Past events
Downtown Lecture demonstrated that Bendigo can be a leader in the Post-Fossil Fuel World
On Wednesday 19 August at the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre Bendigo, the Bendigo Chapter of La Trobe University Alumni Association presented its third Downtown Lecture for 2009 entitled: “Bendigo: A Future Leader in the Post-Fossil Fuel World”, by Ms Karen Corr and Mr Ian McBurney, President and Vice-President of the Bendigo Sustainability Group (BSG). The lecture attracted a capacity crowd demonstrating the Bendigo community’s interest in all things “sustainable.” Both the Deputy Chair of the Chapter, Leon Moulden, and the Director of Regional Operations, Dr Andrew Harvey, welcomed the enthusiastic audience and spoke of the important role these lectures play within La Trobe’s community engagement strategy.
The lecture examined Bendigo’s potential role in a post-fossil fuel world: a future Bendigo that is based on sustainable living, sustainable transport, and sustainable energy systems - a future that that values the natural environment and the community of tomorrow’s new green economy. Ian McBurney Vice President of BSG spoke about current global climate trends and how they demonstrate that the worst climate change predictions are now appearing possible, thus requiring major responses by society. He told the audience that the World green economy was now worth $6 billion, and the opportunities for green jobs were in excess of 2.5 million in Australia alone. Furthermore, he argued that “sustainability is a better business model,” and that this is the “most exciting time to be alive in human history.”
President of BSG, Karen Corr, then spoke about the aims of BSG, which include promoting sustainable locally grown food, education about consuming less, green electricity, connecting with community and the Beyond Carbon Bendigo Project. Karen then told the audience that BSG had in its first year grown to over 500 members and had 12 action groups - demonstrating that there really are positive things happening locally in Bendigo.
Once again a Downtown Lecture has provided the forum for a socially and environmentally important presentation - that will undoubtedly provoke debate and discussion throughout the Bendigo community. The Committee would like to thank Karen Corr and Ian McBurney for an informative and inspiring public lecture.
Downtown Lecture Revealed the Truth about the Great Australian Dream
On Wednesday 3 June 2009 at the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre, the Bendigo Chapter of the La Trobe University Alumni Association presented “Tell ‘em, they’re dreaming”: Is the Great Australian Dream still relevant?, by Mr Ken Marchingo, CEO of Loddon Mallee Housing Services (LMHS).
Before introducing Mr Ken Marchingo, Mr Rob Stephenson, Chair of the Bendigo Chapter of La Trobe Alumni Association welcomed an enthusiastic crowd to the second Downtown Lecture for 2009, and spoke of the role of public lectures in building links between La Trobe University, its graduates and the wider community. Dr Andrew Harvey, Acting Executive Director of the Bendigo Campus then thanked the audience for coming and reiterated the important role public lectures play in “community engagement and knowledge transfer.”
Mr Marchingo’s lecture explored the current Federal Government’s approach to housing policy as enunciated by the Federal Minister for Housing - Tanya Plibersek recently at the Sydney Institute, contrasted with the way Victoria and other states are approaching housing policy.
Mr Marchingo examined the greatest of all fears in contemporary Australian suburbia … “the loss of one’s home, loss of one’s castle”. He explained that this was more than the just the loss of “bricks and mortar”, but the “loss of dignity, sense of self, and confronting of the absolute powerlessness” because after all a “home is memories and love, and sense of self and sense of place, community and belonging.” Therefore although “the great Australian dream” is often portrayed as the pursuit of home ownership, it is really about security. “The tenure form should be largely neutral.” Mr Marchingo told the audience.
He then pointed out that there are some 645,000 families and individuals who are on low incomes, who are paying more than 30% of their income in rent. “That means there are some 645,000 families and individuals who are at risk of homelessness.” This is because people who are on low incomes, who pay more than 30% of their income in rent, cannot sustain this without being forced to not pay for other crucial expenditures. And, “this does not include the more than 100,000 people who on any given night in Australia are homeless.”
