Lumen sheds light on our graduates

Alumni

Too many Australians remain unable to live free from violence, harassment and discrimination.

That's the view of former Federal Court judge and University of Adelaide Law and Arts graduate the Hon. Catherine Branson QC, who became President of the Australian Human Rights Commission last year.

A comprehensive interview with Ms Branson is the cover story of the latest issue of the University of Adelaide alumni magazine, Lumen.

In Lumen, Ms Branson talks about the need for more work to be done in Australia on human rights protection for indigenous Australians, people with disabilities, asylum seekers and others.

And, she says, less blatant forms of discrimination remain pervasive in Australia.

"For example, discrimination can occur when workplaces unnecessarily fail to provide family-friendly working arrangements; and when assumptions are made, rather than questions asked, about what a person with a disability can do," she says.

The Winter 2009 Lumen also celebrates the 120th birthday of the Adelaide Medical Students' Society, the oldest and most active student society on campus with an illustrious list of past presidents including Lord Howard Florey.

Lord Florey's contribution and that of thousands of other medical students is being honoured as part of the birthday celebrations and Lumen outlines some of the Society's recent charitable works including self-funded placements at a hospital in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Other graduates profiled in this issue include National Farmers Federation Chief Executive Officer Ben Fargher, who talks about his passion for agriculture and his time at the University's Waite Campus, "the best in the country", and Engineering graduate Drew Ward, Chief Executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

Drew Ward had senior organisational roles for both the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and is now overseeing the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Australian Motorcyle Grand Prix.

Lumen also hears from Kristina Dryza, who has forged an international career from spotting trends, Sir Donald Bradman's vocalist grand-daughter Greta Bradman, and the University's first Ramsay Fellow, Dr Kate Wegener.

Lumen is published twice-yearly and goes to 55,000 members of the University's Alumni community. Alumni can keep track of some of their old course-mates in Alumni on the move and keep up with other Alumni happenings.

For any alumni who would like to be put on the mailing list, please email: alumni@adelaide.edu.au

Lumen can be read online at: www.adelaide.edu.au/lumen

Story by Robyn Mills