Issue 18. 17 November 2008 - UWA Staff - The University of Western ...

Tea study 

gets 

green 

light 

UWA NEWS 

17 November 2008 Volume 27 Number 18 

Dr Min Zhang pours green tea for her colleague Professor D’Arcy Holman 

by Lindy Brophy 

“ 

Early studies have 

shown that drinking 

just one cup of green 

tea every day could 

be beneficial in 

helping to prevent 

cancer 

“ 

In China, where drinking green tea is a centuries-old tradition, the rate 

of breast cancer is 18.7 per 100,000 women. 

In Australia, where fewer than one per cent of the population drink green tea every 

day, the rate is 94.9 per 100,000. 

The parallel seems obvious but, of course, turning anecdotal evidence into 

epidemiological proof is harder than it appears. 

Dr Min Zhang, a senior research fellow in the School of Population Health, is directing 

an Australian-Chinese project to do just that. 

She has been working on green tea as an anti-carcinogen for 10 years. A gynaecological 

oncologist at Zhejiang University in China, Dr Zhang came to Australia in 1997 

to study hospital management. But she changed direction and moved into 

epidemiology, completing a PhD on dietary and lifestyle factors associated with 

ovarian cancer, and joining the School of Population Health fi ve years ago. 

Professor D’Arcy Holman, who holds the Chair in Population Health and is 

Permanent Guest Professor at the School of Medicine at Zhejiang University, said 

Dr Zhang’s recent successes with a $1 million National Health and Medical Research 

Council grant and a competitive Australian Government Endeavour Award were 

rewards for her determination and perseverance in diffi cult times. 

continued on page 2 

UWA scoops awards 

All finalists in every available category of the Premier’s Science Awards are from UWA, 

both staff and students. Read the details in the Vice-Chancellor’s column on page 4.

Scholar’s full life 

It appears that Rhodes Scholars must have more hours in each 

day than the rest of us. 

This year’s winner, at the age of 22 has a double degree in Science and 

Engineering; he plays keyboards and guitar in a band; plays squash, tennis 

and golf; is setting up a children’s charity with his brother; and has worked 

as a volunteer for the Lions Eye Institute and Siemens Healthcare in Sydney. 

On top of all this, John McAnearney (pictured left) is a personable, mature, 

generous, community-minded young man. 

He is the 14th successive Rhodes Scholar from UWA and a departure from 

the law graduates who often dominate this highly-prized award. 

His brother Stephen is also studying Science and Engineering at UWA and 

together they have established Engineering Happiness, a charity to help 

and encourage children in hospital, teaching them science and 

mathematics in what John calls a fun way. 

“I’ve only just completed my honours thesis in Engineering, so I will have 

almost a year before I go to Oxford,” John said. “So I want to really get this 

charity going. We’ve already had talks with the Starlight Foundation.” 

At Oxford, John will work towards a DPhil in biomedical engineering and 

one day hopes to develop technology to help severely disabled people 

communicate. 

“Brain computer interface is any system which allows direct communication 

from a human brain to an external device, such as a computer, and that’s 

where I hope my research at Oxford will lead,” he said. 

John’s thesis, handed in just the day before he was announced the 2008 

Rhodes Scholar, is on transcranial magnetic stimulation for a braincomputer 

interface. He hopes to publish his work this year, before taking up 

his scholarship. 

Tea study gets green light continued from page 1 

“Thank goodness for the University’s Safety Net funding,” 

Professor Holman said. 

The funding is available for senior researchers who have 

already been successful with NHMRC funding, but strike a 

bad year. 

“It can happen to anyone and enables them to continue their 

work until the next round of funding when they get a second 

chance to continue with their success. 

“Min’s million-dollar grant, followed by her Endeavour Award 

are evidence that the Safety Net is a worthwhile initiative by 

the University,” he said. 

“Min’s big grant, in my opinion, signals a new direction for 

the NHMRC. As far as I am aware, this is one of the first of 

its larger project grants to fund research being done with 

overseas populations. 

It signals that the NHMRC sees itself as supporting 

Australian researchers who aspire to lead major 

international research collaborations, especially with major 

trading partners such as China,” Professor Holman said. 

With this grant, Dr Zhang is now the Director of the Lu Cha 

(green tea) Sino-Australian Research Collaboration. It will run 

a multi-centre program of causal pathways research in 

China’s Zhejiang and Liaoning Provinces, using genetic 

biomarkers related to green tea metabolism. 

The Endeavour Award will enable her to start the other half 

of the original vision for Lu Cha, focusing on green tea 

intervention research. 

The Endeavour Award provides high-achieving individuals 

with support for research collaboration in areas of shared 

interest between the people of Australia and the Region. 

Dr Zhang’s collaborators at UWA include Professor Holman, 

who is leading the international research project, Dr Max 

Bulsara and Dr Frank Sanfilippo, also in Population Health, 

Professor Michael Millward (Medicine and Pharmacology) 

and Professor Christobel Saunders (School of Surgery). 

“It’s been a long road for Min and all of us, but we now have 

a multi-faceted international research program with China 

on green tea and cancer control,” Professor Holman said. 

The public health and epidemiological data analysis will be 

done here and the genetic testing will take place in the 

collaborating laboratories in China. 

Dr Zhang said early studies had shown that drinking just 

one cup of green tea every day could be beneficial in 

helping to prevent cancer. 

“But to continue the study here in Australia, we will have to 

use capsules of green tea extract, as so few people drink 

green tea here,” she said.“I am very excited to be beginning 

this new phase in genetic biomarkers.” 

2 UWA NEWS 17 November 2008 The University of Western Australia

First year’s the hardest 

First year engineering student Dominique Morgan met Jock Clough (left) and Roland Berndt, 

head of engineering at Clough Limited, with Dean A/Professor Carolyn Oldham to hear all 

about the new centre 

It is not often that tales of failure 

dominate the launch of a clever 

initiative and a generous funding 

partnership. 

But at the announcement of the 

Clough First Year Centre for 

engineering students, successful 

engineers admitted that failure is 

common among engineering students, 

with first year being particularly tough. 

John Smith, CEO of Clough Limited, 

who signed the partnership deal with 

the Vice–Chancellor, Professor Alan 

Robson, to help fund the centre, said 

that in his year at Glasgow University, 

only 50 per cent of the class made it 

to graduation. 

Nedlands MLA Bill Marmion, another 

engineer, who has close links with 

both UWA and the Clough family, said 

that his father started first year 

engineering with Harold Clough. 

“I started engineering here at UWA the 

year before Jock Clough, but he soon 

caught up, when I failed a year,” he 

said. 

“Of the 277 students who started, 

only 44 finished. It’s tough going, but 

I commend Clough and UWA for this 

new first year centre which I’m sure 

will encourage high school students 

to come to UWA and study 

engineering.” 

The Clough family has sold its 

remaining stake in Clough Limited, but 

they have put up 50 per cent of the 

sponsorship, which includes three first 

year engineering scholarships each 

year for the next five years and prizes 

for students who top their first year 

units. 

The centre will be open 24 hours a 

day, seven days a week, providing a 

home base for students and another 

step along the path from university to 

the workplace. 

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering 

Computing and Mathematics, 

Associate Professor Carolyn Oldham, 

said the Clough centre, combined with 

the Monadelphous Integrated Learning 

Centre (also opening next year), would 

create a very modern learning 

environment. 

“We wouldn’t be here today without 

the vision and enthusiasm of Yola 

Szymakowski, the Associate Dean 

(first year), the quiet determination of 

Mark Bush (former Dean) and the skills 

of Quang Ly (faculty development 

officer) in nurturing these relationships 

with the industry,” A/Professor Oldham 

said. 

Professor Robson said the University 

had enjoyed a long association with 

Clough over more than 30 years. 

