BURUNDI

All members should have read in the most recent issue of “Graduate Women” the stimulating article by Erica Jolly, The Roles of AFUW – A Perspective in which she was “trying to engage members in a dialogue about the trinity of roles” she maintains we have. Read the article again before you answer Stephanie’s survey.

It was her description of her response to the situation in Burundi, as presented by the President of the Burundi Association, Alice Rwamo, to a session at the Perth Conference, which drew the interest of readers, including many in NSW. Stirred by Erica’s concern, the executive of AFUW-SA immediately donated a bank draft of $300.00.

In a subsequent AFUW-SA Newsletter, Erica writes: This is the way the $290 US dollars was spent by the Burundi Association. Alice Rwamo, President, is determined that we will be told exactly how the money is spent. If you want to contact her personally, her e-mail address is alrwamo@yahoo.fr You may be able to offer help in ways that we have not identified. She sent the following information to Mikele Barrett-Woodbridge. Thank you.

The grant has therefore been used in purchasing basic items. The kit comprised 5 pens, a package of 30 hygienic paper, a package of 50 soaps and one bottle of lotion.

Erica: As Alice had said, in her e-mail to me, students’ health is a factor in their capacity to gain as much as they can from their educational opportunities. [That is why AFUW-SA united health and education.]

A REQUEST FROM THE ORGANISERS OF THE UNGEI REGARDING THE COMMITMENT MADE BY AFUW-SA TO BURUNDI.

Alice Rwamo received the following request from Catherine Moore of New York. She was one of the organisers of the UNGEI meeting (United Nations Girls Education Initiative) at the 2004 IFUW Conference in Perth at which AFUW-SA made its commitment to support the Burundi Association of University Women.

Catherine Moore sent the following e-mail to Alice Rwamo:

Dear Alice:

It was so good to receive Season's Greetings from you. My computer was not operating for a while, so I did not receive your e-mail until after 12/25/04.

I wish for you good health, happiness and much success in your leadership role as National President of the Burundi Association of University Women.

Alice you will recall our Workshop in Perth, I certainly recall your example of the Go-Go Girls Project.

We are to write a paper about the UNGEI Workshop (Perth) that is to be online next week (January 17). I would love to include a short paragraph or two from you.

Would you comment on the informal partnerships formed there? Did a member from Australia interested in sending children's books to you? Did this contact work out? Were you able to make contact with people, in countries that had been identified as "UNGEI" countries? What has happened since? Please include your personal reactions to the Workshop and how you envision this idea proceeding other than to meet in Manchester in 2007. I know you must be very busy …. If you can contribute one or two paragraphs that I can include in total or excerpt select quotations please send it later today. I am sorry to be in such a rush.

Now, as I sit at my computer to begin writing the paper; I think of this wonderful idea of including a reaction, extension of the ideas presented in Perth from you. I value your thoughts. You are the only member I am asking. I hope you have the time and interest and will contribute.

Cordially,

Catherine Moore

[I asked Alice if she would send me a copy of her contribution to the UNGEI report. Despite the fact that malaria has laid her low, Alice sent this copy of her report for publication in our newsletter. Can you, members of AFUW-SA, imagine anything worse or more guaranteed to make people feel that IFUW is just a ‘talkfest’ than merely to ‘meet in Manchester three years later’!!!! EAJ]

Dear Catherine,

It was a pleasure reading your message. This is a great opportunity I have ever had to talk about the benefits of the Perth holiday. It is therefore a privilege to bring my meagre contribution to your paper. As a matter of fact, the UNGEI workshop was the only reason of existence of my visit at Perth. Just as you have witnessed it, after exposing the hard struggle we are facing in making universal education a reality in Burundi, we got the sympathy of a kind woman from the Southern Australian Federation of University Women. She committed to help Burundian girls in sending copy books, school materials in general. After the workshop, many other IFUW members present in Perth promised to think about what they could do when they will come back home. We exchanged visiting cards. However at the exception of all those promises, Mrs.Erica has been the only person to match words to actions.

In September 2004, we got a help from the AFUW-SA made up of 50 copy books and U.S.$292.26.The copybooks were distributed to the beneficiaries in BUHONGA. We also used the money to purchase basic necessity items including hygienic papers, body lotion, soaps, pens, to 60 destitute girl-pupils reunited in the Go Girl club of BUHONGA.

