In the May edition of Currie Connect I made mention of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) and the opportunity that this Commonwealth and State Government incentive package presented to the University and Currie Hall. For some time the University has been increasing its overall student population, without being able to increase its provision of on campus accommodation. I am delighted to announce that the University was successful in being allocated incentives to construct 1000 dwellings and that Currie Hall will be expanding by an additional 500 beds.

This expansion provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to Currie Hall and will ensure that the University is able to offer more UWA students a collegiate experience. As you aware, we have already embarked on the construction of 24 new rooms and now we are able to expand to a degree which will make a signifi cant difference. Due to the nature of the incentive schemes, we are committed to have the rooms available in 2013 and

we have already made signifi cant steps to fulfi ll this obligation. After a detailed procurement process, a building company has been appointed and we have now received development approval.

The additional rooms are a vital and signifi cant step to redress the imbalance in demand and supply for affordable residential accommodation for students. This development allows us the opportunity to provide students at various stages throughout their course an opportunity to live on campus. This is particularly relevant as the University embarks on its New Courses in 2012.

In addition to more beds, the development will provide for a greater number of common rooms and landscaped garden space. Furthermore, issues such as sustainability and accessibility will for the fi rst time be addressed in a cohesive way. To undertake this task has meant that some demolition will occur.

The Blueroom, Games Room and E house will make way for additional amenities space on the ground fl oor of a new building which will run east west. In addition, a postgraduate student block will be built at the northern end, with a new administration and amenities area constructed at the southern end of the campus. Undercroft car parking will also be provided. Some design drawings are inside this issue of Currie Connect

There is no doubt that the development will present many challenges, not the least being the work site in which the current students will fi nd themselves. I am sure that some of our Alumni from the mid to late 1960’s might relate to living next to a signifi cant construction. However we are confi dent that the expansion will add value to the overall student experience to thousands of residents at Currie Hall for many years.

On a slightly different note, plans are well underway to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the naming of the Hall after Sir George Currie with a formal dinner to be held on the evening of November 23rd. We plan to hold this function at the Currie Hall Dining Hall and this will present an opportunity for you to see fi rst hand the expansion work, as well as to take a tour of the new 24 rooms. We are delighted that the Vice-Chancellor of UWA, Professor Alan Robson, has accepted an invitation to attend. I hope to see as many of you at this event. For more information on the celebration and to RSVP please contact us at the offi ce on +61 8 9273 3333 or at alumni-currie@uwa.edu.au.

Principal Chris Massey

Principal’s Note

Principal Chris Massey with ResClub President

Kyle Atkins at the Winter Wonderland Ball.

Currie Connectcurrie.uwa.edu.au

CURRIE CONNECT | Volume 3, No. 1. October 2011

Alumni in Profi le: Tony Virili

You were resident at Currie Hall from 1970 to 1973, do you recall what made you decide to live at the hall?At fi rst, it was sheer necessity. Although I was due to go to Melbourne Uni., my parents suddenly moved from Victoria to Dampier at the end of 1969, just as I completed high school. So living on campus made a lot of sense for someone new to WA. Whilst none of the other residential colleges appealed, my fi rst impression of Currie Hall was positive.

What course did you study?I majored in Psychology and then took up Japanese Studies, which at that time was in the faculty of Econs and Commerce.

What are your fondest memories from living at the Hall?Knowing nobody on arrival, I was lonely for about the fi rst 2 days and then spent 3 or 4 of the most enjoyable years of my life at the Hall. The multi-cultural atmosphere of the place; going co-ed in 1971; long lazy mid-week days on the lawn; the setting for what have developed into a number of life long friendships with co-residents; developing the (highly erroneous) theory that we did not need to start studying for our fi nals until the cumquats just behind the then recreation room ripened (late October as I recall…);

staging from the Hall a motorbike trip across the Nullarbor to Brisbane and back during mid year break with co-resident Paul Harry in 1973; upon refl ection, just how friendly and accommodating the likes of Don Watts, Mike Beazley, dear Trudy in the kitchen and her husband the gardener (what was his name? Fritz?), Syd the cleaner (my boss when I cleaned the Hall dining room and residents toilets during a couple of summer breaks) and the rest of the staff were, with mostly well meaning but in retrospect, often irreverent residents behaviour; the honour of being elected Residents Club President (and scoring a tutor’s room in the process!).

