.

(c) The Reserve Unit scheme is to be pha sed out .

(d) Other change s proposed affect accrual rights during l ea ve without pay, pension payable following voluntary r~t irement while aged between fifty-fiv e and sixty, higher interest on arrears of co ntribu­tions.

It is emphasised that these must still be considered a ~ proposed changes, until approp­riate legislation is passed. Once this has happened, detailed literature will be prepared for di stribution. It is hoped also that an advis­ory member of the State Super­annuation Fund will visit the campus for a lunchtime meeting, to answer questions and give advice . Details will be ann­ounced later.

Personnel Department.

The UniverBity is inaluded in a series of Universities of Aust r alia aommemorative plates produaed by Bing and Grondahl, of Copenhagen, and selling at G. Caldwell , Jewellers for $21.95 eaah . Before produation the design (a view bn the pathway leading to the Auahmuty Library) was approved by the viae ­Chanaellor and the University Planner. A aomplete aolleation of plates depiating all 18 Australian universities aosts $395.10.

page six

Photos taken by M~ A. Johnston , of the Highe~ Education Resea~ch and Se~vices Unit, f~om a video tape copy , made by M~ B . Jo~dan , of HERSU , of the live broadcast of the eclipse of the sun on Satu~day afte~noon, Octobe~ 23 . The photo on the ~ight shows the Sun completely eclips ed by the Moon and the ~esulting co ~ona . The pictu~e on the left s hows " the diamond ~ing ~ that is c ~eated as the eclipse p~og ~esses and the Sun eme~ges. The "diamon d " is heigh tened by a valley of the Moon th ~ough which the Sun shines . Colo u~ and black and white video tapes o f the fil~ a~e held by HER SU and can be seen by ~equest . Rin g M~ Jo~dan o n Ext. 443 .

FLEXTIME TRIAL ENDS RECEIVES ~H 0 E SUP PO R T

In April the University comm­enced "flextime", or variable working hours, in its Central Administration as a trial. Since then the Personnel Dep­artment has kept a close watch on the ways employees have used the scheme and conducted a survey amongst all partici-pants. . 8rief1y, flextime has proved to be universally popular. Eighty­eight staff members were elig­ible to participate and 86 chose to do so. The trial has led to flextime being adopted in Central Admin­istration for a further 12 months. On October 27 mem~ers of the Public Service Association on the site met to discuss flex­ible working hours and decided to ask the University to extend the system to involve staff members from all Departments. As part of the Personnel Dep­artment's comprehensive review of flextime questionnaires were distributed throughout the sections involved. When anal­ysed it was found that 97 % of the staff members involved (mainly in the Secretary's, Bursar's and Planner's) pref­erred the flextime system to sta ndard working hours. No information was solicited on the advantages which individual s ta ff gain from flextime, but a l ot of informal comments have be en made to the Personnel Dep artment. The main benefit for staff is the greater independence. They can arrange their starting,

lunching and finishing times to suit their personal life styles, duties and interests. They are permitted to commence work at any time between 8 and 10 a.m. and to finish work between 4 and 6 p.m. The system, therefore, reduces the anxiety caused by "late­ness", creates greater ease in travelling to work by allowing traffic congestion and parking difficulties to be avoided and gives more time for leisure and recreation. It has proved par­ticularly useful for working wives and mothers.

Another factor is the alter­native presented to using up annual leave entitlements to allow staff to meet personal demands such as shopping, visits to doctors, home main­tenance and sport. Now that daylight saving has commenced the gain in recre­ation time which flextime off­ers should be more widely accepted. Staff finishing at 4 p.m. (actually 3 p.m.) will be more conveniently placed for sport, gardening and other outdoor pursuits, whilst during the school holidays it will be easier for staff to be with their families. Another option offered by flex­time: accumulation ~f a credit or debit of up to 10 hours a month and, subject to depart­mental convenience, one day, or two half days, off every four weeks. The period accumulated may be carried over from one . four-week period to the ne xt. The review by the Personnel Department has indicated that Friday is the mos t popular day for the taking of "flexleave". Fifty-three per cent of all the whole days taken off have been Fridays. A substantial number

