Page 8 - Luce 2013

N EW S AND E VENTS

New Colombo Plan

On 30 August 2013, as Australians
prepared for a Federal Election, JCH
students Chloe Dallas and Vera Moore
Scholar Matt Harper attended the
launch of the then Federal Opposition’s
New Colombo Plan.

The original Colombo Plan was
initiated in the 1950s and, among other
initiatives, encouraged and helped
Tim Thwaites and Sonia Pemberton delighted students and staff
students from Asia to study in Australia.
Immortal
The New Colombo Plan is based on the
same premise of developing cross- In July 2013 Australian documentary writer, director and producer Sonya Pemberton
cultural links. However, it intends visited Janet Clarke Hall to discuss her career and life experiences. In preparation for the
from 2015 to provide scholarships and event, JCH students viewed Sonya’s documentary ‘Immortal’. The Emmy award-winning
film has particular relevance to the College given its focus on the scientific achievements
funding to Australian students to work
of JCH alumna Professor Elizabeth Blackburn (1966). ‘Immortal’ explores the sequence
and study in Asian countries. of events that led to Prof Blackburn’s discovery of an enzyme capable of keeping DNA
young indefinitely, an achievement that in 2009 won her the Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine.
The launch was held in Trinity College,
and included presentations by (now
Writer, editor, broadcaster and JCH Deputy Chair of Council Tim Thwaites (1973)
Prime Minister) the Hon. Tony Abbott, facilitated the discussion with Sonya who spoke about her academic journey, shared her
the Hon. Julie Bishop and Mr Kevin passion for the genre of scientific documentaries, and described the process of filmmaking.
McCann, the head of the Steering
Following the discussion, JCH residents were able to chat with Sonya over tea and coffee.
Committee for the policy. Students Sonya’s visit left the residents with an impression of just how exciting and worthwhile a
of the colleges of the University of career whether in science or filmmaking can be.
Melbourne attended the event, and had
Chloe Dallas
the opportunity to meet the dignitaries.
The Dickens Project
In particular, the students of JCH
In August 2013, Jack Tan (Resident tutor in English and Creative Writing) spent a week
discussed with Ms Bishop the potential amongst the magnificent redwoods of the University of California, Santa Cruz campus,
relevance of the Plan to their own at the Dickens Project. This is a yearly scholarly consortium dedicated to the study of the
studies in the areas of Politics and works of Charles Dickens. Jack was the representative of the University of Melbourne
at the conference, where he attended lectures and seminars taught by world-renowned
Indonesian language. Given its closeness
Victorian scholars and even got to teach a seminar himself. A highlight of his seminar
to the federal election, it was an was the attendance of British actor Miriam Margolyes (of Harry Potter Professor Sprout
interesting insight into the making of fame), who read to the group in her signature magnetic voice. Jack is currently working
education policy in Australia. on his doctoral dissertation on ‘Dickens and Memory’ and he found the conference most
reinvigorating to his work.

Chloe Dallas and Matt Harper with Hon. Resident tutor and College Records Officer Jack Tan (back row, second from right) with
Julie Bishop at the ‘New Colombo Plan’ the seminar group he led. British actor Miriam Margolyes (front row, third from right) of
launch Harry Potter Professor Sprout fame, was a participant in his class.
8 LUCE Number 12 2013