INSIDE QUT July 18 - 31, 1995 Page 1 QUT Central Administration 2 George Street Brisbane 4000 Telephone (07) 864 2111 Registered by Australia Post – Publication No. QBF 4778
Queensland University of Technology Newspaper Issue No 134
July 18 - 31, 1995
Aircraft acoustic system leads way
QUT’S Signal Processing Research Centre believes it could be leading the world in the development of an Aircraft Passive Acoustic System.
The system estimates an aircraft’s altitude, speed, position and engine power using only the sound of the aircraft as it passes overhead.
Mr David Reid who is undertaking this project as part of his PhD said the technique was simple to operate, re- quired minimal installation and could be used in place of, or as a supplement to, far more complex and expensive radar systems.
He said the only work he was aware of being carried out in the world on the technique was by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) which had published some papers on the system.
“We don’t know what other work the DSTO has done, as it would most likely be classified, so it is difficult to know how far they have gone, but our
results would certainly be of interest to civil and military applications,” Mr Reid said.
“The techniques we are using and results so far obtained from the data are unique to the QUT centre.
“One advantage of our system is that it is a relatively simple technique to implement, requiring a microphone and a black box on the ground which does all the signal processing.
“Another advantage, from a military perspective, is that an aircraft can detect it is being monitored by radar and can jam that system, while with our system the aircraft has no knowledge it is being monitored,” Mr Reid said.
The acting director of the centre Dr Abdelhak Zoubir who is supervising this research in association with centre director Professor Boualem Boashash said further tests and
One of a series of bridges designed for residents of the Brisbane suburb of Brookfield as part of a joint QUT/community project. The plans are featured in the Design for the Community exhibition which opens today at 111 George Street. A number of projects included in the exhibition are featured in a special Design for the Community supplement beginnning on page five.
by Noel Gentner discussions on the system were planned.
“We can now show and demonstrate that our methods perform better than what has been published from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation,” Dr Zoubir said.
“Experiments in real life never re- ally finish but at least we have reached a point where we are confident that the system is practicable.
“The next step could be the feasi- bility of developing a real-time sys- tem which has the intelligence to proc- ess and determine the signal data and provide the aircraft estimates on site.”
Mr Reid and two other centre PhD students last month conducted a field experiment on Bribie Island with a char- tered light aircraft which was flown over a fixed location on the island.
“High cross winds were experienced during that experiment and further tests will be conducted this month,” Mr Reid said.
PhD students David Reid, Ken Turner and Geoff Robertson in the field on Bribie Island. (Photo courtesy of the Bribie Weekly)
QUT graduates in demand
See page 3
New Head for School of Physics
See page 2
DNA research gives hope to koalas
See page 9
Page 2 INSIDE QUT July 18 - 31, 1995 A REVIEW team representing the Committee for Quality Assurance in Higher Education will visit QUT on July 25.
The Commonwealth Government sponsored quality review focuses this year on research and community service.
Review team members for 1995 are Professor Laurie Davidson, Pro-Vice- Chancellor (Academic), Murdoch University (CQAHE member and team leader); Mr Chris Burgess, Deputy Principal, Policy and Planning, Sydney University (CQAHE member);
Professor Richard Johnstone, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Charles Sturt University, and Arts Dean des- ignate, Sydney University; Professor Kerin O’Dea, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research, Deakin University; and Ms Liz O’Keefe, University of Melbourne (review team secretary).
The review visit follows on from QUT’s submission on June 30 to the CQAHE.
Coordinator of the QUT submission Professor John Corderoy said the com- mittee planned to apply equal weight- ing to four elements: research process, research outcomes, research improvements, and community service (process, outcomes and improvements).
Professor Corderoy who is acting Pro- Vice-Chancellor (Research and Advance- ment) said that, despite QUT’s “new- comer” status in research, he expected QUT to perform well in the review.
“QUT has had the benefit of seeing what other institutions have done be- fore in setting up its research manage- ment processes based on recognised best practice, and we can show some impressive improvements in research performance,” he said.
“When it comes to community service, QUT has a reputation as a university for the real world, built on its traditional close links with the professions and the wider community.
Community service is the real-world laboratory which links our teaching and research, and this is verified by the extensive data collection on 1994 community service activities at QUT.”
Previous quality reviews looked at all three areas of teaching, research and service in 1993, and at teaching and learning in 1994. Results of the second round were announced in March this year with QUT placed in the top group, receiving $3.7 million for quality initiatives.
Vice-Chancellor’s comment
Medal winner full of praise for MBA
1995 MBA Medal winner Fabian Corrado
From the Inside… by David Hawke
Quality team reviews QUT
MS ANNE Patterson, editor of Inside QUT for the past two years and journalist in the Public Affairs Department since 1990, has left QUT to travel and write freelance.
