Dear Alumni,
Thank you to those who responded to the recent message from the Vice-Chancellor following Victoria’s tragic bushfires. Sadly, a number of members of our alumni community, as well as University staff and students, have died in the fires. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy. We continue to be overwhelmed by many touching responses from alumni who were prompted to donate to the Bushfire Appeal and volunteer their time with support groups. The University’s ongoing response to the fires can be found here.
Yours sincerely,
The Alumni Relations Team
News
$16 million battle plan against blinding eye disease
Students' waste effort to reap housing rewards
Talent to keep an eye on – Artist wins trip for creative view of voyeurism
Musician composes himself after richest music prize win
High-achieving alumni win awards in Indonesia
Events
Memory of alumnus lives on in law lecture
An intimate conversation with Victoria's Australian of the Year
Be inspired by young entrepreneurs in China and Australia
Potter gallery tour hits the Sweet Spot
Lifelong Learning
Upcoming Public Lectures - This month internationally-renowned thinkers speak on human rights, public health and more
Explore history and culture on an alumni-led campus tour
Share your sandwiches with Strauss and Stockhausen – Free lunchtime concerts back for 2009
Considering graduate law in 2010? Upcoming Melbourne JD information sessions
Get involved
Calling recent graduates – Share your views to win!
Boost your skills as a student mentor
Employment
Job of the Month - Lecturer in Medical Anthropology
Careers at the University of Melbourne
Special Offers
Curtain rises on new theatre season – We have tickets to three shows to give away
Book of the Month -We have six copies of Nicola Markus’ On Our Watch - The Race to Save Australia's Environment to give away
NEWS
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$16 million battle plan against blinding eye disease
THE Federal Government has pledged $16 million to fund a University of Melbourne-born effort to combat a blinding eye disease in Indigenous communities. The funding will pave the way for a groundbreaking Australia-wide trachoma control program, developed by the University of Melbourne’s Professor Hugh Taylor (BMedSc 1970, MB BS 1971, DO 1975, MD 1979). Professor Taylor, Harold Mitchell Chair of Indigenous Eye Health, is a world authority on trachoma and is leading the charge in the fight against the third-world disease. He is currently leading the National Survey of Indigenous Eye Health, which will inform and support the national trachoma control program. More>>
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Students' waste effort to reap housing rewards
DESIGN students striving to tackle issues of housing affordability and waste disposal have built a complete shelter out of household waste. The group of around 30 University of Melbourne students used discarded materials such as paper, metal, wood and plastic to build the shelter, as part of a project based at the University’s Creswick campus. Studio coordinator Dr Peter Raisbeck said the students could now potentially collaborate with communities to develop better local environmental building strategies. More>>
Talent to keep an eye on – Artist wins trip for creative view of voyeurism
AN artist whose striking works explore voyeurism has been awarded a prestigious $15,000 travelling fellowship. The 2009 Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship winner, Linda Tegg (Master of Visual Art 2008), plans to use the money to travel to the prestigious Venice Biennale. She hopes to observe the artworks and audiences of major artistic institutions in Europe and New York to build her understanding of the spectacle and its implications for the viewer. The Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship for VCA Art graduates is funded through the generosity of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. More>>
Musician composes himself after richest music prize win
A HIGHLY respected music alumnus and former University staff member claims he is now “the luckiest person alive”, after winning Australia’s richest individual music prize. Pianist and composer Dr Tony Gould, AM (BMus 1974), who was an Associate Professor at the Victorian College of the Arts for more than 20 years, was recently presented with the $60,000 Don Banks Music Award by the Australia Council. Dr Gould plans to use his prize money to fund his own music projects. More>>
High-achieving alumni win awards in Indonesia
THREE University of Melbourne alumni have been honoured for their contributions to Indonesia.