Our association currently supports nearly 200 destitute girls-pupils, most of whom are orphans of war and orphans of HIV/AIDS. These girls are reunited in clubs as "Go Girls". The objective is to provide them with a financial as well as a moral support to those innocent victims. This what could be the ideal IFUW conference instead of just discussing on ideas and deeds in the air. We suppose that efforts deployed by African countries' participants to such conferences should benefit the whole country just as the Perth conference did. If the IFUW NORTH-SOUTH cooperation is not a reality, the strength of the whole federation will be questioned and its members' solidarity doubted in so far as IFUW's power lies in its capacity to reunite women from the South and the North for a noble cause as education.

My dear, this is what I can offer. I wish I could have had more time to prepare a more interesting piece. In case, you think I should improve on a point or another, would be pleased to provide clarifications.

Stay blessed, Alice

VIRGINIA GILDERSLEEVE INTERNATIONAL FUND

During 2005, the United Nations will commemorate several special anniversaries: the 60th of its founding; the 30th of the First World Conference on Women (Mexico City, 1975); the 10th of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995); and the 5th of the Millennium Summit, at which the Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were adopted. A high-level review of world­wide progress towards attaining the MDGs will take place at the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Now that VGIF has consultative status with ECOSOC (accreditation was received in July 2004), its representatives have been invited and will attend the high-level 49th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to be held from February 28 to March 11 (Beijing+10). The Commission will focus on two thematic issues:

1. Review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, develop­ment and peace for the twenty-first century.”
2. Current challenges and forward-looking strategies for the advancement and empowerment of women and girls.

VGIF has signed a statement for submission to the CSW which was prepared by the NGO Committee on UNIFEM, of which VGIF is a member. The statement asks for continued and increased support for the important and unfinished work of UNIFEM in reducing feminized poverty, ending violence against women and children, reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and children, and achieving gender equality in democratic governance.

Among the events scheduled during the CSW is a celebration of International Women’s Day which will “commemorate 30 years of United Nations efforts for gender equality.” One day prior to the start of the CSW, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women will sponsor a consultation for NGOs entitled “From Mexico City to Beijing and Beyond: Realizing the Vision.” [See also reference to CSW Session in the President’s News Sheet.]

It is encouraging to realise that our membership of AFUW/IFUW and the VGIF means that we have the opportunity to make an important contribution to these international activities.

In VIRGINIA GILDERSLEEVE UPDATE, February 2005, the Executive Secretary; Fay Kittelson, writes:

The good news of our ever increasing budget for project grants means more projects and more project reports. The range of VGIF-funded projects –from microcredit support and skill training to awareness of HIV/AIDS and Genital Mutiliation (FGM) to help for handicapped children-- demonstrates how vital to success indigenous involvement is. Government regulations and social upheaval delayed implementation in some cases. Valiant determination to succeed has been a critical factor in seeing many projects to their conclusion. A sincere and heartfelt thanks for all of your generous contributions.

Reports were presented on projects completed or in progress in the Ukraine, Georgia, Albania, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Guatemala and Papua New Guinea. The following is a sample.

#1966 Women Action for Change, GHANA The beginning stages of this project to provide community- based cassava cultivation, processing, and marketing proved successful. Farm and management skills increased; farmers gained experience in production and application of organic manure and appropriate use of agro-chemicals; and improved cassava varieties produced a bumper crop. The project unexpectedly attracted the attention of a Member of Parliament to the area who promises to ensure continuation of the project into the second year.

#1921 Women’s Wing of Sanctified Word of Truth, GHANA This comprehensive HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention program has been extremely successful. Eighty educators were trained to advance awareness on the pandemic, its possible infectious modes, and its prevention — often to participants that did not believe that HIV/AIDS existed or who had not heard about it. This ground level effort makes information accessible through public forums, printed materials. questionnaires, and drama presentations.

#1895 Rruga Me Pisha Foundation, ALBANIA This project marks the development of the first-ever radio soap opera in Albania to address issues of decision making by women, domestic violence, sex trafficking and prostitution. The episodes are made current and relevant by the translation of real stories into a fictionalized format which appeal to both men/boys and women/girls in very direct ways.