“This relationship has involved the 

establishment of the UWA Futures 

Foundation for Oil and Gas Education 

as well as funding for scholarships, 

vacation employment, student prizes 

and research projects,” he said. 

Representatives from other big 

engineering companies, Apache, 

Chevron and Shell, witnessed the 

signing. They are all working with UWA 

to meet the huge demand for 

engineers in WA. 

Government-supported places have 

increased by 180 during the past three 

years, with 600 students enrolling in 

first-year engineering at UWA this year. 

The University of Western Australia UWA NEWS 17 November 2008 3

Uwa scoops 

science awards 

The substance of the 

University’s performance at 

international standards of 

excellence comes from the 

quality, commitment and 

performance of our staff and 

students. 

We are extremely pleased to 

celebrate the success of those at 

UWA who have filled every available 

place in the finals of the WA 

Premier’s Awards for Science. 

These awards are the State’s most 

prestigious science awards. They are 

aimed at providing the whole 

community with an opportunity to 

celebrate, encourage and reward 

the State’s best scientists, science 

teachers, science communicators 

and science students. 

Beyond individual performance, the 

fact that our university continues to 

attract and retain such talented 

scientists, researchers and students 

adds significantly to our ability to 

ensure that the State and future 

generations reap the benefits of 

outstanding research. 

In this year’s awards, the categories 

applying to universities – Scientist of 

the Year, Young Scientist of the Year, 

Excellence in Science Communication 

Outside the Classroom; and Science 

Student of the Year: University — have 

a total of 11 finalists, all from UWA. 

This enormous achievement reinforces 

the University’s place as the preeminent 

research and teaching 

institution in the State and is a 

CLOCKWISE FROM 

TOP LEFT: 

Professors 

Cheryl Praeger, 

Jorg Imberger and 

Leigh Simmons 

testament to the excellence of our 

academics and students. 

The Scientist of the Year will be 

chosen from UWA staff members 

Professor Jorg Imberger, Director of 

UWA’s Centre for Water Research; 

Professor Leigh Simmons of UWA’s 

Centre for Evolutionary Biology; and 

Professor Cheryl Praeger, Professor 

of Mathematics. All are known 

internationally for contributions on 

the world stage. 

The Young Scientist of the Year will 

be selected from Dr Oliver 

Rackham and Dr Kevin Pfleger, 

both from the UWA affiliate, the 

Western Australian Institute of 

Medical Research, and Dr Ben 

Corry from the University’s School 

of Biomedical, Biomolecular and 

Chemical Science. 

In the category of Excellence in 

Science Communication Outside 

the Classroom, Yvonne Van Der 

Ploeg from the UWA-based ARC 

Centre of Excellence in Plant 

Energy Biology and SymbioticA, the 

UWA Centre of Excellence in 

Biological Arts, are the only finalists. 

The Science Student of the Year will 

be chosen from a field of three – 

UWA Astronomy and Astophysics 

student, Jacinta Delhaise, UWA 

Advanced Science student, 

Matilda-Jane Oke, and UWA 

Conservation Biology and 

Management student, Clair Foster. 

This list of finalists builds on the 

success of UWA staff in 2007 when 

Professor David Blair was named 

Scientist of the Year, Dr Kristen 

Nowak was named Young Scientist 

of the Year and Professor Paul 

McMenamin won the Excellence in 

Teaching Award. 

The winners will be announced on 

December 4. 

Alan Robson 

Vice-Chancellor 

4 

UWA NEWS 17 November 2008 The University of Western Australia

New breed 

of nurses 

from UWA 

One of the questions being 

asked about Perth’s new superhospitals 

is where will the nurses 

come from? The answer is: UWA. 

In July next year, we are launching our 

first degree that leads to registration as 

a nurse. The Master of Nursing Science 

is a graduate entry course for students 

with a Bachelor’s degree in any field, 

and will be based in the School of 

Population Health. 

UWA has not offered a degree leading 

to registration as a nurse before and 

Fiona Maley from Population Health 

expects the first 50 Commonwealthfunded 

places to be snapped up. 

“We canvassed our fourth year Health 

Science students recently and, from a 

class of 25, about 10 expressed an 

interest and five wanted to sign up 

immediately,” she said. 

The two year course will include clinical 

placements at Sir Charles Gairdner 

Hospital and other health agencies in 

WA, including a rural posting. Pending 

accreditation by the Nurses and 

Midwives Board of WA (which is 

anticipated to be finalised early next 

year), graduates will be eligible to be a 

Registered Nurse. 

“This course offers a career change for 

people who are interested in nursing 

but don’t want to go back and do 

another undergraduate degree,” Ms 

Maley said. “They will just need to 

complete a unit in human biology, 

which will be offered on-line, as a 

bridging course, before they enrol. 

“We hope it will enrich the nursing 

profession with mature, well-educated 

nurses with experience in lots of 

different fields.” 

While the course will be predominantly 

delivered through the School of 

Population Health, it will be in 

partnership with Sir Charles Gairdner 

Hospital Department of Nursing, the 

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and 

Health Sciences, the Faculty of Life and 

Physical Sciences and the Combined 

Universites Centre for Rural Health 

(Geraldton). 

“ 

This course offers a career change for 

people who are interested in nursing but 

don’t want to go back and do another 

undergraduate degree 

The funded places are part of an 

Australia-wide initiative, providing 1,000 

extra places for nurses. It is expected 

the number of places in the UWA 

course will be increased to 75 by the 

second year. In the meantime, Ms 

Maley said the first students would 

benefit from small classes. 

Population Health already offers 

postgraduate degrees for nurses and 

midwives (Master of Nursing Research 

and Master of Public Health [Nursing]). 

“So the addition of an Entry-to-Practice 

Masters degree is not as much of a 

leap as it may appear,” Ms Maley said. 

“We are building on our strengths as 

well as filling a niche market need.” 

Professor Judith Finn, who holds the 

Chair of Nursing Research in 

Population Health, is leading the 

implementation of the new degree, 

“ 

along with the Head of School, 

Professor Matthew Knuiman, the Dean 

of the medical faculty, Professor Ian 

Puddey, the Executive Director of 

Nursing at SCGH (currently Sue Davis) 

and the new course advisory panel. 

Professor Finn believes that, where 

possible, clinical practice should be 

guided by sound scientific evidence 

rather than routine or ritual. “While not 

all clinicians will necessarily be 

researchers, all should at the very least 

be critical consumers of clinical 

research,” she said. 

“The UWA Master of Nursing Science 

will bring together the science and 

practice of nursing within a public 

health framework to ensure that 

graduates are well prepared for the 

current and future challenges facing the 

health system.” 


Science Futures Foundation: 

Financing a future 

“ 

If we are to 

attract the best 

and the 

brightest, we 

must allow 

them to explore 

new directions 

and challenge 

accepted 

wisdoms 

“ 

It’s all about numbers. 

The biggest campaign ever 

launched at UWA aims to raise 

$53million for science research which 

would, in turn, be likely to increase our 

world ranking for this field which is already in 

the top 50. 

But the ranking is just a side benefit of the Science Futures Foundation, which 

is designed to boost research to enrich the lives of Australians through health 

and wellbeing, economic prosperity and minerals, energy and agricultural 

development. 

The Foundation will set up endowed academic chairs, postdoctoral 

fellowships, scholarships and awards for excellence, and a rising star fund for 

early-career researchers. 

“If we are to attract the best and the brightest, we must provide them with 

cutting-edge facilities and allow them to explore new directions and challenge 

accepted wisdoms,” said the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson. 

The Foundation was introduced to senior staff earlier this month at an 

information session and cocktail party. The launch will take place next year 

when campaign manager Judy Giddings hopes at least half of the total will be 

committed. 

“We are not raising money for buildings or infrastructure; we are investing in 

people,” she said. “This initiative will add to the health and wealth in Australia 

and globally.” 

The Foundation is planning to develop new partnerships to attract investment 

at a time when the University’s ability to fund future research projects is being 

affected by external factors including the volatile investment market. 

