ALUMNI & SUPPORTERS

UNSW honours Cate Blanchett in our 60th year
Dr Cate Blanchett, internationally renowned actor and a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art was this week honoured with a Degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa at the University of New South Wales.

The University awards only a small number of honorary degrees with each recipient recognised for their eminent achievements to society and connection with UNSW.

In his introduction at the conferral ceremony David Gonski AC, Chancellor of the University of New South Wales commented that, “Cate is no stranger to us and where does one start in acknowledging her many achievements in the Arts, philanthropy and contribution to the community.”

The citation, delivered by Professor Fred Hilmer AO, Vice-Chancellor covered much of Dr Blanchett’s extensive work in theatre in Australia with the Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, South Australian Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company and La Mama Theatre. Her film work includes films such as: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I’m Not There, Elizabeth The Golden Age, and The Good German.

Most recently the Sydney Theatre Company, with Dr Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton as Co-Artistic Director and Co-CEO launched the very exciting Greening of the Wharf project, creating the first green arts precinct in the world. Collaborating parties include eminent UNSW researchers, alumnus and philanthropist Dr Shi and Mrs Shi and the Federal and State Government.

Upon receiving her Doctorate Dr Blanchett said, “I am extremely honoured to receive a Doctorate from the University of New South Wales. For over 60 years this university has truly made its mark, nationally and internationally, through the impact of its research, the quality of teaching and the contribution made by its alumni. I am personally very happy that NIDA is so close in geography to this great university and that the two institutions are getting closer.”

The proceedings ended on a nostalgic note when the Chancellor stated that he was proud that from that evening on he could always say that he and Cate Blanchett both graduated in the same theatre even though their graduations were 32 years apart!

At a celebratory Town and Gown dinner following the conferral ceremony, the Chancellor announced the inaugural DR CATE BLANCHETT PRIZE – to the student in theatre and performance studies with the highest grade for a thesis or creative project in the school’s undergraduate honours program.

The increasingly popular Young Alumni Network Drinks are held in the Sydney CBD. They have become a great opportunity to end a working day or start a night out by meeting up with UNSW classmates and other young graduates.

Our first Young Alumni Network Drinks for 2009 was held at the Attic Bar in early August. With a strong turnout across the eight faculties.

For our September drinks we moved to the Gallery bar to accommodate the increased turnout.

The last Young Alumni Networking Drinks for 2009 will also be held at the Art House on Thursday, November 19.

Register @ alumni@unsw.edu.au

Congratulations to our UNSW alumni who featured in the 2009 Australia Day Honours list, with 35 alumni honoured in the annual awards in wide variety of fields.

Mr Wilton Ainsworth AM (BSc '66)
Commodore Timothy Barrett AM CSC RAN (BA '81 MDefStud '98)
Mrs Cheryl Bart AO (BCom '84 BJuris LLB '86)
LT Nicholas Bartels AM (BA '82)
Mr Luca Belgiorno-Nettis AM (BSc (Arch) '78 BArch '80)
Dr John Bell AM OBE AO (HonDLitt '06)
Mr Edward Bramble OAM (MA '91)
Mr Garry Brown (BCom '74)
Mr Antonio Caputo OAM (BSc '82 DipEd '05)
Mr Brian Corney PSM (BCom '76 LLB '76)
Ms Susan Dixon PSM (MCom '86)
Mr Tom Doumanis OAM (LLB '81)
LTCOL Ian Flawith AO (BA (Mil) '71)
Mrs Unis Goh PSM (MHS '02)
Ms Jennifer Granger PSM (BA '81 LLB '81)
LTCOL Timothy Hanna AM (BA (Mil) '80 MBA (Exec) '99)
LTCOL Donald Higgins AM (BSc (Hons) '75)
Mr Rodney Howard PSM (BE '78 MEngSc '81 MBA(Exec) '02)
Mr Richard Irving PSM (BCom '72)
Mr Warren Kerr AM (MHP '79)
Mr Hendrik Kruit ASM (BHA '94)
Ms Jennifer McConnell AM (MBiomedE '92)
Mr Neil McEwan AM (MMus '94 MMus '94)
Ms Helen Pappas PSM (DipEd '91)
Mr John Price AM MP (BCom '69)
Ms Susan Rutkowski AM (MHA '04)
CAPT David Saul AM (BA '85)
Dr Julianne Schultz AM (GradCert '03)
Ms Jane Schwager AO (BA '69 DipEd '70)
LTCOL Andrew Smith AM (MDefStud '98 PhD '07)
Mr Barrie Smith OAM (BSc '74)
Mr Paul Straughair AM (BA (Mil) '80)
Dr Brian Suters AM (BArch '62)
Mr James Wu OAM (BE '98 MTM '00)

Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Queen's Birthday Honours. Recognised for their outstanding work in their fields, a total of 29 UNSW alumni were honoured.

Mrs Susi Brieger OAM ( BA '77 )
Mr Murray Clarke OAM ( BCom '78 LLB '78 )
Mr Paul Clitheroe AM ( BA '84 )
Dr Peter Cooke OAM ( PhD '02 )
Mr Roger Corbett AM ( BCom '65 )
Mr David Freeman AM ( BCom '72 LLB '76 )
Dr Colin Gellatly AO ( MCom(Hons) '75 )
Mr Lindsay Gilligan PSM ( BSc '70 )
Mr James Graham AM ( MBA '73 )
CAPT Jaimie Hatcher AM ( BSc '88 )
Mr John Knight AM ( BE '58 MEngSc '72 )
Ms Joanna Knott OAM ( MBA '92 )
Dr James Limerick PSM ( BSc '73 PhD '79 )
Emeritus Professor Judy Lumby AM ( MHPEd '87 )
Professor Peter McDonald ( BCom '67 )
Brigadier Barry McManus CSC ( BA '83 )
Mr John Messara AM ( BCom '68 )
Dr Jacqueline Morgan AM ( MScSoc '79 LLB '83 )
Mr Laurence Prandolini OAM ( BSc (Tech) '69 )
Professor Stephen Redman AM ( BE '60 ME '62 )
Brigadier Malcolm Rerden AM CSC ( BA (Mil) '79 )
Mr Stanley Roth AM ( BCom '77 LLB '77 )
Dr Philip Sambrook OAM ( MB BS '77 MD '86 LLB '95 )
LTCOL Ian Spiers CSC ( MSc '06 )
Dr Alan Stephens OAM ( PhD '92 )
Dr Helen Sykes AM ( MA '90 PhD '90 )
Mr Jeffrey Whalan AO ( BA '77 )
Mr Mark Whybro AFSM ( MBT '07 )
Mrs Karen Wilson AM ( MSc '87 )