of staff want to leave early on Fridays prior to holiday week­ends. When it comes to lunch breaks staff may take any period from 30 minutes to two hours - as long as they have their break between noon and 2 p.m. By re ducing their lunch hours staff are able to increase their credits of working hours, allowing them to finish early or "save" towards future whole days or half days off. This option has proved partic­ularly useful for staff who have both busy and quiet peri ods (they can work longer to get them through the busy periods) and women who use public transport (they have no means of leaving the site at lunch time and can use flex­time to finish early). Further, the 30-minute lunch has helped some departments to provide a better service, as previously e they were not manned for an hour. 8y extending their lunch breaks other staff are able to play sport, attend farewell lunch­eons, go shopping, travel to the ci ty to pay bi 11 s, return e home for lunch, or deal with any of a multiplicity of things that require more than an hour. Benefits apply to the Univers­ity as well as the staff. It is probable that absenteeism is reduced, particularly sick and short leave. The wider spread of hours in which serv­ice can be given to students and staff is an improvement and jobs needing 15 to 20 minutes can be completed instead of being left to the next day. There is a strong possibility e that labour turnover is reduced and recruitment aided and, fur-ther, "quiet" times are created, when fewer staff are around and it is easier for staff to con­centrate. The .variab1e hours system is e based on a four-week cycle . Those who participate must record their attendance at work during the four weeks on sheets which allow a progressive recording of credits and debits. The review by the Personnel Department has led to the attendance sheets being simpli-fied. One signature is now sufficient for the four-week cycle and staff must sign on and off to the nearest five-minutes not the nearest minute. The core time from 10 a.m. to 4 p .m., is when staff must be at work. If the needs of the Departments necessitate staff in key pos­itions working standard hours the flextime scheme requires the staff to meet these needs. The flextime system used by the University seems to have some distinctive features. The N.S.W. Public Servi ce and some Sydney Universities also offer variable working hours , but the option of exten ded lunch breaks is not included.

STAFF APPOINTMENTS Mrs R. Medaris has commenced duties as Office Assistant/ Typist in the Secretary's Division.

Mr P. Butler, BSc (Sydney), MSc (City), PhD, has commenced duties in the Computing Centre as an Assistant Director.

Mr P.G. Dobb, is attached to the Accounting Department as a Clerk.

Chi Hi Leung, BE, has joined the Department of Electrical Engineering as a Technical Offi cer.

er N SUR A N C E A V A I LAB L E FOR BORROWERS The Commonwealth Bank has its own Insurance Scheme for those ~eop1e who have housing loans ~ith that Bank.

Premium rates are more than favourable with other Insurance Companies and premiums are spread over 12 months by pay­ment with the insta11ments each month. An example of the premiums are: Home - brick construction

Value $25,000 Yearly Premium $41.40

Home - brick construction Value $35,000 Yearly Premium $57.96

~ome - other construction ,..,. Value $25,000

Yearly Premium $52.32 Home - other construction

Value $35,000 Yearly Premium $73.32

• he Branch of the Bank on Cam­us will provide full details

of the Insurance Scheme.

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS UNFILLED AT NOVEMBER 4, 1976.

N77/76 TECHNICAL OFFICER GRADE 1

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCH­OLOGY

Closes 12.11.76

N108/76 DIRECTOR CHILD CARE CENTRE Closes 22.11.76

N110/76 PROGRAMMER (temporary position)

DEPARTMENT OF MATH­EMATICS

Closes 8.11.76 Information and full details may be obtained from the Personnel Department, Ext. 518 or 350.

FACULTY OF ELECTS NEW

MATHS OFFICERS

. At its meetin9 on October 22 the Faculty Board, Faculty of Mathematics, elected Professor · J.A. Campbell Dean of the Fac­ulty, and Assoc. Professor W. Bris1ey Sub-Dean of the Faculty for 1977-78.

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS

The David Syme Research Prize is av a i l abl e to \:e awarded f or the most distingu is hed contribution to Biology, Chemi s try, Geology or Phy s ­ics during the preceding two years of the year of determination. Candida t e s ' for the prize must have sp ent five out of the last seve n years in Australia and no professor of an Australian Univer s ity is e 1 i gi b 1 e . The prize consists of an award of $250 and a bronze medallion. Applications will close in Melbourne on March 1, 1977 . Further information may be obtained from the Student Administration Office.

The Australian Federation of Univers­ity Women offers Jamieson Awards of between $25 and $50 to outstanding women students within New South Wales Universities completing final or honours year in Arts, Science. Medicine, Architecture or Agricult­ural Science. Applications will close in Sydney on November 19. Further information may be obtained from the Student Administration Offi ce.

The Trustees of the GLadys Kr iebLe DeLmas Fo undation of New York ann­ounce that up to £10,000 will be made available in 1977-78 to schol­ars of Great Britain and the Common­wealth for research in Venice. The areas of interest being history, art, music, law, science, literature, language, politics and environment, of Venice and the territories once subject to it. Applications will close in London on January 15 , 1977. Further information may be obtained from the Student Administration Offi ce.

