Macquarie Matters » Jubilee

The year that was: 2014

Martine Balit — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 03:04:43 +0000

When significant milestones in our lives are reached, we are afforded a brief opportunity to pause and reflect on the past, assess where we have landed in the present, and look with anticipation for what the future might hold. For Macquarie University, our Jubilee year has been such an opportunity; we have reflected on the first 50 years of this great institution and shared many fond memories from our foundation years and beyond. We have also taken stock of where the institution is at in 2014, and where we are destined to go over the next 50 years. As our Jubilee celebrations come to a conclusion, I would like to share some of the highlights from the many wonderful events that have occurred both on campus and off campus over the past 12 months. We have come together as a community and celebrated this significant milestone with great enthusiasm, and I look back at the events of the past year with fondness. We reflected on the past at the Jubilee pioneer’s morning tea. The event was an opportunity for the University to reconnect with our founders and the staff and alumni that cemented our place in the Australian tertiary education landscape, establishing Macquarie as a University of difference. Stories and fond memories of the early Macquarie years emerged and were shared amongst old friends, some of which were captured on our Jubilee Digital Hub. The burial of the Jubilee time capsule was an important opportunity to preserve for the future Macquarie community the institution as it is today. It contains items that represent the University in 2014: drawings by children from the Mia Mia Centre; the PACE program, which was uploaded onto iPads; clap sticks hand-carved by Warawara; and the Jubilee edition of the student magazine. The present University staff community also came together for a significant celebration on 12 June as we marked the official 50-year milestone in the Atrium. More recently, we have fixed our gaze towards the future with great anticipation for what it may bring. The Jubilee Gala was a gathering of alumni and friends of the University, during which our new visual identity was proudly revealed. I believe that the event was a true reflection of the University’s vision for the next 50 years. We are, and will continue to be a university of service and engagement, ready to change the world with impactful research and bold ideas. We are an institution of innovation and creativity, which was on display in the music and dance performances on the night, all by current Macquarie students, staff and alumni.

But the fleeting moment to pause and reflect on the past achievements of this institution has now passed us by and we must look towards the future. We are a wonderful university; a beacon on the hill that illuminates this land and shines far beyond. We are destined for new and greater achievements and together we can reach new heights. Macquarie University is on the verge of greatness but we must forge ahead. We have been nurtured for greatness, but now we must break free.

What’s next for Macquarie?

Martine Balit — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 04:17:54 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1461" align="alignnone" width="743"] What's next for Macquarie?[/caption] Macquarie’s tradition of doing things differently over the past 50 years has created an impressive legacy of inspiring discoveries. Since 1964, we have been doing some seemingly weird, and certainly wonderful things. We’ve helped fit stilts to tiny desert ants to create an ‘ant odometer’, revealing how they measure distance and ultimately how they navigate. We’re part of an international effort to create the world’s first-ever synthetic complex organism, that is rewriting the ground rules for research in biology. Our Art Gallery played host to the largest holographic artwork in the world, recreating a real bar over 10 hours on New Year’s Eve. Millions of children (and their parents) have been entertained by the skivvy-wearing graduates who founded the The Wiggles. We revealed messages hidden in clay tablets, unopened for almost 5,000 years, by combining our cutting-edge medical imaging technology and historical expertise, and a hardworking team of researchers helped CSIRO turn Wi-Fi into a reality, with more than five billion devices around the world use the technology today. We’ve found alien slime in underground caves on the Nullarbor, thriving in the dark. We first published the Macquarie Dictionary in 1981, when it fast became the standard reference on Australian English, and we helped discover the curious cosmic choreography of dwarf galaxies dancing in a ring around the much larger Andromeda Galaxy. That was just the start. Macquarie emboldens our community to achieve exceptional things and we look forward in our next 50 years to making even more life-changing, life-saving and above all, life affirming discoveries.

