News and feature stories - January to March 2005

MARCH 2005

UC senior research fellow writes on creative writing
Senior Research Fellow Hazel Smith has put 10 years of creative writing experience to use with the publication of her book, The Writing Experiment-Strategies for Innovative Writing.

Sanskriti club opens under VSU cloud
The newest club at the University of Canberra, Sanskriti, was launched amidst pink-and-green faces on March 24 as members celebrated the colourful Hindu festival of Holi.

Tsunami appeal receives $3K boost from China
The University of Canberra Tsunami Appeal received a major boost last Wednesday when the Chinese Ambassador in Australia, Madame Ying Fu presented a cheque for $3000 to Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Dean.

Getting on together: preschool research at Wiradjuri.
Together with Wiradjuri preschool teacher Carmel Richardson, Ms Affrica Taylor has been studying the preschool for their research project, Early Belongings.

Chekhov's four course plate for Theatre Restaurant
Cast members of The Players Company production of Chekhov's Funniest will spend the next week preparing and seasoning their performances for opening night on April 1 at the Staff Club approaches.

Possum art graces UC campus
"Possum art" created by the 'Possums' of the University of Canberra is on display from 22 March between 9.30am and 10.30am throughout the campus including in the area between the Hub and buildings 3, 6 and 7.

The two faces of Jennifer Newman
There was a sign of the front door of the Students Association yesterday morning to say the centre would be late opening because of "unforeseen" circumstances.

Blood donors almost too generous
The only complaint that could be made about the number of blood donors for the Red Cross mobile blood bank at the University of Canberra on March 22nd was that there were too many.

UC upgrades access to Children's Book Council records
What have the following Australian books in common? Looking for Alibrandi, Playing Beatie Bow, Master of the Grove, So Much to Tell You and The Story of Karrawingi the Emu.

The two faces of Jennifer Newman
There was a sign of the front door of the Students Association yesterday morning to say the centre would be late opening because of "unforeseen" circumstances. It was right next to another sign that said: Under VSU, this service would not exist.

Security says: look, lock and leave
Owners of cars parked at the University of Canberra are urged to follow basic security measures after a spate of car break-ins at the Australian National University.

Fathmath reads all about it: equity
Masters of Education student Fathmath Riyaz is an internationl student who is hearing impaired but she feels very at home here, she told the people gathered for the release of the UC Equity Handbook.

Homing in on Harmony Week
Monitor celebrated Harmony Week with up-to-date stories and photos throughout the week.

Outdone by the Done at sculpture opening
Don Aitkin wore his colourful "celebration" tie. Just as well: he found plenty to be happy about when he laid eyes on the University of Canberra's latest art acquisition outside the Innovation Centre.

Hip-hopping his way back to us
Australian hip-hop and r'n'b performer DJ Nino Brown said he was looking forward to his gig at the University of Canberra Bar because his first interstate gig was in Canberra. "It's going to be crazy. Canberra is the bomb."

Ressies from the inside: a special package
More than 1000 students live in the University of Canberra's on-campus residential accommodation, known colloquially as Ressies. It's like stepping into a different world.

Rainforest was where it all started for Jill
May Gibbs Fellow Jill Morris was inspired to write her first poem by a rainforest when she was nine.

UC ad graduate hits paydirt  

UC design students in world-first project
Five University of Canberra design students will work with design world stars, such as confronting New York designer Stefan Sagmeister, in a world-first design research project.

Inside stories of intimate relationships wanted
Canberra aims to further understanding the influence of individual factors on long-term satisfaction in intimate relationships. The research is being conducted by intern psychologist Annette Gloeckler as a part of her post graduate specialist training. She needs some volunteers to complete several anonymous questionnaires.

Overseas students mind their language
Soo Young Jung is from South Korea and wants to learn cricket, Chih-wen (Wen) Chang is from Taiwan and can't wait for her husband to join her from ANU, Yi (Alex) Gao is from China and wants to pursue his interest in golf in Canberra and Ekaterina (Katerina) Panova is from Russia and lists psychology as a hobby. So what do these people have in common?

Arabian Nights learning about technology issues in education
When University of Canberra student Amelia Morgan left for her international student conference in Abu Dhabi, she wanted to brainstorm ideas on improving technology in universities with 500 students from around the world. After spending a week at the E-ducation Without Borders conference, Amelia, an insulin-dependent diabetic, said she now understood other countries have much more demanding technological issues.

Overseas students go to the beach, some for the first time
Some of UC's overseas visitors saw the ocean for the first time when 50 exchange and study abroad students went to the coast for a Semester Abroad Orientation trip. Only one had been on a surfboard before.

UCU back in charge of food in the Refectory
KRA Catering's lease on three UC Refectory food outlets expired on February 28, 2005 and the University of Canberra Union said the contract would not be renewed.