Ms Patterson was headed for Kakadu and north Western Aus- tralia after leaving QUT on July 7.
Acting senior journalist and Inside QUT editor is Ms Trish Pennicott. Ms Pennicott, former senior communication officer at the Queensland Department of Transport, is an experienced print journalist and media officer.
New editor
In search of excellence
THE new Head of the School of Physics wants to build on the exist- ing strengths of the school and ex- pand research activities.
Professor Jim Pope took up his po- sition with the school at QUT on June 19 following an association with the University of New South Wales since 1975.
An arrangement between QUT and the University of New South Wales will also see Professor Pope’s personal research equipment, valued at more than $1 million, transferred from UNSW to QUT.
Professor Pope said the school’s existing strengths were already known nationally and internationally and he was keen to develop further the medical and health physics area.
“The school is also pioneering the development of postgraduate education for radiographers in Australia,” Professor Pope said.
“There may also be potential in expanding the range of research activities such as in the area of bio- materials and perhaps some areas which have overlapped with tech- niques used in medical physics into the general area of non-destructive testing.
“A number of medical imaging techniques have to be non-destructive
and similar techniques have applications not only in the medical area, but in a whole range of more general applications.
“My own particular interest is in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and more recently in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which is already used extensively in medical and health applications, but which has tremendous potential for growth both in medical imaging and in non-bio-
Head of physics wants to build on strengths
Professor Jim Pope, new Head of the School of Physics
1995 MBA Medal Winner Fabian Corrado, who received his award at a ceremony at Augustine’s restau- rant in late May, said the postgradu- ate qualification was a great way for students with technical backgrounds to develop skills across a range of business and management functions.
Mr Corrado, whose undergradu- ate degree was in computer science, said the course provided skills he could apply directly in his current position as a manager in the Infor- mation Services Department of the RACQ.
“The MBA syllabus brought for- ward ideas on areas such as strate- gic planning that I found useful and
applicable in my previous and current employment,” he said.
“The MBA offers students a chance to become familiar with other facets of business they may otherwise not have skills in, for example, human resource manage- ment practice and law.
“It’s a way of gaining insight into the many skills needed to be a successful manager,” he said.
Mr Carrado said the majority of students in the MBA program were, like himself, studying part-time.
“I completed my MBA as a part- time student and I sincerely admire all those who elect to do their studies part-time,” Mr Coraddo said.
THE search is on again for QUT’s most outstanding graduate.
All alumni of QUT, QIT, Brisbane College of Advanced Education (BCAE) and other predecessor insti- tutions are eligible for the award to be presented at a special reception in November.
QUT’s Convocation Warden Mr Ted Stewart said the QUT Outstand- ing Alumni Award was an excellent way to recognise exceptional alumni for their professional achievement and contribution to the community at the local, state, national and international levels.
“We want to recognise each of these high achievers and, in particular, one person who is truly outstanding,” said Mr Stewart.
“They are innovative, entrepre- neurial and have become role models for their peers. This award is a cel- ebration of their achievements.”
The 1993 winner was Mr Kevin Perkins, Manging Director of Collins Foods and world President of Sizzler International. Last year’s award rec- ognised Mrs Heather Waldron, a lead- ing optometrist.
Nominations are called for from graduates (alumni), academic staff, employers and members of the com- munity. The final selection will be made by the Chancellor’s judging panel which comprises independent external representatives.
Nomination forms will be available mid-July from the QUT Development Office, Level 12, ITE Building, Gar- dens Point campus.
Closing date is Thursday, August 31. For more information contact the Development Office Ph: (07) 864 1837 or Fax (07) 864 1514.
medical applications.
“Areas that have not been greatly exploited to date by MRI include flow- imaging and the study of biological tissue, plants and small animals using NMR micro-imaging methods.”
Professor Pope said he was always concerned about adequate funding and his background had given him useful insights on how to handle funds and get the best use of limited resources.
During his early career, Professor Pope was a financial analyst for the Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom for two years.
“Funding is always a problem as there will never be enough for all the initiatives one would like to develop,”
Professor Pope said.
He said his financial background had been very useful in developing grant applications and strategies in the past in obtaining additional equipment in New South Wales.
Professor Pope said his own magnetic resonance equipment would be brought from the University of New South Wales and installed in the new laboratory at QUT early next year.
“The equipment will further extend our research into a whole range of ap- plications in the general area of medi- cal physics, biophysics and non-de- structive testing of materials,” he said.
