sydney alumni magazine

56 Pages·2015·3.05 MB·English

SYDNEY ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 01 — SEMESTER ONE 2015
NOEL PEARSON ON AMBASSADOR FOR THE BOOKS THAT THE APP THAT
INDIGENOUS RECOGNITION AFRICAN LEADERS CHANGED MY MIND BARRY BUILT
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WELCOME
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW-LOOK SYDNEY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
WHERE WE SHARE THE STORIES OF OUR ALUMNI AND THE
DIFFERENCE THEY MAKE TO THE WORLD.
SAM celebrates the University of Sydney community As part of this new approach, SAM will now be
– those who follow their passions, challenge the status published twice a year, in April and October, and will
quo and inspire others. be complemented by a new interactive e-newsletter
Within these pages you will read about alumni who that will feature news and information about events
are fighting ebola, tackling mental health problems and people. The first edition will be delivered to your
in young people and transforming Sydney’s built inbox early next month.
environment. Lawyer, academic and activist Noel We hope you enjoy your new SAM, and would love
Pearson argues the case for constitutional reform, to hear your feedback.
and we find out how much has changed for Aboriginal
people in the 50 years since the first Freedom Ride.
With such wonderful stories to tell, it’s important
that the magazine itself is engaging. It gives us great
pleasure to welcome you to a redesigned SAM, with
Belinda Hutchinson AM, Dr Michael Spence,
compelling content that we hope will keep you reading
Chancellor Vice-Chancellor
about your fellow alumni and the University.
BEc Sydney, FCA and Principal
BA LLB Sydney DPhil
PGDipTheol Oxf
Please send your feedback to:
[email protected]
—WELCOME —
01
ADVERTISEMENT
Honour our
extraordinary
alumni
Every day our alumni are making a
remarkable difference and enriching the
lives of others. We invite you to recognise
their achievements by nominating them for
an Alumni Award.
With a wide range of categories,
the awards honour alumni who are
established in their careers and those
who have recently finished their studies.
Nominations close on 15 May 2015.
Find out more at
sydney.edu.au/alumni/awards
CONTENTS
The Conservatorium turns 100 Architect’s beachside inspiration Global game-changer
Time to celebrate 12 Andrew Burges 16 Anna Lau 32
At the front News, research and events 4
On my mind – Noel Pearson 6
On my desk – Duncan Ivison 8
Youth mental health – Ian Hickie, Ben Veness 10
In the middle Freedom rides revisited 22
My favourite – Margaret Zhang 26
Dealing with dictators – Matthew Neuhaus 28
Books that changed my mind 36
Steady as she goes – Barry de Ferranti 40
Man who busts medical myths – Andrew McLachlan 44
At the end Classnotes: Catch up with what your peers are up to 49
Gothic splendour – Philip Cox 52
Publishing Editor Produced by Cover: Architect Andrew Burges Inside back cover: Quidditch on
Michael Visontay Marketing and Communications Photography: Victoria Baldwin the front lawn, March 2015
The University of Sydney, The University of Sydney Photo: Bill Green
Level 7, JFR Building, NSW 2006 Inside cover: Female students from
02 9036 6372 Printing managed Sydney Teachers’ College doing a Member of the Circulation Audit
[email protected] by Publish Partners physical drill behind MacLaurin Board. Audited circulation
Hall, 1923. 176,467 copies
Illustration Photo: University Archives,
Green Peas for Breakfast G3_224_2439 15/4551 ISSN 1834-3929
©2015 The University of Sydney
—CONTENTS —
03
RESEARCH NEWS
BEFORE YOUR NEXT GLASS
Drinkers have long toasted the health after work each night: a regular dose of
benefits of moderate alcohol intake, but a alcohol is better for you than none at all’.
new study published in the British Medical “But this new research sheds doubt on
Journal pours cold water on the idea. the belief that alcohol has robust benefits
The study challenges claims that and that there is a ‘healthy’ dose.
moderate drinking is good for your health “Our study found that once ex-drinkers
and reveals that the protective benefits – who may have quit due to alcohol-related
from moderate alcohol consumption have health issues or abstain due to poor health
been overestimated or exaggerated by in general – were removed from the pool
previous research. of non-drinkers, the protective benefits
One of the study’s authors, Associate of alcohol for moderate drinkers virtually
Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, disappeared and there was little to no
from the Faculty of Health Sciences, protection provided by alcohol
says the research has important public consumption at any level.
health implications. “A large number of “The message from this study is
studies have suggested that moderate Australians should not use claims of
consumption of alcohol may protect alcohol’s health benefits as a licence to
against cardiovascular disease and this has drink, and the alcohol industry should
become accepted wisdom,” he says. not use health-related messages to
“The message to drinkers has been promote its products.”
‘don’t feel guilty about a few glasses of vino
GALLIPOLI
CULTURE
ON STAGE
Clem Gorman’s (BA ’67) play Gallipoli
2015: A Manual of Trench Warfare (1979)
is touring nationally in this centenary year.
The drama takes place in a sandbagged
trench at Gallipoli and puts a perspective
on the Great War’s legend of heroism.
