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WHAT YOU ARE. WHAT YOU CAN BECOME 

ISSUE 14 2012 

CQUniversity Australia. 

www.be.cqu.edu.au 

Sleepless nation 

Are you getting enough? 

Helping hands 

Nepal opens eyes to life 

New breed of sports 

From the wacky to the brutal 

Good Will 

Reading

GRADUATE/ALUMNI BENEFITS 

CQUniversity AUSTRALIA 

CRICOS Provider Codes: QLD 00219C, NSW 01315F, VIC 01624D 

CO12863 

In support of our graduates’ careers, we are delighted to 

provide a range of benefits and initiatives: 

• Library Access (electronic databases and catalogues) 

• Career Development Service 

• Graduate/Alumni Discount Study Program 

• Be Magazine 

• Bi-monthly E-newsletter 

• Social Networking (Facebook and Twitter) 

• Networking Opportunities 

• Assistance with keeping in touch with friends/ 

classmates 

Over time, new benefits will be created, so it is important 

to ‘be connected’ and to keep your details up-to-date to 

receive information about the new benefits, which have 

been especially created for our graduates. 

Contact details can be updated online. 

For further information, visit the official graduate/alumni website: 

www.graduates.cqu.edu.au. 

BE CONNECTED. BE INVOLVED. FOR LIFE. 

BE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE 

13CQUni 13 27 86 

www.cquni.edu.au

Be: Contents 

3 

26 

With the trademark fishnet stockings and tongue-in-cheek stage names like “Cybil Disobedience”, “Hanna Belle Lector” 

and “Elleanor Bruisevelt”, it’s easy to see why the sport of roller derby is snowballing in popularity. 

« 

In-Depth 

10 | Sleepless Nation 

When Aussies go to bed, 

they’re not necessarily going 

to sleep 

15 | Helping Hands 

Nursing students learn more 

than they bargained for in 

Nepal 

20 | Clicks vs Bricks 

The success of online 

shopping is making 

traditional stores rethink 

their business 

24 | Looking back at 1992 

This year holds numerous 

memories for CQUniversity 

and Australia 

26 | New world of sports 

People 

13 | Complacency – not an 

option – Andrew Ogilvie talks 

about the issues that affect 

Australia’s live export trade 

14 | Learning ‘write’ from 

wrong – Brett Comerford 

has overcome huge hurdles 

and now he’s helping others do 

the same 

22 | Good Will Reading 

A Q&A with actor, author, 

CQUniversity alumnus and 

patron of the National Year of 

Reading – William McInnes 

29 | Read, write and tweet 

Researchers Dr Michael 

Cowling and Jeremy Novak 

reveal how Twitter can be used in 

the classroom 

EXPERIENCE 

NEPAL – 

GETTING A 

TASTE FOR 

HUMANITARIAN 

ADVENTURES 15 

Living 

5 | Calendar Things to do and 

to add to your diary 

6 | Upfront CQUniversity 

news, advancements and 

discoveries 

30 | Parenting Professional 

tips for coping with the stress 

of homework 

31 | Finance Tax time is 

looming – get the best advice 

32 | Around Central 

Queensland The growing city 

of Gladstone is a real contrast 

of industry and nature 

34 | Closing the gap BMA 

and CQUni are creating a 

brighter future for Indigenous 

communities 

A look at the weird and 

wacky sports that are taking 

the world by storm 

Follow us! 

COVER PHOTO: HATCHETTE AUSTRALIA 

COVER ART: LYN ELLERTON 

• be.cqu.edu.au • email: be@cqu.edu.au • twitter.com/bemagatcquni • youtube.com/cquninews 

• facebook.com & go to friends of be magazine in groups • uninews.cqu.edu.au

4 

Welcome 

Tired and paying for it 

I know when I’m tired, I can’t seem to be as productive as when 

I’m well rested. And it seems I’m not alone. Sleeplessness affects 

most of us like this and according to a national survey we are a 

tired lot! For many reasons, we wake tired and continue to be 

tired throughout the day, and there are a host of ramifications. 

In this edition of Be, we look at why we’re feeling like this and 

explore some possible solutions. It may challenge you to change 

your night time foods and bedtime routine in the hope of getting 

more zzzzzzz. 

For a couple of years now, CQUniversity’s nursing students have travelled to Nepal as part 

of their learning experience. It has been hugely successful and the latest student cohort 

has returned with some remarkable tales. Be has produced a photographic spread to 

share with you just some of their experiences. 

Be has also had the opportunity to catch up with alumnus William McInnes, of Blue 

Heelers and SeaChange fame, about his life now as an author. As the patron of the National 

Year of Reading, he puts a unique and typically Aussie spin on his love of reading and 

writing. 

As you may recall, this year CQUniversity celebrates 20 years as a university, so in this 

edition we go back in time and look at the events that shaped the year of our birth – 1992. 

It was a time of Olympic success for Australia and it was also the year our Prime Minister 

was dubbed the ‘Lizard of Oz’. 

I hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to hearing your feedback. Post us a 

message via traditional post, email or via our Facebook group site. 

Professor Scott Bowman 

Vice-Chancellor & President 

CQUniversity Australia 

vc-cquniversity.blogspot.com.au 

Be is published by 

CQUniversity Australia. 

CQUniversity North 

Rockhampton‚ QLD 4702 

www.cquni.edu.au 

Editor-in-chief 

Priscilla Crighton 

Publisher Chris Veraa 

Associate Publisher 

Jen Cooper 

Contributors 

Marc Barnbaum 

Joanne Perry 

Martin Elms 

Art Director Lyn Ellerton 

Photo Editor 

Peter Lawrence 

ISSN 1836-1870 (Print) 

Environmental 

Statement This stock is 

certified as FSC ‘Mixed 

Sources’ product group 

from well-managed 

forests, controlled 

sources & recycled wood 

or fibre. Certificate No. 

SGS-COC-005343. 

www.fsc.org. 

About CQUniversity 

AUSTRALIA (Central 

Queensland University) 

CQUniversity engages 

with communities in 

Queensland‚ New South 

Wales and Victoria‚ 

providing research and 

educational services 

and products to 

approximately 20‚000 

students and other 

customers across 10 

campuses and learning 

sites, and by distance 

education. Established 

as the Queensland 

Institute of Technology 

(Capricornia) in 

Rockhampton in 1967‚ 

CQUniversity provides 

access to people of 

all backgrounds and 

ages‚ working closely 

with individuals and 

organisations to help 

them follow their own 

dreams and achieve their 

own goals. 

Acknowledgement 

CQUniversity recognises 

that our Rockhampton 

headquarters is located 

on ceremonial land which 

is spiritually significant 

to the Darumbal 

people. CQUniversity 

acknowledges and 

respects Elders both 

past and present of the 

Darumbal Nation and all 

Aboriginal peoples and 

nations on all the lands 

in which we operate. 

In working together to 

create a better future 

for us all‚ CQUniversity 

commits to a just and 

meaningful partnership 

of reconciliation 

with Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander 

people throughout 

the communities we 

serve. CQUniversity’s 

Reconciliation Statement 

was issued in 2002. It is 

available at 

www.cquni.edu.au 

twitter.com/cquniversityVC 

The fine print. No 

person should rely on 

the contents of this 

publication. Rather‚ 

they should obtain 

advice from a relevant, 

qualified professional 

person. This publication 

is distributed on the 

basis that CQUniversity‚ 

its publishers‚ authors‚ 

consultants and editors 

are not responsible for 

the results of any actions 

taken in reliance on 

the information in this 

publication‚ or for any 

error in‚ or omission 

from‚ this publication‚ 

including those 

caused by negligence. 

Unless specifically 

stated‚ products and 

services advertised or 

otherwise appearing 

in the publication 

are not endorsed 

by CQUniversity. 

CQUniversity gratefully 

acknowledges Hardie 

Grant Magazines for the 

development and initial 

publishing of Be. 

Words from Noosa 

I am a BLM student of 

CQUniversity in Noosa. I 

picked up the BE magazine 

@ uni today and thought I’d 

join the Facebook page. The 

magazine is great by the 

way :) 

Staceylee Portch 

From abroad 

WHAT 

YOU SAID 

Yes good magazine. Used to 

receive it by mail all the way 

here in Barbados, but I now 

just read it online. 

Neil Edwards 

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Tell us what you think of 

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of our featured experts. 

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ISSUE 13

Be: Calendar 

5 

FOR MORE DETAILS AND 

ADDITIONAL EVENTS 

PLEASE CLICK ON EVENTS 

AT UNINEWS.CQU.EDU.AU 

6 – 7 MAY 

2012 INTERNATIONAL 

BEEF CATTLE GENETICS 

CONFERENCE 

600 delegates 

are expected to 

attend this two-day 

conference leading 

into Australia’s 

national beef 

industry exposition 

– Beef 2012. The 

conference will 

bring together 

internationally 

recognised experts 

in the commercial 

application of beef 

cattle genetics and 

genomics. 

Where: CQUniversity 

Rockhampton 

Details: www. 

beefaustralia.com.au 

2012 GRADUATION 

CALENDAR 

FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS 

AND MORE INFORMATION 

PLEASE GO TO WWW.CQU. 

EDU.AU 

MAY 

8 ROCKHAMPTON, From 2 pm 

9 SYDNEY, From 2 pm 

11 MELBOURNE, From 1.30 pm 

30 GLADSTONE, From 2 pm 

JUNE 

26 NOOSA, From 2 pm 

SEPTEMBER 

11 BRISBANE, From 2 pm 

12 SYDNEY, From 2 pm 

14 MELBOURNE, From 1.30 pm 

20 ROCKHAMPTON, From 2 pm 

Be:Connected26 – 

14 – 20 MAY 

SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL 

Sydney will come alive as hundreds of writers 

from around the world gather to talk about 

literature and ideas. It’s one of the biggest 

festivals of its kind in the world. 

Where: Sydney 

Details: www.swf.org.au 

27 MAY 

CAPTIAN COOK 1770 FESTIVAL 

This annual festival commemorates the visit of 

the Endeavour and the landing of Captain James 

Cook in the year 1770 at the Town of Seventeen 

Seventy. Visitors can look forward to a weekend 

packed with family fun including a re-enactment 

of Cook’s landing, a parade, an art auction, live 

entertainment, market stalls and a fireworks 

display. 

Details: www.1770festival.com.au 

Contact: info@1770festival.com.au 

29 JULY 

BIKE 4 LIFE 

Cyclists of all ages, sizes and abilities will 

participate in the third annual Bike 4 Life event 

in Rockhampton. 

