Alumni on the move

Current Students

Felix Kerry Associate Diploma in Aboriginal Studies in Music student:

Felix has been awarded the 2006 South Australian NAIDOC Artist of the Year. The award recognises Felix's work with Aboriginal communities in the performing arts field, including a musical composition for the award-winning Crossing Paths dance spectacular at the 2006 Fringe Festival.

Amy Ellks Bachelor of Music in Performance student and flautist:

Amy has won a full scholarship to a month-long summer school with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in the United States. Amy is the only Australian to be selected for the Kennedy Center's NSO Summer Music Institute out of 70 young musicians from around the world.

2000s

Dr Melanie McDowall [B Sc 2000, B Sc (Hons) 2000, Ph D (Med) 2005, staff member] was a recipient of the 2006 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.

Dr McDowall, a researcher within the Discipline of Agricultural and Animal Science, is well known for her work to improve wool traits in Merino sheep by treating pregnant ewes with nutritional supplements. She is also a project leader within the Sheep Genomics program, which aims to improve wool, meat, parasite and reproductive efficiencies of sheep by gene discovery and non-genetic manipulations.

1990s

Natalie Williams [B Mus 1998, B Mus (Hons) 1999] has been accepted into the Doctor of Music course at Indiana University in Bloomington, USA. Natalie has been awarded a School of Music Graduate Fellowship, only one of four awarded by the school. The Fellowship includes full tuition, a stipend and medical benefits as well as a three-year teaching post at the University as an Associate Instructor in Composition. Natalie has also recently been awarded the APRA PDA Award in the Classical Category.

Dr Amanda Able [B App Sc 1993, B App Sc (Hons) 1994, PhD 1998--University of Southern Queensland, staff member] has been named South Australia's 2006 Tall Poppy of the Year. Since 2001, Dr Able has helped secure almost $2 million funding for plant-related research at the University of Adelaide. In addition to her research excellence, Dr Able is passionate about educating the next generation of scientists. She was awarded the Executive Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005 and is heavily involved in promoting plant breeding and plant biotechnology to school students.

Dr Bradley Ferguson [B E (Elec) (Hons) 1998, Ph D (Electronic) 2005] was awarded a 2006 Tall Poppy Award. A senior engineer with Tenix Defence, Dr Ferguson continues to be involved with T-ray research in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University.

Leonard Seabrooke [BA 1995, BA (Hons) 1996] has written The Social Sources of Financial Power, published by Cornell University Press. This is a major contribution to the study of the social and governmental institutions dealing with the majority of citizens as the true sources for a state's financial legitimacy, and has already garnered considerable praise by scholars in the field.

1980s

Don Henderson [BA 1981, Dip Ed 1983] has written a novel titled Half the Battle, which was released by Scholastic on 1st May. The novel, which was officially launched by ex-AFL footballer Matthew Primus, was inspired by 23 years of high school teaching in such places as Mildura, Kadina, Tarcoola, Whyalla and (currently) Seaton.

David Letch [BA (Hons)(Geography) 1986] received the Annual CoastCare Award in 2006. His tireless commitment to protecting South Australia's coast has led to a number of initiatives, including the relocation of a controversial aquaculture proposal which could have had adverse impacts on the Australian Sea Lions in Sceale Bay, the declaration of the Nicolas Baudin Island Conservation Park of Cape Blanche, and the preparation of a management plan from Venus Bay to Streaky Bay through an Enviro Grant, plus coastal access works in the area.

Raymond Lim [B Ec 1982, B Ec (Hons) 1983] has been appointed as the Minister for Transport in the Singapore Cabinet, and is also the Second Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Subramaniam Iswaran [B Ec 1985, B Ec (Hons] 1986) will be appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Singapore Cabinet.

1970s

Professor Robert Burford [B Sc 1970, B Sc (Hons) 1971, PhD 1977] has recently been appointed as Head of School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering at the University of New South Wales. He has been Associate Dean, Research, in the Faculty of Engineering and has been actively involved with the CRC for Polymers, being currently one of four program leaders.

Dr David Paton [B Sc 1974, B Sc (Hons) 1975, staff member] has won a Premier's Science Excellence Award, recognising his research for having an impact on the public good.

Professor Bob Hill [B Sc 1976, B Sc (Hons) 1977, Ph D 1981, D Sc 1997, staff member] has been appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide.

1960s

Ian Barwick [B Arch 1966] currently runs a solo practice in Adelaide. His work has included Unley Oval, the Whyalla Foreshore, the Little Para River Study, and the Wills Court at the University of Adelaide's North Terrace Campus. Ian has lived and worked in Sydney, London and the United States. He holds a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington, and has taught Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Adelaide. Ian played rugby for the University and Old Collegians. He has two daughters; Jane, 36 and Ann, 31.

1950s

Dr David Smith AM [B Ag Sc 1951, M Ag Sc 1961, PhD G Dip Ed, 1966, University of Melbourne] was awarded the Australian Medal of Agriculture by The Australian Institute of Agriculture Science and Technology in 2003. As a distinguished alumnus, he was also awarded a Centenary Medal in 2006 from the University of Melbourne to commemorate 100 years of the Faculty of Agriculture.

The University of Adelaide alumni community would like to know what's new with you!

If you would like to share your milestones (births, marriages, awards, promotions etc) with your fellow alumni, please send your name, degree, graduation year, and a short update of 50 words or less to:

Development and Alumni office
Level 1, 230 North Terrace
The University of Adelaide
SA 5005, Australia
Email: alumni@adelaide.edu.au
Fax: +61 8 8303 5808

Submissions are always welcome from students, graduates, and current and former staff, so please remember us when you have some life news to share. Photographs are also welcome.