This, combined with the local resources boom, has put pressure on academic 

staff recruitment and retention and impacted on attracting students to pure 

science, particularly in postgraduate research. 

The Science Futures Foundation has been established to meet those 

challenges. 

The first Professorial Chair funded through the Foundation is in the area of 

Tropical Microbiology. It has been established in perpetuity through the 

generosity of Marjorie Le Souef in honour of her late husband, Dr Leslie Le 

Souef. 

Many of the world’s most debilitating diseases are caused by tropical 

microbes. It is an under-researched area in which UWA can now play a 

crucial role in developing a better understanding of how to diagnose, treat 

and prevent tropical diseases. 

The Rising Star fund will help researchers in their first couple of years. 

“They may need to go on a research trip, employ a technician for six 

months, buy a piece of equipment or just to get on with their work while 

waiting for a research grant to be approved,” Ms Giddings said. 

She said anybody could donate to the Rising Star fund. “We will accept 

donations from $1 to a million dollars!” 

If you would like to donate to the fund or the Foundation, please contact the 

Office of Development at judith.giddings@uwa.edu.au 

6 

UWA NEWS 17 November 2008 

The University of Western Australia

Hot and 

cold 

running 

movies 

Moments captured from I’ve Loved You So Long, 

Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame and Young @Heart 

This year’s Lotterywest Film Festival is truly 

a festival for all seasons. 

The 20 weeks of fi lms in the open-air Somerville 

Auditorium will take us from the chilly evenings of 

early summer, through the hottest nights of the year, 

back to jumpers and rugs for the fi nal weeks in April. 

It will be the longest fi lm festival the Somerville has 

hosted. 

In what has now become a popular tradition, the 

season opens on December 1 with a comedy, 

Young@Heart, which is described by Festival fi lm 

program manager Sherry Hopkins as “an irresistibly 

funny and uplifting story of a US chorus of seventy-, 

eighty- and ninety-something year-olds who belt out 

anything from David Bowie and The Clash to Sonic 

Youth and the Rolling Stones and, in the process, 

break the stereotypes of ageing and become a 

testament to friendship and creativity.” 

French director Francis Veber, who brought us The 

Dinner Game, The Closet, The Valet and Tais-Tois! 

has become a favourite with Somerville patrons. 

This year his A Pain in the Ass is about an unlikely 

friendship between a professional hitman and a 

suicidal husband. This fi lm has its Australasian 

premier at the Somerville in early March. 

And once again, French fi lms feature heavily in the 

program. The delightful Kristin Scott Thomas shows 

off her superb command of French again in I’ve 

Loved You So Long, a tale of family struggles and 

redemption. 

Other French offerings include a thriller, Crossed 

Tracks, a romantic comedy-of-manners, Shall we 

Kiss? And The Grocer’s Son, about a young man 

discovering life and love in the quiet countryside of 

Provence. 

Scandinavian movies are also well represented. 

From Sweden, the Australasian premier of a period 

drama, Everlasting Moments; a family drama 

Suddenly, featuring Mikael Nyqvist, who starred in 

the unforgettable As It Is In Heaven, the beautiful 

fi lm about the church choir that was a gem of the 

2006-07 Somerville season; and the funny poetic 

You, The Living. 

From Finland comes a suspense, Black Ice and 

from Denmark, Just Another Love Story. 

Three Screenwest shorts, written and directed by 

local fi lmmakers, will be shown before the feature 

fi lms from February 23 to March 15. These have 

become another much-anticipated highlight of the 

Somerville season. 

A fourth locally-made fi lm Karla, a dreamtime story 

of how fi re came to the Noongars of the Pinjarra 

region, will be screened as part of the Perth 

International Arts Festival Welcome to Country on 

February 13. 

Programs for the fi lm festival are available from 

BOCS at the Octagon (and other venues), where 

you can also buy tickets in advance, to beat the 

queues at the Somerville. 

Images and preview clips are available at 

www.perthfestival.com.au 


Rural specialist heads for Cambridge 

But the former Bunbury student is a 

country boy at heart and will be 

investigating the factors which 

contribute to poorer survival rates for 

rural cancer patients, compared with 

their urban counterparts. 

Andrew, who like many medical 

students, is taking a year off from his 

MBBS for a year of research, has been 

promoting medicine in the bush since 

he began his medical studies. 

A traditional seat of learning, 

embedded in conventional 

Western culture, is the unlikely 

destination for a medical student 

who has been named Rural 

Medical Student of the Year. 

Andrew Webster has just completed 

fourth year and is off to Cambridge 

Andrew Webster working with Indigenous children in the Northern Territory 

Work-out for 

your work-day 

University for six months to work on his 

Bachelor of Medical Science, under the 

supervision of Professor Jon Emery, 

Head of the School of Primary, 

Aboriginal and Rural Health Care and 

chair of General Practice in UWA’s 

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and 

Health Sciences. 

“The Rural High School Visit program 

was instrumental in me choosing to 

study medicine and I wanted to 

contribute to the program, so I’ve been 

going back to Bunbury, Mandurah and 

Narrogin each year to talk to high 

school kids, to tell them all about a 

career in medicine,” Andrew said. 

He has also visited schools in the 

Northern Territory, where he has 

worked with medical practitioners in the 

remote Aboriginal community of 

Bathurst Island, under a John Flynn 

Placement Program scholarship. Next 

year he will go to another community 

on the Gove Peninsula. But Cambridge 

also has its place in Andrew’s plan. 

Would you like to improve your fitness but don’t 

want the students you deal with every day to see 

you when you are most vulnerable (and sweaty)? 

UWA Corporate Fitness is for you. 

The UWA Sport and Recreation Association has set up a 

studio exclusively for UWA staff, in the Watersports Complex, 

so you can exercise overlooking Matilda Bay. 

“UWA Corporate Fitness is all about synergy,” said Jay-Lee 

Longbottom, a Graduate Officer at the Sport and Recreation 

Association. “It’s about aligning your work-out with your workday.” 

UWA Corporate Fitness classes run between 7am and 

8.45am and 5.15pm and 6.45pm. 

Flex and Flow (a combination of yoga, pilates and tai chi) and 

Zone and Tone (low impact aerobics, core strength training, 

yoga and pilates) are two classes offered exclusively to staff. 

Total Conditioning incorporates cardio interval training using 

equipment, and dynamic resistance exercises using free 

weights. It is aimed at burning fat, sculpting lean muscle and 

improving overall fitness. 

The Fitness Unlimited program includes one personal training 

session a week, access to UWA Corporate Fitness classes as 

The new corporate fitness program will help you 

find a better way of combining work and exercise 

well as unlimited access to the UWA Fitness Centre for just $20 

a week before salary packaging. 

And to make you feel even better, the UWA Corporate Fitness 

packages can be salary packaged, which will bring the final cost 

down even more. 

To get fit, at a convenient time and place, and at a competitive 

price, contact Jay-Lee Longbottom on 6488 3077 or check out 

the UWA Corporate Fitness site at www.sport.uwa.edu.au 

8 


London and beyond 

Having won gold in Beijing, Sport Science, Exercise 

and Health graduate and Paralympian Justin Eveson 

is passing on his passion and his skills to what he 

hopes will be a new generation of superstars. 

As a sports development practitioner at Wheelchair Sport WA, 

he works to inspire young sportspeople. 

Mr Eveson, whose postgraduate degree was in Exercise 

Rehabilitation Science, said the moment when his wheelchair 

basketball team snatched victory from their greatest rivals, 

Canada, was one of the best of his life. 

“Canada beat us in Athens and we came home with Silver. 

So to beat them 72-60 in Beijing and claim Gold was 

fantastic,” he said. 

As well as basketball, a sport in which he plays a forward 

position, Mr Eveson is a Paralympics swimmer, claiming 

Bronze and Silver for this sport in Sydney. 