Macquarie at 50, Augustus at 2000

Martine Balit — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 05:14:40 +0000

Macquarie may be celebrating a milestone this year, but recently Ancient History staff took the opportunity to commemorate another occasion: 2000 years since the death of Augustus Caesar. The Faculty of Arts launched their Jubilee event season with the lecture: Macquarie at 50, Augustus at 2000 in mid-August. The driving force of this event – Associate Professor Thomas Hillard and the Department of Ancient History staff were overwhelmed by the response and attendance on the rainy Tuesday evening. The event marked the bi-millenium of the death of Augustus Caesar, often labelled Rome’s first emperor. In the time honoured tradition scholars took to debating the merits of Augustus to a full house. Attendees included staff, students and alumni who collectively embodied the old and new in Ancient History at Macquarie. Guests included Professor Emeritus Edwin Judge, the Founding Father of Ancient History at Macquarie University and the first-ever Ancient History Honours Graduate, Ian Grady.

Leave your mark

Martine Balit — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:18:51 +0000

In our Jubilee year, Macquarie is offering you the unique opportunity to leave your mark on the university by having your name – or the name of a loved one – immortalised on a plaque in the Macquarie Theatre. Hundreds of students wander in and out of the Macquarie Theatre each week and with a donation of just $500, your contribution to the life of the University will be recognised with a plaque on a seat, with an inscription of your choosing. It could be a graduate gift or perhaps an opportunity to honour a family member, a classmate or a favourite lecturer. Or you could join forces with your faculty friends and place a plaque together to honour your memories at Macquarie. Your inscription will sit alongside plaques from other Macquarie University alumni, including television presenter Peter Overton. “This is a wonderful way to acknowledge the support you have received, whilst giving a helping hand to the future generation of students.” Peter says. There are only 420 seats available and they are selling fast, so be sure to get in quick. Click here to buy your plaque today. All donations of $500 or more are tax deductible. Your donation will help shape Macquarie’s next 50 years by supporting the establishment of new scholarships that give students the financial freedom to focus on their studies, strengthening groundbreaking research programs that tackle the big issues, and help the University keep evolving to meet the needs of the communities we serve. For more information contact 02 9850 4278 or visit mq.edu.au/seat.

Walking down memory lane

Martine Balit — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 04:27:58 +0000

The Jubilee celebrations have given staff and former students a chance to explore the history and discover new things about the University they thought they knew so well. Take the University’s main walkway through campus. At almost one kilometre long, it is affectionately known as ‘Wally’s Walk’, and was named as a tribute to Dr Walter V Abraham, Macquarie University’s Architect Planner from 1965 to 1983. But what many people don’t know that underneath Wally’s Walk is a network of tunnels that were built to carry services such as electricity, water, gas, data cables and cooling water between buildings. While some services such as the boiler that carried water for heating the University’s buildings via the tunnel network were decommissioned, the tunnels - which are large enough to cycle through - are still accessible today beneath Wally's Walk, and even featured in the 1989 film The Punisher. Above ground Wally’s Walk was lined with London Plane Trees to provide welcome shade in summer, but let light and warmth through in winter. Elsewhere trees were planted with a different view in mind: in July 1968, 120 lemon-scented gums were planted in a grid pattern in the central courtyard of the University. The formation is said to represent a Roman military unit, standing side-by-side preparing for battle. Today the gums dominate in a different way: they are taller than the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. “Buildings themselves were to be the response to a particular time and place,” commented Wally Abraham in Liberality of Opportunity, “while the relationship between them allowed for flexibility in the face of change and need for development. The built form acted as a grid, rather than a set of discrete buildings”. To discover more about Macquarie’s history visit the Jubilee Hub.