The Swedi sh Ins titute is offering Gue s t SchoL arships to provide an opportunity for non-Swedes to pursue training, research or a course of study in Sweden . The scholarships may be used for all types of education, but they are basically not intended for students who wish to take a complete course of undergraduate study leading to a degree. The scholarship may be held for a maximum of three academic years. Benefits include an allowance of 1.555 Swedish Crowns per month. A good knowledge of the Swed ish language is necessary. For students with no previous knowledge of ~wedish an intensive language train-1ng course of about one year's duration is required on arrival in Sweden . Applications will close in Sweden on December 1, 1976. Further informat10n may be obtained from the Student Administration Office.

page seven

The Australian-American Educational Foundation has advised of the avail­ability of the ITT InternationaL FeLlowship, for 1977-78. The Fellowship is tenable in all commonly accredited academic fields of study e xcept for pure Science ; (i . e., candidates in Mathematics, Chemistry, Bio109Y, Zoology, Physics, etc. , are ineligible). Benefits include round-trip air transportation, tuition and fees, books, and academic supplies ($150 per academic year, $200 per 12-month period), medical insurance, and monthly stipend for room, board, and personal incidentals. Application s will close in Sydney on November 12, 1976. Further inform­ation may be obtained from the Student Administration Office.

To encourage international ' scientific contacts the DeLft University of TechnoLogy , the Twente University of Technology and the Eindhoven Univers ­ity of TechnoLogy offer research fellowships to young foreign scien­tific workers and graduate students who hold a master's degree in engin­eering or science and have at least one additional year of experience in research or who have completed their PhD work. Knowledge of the Dutch 1anguag~ is not required, but proficiency in English, German or French is necess­a ry . Research fellows will receive a monthly allowance of at least D. fl. 3000. Travell i ng expenses wi 11 not be reimbursed. Applications will close on January 15, 1977. Further information may be obtained from the Student Administration Office.

Applications are invited for the Grimwade Pr i z e in Industri a l Chem ­i s t r y from graduates of any Univers­ity in the British Commonwealth, undergraduates of the University of Melbourne, or from any person who has spent a period of not less than three terms in study or research in a laboratory of the University of Melbourne . The value of the prize for 1977 is approximately $900. Applications will close in Melbourne on March 1, 1977 . Further information may be obtained from the Student Administration Offi ce.

ADVERTISEMENTS

FOR SALE

Attention - Skiing and Boating Enthusiasts. Buoyancy Vest, ent condition, youth or lady. Ext. 565.

Marlin brand, excell­worn twice, suit

$20. Tel. Jill Ide,

Vo1kswagen 1500, 1966, $375 O.n.O. Registered to March, 1977. Twin Carbs . Renewed brake system. Tel . Ext. 794 or 52 1358 .

Datsun 240K GL, four-door automatic, all extras including air-conditioning. First registered September, 1974. Maintained as new. 40,000 kms. $5,1950.n.o. Tel. 43 1571.

page eight

Brand new cameras: Nikon F2 photomic, Fl.4/50 mm; Pen tax ES, Fl.4/50 mm; Pen tax Spotmati c, Fl.8/55 mm; all black bodies with leather cases. Tel. Ext. 792 or 51 2225.

Private Sale - Cardiff - reduced for urgent sale. Four-bedroom home set high in quiet cul-de-sac -valley views - bar to dine area -deep shaggy carpet throughout, quality drapes, light fittings, wallpapers - fully accessible 3-way bathroom - large outdoor living area off Kitchen, three car and boat or van accommodation. Pool area fully floodlit and safety fenced - barbecue centrallj located to pool and outdoor area. Nicely landscaped - bushrock walls, ferns. Genuine buyers only Tel. 54 9247.

Spacious three be'droom contemporary weatherboard home. Newly painted, opposite small reserve in quiet New Lambton Heights street. Includes carport plus ga~age, screened verandah, barbecue area. $38,950. Tel. 63 1408 or Ext. 666.

rHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4

7.30 p.m. At Home, Billy Rig's Hokum-en-Semble -Southern Cross Lounge, The Union.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER

7 p.m . Re-screening of English I Film Course "Blow-Up" - H01.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10

6.30 p.m. End of ~ear Dinner meeting of the Operations Research Society and the Management and I.E . Branch of the lEA. Speaker: Professor John Stringer. $5 per head - Southern Cross Lounge, The Union.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

1 P . m.

7 . 30 p. m.

