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The University of Newcastle celebrates graduation

Wednesday 9 April 2008

Graduation ceremonies for the University of Newcastle will be held on the Newcastle campus (at Callaghan) next week.

Ceremonies are scheduled for Monday 14, Tuesday 15, Thursday 17 and Friday 18 April. This year 3,355 students are eligible to graduate.

Following is information regarding the ceremonies, occasional speakers and honorary doctorate recipients.

Monday 14 April

10am: Faculty of Education and Arts

Occasional speaker: Professor Anne Graham, Chair of Fine Art, the University of Newcastle. Professor Graham has exhibited in many curated exhibitions nationally and internationally and has worked extensively in Japan. Her most recent public artwork is at the Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra. A major focus of Professor Graham's work is within the ArtsHealth Centre for Research and Practice at the University of Newcastle.

2pm: Faculty of Education and Arts

Occasional speaker: Mr Peter Hall, conjoint senior lecturer, Faculty of Education and Arts. Mr Hall retired in 2007 after 35 years with the NSW Department of Education. His most recent appointment was as Principal of Merewether Selective High School.

6pm: Faculty of Education and Arts

Honorary degree recipient and occasional speaker: Professor Osamu Mizutani, Honorary Doctor of Letters. Professor Mizutani is President of Nagoya University of Foreign Studies and a distinguished scholar in the Japanese language. He has contributed extensively to the development of Japanese language teaching and has held senior roles in Japanese national organisations, researching and promoting the Japanese language. Professor Mizutani has made an outstanding contribution to fostering understanding between the Japanese people and the international community, and works extensively to strengthen links with overseas universities to increase opportunities for student international exchanges. The award of a Doctor of Letters honoris causa to Professor Mizutani recognises his distinguished academic career and his work to foster the special relationship between Nagoya University of Foreign Studies and the University of Newcastle.

Tuesday 15 April

10am: Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

Occasional speaker: Dr Stephen Samuels, Principal and Director of TEF Consulting - a traffic, environmental, and forensic engineering consulting firm. Dr Samuels will be presented with a Doctor of Engineering, for advanced study and research in engineering. His submission for the Doctor of Engineering investigated the tyre and road pavement influences on vehicle traffic and road noise. A Doctor of Engineering is earned for a substantial body of published work that has made a distinguished contribution over time to the particular discipline.

2pm: Faculty of Science and IT

Occasional speaker: Emeritus Professor Brian Fraser, Director, Centre for Space Physics, University of Newcastle. Professor Fraser has a well-respected international research reputation in space plasma physics. He holds two Australia Research Council grants and was Principal Investigator on the magnetometer experiment on board Australia's FedSat satellite.

6pm: Faculty of Science and IT

Occasional speaker: Professor Tim Roberts, Dean of the Singapore campus of the University of Newcastle. Professor Roberts' laboratory has been instrumental in showing that people with chronic fatigue conditions have a common underlying biochemical pathology. These findings have reoriented the field of chronic pain and fatigue to focus on chronic infection as the primary underlying cause. Professor Roberts is a dedicated researcher, who has secured two patents for the University, trained more than 50 Honours students and supervised many PhD students.

Thursday 17 April

10am: Faculty of Health

Occasional speaker: Dr Nigel Lyons, Chief Executive, Hunter New England Health. With more than 20 years' experience as a health service manager across metropolitan and rural service settings, Dr Lyons is responsible for all services across more than 120 sites. Since 2002, Dr Lyons has been instrumental in leading the clinical reform program at Hunter New England Health.

2pm: Faculty of Health

Occasional speaker: Mr Chris Kewley, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Hunter New England Health and Senior Conjoint lecturer at the University of Newcastle. Mr Kewley has 28 years experience in healthcare provision and has worked for 10 years with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards, internationally recognised as the premier health accrediting organisation in Australia. Mr Kewley has a particular interest in health service innovation and reform.

6pm: Faculty of Health

Occasional speaker: Professor Esther May, Head of the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia. Professor May's teaching and research interests include rehabilitation, health service and delivery, and the skills development of health professionals. Professor May is associated with a number of professional associations including the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists, American Society of Hand Therapists and World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

Friday 18 April

10am: Faculty of Business and Law

Occasional speaker: Mr Kevin Young, Managing Director, Hunter Water Corporation, a water and wastewater utility serving more than half a million people in the lower Hunter region. Mr Young has more than 28 years experience in the public sector and private consulting both in Australia and overseas. He is a graduate of the University of Newcastle and holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with Honours and a Master of Business Administration.

2pm: Faculty of Business and Law

Honorary degree recipient and occasional speaker: The Honourable Mahla Liane Pearlman AO, Honorary Doctor of Law. Ms Pearlman AO has made an extraordinary contribution to the practice of law both nationally and internationally through a distinguished career as a solicitor and, from 1992 until her retirement in 2003, as Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. Her appointments include: the first woman elected as President of the Law Society of New South Wales; the first woman elected as President of the Law Council of Australia; Deputy Director-General of the International Bar Association. Ms Pearlman's sustained excellence in the legal profession and contributions to the community were recognised in 1985, when she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the legal profession; in 2003 when she was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to the law; and in 2004 when she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the law, the judiciary and the community. The award of the degree of Doctor of Law honoris causa to the Honourable Mahla Liane Pearlman AO recognises her distinguished career in the law and her significant contributions to the community.