An international Australia
RECENT media reports suggest Australian universities favour inter- national students over at-home stu- dents or, worse, that deals are made to provide Asian students with quali- fications in order to make money.
To anyone who works or studies in the higher education system, these claims are frankly ridiculous.
Australia has tougher entry stand- ards for international students and longer, more rigorous programs than the UK despite the widely held per- ception that UK universities are higher quality. This means our stu- dents are smarter to begin with and they have to jump more hurdles to succeed.
At QUT, I think our problem is not that we are too lenient but too tough. I think we could be much more open to credit for studies in overseas institutions. I think we are far too stringent in our entry require- ments and turn away some students who would succeed in our programs.
Nobody denies that full fee-pay- ing international students financially benefit our universities and commu- nity. This is a worldwide multi-bil- lion dollar market in terms of the fees and living expenditure of stu- dents. In Australia, revenue from fee-paying international students is used to develop better facilities, equipment and buildings for all students.
But the benefits of international- ising our universities are much more than financial. Students and staff benefit from working with people from different cultural backgrounds.
International students have an op- portunity to experience a new coun- try and culture. At-home students meet and work with international stu- dents and form networks and friend- ships that last throughout their pro- fessional lives. This creates an in- ternationalised environment in which all our students benefit and QUT produces graduates for the world.
Professor Dennis Gibson
INSIDE QUT July 18 - 31, 1995 Page 3 confidentiality, integrity and availability.
He said the greatest challenge lay in adapting existing course materials to the specific educational requirements of a government client.
“There are senior executives who need training on things like risk management, security as a management function and conforming to privacy regulations; staff who have a security function as a part of their job; and staff who have a security awareness requirement.
Professor Caelli said the training, delivered by staff from the Schools of Data Communications and Computing Science, was only available in Canberra, but was expected to be run in other major cities in the future.
He said employees of state and local governments and government contractors could also access the training.
A CONTRACT for information system security train- ing for the whole of the Commonwealth Government has been awarded to QUT and industry partner Eracom.
School of Data Communications Head Professor Bill Caelli said QUT and Eracom had joined forces to secure the education and training contract which positioned QUT as the leader in a burgeoning field.
“Education and training needs in this area are set to explode with the implementation of various privacy acts and information security guidelines,” he said.
“This contract puts QUT at the forefront in Australia to meet this need.”
Professor Caelli said he believed the joint venture with Eracom, a Gold Coast systems security company, appealed to the Commonwealth Attorney General’s De- partment, the agency with responsibility for administering security training.
“We decided to work with a private company because we saw this as being in line with current government emphasis on cooperative efforts,” Professor Caelli said.
“We wanted a partner who would be able to put into the course some other very specialist knowledge as required from a more industrial nature.
Professor Caelli said the training modules were based on specific educational objectives identified by the Commonwealth Government and addressed the areas of
QUT wins training contract
because we couldn’t get a straight answer out of Family Services.
“The regulations issued by Family Services are vague on what a hazard actually is and how close it actually has to be to a centre to be a hazard.”
Ms Griffiths said the guild, the university and the department hadnegotiated a solution.
“The university decided that the centre had to stay open and that they would foot the bill for ensuring contin- ued provision of child care,” she said.
“The LPG tank has already been removed and the underground tank may be moved or drained in November, pending interpretation of the regulations by Family Services.”
“That contradiction fuelled rumours all over the place.”
She said the inability to get a definitive answer from FamilyServices had made it difficult to communicate with parents of children from the centre and centre staff.
“One area where we did go wrong was that initially we didn’t pass what little information we had on to parents and staff,” she said.
“We have addressed this in the meantime, but we still have take responsibility for that.
“But by the same token we didn’t have much information ourselves THE child care centre on the
Gardens Point campus will remain open following successful negotia- tions between the QUT Student Guild, the University and the Department of Family Services.
Parents and staff had feared the department would force the closure of the centre due to the proximity of fuel storage tanks.
One tank adjacent to the centre is used to store LPG gas and the other is an underground diesel storage tank.
QUT Student Guild President and child care centre licensee Ms Emma Griffiths said the department had been aware of the tanks since the granting of a temporary licence in the early 1990s.
“My understanding from the centre director was that the department issued a licence on the understanding the hazards were of a low level,” she said.
“When I got back from holidays in May I discovered the department had decided that the situation needed to be reviewed.”
Ms Griffiths said there had been a great deal of confusion surrounding the issue, due in part to contradictory information from Family Services.
“From the Department of Family Services there were two people that were representing the case and only one of them turned up at the first meeting and basically said ‘well its likely that the centre is going to be shut down’,” Ms Griffiths said.