Can you please share with us what you have done since leaving the Hall?With the exception of 3 years back in Melbourne (1975-78) working for a Japanese trading company and a 2 years stint in Perth (1990-1992), I have lived and worked in Japan for over 30 years. I am happily married to Yoshy, my Japanese wife of 30 years and we have two grown up children who now live in Australia. My work has spanned government (WA Government Representative in North Asia; Regional Director Japan – Australian Tourist Commission) and the private sector –in the early days representing companies such as Alcoa, Western

Mining and Woodside Petroleum and later on fi nding my ultimate niche – the lodging industry (Quality Pacifi c hotels, Accor, Solare).

You are currently the President and CEO of Solare Hotels and Resorts, can you share with us some of the challenges and rewards of this role? While it has been most rewarding to start with only two hotels in 2003 and help build a nationwide network of over 70 hotels and resorts with over 5,000 associates, as well as more recently become involved with Pacifi c Golf Management, the premier golf course operator in Japan with 120+ golf courses under management, the challenges since the devastating 3.11 earthquake and tsunami are considerable. Despite having 6 hotels and 14 golf courses in the affected areas, all our guests and associates were confi rmed safe. With the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power plant, it is understandable that the world hesitates to visit this beautiful country, despite the fact that 98% of all Japan is just as safe as it was the day before the crisis. We now need to move forward and better communicate factual information; the following video testimonials compiled by the Japan National Tourist Organisation are worth reviewing:English: www.jnto.go.jp/eq/eng/06_video.htmSimple Chinese: www.jnto.go.jp/eq/chs/06_video.htm#youtubeClassic Chinese: www.jnto.go.jp/eq/chcKorean: www.jnto.go.jp/eq/korThe Japanese have been overwhelmed by the global outpour of genuine empathy since 3.11. So many people around the world comment they feel helpless and want to do more to help. The best way to do this is to visit Japan in 2011. Tourism is a great way to assist in national recovery. Although meant only for Solare family and friends, any current or past Hall residents and families considering a trip to Japan are welcome to use Solare’s “mates rates” link to book highly discounted hotel rates (solarehotels.com/english/family) and email me at tony.virili@solarehotels.com, so I can make sure they are well looked after by our hotels.

Tony on a pit stop in the Nullabor – 1973

2 | currie.uwa.edu.au

CURRIE CONNECT

Commencing in winter 1963, I studied and slept in Room A11. At that time, I was a bonded teacher-trainee – a young bloke from East Vic Park, in my last year of a BA, majoring in English.

No doubt about it, the other guys in A corridor refl ected Currie Hall traditions of knock about self-reliance. Opposite my room, studying Economics, was Barry Sexton, ex-navy and a Pom. Further down A corridor, spearfi sherman and athlete Phil Smith had dried shark jaws above his bed. Opposite Phil was Dave Buchanan, a big, gentle guy studying Medicine.

Overseas, the war against communism in Vietnam was worsening. In June 1963, in protest against South Vietnam’s repressive regime, a Buddhist monk immolated himself with gasoline. An unforgettable picture of the monk in fl ames appeared on the front pages of the world’s newspapers.

For years, my hard-working English Drama tutor, Jeana Bradley, had been involved in dramatic productions, often using the open air theatre in the university’s Sunken Gardens. Jeana, a terrifi c teacher, wanted us to become more active in theatre productions. As it turned out, classmate Dorothy Hewett did become a well-known Australian playwright. But not me.

Around the commencement of Term 3 in 1963, the police arrested Eric Edgar Cooke. The killer who’d owned the night in suburbs near uni was behind bars. We moved about after dark more comfortably.

Just before the commencement of the 1964 academic year, there was a big news story:

Australia’s worst peacetime navy disaster. Eighty-two sailors died when the Voyager cut across the bow of the Melbourne during tactical exercises in Jervis Bay.

Early in Term 1, 1964, I remember chatting about that disaster with Barry Sexton, my friendly ex Royal Navy neighbour living across the narrow hallway of A corridor. Barry knew a lot about small boats. He was bosun of the Matilda Bay Sea Scouts.

One Saturday in March 1964, in the dark and well before dawn, Barry, his mate Kevin and I grabbed our gear and walked down to Matilda Bay. We rigged the sea-scouts’ training boat, sailed down the Swan as the sun came up and breakfasted in Freo. Then, with the help of the last of the land breeze, we reached the open sea. Becalmed for an hour halfway over, we had a swim. The sea-breeze gradually picked up speed. We made Rotto by mid afternoon.