Graduation highlights

Chronic lung condition no barrier for clarinet player

Karen Williams was 19 years old when she developed a chronic lung inflammation. For the young clarinet player, the diagnosis made her question whether or not her chosen career path was achievable. After a hospital stay and three months unable to play the clarinet, Karen had just eight weeks to prepare for her Bachelor of Music audition. Now 23, Karen will graduate with her degree on Monday 14 April at 6pm. Karen's condition, known as desquamative interstitial pneumonitis, has been treated through hospitalisation, intravenous steroids, and oral medication. She has been stable since early 2006. Karen is now studying the business aspects of the music industry through TAFE and hopes to find a job in music management.

Double act

Twin brothers Jamie and Anthony Mitchell have more in common than just their birthday. While not identical twins, they have identical tertiary qualifications. On Monday 14 April at 2pm Jamie and Anthony, 25, will both graduate with a Bachelor of Education, following their Bachelor of Music degrees completed in 2005. Both play guitar (classical, rock and bass), drums and other instruments, and play in a band together. Both are now teaching - Jamie at the Callaghan College Jesmond campus and Anthony at Cameron Park School and Hunter River High School. "We didn't always mean to do the same things, but Jamie never wanted to do anything except follow his big twin brother!", jokes Anthony, who - by 10 minutes - is the older twin. At Easter, Jamie and his girlfriend lost everything they owned when a fire destroyed their unit at Bar Beach. They are now living with family at Stockton.

Doctor of Engineering

Dr Stephen Samuels is a Principal and Director of TEF Consulting; a traffic, environmental, and forensic engineering consulting firm. On Tuesday April 15 at 10am, Dr Samuels will be presented with a Doctor of Engineering, for advanced study and research in engineering. His submission for the Doctor of Engineering investigated the tyre and road pavement influences on vehicle traffic and road noise. Dr Samuels began his career in the Australian tyre industry working on aspects of tyre performance including cornering, braking, vibration and acoustics. He had a distinguished career at the Australian Road Research Board, reaching the highest level as a Principal Research Scientist. Dr Samuels worked on a variety of projects dealing with road design, vehicle performance and the environmental impact of roads and traffic, with a particular specialisation in road traffic noise. Since leaving the Australia Road Research Board in 1990, Dr Samuels has held numerous appointments and made significant contributions to his profession and the community through working groups and committees. A Doctor of Engineering is earned for a substantial body of published work that has made a distinguished contribution over time to the particular discipline.

High achiever

Miriam Williams has managed to travel the world singing, work part-time, have a social life and win numerous awards and scholarships, while studying for her degree. The 22-year-old will receive a Bachelor of Development Studies with First Class Honours and a University Medal, at the graduation ceremony on Tuesday 15 April at 2pm. A talented singer, Miriam has been a member of the Waratah Girls Choir for 11 years and has visited Canada twice to sing in choral festivals. She says the highlight of her time with the Choir was performing Vivaldi's Gloria at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2007. Despite securing a singing scholarship from the Choir every year since 2002, and studying her Performance Certificate for Trinity College in London, Miriam doesn't plan to make singing her occupation. She's currently studying a PhD in Human Geography and plans a career in international development or research/policy/planning, possibly with an international aid or advocacy organisation.

Nursing his calling

For Jared Allen, a stint as a volunteer missionary inspired him to pursue a career in nursing. Jared, 24, worked in South Australia and remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory as a missionary for two years before moving from his home town of Narrabri to Newcastle, where he enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Newcastle. He will receive his degree on Thursday 17 April at 2pm. Now working at the John Hunter Children's Hospital in Paediatrics, Jared said he wanted a career that impacted on people. "I think the way health care is delivered makes a big difference to the patient and their family," he said. Jared worked as a gyprocker on his free days and during university holidays to support his studies.

Against the odds

During her third year of her Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics degree, Alison Dodsworth decided she no longer wanted to study, feeling run-down and depressed. Alison, 25, quit university and began working in a pharmacy, but after 18 months decided to complete her qualification and re-enrolled at University. Within weeks, her mother - who was living alone in Albury - was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. Alison and her sisters relocated their mother to Newcastle and Alison became her primary carer, whilst working part-time and studying. "It was extremely draining. I never want to do anything that hard again," said Alison. She was invited to complete Honours in her final year and, while working on her project and completing work placement, the difficult and emotional decision was made to place Alison's mother into permanent care. Alison is now studying a PhD and plans to establish a career in research. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics with First Class Honours and a University Medal, on Thursday 17 April at 6pm.

Paralympian adds second degree to Paralympic and Commonwealth medal hauls

Newcastle-born Heath Francis has achieved Paralympic Gold, but says his most significant sporting achievement is yet to come. Heath, 26, will graduate on Friday 18 April at 10am with a Bachelor of Business, his second degree from the University of Newcastle. He graduated last year with a Bachelor of Commerce. The double degree has taken him seven years to complete, both on-campus and via distance education while training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. During the seven years of his study, Heath has won three Gold, four Silver and two Bronze Paralympic medals at two Paralympic Games (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004); and one Gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Heath was recently nominated by Athletics Australia to be selected for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, where he will compete in the 400 metres, 200 metres and 100 metres track events, and be a part of the men's ambulant 4x100m relay team. Heath has also found time to work for WorkCover NSW, delivering presentations on workplace safety, a topic about which he is passionate. Heath lost his right hand in a farming accident in 1988, and tells audiences how the accident happened, how it affected him and his family, and how he overcame it. Heath is also a Telstra Ambassador representing Telstra and the Australian Paralympic Committee and volunteers two afternoons each week at CARE Australia. Heath now splits his time between his family property at Booral, north of Newcastle, and Canberra.

For interviews with any of the people featured in this media release please contact Katie Porritt on 02 4921 5120 or 0418 445 888.