“At a subsequent meeting her boss said the department was committed to keeping it open.
by Tony Wilson
QUT graduates in top demand
percent QUT employment advantage in this age group is not accounted for by part-time enrolments.
“Rather, it is evidence that QUT graduates have acquired highly rel- evant theory and practical skills giving them an edge in professional employment, and that the university’s
‘teaching for employability’ goal is being realised.”
QUT graduate starting salaries were the same as the national average of
$26,000 pa. Starting salaries for Queensland under 25 graduates generally were $1000 below the national university average.
While most QUT graduates are us- ing their undergraduate degree to find employment immediately, a growing percentage (20.5 percent of the under 25s) are progressing directly to further study.
“This figure is seven percent lower than state and national averages but should be viewed in the context of a relatively new university still devel- oping its postgraduate profile,” Mr Richardson said
“A pleasing aspect is that 70 per- cent of QUT students progressing di- rectly to postgraduate study chose to stay at this university.”
The university’s unemployment rate was two percent below the national average. QUT graduates not working and still seeking full-time employment four months after course completion represented 6.2 percent for under 25s.
This compared with 8.1 percent nationally.
The survey findings are based on a 60.4 percent response rate overall from new QUT graduates.
Mr Richardson said that of the non- respondents, more than half had been shown to be part-time, mature-age employed people.
GCCA data was useful for final- year students in finding employment as it provided breakdowns by course and listed employers of past gradautes.
THE percentage of QUT gradu- ates finding full-time jobs within a few months of course completion continues to be well above the national average for universities.
Graduate Careers Council of Aus- tralia data also show the vast majority of QUT graduates employed in posi- tions relevant to the course completed.
For QUT bachelor degree graduates of all ages who completed courses in 1993, surveyed in April 1994, the full- time employment rate was 62.5 percent. This QUT figure, as has been the case in previous years, was more than 15 percent above the national average for universities.
For bachelor degree graduates un- der age 25, the QUT rate of 59.2 percent compares with the national average of 46.4 percent..
“Such a favourable result might be expected for a university with one- third of its students enrolled part-time,”
says Careers and Employment Coun- sellor Mr Alan Richardson.
“However, only 7.5 percent of QUT’s under 25s were working full- time while they were doing their final year of study compared with 4.3 percent nationally. So the 12.8
NON-profit organisations around Australia will learn to “surf the Internet” thanks to a QUT Commu- nity Service Grant.
The Program on Non-profit and Organisational Studies, in conjunction with Computing Services, is using a
$50,000 grant to offer 30 organisations connections to the World Wide Web and training on how to use it.
The connection will also provide access to e-mail services.
In return, the program will study the uses to which the organisations put their Internet access. The results will provide the basis for a seminar and a working paper.
Participants will be chosen by the peak bodies of three major non-profit networks - the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS), the Queens- land Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia and the National Council of Independent Schools’ Associations.
“The peak bodies will choose which members of their organisation would be best as part of the scheme,” said program director Associate Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes.
He has developed a program for the project called Nonprof Net on the QUT webserver which can be accessed world-wide.
“We’ve got news items, events, a list of all our publications, frequently asked questions, a special section on how people can raise funds and lists of conferences on non-profit subjects from around the world,” he said.
News items, updated weekly by Professor McGregor-Lowndes,
include such relevant documents as the Commonwealth Budget Papers which, as with all other information, can be downloaded and printed free of charge.
Other features of the program include an “adopt-a-non-profit body”
section where organisations can advertise.
Professor McGregor-Lowndes has also constructed a program which would eliminate the time-consuming and costly paperwork charities must supply to governments.
“We’ll have a page on the Internet with a master index of all charities, so someone wanting information on a certain charity can pull its home page where all regulatory information will be registered,” he said.
The training workshops at QUT will be videotaped and the tapes made available to organisations unable to attend the sessions.
The program has become completely self-funding through judicious marketing of the products of its research.
A major earner is the publication which has become known to non-profit bodies as The Blue Bible. The Incor- porated Associations Manual, updated yearly, provides a complete “how to”
on the requirements of running an or- ganisation. The manual has sold more than 4500 copies.
Seminars covering a wide range of relevant subjects — over 50 in all — are held on the last Friday of the month and the proceedings published as part of the working paper series. The papers sell for $10 a copy.
I nternet access for community groups
A NEW licensed child care centre is expected to open at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus mid-way through 1996.
QUT currently has two licensed child care centres, one on the Carseldine campus and one on Gardens Point.
The Carseldine centre has 56 places for children aged up to five years, while the Gardens Point centre has 25 places for the same age group.
QUT Student Guild President Ms Emma Griffiths said the Carseldine centre had piloted the idea of providing care for students with evening classes.
