Report to Donors 2009 - University of Melbourne

2009 » REPORT TO DONORS
Paris provides inspiration for talented student »
Anita Ponsaing was the 2009 recipient of the John Hodgson Scholarship,
a scholarship made possible by a bequest from Iona Hodgson, in memory
of her son, John. John received his Bachelor of Science from the University
of Melbourne in 1957. He tragically passed away at age 23 as a result of a
mountain climbing accident.
Anita Ponsaing was inspired in Paris
Baldwin Trust to Boost Cancer Research »
Henry Baldwin, a former
Tasmanian Railways
engineer, passed away in
2007 after a full life that
involved helping others.
His legacies included a
bequest to fund cancer
research in the Faculty of
Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences at the
University of Melbourne.
The bequest will allow the Department
of Surgery at Austin Health to appoint
a Research Fellow to investigate the
molecules that make colon cancers
grow and to accelerate research into
gastrointestinal cancer. “The bequest is
very welcome,” says Professor Graham
baldwin, the leader of the Department’s
Cancer biology Group, “as funding
is always difficult to obtain in today’s
fiercely competitive environment.”
Anita, a postgraduate student in
the Faculty of Science, used the
scholarship to spend a trimester
at the Henri Poincare Institute in
Paris studying topics very close to
her PhD thesis on lattice models
in statistical physics. Anita’s
supervisor Jan De Gier nominated
her for the scholarship. of her
nomination he said, “Anita is a very
dedicated student and published
a paper in a top journal just one
year into her PhD studies. She is
also a very active student member,
having been president of the maths
graduate student group in 2009
and also working with a high school
student through the University of
Melbourne’s ‘Mentor Program for
Highly Able Secondary Students’.”
It’s no coincidence that Henry and the
Professor share the same surname, as
Graham is Henry’s first cousin once
removed. Although Graham is acting as
one of the trustees for Henry’s estate,
he said, “Until I saw Henry’s Will, I
had no idea he was going to make a
bequest to the Department of Surgery.”
“Henry was a real gentleman. He loved
life and had broad interests, but his
real passion was his local church.”
In retirement Henry continued to help
his many friends and the numerous
organisations in which he took an active
interest. Henry will be remembered
as a generous person, for both his
wise counsel and willingness to
help whatever the occasion. Henry’s
generosity continues through his will
that provides for a number of charities.
The Department of Surgery at
Austin Health is associated with the
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences and has established
an international reputation in liver
transplantation and the treatment
of metastatic colon cancer. The
Department of Surgery also places
Anita has grabbed the opportunity
with both hands. “This trip has really
opened my eyes to both the role of one
mathematician in the greater realm of
science, and also to the role of science
in society as a whole. It’s hard to say
how glad I am to have been given this
opportunity. I plan to take full advantage
of the drive it’s given me.”
“The inspiration has spilled over into
my own work and my plans for the
future, and I now feel more able to
make something of them.”
“being so far away from familiar faces
and surroundings really forced me to
concentrate on my work, and it also
stoked my general interest in the other
sciences that I’m keen to explore in the
near future,” said Anita.
Mr Henry Baldwin
a strong emphasis on research and
a team of leading gastrointestinal
researchers is making steady progress
in the area of gastrointestinal cancer.
Austin Health provides an ideal
environment for exciting research
and for patient care.
“...funding is always difficult
to obtain in today’s fiercely
competitive environment.”
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