The event, 

which includes 

four different 

circuits, will run 

in conjunction 

with the Sporting 

Wheelies Association 

and other local 

charities. 

Details: www.bike4life.org.au 

Contact: bike4liferockhampton@ 

gmail.com 

MAY 

RELAY FOR LIFE 

Hundreds of fundraisers 

and cancer survivors are 

expected to turn out for this 

year’s Relay for Life across 

Australia. The overnight 

event is an opportunity 

for communities to get 

together to celebrate with 

cancer survivors, remember 

loved ones lost and to help 

the fight back against 

cancer. 

Where: Cities across Australia 

Details: www.relayforlife.org.au 

2 – 5 AUGUST 

CHESS – THE MUSICAL 

Set against the Cold War 

struggle between the 

Soviet Union and the 

USA, this much-loved 

musical tells the story 

of a romantic triangle 

between top 

chess players 

of each country and the woman who 

manages one, but falls in love with the 

other. Features hit single One Night In 

Bangkok and the musical theatre favourite 

Anthem. 

Where: CQCM Theatre, CQUniversity Mackay 

Bookings: Mackay Entertainment and Convention 

Centre 4961 9700 


GEMFEST 

There’s no better place to celebrate 

the origin, appeal and sheer beauty of 

precious and semi-precious stones than 

at the home of the largest sapphire fields 

in the Southern Hemisphere. The annual 

Gemfest Festival of Gems is fast being 

recognised as one of the most popular 

celebrations of sapphires and gems in 

Australia. Crowds of over 7000 people 

converge on the gemfields for this annual 

four-day festival. 

Where: Anakie, Central Queensland 

Details: www.gemfest.com.au 

Contact: info@gemfest.com.au 


MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 

The Melbourne International Film Festival 

established in 1952 is the most significant 

screen event in Australia. MIFF takes place 

in the heart of the city and presents an 

acclaimed screening program alongside 

contextualised, industry and celebratory 

events. MIFF showcases both the best in 

current cinema from around the world as 

well as retrospectives, tributes, and ‘talking 

pictures’ programs. 

Where: Melbourne City 

Details: www.miff.com.au 

Contact: miff@miff.com.au 

ISSUE 13

6 

Be: Upfront 

MAJOR FUNDING 

CQUni 

welcomes 

$73.8m 

boost 

for dual sector 

• CQUniversity received a $73.8 million 

slice of major Government funding, 

putting it on the path to becoming 

Queensland’s first dual-sector institution 

and an engineering powerhouse. The 

funding, part of a total pool of $377m from 

the Structural Adjustment Fund (SAF) and 

Education Investment Fund (EIF), will be 

spent on readying the University for its 

proposed merger with Central Queensland 

Institute of TAFE and further strengthening 

its already-solid engineering offering. “Not 

only will this allow us to deliver critical 

skills to the region’s workforce, but it will 

also create countless local construction 

jobs thanks to a huge ramp-up in building 

activity,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott 

Bowman said. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

Touch down 

• Thousands of spectators and players 

from throughout Queensland and New 

South Wales rolled in for the hugely 

successful Indigenous Reconciliation 

Carnival held at CQUniversity 

Rockhampton’s sports fields in January. 

The event featured spectacular rugby, 

cultural dancing, traditional food and the 

opportunity to celebrate reconciliation. 

Former NRL stars Rhys Wesser and David 

Peachey were special guests at the event. 

Be:Connected 

ECONOMIC RESEARCH 

Golden 

beaches 

BUNDABERG CAMPUS 

• The value of annual 

beach access and 

recreation along the 

Great Barrier Reef in 

Queensland has been 

assessed at nearly 

half a billion dollars. 

That’s according 

to CQUniversity 

researchers Professor 

John Rolfe and Daniel 

Gregg who surveyed 

more than 1100 

households along the 

Queensland coast 

between Bundaberg 

and Port Douglas. 

The study revealed 

that the regional 

population of about 

643,000 people aged 

between 15 and 74, 

makes an average 

of 52.6 visits to a beach per year for a total of 12.8 million visits 

per year. The average value of each beach visit was estimated at 

$35.09. “Aussies love that our beaches are free of charge to use, 

but they don’t often consider the huge economic value of beaches 

themselves,” Professor Rolfe said. 

University CITY 

• Already well recognised for its sugar, rum, tourism, horticulture 

and aviation industry, Bundaberg will also now be known as a 

‘University City’. Bundaberg Regional Council and CQUniversity 

Australia signed an Accord as a formal expression of their 

common goals and partnership intentions. The Council 

pledge includes a commitment to offer three engineering 

student cadetships, aligned with the introduction of first-year 

engineering programs at CQUniversity Bundaberg Campus from 

2013. These cadetships will offer financial support for study and 

vacation employment within the Council operations. 

More on the event at Be Extras : 


The Accord was signed by Council CEO Peter Bryne, 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman, Mayor Cr Lorraine 

Pyefinch and Bundaberg Head of Campus Professor Phillip Clift. 

ISSUE 13

7 

KOALA SIGHTINGS 

Koala hot and cold spots 

• After three years of mapping koala sightings, including 

responses to a ‘wanted dead or alive’ SMS Hotline campaign, 

researchers have identified the CQ region’s hotspots. One 

hotspot for sightings is the Bruce Highway in a corridor between 

Granite and Waverley Creeks near St Lawrence. Another is on the 

Peak Downs Highway from the top of the Eton Range to Denison 

Creek. Addressing a CQ Koala Workshop audience including 

regional, national and international specialists, CQUniversity 

researcher Gail Tucker reported receiving 42 sightings of live 

koalas and 62 deaths; many via the SMS hotline. 

AGRICULTURAL DATA 

Soils ain’t soils 

• “Have your microbes tested” is the call from 

CQUniversity microbiology lecturer Dr Sandrine 

Makiela, who is keen for landholders to be part 

of her research which hopes to produce baseline 

data of microbial activity in Central Queensland 

soils. Thanks to a new trial jointly funded by 

CQUniversity and consultants Grazing BestPrac 

(GBP), graziers may be able to get feedback on 

microbial activity in their soils without sending 

samples interstate. 

NEW INITIATIVE 

Healthy partnership 

• The recent launch of the Fitzroy Partnership 

for River health hopes to provide the Central 

Queensland community with a complete picture 

of the state of the river system. Information 

about the Fitzroy River’s health is collected by 26 

organisations at 450 locations throughout the 

catchment; however public confidence in the 

waterway has continued to be a concern. The 

Partnership hopes to restore confidence back in 

the river through sharing information, informed 

decision-making and a final ‘report card’ to be 

produced in 2013. This initiative is hosted by the 

Fitzroy Basin Association, while CQUniversity is 

a major partner, along with major government, 

community and commercial organisations. 

More on the partnership at Be Extras : 


WATER RESEARCH 

Bright prospect 

• CQUniversity researchers have used the sun to 

address a problem facing fish farmers. Doctoral 

student Sadia Khan, Professor Rob Reed and Dr 

Mohammad Rasul have created a prototype water 

purification reactor that uses the sun’s natural 

disinfection properties to kill bacteria in water, 

reducing the need for expensive antibiotics and 

poisonous chemicals. The reactor contains a thin 

film of titanium dioxide (TiO2) which enhances the 

sun’s purification performance by over 10 times. 

PEOPLE ON 

THE MOVE 

CQUNIVERSITY 

STAFF AND ALUMNI 

CQUniversity alumni have 

been recognised throughout 

Queensland as top managers 

by the Australian Institute of 

Management (AIM). 

VEREIMI LEVULA 

MASTER OF BUSINESS 

ADMINISTRATION, 1993 

Vereimi has been 

appointed as the 

Chief Manager 

of the Financial 

Systems 

Development and Compliance 

Group within the Reserve 

Bank of Fiji, after acting in the 

position for almost 12 months. 

MEREDITH PAPAVASILIOU 

BACHELOR OF ARTS, 1996; 

MASTER OF BUSINESS 

ADMINISTRATION, 2007 

Since graduating 

from CQUniversity 

Meredith 

Papavasiliou 

has worked 

as a journalist and editor 

of regional newspapers. 

She recently won the APN 

News & Media Editor of 

the Year award and was 

part of the team who won 

APN’s Newspaper of the 

Year award for the Gladstone 

Observer newspaper. Under 

her guidance, The Observer 

also picked up a Newspaper 

of the Year Award in its 

category from the Pacific 

Area Newspaper Publishers’ 

Association (PANPA). Married 

to Daniel, whom she met at 

CQUniversity while living 

at Capricornia College, she 

now has two children and 

balances family life with her 

busy job. She is also about to 

embark on her PhD. 

DR MICHAEL LANDSBERG 

BACHELOR OF APPLIED 

SCIENCE (HONS) 1998 

Michael was 

recently awarded 

the highest 

Australian 

accolade in his 

field of work, for excellence 

in biological electron 

microscopy. His research 

team recently discovered a 

strain of bacterium that is 

deadly for many insects, but 

not for humans, a discovery 

that will have significant 

outcomes on the agricultural 

industry. Michael was 

awarded a PhD from the 

University of Queensland in 

2003 and now works at the 

University as a postdoctoral 

researcher. 

ARE YOU ON THE MOVE? 

Let us know at: be@cqu.edu.au 

ISSUE 13

8 

Be: Upfront 

OVERSEAS CAMPUS 

CQU in Singapore 

• CQUniversity in Singapore is entering 

an exciting new era in 2012, with a 

revamped structure and the appointment 

of a dedicated CEO to complement a host 

of new degrees. The University, which has 

worked in partnership with Singapore’s 

Melior International College for a number 

of years to deliver higher education in the 

city-state, is now running its Singapore 

campus as a standalone entity majority 

owned by CQUniversity. The new entity 

is trading as ‘CQU Institute of Higher 

Learning Pty Ltd’ in the Singaporean 

market, while Associate Professor Ken 

Bruce has been appointed as CEO. 

STUDENT DISCOUNTS 

Big benefits for 

Mackay students 

• Study Mackay has started a new project 

aimed at creating better services and 

support for Mackay students by offering a 

discount and benefits program. The Student 

Discount Program is administered via 

smartphone technology, a dedicated 

webpage and a social networking site. It 

provides students with a range of discounts 

at participating businesses whilst connecting 

them to each other by highlighting 

activities and events. Study Mackay Chair 

Professor Pierre Viljoen said the program 

was developed after it was found there was 

a perception of little or no ‘atmosphere’ in 

Mackay as a ‘student town’. 