“Last semester the centre was open until 7.15pm at no additional cost to permanent parents and if
students wanted to bring their children in just for the three or four hours in the afternoon it cost them
$12,” she said.
Ms Griffiths said the centre proposed for the Kelvin Grove campus would be a state-of-the-art, 66-place centre.
She said QUT’s School of Early Childhood had been consulted in the development of the plans for the centre.
“It will be a totally modern, purpose-built centre calling on the best expertise available in the child care sector,” she said.
Ms Griffiths said the guild also operated a vacation care program which faced an uncertain future due to an apparent lack of demand.
THE Good Universities Guide has acknowledged that its graduate employment figures, reproduced in The Courier-Mail on July 7, were in- correct. In fact, Queensland universities have one of the best rates.
QUT should have received a four out of five star rating on employment.
Other areas in which QUT received top rating (five stars) in the guide were: flexibility of study;
admittance to TAFE graduates;
global connection with international students; good teaching;
innovation in teaching; and part- time study.
Child care centre to
stay at Gardens Point
Gardens Point child care centre director Glynn Bevan and some of his charges
APPOINTMENTS
· QUT Chancellor Dr Cherrell Hirst has been appointed a director of Metway Bank
· Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake has been appointed to the Commonwealth Government’s Higher Education Management Review team set up by Minister for Employment, Education and Training, Simon Crean. Professor Coaldrake was also an official political analyst for last Saturday’s Queensland State election for Channel 9 and The Australian.
Page 4 INSIDE QUT July 18 - 31, 1995
LOOKING back on his days as a business student, Brad Wacker admits he was no roaring success.
However, his career quickly moved into a higher gear after graduating from QUT in 1979 when he joined one of Brisbane’s leading accountancy firms.
He left after 17 years to become joint managing director of the world’s longest serving Harley- Davidson distributor outside the United States, Morgan & Wacker Pty Ltd.
A combination of diehard bike fanatic and shrewd businessman, Brad joined the family company, located at Newstead, to help over- see an unprecedented period of prosperity and growth.
“When my father, who had traditionally looked after the financial side of the business, decided to retire hard decisions had to be made,” he said.
“I thought at the time the best so- lution was for me to come on board to assist my brother Mark with the running of the business, especially given the way it was expanding and the future we saw for it.”
Established in 1917, Morgan &
Wacker now commands a 45 percent share of the Queensland 750cc-and-over motorcycle trade.
It has also developed an extensive distribution network for both Harley- Davidson and BMW bikes throughout Queensland and overseas.
And business looks set to get even better.
Last year, for the first time, production in the United States ex- ceeded 100,000 bikes destined for the domestic and worldwide mar- ket. A Harley can range in price from
$23,000 to $29,000.
Brad said he never intended to join the family business.
“I thought when I embarked on a career it would be interesting to go down a different track to what I’d grown up with.
“It was only when I was at uni- versity that I thought accountancy
Brad driven to succeed
QUT Career Mentor Scheme Steering Committee chair Col McCowan said he expected about 120 mentors to be involved in this year’s scheme compared to 91 in 1994.
“The scheme is really gaining momentum, not only within the university, but across all sectors of the business community,” he said.
“Both sides gain something valuable from the experience.
“It is also an excellent way for alumni of QUT and its predecessor institutions to become re-involved in the life of the university.”
For more information about the QUT Career Mentor Scheme, telephone Sue Sweet (07) 864 2649 or Elise Nancarrow on (07) 864 2726.
ORGANISERS of the QUT Career Mentor Scheme underway this semester are expecting 1995 to be their most successful year to date.
Two new disciplines - Human Resource Management and Planning, Landscape Architecture and Surveying have joined the scheme which has boosted the number involved to nine.
Now in its third year of operation, the scheme covers nursing, journalism, geology, interior design, drama, and accountancy at the Sunshine Coast Centre.
Initiated by QUT Convocation, the scheme provides final-year students with an opportunity to receive guidance from experienced professionals in their chosen career.
Mentor scheme in growth mode
Life fellow of QIT Dr Merv Hegarty presenting two books and a report to the QUT Library. The books are of considerable historical interest and were accepted on behalf of the library by Ms Gaynor Austin.
Acting Registrar Mr David Greenwood was also present at the ceremony on June 20.
Advertising campaign shifts focus to high school-leavers
QUT has launched a small advertising cam- paign in Brisbane aimed at school-leavers.
The TV-cinema-radio campaign will run before the Queensland Tertiary Ad- missions Centre applications closing date of 29 September.
Public Affairs Director Mr Peter Hinton says the campaign “QUT works”
reinforces QUT’s position in the undergraduate market as providing a university education with real practical experience, which is an advantage in the job market.