On 19th June, 1964, Currie Hall Men’s Club held its 17th Annual Dinner. I know the date. I’ve still got the invitation – and the menu too. I was asked by the Men’s Club organisers to contribute quotes for the Toast List. Here’s one, from Samuel Johnson:

A man seldom thinks with more earnestness of anything than he does of his dinner.

At Currie Hall in the 1960’s, life was fantastic.

Lately at Currie Hall NRAS Development

Announced A night on the Orient Welcome

Dinner Inter-College Dining Hall swap

with Trinity and Tommy Moore Global café – Sorry Day and

Norway Inter-fl oor Tug O War Challenge Open Day tours of Currie Hall

and Semester 2 O week games Currie Hall Ball Kyle Atkins (ResClub President)

visit to National Association of Australian University Colleges (NAAUC) Conference

50 years of the Naming of Currie Hall

Alumni DinnerOn the 23rd of November, Currie Hall will be hosting an Alumni Dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the naming of the Hall after Sir George Currie.

An article in our last edition of Currie Connect outlined the former Vice Chancellor’s extensive and varied history from his agricultural roots to his military experiences and eventually, his very successful transition into academia.

Current Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson will also be attending the event to offi cially open the fi rst stage of the Hall’s new development, our 24 room building which is currently near completion.

This signifi cant event will be held in the John Leader Dining Hall, and we look forward to opening this new chapter on the Hall’s history with our Alumni.

Currie Hall Alumni Tony Gallagher

CURRIE CONNECT

Curr ie Connect | VOLUME 3, NO. 1. OCTOBER 2011 | 3

Memories of Currie Hall in the 1960’sIn 1963/64 Currie Hall consisted of several rows of sturdy, unadorned wooden huts – erected twenty years previously for American aircraft servicemen and associated personnel. Immediately after the war, Aussie returned servicemen attending university moved in.

Currie Hall – 500 rooms by 2013

Artist impression: Aerial impression of the development showing the location of the three new buildings to be constructed.

4 | currie.uwa.edu.au

CURRIE CONNECT

Artist impression: Student accommodation development showing new landscape courtyards and outdoor recreational areas.

Artist impression: View from corner of D House towards Winthrop Ave (artist’s impression only).

CURRIE CONNECT

Curr ie Connect | VOLUME 3, NO. 1. OCTOBER 2011 | 5

Personal Experiences on National Sorry Day

On the 26th of March Currie Hall held Global Cafe: National Sorry Day. Danny Blanket, Haydn Taylor, Ronald Bin Swani, Kam Bin-Salleh, Ian Garlett, Shannon Lockyer, Charlie Mallard and Arthur Pitt spoke to their fellow residents about their families during the stolen generation, share information about Aboriginal culture and played the Didgeridoo. They shared some heartfelt, captivating, and inspiring stories about their families’ experiences.

In spite of exams being around the corner a large number of residents were in attendance, coming to listen to their fellow Haller’s stories. Along with the touching stories attendees also had some wonderful food prepared for them, including amazing cooked fi sh with coconut fl avouring, snags, and kangaroo kebabs which everyone was eager to try, and kept coming back for more. The insight into Indigenous culture was greatly appreciated by those in attendance.

HeroesMany glorious tales are toldof the bygone days of old.In that circle round the hearth,Heroes who once walked the earthere our time, now live again!Never will our legends wane.In the myths that we contrivethey will always be alive:Janus, Bloodfang, Ironjaw-Jeran, Astrid, Illicor;Undisturbed their bones may lie,but true heroes never die.

So; my audience-shut your eyes!Turn thy thoughts to younger skieswhen no shadows marred the moon.Harken! – canst thou hear the tuneset adrift upon the nightby wolf bards beyond our sight?Canst thou see the tow’ring wallsthat doth guard Shar’Ridan’s halls?Canst thou feel beneath thy bootthe fi rm cobbles underfoot?Canst thou smell and taste and hear?Then rejoice – for we are here.

Jonathan Goh, Currie Hall 1st year resident and published Poet.

ReconnectCurrie Connect has been contacted by a number of alumni looking to reconnect with friends from their Hall days. If you would like to respond to any of these requests or place one yourself please contact alumni-currie@uwa.edu.au

Currie Hall Alumnus recipients of Distinguished AwardsOn the 3rd of September in Kuala Lumpur two of our Currie Hall Alumni were honoured for outstanding contributions in countries other than Australia. Mr Ramli Ibrahim and Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr Hood Mohamed Salleh both completed degrees at UWA as International Students and were the recipients of the Distinguished International Alumnus Award, presented by Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson.