He now has his sights set on the wheelchair basketball world 

championships in Birmingham in 2010 and the London 

Olympics in 2012, with training under way. 

Another UWA graduate and Paralympian, javelin and shot putter 

Damien Bowen, also has his eyes on London — and national 

and international athletics meets between then and now. 

for UWA 

Paralympians 

Justin Eveson’s Gold-winning style 

Damien completed a Bachelor of Exercise and Health and a 

Bachelor of Exercise Rehabilitation Science at UWA. Beijing, 

where he competed in the javelin events, was his fi rst 

Paralympics. 

“Words can’t describe how amazing it was,” he said from 

Canberra where he has his own exercise physiology business, 

Vibe Physio and Rehab. 

“Beijing exceeded every expectation. It was the best 

Paralympics we’ve travelled away to. Obviously because 

Sydney was home, it was special, but Beijing’s organisation 

was superb and you got 50,000 people turning up to watch 

some sessions, which is unheard of for Paralympics. 

“Travelling around was easy and the people were really helpful. 

Now it’s London and beyond!” 

Celebrate the past with a group for the future 

It was a night for nostalgia when members 

gathered in the Old Senate Room in the Irwin Street 

Building on James Oval to celebrate the 

inauguration of the UWA Historical Society. 

Simon Dawkins as Warden of Convocation and Reg 

Appleyard, President of the Society, recollected their student 

days when Simon spent many hours in pursuits other than 

study and Reg bowled out former Prime Minister and 

graduate Bob Hawke. 

Vice-Chancellor Alan Robson launched the Society and 

spoke with passion about his 42 years’ association with the 

campus and his pride in being appointed the Hackett 

Professor in Agriculture. He pointed out he was the fi rst 

Vice-Chancellor to be a graduate of UWA and one of only 

three Vice-Chancellors born in Australia. “It has taken us a 

hundred years to get over our cultural cringe,” he said. 

Professor Robson said it was not possible to make 

decisions in the present or plan for the future without 

understanding the past. He congratulated the Society on its 

formation and commended the variety of projects it has 

planned. 

If you would like to attend Society events or participate in one 

of the project teams, contact Heritage Offi cer, Shobha 

Cameron at shobha.cameron@uwa.edu.au or on 6488 3556. 


Workplace 

fun 

Keith Rappa and some of the 

Faculty, Schools and other staff 

organising the first UWA staff 

sports day 

The mortar-board throw, the computer toss, spit the 

dummy and hurl the mouse were some of the ideas 

for novelty events at the first-ever UWA staff sportsfun 

day on Friday November 28. 

None of these will actually be run, but don’t be surprised if 

your colleagues rope you into a tug-of-war, an egg and spoon 

race, the Vice-Chancellor’s Dash or even a UWA version of the 

Amazing Race which, with help from Terry Larder from the 

Visitors Information Centre, will be created along similar lines 

to its television namesake complete with puzzles, clues and 

challenges to navigate. 

At a meeting convened by the day’s organiser Keith Rappa, 

the Business School’s Faculty Manager, representatives from 

faculties, schools and administrative areas planned the day 

down to almost the last detail with record-breaking speed and 

efficiency. 

Besides the novelty events, there will be shortened versions of 

various sports and games including volleyball, tennis, netball 

and bocce and even chess. 

Up, up and away 

Do you want to attend an overseas conference with all expenses paid? 

If so, why not apply for a $5,000 scholarship. 

Two are on offer — the UWA Professional Development Scholarships are available 

exclusively for all University professional and academic staff. 

Professorial Fellow Shelda Debowski, Director of Organisational and Staff Development 

Services, explained the scholarships were designed to help the winners in their personal 

and professional development, through attendance at a relevant, international conference, 

or the scholarship can be used to undertake further study in their chosen field. 

Applications for entries close on March 27, 2009. 

For more information, please visit OSDS webpage: www.uwa.edu.au/page/151476 or 

telephone Luana McDermott, Project Manager (Scholar-ships) Perth Convention 

Bureau 9324 3355 or luana@pcb.com.au 

The idea came from my undergraduate days where we use to 

organise inter-Faculty challenges that created a sense of fun 

and collegiality between participants,” said Mr Rappa, a UWA 

graduate. 

“What was really fantastic to see back then was the level of 

participation in those events, not only from the players but 

also from those who came along to support their team. I 

thought it would be good to extend the concept to the whole 

of the university to provide an opportunity for UWA staff to 

enjoy a bit of fitness, participation and fun together. It has also 

been really heartening to see the widespread support shown 

for the event with every faculty and central area nominating 

representatives to coordinate their respective teams.” 

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Margaret Seares, 

will open the afternoon’s fun and the Vice-Chancellor, 

Professor Alan Robson, will close it and invite everyone to 

enjoy a sundowner. Sponsors for the day include UniCredit, 

UniPrint and the University Club. 

Some of the cost of $5 per person will go to the charity Uni 

Camp for Kids. 

Perth Convention Bureau Managing Director 

Christine McLean, PCB Project Manager – 

Scholarships, Luana McDermott and 

Professor Shelda Debowski at the 

Scholarships announcement 

10 



Escape to France 

through words 

by Sally-Ann Jones 

What do you do as an Australian 

woman interested in women’s 

writing, who has had a long love 

affair with France, and who has 

an Honorary Fellowship in 

European Languages and 

Studies? 

If you’re Dr Rosemary Lancaster 

(pictured below), you write a book 

entitled Je Suis Australienne – 

Remarkable Women in France, 1880 – 

1945. Published by UWA Press, the 

book tells the stories of several diverse 

Australian women travellers. 

“They’re heroic, individual and 

unusual. Some are bohemian. Some, 

like the nurses, were thrust by their 

vocation into an alien environment,” 

Dr Lancaster said. She added that the 

most time-consuming aspect of 

preparing the book was fi nding 

women who were not only interesting 

enough, but who had written 

extensively enough for her to be able 

to mine their letters and diaries and, in 

some cases, their novels and and 

autobiographies. 

Much of the material was gathered 

from the Australian War Memorial and 

the National Library of Australia. And 

Dr Lancaster travelled to France and 

Britain to photograph some of the 

places where her women worked and 

trained. She was also able to 

illustrate her six chapters with a 

photo of a handwritten diary entry of 

one of her subjects and the paintings 

of another. 

Sixteen year-old Daisy White, who 

travelled to a Parisian fi nishing school 

from her father’s New South Wales 

station in the 1880s, is the subject of 

the fi rst chapter of the book which, in 

its chronological examination of the 

women’s lives, is also a record of the 

evolution of women’s travel. 

Daisy’s diaries, kept in the 

National Library had not 

been looked at for over 

a century until they 

were discovered in 2001 

by a French scholar. 

Dr Lancaster viewed 

the original manuscript 

and encountered a 

young woman who 

immersed herself in French 

poetry, literature and theatre only to 

die of fever in Brisbane at the age of 

32. Dr Lancaster subsequently 

discovered that Daisy had become a 

medical doctor. 

A Tasmanian novelist, whose 

pseudonym was Tasma, and who 

worked as a journalist for “The 

Australasian” newspaper is the focus 

of the next chapter. She was in Paris 

during the decadent Belle Epoque and 

wrote of the music halls when they 

were at their height. Eight nurses who 

cared for their patients in Somme 

military nursing stations and whose 

letters tell of their regard for their 

charges are the 

subject of the third chapter. 

Stella Bowen, an artist who became 

the offi cial Australian artist of the 

Second World War, comes next. 

“Stella Bowen is the woman I like 

most,” Dr Lancaster said. “She 

suffered humiliation at the hands of her 

philandering lover, Ford Maddox Ford, 

had a daughter by him and was a 

good mother. She didn’t have much 

money but she did have a lot of grit. 

She was determined to be an artist, 

no matter what.” 