Be:Connected 

HEALTH FUNDING 

Joint role first in Oz 

• CQUniversity and Mackay Health Service District have 

welcomed $375,000 in funding, enabling a joint academic role 

to become the first of its type in Australia in the field of medical 

imaging and sonography. This Clinical Academic Fellowship 

is the result of a collaboration between the Mackay Health 

Service District and the CQUniversity Medical Imaging/Medical 

Sonography programs. The successful applicant will be employed 

for five years, dividing their time between the clinical and 

academic environment at both the hospital and campus, with a 

strong focus on research. 

EXPERT VIEW 

Bandaid solution 

• The introduction of $1 bets 

would be a positive way 

to combat problem 

gambling, but in some 

cases may only be the 

difference between 

‘bleeding to death’ 

slowly or quickly. 

The end result is the 

same. That’s according 

to gambling researcher 

Associate Professor Matthew 

Rockloff of CQUniversity, who says he’s in 

favour of $1 bets, but that mandatory pre-commitment would be 

more effective for combating problem gambling. “You can get just 

as drunk on beer as you can on hard liquor. Similarly, the $1 bet just 

slows down the process of losing money for gamblers, but still 

produces intolerable losses over time.” 

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS 

BMC helps Mackay students 

• The first six recipients of the BMC Building My Career 

Scholarships were recently welcomed to the Mackay Campus by 

representatives from CQUniversity and BHP Billiton Mitsui 

Coal Pty Ltd (BMC). The scholarship entitles the students to 

free accommodation and three meals a day at the new student 

residence. This support is worth $60,000 to $80,000 per 

student for the duration of their studies. BMC Asset President 

Michael Rosengren said that BMC understood that the cost 

of living was a roadblock to local students choosing to study 

in non-mining fields. “We hope the ‘BMC Building My Career’ 

Scholarships will encourage young people to remain in Mackay 

to study and upon completion of their studies, use their skills to 

benefit the region.” 

ISSUE 13

9 

ART COLLECTION 

Jon Cattapan | Open circuit 1997 | oil on 

canvas | CQUniversity Collection 

PODIATRY APPOINTMENT 

RENEWABLE ENERGY 

A step ahead 

• CQUniversity’s new Discipline Leader 

for Podiatry Katrina Reynolds was once 

the spokesperson for her profession in the 

Sydney media market, dealing with radio 

interviews, online chat and magazine 

articles on behalf of the Podiatry 

Association of NSW. Now Katrina, who 

has over 20 years of clinical podiatry 

experience, is establishing the Bachelor 

of Podiatry Practice degree based on 

Rockhampton campus. Students of the 

new Bachelor of Podiatry Practice program will utilise the new onsite health clinic, as 

well as participate in student placement opportunities throughout Central Queensland 

and beyond. 

Air-con 

runs 

better 

hot 

• There is a new way to 

make office air-conditioning work 

best when the sun is shining bright, 

according to CQUniversity researchers. 

In what could be a world first, 

solar heat is being used to run 

a dehumidifier as part of new 

research in Rockhampton. Drying 

the air reduces the need to overcool, 

saving up to 40% on the power 

required for conventional systems. 

The machinery required is industrial 

scale and currently unsuitable for 

domestic houses, but because of 

mould reduction it’s perfect for use in 

hospitals and libraries. 

Art on display 

• The best of the CQUniversity Art 

Collection will be displayed until May 

23 at Rockhampton Art Gallery. This 

exhibition is part of the ‘Collection in 

Focus’ series which explores the unique 

and diverse art collections of Central 

Queensland. The CQUniversity Art 

Collection currently holds more than 

500 artworks, including significant 

1970s works by Australian artists, 

historical works and contemporary 

pieces from international, national and 

local artists. 

CAMPUS EXPANSION 

High-rise clinic 

• CQUniversity is launching a unique 

medical sonography program based at a 

$1.5 million laboratory on the 11th floor of its 

CBD campus in Kent Street, Sydney. As this 

is Australia’s only sonography program 

available for undergraduate 

entry (with postgraduate exit), 

there’s been an enthusiastic 

response from students keen 

to help relieve a critical health 

workforce shortage. The 

modern six-bed medical 

sonography facility 

features state-of-theart 

digital technology and 

simulated learning clinics. 

It has advanced 3D/4D 

capable Philips ultrasound 

units worth $450,000, 10 

‘Phantom’ body torso training 

units worth $75,000 and a full 

multifunctional laboratory. 

HEALTH RESEARCH 

The naked truth 

• Aussie couples should grab 

the chance to be intimate on a 

regular basis. It might just 

be a life-saving move. 

That’s according to 

CQUniversity Health 

Promotion lecturer and 

sexuality researcher 

Cathy O’Mullan who 

says couples should build 

a skin check into their 

love life. “It’s not only fun 

but the regularity is key 

to spotting skin changes 

that could indicate 

problems with moles, 

sun-damaged areas or 

freckles.” 

HEALTH STUDY 

Older Aussies are 

losing strength 

• Older Australians are losing strength, 

with as few as 15% of them completing 

strength-based training. Even among 

this minority, only around 5% are training 

at sufficient intensities to gain health 

benefits. That’s according to CQUniversity’s 

Dr Brendan Humphries, who recently 

presented a study to the Australian 

Conference of Science and Medicine in 

Sport, highlighting the issue. Dr Humphries 

says despite the obvious benefits of 

strength training, the practice seems to be 

being ignored. 

ISSUE 13

10 

Be: Asleep 

When Aussies go to bed, we’re not 

necessarily going to sleep. According to 

Australia’s biggest ever sleep survey, we’re 

doing much more between the sheets 

than we should (and it’s not what 

you may think), discovers 

Priscilla Crighton. 

ISSUE 13

11 

While a giraffe needs only two 

hours of sleep each day to 

survive, humans are far more 

sleep-thirsty requiring four 

times as long. And if we don’t 

get the right amount of rest 

our bodies react in more ways than one. Not only do 

we get irritable – hence the saying “getting up on the 

wrong side of the bed” – sleeplessness can affect the 

body’s natural healing mechanism, immune system, 

ability to cope with stress, memory function and 

weight control. Yes, that’s right – if you don’t get 

enough sleep you can kiss that diet success goodbye. 

ACCORDING TO CQUNIVERSITY’S RESIDENT SLEEP EXPERT 

AND HEAD OF THE APPLETON INSTITUTE RESEARCH CENTRE 

PROFESSOR DREW DAWSON, HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS ARE 

DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE WELLBEING IN YOUR WAKING 

LIFE. “WE KNOW THAT A POOR SLEEP ROUTINE CAN IMPACT 

ON ALL KINDS OF HEALTH FACTORS, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT 

DETRIMENT TO YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL BEING. THE 

IMPORTANCE OF GETTING GOOD, HEALTHY SLEEP THEREFORE 

CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. 

“WHAT WE FIND IS THAT PEOPLE WHO DON’T GET ENOUGH 

SLEEP ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A COMPROMISED 

IMMUNE SYSTEM THEREFORE GET MORE COLDS AND FLUS. 

THEY ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO BE LESS PRODUCTIVE IN THE 

WORKPLACE AND HAVE MORE TIME OFF WORK.” 

National Sleep Census 

According to Australia’s largest and most 

comprehensive sleep survey conducted by CQUniversity 

and bed manufacturer Sealy, the vast majority, a 

whopping 96 per cent, of Aussies say they wake up 

tired from their sleep, leaving only 4 per cent waking 

refreshed. Most of us also feel tired throughout the day 

due to poor sleep. “Considering how important sleep 

is and how much time we spend in bed, these results 

indicate that the majority of us are not sleeping that 

well,” says Sealy’s sleep expert Ross Gage. 

While the majority of respondents to the survey 

recognised 8 hours as the recommended amount of 

sleep you need to perform at your best, many of us (70 

per cent) wake up during the night due to some kind of 

disturbance, from noisy neighbours and animals to loud 

traffic and even the sound of rain. However our partners 

are also to blame, with 35 per cent of those surveyed 

saying they are often woken up during the night by 

their spouse, from snoring, going to the bathroom or 

answering phone calls or emails. 

Sleep affects work 

Do you work with moody colleagues? It may be that 

they are just tired. This latest survey revealed that 

most Aussies admitted to their work productivity being 

affected due to tiredness and more than a third of us 

admitted to falling asleep on the job. We even use lack 

of sleep as an excuse to call in sick. 

However sleeplessness can have more serious 

consequences. Many workplace injuries have a direct 

link to fatigue as a result of inadequate restorative 

sleep. According to Workplace Health and Safety 

Queensland’s (WHSQ) Chief Medical Officer Ki Douglas, 

fatigue leads to poor judgement, poor performance on 

skilled tasks (especially new or unfamiliar tasks), and 

slower reaction times. “Fatigue stops you appreciating 

how serious a situation has become. It is harder to 

undertake complex tasks when fatigued.” 

Research clearly shows that the risk of work-related 

incidents is increased in people working more than 60 

hours a week, or working 12 hours or more in a day. 

Compared with an eight hour shift, incident rates 

are doubled after 12 hours at work if no other control 

measures are put in place. “For any single incident that 

WHSQ investigates, it is very difficult to prove that 

fatigue was causative as there are not tests that can be 

done. However it is generally a process of excluding 

other factors.” Douglas says WHSQ’s main message 

is that fatigue is a shared responsibility between both 

employer and employee. 

Tired and getting fat 

Scientists have for some time known that being 

overweight can cause sleeplessness, but recent studies 

have also found a correlation between poor sleep and 

obesity. Professor Dawson says while the research is 

controversial, it seems as though sleep deprivation may 

be a contributing factor to people’s weight gain and 

could also cause Type 2 diabetes. 

“There could be both physiological and psychological 

factors at play here. Firstly, researchers believe 

hormones may be playing a part, making our bodies 

misinterpret the feeling of tiredness for the need of 

food. Secondly, when we’re sleep deprived we simply 

can’t get motivated to exercise.” 

Sleep hygiene 

Like a continuous rollercoaster, people who suffer from 

sleeplessness feel like they can never stop to recoup 

their sleep loss. The hours awake continue to compound 

leaving them continually tired. However, experts 

believe that improving one’s sleep hygiene could hold 

the key to a good night’s sleep, improving the body’s 

restoration processes and providing suffers with some 

reprieve. 

Sleep hygiene is fundamentally habits that can help 

us to sleep or stop us from sleeping. Taking simple 

steps like improving bedtime routines, ensuring your 

bedroom is comfortable for sleep and learning how to 

relax, will increase your chances of getting the right 

amount of good sleep. 

ACCORDING TO DAWSON, ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS THAT CAN 

AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO FALL ASLEEP IS THE USE OF VARIOUS 

FORMS OF TECHNOLOGY JUST BEFORE WE CLOSE OUR EYES. 

