Uni celebrates sporting and academic greats

2008 Young South Australian of the Year, Matthew Cowdrey.
Photo by Calum Robertson, courtesy of Messenger Community Newspapers.
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Professor Mike Young, SA Environment Award winner.
Photo Jennie Groom
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Professor Dick Ruffin, SA Health Award winner.
Photo by Basil Popowycz, courtesy of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
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Professor John Hopwood, SA Science Award winner.
Courtesy of Australian Academy of Science.

Friday, 21 November 2008

The world's most successful paralympian at Beijing, University of Adelaide student Matthew Cowdrey, was last night named 2008 Young South Australian of the Year.

Nineteen-year-old Cowdrey, who is studying Media and Law at the University, accepted the award from his Excellency the Governor, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, at a black-tie ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Adelaide.

Cowdrey was also named best male athlete for 2008 by the South Australian Sports Institute last night.

Other University of Adelaide academics who took out top honours in their field at the SA Great Awards included water policy expert Professor Mike Young, who won the Environment Award, and respiratory specialist Professor Richard Ruffin, winner of the Health Award.

Professor John Hopwood, an affiliate professor with the University's Discipline of Paediatrics, won the Science Award for his research into finding a cure for genetic diseases.

Cowdrey captained Australia at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, winning eight medals including five gold, world record-breaking swims, and was the team's flag bearer at the closing ceremony.

In 2007 he was named the Male Swimming World Disabled Swimmer of the Year and despite his congenital amputation, also achieved an able-body qualifying time for the 2007 Telstra Australia National Championships.

Professor Mike Young is the Research Chair of Water and Economics Management at the University of Adelaide. One of the leading water policy researchers in Australia, Professor Young has proposed a template for the restoration of the Murray Darling Basin and a framework for restructuring water licences.

He is also a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, committed to using their combined expertise to improve the long term management and conservation of the Australian environment.

Asthma specialist Professor Richard Ruffin is the Deputy Head of Medicine at the University of Adelaide and a clinician at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He is also on the Board of the Asthma Foundation of South Australia, Chair of the Postgraduate Medical Council of SA and works with the National Health and Medical Research Council.

In 2005 Professor Ruffin was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to teaching and research in respiratory medicine.

Professor Hopwood is Head of the Lysosomal Diseases Research Unit based at the Women's and Children's Hospital and a scientist of worldwide acclaim.

The Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide, Professor James McWha, described all four award winners as "outstanding ambassadors for the University, demonstrating a consistent record of achievement and excellence in their respective fields".

"The fact that four of the 10 people nominated as South Australia's most inspirational people are from the University of Adelaide is a great honour," he said.

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