The novelist Christina Stead, who 

worked as a secretary for a troubled 

Paris bank after the Wall Street crash 

and who wrote about the bank as a 

metaphor for a Europe plagued by the 

rise of fascism, is the next chapter’s 

subject. The last is devoted to Nancy 

Wake, the Resistance fi ghter who 

trained as a secret agent. 

Dr Lancaster’s next project is a book 

about the poet Rene Char and his 

interactions with and responses to 

artists, from those who created 

prehistoric cave paintings to fi gures 

such as Picasso and Dali. 

And then she plans to write about 

women who visited the Riviera – 

women like Katherine Mansfi eld, the 

celebrity chefs of their day Elizabeth 

David and Julia Child, and the writers 

Collette and Francoise Sagan. 


Shenton thanks UWA 

If you think the students are 

getting younger, it’s not just 

because you’re getting older. 

High school students, mainly from 

Shenton College, are spending more 

time at UWA and involved with UWA 

staff and projects than ever before. 

More than 100 staff have devoted time 

over the past two years to Shenton 

College students, as part of the 

Learning Links program. 

Shenton College thanked them all at a 

function in the Sunken Gardens earlier 

this month. 

The students had been included in 

more than 50 collaborative projects 

over 2007 and 2008. 

Professor Andrew Lynch, Professor 

Denis Haskell and Dr Keiran Dolan from 

the School of English and Cultural 

Studies were thanked for the ongoing 

help they had given year 12 English 

Literature students. 

Staff across several areas were thanked 

for ASPIRE, a day organised by 

Student Services’ Filomina D’Cruz, 

designed to inspire high school 

students to come to UWA to study. 

Dr Judy Skene, Megan Henderson, 

Gary Cass, Dr Dave Webb, Jay Jay 

Jegathesan, Dr Chris Thorne and Tsu 

Yen Wong were all presented with 

certificates. 

The Shenton College aquatics 

program, run through the School of 

Exercise Science, Sport and Health, 

resulted in Shenton winning the 2008 

A-grade schools carnival, thanks to 

Uniswim manager Will Schaeffer, senior 

student Sam Alexeef and lecturer 

Canon Richard Pengelly. 

The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant 

Energy Biology continued its high 

profile program with the students, 

helping them to design and implement 

their own plant molecular biology 

research projects. Yvonne van der 

Ploeg was complimented for her work. 

Professor Robson presents certificates of appreciation 

to UWA staff involved with Learning Links 

The Virtual Universe Project benefitted 

from the help of photography students 

from Shenton College as they learnt 

how to use software to create threedimensional 

images from their pictures. 

Professor Jane Long, Filomina D’Cruz, 

Megan Henderson, Jay Jay 

Jegathesan, Dr Chris Thorne and Tsu 

Yen Wong were once again thanked for 

their involvement. 

The Shenton College Learning Links 

thank you ceremony is held every two 

years. UWA also has Learning Links 

with Belmont City College and Perth 

Modern School. 

Treats to promote research 

Rani Varathan (in white tee-shirt) 

surrounded by her pink elephant stall team 

Tiny cupcakes, most of them pink, home-made pink 

marshmallows, strawberry cordial and a fabulous palepink 

iced cake made by the fruit cake champion at the 

Perth Royal Show were just some of the tempting 

delights on offer at the sixth annual pink elephant stall 

in the Guild Village. 

All have been organised by Rani Varathan, a research 

administration assistant in the Business School, who this year, 

with a special fund-raising home-page as well as the stall, raised 

$2,502.60 for research into breast cancer – a disease that claims 

the lives of more than 2,600 women and 95 men every year. 

Supported by her Business School colleagues, Rani collected a 

selection of second-hand books, DVDs and Breast Cancer 

Foundation and other donated merchandise to sell, along with 

tea, coffee and mineral water supplied free by Broadway IGA. 

She also organised a forum with four speakers to share their 

breast cancer experiences. Rani thanks members of the PINK 

team who helped to prepare and run the fund-raising events, and 

the Guild for its support. 

The special fruit cake, made by Cheryl Weerasekera, a friend of 

one of the stall organisers, was raffled. 

12 


STAFF ADS 

Classified advertising is free to 

staff. Email staffads@uwa.edu.au 

WANTED 

ACCOMMODATION: Couple 

looking for self – contained holiday 

accommodation in Mandurah or 

Rockingham over the Christmas 

break for a week between 20 

December 2008 to 11 January 

2009. Please contact Natalie 

Carmody on 6488 2308 or natalie. 

carmody@uwa.edu.au 

FREE 

Oscilloscope, Kenwood CS-1021 

20MHZ. Contact Nola Steiner on 

Tel: 9279 3627 (A/H) or nsteiner@ 

library.uwa.edu.au 

FOR SALE 

Dell 1720 MONO LASER PRINTER. 

Brand new, never used. Fast, 

inexpensive, high quality. Perfect for 

home or small office. $290 ono. 

Contact Natali on 6488 7955 or 

natali.morgan@uwa.edu.au 

TO LET 

SCARBOROUGH: Fully furnished 2 

bedroom villa + 1 bathroom, 

floorboards all around, $470/week. 

Located in a quite complex of 8 

villas. Air conditioning, kitchen with 

fridge, microwave, oven, fridge. 

Separate toilet, laundry with 

washing machine. Single carport + 

visitors parking bay, courtyard to 

rear. Master bedroom has TV + 

DVD. Living area with sofa bed, TV 

+ DVD. Maximum 3 people, no 

smoke, no pets, minimum stay 30 

days. Bills not included. Email: 

mike@physics.uwa.edu.au or call: 

0404 872 944. 

FRENCHMAN BAY, ALBANY: 

Holiday rental property. 4 bedroom, 

2 bathroom modern house with 

stunning views over King George 

Sound. 5 minute walk to pristine 

Goode Beach. Fully furnished and 

self contained. Sleeps 8. Only need 

to bring linen. Contact Stephen 

Home on 0419 969 138 or 

stephen.home@uwa.edu.au 

BUSSELTON: “Driftwood Cottage”. 

New holiday house right in town. 

Only 250m to the beach or town 

centre, but quiet and secluded 

under big peppermint trees. Sleeps 

8, with big spa in main bedroom, 

fully self contained and you only 

need to bring linen. 10% discount 

for UWA staff. Can be viewed at 

http://www.stayz.com.au/29356 

Contact Nick Gibson on 0413 622 

269, 9305 9059, or nick.gibson@ 

uwa.edu.au for more details. 

NANNUP: Holiday rental property. 

Beautiful secluded house set on 6 

acres. Sleeps 7/8. Fully fitted 

throughout to a high standard. 

Contact Nicky Davison on Ext 

3003, 9380 6508 or nicky.davison@ 

uwa.edu.au. Also see website: 

www.kanjarralodge.com.au 

FRENCH PYRENEES: Holiday 

rental property. Characteristic rental 

property in the small French village 

of Rodes at the foothills of the 

French Pyrénées. 40 minutes from 

Perpignan and 2.5 hours from 

Barcelona. Sleeps 7. Fully fitted 

throughout. Contact Nicky Davison 

on Ext 3003, 9380 6508 or nicky. 

davison@uwa.edu.au. Also see 

website: www.voletsbleus.co.uk 

SITUATIONS WANTED 

UWA postgraduate student 

from New Zealand looking for work 

as a gardener (mainly weeding 

work) and cleaner, company 

secretary and temporary clerical 

work. Available now. Contact: 

snge@actrix.co.nz or Tel: 9389 

9817 

HOUSESITTING 

My parents are coming from 

interstate and we are willing to look 

after your house while you are on 

vacation, possible dates are 22 Dec 

until 4th of Jan but can be changed 

depends on what suits you. 

Contact Mike. Email: mike@ 

physics.uwa.edu.au or phone: 

0404 872 944 

UWA staff member, 

experienced house-sitter 6+ years. 

