News Archive

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1940s

Gwenyth Graham (nee Bowen) (BA 1949; DipEd 1951) and her doctor husband Peter spent 10 years in Indonesia and Malaysia, their first assignment overseas being in West Timor (1957-1959). Returning to Perth in the 1970s with their three children, she shared her husband's interest in Aboriginal involvement and was voluntary manager and secretary of Amnesty International WA for over a decade. Her book, The Winds of God, is the history of St Matthew's Anglican Church in Shenton Park. Gwenyth and Peter's latest commitment involves a partnership between the Nedlands Uniting Church (to which they belong) and the Christian University of West Timor (UKAW), with the church providing scholarships for disadvantaged students and facilitating academic exchange to develop the university's accreditation status. If academics are interested, Gwenyth's email address is [email protected]

1950s

Glen Phillips (BEd 1958; MEd 1967) was born in 1936 in Southern Cross, WA. He is an internationally published poet and writer with 25 poetry collections and numerous other works. Glen is currently Director of the International Centre for Landscape and Language at Edith Cowan University. He has lectured in English Literature and Creative Writing at tertiary institutions for the past 52 years. His teaching and writing have taken him to Italy, India and China. Glen's works have been translated into many languages and he has been featured on the ABC and SBS television. He is currently writing a trilogy of historic novellas set in China and Australia in the period 1930-2010.

1960s

John Melville-Jones (PhD 1963) After studying at Cambridge University, John was appointed to a lectureship at UWA in 1957. As well as teaching Latin and Greek, he introduced units in Greek and Roman Art and Architecture, and specialised in the study of ancient numismatics. Developing an interest in the Byzantine world, particularly in the relationship between Byzantine and Venice, he has published several books. John became an Honorary Senior Research Fellow and Emeritus Professor in 2012.

Michael Murray (LLB 1964) practised with the Crown Law Department, became Crown Counsel for WA and was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of WA in 1990. He retired in 2012 and now chairs the Juvenile Parole Board and is Parliamentary Inspector for the Crime and Corruption Commission. Michael is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Murdoch University and a Member of the Executive of the National Trust of WA. In the 2014 Australia Day Honours list, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the judiciary, law reform and education.

1970s

Sue Nuttall (née Watson) (BA 1973) worked as a research assistant in the UWA Department of Education before returning to the Eastern States where for some years she was a farmer's wife, mother and shearer's cook. She was a lecturer at the State College of Victoria and occasionally lectured at La Trobe University where she later worked as Alumni Officer. Sue is now retired and indulges in grandmotherly pursuits, continues to learn French and in 2013 travelled to the Rhone Valley to explore the life and pottery of Anne Dangar, Australian potter in France 1930-51. Former classmates can contact Sue at [email protected].

Peter Young (BA 1974) has retired from corporate life to work full-time as a painter. He was previously a WA Newspapers journalist and since 1988 was Head of Public Affairs and an official spokesperson for Ansett, Medicare Private and Cricket Australia. Peter lives in Trentham, Victoria. Former classmates can contact him at [email protected].

Dominic Spagnolo (MB BS 1976) is Clinical Professor of Pathology at UWA's School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and a Consultant Pathologist at PathWest. He was awarded the Distinguished Pathologist Award from the Australian Division of the International Academy of Pathology (IAP), the Academy's highest award. He has contributed to diagnostic histopathology, immune-histochemistry, ultra-structural pathology, molecular pathology, research and teaching. His post-fellowship training at Stanford University Medical Centre led to interests in lymphoma pathology. He sits on a number of journal editorial boards and his contributions to the IAP include representing WA as a board director for six years and the presidency from 2000-2001.

Stephen Smith (BJuris 1977; LLB 1978; BA 1980) retired last year from a 20-year career in Federal politics. He has since been appointed Professor of International Law at UWA, a board member of Perth USAsia Centre and a member of Lavan Legal's advisory board. Last July, Stephen became the vice-patron of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis WA.

Raelene Frances (née Davidson)(BA(Hons)1978; MA 1981) has been a Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Monash University since 2007.

1980s

Peter Leung (PhD 1985) writes that he started his academic career at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1990 and is now a Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Former classmates can contact him at [email protected].