The main character is Barry Moon, a
country boy battling not only the enemy,
but himself and the establishment.
Dates can be found at
www.davidspicer.com.au
UNIVERSITY
AUSTRALIA’S BEACH ROMANCE
AND THE WAR
Historian Caroline Ford has been writing and researching the history of Sydney’s beaches
and Australian beach culture since 2001. She completed her PhD at the University Do you have information and stories about
of Sydney in 2007 and has worked as a history researcher with the Surf Lifesaving the University and the Great War?
Association as well as for the NSW government in heritage and policy. She is an honorary Our online database of students,
associate of the University of Sydney’s Department of History. alumni and staff who fought in the
Sydney Beaches (NewSouth Books, 2014) tells the story of how Sydneysiders developed Great War, Beyond 1914, contains the
their love of the beach – from the 19th century picnickers to the surfing and sunbaking biographical entries from the University
pioneers a century later. World War 1 Book of Remembrance and
Sydney’s beaches also have another history, one that is lesser known and more other archival material. However, it does
intriguing. Our world-famous beach culture only exists because the first beachgoers not contain the complete record for each
demanded important rights. Ford’s book tells the story of the battle for the beaches as entry. We are looking for family members
well as the story of how a city developed a relationship with its coast and a nation created and the public to fill in the gaps.
a culture. Please see www.sydney.edu.au/
beyond1914
— AT THE FRONT —
04
ART RESEARCH
LET YOUR BRAINWAVES KEEP CALM AND AVOID
DO THE PAINTING A HEART ATTACK
Losing your temper is not just a social hazard. It’s also a health
risk, with new research showing that the chance of a heart attack is
8.5 times higher in the two hours after a burst of intense anger.
In the first Australian study to investigate the link between
acute emotional triggers and high risk of severe cardiac episodes,
researchers found that “episodes of intense anger can act as a
trigger for a heart attack”, says lead author Dr Thomas Buckley
from the University of Sydney Nursing School who is also a
researcher at Royal North Shore Hospital.
“The data shows that the higher risk of a heart attack isn’t
necessarily just while you’re angry – it lasts for two hours after
the outburst,” Dr Buckley says. “The triggers for these bursts
of intense anger were associated with: arguments with family
members (29 per cent); arguments with others (42 per cent); work
anger (14 per cent); and driving anger (14 per cent).”
The data also reveals that anxiety can also raise the risk of a
heart attack. High levels of anxiety were associated with a 9.5-fold
increased risk of triggering a heart attack in the two hours after
the anxiety episode, Dr Buckley says.
The study, published in February in European Heart Journal:
It sounds like a dream for The University of Sydney Acute Cardiovascular Care, involved investigating consecutive
arty types who can’t be project was led by Dr Caitilin patients suspected of heart attack and confirmed by angiography
bothered picking up a brush: de Bérigny, a lecturer in the reports at Royal North Shore Hospital. “Our findings highlight
painting with your mind. Last Master of Interaction Design the need to consider strategies to protect individuals most at risk
November a group of students and Electronic Arts program, during times of acute anger,” Dr Buckley adds.
from the University created and international lighting Senior author Professor Geoffrey Tofler, of the University’s
Mind Paintings, an interactive designer Bruce Ramus. Department of Preventive Cardiology, says: “Potential preventive
project that reads brainwaves “For the first time, we approaches may be stress-reduction training to reduce the
and enables people to “paint can get a creative glimpse of frequency and intensity of episodes of anger, or avoiding activities
with their mind”. a person’s state of mind. The that usually prompt such intense reactions – for instance, avoiding
Users are equipped with a more meditative and relaxed an angry confrontation or activity that provokes intense anxiety.
wireless device and a wearable the state of a person, the greater “Our message to people is they need to be aware that a burst of
headset that picks up their the visual impact on the digital severe anger or anxiety could lead to a coronary event, so consider
electroencephalogram (EEG), canvas,” Dr de Bérigny says. preventive strategies where possible,” Professor Tofler says.
measuring the brain’s electrical “The project transgresses
signals. The alpha and beta the boundaries between the
waves, which record a person’s physical and the virtual.
attention and meditation Thought becomes visual,
levels, are then translated into mood becomes art, inside
abstract digital paintings. becomes outside. It shows us
In a live installation at the potential that interactive
Broadway’s Central retail technology can play.”
precinct, visitors had the
opportunity to sit inside a
“meditative pyramid” and
watch their brainwaves paint
live before their eyes on a
massive digital display. Their
levels of stress and relaxation,
picked up through brain
activity, were reflected in the
final digital painting.
—AT THE FRONT —
05
INFLUENCE
O N M Y M I N D :
N O E L P E A RS O N
The Indigenous rights advocate (BA ’87, LLB ’93)
discusses how our Constitution should give
formal recognition to Aboriginal people.