FEBRUARY 2005

Connecting Women
Twenty-four women from all areas of the University of Can berra attended the introductory residential program for the Group Mentoring Program for Women at Corrigan's Cove in Batehaven during the first week of February.

Wiradjuri contributes $1000 to tsunami kids
The Wiradjuri Preschool and Child Care Centre at the University of Canberra has given $1000 to the UC Build A Classroom appeal. The money has come from the centre's resource fund, from which it normally buys books, playground equipment, toys and educational equipment.

Induction evening for research students
New research students have been invited to an induction evening on Tuesday, March 1 from 4.45pm to 7.30pm at the
University of Canberra Council room, in Bldg 1 level D.

UCIC's new talking point
No, aliens have not landed outside the University of Canberra Innovation Centre - actually the thing outside the UCIC building is UC's latest art acquisition, a sculpture by renowned glass artist Warren Langley.

What's with the fences and the green goo?
Students and staff need not worry about the various construction sites on campus affecting classroom availability, according to Project Manager Garry Swanston. Work has started on some of the building refurbishments and additions proposed for 2005, but Mr Swanston said these had been carefully planned to avoid disruption.

Children's writer to make inspiring visit to UC
Children's author Jill Morris will be the University of Canberra's May Gibbs Fellow between March 7 and 24, giving her the opportunity to lecture, interact with students, help them workshop ideas and visit schools and libraries.

Party's over, time for study
Orientation Week is over. The punch parties have finished, sleeping in until the afternoon has become a thing of the past and the constant free food has disappeared. .

The party might be over but the year's just beginning
Orientation Week is over. The punch parties have finished, sleeping in until the afternoon has become a thing of the past and the constant free food has disappeared.   Around 10,000 University of Canberra students have entered the "adjustment period", the transition stage from Orientation Week to week one of university.

'Get up and pray you sound all right'
The incoherent shrieks could be heard from 100 paces - it was the unmistakable sound of karaoke. Those 'shrieks' were later revealed to be a UC student version of The Beatles' "Twist and Shout", being belted out as part of O-week's karaoke at the UC bar.

Holy smoke, here comes the Donormobile
Forget the Batmobile, the Donormobile is coming to the University of Canberra in March. The University of Canberra has invited the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) onto the campus allowing staff, students, surrounding industries and schools to donate blood at a time and location that is convenient for you.

Comedic trio brings a bundle of laughs to UC
Three weeks ago Rove Live and SkitHOUSE stand-up comedian Charlie Pickering thought his career was dead. He'd committed the ultimate stand-up comedy offence: his mind went blank during a routine, he'd paused in silence for an entire minute before apologising to the crowd and leaving the stage. The other night he was one of the stars at the UC Comedy night.

AFA AdShool Launch in ACT
The University of Canberra Innovation Centre (UCIC) proved to be a fitting venue for the recent launch of the Advertising Federation of Australia's (AFA) AdSchool program with practitioners from the ACT advertising and marketing communications industry in attendance.

Cricket: Hitting it for six at Boomanulla
The third edition of the Canberra Sixes® is set to hit the field on Sunday, February 20, at Boomanulla Oval in Narrabundah.

Graduate profile: Tara Herfort

Alison Sims gains career position at Sydney's award winning ad agency Publicis Mojo

Been here, done that - and it was good
Journalist Gabrielle Boyle returned to her old stamping ground with a message yesterday. Gabrielle, a former student of UC, was the guest speaker when the 2005 Academic Year was officially opened by UC Vice-Chancellor Roger Dean.

Good music comes from a strum
Eight months ago three University of Canberra students started a band called Tripitide for some fun. Eight months later the boys from Tripitide's schedules are jam-packed with gigs at many Canberra pubs and clubs and their fan-base is rapidly growing

Money rolls in at Big Lunch
The UCU Big Lunch on the UC Concourse today exceeded expectations, with participants joining long queues to give generously to the Tsunami 'Build-a-Classroom' Appeal.

Hands on heads for a good cause
Staff and students standing with their hands on their "heads and tails" on the concourse wasn't an average afternoon at the University of Canberra.

Discovering the History of Migrants
While the National Multicultural Festival remains in full swing in Garema Place, the University of Canberra is supporting a unique multicultural exhibition of its own. The History of Migrants, a photomedia exhibition presented by the multicultural artistic group Multifocus, explores the involvement of migrants from a range of backgrounds to our society.

O-week: ready, set, go eat
Orientation Week officially started with a free pancake breakfast held on the concourse for University of Canberra students on February 15

Seeing red in the Refectory for the Rooster
The UC refectory was awash with red when staff and students celebrated the Chinese New Year of the Rooster on February 9.