Dr Denny Indrayana (PhD Law 2005), Mr Airlangga Hartarto (MMgt (Tech) 1996) and Dr Muhammad Syafii Antonio (PhD Arts 2005) were awarded Australian Alumni Awards at a ceremony in Jakarta on 21 February. The annual award scheme, an initiative of the Australian Embassy in Indonesia, is designed to recognise outstanding talent, achievements and contributions made by Indonesians who have studied in Australia. Dr Indrayana received the Award for Sustainable Economic and Social Development, for his humanitarian efforts following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunamis. Dr Antonio’s expertise in the field of Islamic banking earned him the award for Business Leadership and well-known business figure Mr Hartarto, President Commissioner of a leading publicly-listed paper manufacturer, scooped the Award for Entrepreneurship. More about the winners>>
EVENTS
Memory of alumnus lives on in law lecture
THE generosity of three generations of one family has enabled a leading figure in feminist legal thought to present a public lecture at Melbourne on the first women lawyers. Professor Mary Jane Mossman will visit Melbourne Law School from Canada this month to present the Allen Hope Southey Memorial Lecture. Established more than 50 years ago, the lecture is a significant event for the University and the Southey family, who generously fund a law lectureship in memory of alumnus Allen Hope Southey (LLB 1915, LLM 1917), pictured left. Alumna Ethel (Nancy) Thorpe Southey (BA 1917) founded the lectureship in 1958, nearly 30 years after her husband died.
Click here to read more about the Allen Hope Southey Memorial Lecture>>
Click here to view details of the 2009 lecture by Professor Mossman>>
An intimate conversation with Victoria's Australian of the Year
A SCIENTIST and refugee named Victoria’s 2009 Australian of the Year for his work to raise the standard of living in Melbourne’s African communities is set to share his story. Dr Berhan Ahmed (PhD Ag Sci 2001) will appear as the first guest speaker for 2009 when the popular Conversation at Masani series returns this month.
The African community leader has been recognised for his work to build bridges between the African and wider Australian communities. This event will be held on Thursday 19 March and registrations are now open. Please be aware that places are expected to fill quickly. More>>
Be inspired by young entrepreneurs in China and Australia
IN this time of economic gloom, it can be disheartening and worrying to hear the many stories of struggling businesses and redundancies. This month Asialink aims to inspire with success stories instead, at its Young Entrepreneurs in China and Australia event. This informative evening, starting at 6.30pm on Thursday 19 March, will give you the chance to meet young people who have set up successful national and transnational businesses in a range of different fields. Speakers include Catherine Cervasio, Managing Director of Aromababy; Ross McGregor, CEO of Rapid Offshore; Suzie Wong, Director of Sushi Sushi; Selwyn D’Souza (MBA 1995), Senior Fellow at Melbourne Business School and Ed Smith (BA), Managing Director of Beijing Consulting Group. To RSVP, email Asialink or to find out more email Ken Lee.
Potter gallery tour hits the Sweet Spot
ART-LOVING alumni are invited to explore an exhibition of contemporary artworks at a special Director’s Tour of the Potter. The free tour of the Sweet Spot exhibition at the Ian Potter Museum of Art on Thursday 2 April will offer background and commentary on sculptures, paintings, drawings and prints by selected artists. The ever-popular Director’s Tours of the Potter series has recently returned for 2009 and places are again filling quickly. More>>
Image: Elizabeth Pulie, Untitled (2 Massive flowers), 2008, synthetic polymer paint, oil stick on canvas, 120 x 100 cm, © Courtesy the artist.
A special evening to reconnect at Bendigo Art Gallery
ALUMNI in Bendigo are invited to reconnect with old friends over wine and canapés at a tour of Bendigo Art Gallery’s latest exhibition. This event will be held on Tuesday 17 March and will give alumni the chance to meet the University’s new Chancellor, The Hon. Alex Chernov, AO, QC. President of the Gallery Board of Management, John Higgs, will lead a special alumni tour of The Golden Age of Couture: Paris & London 1947 - 57, an exhibition offering a glimpse into one of fashion’s most glamorous eras, with a display of more than 100 dresses, photographs and original Hollywood and documentary films. More>>
Image: Models posing in new Christian Dior Collection 1957, Loomis Dean, Time Life Pictures
Young engineers head back to campus for a barbecue
ENGINEERING graduates from the past five years are invited back to campus for a casual barbecue. Join other alumni, final year students and Engineering staff to network and socialise on the evening of Tuesday 24 March. Whether you’d like to swap stories and career advice with other graduates and final year students, form new professional networks or simply catch up with old friends over a bite to eat, this relaxed event will provide the perfect opportunity to do so. More>>
More local and international events for alumni
A HUGE range of activities are on offer for alumni and friends in 2009. Click here to view the full list of upcoming events.