I remember wandering the corridors of the scope of federal legislative power. It was felt
opportunity at Sydney University during my that Aboriginal people were a dying “race” whose
bachelor studies in the 1980s. I believe I was one of welfare should be left to the states.
only a couple of Aboriginal students on campus. The 1967 referendum removed these explicit
Things have certainly changed. Across exclusions from the Constitution but also left
universities Australia wide, there are many more unresolved issues. Outdated “race” clauses
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students remain. Section 25 talks about barring races from
undertaking tertiary education. A variety of voting. The race power, while it no longer excludes
programs exist to create opportunities and foster Aboriginal people, remains a power open to
their inclusion and academic success. positive or adverse use. That is the first problem:
The nation at large has followed a similar path our Constitution still allows and promotes
towards greater inclusion. racial discrimination.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander The second problem is that Aboriginal
peoples were excluded from the constitutional and Torres Strait Islander peoples are still in
arrangements of 1901. The drafters of the no way recognised. Australia’s constitutional
Constitution included no Aboriginal people. arrangements reflect and recognise our British
In some states, Aboriginal people could not heritage, traditions and institutions. Yet it remains
vote. As a result, the Constitution that unified silent on the fact that Aboriginal and Torres
the colonies into a single federation failed in an Strait Islander peoples were here before British
important sense to unify its peoples. settlement and remain as distinct peoples within
Section 127 excluded Indigenous people from Australian citizenship.
being counted in the Census. Section 51(xxvi), the To this proposition it may be objected that
“race power”, excluded Aboriginal people from no section of the Australian population should
— AT THE FRONT —
06
be specifically recognised. We are all citizens head of power for this purpose. Aboriginal people
after all, and that is what is important. Every comprise only three percent of the population. We
person has an equal say through their equal vote. often struggle to be heard by Parliament, even on
And Aboriginal people now have the same say as matters directly affecting us.
anyone else. Just as the minority states are guaranteed a
This is correct if all we focus on is the fair say, it would make sense for Aboriginal people
individual and if our approach is one of strict to be guaranteed, in the Constitution, a fair say in
majoritarianism. Yet the founding fathers legislation relating to Aboriginal people. I am not
themselves did not strictly adhere to this principle talking about reserved Senate seats for Aboriginal
when drafting the Constitution. We operate under people – I am wary of the political difficulty of
federalism. Even the smallest minority colonies such a constitutional change.
were recognised as states in the federal structure The Constitution could be amended to create
and constitutionally guaranteed an equal number an Aboriginal body to consult with and advise
of senators. Parliament on matters
The states were affecting Aboriginal
considered historically, interests. The advice
politically and should not be binding;
geographically distinct it cannot be a veto. It
polities worthy of must not compromise
constitutional recognition parliamentary
and a guaranteed voice sovereignty.
in the political processes But it should be a
of Parliament. This was handsomely drafted,
not seen as contrary to procedural amendment
majoritarian democracy. to the Constitution to
Rather, it created a guarantee that Aboriginal
democratic guard against people get a fair say in the
the unrestrained tyranny laws and policies made
of the majority. about them.
Aboriginal people also Such an amendment
comprise a historically, could do what the
politically and often founding fathers failed
Noel Pearson delivers his eulogy for Gough Whitlam, Nov 2014. Photo: Peter Rae, Fairfax Media
geographically distinct to do in 1901. It would
polity within Australia. This is evident in the provide practical recognition and inclusion of
constitutional history. We are the only group that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
was dispossessed by British settlement and the within the procedures of government.
establishment of the nation. We were uniquely It is often said that the Constitution is
excluded by the constitutional arrangements a rule book, governing important national
of 1901. power relationships, such as that between the
We are the only group that has particular Commonwealth and the states. The Constitution
interests arising from this history. We are should properly address the relationship
therefore the only group requiring legislative between Aboriginal peoples and government
responses to this unique history – for example, so that it is inclusive and just. It should make
Native Title and Aboriginal and Torres Strait provision for Aboriginal people to be heard in
Islander Heritage Protection legislation – and the Aboriginal affairs.
only group requiring a specific Commonwealth
—AT THE FRONT —
07
CULTURE
O N M Y D E S K :
D U N C A N I V I S O N
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social
Sciences shares the stories behind the
small things that matter in his office.
Photography by Victoria Baldwin
AMERICAN BASEBALL
I am a huge baseball fan; I grew
up following the Montreal
Expos, which sadly don’t exist
anymore. Not enough locals POSTCARD OF
supported the team so the owner
ROUSSEAU
moved it to Washington. When
I am trying to figure things out, “I read Discourse on Inequality,
I bounce a ball in my hands. in French, by Swiss political
It’s kind of a thinking tool. In philosopher Jean-Jacques
other offices, I would bounce it Rousseau in my first year,
off the wall. in 1983. I found it completely
ICE HOCKEY PUCK
electrifying. He captured my
teenage imagination and is I grew up in Montreal and have
partly responsible for where I always supported my sporting
am today. He was insane but he teams from afar. The puck
reminds me of the intensity of was given to me by a friend
my subject. I bought this card when I first left the northern
for 50p at the National Gallery hemisphere for Australia.
in London in 1990. It’s a bit of He said: “This is to remind you
a talisman and has been on my what winter is all about.”
desk since I was a PhD student.
— AT THE FRONT —
08