Therefore, as part of the community sector, Loddon Mallee Housing Services “puts homeless people fully at the centre of what we want to do, what we try to do and what we actually do, every day.” Mr Marchingo told the audience. “We provide crisis housing; transitional housing, specifically targeted housing and long-term secure safe and affordable housing for the low-to-moderate income earners across our community, and indeed, progressively over all of Victoria.” LMHS is Victoria’s first registered affordable housing association with an annual budget of $24 Million. Ken has been with LMHS since 1994 and has served on many boards and committees, and is currently a board member of the Bendigo Health Care Group.
The Bendigo Chapter of La Trobe University Alumni Association would like to thank Ken Marchingo for giving his time to present such an important and timely lecture.
Bendigo Teacher’s College Reunion: A Great Success!
The class of 1959 are excited about the success of their first ever reunion – the 50th anniversary of when they first started their teaching training. All who attended the reunion were very happy to see each other again. Indeed, the reunion was such a success that there is even talk of another reunion next year.
The Bendigo Teacher’s College 1959 Intake Reunion started with an afternoon tea function at Jessie Burnett Lounge at the old Bendigo Teacher’s College Osborne Street Campus on Saturday 18 April 2009. The afternoon tea gave past students and friends a chance to catch-up, reminisce, and look at memorabilia. They all then continued on to All Seasons Quality Inn where they enjoyed a two-course meal. This was followed by the singing of College songs which was greeted with great enthusiasm amongst the former students. The reunion gave the former students the chance to swap life stories – some of whom have stayed in education, some have moved overseas, and others have written books.
The organisers Mary Dean and Jeni Watts would like to thank all of those involved, especially, Robbie Alexander and his staff at Food for Thought for the wonderful food and great catering; and Lyn Davies for helping to organise the event and set up the Jessie Burnett Lounge.
La Trobe Annual Dinner
Members of the Bendigo Chapter of the Alumni Association joined with University Staff, Alumni members and Distinguished Guests at the La Trobe Annual Dinner and Distinguished Alumni Awards held at NGV International on the evening of Wednesday 29th April.
The Dinner celebrated the achievements of La Trobe staff and students during 2008, and honoured a number of alumni who have demonstrated outstanding professional or community service achievements, inspirational leadership in their field, and exceptional human qualities. Among those honoured were two alumni with strong connections to the Bendigo Campus: Dr Ian MacBean and Ms Jamila Gordon.
Dr Ian MacBean OAM retired from the position of Director of the Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities at La Trobe University, Bendigo in July 2003. Dr MacBean, who currently Chairs the North Central Catchment Management Authority, taught the University’s first intake of students at its Bundoora campus in 1967, and was the first person to qualify for a La Trobe University PhD. He later held senior roles at the University, and at the Bendigo College of Advanced Education, including Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Deputy / Acting Dean of the Faculty at Bendigo.
Ms Jamila Gordon was Qantas’ Group Chief Information Officer from September 2007 to March 2009, with end-to-end responsibility for Qantas’ Information technology and Communications. In this leadership role, Ms Gordon significantly improved service delivery to the Qantas business, while dramatically reducing costs, and positioning the IT organisation as a key driver of innovation across the Group. After emigrating to Australia in 1989 from her Somalian birthplace, Ms Gordon completed a Bachelor of Business (IT) at La Trobe University, Bendigo in 1994. She has fond memories of her time spent in Bendigo, and commented on the foundation that her education had provided for her to pursue her career. Prior to her Qantas appointment, Ms Gordon worked in several Senior Executive roles with IBM, including a period where she managed some of the world’s largest strategic outsourcing initiatives from her base in France and the Netherlands.
The evening was a wonderful celebration of individuals who, with the benefit of undertaking Higher Education at La Trobe, have worked hard and seized opportunities that have allowed them to achieve their potential, and are deserving of their recognition as Distinguished Alumni.
