Announcements and emails

Index of announcements and emails about the University's response to the earthquake and tsunami.

Email to staff from Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis, 1 February 2005 (excerpt)

"... we do it for
the stars over the Bronx
that they may look on earth
and not be ashamed."
       Diane Di Prima

Adversity reveals qualities in others; it shows also the engagement between peoples. The tsunami disaster afflicting Asia and the shores of the Indian Ocean has triggered concern and generosity across the University of Melbourne. It has also demonstrated how many academics, departments and administrative units have long-standing connections with colleagues in Indonesian, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and further abroad.

Thus soon after the tsunami struck Professor John Clement from Dental Science found himself organising the work of forensic experts to assist in identifying victims, while Dr Peter Deutschmann from the Australian International Health Institute in Public Health used his skills in India to help assess priorities. Associate Professor Harry Minas from the Centre of International Mental Health responded to an urgent request from the World Health Organisation to spend time in Indonesia assisting in early assessment of mental health needs of traumatized victims.

Elsewhere within the University, the response proved equally swift. The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences launched a database of volunteers for the relief operation, and responded to technical questions concerning infectious diseases and public health. The Centre for International Child Health (Department of Paediatrics) together with the Royal Children's Hospital International and World Vision has committed to support Gadjah Mada University with emergency relief and long-term rebuilding in West Aceh.

A Faculty of Education team prepared a resource kit for school children in Australia to help them understand the tsunami tragedy and undertake fundraising events. The Faculty of Engineering established channels for experts to contribute to school construction in Sri Lanka, where Professor John Langford from the Centre for Water Research is on the ground, advising on restoration of clean water supplies.

Asialink, also working with the World Health Organisation, pulled together a crisis response team and began working with the Indonesian Consulate on a fundraising event for the Indonesian community. Professor Michael Leigh from the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies has also been closely engaged with humanitarian assistance and political issues in Indonesia.

Melbourne University Private is supporting projects on the reconstruction of major infrastructure and child protection in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

A number of University of Melbourne students and staff have sent home reports from afflicted areas. Michael Leigh stresses the lack of resources in the schools in Aceh, with many teachers killed and classrooms wrecked by the disaster. Harry Minas reports that SyahKwalla University in Bandah Aceh lost up to 200 staff and perhaps 1,200 students, with hospitals and teaching facilities destroyed. Claire Stewart, a final year medical student, is working on the west coat of Sri Lanka. She writes that four weeks after the tsunami many victims there still lack access to aid or medical supplies.

Meanwhile Nelu Jayawardena, a second year medical student from Sri Lanka, is organising a dance concert in support of building an orphanage in an area devastated by the wave. Melbourne Lord Mayor John So is supporting the event, to be held on 13 February at the Melbourne Town Hall.

On the campus, a multi-faith service for students and staff on Wednesday 9 March 2005 from 1.00-2.00 pm on the South Lawn will recall those lost and hurt. It will also be a moment to thank everyone at Melbourne who contributed to this impressive and heartfelt response to tragedy in our region.

...

Professor Glyn Davis AC
Vice Chancellor
1 February 2005