Macquarie celebrates 50 years of being different

Martine Balit — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:21:19 +0000

Fifty years after the proclamation of the Macquarie University Act in the NSW State Parliament on 12 June 1964, more than 500 staff celebrated the launch of our Golden Jubilee, reflecting on highlights of our first 50 years and sharing ideas for the 50 to come. “Governor Macquarie would be proud,” said Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Crouch, speaking at the event. “His legacy and the vision of our founding fathers positioned us well.” She paid respect to our pioneering students, including those involved in wider social movements such as gender and racial equality, emerging environmental issues, and their powerful stance against the war in Vietnam. “Macquarie continues to promote these ideals of equality, and remains at the vanguard of science and technology,” she said. Pioneers reunite More than 250 of Macquarie University’s ‘pioneer’ alumni and staff from 1969 to 1977, recently reunited at a high tea-style morning tea at the Atrium Lakeside marquee, as part of the Jubilee celebrations. For many pioneer alumni, it was the first time they had been on campus since their graduation. Pioneer graduate and the University’s longest serving former staff member, Dr Brian Spencer ((BA (1970), BA (Hons) (1972), DUniv (Honoris causa) (2004)), spoke on behalf of the pioneers, reflecting on the University’s transformation from a smattering of buildings in a large green and brown expanse, into a world-class campus still supporting students to achieve their potential. He ended with some humorous recollections including the ‘great gnome hunt’ in 1970, which saw thousands of garden gnomes and other garden sculptures ‘somehow finding their way to Macquarie’ with ransom notes (for charity) planned for their owners. Global alumni catch-up Throughout its jubilee year, Macquarie will endeavour to engage with its 150,000 strong alumni who are spread across 140 countries. Recently Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton hosted US-based graduates at a reception in New York to celebrate the University’s 50th anniversary, with similar alumni events set to take place later in this year in London, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. The New York reception was a first for the University and met with an enthusiastic response from alumni, who used the opportunity to build their networks and deepen their ongoing relationship with Macquarie. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Engagement and Advancement), Professor David Wilkinson was the Master of Ceremonies at the event, which showcased the University’s recent achievements and updated alumni about key developments including the launch of the new Campus Masterplan. MND Global Awareness Day Over 500 supporters of Macquarie’s Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research recently came together for a cocktail party in honour of MND Global Awareness Day. With a performance by Stan Walker, fresh from touring with Beyonce, and special guest fitness guru Steve Willis (aka The Commando) accompanied by Michelle Bridges, guests dug deep to support Macquarie University’s Professor Dominic Rowe AM and the MND team to the tune of $240,000, including donations received before and after the night. If you would like to support this worthy cause, all funds raised go directly to the MND Clinic that supports MND patients to manage their disease, and to the MND Research Centre to find treatments and therapies to stop this terrible disease. Upcoming Jubilee Alumni Reception Events Wednesday 10 September - London Tuesday 23 September - Melbourne Thursday 09 October - Brisbane Saturday 01 November - Hong Kong Tuesday 04 November - Beijing Thursday 06 November - Shanghai

More than a university, a matchmaking service as well: Joanna Wheatley’s story

Martine Balit — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:10:40 +0000

Joanna Wheatley (nee Fellows) has an extensive connection with Macquarie, with six family members and a network of family friends studying at the University. Her parents met while studying education in the late 1970s, a story that was repeated for Jo: she met her husband – then law and media student – Andrew while studying for a Bachelor in International Communication in the mid-2000s. “My parents always said that their Macquarie experience was about much more than a certificate to hang on the wall,” she explains. “They studied at an exciting time, when Macquarie was pushing the boundaries and trying new things in education and they always spoke very fondly of their experience. “Growing up locally the University always had a great reputation, so when it came time to choose, it seemed like a natural progression,” Jo says, adding that her choice of career broke with family tradition. “Fortunately my brother kept the torch burning when he also studied education a few years later.” Jo’s relationship with the University continues today. After a post-graduation stint at the ABC she is currently the University’s media manager and, with her husband, is undertaking further study at MGSM. "It's too early yet to say whether the next generation will study at Macquarie, but we'll have some great memories of our time here to share with them - with our MBAs taking us into the next phase for the University too." Share your generational story.

Fulfilling long-held ambitions: The Rush family story

Martine Balit — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:04:53 +0000

Margaret Rush’s ambition to undertake university study was finally fulfilled in 1968, when she enrolled to study history at the new university. She joined her son, Chris, who had started a year earlier, with her other three children ultimately also studying at Macquarie. “I grew up in the 1920s and 30s, which included the depression years. As we were relatively untouched by these events, I expected to go into science research at Sydney University following in the footsteps of my grandfather and great grandfather (who studied classics and law at Sydney),” she says. However family fortunes changed, and with them her plans to attend university. Instead she studied teaching at the Teacher’s College on a scholarship, and later the war and raising a family intervened. “My university aspirations had been thwarted, so you can imagine the excitement I felt at the prospect of being able to undertake tertiary studies when Macquarie University announced its establishment in 1964,” Mrs Rush says, adding that one of her forebears was John Dunmore Lang, the Scottish-born Australian Presbyterian minister, writer, politician and activist for whom the residential college is named. “I did four years (part time) of undergraduate courses in a wide range of subjects and gained a BA, later undertaking postgraduate study to obtain an MA in history, philosophy and political studies.” Her husband also received an MA in English, and several grandchildren have since studied at Macquarie. “Interestingly, most of my grandchildren have taken up where I left off and gone into science,” she adds. Mrs Rush is now a patron of the John and Joan Lincoln Society and has left a bequest to the University in her will. “My family has a legacy of supporting education, and when my husband died in 1981, we established the Fred Rush Convocation Prize, which is awarded to a student for outstanding creative writing, in memory of him. “Leaving a bequest to Macquarie is a natural extension of the longstanding relationship our family has had with the University.” If you would like to leave a legacy to the University contact Anne Peedom on (02) 9850 1392. Share your generational story.