#1892 Uganda Gender Rights Foundation, UGANDA The UGR Foundation began training sessions for its 18 actors in May-June with August performances in the Namatalan slums addressing issues of rape, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation. Drama and visual aids are highly effective in the presentations which employ seven different languages to largely semi-literate audiences. Local government response was positive and helped to mobilize community attendance which included a variety of ages and genders.

#1894 Rhode Island Zoological Society, PAPUA NEW GUINEA An International Bug Club curriculum was established in the USA and PNG schools with on-site visits from trained professionals. Topics dealing with entomology and the environment were presented, augmented with the distribution of International Bug Club kits for schools in PNG. Providing the students with a hands-on connection to their environment, this cross-cultural communication makes this project extremely appealing and effective.

HOW VGIF TOOK ROOT AND BLOSSOMED IN AUSTRALIA

This story starts as a personal Odyssey. Back in the nineteen sixties the CIR of AFUW, Australia's original Gildersleeve member, Freda Freeman, invited me to join the Fund. In those days recruitment was by invitation only. The work of the Board was mainly focused on fund-raising. An early initiative was to assist in the funding of IFUW Conferences. A regular agenda item at these Conferences was the report of the Virginia Gildersleeve Fund. This helped to raise awareness of the Fund's ongoing work.

After serving several terms on the IFUW Membership Committee I was elected to the VGIF Membership Committee in 1987. Attendance at my first committee meeting in New York in 1988 made me aware of the responsibilities of working for the Fund. How could Australia help? At this stage VGIF's message was somewhat visionary and promotion of the Fund was by word of mouth. After consultation with local AFUW members it was decided to establish an Australian VGIF Committee to raise funds and recruit members. The communication problem was solved by the compilation and circulation of a newsletter. In turn VGIF news items found their way into AFUW Newsletters all over Australia. This was before the appearance of VGIF’s own VG UPDATE published in New York.

The next step was to promote the Fund more widely by exposure at AFUW Conferences. Special luncheons were held with a keynote speaker. These were backed up by information tables manned by members.

An article about the Fund in a UN newsheet suddenly added a new dimension to the Fund's work. It evoked an ever-increasing number of applications for funding from groups in marginalized areas. Small seeding grants were awarded for all sorts of projects - goat raising, growing of palm oil, setting up of clinics, skills training - variously offering employment opportunities, access to education, empowerment of women.

Reports of these practical projects, underwritten by relatively small seeding grants, provided valuable fund-raising ammunition for office-bearers in Australia. Now they could take a positive message to Groups and Branches looking for a practical way of channeling accumulated funds. VGIF members, armed with promotional material from New York - UPDATE, slides, posters -were now able to provide visual evidence that small contributions would be used to help women round the world. These groups, in turn, could report back to their members on the realistic use of their contributions.

How was it that the Australian Committee got off the ground, expanded and was able to make substantial contributions to the Fund? Although the Committee has its own entity and focus, the AFUW infrastructure has always sustained and supported it over the years. Access to club-rooms, AFUW meetings and Conferences as platforms for presentations and the Federal President's membership of the Committee have all helped in maintaining the VGIF presence in Australia.

- Margaret Maxwell

AN INVITATION

WEDNESDAY 25TH AUGUST AT 10.30AM IN THE MARGERY MURRAY ROOM

MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO A MORNING TEA TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO

TEMPE MANN SCHOLARSHIP AND JAMIESON AWARD RECIPIENTS.

Cost $10.00 A Reply Coupon is included. RSVP 19 August

The speaker will be Ms Jane Stanley, the winner of the Tempe Mann Scholarship in 2003.

Jane is a composer whose award was to enable her to accept an invitation to attend the Department of Music at the University of Harvard as a Visiting Fellow. While at Harvard, she proposed to compose a substantial work for orchestra to function as the centerpiece of a submitted body of work to complete her PhD. Members will remember how delighted Jane was that the award was presented at the Sophia Holland luncheon by the speaker, renowned conductor, Simone Young.

AWARDS

The successful applicant for the TEMPE MANN SCHOLARSHIP for 2004 is

JACLYN ALDENHOVEN

Jaclyn graduated at the University of Sydney Bachelor of Science with 1st Class Honours in the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. She is currently in the second year of her PhD study in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, investigating genes for early embryonic death in pigs to enable farmers to select animals for greater reproductive performance. Her award is for 3 months’ study in Hanover, Germany.

