Newsletter of Alumni of the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems
Engineering,
Clayton Campus, Monash University
Issue 5
Editor : Sue Morgan 9905 3467 smm@basil.eng.monash.edu.au
http://www.ecse.monash.edu.au
May 1996
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
We start 1996 again with a range of challenges and opportunities ahead of
us. The Faculty has commenced a major review into how we may best set our
Directions for the Future. Those who have made contributions in the past
have placed us in good stead to deal with these and you as our Alumni may
well be asked to contribute in due course.
While the number of students choosing to study engineering continues to
fall across Australia our programs remain popular with entry scores rising
at both the Clayton and Caulfield Divisions. Our research programs go from
strength to strength with the recent addition of the eMERGE Cooperative
Multimedia Centre bolstering the activities of the Centre for Telecommunications
and Information Engineering being just one example. Professor Fred Symons
and Professor Bill Bonwick, who have both made invaluable contributions
to the Department, retire in 1996 and will prove, I am sure, to be tough
acts to follow.
It may come as a surprise that approximately 50% of the Department's direct
budget comes from its research activities. Its direct budget is in turn
almost doubled through its research grants. A major challenge is to consolidate
and extend these activities with a continuing increase in postgraduate enrolments
to compensate for falling undergraduate demand. You will probably be aware
of the major expansion in the number of new universities being built in
our neighbouring countries. The Department anticipates a significant growth
in the number of staff from these universities visiting under research collaborations
and to pursue postgraduate studies.
It is appropriate to thank Bill Brown for his work as Head over the last
few years in a period of rapid and still accelerating change. Bill retired
as Head this year and is currently enjoying a sabbatical overseas. I am
sure he anticipates exploring his research interests and role as the departmental
historian with some vigour when he returns.
Finally let me invite you to explore our World Wide Web Home Page from time
to time and certainly add its address (www.ecse.monash.edu.au) to your browser
bookmarks. Sue Morgan, our Webmaster, would welcome your comments on these
pages which have become a major plank in our administrative processes and,
of course, publicity.
Professor Greg Egan
Head of Department
SMEEA ANNUAL DINNER
Friday 14 June 1996
West Banquet Room Union Building 6.30 pm for 7.00
"My Glorious Moment in Engineering"
Reserve the date, tell your friends, and send
in the response form at end of this newsletter
UNVEILING OF DOUG LAMPARD PORTRAIT
On a balmy summer's evening last December in the lush Engineering Courtyard
80 people gathered to view a painting of Doug Lampard that had been commissioned
by the Department. Peter Darvall, Past Dean of Engineering and now Deputy
Vice Chancellor spoke on behalf of the Vice Chancellor about Doug's great
contribution to the establishment of the University in the early sixties
and of his leadership of the Department of Electrical Engineering over many
years. Roslyn Lampard, Doug's widow, performed the unveiling and expressed
her gratitude to the Department for commemorating Doug's contributions in
this way. Doug and Roslyn's two daughters, Debbie and Mandy were also present,
together with their husbands.
The portrait is in oils and shows Doug in his Cambridge PhD gown and wearing
his favoured IEE tie. Behind him is a selection of the wide range of books
that he loved and that reflected his lifelong interests.
The portrait hangs in the entrance foyer at the western end of the main
departmental building (Building 35) as a memorial to a great scholar and
a reminder of the origins of the Department.
The inscription reads:
DOUGLAS GEOFFREY LAMPARD
MSc Syd. PhD Cantab. FAA FIEE FIEEE
FIREEAust FIEAust FAIP HonFANZCA
Born: May 4, 1927 Died: September 1, 1994
Appointed Foundation Professor of Electrical Engineering
at Monash University in 1962. Retired 1990.
Beside the portrait is the new honour board for the recipients of the Doug
Lampard Medal, awarded on a yearly basis for the best research thesis in
the Department.
Some idea of the portrait may be gained from the (rather inadequate) reproduction
shown above. To see the real thing (and the new honour board) you should
pay a visit to the Department some time.
