Current Newsletter

June 2009

Master's Message

June 2009

Dear Members,

Following the introduction of the new format for News and Notes with the April issue I received several  very good suggestions for material that could be included.  In particular, there was a recommendation that we might, from time to time, include a feature on one of our graduate students, just as we have for our staff.  Accordingly, in this issue we have incorporated an item on Tory Ludowici, a resident postgraduate of University House, who is doing her PhD in biological sciences.  As a result I am holding over to the next edition the story of the House logo. 
     I have to record an apology to our long standing staff member, Lyn North.  In the last issue we inadvertently referred to her as our Functions Supervisor whereas she is in fact our Functions Manager as most of you know well!  You will see in the item she has written overleaf that she is in the process of moving her bookings procedures on to an electronic database.  Sadly, she also mentions that our good friend Cecil Carr passed away last month.  Cec was a regular at Boffins and House functions.
     The economic situation is starting to impact on House revenue but our staff are working together to optimise our operations without impacting on the quality of the services and products we offer to the University, our outside clients and members.  Accommodation bookings are a little better than anticipated, helping to offset downturns of business in other areas.
A significant decision was taken at the last meeting of the Board of Fellows concerning its composition.  With the changes to student membership brought about by re-configuring the former Graduate House Advisory Committee, about which I have reported previously, the time is appropriate to consider other changes.  Over the past four years there has not been an election for members of the Board elected by and from the membership.  In the most recent two years not enough nominations were received to cover vacancies.  Accordingly, it was resolved to reduce the number of member-elected Fellows from four to two. At the same time it was decided that the qualification that some of those positions be occupied by Alumni of ANU be dropped, along with the restriction on the number of consecutive terms that member-elected Fellows could serve.  These changes will require an approval by University Council to a change in the Rules.  It was agreed that the changes come into effect at the end of 2010; the current set of member-elected Fellows will retain their positions until the election to be held towards the end of next year.
Although we didn’t re-advertise the Opera at the House evening in the last News & Notes we were fully subscribed on 20th May to hear a superb performance from students from the Voice Department in the School of Music.  Led and accompanied by Alan Hicks, Head of Voice, guests were treated to arias and duets of outstanding quality.  Each of the three brackets was concluded with a chorus: the presentations of Verdi’s Libiamo, libiamo from  La Traviata  and Va pensiero from Nabucodonosorb, and Mascagni’s Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana were simply stunning.

Prof John Richards
Master