“QUT’s advertising strategy for 1995 has been to broaden the commu- nity perception of “a university for the real world” beyond undergraduate edu- cation to include applied research and community service activities,” he said.
However, additional undergraduate
student places, promised over the next three years by the Commonwealth Gov- ernment in a deal with the State to ad- dress unmet demand in Queensland, would result in increased competition among local universities to fill the extra places with well qualified students.
The Pulp Fiction-like guitar music which is a key element in the commer- cials was written and arranged by music lecturer Michael Whelan, and recorded by Academy of the Arts students Grant Collins (drums), Ian Macrae (keyboard), Robert Harley (bass), Wes Taylor (guitar), and Adam Connelly (sax).
The TV commercials were produced internally by QUT’s Educational TV unit.
The commercials will be confined to Channel 10, Brisbane cinemas and radio stations B105 and FM104.
by Laura McDonald
A bike owner since the age of 12, Brad now has a Harley Ultra model on which he and his family ride to regular meetings of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) held through- out the state.
“It’s really enjoyable to get on the bike and meet people,” Brad said.
“We feel we get very close to our customers.
“We know who they are and we feel we can identify with them because we understand what they enjoy about riding our motorcycles.”
would be a good career to pursue.
“I wasn’t a very good student, but things improved when I joined KPMG Peat Marwick.”
Brad said his time at the account- ancy firm was invaluable, particularly nine years in the insolvency division.
“I was involved in running all sorts of businesses, from pig farms to meatworks.
“It certainly gave me a great business grounding.”
Since joining Morgan & Wacker, Brad has been able to combine business with pleasure.
Finding success…QUT business graduate Brad Wacker
INSIDE QUT July 18 – 31, 1995 Page 5
Community
DESIGN for the
Law to ensure public input in development
Public Exhibition - 111 George Street - July 18 - 28
An entry in the Light Plus Shade exhibition held earlier this year to capture the unique architecture between Brisbane and Noosa. The exhibition aimed to raise the community’s awareness of the contibution of architecture to Queensland’s urban environment.
Today marks the beginning of QUT’s Design for the Community exhibition at 111 George Street in the city.
The exhibition will offer a glimpse of the new designs and fresh ideas of the university’s stu- dent architects, planners, land- scape architects, and interior and industrial designers.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning Mr Terry Mackenroth will open the exhibition on Thursday July 20 at 6pm. The display will continue until July 28.
Exhibition coordinator, QUT’s head of Architecture, Interior and Industrial Design Associate Profes-
sor Gordon Holden, said the display captured the vital role of the design and planning professions within our community.
“The proper role for professions in society, especially designers and planners, is to express the ideas of the culture and that means consult- ing with the community and then generating new ideas and new forms,” Professor Holden said.
Professor Holden said the exhibi- tion highlighted the strong commu- nity involvement in the practical component of design and planning courses at QUT.
“We have a long tradition in de- signing and planning for the com- munity,” he said.
“For many years now various sections of the community and gov- ernment have asked for assistance for specific projects or problems.
“In this way, our student projects help meet very real com- munity needs and help teach our students in a very practical way at the same time.”
The exhibition highlights the community design components of courses taught in the QUT Schools of Architecture, Interior and In- dustrial Design, and Planning, Landscape Architecture and Surveying.
The projects in this four-page feature highlight just a few of the projects included in the exhibition.
Exhibition showcases QUT design excellence
INSIDE
Child care centre designs take account of Qld climate ... 6 Facelift planned
for Rosewood ... 6 Indigenous perspectives influence designs for Bribie Aboriginal cultural centre ... 6 Brookfield bridges
satisfy community needs ... 6 Book complements
design exhibition ... 7 Fold-up boat
opens up opportunities ... 7 Art for the home ... 7 Planning preserves
Qld beach lifestyle Houses for people
with disabilities ... 8 Helmet for surf safety ... 8 New lease of life for
derelict naval store ... 8 Rosewood
Surfing helmet
Beaches
Naval store (Left) - Plans for
development in the township of Rosewood ensures the maintenence of country charm of the streetscape Page 6
(Right) - Ian Piggot’s design for a helmet for board riders combines fun and practicality Page 8
(Right) - Interior designs offer a derelict naval stores building the opportunity to continues its history of service to the community Page 8
(Left)- The character of Queensland’s beach communities is being preserved through planning for sustainable development Page 8 Public opinion will influence
planning and development in Queensland more than ever before if proposed legislation is enacted, according to a Queensland Univer- sity of Technology architecture expert.