During her course Jaclyn has won six scholarships and awards and had four publications. She has gained membership of a number of Professional societies.

Jaclyn’s recreational activities are Dragon Boat Racing and Surf Life Saving.

The awardees of the Jamieson Awards for 2004 are:

PENELOPE CROSSLEY

Graduated at Sydney University Bachelor of Economics Social Sciences with 1st class honours and the University Medal. She is proceeding to a law degree.

Penelope is very committed to campus management and student/ professional activities including the Sydney University Union of which she is a Director and the Australian Law Students Association of which she is a National Council member. She participates in fundraising for Youth of the Street.

She also enjoys Dragon Boat Racing (at State championship level) and sailing.

SHAN-LYN MA

Graduated at the University of New South Wales with Bachelor of Commerce Marketing with 1st Class honours. She has been accepted to do MBA degree at 4 top programmes in highly regarded USA Universities, commencing this September.

Shan is very interested in current affairs and world issues, especially issues of women in the workplace. She is a creative leader who founded the UNSW Marketing Society. She is a board member and chair of the fundraising committee of Zonta International and board member and treasurer of BPW Australia.

ISABELLE OTTLEY

Her university qualifications are Bachelor Tech Education, Engineering Studies with Honours, Southern Cross University and Bachelor of Design, Queensland College of Art. Isabelle was awarded a scholarship for technological applied studies to teach in rural NSW. She co-authored teaching resource for secondary school engineering studies.

Isabell is a piano teacher and a volunteer arts administrator at Tweed River Regional Art Gallery. She holds a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

REPORTS FROM BRANCHES

CENTRAL COAST

In March we had a very successful luncheon meeting at the Caroline Bay Brasserie which is part of the Gosford Regional Gallery complex. This is a most pleasant venue with its beautiful Japanese Garden and there is always something new and interesting to see in the galleries.

In April we had our usual evening meeting with dinner beforehand at the Central Coast Leagues Club. Our guest speaker, Dr Penny Warner-Smith, is engaged in research into women’s health issues at the University of Newcastle. Penny’s research involves the collection and analysis of data that will provide detailed information about women’s attitudes towards retirement.

Penny used data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health to illustrate mid-aged women’s patterns of workforce participation and the extent of their caring and unpaid work, associations between work and health for mid-aged women, and their plans and preferences for “retirement”. The data for these studies is gathered by means of detailed questionnaires over long periods of time. The research relies heavily on government funding which has no guarantee of continuity and this uncertainty is an ongoing problem.

In May one of our members, Sonnie Hopkins, accompanied by Pat de Carle, who is the Organiser and President of Hospital Art Australia Inc., told us about their involvement in this rewarding pursuit. The purpose of this organisation is to assist the staff and patients of hospitals and nursing homes in the creation of art works. The art is displayed in the corridors and wards of the hospital where the patients spend much of their time. The volunteers from Hospital Art Australia Inc. raise funds to support the project, supply the materials and assist and supervise the painting sessions. The involvement of the patients is therapeutic in many ways, in the sense of pride and achievement the participants feel when they see their art transforming the surroundings!

Sonnie and Pat described their recent involvement with the creation of a mural, called “Rising Hope”, for the Olympic Games in Athens this year. The International Foundation of Hospital Art initiated the mural as an expression of goodwill and friendship, especially to the sick. The mural consists of panels that have been painted in different countries all over the world. When completed the panels will be sent to New York where they will be assembled and presented to the Mayor. He will then take the mural to Greece where it will be presented to the Mayor of Athens.

One of our members, Patricia Macdonald, attended the “Christmas in Winter” fundraiser luncheon at the home of Lyn and Merle Thompson in the Blue Mountains. Patricia was very enthusiastic about the hospitality she received and the interesting people she met. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and the Mountains group are to be congratulated on its success – particularly Lyn and Merle who did the catering!

NORTH SHORE

On 7th June our branch met for lunch at Warrawee Bowling Club. After the AGM we had an excellent address by Ms.Melinda Long, Director of Social Work and Manager Aged Care Assessment Team for the Hornsby/Kur-ing-gai Health Service. Ms. Long has been in social work for thirty years but involved with work in dementia patients and their carers for eighteen years.