“WATCHING TV, LISTENING TO THE RADIO, USING A COMPUTER 

OR TEXTING ON YOUR PHONE IN BED, MAY SEEM LIKE THE 

PERFECT WAY TO WIND DOWN, BUT THE RESEARCH SHOWS 

THIS COULD BE DOING JUST THE OPPOSITE.” 

DID YOU KNOW? 

People who exercise fall asleep faster 

More than half of Australians sleep with a fitted sheet, top 

sheet and doona combination 

The most popular activities in bed (aside from sleep and 

intimacy) are reading, watching TV, organising or folding 

clothing and using the computer 

16 per cent of Aussies require some sort of medication to 

fall asleep 

More than a quarter of Aussies talk in their sleep 

4 per cent of Aussies admit to sleep walking 

*Results from the Sealy Sleep Census 

ISSUE 13

12 

Be: Asleep 

LET SLEEPING BABIES LIE 

Some of the biggest sufferers of sleep deprivation are new 

parents. Those first few months after bringing a newborn home 

can be the most tiring time of your life, so it’s little wonder some 

parents regard themselves as ‘walking zombies’ during this 

period. However, new parents need to be on top of their game 

and therefore need to take control of their sleep – that may mean 

taking control of their babies’ sleep patterns too. 

Infant sleep expert Dr Sarah Blunden believes the answer to 

common infant sleep problems can be solved by using the COTSS 

(Creating Opportunities To Self-Soothe) method. The following 

steps show how to give babies (up to 3 months) the opportunity 

to learn self-soothing skills around sleep time. 

1. Start slowing and calming your activity around baby as sleep 

time approaches 

2. Make sure baby has a clean nappy, has been fed and burped 

3. Take baby to their sleep room 

4. Wrap baby and provide a sleep aid (dummy) if they have one 

5. Cuddle or rock until baby is very calm or drowsy 

6. Say ‘Ssh – it’s sleep time’ or your choice of sleep words 

7. Put baby in cot awake, but almost asleep 

8. Pat or rub baby on the back if you like, and repeat sleep words 

9. Leave baby to see if they can settle on their own 

10. If your baby cries, you can settle them with some more 

patting, rocking and calming words while they are still in bed 

11. If the crying escalates and baby sounds distressed, repeat 

steps 5 to 8 

NB You can repeat the steps as many times as you like until your 

baby is calm enough to fall asleep, but if it does not seem to be 

working, let her fall asleep however she can and try again at a 

later date. This method does not recommend leaving young 

babies to cry alone. 

Dr Blunden is a senior research fellow with 

CQUniversity’s Appleton Institute and is the director 

of the Paediatric Sleep Clinic in Adelaide. She is also 

the co-author of the new book The Sensible Sleep 

Solution – A guide to sleep in your baby’s first year. 

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ISSUE 13

Be: Committed 

13 

PHOTO:PETERY WALTON/GETTY IMAGES 

Complacency 

– not an option 

The Australian cattle industry can’t be complacent about 

the issues that affect its live export trade, and Cattle 

Council of Australia’s President Andrew Ogilvie believes 

the industry needs to continually strive for the best 

solutions for the welfare of its livestock. 

The Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) supports an 

ongoing, healthy and productive live export industry 

and it is clear that we must invest to assure the best 

welfare outcomes for our livestock. As beef producers 

we consider the welfare of our animals to be of critical importance. A 

whole-of-industry commitment to improving and assuring animal 

welfare in our markets is imperative to the longevity of an industry 

that brings in millions of dollars and supports thousands of farming 

families and communities across Australia, particularly in the north. 

Last years’ live export trade suspension impacted on many of 

these families and communities in northern Australia, and the cattle 

industry worked hard with the Government and key stakeholders 

to deliver a system that protects the welfare of exported livestock. 

Over the past 10 months Meat Livestock Australia (MLA), under 

the direction of the CCA, has continued to work in-market to assist 

exporters and importers deliver the new regulatory framework for 

exported Australian livestock. This work has enabled industry to 

resume its cattle exports through an approved and independently 

audited system that meets international animal welfare standards, 

while maintaining this vital market for Australian producers. 

But we cannot become complacent. Instead, the industry has 

to make sure that we continue to deliver increased improvements 

in line with regulatory requirements and social expectations. That’s 

why we at the Cattle Council are continuing our commitment to 

progress stunning in overseas abattoirs as fast as possible. 

In Indonesia for example, there has previously been numerous 

impediments to the uptake of stunning in abattoirs; however, in 

the past 10 months there has been a significant uptake in the use 

of stunning – from a very low base of around 10 per cent of facilities 

using stunning, we now have 77 per cent of approved abattoirs using 

stunning, affecting in the order of 90 per cent of Australian cattle. 

Industry is supporting the adoption of the new regulations 

through the development and extension of Standard Operating 

Procedures that align with the international animal health 

organisation animal welfare requirements. This support includes 

training, education and technical advice developed by industry and 

delivered by locally-based animal welfare officers. Establishing this 

new system has required significant investment by both Australian 

and Indonesian industries and demonstrates the serious commitment 

of exporters and importers to get the system right to ensure the right 

welfare outcomes for Australian livestock. 

Implementation of the new framework – to be rolled out 

across all live export markets in 2012 – will provide the livestock 

export industry with a long term future. As President of CCA, the 

peak industry for cattle producers across the country, I believe that 

the industry can be proud of the huge gains that have been made 

towards animal welfare over several years, and particularly in the 

last year. Our ongoing work in overseas markets is delivering better 

welfare for Australian livestock and animals from other countries. 

Our industry will continue to focus on animal welfare as well as 

meeting food security needs of our global neighbours. 

ISSUE 13

14 

Be: Supportive 

Learning ‘write’ 

from wrong 

PHOTO: MELISSA WOODS 

As a child, school was ‘hell on earth’ for Brett Comerford, 

so the classroom was the last place he expected to find a 

career, discovers Marc Barnbaum. 

Look at this list of famous people and think about what 

they have in common ... Henry Ford, Leonardo da Vinci, 

Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Richard 

Branson. Apart from the obvious fact that they all 

excelled in their fields, they all reportedly had dyslexia, which 

means they all struggled with reading, language and words. 

While dyslexia has been recognised for a long time, it was 

not on Brett Comerford’s radar as a young man. He just thought 

he was bad at school. “I would rather have died than to read out 

aloud. School life was hell on earth for me. I daydreamed and 

often got into trouble because I could not do the work. 

“My teachers would often say that I was a ‘dumb, stupid, lazy, 

good-for-nothing no-hoper’. I can still remember the day that my 

Year 4 teacher said in front of the class: ‘Comerford, all you will be 

good for is painting white lines in the middle of the road’. He had 

me repeat that year which was embarrassing. I got no extra help 

at school, just more caning. 

“I was failing high school in a big way; 

DID YOU KNOW? 

the deputy principal was a family friend 

and he knew the store manager at a local 

sugar mill. He kindly gave me a start as a 

cadet purchasing officer. I was way out of 

my comfort zone as I wasn’t sure how I was 

going to handle all the paperwork and the 

maths side of warehousing, but I did. 

“I wanted to succeed because going 

back to school was not an option for me. 

So I learnt how to get out of doing things 

I knew I couldn’t handle; I found ways 

to cover up my shortcomings. From the 

sugar mill I went to a coal terminal doing 

similar work just on a larger scale. Having 

a computerised system helped me to cope 

Dyslexia affects about 10% of the 

Australian population 

Dyslexia is resistant to traditional 

teaching and tutoring 

Up to 90% of children in learning 

support could have dyslexia 

Early identification and 

intervention is key for children with 

dyslexia 

Dyslexia is recognised in Australia 

under the Disability Discrimination 

Act 1992 (DDA) and under the 

Human Rights Commission. 

To learn more about dyslexia go to 

www.dyslexiaassociation.org.au . 

with the work. I had no job satisfaction, but felt I wasn’t capable 

of doing anything else. My wife always believed I would make a 

great teacher, but I wouldn’t leave my job in fear of failing at uni.” 

At the age of 36, Brett was retrenched. He was 

devastated, but his wife felt it was a blessing in disguise as he 

then had no excuse but to give uni a go. Brett says CQUniversity 

gave him the support he needed to cope with studying as a 

dyslexic student. 

“In the first year of my university degree I remember seeking 

the help of the University counsellor at CQUniversity Mackay as 

I was having difficulty managing all the reading, having lots of 

headaches and feeling like the only thing to do was to drop out of 

uni,” he says. 

“With her help I was diagnosed and given all the support 

needed to cope. I was unaware of what the Uni could actually 

offer me by way of increasing the size of my text books, having 

them photocopied onto blue paper, given 

breaks during exam time etc. The diagnosis 

opened up a new world as it showed me 

that I could learn.” 

Since completing his Bachelor of 

Education (Early Childhood) degree, 

Brett has worked as a primary school 

teacher in Mackay, helping other students 

gain the confidence to succeed. He has 

also completed a Graduate Diploma 

in Learning Management (Special 

Education) and is currently undertaking 

postgraduate studies in ‘Multisensory 

Structured Learning Education’ through 

the Australian Dyslexic Association, to 

assist students who have dyslexia either as 

children or adults. 

ISSUE 13

Be: Challenged 

15 

Helping 

Hands 

Nursing education is 

taking students to faraway 

places where they learn in 

challenging environments 

and get a taste for 

humanitarian adventures. A 

contingent of CQUniversity 

Nursing and Midwifery 

students recently visited 

a remote community in 

Nepal where they had the 

opportunity to lend a hand 

at local hospitals and health 

clinics. For the 20 students 

it was much more than your 

traditional field trip, it was 

an experience that would 

change the way they looked 

at their profession and the 

world they live in. This is 

their story in pictures. 

Words by Sherrie Lee 

Photos by Kerry Reid-Searl. 

Nursing student Anna Searl is blessed by a monk 

at Durbar Square in Nepal. 

ISSUE 13

16 

Be: Challenged 

WARM WELCOME 

While visiting a Tibetan old 

people’s home we were greeted 

by this woman who was a 

resident there. She greeted us 

with a ‘namaste’, a traditional 

welcome, with her hands in the 

prayer position. She’s pictured 

here holding traditional beads 

that are often worn by the 

Nepalese. 

SOMETHING IN COMMON 

We enjoyed comparing Nepalese 

and Australian birthing practices 

during our trip. This 87-yearold 

midwife from Nepal spoke 

to Heidi Park about delivering 

70 babies (with only one death 

due to complications) and also 

gave her some insight into the 

use of position and massage in 

birthing. It was a remarkable 

encounter for both ladies. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN 

We caught a ride to the small 

village of Lumre where we 

took part in a free heath camp. 