Associate Professor Gordon Holden said the new Planning Environment and Assessment Bill, if enacted, would give the community more say in plan- ning issues.
The Goss Government announced the proposed Bill last month and the deadline for public comment is Au- gust 25.
Professor Holden, who heads QUT’s School of Architecture, Inte- rior and Industrial Design, said the Bill introduced a new “pre-discussion stage” for public comment.
“The Bill calls for two formal stages of community input - one at the very beginning in actually formulating the project or brief, and later to discuss opinions when there are definite pro- posals and options,” Professor Holden explained.
“The Bill is saying let the commu- nity comment on and offer up ideas on a given issue before the technical aspects of the planning and design process are formed and before the political will has established itself.
“The alternative is the case of the Boggo Road redevelopment (an- nounced last month) where a Minister makes a fait accompli statement and thereby locks the Government and the community into a confrontational de- bate prematurely and unnecessarily.”
He said this proposed legislation brought Queensland more in line with other Australian states and challenged the notion of development driven purely by the profit motive.
“In the past, the expression of the state’s built environment was largely handed over to the speculative proc- ess. It was once said that the Queens- land urban landscape would be as the
development industry wants it to be’,”
he said.
“This Bill puts a stop to this.”
However, Professor Holden issued a warning for the community.
“There is a challenge here for the community not to try to stop every proposed development and oppose all new ideas,” he said.
“The risk we take in adopting this consultative process is that it can evolve into non-evolution or entropy.
“A prime example of this is seen in some of Britain’s worst planning guide- lines and constraints where you can’t paint your own front door without lo- cal government approval of the colour.”
Professor Holden said this dilemma called for the right kind of relation- ship between the so-called experts and the community.
“We need to find the right balance so that the experts are being informed through community interaction and then interpreting that input into vision- ary outcomes,” he said.
“Sometimes the community has to be brought along and educated, and I don’t mean that paternalistically.
“A classic example is the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
“A century ago when it was being built for the World Fair it was called an abomination by the people of Paris.
They tried to stop it being built and later they tried to get it demolished after the fair was over.
“But as Professor Heath of this school often says, `people can learn to like’. Now it is recognised as one of the great landmarks.
“Herein lies the skill of design and of vision that in a sense crystallise and reflect the needs and the aspirations of the community, perhaps a bit more boldly than the community at large would see themselves.
“I think it’s important that planners and designers make that kind of con- tribution, constantly testing and gen- erating the new horizons.”
Page 6 INSIDE QUT July 18 - 31, 1995 INSIDE QUT July 18 - 31, 1995 Page 7
Design for the Community
A government guide for architects designing child care centres was put to the test in a joint project between QUT and the Department of Family Services.
Third-year Bachelor of Built Envi- ronment students were asked to pre- pare designs based on information sup- plied in the Family Services publica- tion Design Considerations for Child Care Centres.
Senior lecturer in the School of Ar- chitecture, Interior and Industrial De- sign James Woolley said the depart- ment was very keen to get the stu- dent’s feedback on the draft of the guidelines prior to publication.
He said the project therefore ad- dressed the needs of the department as well as offering practical design expe- rience to the students.
“The project appeared well suited to the level of complexity required for our third-year full-time students,” he said.
Mr Woolley said a crucial issue which emerged early in the discussions was the great differences in climate across Queensland.
“While the publication was intended for use across the state, we were un- easy about the design of ‘typical’
buildings which might be suited to one region but not another,” he said.
“The problem was overcome by agreeing to run four simultaneous com- petitions - each in a different climatic zone.
“One was on Thursday Island (tropi- cal), one in Mt Isa (hot arid), one in Toowoomba (temperate) and one in Brisbane (sub-tropical).
“These regional differences were reflected very clearly in the design solutions the students developed for each area.
“For example, the Thursday Island designs were generally of the pavilion type with one wide room for good through ventilation and with wide ve- randahs for rain and sun protection.
“The Toowoomba buildings were compact to conserve winter warmth
with generous north-facing windows to capture sunshine in the cold months.”
The winning entrants in each cat- egory were presented with awards by Family Services Minister Anne Warner at the Parliament House launch of the publication in October 1993.
Design Considerations for Child Care Centres was intended to comple- ment other departmental publications
outlining legislative and licensing re- quirements, Mr Woolley said.
“It was meant to go beyond defining minimum standards and assist in the development of `quality’ child care en- vironments that were`concerned as much with achieving a place special to the children staff and parents who use it’ as with the provision of adequate space and facilities.”
The interests of a group of Abo- riginal people seeking use of a parcel of Bribie Island Crown land are be- ing advanced through a collaborative project between two groups of QUT students.
