2005 Media Releases
May 19, 2005
2004 DAVID MYERS MEDAL WINNERS
The five La Trobe University faculties have announced the 2004 David Myer Medal winners.
The medals are awarded annually and commemorate the first Vice Chancellor of La Trobe University, Dr David Myers.
Each faculty awards the medal to its most outstanding graduating undergraduate student. The five, all of whom are honours students, are.-
Regional Development: Simon McIlroy, 22, (Bachelor of Applied Science) at Bendigo.
Health Sciences: Ross Iles, 25 (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) and Aileen Ibuki, 22, (Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics).
Science, Technology and Engineering: Fotis Gimian (Bachelor of Computer Science).
Humanities and Social Sciences: Maya Veres (Bachelor of Arts).
Law and Management: Bethany Cooper (Bachelor of Business) at Albury Wodonga.
Simon McIlroy (Bendigo)
Mr McIlroy’s honours research involved studying a group of naturally occurring fungal enzymes called beta glucanases used frequently in a range of large-scale industries including food, agriculture, mining and medical. He won an Australian Postgraduate Scholarship to study full-time for his PhD at Bendigo and is working at the Biotechnology Research Centre at La Trobe University, Bendigo.
Bethany Cooper (Mount Beauty)
Ms Cooper graduated as a Bachelor of Business from La Trobe Albury/Wodonga campus, specialising in Marketing in her honours year. After graduation, she continues at La Trobe as a part time lecturer and tutor while pursuing her PhD research on national resource mapping, specifically in water conservation. She hopes to finish her PhD in 2007.
Ross Iles (Hobart)
Mr Iles came to La Trobe from Hobart to do his Physiotherapy degree because no such course was available in Tasmania. He graduated with honours, his thesis being a survey of evidence-based practice among 120 physiotherapists in public, private, city and rural hospitals. He found that time was the greatest challenge to physiotherapists when trying to keep up with the latest evidence of best practice. Ross won a Head of School Leadership Award and was president of the Physiotherapy Students’ Association. He is currently working full time at the Mill Park Physiotherapy and is a part time research assistant in exercise and nutrition science. He is contemplating extending his research into a PhD.
Fotis Gimian (Epping)
The David Myers Medal is the latest of a string of accolades for Mr Gimian. He won a departmental scholarship to start his course and in his first year gained entrance into the Golden Key Honours Society. For each year of his course, he was awarded a place on the Dean’s Honours List and after completing his degree, was awarded the Alumni Association prize, the Australian Computer Society (Victoria Branch) Award in Computer Science and the Department prize in Computer Science. After graduation he earned a place in the Telstra Graduate Program.
Aileen Ibuki (East Bentleigh)
Ms Ibuki completed the honours year of her Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics degree with a thesis on orthotic treatment of muscle spasticity aimed at helping patients with such conditions as cerebral palsy, stroke or head injury. She used electrical stimulation of nerves to determine whether changes in orthosis shape or materials in particular areas of the ankle and foot could affect the excitability of their reflexes. Her work challenged a number of current theories of spasticity management. On the basis of her honours research, she received an Australian Postgraduate Award and is currently continuing with research towards her doctorate.
Maya Veres (Meadow Heights)
Ms Veres, who completed the honours year of her Bachelor of Arts specialising in Archaeology at La Trobe, has an unusual speciality—historic shoes. Her honours thesis was on shoes worn by boys at the Lysterfield Boys Farm where poor boys from inner Melbourne were given farming skills during the 1930’s depression. She is now doing a PHD at La Trobe studying colonial footwear found in various archaeological digs, including one in Sydney dating from 1792.
For further information:
Please contact La Trobe University Public Affairs Office, Tel: 03 9479 2316.