Meeting to discuss the issues raised by the dismissal of the Labour Government. Speakers: Mr Morris, MHR and Mr D. Mitchell, Lecturer in Legal Studies - EOl.

At Home, 7 piece band from Sydney Conservat­orium of Music, Ma~den

Voyage - Southern Cross Lounge, The Union.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

noon Seminar given by Or D. Britz on "The Sodium­Sulphur BatteryK - Room EAG02, Engineering Bu'ilding 'A'.

Ultra modern Spanish style brick and tile residence of four bedrooms (master with ensuite), formal lounge and dining room, the ultimate in . kitchens, family room, entry hall. Double garage with storage above. Set on maintenance free beautifully landscaped level block, private tastefully landscaped courtyard, with built-in gas barbecue, excell­ent view deck to lake plus ~torage room under. Truly well presented with top quality as new inclusions throughout. Speers Point, $63,500 . For more details Tel. Ext. 532 or 58 3086 (home).

1'YPING

Reasonable rates - apply 13 Rosedale Crescent, Rankin Park or Tel. 52 3632.

FOR RENT

Spanish style house at Thornton . Two bedrooms and study, close to station. $50 per week. Enquiries 66 2811.

Merewether Heights for seven months from December 1. Fully furni shed, three bedrooms (two double, one single), study, $65 per week. Tel. 63 1703 or Ext. 373 ,

6 P .m. Mechanical Enginee r Branch of lEA Me e ting preceded by light refreshments from 5.15 p.m. Speak e r: Mr W.M.R. Ewan, Executive Director and Divisional Manager - Mining, Cos­tain Australia Limited, Ravensworth, N.S.W. Subject: "Surface Mining for Coal by Open Cut and Open Pit Meth­ods" - Lecture Theatre EF02, Engineering Complex. (Refreshments in Room EFl09, Elect­rical Engineering Studio.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18

7.30 p. m.

8 . 30 p.m.

At Home, The Broadway Show Band - Southern Cross Lounge, The Union. i ,

Geological Society of Australia (Hunter Valley Branch) - Peter McKenzie Memorial Lecture. Professor S.W. Carey, Professor of Geology, University of Tasmania, will deliver the address "A Philosophy of the Earth and Universe". All are welcome -Lecture Theatre E01.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21

2 p .m. The next meeting (76/2) of the Computer US~L~t Committee of the Senate will be held in the Council Room.

WEDNESDAY , NOVEMBER 24

lOa. m. to 6 p. m. '

Annual cricket match, Vice-Chancellor's XV v. Combined High Schools - No. I Oval.

FL AT WA NTED

One bedroom fully furnished p~efer­ably with small yard or balcony in Shortland area for $25 per week. Contact Carol on Ext. 568.

BAB YSITTER AVA ILABLE

Young woman will babysit days or evenings. Tel. 63 1715.

ART UNION RESUL TS

Results of the No. 55 District Art Union in aid of the Hawkins Masonic Village were: 1st 809, 2nd 4108, 3rd 18217, 4th 5741 .

UNION SHOP SPECIALS

From November 8 Instant coffee cannisters $1.35 3-tier glass hanging ' planters $9.95 From November 15 Mason jar salt/pepper 70~ Heart-shaped money boxes $2.80 From November 22 Set of pot holder and oven mitt 70~ From November·29 Porcupine tooth pick holders $1.55

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25

8 p.m.

8 p.m.

Re c overy Ball (Fan c y Dress), Jeff S t John and Sacha, Daniel, Bandits, Laurie Thomp ­son's Jazz Band, tick­ets $5 - Union.

Members' Night, Convo­cation, Mr E. Crago, former Deputy Principal, Newcastle C.A.E., will speak on his recent visit to China - New­castle Rugby Club.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26

Union Pharmacy closes. Don't forget to buy at the cheap A . U.S. discount prices before Christmas.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2

7.30 p. m. At Home, Mangrove Boagie Kings - Southern Cross Lounge, The Union.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8

12.30 p.m .

Cricket matches - Uni­versity v. Newcastle CAE (students) - No. 1 Oval. University v. Newcastle CAE (staff) - CAE Oval.

Annual general meeting, University Sub-division of the P . S.A. - B01.

ISSN 0313-0061

Printed in the Secretary ' 8 Division, the University of NeIVcastZe f or The Edi tor, The Secretary, The Univers i t y of NeIVcastZe, N. S . W. 2308 .