Aged care is a growth industry as people live longer, in better health with more work and leisure opportunities, part-time work and volunteering, travel and recreation.

More are living over 80 leading to the three D's- dementia, degenerative disease and depression. Of these dementia is emerging as having the biggest impact on family care and Government services. One in twenty aged over 65 and one in five over 85 will suffer from some form of dementia - mostly Alzheimer’s (60%) and vascular (25%). The number in NSW in 2001 was 54,000 but is expected to double by 2020. Dementia describes acquired cognitive impairment and is irreversible.

Ms. Long has spent 18 years, starting from scratch, to educate herself in an understanding of the effects on family systems. Her role was to

• Assist families to understand the nature of the illness.
• Work with carers to put in place day to day strategies to cope with both the behaviour and the stress
• To link services and resources
• To cope with grief and loss.

Government is committed to keeping older people in their own homes as this means more dollars for health services and residential aged care. However funding demand is greater than supply. She has found her work both challenging and rewarding.

Our Christmas Luncheon this year was again held at the Dunmore Lang College, Macquarie University. We were privileged to have as our speaker Mr. Greg Eddy, the Principal of the College, who is about to move on to take up the position of Master of King’s College at the University of Queensland. It was most appropriate that he should speak to us at this time as he had addressed our group some years ago when he first took up his post as Principal at Dunmore Lang. He spoke then of his vision for the future of the College. Now, at the end of 2004, he could speak of what had been accomplished.

When Dunmore Lang College opened in 1972 it was envisaged as a college for women only. It was soon seen that the future of the College was not well served by this policy and it began to cater for male students as well. In 1972 it was chiefly seen as a college for rural students but this is no longer the case.

Now 50% of students residing at the college are internationals, many from Asia and America. Many Australian rural students have their needs met by universities in country towns such as Armidale and Bathurst. On the other hand, Dunmore Lang College finds itself accommodating domestic students whose homes are in the Sydney region but are at such a distance from the University as to be difficult to commute on a daily basis.

Most of the goals set in the early days of the College have been achieved. Remarkable progress has been made when one comes to consider that only 40 years ago the area was covered in market gardens. However, there are great changes looming both for Macquarie University itself and for the College. The grounds of the University are under the jurisdiction of Ryde City Council which is at present preparing a master plan for future development of the area. The impact of the new railway line, with a station only 50 to 100 metres from the College itself, will have to be closely monitored. Officially this is to be opened in 2008 but it could be in 2007 or even earlier. If public transport is more readily available to students, the College may have to look at making its facilities available in other ways such as for conference venues, rather than concentrating on resident student accommodation.

Macquarie University has a development plan for the next 40 years and in this there is substantial investment for extensions to the College. Throughout Australia, university colleges seem to be returning to favour, after a period of decline. However, the students of today have different needs and expectations to those of an earlier generation. Residential colleges have to rise to these challenges.

Dunmore Lang, for instance, has at present under consideration the appointment of a Student Counsellor. There is also pressure for more superior accommodation with information technology facilities. Better food, more pastoral care and academic support are all on the list of requirements.

Mr. Eddy concluded his talk by thanking the North Shore Branch of AFUW for its support and interest in the College over a number of years and hoping this would continue into the future.

HUNTER VALLEY

The guest speaker at the March meeting was Dr Deborah Lloyd, consultant in Medical Research and Education at the University of Newcastle and conjoint lecturer in Medical Practice and Occupational Health. The topic was “Ah, for a good bedside manner”.

The University of Newcastle’s Medical School is a world leader in doctor-patient interaction, especially in oncology. Dr Lloyd works with trainee doctors in the area of communication – not just how doctors ‘chat’ to patients but how they communicate: listen, provide information, don’t use jargon or explain jargon carefully.

Dr Lloyd addressed four questions:

1. Is it important for doctors to have good communication skills?
   
   Of course, as consultation between the doctor and the patient is fundamental. However, less than 50% of Australian doctors feel they are adequately trained in this area. Studies show that improved communication can improve health outcomes for patients.
    
2. What comprises a good bedside manner?
   
   active listening – the patient has their say in open dialogue where the doctor gives back to the patient what he has heard
   
   the doctor encourages the patient to express their feelings
   
   there’s a demonstration of concern and empathy by the doctor
   
   information is provided to the patient
    
3. Can these communication skills be taught?
   
   Yes – core communications are included for all students in their first year where they are placed in small groups with a tutor in an aged care facility. Students are assessed critically by video and feedback is positive.
    