Will be available again from late 

January ’09. Long or short term. 

Good with pets and have 

references. Please contact David: 

0412 288 536; Ext 2406 or david. 

malthouse@yahoo.com.au 

NOTICES 

HOUSEMATES WANTED 

Would you like to live in the heart of East 

Fremantle, close to shops, cafes and the river? 

Ben, who uses an electric wheelchair, is an 

energetic, intelligent, thoughtful 22 year old who 

needs a housemate or two to share his recently 

refurbished home in King Street. 

Ben needs help with personal care, housework 

and preparing meals, but mostly he wants good 

company and somebody to be there at night. 

A team of carers from Perth Home Care Services 

will do a lot for Ben. His family and friends will often be around too, but Ben 

is looking forward to some independence in his new home, preferably with 

younger, non-smoking, people. 

He would like somebody to go out with for meals, concerts, rugby matches, 

the pub, movies and the opportunity to explore his dreams and interests. 

Ben enjoys going for walks, reading, music and good conversation. He 

hopes to develop a community garden in his backyard and looks forward to 

getting a companion dog. 

Students would fit the bill as housemates, as there would be plenty of time 

available for study and uni activities. 

If you want to know more about the benefits of sharing a home with 

Ben, including negotiable rent, a prime location and good company 

then contact Marina at Perth Home Care Services on 9204 7800. 

The Great Bike Ride 

Perth’s biggest mass cycling event, the Great Bike Ride, will take over the 

riverside paths on Sunday November 23. 

Presented by the City of Perth and hosted by Rotary, the event raises 

money for the St John of God Foundation Horizon House program, the 

Hope for Children project and the Heart Foundation. 

You can ride either 10km, 53 km or 106km, as an individual, a family group 

or a team with up to 10 members. 

Sponsorship is waived if you meet your fundraising target, which varies 

depending on the distance ridden and the number of people in a group, 

from just $15 for an individual under the age of 16, to $2,500 for a group of 

10 riding the 106km course. The ride starts and ends at Langley Park. 

On-line registration for individuals is open until noon on Friday November 21; 

registration for groups or by fax closes earlier. For more information and to 

register for the ride, go to www.greatbikeride.com.au 

The event also needs up to 300 volunteers, so if cycling is not your thing, 

you can lend a hand packing cycling kits in Subiaco in the week leading up 

to the ride; act as a road marshal; drive the medics around the course; or 

help out at a water stop. 

Volunteers will be given a Great Bike Ride T-shirt and refreshments. The 

earliest volunteer would start at 5.30am, with the last one finishing by noon. 

To register as a volunteer, contact Sophie Hamdorf at sophie. 

hamdorf@ssjg.org.au 

REDUNDANT EQUIPMENT 

CONDITION refers to the general condition of the item (1=as new, 2=good, 3=serviceable, 4=unserviceable). AGE refers to the nearest year. 

Schools are reminded that all university equipment available for sale must be advertised in UWA news. Receipts should be PeopleSoft account coded 490 

(computing with barcode), 491 (non-computing with barcode) or 493 (items with no barcode). If equipment has an existing barcode please contact extension 

3618 for details. Preference will be given to School bids. Please identify your bid as School or private. 

ITEM PRICE AGE COND SECTION CONTACT 

Laptop – IBM Thinkpad R31 – Win2000 $150 4 2 Medicine, Dentistry and Jeremy.McGready@uwa.edu.au 

CPU P3 – 1133MHZ, RAM – 256MB, HD 28GB, Health Sciences Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30am–3:30pm.9346 7364 

CD-RW, PCMCIA Slot 

Laptop – IBM Thinkpad R51 – WinSP SP2 CPU $250 3 2 Medicine, Dentistry and Jeremy.McGready@uwa.edu.au 

P4 – 1.60GHZ, RAM – 512MB, HD 51GB, Health Sciences Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30am–3:30pm.9346 7364 

DVD – CDRW, WIFI 

Laptop – Mac G4 Powerbook 867MHz $100 4 3 Medicine, Dentistry and Jeremy.McGready@uwa.edu.au 

OS X 10.3 – HD 40GB, Combo Drive, 256MB Memory Health Sciences Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30am–3:30pm.9346 7364 

Laptop – Mac G3 iBook 900MHz OS X 10.3 $100 4 3 Medicine, Dentistry and Jeremy.McGready@uwa.edu.au 

HD 20 GB, RAM – 128MB CD-RW Optical Drive Health Sciences Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30am–3:30pm. 9346 7364 

Laptop – Toshbia Satelite Pro 4600 Win2000 SP4 $50 4 2 Medicine, Dentistry and Jeremy.McGready@uwa.edu.au 

P3-897MHZ,HD – 28GB, RAM – 320MB DVD Rom Health Sciences Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30am–3:30pm. 9346 7364 


NOTICES 

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE 

ASSOCIATION OF 

AUSTRALIA AND NEW 

ZEALAND (AFAANZ) 

Dr Sze Koh, Dr Robert Durand, 

UWA Business School: ‘Saints 

Versus Sinners. Does Morality 

Matter?’—$3,670 (2009) 

CANCER COUNCIL OF 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 

Dr Juliana Hamzah, UWA Centre 

for Medical Research: ‘Intratumoral 

Targeting of IFNy to Pre‐condition 

Soild Tumour for Effective 

Immunotherapy’—$25,000 (2008) 

CIRCADIAN TECHNOLOGY 

PTE LTD 

A/Prof Hans Stampfer, Psychiatry 

and Clinical Neurosciences: 

‘Development of Circardian Heart 

Rate Analysis for Diagnostic 

Applications in Psychiatry’ — 

$60,000 (2008) 

COPYRIGHT AGENCY 

LIMITED 

A/Prof Delys Bird, Dr Toby 

Burrows, Prof Dennis Haskell, 

Humanities, Social and Cultural 

Studies: ‘Westerly Digitisation 

Project’—$36,300 (2009) 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT 

OF WA 

Prof Christobel Saunders, A/ 

Prof S Aoun, Prof A Wilkinson, 

Surgery, Edith Cowan University. 

Curtin University of Technology: 

‘WA Cancer and Palliative Care 

Research and Evaluation Unit’— 

$4,000,000 (2008) 

MEDICAL BENEFITS FUND 

OF AUSTRALIA LTD 

Prof Osvaldo Almeida, Psychiatry 

and Clinical Neurosciences: 

‘Developing a Practical Clinical 

Approach to Healthy Ageing: The 

MBF Foundation Study’—$413,406 

(2008) 

NEUROTRAUMA RESEARCH 

PROGRAM (NRP) 

Prof Alan Harvey, Dr Jennifer 

Rodger, Anatomy and Human 

Biology, Animal Biology: ‘Can 

Gene Therapy Promote 

Regeneration after Distal Axonal 

Injury in the Brain?’—$61,000 

(2009) 

Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery 

other gravities 

a musical and literary soiree 

7pm Saturday November 30 

pi, a group of classical musicians with an extraordinary talent for 

improvisation presents a program based on other gravities the poetry of 

Kevin Gillam. 

The performance is ‘exit by donation’. If you liked the show, you can pay $25; 

If not, you could “give us a couple of bucks for trying!” (Director David Pye) 

RESEARCH GRANTS AND CONTRACTS 

Dr Jennifer Rodger, Dr Rachel 

Sherrard, Anatomy and Human 

Biology, Animal Biology: ‘Less 

Inhibition with More Stimulation? 