Jeeps were the preferred form 

of transport due to the many 

hills and creeks that needed 

to be conquered between each 

stop. Afterward, we travelled to 

Ghalel Village to stay with local 

Nepalese families. 

MEETING THE 

LOCALS 

We always enjoyed 

meeting the local 

villagers. Here, our 

lecturer Kerry Reid- 

Searl meets up with 

a group of local 

children on the road 

to Ghalel Village. 

CHILDREN’S FACES 

We enjoyed meeting 

young children in the 

villages and learning 

more about their lives 

in Nepal. Here, Karen 

Flockhart is pictured 

with a new friend. 

ISSUE 13

17 

GETTING A CHECK UP 

We checked a Nepalese woman’s 

blood pressure and heart rate, 

before she saw the local doctor 

at one of the free health camps. 

During the trip we got to 

experience a variety of ailments, 

many of which have been 

eradicated in the western world. 

It was an amazing experience. 

We also got to work at a private 

and public hospital and a leprosy 

clinic. Although the medical 

equipment used in these facilities 

was outdated compared to 

western standards, the medical 

staff provided excellent care for 

their patients. 

DOUBLE BLESSING 

While hoping to use our talents 

to bless the people of Nepal, we 

often found it was us that were 

blessed. Here, Adrienne Luck and 

Anna Searl receive a blessing 

from a Nepalese monk. 

AT PEACE 

A gentleman from Ghalel Village 

seems to have a lifetime of 

wisdom and is at peace in his 

village. 

EXPLORING THE SCENERY 

It wasn’t all work and no play for us. 

Here, Katrina Andrews, Anna Searl, Christina Kelly 

and Abbie Bradshaw find themselves swaying on a 

suspension bridge while exploring one of the more 

remote villages in the itinerary. We enjoyed taking 

in the natural beauty of the region while waiting for 

the local doctor to arrive. 

HEIGHT OF FESTIVITY 

We trekked some distance to be 

a part of the Festival of Peace at 

the Peace Pagoda – a Buddhist 

place of worship. It was a 

magnificent display of flags and 

colour. 

FAREWELL NEPAL 

The villagers of Ahalel showered 

us with lays of marigolds and 

blessed us with red markings 

on our foreheads as part of a 

farewell ceremony. Pictured 

here is Adrienne Luck, Julia Page, 

Anna Searl and lecturer 

Carol McPherson. 

ISSUE 13

18 

Be: Centrespread 

ISSUE 13

19 

Circle of Friendship 

by Kerry Reid-Searl 

Camera – Canon EOS 5 D Mark II 

Lens – 55mm 

F Stop – f5 

Shutter speed: 1/50 sec 

“Before we made the trek through to Ghalel, our 

staff and students joined with some of the local 

village children at the free health camp to play 

some games. The photo captures the mountainous 

landscape, village life and the hands of friendship 

extended by both our group and the villagers.” 

If you’d like to see your photographic work 

published as the centrespread of an upcoming 

edition of Be, get your shutters snapping and send 

us your best work. We’ll need the name of your 

photograph and a line or two about it. Send your 

submissions to be@cqu.edu.au . 

More Nepal photos at Be Extras : 


ISSUE 13

20 

Be: Online 

Clicks vs Bricks 

li 

C i 

We’ 

’ve seen it with books 

and 

techno gadgets and 

now 

fashion stores are 

feeling the pressure 

from online shopping. 

Aussies are buying 

more and more 

online, 

shaking traditional 

bricks and 

mortar stores 

to their 

core and making 

them rethink khow they 

do business, 

s, writes 

Priscilla Crighton. 

ISSUE 13

21 

For those of you who enjoy the hustle 

and bustle of shopping centres, take 

comfort from seeing, smelling and 

tasting your purchase, and if your 

wishlist is still a handwritten note 

stuck on the refrigerator, you are living 

in unfamiliar times. Online shopping is gaining in 

popularity with everything from groceries to sports 

cars available via the click of a button. It may not be 

as instant as an over-the-counter purchase, but for 

those who can wait for the post or courier to arrive, 

there are definitely benefits for the hip pocket. 

Findings from the 2011 World Internet Project 

show that a quarter of Australians are buying online 

at least once a week, compared to 17% of Americans, 

and a further 53 per cent are buying something over 

the Internet at least once a month. Senior Research 

Fellow with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative 

Industries and Innovation (CCI) Scott Ewing says this 

doesn’t mean that Aussies are necessarily spending 

more online than in retail shops, but it’s clearly a trend 

in consumer behaviour. 

CQUniversity expert in consumer behaviour Dr En Li 

says while it’s clear online stores are meeting the needs 

of many shoppers, traditional bricks and mortar stores 

who sell products that rely heavily on sensations – the 

need to smell, taste or touch the products – will still 

fare well. “The context of online shopping typically 

only provides shoppers visual aspects of products, while 

ignoring or not able to provide stimulations on other 

sensory systems.” 

Dr Li also warns that online shopping can be highly 

distracting for some shoppers as many people try to 

multi-task while shopping. “What we’re seeing is that 

people are contending with moving banners, pop-up 

videos and are also trying to check Facebook and their 

email while shopping. According to recent studies, 

interruptions in decision making could drive consumers 

to focus on products’ desirability rather than feasibility, 

causing people to purchase products that they didn’t 

really want or at prices exceeding their budget.” 

Sometimes regarded as the birthplace of online 

shopping, eBay has become a household name and 

continues to be listed amongst Australia’s most visited 

online stores with an increasing number of shoppers 

using its mobile phone app to research and purchase 

products. eBay Vice President Deborah Sharkey says 

smart phone technology is making consumers savvier 

than ever. “Retail purchases have been assumed to sit in 

one of two camps, offline or online, but this distinction 

no longer exists. With portable shop windows sitting in 

consumers’ pockets, Australians are more empowered 

than ever before to research products and get the best 

possible price before completing their transaction.” 

According to a recent eBay report, an item is 

purchased every four seconds in Australia via an 

eBay mobile phone app with a whopping 1.3 million 

Australians using their mobile phones to research and 

purchase items in 2011. Phones were used to purchase 

fashion, technology and home and garden products, but 

the most expensive item bought on a phone in 2011 was 

a Mercedes-Benz convertible which sold for $50,989. 

Traditional retail outlets are feeling the pinch 

as their prices are being undercut from a growing 

contingent of online stores both here in Australia 

and overseas. Just one of the recent victims of this 

phenomenon is Speciality Fashion Group, the owner of 

ladies fashion outlets Katies and Millers. The company 

plans to axe 120 of its outlets over the next three years 

and take more of its business online. CEO Gary Perlstein 

says it’s all part of plan to ensure long-term growth. 

While companies struggle with solutions to regain 

their customers, online stores and shoppers are 

laughing all the way to the bank. It’s inevitable that 

traditional retailers will need to find ways to compete 

either with price or service, or both. 

More at Be Extras: www.be.cqu.edu.au 

TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ONLINE 

FACEBOOK – LIKE THIS PAGE 

When you ‘Like’ a retailer’s Facebook page 

you can simply watch for bargains and 

discounts to appear in the status updates. 

TWITTER – FOLLOW THE LEADERS 

Follow your favourite retailer on Twitter 

and wait for the bargains to come to your 

Twitter feed. 

INBOX BARGAINS 

Subscribe to newsletter emails from 

your favourite stores. Be warned – you 

might want to set up a separate email 

address to receive these emails in case of 

email overload. 

SPECIAL CATEGORIES 

Look out for clearance, over-stocked and 

reconditioned categories at your favourite 

online stores. 

COMPARISON SHOPPING 

Seek out a comparison website like 

shopping.com to find the best price on the 

product you want, but make sure you still 

purchase from a reputable outlet. 

COUPONS AND VOUCHERS 

Some websites specialise in finding 

retailers who are currently offering coupon 

deals. Previously only available on the back 

of supermarket dockets, now there is a 

huge Internet market for this. 

GOOGLE IT 

Before you commit to buy anything 

online, make sure you do your research 

about the product and the online store. 

Search for product reviews and customer 

satisfaction feedback. 

(Source: www.onlineshoppingaustralia.com.au) 

ISSUE 13

22 

Be: Well Read 

Good Will 

Reading 

CQUniversity has joined with libraries across 

Australia in a national campaign to highlight 

the great things that are happening around 

books, reading and literacy; and in this edition 

of Be editor Priscilla Crighton speaks with 

well-known and much-loved Australian actor, 

author and patron of the 2012 Year of Reading 

William Mcinnes about his first experiences 

with reading and his growing love of the 

written word. 

WIN A SIGNED COPY 

Be magazine is giving you 

the chance to win a signed 

copy of William’s new book 

Worse Things Happen At Sea. 

In 25 words or less, tell us 

why you love reading. Email 

your entry to be@cqu.edu.au 

before 30th June, 2012 to be 

in with a chance. 

View the eight titles in the 

National Year of Reading 

2012 Collection at Be Extras. 


ISSUE 13

23 

Q What are your earliest memories of 

reading? 

A I think at about three I was 

impressed by Tolstoy’s War and 

Peace. Look I don’t know, I can 

vaguely remember a book about 

a couple of rabbits running from 

a band of gypsies. They had a 

friendly donkey and a carrot on a 

fishing line. I know I liked Digit 

Dick on the Barrier Reef. There were 

a lot of Little Golden Books like 

Lil Toot about a tug boat. That’s 

when I was quite small. 

Q Did you have a favourite book or 

author as a child? 

A I quite liked the Smocker books 

which was a series about a smart 

alec cat. But I think my favourite 

book would have been Treasure 

Island by R L Stevenson. Had it all, 

pirates, treasure and when I think 

about it quite a lot about loyalty 

and friendship and childhood; 

about growing up and time 

passing. 

Q When was the first time you put pen 

to paper to write? What was your first 

piece? 

A It would have been a birthday 

list. I probably wanted a GI Joe 

doll. I think something at primary school about my 

holiday or some such blather would have been my 

first proper writing. 

Q Remembering back to your time here at CQUniversity as a 

student, did reading/writing play a big part in your life? 

[William studied an Arts degree in Rockhampton in the 

mid 1980s] Or, like many young people, was university a 

time of ‘maturing’? 

A My time at CQUni was a hoot. I wrote articles for 

a campus newspaper called Four Wind and almost 

all of them were made up, so I guess a lot of the 

time was taken up with writing. As for maturing, 

well I am still a work in progress. I know at uni a 

lot of creative thought went into partying and use 

of recreational substances for societal research 

purposes. 