4. What can patients do to improve communication skills with doctors?
   
   Take an active role, prepare questions beforehand, take a friend along, write down the doctor’s answers, ask for an explanation of ‘jargon’, be clear and specific about symptoms and begin with the most important. Just don’t self diagnose and give feedback to the doctor when care is given.

Dr Lloyd was besieged with questions and observations at the close of her delivery – a true sign of interest from the members on this topic as well as an on-going situation we all face with family members when we are supporting them.

Our April meeting was a fund-raising luncheon in support of our East Timorese students held on Saturday 1 May at Halina and Tony Turnbull’s home with 39 members and guests in attendance. The weather rewarded us with some wonderful autumn sunshine – a fantastic day. Thank you again Halina and Tony.

All were able to be seated comfortably at tables in the cellar dining room and two tables in the dining room – an incredible effort. Thank you to all the members and friends who contributed in whatever way they could. Approximately $800 was raised of which $190 was raised by the raffle with donated prizes.

Our official May meeting on Wednesday 26 brought us together with Christine Hosking, our state President, as guest speaker. It was wonderful to welcome her in this capacity and hear what is happening in Sydney and throughout NSW.

Christine spoke enthusiastically and informally about her trip to the Antarctic – a long held dream which was realized, to be followed by a trip to the Arctic in July. Leaving Argentina for the Antarctic Peninsula in an ice-breaker boat called the ‘Polar Pioneer’ with 53 people translated into smaller boats called zodiacs to cruise around the ice-bergs and islands of the region. Some myths about the silence of the region were quickly quashed as a multitude of penguins abound on the islands but the spectacular and majestic ice-bergs more than compensated.

In accordance with the Antarctic Treaty and the Madrid Protocol of 1991, no pollution is allowed in the area, let alone mining. This was set up by the then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, who, along with Blanche, happened to be on this same ship as Christine. In the spirit of cooperation all the different countries’ research stations share their scientific and geographical knowledge - in true UN style! Christine gave us a wonderful picture in words of this awesome and pristine environment.

Members on the Thursday accompanied Christine to the vineyards to share some Hunter delights. We thank Gaynor Reeves for her wonderful hospitality on this day.

Chinese Proverb: To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

This could have been the sub-title for Dr Bernie Curran’s talk at the Hunter Branch on 23 February 2005. Bernie was a very engaging speaker – majoring in Classics and mentored by Godfrey Tanner, he is preparing to organize celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Newcastle University (1965-2005).

He organised his talk into slides:

1. 15 Jan 1964 Bernie, one of 12 children from Denman, failed 3 out of 4 subjects at Tighes Hill Uni. He lost his scholarship and had returned to get his rugby gear out of his locker. No one is around except Godfrey Tanner who saw him and said ‘You wrote good prose’. That positive note coupled with a belief from Bill, whose dairy farm Bernie worked on, who paid Bernie’s fees to get his degree, meant ‘too much Rugby, too much Union’ were things of the past.
2. 1974 The Great Hall opened in 1972, but in 1974 Bernie received his PhD. He spoke about the great physical significance of the building. As well, exams were held in the Great Hall. On one such occasion Godfrey announced to the group that the ‘one Sanskrit student needs to turn their paper upside down as the paper had been printed the wrong way’. The assembled trembling students could not help but laugh at this revision!
3. 1975 Bernie was lecturing in Classics and was approached to play Rugby. At 31, he felt he was too old but, led by Godfrey, he got involved in the Classical tradition of balancing the academic tradition with sport. He won the University Blue.
4. Later at Evatt House he was head of the Residential College of 200 students. They needed an ethos – Carpe Diem – so perfect – seize the day. It fitted so well with his Classics training. Later, in the inauguration of Evatt House, they collected pitchers of water from all the rivers in NSW as well as portions of soil (including Singapore and soil from Belltrees, Scone) mixed it together to plant the trees around Evatt House. The ritual and symbolism of the mixing of earth and water was drawn from the foundations of Rome by Romulus.
5. 1997 The Forum – the new sports Gym, where students and staff mix at the same venue. This echoes the Forum in Rome which was a meeting place in the markets. As well, the values of developing an all rounded person are encompassed – the Auchmuty Library and the Auchmuty Gym.
6. A coffee house in Newcastle, several men meeting to organize the service for Godfrey Tanner. Bernie was requested to read the eulogy. Where would inspiration come for this?