The portrait was painted by Jane Majkut, a painter and illustrator who lives
with her family in Endeavour Hills. She trained in a number of schools (including
Monash University) and with a number of individuals. She has worked in a
variety of media using her artistic talent in a diverse range of areas (including
electronic drafting work). In her spare time she paints for pleasure! In
her portrait of Doug Lampard, painted from photographs, she has captured
the essence of a man of high achievement and strong personality.
SOME NOTABLE MONASH GRADUATES
Jennifer Beck, Director of the University Alumni Office, recently asked
Departments to submit the names of notable graduates. We submitted the following
list, which we do not claim to be exhaustive:
Peter Annal, BE(Hons) 1965, MEngSc 1969 Director, Monash University
Computer Centre
Jonathan Billington, BE(Hons) 1975, MEngSc 1978 Professor
of Computer Systems Engineering, University of South Australia
Stephen Blanch, BE(Hons) 1970, MEngSc 1973, Managing Director,
Eastern Energy
Bill Bonwick, PhD 1973 Sir John Monash Professor of Electrical
Power Engineering, Monash University
Alan Bradley, MEngSc 1972 Professor of Communications Engineering,
RMIT
Allen Conduit, BE(Hons) 1976 Managing Director, Fibernet PtyLtd
Tharam Dillon, BE(Hons) 1968, PhD 1974 Professor of Computer
Science, Latrobe University
Alan Finkel, BE(Hons) 1976, PhD 1981 Director, Axon Research
Pty Ltd
Ross Gawler, BE(Hons) 1972, PhD 1979 Managing Consultant A
T Kearney
Peter Gerrand, MEngSc 1970 CEO, CITRI
Peter Gregory, BE(Hons) 1975, MEngSc 1978 National Sales Director,
Telspec Pty Ltd
Peter Harrison, BE(Hons) 1974 General Manager, Network Products,
Telstra
Lee Poh Aun, PhD 1967 Professor of Mathematics and Computer
Science, Universiti Malaya
Nhan Levan, PhD 1966 Professor of Systems Science, UCLA
Gary Lyons, BE(Hons) 1979 Operations Manager, Email Electronics
Bob Masterman, PhD 1970 Director, Industrial Systems Pty Ltd,
Sydney
Anthony Merry, BE 1984 Managing Director, Haliplex Pty Ltd
Jim Park, BE(Hons) 1972, MEngSc 1974 Manager of Telecommunications
Networks, Siemens Ltd
Alex Proudfoot, MEngSc 1972 Principal Medical Advisor, Therapeutic
Goods Administrative Staff, Department of Human Services and Health, Canberra
Geoff Ramadan, BE 1982 Managing Director, Unique Micro Design
Pty Ltd
Steve Redman, PhD 1967 Professor of Neurosciences, John Curtin
School of Medical Research, ANU
Barry Tritt, MEngSc 1972 Director, Industrial Process Control
Ltd
Ian Wright, BE(Hons) 1966, PhD 1971 Deputy General Manager,
Shipbuilding Systems Project, Transfield Defence Systems Ltd
Katsuhiko Yamashita, MEngSc 1975 Head, Industrial and Public
Facilities Control Systems Department, Toshiba Corporation, Japan
This list is incomplete and we need your input (don't be too modest)
about yourself and other people to expand it.
If your name is on the list please be assured it will not be used for publicity
or other purposes without your prior permission.
ALUMNI DINNER IN 1995
A SMEEA dinner, incorporating the AGM, was held on Friday evening 7 July.
In addition to a lively and boisterous flow of reminiscences during the
dinner the guests were honoured with a presentation by Steve Blanch (BE
69, MEngSc 73), Managing Director of Eastern Energy. Steve started as a
cadet with the SECV at the age of 15, then went on to gain a Diploma before
coming to Monash. He went back to the SECV, rose to senior management levels
and then spent a few years as a senior manager in New Zealand and Australia
before taking up his current position.
Steve gave the background to the corporatisation and imminent privatisation
of the SECV and passionately argued about the benefits of these in terms
of 'better value for money', 'private enterprise', 'improved services' etc.