Can Ephrin Blockade and 

Environmental Enrichment 

Promote Recovery after 

Neurotrauma?’—$171,000 

(2009‐10) 

Dr Jennifer Rodger, Ms Jane 

Dundas, Dr Gary Thickbroom, 

Animal Biology, Edith Cowan 

University, Centre for 

Neuromuscular and Neurological 

Disorders: ‘A Comparison of 

Non‐Invasive Interventions to 

Maximise Plasticity in the 

Brain’—$150,000 (2008‐09) 

OFFICE OF CRIME 

PREVENTION 

Dr Joseph Clare, Dr Francis 

Morgan, Crime Research Centre: 

‘Analysing the Effect of Covert 

Mobile CCTV for Reducing Graffiti 

Vandalism’—$49,898 (2008) 

STATE HEALTH RESEARCH 

ADVISORY COUNCIL 

(SHRAC) 

Dr Glenn Arendts, Dr M 

Donaldson, Primary, Aboriginal 

and Rural Health Care: ‘Predicting 

Admission and Representation 

after Discharge in Older Persons 

that Undergo Comprehensive 

Multidisciplinary ED Assessment’ 

— $154,700 (2009) 

WA HEALTH PROMOTION 

FOUNDATION 

Dr Linda Slack‐Smith, Prof 

Louise Brearley Messer, School 

of Dentistry: ‘Linking Child Health 

and School Dental Data Toward 

Prevention’—$20,000 (2008) 

Dr Terri Pikora, Dr Rebecca 

Braham, Sport Science, Exercise 

and Health, Population Health: 

‘Wet and Wild ‐ Assessing Injury 

Among Recreational Water 

Activities’—$17,317 (2008) 

WELSH FREE CHURCH EX 

LOTTERYWEST 

Dr Jean Chetkovich, 

Humanities: ‘Welsh Free Church 

History’—$43,500 (2008) 

NEW STAFF 

Please welcome the following new staff who joined the University 

between May and October. This listing will continue in the next issue. 