Q As an adult, what do you love about reading and the art of 

writing? 

A Reading is something that allows you to give 

yourself an escape from life or to immerse yourself 

in it more. Reading lets you know that you are 

never alone wherever you may find yourself. It 

helps you understand where you’ve been, where 

you are and where you may be headed. It’s also a lot 

of fun. Writing? Well writing is a lot of hard work 

for a pathologically lazy man like me so the big plus 

is just telling a story. That is why I do it I think – 

to tell stories and hopefully have people read and 

enjoy them. 

“READING LETS 

YOU KNOW 

THAT YOU ARE 

NEVER ALONE 

WHEREVER 

YOU MAY FIND 

YOURSELF.” 

Q Now as an author, what do you hope 

your readers take away from your 

writing? 

A I’d like to think people would 

come away from reading something 

I’ve written with a bit of enjoyment 

really. And not be narked off 

with whatever amount of money 

they have parted with to read what it 

is I have written. 

Q Is there a link between what you do as 

an actor and as an author – just different 

means of storytelling? 

A Acting is a group project, 

although most actors probably think 

they are the centre of whatever is 

going on. It’s fun being a part of a 

team of people. Sometimes it can be 

a bit of a bore, but then that’s the 

plus of writing. Writing is a case of 

being on your own by and large. If 

you don’t write, you’ve got nothing. 

Both things are a way of storytelling 

and that is the key to enjoying them 

I think. 

Q Can you tell us about your new 

book Worse Things Happen At Sea? 

What do you hope people learn from 

reading it? 

A Worse Things Happen at Sea 

is a book about people sharing a life together 

and starting a family and living a life. That 

means, lots of things I suppose, but it is definitely 

not a guide to living a life the William McInnes way 

or some ghost-written misery tomb. It’s a book 

that I hope people may recognize a bit of their own 

stories in and a way of celebrating that idea that life 

is always a glass half full proposition. 

In his first book A Man’s Got to Have a Hobby, William 

wrote about family life in the 1960s. Worse Things 

Happen At Sea does the same for family life in the 

2000s. Written by William and his late wife Sarah 

Watt, who passed away in November 2011, it’s 

portrayed in a way that many Australians can 

relate to and enjoy. The book celebrates the 

wonderful, messy, haphazard things in life – 

bringing home babies from hospital, being 

a friend, a parent, son or daughter, and dog 

obedience classes. It's about living for 20 years in the 

family home, raising children there, chasing angry rabbits 

around the backyard and renovations that never end. It is 

also about understanding that sometimes you have to say 

goodbye; that is part of life too. The book has been illustrated 

throughout with Sarah’s photographs of family life and 

beautiful, everyday objects. 

Worse Things Happen At Sea recently took out the award 

for best non-fiction book by Australia’s independent 

booksellers. 

INSET PHOTO: HATCHETTE AUSTRALIA 

ISSUE 13

24 

Be: Memories 

LO 

LOOKING BACK 

From Kieren Perkins’ gold medal contribution to Australia’s 

highest Olympic medal tally since 1956, to Queensland holding its 

very first referendum on daylight saving, 1992 saw Australia face 

both triumphs and challenges. It also marked the time when an 

ambitious, young tertiary institution officially received its university 

status, marking the birth of Unveristy of Central Queensland, now 

known as CQUniversity Australia, discovers Renee Drochmann – 

who was also born in that year. 

199 

Politics 

Australia’s economy recovered 

strongly after the early 1990s recession, 

while Paul Keating’s Government passed 

a law requiring employers to make 

superannuation contributions on behalf 

of their workers. Meanwhile, the Prime 

Minister broke royal protocol by placing 

his hand on the Queen’s back, causing 

an outraged British tabloid newspaper 

to dub him the ‘Lizard of Oz’. 

Immigration levels in Australia 

became a national debate when 

Liberal Party candidate Pauline 

Hanson founded the One Nation Party, 

while Keating introduced mandatory 

detention for asylum seekers after an 

influx of Vietnamese, Chinese and 

Cambodian refugees. Queensland 

trialled daylight saving for the first time 

and a referendum was held with 54.5 per 

cent of Queenslanders voting against it. 

Queensland also went to the polls which 

saw the Labour Party’s Wayne Goss 

return as premier for a second term. 

Entertainment 

The First Big Day Out festival was held at the 

Sydney Showgrounds with headliners Violent 

Femmes and Nirvana. Aria chart toppers for 

the year were Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus 

and November Rain – Guns and Roses. Australian 

movies like Strictly Ballroom, Spotswood and 

Romper Stomper made waves at home and abroad. 

Nichole Kidman starred with then-husband 

Tom Cruise in Ron Howard’s Far and Away, 

while Heath Ledger debuted in Clowning Around. 

AT 

Sport 

West Coast Eagles defeated Geelong 

113 to 85 in the first grand final to be 

won by a team outside of Victoria. 

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos became 

the first Queensland side to win the NRL 

premiership after they defeated St George 

Dragons 28 to 8. In the cricket, Australia 

beat India 2-0 to win the World Series 

Cup. The Olympic Games in Barcelona, 

Spain, saw Australia send a team of 290 

athletes to the Games – 194 men and 96 

women. Competitors took part in 153 

events in 25 sports, claiming 

seven gold, nine silver and 11 

bronze. Popular heroes such 

as 1500m freestyle idol Kieren 

Perkins and rowing’s ‘Oarsome 

Foursome’ captured the 

public’s imagination. 

ISSUE 13

Science and technology 

Apart from the primitive efforts of a few early adopters, the 

Internet essentially didn’t exist in 1992. Monthly Internet traffic 

was a mere four terabytes and all the data traversing the global net 

totalled 48 terabytes. (Today, YouTube alone streams 48 terabytes of 

data every 21 seconds.) The first Internet browser program went on sale 

which later transformed the World Wide Web. Four gigabytes of flash 

memory cost a whopping $500,000, meaning a hypothetical iPod Nano 

circa 1992 would have set back a Nirvana fan around $3 million. The world’s 

first multi-focal contact lens was invented by optical research scientist 

Stephen Newman from Queensland. The Fred Hollows Foundation was set 

up to continue the work of the surgeon who pioneered treatment of cataract 

blindness in Indigenous communities mu 

and developing countries. 

25 

2 

Culture 

The Prime Minister was the subject 

of the Archibald Prize-winning portrait 

by Bryan Westwood. Australian of 

the Year was awarded to Aboriginal 

ambassador and Yothu Yindi lead 

singer Mandawuy Yunupingu, while 

the Young Australian of the Year was 

awarded to swimmer Kieren Perkins. 

Children’s author Paul Jennings 

won two Young Australians’ Best 

Book Awards for his Quirky Tails and 

Unmentionable!. The Australian Ballet 

commissioned its second Nutcracker – 

an Australian interpretation of the 

traditional story. It opened at the 

Sydney Opera House on March 12. 

CQUni’s 20th Anniversary 

Although founded in 1967 as the 

Queensland Institute of Technology 

(Capricornia), 1992 was the year CQUniversity 

gained full university status – that makes 

2012 its 20th anniversary as a university. 

However, it wasn’t its only name change. 

1967 – Queensland Institute of Technology 

1970 – Capricornia Institute of Advanced 

Education 

1990 – University College of Central 

Queensland 

1992 – University of Central Queensland 

1994 – Central Queensland University 

2008 – CQUniversity Australia 

Some of the biggest milestones for the 

University over the past 20 years include: 

The opening of multiple campuses across 

Australia and overseas 

The arrival of the Internet to campus in 1994 

The introduction of online learning in the 

late 1990s 

Hosting the national CRC for rail research in 

the early 2000s 

Vice-Chancellor Glenice Hancock becoming 

Queensland’s first female VC in 2001 

Winning State and National awards for its 

leadership in international student education 

Becoming the first Australian regional 

university to open CBD campuses in capital 

cities 

The State of Affairs 

A cost of living comparison 

The year 1992 The year 2012 

A stamp 45 cents 60 cents 

Petrol 62 cents a litre $1.49 a litre 

Milk $1 a litre $1 a litre 

Yearly inflation rate 3.03% 3.1% 

Reserve Bank 6% 4.25% 

interest rate 

Average annual $30,030 $68,791 

income 

Average monthly $424 $1464 

rent 

Average house price $224,000 $462,000 

*Figures correct at time of publication 

ISSUE 13

26 

Be: Sport 

Step aside soccer, football and 

tennis, there is new competition 

in town. From the weird and 

the wacky, to the immensely 

popular and downright brutal, 

writer Martin Elms takes a 

look at the new sports that are 

taking the world by storm. 

ISSUE 13

27 

Gustavo-Falciroli-vs-Soo-Chul-Kim 

CAGE FIGHTING 

For those unfamiliar with the sport, cage 

fighting involves two fighters – of any 

discipline – stepping into a caged “octagon” 

and hurting each other as best they can. 

Fighters are judged on how well they inflict 

pain and suffering on their opponent, and 

very few rules apply. But it is more than just 

two pub fighters throwing haymakers in a 

cage. Like any professional sport it involves 

dedication, training and skill. Cage fighting 

is officially the fastest growing sport in the 

world. The most popular competition, UFC, 

beams live fights each week to 150 countries 

in 22 different languages to an audience of 

millions. CQUniversity’s Professor Pierre 

Viljoen is perhaps Central Queensland’s 

biggest UFC fan. “I suppose people are so taken 

with the sport because of the ‘reality’ of the 

encounters – they only use four ounce gloves 

and just about everything goes.” 

LINGERIE FOOTBALL 

Say what you like about the overtly 

sexist sport of lingerie football, but it is hugely 

popular, seriously competitive and it is big 

business in the US. Like it or not, lingerie 

football is officially the fastest growing sports 

league in the US, drawing sell-out crowds and 

attracting millions of TV viewers. And don’t be 

fooled into thinking the players are just pretty 

faces having a playful giggle on the field – these 

girls are super fit, super competitive and superskilled 

at their sport. It’s a shame they aren’t 

taken more seriously! 

ROLLER DERBY 

Once popular in the 1950s, this grudge match 

on wheels is making a huge comeback as an 

underground cult sport for women. With the 

trademark fishnet stockings and tongue-incheek 

stage-names like “Cybil Disobedience”, 

“Hanna Belle Lector” and “Elleanor Bruisevelt”, 

it’s easy to see why this colourful game of 

skill, speed and strength is snowballing in 

popularity today. Sabrina “Rink Bitz” Toby 

from Rockhampton Roller Derby says the local 

league has gone from strength to strength since 

starting over a year ago. “Some of our players 

have progressed extremely well. We started 

with a bunch of ladies with few skills – some 

couldn’t even skate – and now have players 

fully bout worthy.” 