He related his current views to his experiences as a 15 year old cadet when
he was advised to adjust his productivity downwards in order to fit in with
the values of the day. He talked about downsizing the company but upgrading
the motivation and enjoyment of the remaining employees. He expected the
privatised company to compete successfully in the international arena to
win contracts overseas.
The assembled professionals ranging in age between 25 and 62 listened with
interest to Steve's description of the bright new privatised future of the
power industry. However, there was close and occasionally sceptical questioning
of the benefits outlined.
The AGM of SMEEA took place between the first and second courses of the
dinner and lasted a very short time. It was agreed that Bill Brown should
continue as President, Kishor Dabke as Secretary, Greg Cambrell as Treasurer
and Ian Taylor and Nigel Aylott as the other committee members.
ALUMNI OF 1976
The class of 1976 met in Jells Park on Sunday 17 March 1996 over a barbecue
to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their final year. This was a class
with particularly high and cohesive spirit which is still sufficiently sticky
to hold them together. Many of them meet regularly and otherwise keep in
touch.
The following people attended the barbecue: Allen Conduit, Guy
Goodman, Peter Hart, C.H. Khong, Steven Mutabazi and
Steven Winnal. Allen Conduit and Guy Goodman run their own businesses
in optical fibre and computer areas respectively. Peter Hart has become
a consultant with particular interest in electromagnetic fields; C.H. Khong
and Steven Mutabazi are with Telstra although Steven had a short fling with
a successful software business. Steven Winnal is working with ICI in Deer
Park. The people who are or have been in businesses of their own had some
interesting tales of the 'really real (financial) world' and would be willing
to share their hard-earned wisdom with any aspiring business tycoons from
among the alumni. Kishor Dabke from the staff attended the lunch and was
very impressed with how much wiser all the alumni looked compared to their
appearance in 1976!
STAFF NEWS
Bill Brown completed almost seven years as Head of Department at
the end of 1995. He was presented with a commemorative plaque and two bottles
of expensive wine at a departmental Christmas Dinner on 1 December to mark
this period in the history of the Department. Bill Bonwick, who said he
had known Bill Brown for longer than anyone else at the gathering, made
the presentation speech, full of humour, good-will and appreciation. Greg
Egan took over the Headship at the beginning of 1996.
Fred Symons took early retirement. He was here from 1988 to 1996
after being Deputy Director of the Telcom Research Labs. He built up a large
and high quality telecommunications teaching and research activity including
the Video Codec project led by Khee Pang and ANSPAG headed at Monash
by Bruce Tonkin. Thirty four people besides Mary and Fred Symons
attended the farewell lunch on 20 Apr 96. Fred was in full regression mode
and recounted many amusing stories about his undergrad days as a student
of Prof. Willoughby in Adelaide. Fred was a very active person while at
Monash so he was presented with a set of Bouelle steel balls to help him
pass his time in retirement.
Dallas Homewood retired from the University in early December and
was replaced with Mark Noonan. Dallas had served in the Electronics
Workshop for thirty years.
Arthur Marinakis resigned from the position of Senior Tutor in the
power area in August and was replaced with Madhu Chetty, who comes
from Melbourne University.
Clive Berger and Le Nguyen Binh were promoted to Reader at
the beginning of 1996.
David and Sue Morgan have returned, with their three daughters,
from a year in Boston, although David returned briefly to the USA for a
conference presentation.
SMEEA MEMBERS HELP WITH MANAGEMENT COURSES.
As in past years, several graduates and SMEEA members are helping to bring
a realistic perspective of applying for a job and going through an interview
to the undergraduate students doing the management 1s couse. The recruitment
strategies which our undergraduate students experience span a wide range
of employment areas - CSIRO, BHP, Australian Road Research Board, Public
Transport Corporation, Unique Micro Design and others. This semester, Alex
Gas of PTC and Geoff Ramadan of Unique Micro Design are helping
the department. If you would like to help in this and similar ways please
let us know.
ALUMNI NEWS
Matthew Ha (BE'85) is with Hewlett-Packard in Hong Kong, where his
focus is in business engineering and engineering training.