Generations at Macquarie

Martine Balit — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:04:16 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1329" align="alignnone" width="743"] From left: The Rush family, & Joanna Wheatley (nee Fellows)[/caption] As part of Jubilee celebrations, Macquarie has dug deep to learn more about the history not only of the University but also of the people that have brought it to life. We have discovered that for many families, studying at Macquarie has become a tradition, with children growing up with tales of their parents’ experiences, and wanting to follow in their footsteps. Margaret Rush and her son were among the University’s first students in the 1960s – and were later followed by numerous other members of their family. Mrs Rush’s connection with the University and the opportunities it gave her and her family is so strong that she has become a patron of the John and Joan Lincoln Society and left the University a bequest in her will. Read more about her story. Joanna Wheatley (nee Fellows)’s connection with Macquarie is extensive with six family members, and an extended network of family friends, studying at the University. Her parents met while studying education in the late 1970s, a story that was repeated for Joanna: she met her husband – then law and media student – Andrew while studying for a Bachelor in International Communications in the mid-2000s. Read more about Joanna’s family connection to Macquarie. Share your generational story. Your chance to become part of history You might not have a multi-generational connection with Macquarie but you still have the chance to leave a lasting legacy by purchasing a seat in Macquarie Theatre. Hundreds of students wander in and out of the Theatre each week and with a donation of just $500, you will be recognised with a plaque on a seat with an inscription of your choosing. It could be a graduate gift or perhaps an opportunity to honour a family member, a classmate or a favourite lecturer. Why not join forces with your alumni year or faculty friends and place a plaque together to honour your memories at Macquarie? There are only 450 seats on offer. Find out more, and buy a seat today. All donations of $500 or more are tax deductible.

The best things in life aren’t free, but they are priceless

Martine Balit — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 02:55:49 +0000

Australian universities today face many challenges, not least changes embedded in the recent Federal budget. As we contemplate those changes, with no certainty which of them will survive the Senate, we must assure ourselves that no matter what political wind or ideology prevails, change is here to stay. As universities, change is our business. Gone are the dreaming spires of old: modern universities must be multi-purposed, business-minded corporate citizens as well as places of knowledge creation and dissemination. Many of our alumni were educated at Macquarie University during the Whitlam era of ‘free’ education, without personal or familial financial contribution. Others financed their studies through the HECS-HELP system, which has been a fair way to finance higher education and maintain a system that is affordable and attractive to students and their families. However, both these systems have helped to conceal the true cost of a university degree and, for many, its true value. As a Macquarie graduate, although you may not have considered the actual dollar value of your qualification, I am certain that you understand the true benefits of your degree. The changes in the Federal Budget threaten to change the way future students assess that value, with financial concerns outweighing the very real advantages a university degree can offer. Until we can effectively make the case for the value of higher education, we are at risk of creating a generation of young Australians who view the extraordinary long-term opportunities of a university education as unaffordable and undesirable in the short term. It is true that we cannot rely upon Government funding to provide long-term stability for our operation, and that we must find more secure and less variable income sources if we are to flourish and grow. A blend of funding – from appropriate levels of student contribution, from philanthropic activity, from independent commercial activities, and from Federal and State Governments – is the only way to steward universities sustainably as institutions of social and economic good. As graduates, whatever your circumstances, I ask you to consider the changes proposed by the government and how they may have affected the opportunities and life experiences your degree study provided. Speak to your family and friends; it is in telling your story that the importance of education will be realised. Universities are not free, but they are priceless. If we are to make the case for value, you can be our strongest advocates, for you are already our greatest success.