Luke McGuiness Is keen to catch up with his friends who were Hall residents in the 1980s.

Jack Hondros Would very much like to get in contact with George Georgakakos, a fellow resident from 1968.

Stephen GravesIs looking to get back in touch with Wong Siong Tong who a resident from 1963-1965.

Jose Ireneu dos Remedios Furtado Is searching for full names of the men’s and women’s hockey teams for 1959 with whom he often played.

Dato’ Sri Wong Soon Koh, Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr Hood Mohamed Salleh,

Dr Roland Dom Mattu, Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Noramly bin Muslim and

Mr Ramli Ibrahim with Professor Alan Robson AM CitWA

Indigenous Residents Shannon Lockyer,

Ian Garlett, Kam Bin-Salleh and Charlie Mallard

CURRIE CONNECT

6 | www.currie.uwa.edu.au

NAAUC ReportAs the Resident’s Club President, I was sponsored by Currie Hall to attend the annual NAAUC (National Association of Australian University Colleges) during the mid-year break. This is an annual conference, run to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and ideas within Australian colleges. This year the conference was held at Melbourne University, with the majority of the conference being hosted by Ormond College.

The conference is run over an entire week, and incorporates the social events found within University colleges, as well as many, many hours of discussions, workshops and briefi ngs. The week is very full on, but the

topics discussed during the week can, and have, been used in the ‘real world’ to just as much effect. Guest speakers this year were Dr Rufus Black (Master of Ormond College), Andy Gourlay (founder of Red Frogs), Patrick McGorry (Australian of the Year 2010), Peter Williams (Deloitte Digital CEO), Aaron Tait (executive director of SPARK international), and a host of others.

I hope that Currie Hall will continue to send representatives to the NAAUC Conference in subsequent years, as I believe that it is, and will continue to be, a huge factor in facilitating change around our college. I would also hope that in future, rather than sending one or two representatives from the executive members of the ResClub Committee, that Currie Hall will take the chance to send a promising fi rst year student to the conference. I talked to many colleges this year, and most of them had a fi rst year attending the conference. I see the value in this, as it has the ability to act as a huge driving factor to join the ResClub in following years. Personally, the conference has already done this for me. I attended the conference last year as a representative, because our President and Vice-President could not make it, and I am sure that the conference is what drove me to take the top job this year.

Next year the conference will be held at Monash University (40 mins out of Sydney), and from early signs it looks to be another solid conference, building on the positives taken from this years conference.

Kyle Atkins

experience and knowledge gained over the week is invaluable, as well as the many contacts you make with students from all around Australia.

I attended the conference open to receive any number of ideas to apply to our Currie Hall ResClub, but as the week progressed, I found my interest being spiked by a few critical points. The main area which I deemed most valuable to our ResClub was that of changeover. I spent many hours discussing with other colleges their methods of changeover, and then creating a plan for our own changeover at the end of this year, and I am looking forward to implementing it, in a way which will be carried on for years to come.

Aside from the distinct areas covered by the information sessions run during the conference, I think that there is much value in the smaller aspects of the week. The most infl uencial part which I found was the fact that during this week, you are doing only one thing: you are living and breathing college life. This total immersion drives you to improve your own ResClub to the best of your abilities, and the lack of outside distractions (like uni or sporting commitments) lets you iron out all your plans. There is also much value in the social aspect of the week, whether it is getting a new idea for an event, a new method of managing tickets or money, or even just witnessing someone else run an event similar to your own.

The conference also brings in a number of guest speakers, over several days. These speakers act to bring a larger sense of meaning to the lessons learnt from the conference, as you can see how the

ResClub President Kyle Atkins

at the Currie Hall Ball 2011

Street view of the Hostel Buildings

CURRIE CONNECT

Curr ie Connect | VOLUME 3, NO. 1. OCTOBER 2011 | 7

Calling all ex-Presidents from the Hostel era…Currie Hall’s historical records, particularly those from the hostel era are largely incomplete. If you were or have information on the names of the Hall presidents from this era it would be greatly appreciated if you could let us know. Information can be emailed to alumni-currie@uwa.edu.au or mailed to:AlumniCurrie HallUWAM426, Winthrop Ave, Crawley WA 6009

Farewell Speech from Billy JerryA full year has passed since I fi rst arrived at Currie Hall. It’s funny, when I fi rst arrived in Australia I thought that I would fi t in pretty well apart from being a POM, we both live on an island, love beer, always talk about the weather and speak English and then I met Ben from Kalbarri! I couldn’t understand a word he said. Still to this day I still don’t understand some things he utters but I’ve managed to understand the key words such as ‘beer’ and ‘footie’. It’s moments like these that I will never forget.

