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19 In Aeternum - July 2009 Profile on past parent Ian Howie Queen’s is fortunate to have a vast number of its current students, Wyverns and parents achieving extraordinary results in many different and interesting areas. In this edition we have decided to profi le another of our key groups, past parents. Is it all a matter of luck? Getting a job, that is, although luck can apply to many forks along the road. You make endless applications, covering many possibilities. For some you may even be shortlisted and interviewed. For most there will be a thank you for applying and perhaps a message of good luck. But, fi nally, there will be an offer. It may not be the very one you were hoping for, but nonetheless you accept and you are on your way. For me, joining the UN could have been like that but having been an exchange student in the early sixties, I made a commitment to things international, to “...walking and talking together“ as my personal step towards global peace. The UN was the obvious destination, but how to get in? My lucky break came when I was working in Papua New Guinea. In Moresby I gave a speech on behalf of a government minister and afterwards was asked by a representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) if I would go and work with village people in rural Bangladesh. The opportunity to work for the ILO under the umbrella of the UN was, for me, a dream come true. I spent three years in Bangladesh supporting the efforts of rural cooperatives to translate agricultural progress into social transformation. Because farmers work during the day our health and literacy programmes were initiated at night. At dusk we would drive through the paddy, be poled across a river in small boats and then taken by rickshaw to our chosen destination. The men and women would gather separately following the completion of prayers at the mosque, the evening meal and seeing the children to bed. The men gathered in a tea shop and the women, in a friend’s house. We dialogued using traditional entertainment (village singers), open-air meetings and our trained ‘change’ agents. Amidst the poverty, the disease, the awful catastrophes and the corruption, our interaction with local people was Queen’s College The Wyvern Society Newsletter incredibly enriching. I soon began to appreciate their dignity, their skills and their humanity. At the same time my own education into the intricate and sometimes baffl ing workings of the UN as part of the broader aid debate, began. After Bangladesh, assignments followed in Sri Lanka and Kenya. In each case the target audience was different (factory workers, plantation labourers, trade unionists, managers and government servants) but the implementation model was basically the same. “Go directly to the target audience, listen and learn, talk in a language all can understand, be culturally sensitive, determine what will make a difference and build a strategy into the work of a local institution.” In 1990 I joined the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as Representative in Ghana. Now I was responsible for a multi-million dollar 5-year programme. Measurable results were called for. Sizeable numbers of staff were involved as was the quantity of equipment and supplies. I had many opportunities to travel throughout the country to assess the challenges and prioritise the issues. Our team was then well placed to negotiate with governments, advocate for change, search for additional funding and evaluate the feasibility of our programme. After West Africa came a fi ve year assignment as UNFPA Representative in China (with the additional responsibilities of North Korea and Mongolia), followed by 7 years in the HQ offi ce in New York as Director of Human Resources. For my fi nal posting before retirement at the end of 2008, I was keen to return to the fi eld, this time to Viet Nam. In the course of my UN career I have dealt with many challenging issues. As a UNFPA Representative I was at the centre of debate on how best to balance population growth rates with socioeconomic development. For example, in China and Viet Nam, should couples choose the timing, number and spacing of births (as they do in Australia) or must they restrict their fertility to one or two children as part of their social contract with the state? International agreements said the former; the Chinese and Vietnamese said the latter. Ian Howie pictured during a Mission he led to the Ha Giant province, Northern Vietnam. Seated with him are: (left to right) Duong Van Dat, National Programme Officer of the