CHEESE ROLLING 

Once a year for the past 200 years, a large, 

round block of Double Gloucester hard cheese 

is rolled down a seriously steep hill on the 

outskirts of Brockworth in England. 50 brave 

(or stupid) individuals fearlessly tumble 200 

yards down the hill after it. The first to the 

bottom with the cheese assumes victory, glory, 

and presumably the cheese. It may not be a 

new “sport”, but in recent years the spectacle 

has expanded beyond the local townsfolk to 

draw huge crowds from around the world. It’s 

even taken off in Canada. Dairy farmers use the 

event to market Canadian cheeses to the world. 

ISSUE 13

28 

Be: Sport 

BOG SNORKELLING 

Just when you think human civilization has 

reached its cultural nadir, along comes the 

sport of bog snorkelling. Competitors in this 

bizarre sport don snorkels and flippers and race 

down filthy trenches filled with disgusting, 

murky brown water dug out of the Waen Rhydd 

peat bog near Llanwrtyd in Wales. The sport’s 

hero is the great Andrew Holmes who holds 

the world record time of 1 minute 24 seconds 

for swimming a length of unmentionable 

filth. It should surprise nobody to learn this 

sport began with a wager between inebriated 

patrons at a Welsh pub, but for contemporary 

bog snorkellers, like Jeremy Gardner, it’s action 

that shouldn’t be missed. “A sport like bog 

snorkelling really doesn’t sound that attractive; 

it’s cold, murky and you can’t see a single 

thing. Despite all this, it is fantastic fun.” 

SHEEP SHEARING 

It may not have taken the world by storm 

yet, but New Zealanders are so taken by 

the competitiveness of sheep shearing that 

they have called for it to become an Olympic 

sport. The country’s top sports funding 

body, the SPARC, already recognises sheep 

shearing as a sport, providing it with grants 

to run competitions. “Surely, the time has 

come to elevate shearing’s sporting status 

to the ultimate world stage,” New Zealand 

Farmers Federation spokeswoman Jeanette 

Maxwell said of the Olympic bid. 

EXTREME IRONING 

Half sport, half performance art, extreme ironing is when an 

adventurer takes an ironing board to a remote and dangerous 

location (such as the top of a mountain, the rim of an active 

volcano, or an underwater cave) to, well, iron a shirt. 

According to the official website, extreme ironing is “the 

latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme 

outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed 

shirt.” 

More bizarre sport photos at Be Extras : 


ISSUE 13

Be: Engaged 

29 

Read, 

write 

and 

tweet 

As social media begins to find its place inside Australian classrooms, students 

will find participating in class the ‘cool’ thing to do, discovers Jacob Lowry. 

PHOTO: PETER LAWRENCE 

The way we connect 

with each other is 

rapidly changing. 

Gone are the days 

when we needed to meet up 

in person or pick up the phone 

on the wall to catch up. All 

you need in 2012 is a pair of 

opposable thumbs and you 

can have a thriving social life. 

Social media is the way of 

the future, allowing millions 

to connect with millions 

more. It’s now the preferred 

method of communication 

for teenage socialites and is 

rapidly encompassing other age 

groups as well. But could it be 

the future of education? 

Research conducted by Dr 

Michael Cowling and Jeremy 

Novak from CQUniversity’s International Education Research 

Centre has revealed a method of teaching and learning that could 

make schoolwork more accessible and attractive than ever before. 

Twitter, the social networking site home to Ashton Kutcher’s rants 

and over 200 million ‘tweets’ per day, could revolutionise the way 

class discussion is approached by both teachers and students. 

The pair used Twitter as the main discussion medium over 

a single semester in a Diploma-level management course on 

CQUniversity’s metropolitan campuses. Instead of using the ‘raised 

hand’ method, students would respond to questions on Twitter, 

using cyber-threads to replace vocal debate. The researchers 

discovered that the in-class participation rate was much higher 

than using traditional discussion, and found the learning experience 

was far more engaging and involved. 

On the back of their successful study, Dr Cowling believes the 

time is nigh for Twitter to become commonplace not only in the 

lecture theatre, but in the high school classroom as well. He believes 

that using social media could unlock the potential of thousands of 

disengaged students. 

“Our research is part of a 

broader focus on technology in 

education going forward,” he says. 

“We know most students are active 

on social media anyway, so by 

giving them another use for it we 

can hopefully encourage higher 

participation rates in classes. Quite 

often we see students who have 

valuable input to a class discussion, 

but are too shy to voice it. As the 

old adage goes, if ‘one person 

raises their hand, there are 10 

more thinking the same thing’, so 

hopefully by implementing Twitter 

into these sorts of situations we’re 

giving these students a voice.” 

The work of Cowling 

and Novak follows a recent 

announcement by Apple in January 

that they intend to release ‘digital 

textbooks’ on iPads, allowing students to view animations, videos 

and extra material that can enhance traditional text-based study 

notes. “For teachers, the students sitting in front of them today 

are different. They are digital natives, they’ve grown up using this 

technology, they’re comfortable with it. This is the culture of the 21st 

century student, so let’s use it to engage them.” 

Initial indicators have the researchers optimistic about the 

adoption of Twitter into pedagogy, yet how will the students fare 

with having social media sanctioned during class time? The duo’s 

theory brings into question the effect Twitter could have on the 

educational institution as a whole. Are students likely to use it to 

engage with teachers more? Or will it just be a better way to kill time 

between lunch breaks? 

Cowling concedes that teaching methods will need to be 

drastically altered to make this a mainstream teaching method. 

The aging demographic of high school and tertiary educators 

and the possible distractions of the Twitter-sphere could make 

the adoption of Twitter quite a challenge, but rewarding for both 

teachers and students. 

ISSUE 13

30 

Be: Parenting 

Homework 

horrors 

Dr Ali Black is a senior lecturer in the 

School of Education at CQUniversity 

Gladstone. She is also a former early 

childhood teacher and a parent. 

While families can sometimes come to loggerheads over the 

homework table, there is still value to be found in meaningful 

out-of-school learning, writes Ali Black 

Homework is one of those activities that 

can be a source of dread for parents as well 

as children. It is also an activity that many 

parents expect and want as proof of good 

teaching and learning. However, how many of us have 

good experiences with homework? I have heard too 

many stories of people stressing for hours at the kitchen 

table, trying to make sense of homework (and that’s 

just the parents!). Recently, my 11-year-old was in tears 

trying to make sense of a task sheet his teacher had 

given him. It was work that was unfamiliar to him; he 

had left it to the 11th hour to begin, discovered there was 

a lot to do, and he was overwhelmed. After reading 

the homework and finding out the due date – the next 

morning – I was overwhelmed too. 

We all have busy lives, children too. My view is 

that we need to value childhood. It happens once. 

Family interactions are also precious. A balanced view 

is essential. If homework is repeatedly a time of stress 

and struggle then it requires a rethink. We want our 

kids to feel good about themselves and their learning, 

and sometimes homework experiences challenge 

those good feelings. Homework, especially at primary 

school, doesn’t necessarily support higher achievement 

levels. If there is too much, or it is too hard, and it 

takes too long, it can get to be overwhelming and can 

squeeze out those healthy childhood experiences such 

as playtime, relaxation, hobbies and just hanging out 

together. 

However, homework works well when it is 

meaningful and builds on what children are learning 

in class and helps them practise and consolidate 

knowledge and skills. It can also support the 

development of planning, research and organisational 

skills, and strategies for working to deadlines and 

timelines. It also offers a space for parents to see what 

children are learning and what they know, to discuss 

ideas and concepts and to work on projects together. 

Homework isn’t always easy, so teachers need 

to ensure they offer strategies for children to use, 

offering steps and explanations for how tasks might be 

approached, or what needs to be done. Parents have a 

role too. We can support the development of optimistic 

dispositions and encourage our children as they work 

through ideas and challenges. 

Learning can be hard, and often is hard. We can be 

a positive voice and help our children think positively 

about themselves as learners, about problem solving 

and about academic work. We can also find out more 

about homework: how long it should take, what 

concepts or skills the child should be focusing on, and 

whether homework could build on children’s interests 

or include some fun elements – like learning fractions 

through a cooking activity or dividing up a pizza. 

We can help our kids by identifying the best time 

to do homework. Maybe that time is straight after 

school, or it could be before school, or maybe there is 

a need to play and relax first. We can help by creating 

the right environment – a study space with good light, 

enough space, the right resources (computer, paper, 

pens, calculator) and few distractions. We can help by 

focusing on our children’s efforts and acknowledging 

their good strategies and ideas. 

Share your homework concerns with 

the Friends of Be Magazine group on 

Facebook. 

HOMEWORK 

TIPS 

Find out the 

teacher’s view 

on homework 

If homework 

equals tears and 

stress then talk 

to the teacher 

about a solution 

Be a positive 

voice and 

source of 

encouragement 

Take an interest 

in your child’s 

learning and 

what they do for 

homework 

Find the 

best time for 

homework 

Create a good 

study space at 

home 

Break tasks 

down into 

manageable bits 

ISSUE 13

Be: Informed 

31 

Time to 

Think 

Tax 

CARTOON: DR ANDREW WALLACE 

Tax time is looming and the best 

advice is to be well prepared, writes 

Jennifer Butler. 

As the end of the financial year 

approaches you may be starting 

to think about your tax affairs 

(or maybe you haven’t started 

thinking about them just yet). Either way 

you should give some consideration to 

what rebates (or offsets) you are going 

to claim this year, particularly if you are 

contemplating completing your tax return 

on your own through e-tax or the paper 

version, TaxPack. 

Rebates enable you to get a dollar for dollar reduction against 

the tax that you have to pay regardless of the level of your taxable 

income. Some rebates can even lead to a tax refund which means 

more cash in your pocket. 

One of the rebates that you may be eligible for is the dependant 

spouse rebate. This rebate allows you to claim where you are 

maintaining a spouse who has a low income (under $9,702). The 

maximum rebate allowable is $2,355, phasing out as the amount of 

income earned grows. However, this rebate will not be available if 

the spouse is in receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part B. Also, be aware 

that the Federal Government is trying to phase this rebate out. At 

this stage, those with spouses born after 1 July 1971 will no longer be 

eligible for this rebate. 

A low income rebate is available if you earn less than $67,500. 