LIFELONG LEARNING
Upcoming public lectures - Renowned thinkers speak on human rights and public health
INTERNATIONALLY renowned thinkers will be among the many experts and academics to present public lectures at the University this month. Speakers will include high-profile human rights lawyer Julian Burnside and international leader in public health Professor Rob Moodie (MB BS 1976), Director of the Nossal Institute for Global Health.
Please click here to view the full list of public lectures
Explore history and culture on an alumni-led campus tour
LEARN the stories behind the University’s most significant cultural and historical sites on an alumni tour of the Parkville campus. A series of special alumni-led tours has been launched for 2009, with the first to be held on Sunday 22 March. Visit the stunning System Garden, hear the story behind the old Gatekeeper’s Lodge and discover the University's connection to the film Mad Max. The tour will give alumni the chance to explore the University of Melbourne’s historical grounds, learn more about the buildings and reminisce with other alumni. More>>
Alumni learn Chinese for less
THE Confucius Institute has launched a new season of Chinese classes, and alumni can take advantage of a 10 percent discount offer. Registrations for beginners, intermediate and advanced classes are now open, and lessons take place at the University in the afternoons and evenings. Please contact Julia Gong for more information or visit the Confucius Institute website.
Share your sandwiches with Strauss and Stockhausen – Free lunchtime concerts back for 2009
LIVEN up your lunch hour with free music concerts at the University’s Melba Hall. Following the success of last year’s Monday lunch hour concert series, the Faculty of Music has launched a new season for 2009. Many talented students and alumni will perform at these events. The next student performance is on Monday 9 March and will feature Tristram Williams on trumpet and Brendan Lukin on organ. More>>
Considering graduate law in 2010? Upcoming Melbourne JD information sessions
WHETHER studying law has been a long term goal or you are just curious to find out more about what a graduate law degree would mean for you, come along to Melbourne Law School’s first Melbourne JD information session for 2009 on 18 March. The Melbourne JD is now the only degree offered by Melbourne Law School leading to admission to practice, and has established an excellent reputation amongst the legal profession. Its highly qualified graduates are sought after both within Australia and internationally. More>>
GET INVOLVED
Calling recent graduates – Share your views to win!
RECENT University of Melbourne graduates can go into the draw to win one of five $30 book vouchers simply by sharing their university experience in a survey. If you are an alumnus who completed your degree in semester 1 of 2008, you are invited to tell us about your course experiences and current activities by completing the Australian Graduate Survey . The University will use your feedback to shape its future programs and careers advice for students. For more information please contact grad-destinations@unimelb.edu.au. Semester 2 graduates will also be invited to take the survey and enter the prize draw in the near future.
Boost your skills as a student mentor
ALUMNI working in business and finance can boost their leadership and coaching skills through a new student mentoring program. This year the Faculty of Economics and Commerce has expanded its career mentoring program to include undergraduate students. The program will match graduate and undergraduate students with industry mentors according to their shared interests and areas of specialty. Please email Dennis Lee or Sarah Martini or click here to find out more about becoming a career mentor>>
EMPLOYMENT
Job of the Month: Lecturer in Medical Anthropology
THE University of Melbourne is seeking an academic to fill a teaching and research position in medical anthropology. The role is based in the Centre for Health and Society (CHS), Melbourne School of Population Health (MSPH). Applications for this position close on 30 April 2009. More>>
Careers@Melbourne
Positions available at the University of Melbourne.