EMA at forefront of Operation Tsunami Assist
Emergency Management Australia (EMA) has been working on tsunami related support since Boxing Day from their operations centre in the UC Innovation building.

To the bush and back in one night
The University of Canberra transformed into a miniature sheep-shearing station on February 9 at the UC Dinner and Bush Dance, much to the delight of 2005's international students.

Letting the other half in on UC's secrets
Getting academics from the Northern Hemisphere to cross the equator for conferences can be difficult.

Getting the best out of meetings
The "Building An Inclusive Community" program for all staff was launchedon February 10 in Building 5.

A hoot as OWLS welcome students
About 2600 new students will get their first real taste of life at Canberra University during O-week this week.

Technology helps students with chronic illnesses
Diabetic Amelia Morgan, 20, will travel to an international student conference in Abu Dhabi on February 15 to discuss the growing importance of ICT technology and university students with physical, mental and financial problems.

Canadians delighted with 'Down Under'
Canadian students Barbra Bailey and Ginelle Gomes were attracted to studying in Australia for three reasons: the people, the weather and the familiar culture.

Memories of death: how we can help
UC Chancellor Wendy McCarthy launched the appeal for the UC community to raise $20,000 to help build a classroom at Hambantota.

To bee or not to bee at University of Canberra
If the staff and professors at the University of Canberra did not know before, they now know the average weight of a bee.

UC aims to raise $20,000 to help kids
The University of Canberra community aims to raise $20,000 to help educate children in a tsunami-ravaged town called Hambantota in Sri Lanka.

Mellow yellow gals and fellows are here to help
If you see some people dressed in yellow t-shirts and yellow caps around the UC campus this week, don't worry.

PhD student's close encounter in Maldives
Hussain Faiz, a University of Canberra PhD student in Higher Education and his wife Maha, were in Male, the capital of the Maldives, conducting an interview for Faiz's research, when the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami struck.I

International students: Here they come!
About 400 new international students will arrive on campus this week and we're ready for them.

We're a weird mob, too
"If you are drinking with Australians and someone offers to 'shout' it does not mean he is going to speak in a loud voice."

Training For a Productive Year
Sharing bathrooms and washing machines all year might not be a desirable way of life for many people, but for some UC residential students the opportunity to share more than just their fabric softener with their peers was too good to resist.

UC mail legend retires
The last thing long-time UC mailroom supervisor Colin Osmotherly plans to do in his retirement is cattle branding.

Hayley's still our Idol at UC
Australian Idol contestant and University of Canberra student Hayley Jensen has put her studies on hold to concentrate on the Australian Idol 2005 national tour and her music career.

Hong Kong honours its bright lights too
Twenty-six students donned caps and gowns in an historic University of Canberra graduation ceremony in Hong Kong in November.

Scavenger hunt for UCfilmmakers
University of Canberra students will be keen to repeat their success in the Lights! Canberra! Action! scavenger hunt for filmmakers again this year.

Sibling UC students are really cooking
In their home away from their home in Emu Ridge last year, Hong Kong student "Cynthia" Ying Chi Yu did most of the cooking and her brother, "Herbert" Hang Chi Yu, did a lot of the eating.

Celebrating 25th anniversary of demise of Smallpox
When Canberra scientist Professor Frank Fenner and other World Health Organization officials declared to the world in 1979 that smallpox had been eradicated, UC colleagues Brett Lidbury and Suresh Mahalingam were kids with no idea they would one day be asked to mark the milestone.

UC students keeps Soccer on level playing field
At just 166cms, Chinese student Ka Man Chan looks like an unlikely person to control 22 testosterone-charged sportsmen.

Employee wins award for UCU services
On December 1, 2004, long-standing UCU employee Andrew McLean was recognised by the Australasian Campus Union Managers' Association for his dedication and commitment to the job.

No strrings attached for Leonie-Ruth Acland
Chaplaincy co-ordinator Leonie-Ruth Acland cannot remember a time when she could not play the violin.

Scientists focus on Cotter River
Water management is high on the agenda for the University of Canberra and the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology (CRCFE) in the wake of drought and bushfires that have had a major impact on the ACT's water catchment area.

JANUARY 2005

UC poet comes to Nannup
John Martin reports on a recent road trip of poets connected with CU's School of Creative Communications.

Fox eradication in Tasmania
The Tiger, The Fox the Cat or the Devil reads like the title of a child's picture book. It is in fact the title of a UC research project on ridding Tasmania's pristine forests of the feral fox.

UC wins $1M healthcare project bid
Director of University of Canberra's National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), Professor Ann Harding, has won a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant for the University of Canberra to participate in a major Australian Health Care System project.

MORE STORIES FROM 2005

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Last Updated on August 1, 2005