The full rebate is available for those earning less than $30,000 with 

the rebate phasing out by four cents in the dollar if you earn more 

than that amount. 

The medical expenses rebate is also claimable by many 

taxpayers, however it is often overlooked. This rebate allows you 

to claim 20 per cent of net medical expenses over the threshold 

amount of $2,060. Therefore it is useful for the medical expenses of 

all family members to be paid by one spouse to ensure a claim can be 

made. Please note, you must keep a record of your medical expenses 

to be able to claim this rebate. 

Although payments to private health insurance do not qualify 

for the medical expenses rebate, there is a separate rebate available 

if you pay private health insurance. The rebate is currently for 

30% of the private health insurance premium paid, as long as the 

benefit has not been taken by way of a premium reduction or direct 

payment. However change is in the air; the Federal Government has 

implemented amendments to this rebate making it means tested in 

the future. Under this new scheme, the rebate will be reduced if you 

earn more than $80,000 a year. 

Jennifer Butler is a lecturer in Taxation Law at CQUniversity. 

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ISSUE 13

32 

Be here: Gladstone 

AROUND CENTRAL QUEENSLAND 

Gladstone – a real 

contrast of industry 

and nature 

by Joanne Perry 

Originally dubbed Port Curtis 

in 1802, Gladstone received its 

current moniker in 1853 in honour 

of the then-English Chancellor 

of the Exchequer and future 

prime minister, William Ewart 

Gladstone. After modest beginnings, in the late 

20th Century Gladstone became one of Queensland’s 

fastest-growing towns, drawing its strength from 

coal mining and other industries, and a flourishing 

export trade, especially to Japan and China. 

Positioned between two large rivers, the Calliope 

River and the Boyne River, the city is home to 

Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port. Gladstone 

Harbour is also protected by Facing and Curtis Islands – 

just two of 14 islands within the Gladstone region. 

From the majestic heights of Kroombit Tops 

National Park in the west through to the deep coral 

lagoons of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Gladstone 

is home to some of the State’s top tourist attractions 

including one of the best dive and snorkelling sites in 

the world. 

Whereabouts 

Proclaimed as a city in 1976, Gladstone is located about 550 

kilometres by road north of Brisbane and 100 kilometres 

south-east of Rockhampton. It covers a land area of about 

128 square kilometres and is in close proximity to the 

seaside twin towns Tannum Sands and Boyne Island. 

People and property 

In 1853, the town of Gladstone was surveyed and 

the first sale of town and suburban allotments took 

place the following year. The population increased 

from about 6,000 to 20,000 in the period between 

1960 to 1980, which strained the social fabric and local 

infrastructure, and branded Gladstone a ‘caravan’ town. 

More recently, the Gladstone community has grown 

dramatically from a ‘sleepy hollow’ township to a major 

industrial city, with an estimated population of 60,000 

in the wider Gladstone region. The population boom is 

tipped to continue in the near future as the city meets 

the needs of an emerging liquefied natural gas industry. 

Goondoon Street, in Gladstone’s city centre, has four 

heritage-listed sites – the Catholic church and school 

(1920s), a former Commonwealth Bank (1920s), the 

former town hall which now is the gallery and museum 

(1930s) and the former post office (1924). The Port Curtis 

dairy complex in Short Street is also heritage-listed. 

What goes on here 

Known for being Queensland’s premier port city 

and boasting several of the nation’s most significant 

industries, Gladstone is home to the world’s largest 

alumina refinery, built in 1963, and Australia’s largest 

aluminium smelter. 

With a sub-tropical climate, the Gladstone region 

has a diverse range of environmental beauty and 

outdoor recreation options. Gladstone’s Tondoon 

Botanic Gardens are home to more than 1,500 species of 

plants from the Port Curtis Region and Tropical North 

Queensland. The gardens are set upon an 83-hectare 

site with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Lake 

Tondoon, situated in the centre of the gardens, once 

provided the source of Gladstone’s water supply until 

1945. 

The city’s primary water supply is now Lake 

Awoonga. Located 25 kilometres south of Gladstone, 

the lake has been stocked with several fish species 

since 1996, with about 200,000 fish released each year 

including barramundi. 

ISSUE 13

33 

PHOTO: PETER LAWRENCE 

The picturesque coastal twin towns of Boyne Island 

and Tannum Sands are only a short drive south from 

Gladstone – linked by bridge across the Boyne River 

– and provide an ideal residential option for those 

working in the Gladstone region. Gladstone residents 

are passionate about their water and marine activities 

and are proud to boast among the highest boat 

ownership per capita in Australia. 

Schooling 

The first school was established in Gladstone in 

1864. Gladstone now has several primary schools, three 

high schools, a CQUniversity campus and two technical 

college campuses. There are also up to 20 more schools 

in the wider Gladstone region, catering to a growing, 

young family population. 

Last words 

This year Gladstone celebrated the golden anniversary 

of the Gladstone Harbour Festival. This annual Easter 

festival regularly attracts about 70,000 patrons. Once a 

one-day celebration to greet the winners of the Brisbane to 

Gladstone Yacht Race, this 50-year-old tradition has more 

recently been extended to become a week-long event, jampacked 

with a variety of family entertainment, novelty 

events, a street parade and fireworks. 

Ships moored at the docks at Gladstone, ca 1868 

CQUNIVERSITY CONNECTION 

CQUniversity established its Gladstone campus in 

1984 in Dawson Road. It later relocated to its current 

location at the Gladstone Marina in 1994. Around 

200 students are currently enrolled at the Gladstone 

campus studying a range of programs such as 

Engineering, Education and Management & Commerce. 

The Campus is home to the University’s two largest 

research centres, the Process Engineering and Light 

Metals Centre and the Centre for Environmental 

Management. Proposed plans for the campus include 

a state-of-the art marine research and rehabilitation 

facility, an early childhood education and training hub, 

and a mixed-use affordable accommodation complex 

for students and the wider community. 

ISSUE 13

34 

Be: Partnership 

Closing 

the gap 

BMA and CQUniversity are 

working together to create 

a brighter future for our 

Indigenous communities, 

writes Chris Veraa. 

Newly appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) and BMA Chair in 

Indigenous Engagement Professor Bronwyn Fredericks. 

CQUniversity Australia and mining group BHP Billiton 

Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) have joined forces to help 

‘close the gap’ in Indigenous education and employment, 

creating a ‘brighter future’ for Indigenous communities. 

The two organisations recently announced a new senior 

Indigenous leadership role within the University, as well as 15 new 

scholarships for students from all backgrounds, representing a $1.8 

million commitment from BMA. 

Professor Bronwyn Fredericks was appointed to the joint 

position of CQUniversity Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous 

Engagement) and BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement. The 

jointly funded position will support outreach activities between 

the University and the Central Queensland region’s numerous 

Indigenous communities. 

Professor Fredericks says she is honoured to be taking up the 

challenging but exciting new role. “I am looking forward to working 

with Indigenous communities to identify ways they want to build 

their capacity in education, employment and general equality of 

opportunity, and then helping bring this to fruition. 

“In this role, I will work to advance CQUniversity’s Indigenous 

engagement agenda and endeavour to improve educational 

outcomes for CQUniversity’s Indigenous student cohort past, 

present and future. I also intend to build on the excellent platform 

already established by the University’s Nulloo Yumbah Centre for 

Indigenous Learning, Spirituality and Research. 

“As the BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement I hope to expand 

the University’s outreach efforts within the region’s Indigenous 

communities, in line with BMA’s Indigenous Relations plan, and help 

to put in place pathways to education, training and employment 

opportunities that can lead to a brighter future.” 

Professor Fredericks is a Murri woman from South-East 

Queensland and was most recently a Principal Research Fellow and 

Associate Professor within Queensland University of Technology’s 

Faculty of Health. She brings to the role almost 30 years of 

combined experience in academia, research, and Indigenous health 

and community services. 

According to CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President, 

Professor Scott Bowman, the leadership position has been a long 

time in the planning and will form a vital part of CQUniversity’s senior 

leadership team. “CQUniversity is at the forefront of Indigenous 

tertiary education in Australia, with an Indigenous student 

population that is already double the level of national targets. 

“Professor Fredericks has an exemplary track record 

in academic leadership and, with her strong ties to Central 

Queensland, is the perfect person to take on this vital role. I am 

very much looking forward to embarking on this exciting journey of 

improved Indigenous engagement with her at the helm. 

CQUniversity graduating Indigenous students Sherry-Kaye 

Savage and Madeline Doyle. 

“I would also like to wholeheartedly thank BMA for their 

foresight and vision in providing such a substantial contribution to 

the BMA Chair in Indigenous Engagement. It is heartening to see 

the company continue to give back to the region – and specifically, 

local Indigenous communities – in this way. Together, I believe we 

can make a real difference in improved education and employment 

outcomes for all.” 

BMA Asset President Stephen Dumble says the company was 

proud to strengthen its partnership with CQUniversity to help 

deliver improved education pathways for Indigenous people living 

and working in the region. BMA is funding up to 15 undergraduate 

scholarships per year for five years for CQUniversity students who 

live in or intend to use their education to contribute to the Central 

Queensland region. Five of the 15 annual scholarships will be offered 

specifically to Indigenous students. 

PHOTOS: PETER LAWRENCE 

ISSUE 13

Featuring 

www.brangus.com.au

BE SOMEBODY... 

WHO FORGES 

AHEAD IN THEIR 

CAREER. 

A postgraduate qualification from CQUniversity Australia can help you 

enhance your skills in your existing career or enable you to move in 

a new direction. 

Our programs are continually developed in partnership with 

industry and designed to provide you with relevant, up-to-date 

and real-world postgraduate learning. 

Take up the challenge to further your learning with 

CQUniversity with programs in honours, postgraduate or 

research higher degrees in the following study areas: 

• Business and Accounting 

• Education 

• Engineering, Mining and Technology 

• Health and Medical Sciences 

• Humanities, Psychology and Social Work 

• Multimedia and Information Technology 

• Music and Theatre 

• Science and Environment 

We offer the flexibility to balance your personal and 

professional commitments with study by providing 

full-time or part-time options and distance education 

opportunities. There has never been a better time to 

gain that competitive advantage through university study. 

Term 2 applications close 15 June 2012. Apply now! 

CRICOS Provider Codes: QLD-00219C, NSW-01315F, VIC-01624D CO13372 

For more information visit our website or call us today. 

www.cqu.edu.au/applynow 13CQUni 13 27 86 

BRISBANE BUNDABERG EMERALD GLADSTONE GOLD COAST MACKAY MELBOURNE NOOSA ROCKHAMPTON SYDNEY DISTANCE EDUCATION

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