In Tuscany, he and Godfrey had spent time looking at Etruscan ruins. Etruscans were very interested in the afterlife. Godfrey had said: “By day, we are in hell. By night, we can talk about who we can meet in hell”. This formed the inspiration for the eulogy.

Today Bernie is involved with organizing and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the University. The Uni could not be in worse shape – the twin towers of plagiarism and financial difficulty, but with community involvement and back to the roots of the Uni approach, there will be another better University rising out of the ashes.

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

Penny Josephson and Melinda Bishop are studying full time for Arts Degrees in Community and Environment at the Moss Vale Campus of the University of Wollongong. Our group awarded a $500 book allowance to each of these high achievers. The Moss Vale Campus allows students to study for degrees in Arts and Computing and is in partnership with Illawarra TAFE in upgrading library and computing facilities. The opening of this new local campus is allowing more students to access tertiary education in the Southern Highlands.

We are all familiar with the Royal Flying Doctor service, but did you know it provides a ‘Mantle of Safety” across 80% of Australia, with minimal financial Government support? Dianna Fielding first visited the RFD’s base at Broken Hill as a nine year old and was so impressed, that some 30 years later she supports the service by cycling through the outback in her spare time, raising money for “the doctors’.

At our March supper meeting, Dianna spoke about the pleasure she derives in helping others, the wonderful characters she has met, the challenging situations which are part of her fundraising, and have provided her with fantastic opportunities of exploring Australia by bike. She has ridden from Sydney to Perth, across the Nullabor, and from Darwin to Adelaide via Canberra. Wonderful slides graphically illustrated the hardships of heat, dust and mud that she endured on her most recent ride from Cloncurry to Dubbo. Her enthusiasm was infectious and she clearly demonstrated that an ‘individual can make a difference’, having raised over $30,000 for the Service.

What do we know about the woman on our $10 note? Dame Mary Gilmore is well remembered from the famous portrait by Dobell and for her poetry. A portrait of an idealistic young woman also looks out at us from the $10 note and it is about the experiences of this young woman that Anne Whitehead spoke to us at our May dinner meeting at Jars Restaurant in Bowral. Her book, “Bluestocking in Patagonia”, is part biography and part travel writing, but like her presentation,’ totally engaging’.

CENTRAL WEST

Our Twilight Dinner in February was a wonderful night —the Golf Club proved a very pleasant venue overlooking the golf course and town. Professor Lorraine Ling and her husband, Dr Peter Ling gave an interesting and enlightening talk on the changing role of universities. This sounded rather academic but it was presented with a power point presentation in the form of a melodrama - the research/ teaching versus the commercial/ business. Professor Ling discovered that she and one of our members, Nicola Snekker/Seymour who had been a flautist in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, had had the same flute teacher and Lorraine had played in the Junior Symphony Orchestra!

The prize winner of our University of Sydney (Orange Campus) prize was Mrs Jill Taylor who came with her husband. She spoke very eloquently about her course and how inspiring and satisfying it had been.

Patsy Page who grew up in Fiji and now lives in Paris has just published her second book entitled "Across the Magic Line". She was staying with us and kindly gave a talk at Coota Park late one afternoon. About 40 of us were fascinated to hear snippets from the book and about various aspects of Fijian life. The book is charming in the way it cleverly weaves childhood memories with history and politics.

Those of you who have been there previously will know what a lovely spot Eat Your Greens is - and for those who haven't - what was originally the Eugowra Golf Club has been converted into a Function Centre on the banks of the Mandagery Creek surrounded by wonderful old gum trees. It is the venue for our May meeting with guest speaker, Margie Carroll from Molong who is a town planner by profession and has written a book, "Ordinary People— Extraordinary Lives". She is currently working on a film "Future Makers" about rural youth in Papua New Guinea. Her talk is based around these topics and about rural youth in the Outback of Australia. She is also involved in a federally funded project "Small Town Volunteer Project in the Central West".