Haggen So (BE'94) is working as an Assistant Engineer with Express
Engineering Ltd in Hong Kong, involved in maintenance.
Daniel Tan Hong Koon (BE'93) is working with Robert Bosch in Penang
as a software engineer, developing software for car radios.
David Kershaw (BSc(Hons)BE '89) was awarded Ph.D. in May 95 for his
thesis entitled 'Adapative Waveform Selection for Tracking Systems"
jointly supervised by Professors Alan Bradley (RMIT) and Rob Evans (EE,
Univ of Melb.). Since leaving Monash, David has been with DSTO and is currently
in the Melbourne end of the Maritime Operations Division.
Sonja Ahrens and James Kershaw (both BScBE'92) returned to
Australia to continue working with Siemens Ltd. and studying at Monash (respectively),
after twelve months working at Siemens AG in Munich, Germany. They were
both involved in the Public Networks Division (SDH and ATM) while with Siemens
AG, and enjoyed their time in Europe immensely.
Kathy Meyer (nee` Fischer) (BE'88) is now a proud mother and after
a stretch of maternity leave, has returned to Siemens where she is involved
in the telecommunications area.
Peter Gregory (BE'75 MEngSc'78) spent two years in Darmstadt, Germany
setting up the Telspec company office there to service a large contract
for Australian designed telecommunications equipment to be used by the privatised
Deutsche Telekom (German Telecommunications). He has returned home as the
National Sales Manager of Telspec.
MOSAIC AND THE MONASH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The December 1995 issue of MOSAIC contains articles on the New Performing
Arts Centre at the Clayton Campus, the launch of the Monash Alumni Association
(President Rob Gerrand - a man who once passed through our hands!), the
likely influence of information technology and telecommunications on campus
life etc.
The latest alumni news is available on the internet at URL:http://www.monash.edu.au/alumni
Hotspots include Monash Alumni Diary Dates, Alumni 'In the news and on the
move', the Monash Alumni Business Directory, Contact Column, the JUMBANA-L
email list and the Alumni Registration Form.
If you would like further information by mail then write to the Alumni Office,
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168.
The annual cost of membership in the Alumni Association is $25. You get
a membership card which entitles you to many privileges and concessions.
Tell us about yourself! - I welcome all contributions to this newsletter,
especially details on what you and your fellow graduates may now be doing.
Your help in making this newsletter 'newsy' is eagerly sought. - Sue (email:
smeea@eng.monash.edu.au)
ALUMNI DINNER 1996
SMEEA DINNER
"My Glorious Moment in Engineering"
Friday 14 June 1996
West Banquet Room Union Building
6.30 for 7.00 p.m.
A great opportunity to get together, talk about the old (or not so old)
times and make some useful contacts.
Our after-dinner speeches will have a novel approach this year. Ian Taylor
(1972) will talk about "Electrical Engineering in the Antarctic"
based on his experience of two years there.
This will be followed by several short (2-3 minutes) accounts of some
weird and wonderful episodes about how you personally/singlehandedly
or with your troops saved the computer/section/world etc. We
already have several starters from the class of 1976 but there are bound
to be equally good stories from other years. If you wish to speak, please
mark your dinner registration form accordingly. This year make sure you
bring at least one person who has not been to the SMEEA dinner recently.
It is expected that there will be a presentation of the 1995 Douglas Lampard
Electrical Engineering Research Medal and Prize at the dinner.
RVSP 7 June Please return the form below to Dr Kishor Dabke,
c/o this department,
or email kishor.dabke@eng.monash.edu.au.
SMEEA DINNER REGISTRATION FORM
FRIDAY 14 JUNE 1996 West Banquet Room Union Building 6.30 pm for 7.00
Please reserve _____________ places at the dinner for me @ $30 per head.
I enclose a cheque for $_______________ drawn in favour of SMEEA.
My contact details:
Name
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
I would like to talk about "My Glorious Moment in Engineering"
I can't come to the dinner but enclose my SMEEA membership application
I am interested in joining Monash Alumni the University Alumni organisation
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