Erica Anderton, Careers Adviser, 

Administration 

Melissa Ariti, Research Assistant, 

Natural and Agricultural Sciences 

Michael Armstrong, Senior 

Technician, Engineering, Computing 

and Mathematics 

Rebecca Armstrong, 

Administrative Officer, UWA 

Business School 

Jessica Ashton, Admin Secretary, 

Life and Physical Sciences 

Sarah Bain, Research Assistant, 

Medicine, Dentistry and Health 

Sciences 

Dr David Barrie, Lecturer, Arts, 

Humanities and Social Sciences 

Dr Geoffrey Batt, Senior Research 

Fellow, Natural and Agricultural 

Sciences 

Megan Bell, Administrative 

Assistant, Administration 

Georgina Bender, Procurement 


Janina Beyer, Graduate Research 

Assistant, Medicine, Dentistry and 

Health Sciences 

Rebecca Blakeney, Senior 

Graphic Designer, Administration 

Noel Boylan, Research Associate, 

Engineering, Computing and 

Mathematics 

Denise Bracken, Administrative 

Officer (Finance), Medicine, 

Dentistry and Health Sciences 

Dr Liam Brady, Postdoctoral 

Fellow, Arts, Humanities and Social 

Sciences 

Sarah Brookes, Graduate 

Research Assistant, Medicine, 


Dr Craig Bullen, Research 

Associate, Life and Physical 

Sciences 

Sarah Burke, Research Fellow, 

Arts, Humanities and Social 

Sciences 

Caroline Buykx, Research Officer, 


Sciences 

Jodie Callum, Web Designer, 


Wendy Cater, Research Assistant, 


Seyed Morteza Chalak 

Haghighi, Research Fellow, Natural 

and Agricultural Sciences 

Sze Sze Chau, Accountant 

(Faculty Support), Administration 

Susan Cochrane, Senior Library 

Officer, Academic Services 

Dr Catherine Colas des 

Francs-Small, Research 


Sciences 

Lynette Connor, Administrative 

Officer, Administration 

Susan Cowin, Postgraduate 

Student Experience Co-ordinator, 

UWA Business School 

Candice Cox, Dental Clinic 



Gavin Criddle, Computer Support 

Officer, Medicine, Dentistry and 


Andrea Curatolo, Research 

Associate, Engineering, Computing 


Richard Dalton, Graduate 



Dr Sushma Daniels, Dentist, 


Sciences 

Susan Davidson, Records 

Management Officer, Administration 

Fay Davidson, Research Officer, 


Professor David Day, 

Management and Leadership, UWA 


Sylvia Defendi, Marketing Intern, 


Julie Denning, Admin Assistant, 


Roderick Dewsbury, Manager, 


Dr Ian Dick, Research Associate, 


Sciences 

Thi Do, Accounts Officer, 


Debra Donovan, Technical 

Assistant, Natural and Agricultural 

Sciences 

Caroline Dowley, Assistant 

(Admin), Administration 

Sara Drake, Library Officer, 

Academic Services 

Simon Duff, Developer, 


Karen Dunstan, Strategic 

Sourcing Officer, Administration 

Xiaoqin Fang, Dental Clinic 



Dr Keiko Fukui, Lecturer, Arts, 

Humanities and Social Sciences 

Peggy Gan, Accounting Assistant, 


Peter Giles, Library Officer, 


Kim Goddard, Senior Lecturer, 


Sciences 

Gillian Grant, Personal Assistant, 


Samantha Greene, Science 

Education Officer, Natural and 

Agricultural Sciences 

Dr Qinghua Guo, Research 



Ying Guo, Soils Technician, 


Mathematics 

Sanaa Hadad, Dental Clinic 



14 



NEW STAFF 

Helena Halton, Associate Lecturer, 


Sciences 

Patricia Harms, Dental Clinic 



Julie-Ann Hart, Senior Information 

Architect, Administration 

Dickon Hayne, Associate 

Professor, Medicine, Dentistry and 


Tracy Hayward, Administrative 

Officer, Medicine, Dentistry and 


Rebecca Hitchings, 

Communications Officer, 


Mathematics 

Natalie Holmes, Project Officer, 


Edward Houston, Associate 

Lecturer, Medicine, Dentistry and 


Dr Zhiqun Huang, Graduate 

Research Assistant, Natural and 


Dr Ben Jackson, Research 


Sciences 

Anna Jarratt, Research Assistant, 


Sciences 

Dr Sasha Jenkins, Research 

Associate, Natural and Agricultural 

Sciences 

Sandy Johnston, Executive 


Diana Jones, Administrative 


Dr Ricarda Jost, Research 


Sciences 

Dr Simeon Kaitibie, Research 


Sciences 

Harpreet Kaur, Administrative 


Dr Olivier Keech, Research 


Sciences 

Matthew Kershaw, Administrative 

Assistant, Arts, Humanities and 

Social Sciences 

Lesliati Kumulia, Dental Clinic 



Jacqui Landmann, Records 

Management Officer, Administration 

Youcef Lanez, Technical Officer, 

Arts, Humanities and Social 

Sciences 

Dr Melissa Latter, Australian 

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Life and 

Physical Sciences 

Dr Wai Kwong Lau, Lecturer, 


Mathematics 

Benjamin Lawrence, Customer 

Support Officer, Administration 

Tracie Lazaroo, Research 

Assistant, Life and Physical 

Sciences 

Ha Le Thi, Administrative 

Assistant, UWA Business School 

Jennifer Leen, Editorial Intern, 


Jessica Lewis, Graduate 

Research Assistant, Life and 


Tingfu Liang, Information Analyst, 


Rabecca Light, Administrative 

Officer, Life and Physical Sciences 

Dr Roslyn London, Research 

Fellow, Life and Physical Sciences 

David London, It Support Officer, 


Dr Rowena Long, Research 


Sciences 

Dr Marion Macnish, Manager, 


Sciences 

Susan Marie, Director, University 

Extension 

Lauren Martin, Research Officer, 


Sciences 

Sarah Mawson, Project Officer, 


Susan McKenna, Communications 

Manager, Natural and 


Stacey McKie, Administrative 



Kristian Menendez Rivera, It 

Support Analyst, Medicine, 


Peter Miller, Team Leader, 


Marilyn Monaghan, Administrative 

Officer, Engineering, Computing 


Tanina Moretta, Receptionist, 


Sciences 

Helen Morrell, Project Officer, 


Felix Mueller, Research Fellow, 


Margaret Musca, Administrative 



Dr Gopalan Nair, Senior Lecturer, 


Mathematics 

Dr Bibhash Nath, Research 

Fellow, Engineering, Computing 


Sandra Ng Wing Lit, Information 

Analyst, Administration 

Megan O’Connor, Administrative 

Secretary, Arts, Humanities and 


Dr Anna Parker, Senior Lecturer, 


Sciences 

Jino Penaranda, Printing 

Machinist, Administration 

Joelle Penning, Web Content 

Editor, Administration 

Kia Pfaeffli, Research Assistant, 


Sciences 

Dr Maksym Polyakov, Research 


Sciences 

Isarut Prayurasiddhi, Accounting 


Kathryn Ramsey, Graduate 

Research Assistant, Life and 


Michelle Ridley, Web Co- 

Ordinator, Natural and Agricultural 

Sciences 

Maria Rioja Capellan, Research 

Fellow, Life and Physical Sciences 

Glen Robinson, Manager, Campus 

and Accommodation Planning, 


Sanchia Robinson, Programme 

Co-Ordinator, Administration 

Keith Rockliffe, Library Officer, 


Michaela Ruffner, Library Officer, 


Kanthi Rupasinghe, Admin 



Dr Sergio Sara, Research 

Associate, Life and Physical Sciences 

David Seaman, Workers’ 

Compensation Officer, 


Larissa Sexton-Finck, Associate 

Lecturer, Arts, Humanities and 


Amanda Shannon, Administrative 

Assistant, Engineering, Computing 


Dr Jaffar Shehatha, Senior 

Lecturer, Medicine, Dentistry and 


Wakako Shimizu, Admin Assistant 

(Enrolments), Administration 

Geetha Shute, Postdoctoral 

Coordinator, UWA Business School 

Dr Delphine Siret, Postdoctoral 

Research Fellow, Natural and 


Anthony Smith, It Support Officer, 


Sciences 

David Smith, Project Officer, 


Dr Iris Sonntag, Research Fellow, 


Sharon Staniforth, Accounts 

Officer, Natural and Agricultural 

Sciences 

Jonathan Steingiesser, Systems 

Analyst, Academic Services 

Karen Stewart, Project Officer, 


Dr Alison Sweet, Research 


Sciences 

Wee Tan, Accountant, 


Guan Ming Teo, Web Developer, 


Dr Christian Thomas, Research 



Neil Turner, Maintenance 

Technician (Roofing), 


Christine Underwood, 

Administrative Assistant, Medicine, 


Dr Kerrie Unsworth, Senior 

Lecturer, UWA Business School 

Fabio Valente, Graduate 



Eline Van Raak, Intern, 


James Veder, Systems Analyst, 


Dr David Wacey, Postdoctoral 



Tahmina Wahab, Dental Clinic 



Ian Waite, Scientific Officer, 


Kar Mun Wan, Developer, 


Karen Watson, Administrative 



Michael Weaver, Co-Ordinator 

(Training and Documentation), 


Dr Lars Woeckel, Associate 

Professor, Medicine, Dentistry and 


Yirga Woldeyes, Security Officer, 


Emeritus Professor Michael 

Wood, Visiting Professor, 


Melina Wood, Research 

Development Officer, UWA 


Fei Xie, Accounts Assistant, 


Dr Sukru Yalcinkaya, Research 



Dr Maodu Yan, Postdoctoral 



Jennifer Yeap, It Support Officer, 


Dr Gillian Yeo, Lecturer, UWA 


Doug Youd, Network Systems 

Officer, Academic Services 

Adam Young, Technician (Animal 

House), Administration 

Dr Aibin Zhang, Research 


Sciences 


the last word … 

Keeping abreast 

of succession 

changes 

John Hockley 

Lecturer in Succession Law 

Acting course coordinator, Law School 

Don’t die in Western Australia, the saying goes. 

Why? Because if you do, your estate is governed by 

laws that reflect the social conditions in England 

before 1925, conditions that never existed here. 

However, things are changing, slowly. For instance, informal 

wills are now allowed. An informal will does not have to be 

made in accordance with the strict provision of the Wills Act. A 

handwritten note and even a suicide note have been allowed 

as informal wills. The Wills Act 2007 takes this a step further in 

that it introduces a wide definition of what is now a document. 

A video is a document. You can make a video of yourself 

reading, singing, chanting or even rapping your will. 

An SMS message from someone lost in the outback stating, 

‘I leave everything to Mum,’ could be a valid will. 

WA has now rejoined the Uniform Succession Law Project 

conducted by the Queensland Law Reform Commission. The 

Commission publishes ‘Model Laws’ from which participating 

States are free to take or leave various suggestions. It’s 

something like a smorgasbord. Nonetheless, within a certain 

area there is a harmonisation of the laws between the States. 

The Succession Laws consist of three Acts, the Wills Act, as 

you have seen, the Administration Act and the Inheritance 

(Family and Dependants Provision) Act. 

The first of the reformed Acts is the Wills (Amendment) Act 

2007. This Act was proclaimed on 9 February 2008 and 

commenced on and from that date. This Act introduces some 

symmetry into the law of wills. 

It has long been the law that when you get married your will is 

revoked. Now, when you get divorced your will is revoked. If 

you know someone who has become divorced this year, 

remind them to make a new will or they will die intestate 

(without a will) and fall into the intestacy provisions. You would 

not wish your worst enemy to fall into the intestacy provisions. 

A well-known example is an elderly woman living in a unit in 

Crawley with her husband, who was previously married and 

had two adult children. The title to the unit was in her 

husband’s name. The husband could not decide how to leave 

his estate between his children and his second wife. During 

his lifetime, relations between the second wife and his children 

were cool. He died intestate. The children turned feral towards 

her and insisted on their legal rights. Under the intestacy laws 

the wife received $50,000 (a statutory legacy) and one-third of 

the balance. The two children received the other two-thirds. 

The bulk of the estate was the unit. If the intestacy provisions 

alone are applied, the result is that the unit would have to be 

sold and the widow would be forced to move, taking with her 

$50,000 and one-third of the estate. 

For some years, lawyers have been taking legal actions for 

such wives, claiming that the share of the estate left to them 

was inadequate for their proper maintenance and 

advancement in life under the Inheritance (Family and 

Dependants Provision) Act. 

There are proposals to change the intestacy laws to increase 

the statutory legacy of $50,000 to the median house price. 

This figure is constantly changing, but if a sum of about 

$400,000 were allowed, then the spouse would either obtain 

the matrimonial home or be in a position to borrow against it 

and buy out any children from her husband’s first marriage. 

There is a Bill before State Parliament to amend the 

Inheritance (Family and Dependants Provision) Act. Its name 

will be changed to the Family Provision Act. In all Australian 

States there has been an increase in litigation over wills and 

estates. With many family homes now worth more than a 

million dollars, estates are worth fighting over. One of the main 

changes in the act is to allow stepchildren who were 

maintained by a deceased immediately before his death to 

make a claim against his estate. 

We need to teach Law students about the changes to the 

Succession Laws in WA. Hopefully, they will keep the laws up 

to date in the 21st century — something that was not 

achieved in the 20th. 

UWA NEWS 

EDITOR/WRITER: Lindy Brophy, Public Affairs 

with Sally-Ann Jones, Public Affairs 

Tel: 6488 2436 Fax: 6488 1020 

Email: lindy.brophy@uwa.edu.au 

Hackett Foundation Building, M360 

Director of Public Affairs: Doug Durack 

Tel: 6488 2806 Fax: 6488 1020 

Designed and printed by UniPrint, UWA 

UWAnews online: http://uwanews.publishing.uwa.edu.au/ 

UniPrint 65128 

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