As another year opens we are privileged to be able to acknowledge the excellence of academic achievement attained by the girls of the Central West in the Higher School Certificate Examination. Applications have been received from girls who have attended Orange High School, Cowra High School, The Henry Lawson High School, Loretto Normanhurst, and The Kinross-Wollaroi School. The recipient of this scholarship, valued at $1000, will be announced at our next dinner meeting. The scholarship will be awarded to the applicant with the highest UAI who is commencing university studies this year. The results achieved by the girls speak highly of the standard of Secondary Education in our region and the desire of these young women to continue theft education at university.

The Post Graduate scholarship, presented for the first time in 2004, and offered again this year, has not been awarded. We will continue to offer this prize in the future to assist a woman from the Central West to further her studies in the post graduate field of her choice. This substantial award will be presented to a woman who has not completed any other post graduate course, who satisfies all other selection criteria as stated on the application and whose application scores the highest average mark when assessed by the members of the scholarship committee.

It is through patronage of our dinner meetings that we are able to offer these two scholarships as well as two others awarded to female students at our regional university campuses. The raffle proceeds at each of these functions assist us to make these awards possible.
The next AFUW dinner will be held at The Mill, Vaux Street Cowra, on Saturday, March 5th 2005. The guest speaker will be Mr Robert Clark, a Senior Heritage Planner with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. His presentation will give us insight and an appreciation of the history and vision for the future of the Properties acquired by the Harbour trust; their conservation, redevelopment and return to the public over a period of ten years.

BLUE MOUNTAINS

Members enjoyed a very pleasant Christmas Luncheon at the Wentworth Falls Country Club to conclude 2004.

To start our new year member, Margaret Erwood, was a most gracious host in her home in Leura, providing a fund-raising lunch which was followed by a spirited discussion of AFUW issues and problems at the three levels of our organization.

At our April meeting we viewed the first half of the film The Weekly’s War which portrays in drama, interspersed with archival footage, the approach to covering World War 2, and that time in Australia, taken by the staff of the Australian Women’s Weekly. It shows many of the iconic covers, mostly hand-painted, which became synonymous with the Weekly’s patriotic effort.

Members were enthralled by the film and it elicited much discussion on their own and their families’ experiences during the war. We also were intrigued to see many actors we know well today, such as Noni Hazelhurst and Michael Caton, or have known over the years, as they were in 1982 when the film was made.

The interest was such that we plan to view the second half of the film after the Annual General Meeting on 10 July.

On 4 June we held a Christmas in Winter fund-raising lunch at the home of Lyn and Merle Thompson in Hazelbrook. This was very pleasant socially with members and friends enjoying a traditional lunch and lively conversation. Sufficient funds were raised to enable the Branch to make its annual Gladys Weiler award to a student at Katoomba High School.

RIVER

A Spring Luncheon was held for 60 people at the Greenwich Sailing club in September. Mr Gil Wahlquist was our invited speaker and he entertained us with stories about an Aboriginal woman named Lucy who lived amongst the Hunter’s Hill community until relatively recently.

Late in November, to celebrate Christmas a most enjoyable lunch was held at the home of Gay and Bill Windeyer in Longueville. Again 60 people joined the celebration and despite the very hot day, all managed to catch up with old friends and do justice to a magnificent meal pepared by the committee. We sincerely thank the Windeyers for making their gracious home available to us.

NORTHERN BEACHES

We are pleased to announce that the Branch has re-convened for 2005 and with several new members. It has been decided that all future meetings will now take place at restaurant venues in the centre of Sydney eg Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, The Art Gallery.

Our first meeting took place in Buena Vista, Law Courts Building in Phillip St. As well as a reasonably priced lunch and stimulating discussion, we had a stunning aspect over Hyde Park and a good view of a venue that has entertained many notorious cases. We will be publishing a list of future venues in the newsletter. Should any other branch Members wish to avail themselves of a trip to town and stimulating debate with us in a pleasant venue please feel very welcome to join us.

This Branch also agreed to continue to support the aims and ideals of the AFUW in encouraging education among women by donating small scholarships to average ability students at TAFE and High Schools in their area.

In addition several members are committed to going to the Central Committee Meeting in Armidale in April. We will travel either by plane or train as well as share budget accommodation.

We are confident that with our new members and an invigorated outlook 2005 will be a year to remember!