Catherine Hesse-Swain (BA(Hons) 1987) is a social policy adviser with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Canberra. Catherine had previous experience in media liaison/public relations with the WA Government, journalism in SE Asia and international development with AusAID. She completed her PhD studies in International Development Studies at Edith Cowan University in 2011. Her doctoral project among Lao Isan youth in northeast Thailand employed ethnographic research methodology to consult with young people and their communities in order to expose barriers to improving their occupational, social and economic conditions in the wider Thai community.

1990s

Robyn Ferguson (née Gilbert) (BA & LLB 1998) is based in Perth as a partner in the law firm HopgoodGanim, which has offices in Brisbane and Perth.

Debra Shearer-Dirie (BMusEd 1990) writes that after 10 years in the US completing her MMusEd and DM at Indiana University, she taught at the Queensland Conservatorium, the School of Music at the University of Queensland and the Australian Catholic University. Debra freelances as a conductor and is the Musical Director of three choral ensembles based in Brisbane. She serves on the National Council of the Australian National Choral Association and is Editor of its national publication. One of her ensembles, Fusion, was selected as one of 26 choirs from around the world to represent Australia at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Korea last August.

Frances Rhodes (BFA 1999) is tutoring at Curtin University and undertaking doctoral studies. Former classmates can contact her at [email protected].

2000s

Peter Plakidis (LLB & BCom 2001) is currently the Co-CEO of Plaman Group, a Sydney-based principal investment group that undertakes buyouts and debt restructurings across Australia and NZ.

Peter Cheng (LLB & BCom 2002) is counsel with David Polk & Wardwell LLP, a global law firm. He is based in their Hong Kong Corporate Department and his practice focuses on equity capital market transactions, initial public offerings in Hong Kong, compliance with Hong Kong's listing rules, mergers, acquisitions and private equity investments. He also advises major corporations and private equity clients on investments and strategic transactions.

Duncan Ord (GradCertMgt 2002; GradDipBA 2003); MBA 2005) was appointed Head of the WA Department of Culture and the Arts last July. He was previously Deputy Director-General of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and had worked in the arts industry for more than 30 years before joining the public service in 2003. Duncan was awarded an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) for service to the performing arts.

Duc Dau (PhD 2005) is an ARC Early Career Research Fellow in English and Cultural Studies at UWA. She specialises in 19th century literature and is the author of Touching God: Hopkins and Love (2012) and co-editor of the forthcoming Queer Victorian Families: Curious Relations in Literature (2015). Duc is writing a book on the influence of the biblical Song of Songs, in Victorian literature. She previously worked in communications within the Public Service and as a communications adviser to government and non-government organisations. She has just set up a social group called UWA BTW (Bi the Way) for UWA staff, students and alumni, who identify as bisexual or fluid. Duc's email is [email protected]

2010s

Hadassa London (née Altman) (BA & LLB 2010) is currently on maternity leave from her position as Procurement Manager in the WA Department of Finance. Former classmates can contact her at [email protected]

Abel Da Costa Conceicao (BSc 2012) works for the National Petroleum Authority of East Timor.

Sarah Heldsinger (BA(Hons) 2013) works as a Project Officer for the Dreamfit Foundation and is responsible for events and managing grant and sponsorship programs. Sarah recently returned from an adventure holiday through South America. Former classmates can contact her at [email protected]

Renae Liang (BA & BSc 2012) writes that she spent the last couple of years studying a Masters of International Relations at the University of Melbourne, and one year studying at the University College London (UCL). Renae now works at the Commonwealth Treasury as a Graduate Recruit. Former classmates can contact her at [email protected].

Caryn Tan (BCom 2014) has started her Master's degree in Management at the London Business School. After graduating from UWA, she completed a year of study on a Chinese Government scholarship program at Shanghai's Fudan University.

Bryce Bevan (BCom & BSc(Agric) 2014) will be one of the first West Australians to fly to Ireland on a prestigious two-year Darley Flying Start Scholarship. The former St Joseph's College (Albany) and UWA School of Indigenous Studies graduate is one of only three Australians and 12 people worldwideto win a 2014-2016 scholarship into the Darley Flying Start management program. Bryce said hisgrandfather got him interested in horses when he was a boy by taking him to the trots in Albany, andfrom then on he had been passionate about horses. He gained his trainers and reinsman's licence inthe standard bred racing industry when he was 18 as well as completing various work placements inthe thoroughbred racing industry while studying at UWA.

To stay in touch or update your details: email [email protected] or post to: Terry Larder,The University of Western Australia,M474, 35 Stirling Highway,Crawley, WA 6009.We'd love to hear from you.