When I fi rst started university back in the UK, my fi rst year was spent in collegiate halls. After that we were encouraged to go and fi nd houses to rent with friends. So when I decided to go back in halls on my year abroad I was a little skeptical at fi rst, I thought I was a little too old for this. To be perfectly honest, it was the best decision I’ve made. It was an opportunity to meet and get to know other exchange students from all corners of the world and still mingle with the Australian residents. Without Currie Hall, I wouldn’t have been able to dress up like an Egyptian to go party on a boat, wear girl’s jeans to a 50’s themed Welcome Dinner, get suited up for an evening of elegance at a ball, and then consequently have to use crutches for 2 weeks due to a minor dancing incident.

Immediately on my fi rst night here I was persuaded to go out to Northbridge. I only had $50 on me at the time so I got onto the bus thinking the driver would wave me on because they would not have enough change, next thing I notice I’m being given over $45 worth of change in dollar coins to the amusement of the others. For the whole night I was jingling like a jar of money. After that I had no problems when it came for change for the bus.

I think I can speak for Samanta Hollis and Sindre Grindheim, the other full year abroad exchange students as well as the past and present exchange students

that this is an experience we will never forget. We’ve done mostly everything here: explored Perth, Margaret River, Rotto and even ventured as far as Broome, learned to shorten almost every word in the dictionary, taken the opportunity to experience working in Australia, celebrated Christmas in 45 degree heat, been bitten to death by the local mosquitoes and managed to successfully survive the academic year whilst still managing to frequent Cap S every Wednesday night. However, most importantly, we’ve made friends for life. That will be the hardest part about leaving. We won’t see the usual faces in the dining hall any more, won’t be able to have a laugh about the previous night’s frivolities nor will we be able to just relax in the blue room watching a good movie. All these things many residents may take for granted, but it is what I will remember most fondly when I think back to my days spent at Currie Hall, and in Australia.

For those who are about to embark on their own exchange or those planning to go on exchange there are a few things that you should know. It is an opportunity of a lifetime. Don’t take it for GRANITE!!! That was for the geologists out there, I had to put a little joke in. You’ll make new friends in different parts of the world, experience different cultures and customs and most importantly you will be able to see parts of the world you never thought you would as a student. Enjoy it, get to know the locals, don’t get too focused on the academic side of things, (however do make sure you pass your units), and keep a healthy balance between work and socialising.

There is plenty more I could say about my time here in Australia, but I’m afraid I’d be up here for hours. So I will take my fi nal few moments to say thank you to the staff here at Currie Hall for all their hard work throughout my stay.

To the residents, thank you for the memories that lasted from the early

mornings into the late nights, and everything in between. You have all been amazing, and are the very reason I’m going to miss Australia so much when I’m gone. On a personal note, before you leave Currie Hall for the winter break, make sure you thank your cleaners for all of their hard work. They are the brave souls who tackled your rooms every week, and without them, who knows what our rooms would have looked like by the end of the semester. And I know a little “thank you” would make a world of difference to them.

I’m left to say I wish all of you the very best in the future and good luck with whatever road you choose. I’m fortunate enough to be leaving Currie Hall with a lifetime of memories, friends who have become family, and a reason to visit Canada every few months

Take care everyone and God bless, Billy.

Contact Us

Currie HallThe University of Western AustraliaM426, 35 Stirling HighwayCrawley WA 6009 Australia

Tel: +61 8 6488 8336Fax: +61 8 9388 1224Email: alumni-currie@uwa.edu.aucurrie.uwa.edu.au

We welcome contributions, photos,

feedback and anecdotes. Please send

to alumni-currie@uwa.edu.au or mail to

the address above.

CRICOS Provider Code: 00126G | UniPrint 89352

Billy Jerry at the Semester 2

Welcome Dinner in 2010

8 | currie.uwa.edu.au

CURRIE CONNECT