UNFPA Vietnam Country Office, Mr Vuong Mi Vang, Chairmain of the People’s Committee of Ha Giang Province; and Dr. Tran Chi Liem, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam. I found that most governments are deeply interested in issues of abortion, sex ratios, boy preference, adolescent fertility, contraceptive choic oice, unwanted pregnancies, ‘healthy births’, demographic transition, the environment vironme and population ageing all of which iimpact on people’s lives, notably the he poor poo and dispossessed. So, what can you conclude ude about the UN’s role in development? ent? Certainly, in fi nancial terms it is an increasingly i marginalised one. Basically ica four agencies deliver the bulk of UN as assistance -UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA. N But even their share is minimal wwhen compared with the international banks, ba the aid agencies of wealthy governments, ov the contributions of the Gates te and Buffet foundations and other international nte NGOs. To achieve greater effi ciency cy and delivery of services, the UN needs to o bring b all the programmes under one umbrella, umb to aim for inter-dependency rather ther than supporting a range of small selfserving agencies. Like a miner’s light ht in a tunnel, I believe the UN can show the way for bigger players, most notably governments. I have been keenly involved in efforts to transform the UN. If my contribution to that process has helped provide people with choices where previously they had none, then my fork in the road has proved rewarding. Ian Howie, Adjunct Professor, RMIT University
Wyverns at Large CLASS OF 1959 HAMILTON, William Bill is a senior dental surgeon at Latrobe Community ommunity Health Service in Gippsland and will retire in two years’ time. Most of his spare time is spent in maintaining 3 acres of garden. Bill became a widower last year (2008). He has two grandsons in Perth and two tw granddaughters and one grandson in Canberra. In his spare time Bill travels interstate. His Hi hobbies include computers, photography, gardening and tropical fi sh. Other interests inter include fi ne fi lms and classical music. BBill supports Collingwood Football Club. Cl WILLIAMS, Trevor Trevor retired from State secondary educat education and d then then from from Federal Federal Department Department in in 1997 1997. 1997. He was divorced in 1991 and has three th adult sons son spread around the world. Trevor Trevo evor is doing a lot of travelling around the globe and enjoying involvement in a wide range of f community organisations. He has four grandchildren, Ella Daisy born in August 2001; Meg Ruby born 7 March 2004; Hannah born 2006 and Lulu Sofi a born Jan 2009. My, how time fl ies! Always interested in catching up with Wyverns from my time in Queens. Queens CLASS OF 1963 HOOD, John John Jo lives in Kolkata for six mont onths ths of each ach year, writing about serious India Ind I dian dia cinema ema and translating Bengali literatu atur atuure. CLASS OF 1967 HUNT, Roly Roly and wife Sue have been presented wit w th h a grandson Hugo by daughter Sarah. Their Thei son on Sam is in his 2nd year at Queen’s aand s so on Dougal swam the English Channel in Augus August t ‘07 raising $63K for Cancer Council of Vict Victo to tor ria. a Daughter Lily wants to come to Queen’s! THOMAS, Ray After 22 years of chemistry, maths & science s e teaching Ray has moved into enviro env viron ronmental nmen education cation and habitat resto restora toration oratio on for threatened species. ies. es. His HHi work wo wor with thousands of f school h l students nts aan and volunteers over the past 15 years has planted 400,000 seedlings and restored over 1000 hectares of f habitat near Benalla, in NE Victoria. The “Regent Honeyeater Project” has been honored by many conservation awards at regional, state and national levels. CLASS OF 1968 ALEXANDER, Peter Peter is married to Karen Hurrell (St Hilda’s Hilda’s). They have two daughters, one a lawyer, the other an engineer now studying law. Peter is Managing Director of Hydro Environmenta Environmental. DIXON, Peter Peter is currently Associate Dean n ( (T (Teac Teaching aching & Learning) Faculty of Business Busines ess, University U rsity of Tasmania (Launceston Cam Ca ampus). Lecturer in Strategic Managemen Management. ent. t. . PPeter Peter has been in i Tasmania since 1971. . Practised PPr as a lawyer fo for many years. Has be bee ee een en in academia since 2001. MERRITT, Lindsay In early 20 2008, 08, Lindsay LLi ndsay concluded 34 years in Local Gover Govern Go G nment, 19 years as CE CEO (metropolitan metropolitan etrop op inner/outer ner/outer r and regional region egional city). He is still working part part time tim me as as a a consultant. He H and his s wife wwife e Lois L have three th ee adult adu children. children WATTS, Peter Peter r re retir etire red ed d in October 2008 after 28 years yea as Director, Directo Historic H storic Houses Trust of NSW. NSW WILLIAMS, Glenn G le enn and his f fa am mi mily ily ly have recently mo ov ved house. Daugh Da D Daugh ghte hter Abigail has just ust t t turned tu ned 16 ye year yea ars rs old d and is studying year 11 11 at aat Clonard d C CCollege. College Co THWAITES, Stewart Stewart ewart sent an apology y to o the t Master’s 40 Year Reunion held in June ne and an sen sends his warm regards to all his mates es from ffrom Queen’s. Stewart and his wife Jan welc welco welcome come Wyverns to call in at Thwaites Bakehouse next time you are in Colac to say hello! They have ave great coffee! The bakery is celebrating 100 years this year 1909 to 2009 - three generations enerations of Thwaites family! They aare downsizing ownsizing to one retail shop, as a step towards reducing hours and semi retiring. CLASS OF 196 1969 BENSON, Simon Simon is married to Alison Edwards; more news ews about them can be seen on th their website www.simonbenson.com. www.simonbenson.com BRYANT, Richard Richard is working with Shell Australi Australia as Supply and Logistics Manager for th the Chemicals business (in his words “only link to my BSc”). Richard says he is keen to develop a life outside of Shell with a view to o retiring in the next few years. As A an authorised Marriage Celebrant he works with young couples at the Planetshakers City Church in Melbourne who are preparing to be married and looks forward to extending that involvement to the wider community. Richard says he he e is is a a fair fai fair weather eat e Harley a y rider rtoo too. oo FAGG, Peter Peter and his wife Judy are involved with the Anglican can Church in North Blackburn. They have ave three children ranging in age from m 21-32 with youngest daughter still aat home. For nearly 42 years Peter worked with the Victorian Department of Sustainability Sustainabili & Environment (& predecessors) in native nat forest orest management (silviculture). HARLEY, John John ohn ohnretiredatendof2008as retired retired at end end of of 2008 2008 as as Principal rincipal of Charlton P-12 College after 36 years of teaching. HORROCKS, Keith Keith spent 33 years at the BHP Steel/ BlueSc BlueScope cope Steel eelPortKemblaStee eelPortKemblaSteelw Port Kembla Steelworks elworks works up to December 2006, followed by January 2007 - February 2009 with BHP Billiton Carbon Steel Materials Technical Marketing Marketin ting ng team. tea team. m. Not quite rea read ady dy for retirement ement yet, yet, Keith KKeith Ke is now in the earl rly ly y days days of eesta establishing KRSH Consulting lting working wor w work king from home in Wollongong. He is still involve ed d with Australasian Institut Institute of Mining & Me Meta eta allurgy Illawarra Branch, Life Education Ill Illa awarra and Lions Club of Figtree. Fig Figtree Figtre Ke Keith h re rrec eceived the AusIMM Branch Service ce Aw Award Aw for or 2007. 2007. He H has two o married daughters hters ters er and an so far, no grandchildren d hild to spoil. spo MOORE, Rob Rob taught ught in high schools and TAFE (mathematics) and lectured at Vic Uni 1993- 19 2008 (mathematics). He is currently tutoring part time at Uni of Melb and La Trobe Uni. Rob completed his PhD in 2007. He runs to keep fi t and coaches junior cricket. He and his wife Chris have an 18 year old son Cailean and a 15 year old daughter Brighde. PLAIN, Stewart Stewart says his commerce degree from Melbourne Uni has proved useful after afte all – he has spent his professional life as an economist (for the Australian and Victorian governments) and briefl y with the Allen Consulting Group). He is still playing judo (although mostly coaching as he has long since retired from competition). 20
Page 1 and 2: Inside: The Wyvern Society Newslett
Page 3 and 4: Vice-Master’s Report Swotvac & Ex
Page 5 and 6: Academic Scholarships 2009 Entrance
Page 7 and 8: The Eakins Redevelopment - now offi
Page 9 and 10: Queen’s College Rowing 2009 his y
Page 11 and 12: Profile on current student Zaal Meh
Page 13 and 14: News from the Library Gone are the
Page 15 and 16: 40 Year Reunion in Eakins Hall in J
Page 17 and 18: 43rd Queen’s Inn Dinner his year
Page 19: Parents Gathering On Friday 29th Ma
Page 23 and 24: Please go to our website at: www.qu

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