In 1993 representatives of the Djindubari people came to QUT for suggestions on a management strategy for land use and designs for a commu- nity cultural centre to be situated on a portion of Crown reserve land.
The Djindubari people are currently lobbying for the return of the parcel of land which contains a well-preserved Bora Ring site.
Architecture lecturer James Woolley said the request led to a collaborative project being developed between the School of Architecture, Interior and In- dustrial Design and the School of Plan- ning, Landscape Architecture and Surveying.
He said in addition to the practical experience the project offered, it was an opportunity for students to gain valu- able insights into Aboriginal culture and spirituality.
“Its value for students lay primarily in their learning from the Aboriginal people’s love of the land, to produce buildings that touched it as lightly as possible, with a minimum of ecosys- tem disruption,” he said.
“It was an education in the need to design in sympathy with a specific cul- tural tradition.”
Mr Woolley said the project offered an excellent opportunity for collabora- tion between the two schools.
“During the first half of the semester the PLAS students conducted surveys of the land and prepared strategies for its use and management,” he said.
“Over the second half of the semes- ter students from both schools were or- ganised into multidisciplinary teams to develop more detailed plans.
“At this stage each team was briefed by members of the Djindubari Manage- ment Committee and this informed planning for a long-term accommoda- tion of their needs.”
Mr Woolley said these needs included housing, display and sale of craft arte- facts; research and educational
facilities; a “keeping place” for the stor- age of sacred or treasured items; visitor information and administration; an in- door/outdoor auditorium for confer- ences and performing arts; catering fa- cilities; a sanctuary for spiritual enrich- ment; and accommodation for inter- state visitors.
“Students were taken on a field trip to the island with an overnight stay near the site where the PLAS students out- lined their strategies to their architec- tural colleagues.” Mr Woolley said.
“During the field trip other members of the Djindubari community talked to students about issues of Aboriginal spir- ituality, in particular the significance of the group’s eagle totem.
“Some student groups incorporated this directly into their design, while others attempted to capture its essence indirectly.”
“All groups attempted to evolve low- key buildings sensitive to the site.”
Mr Woolley said representatives of the Djindubari people were impressed with the finished designs presented at QUT toward the end of 1993.
Indigenous perspectives influence Bribie Is. cultural centre designs
Bed - Wendy Oxenham Rosewood residents were keen
to preserve the charm of their streetscape
Fold-up fishing boat - lightweight and portable When set the challenge of trans-
forming the landscape of Rosewood, a quaint rural town west of Ipswich, QUT landscape architecture students responded with a range of innovative design solutions.
The university was approached by representatives of the former Moreton Shire Council (now part of the Ipswich City Council) in 1993 for ideas on how the town could plan for expected future growth.
Two teams of QUT students, one looking at residential landscapes and the other at the town centre, took up the challenge.
Landscape architecture lecturer Delwynn Poulton said Rosewood was facing significant development pres- sure that put the town’s rural char- acter at risk.
She said it was crucial that designs for residential developments took the existing rural character into account.
“It is vital that we plan to cope with that growth now so that the town’s unique charm is not lost,”
she said.
“We try to push the idea that the landscape is a total entity compris- ing the built forms as well as the natural forms.
“It’s important to maintain ex- isting senses of scale, colour and look otherwise the residents feel lost or swallowed up by development.
“The residential designs and sub- division plans developed by the stu- dents were very conscious of this and worked with the natural land- scape to develop a harmonious re- lationship.”
These sentiments were echoed by lecturer Glenn Thomas who led the team developing plans for the town centre.
“With the growth expected the centre of Rosewood could become the hub for community, cultural and commercial activity for 90,000 people,” he said.
“We looked at how you could manage that growth without losing the charm of the streetscape.
“Some of the suggestions by stu- dents included a cinema, amphi- theatre, community park or a town square.”
Ipswich City Councillor David Pahlke said the work submitted by the students was very impressive.
“The designs were excellent, es- pecially those for the town centre, and the main street, John Street, which maintains the rural charac- ter of the town,” he said.
Councillor Pahlke said the Rosewood community had reacted favourably to the designs when they went on display in early June.
“These students have come up with some fantastic ideas which the community seems to be excited about,” he said.
“It’s still early days though. We will be going through an extensive consultation process with residents before any final decisions are made.”
Facelift planned for Rosewood
Fold-up boat opens up opportunities
An idea for a fold-up fishing boat, designed to fit on the roof rack of the average car, may do away with cum- bersome trailers and open up a world of opportunities for the recreational angler.
QUT industrial design student Cornelis Oppelaar hit upon the idea of a collapsible boat after research into the recreational fishing boat market.
“When I surveyed the market there was nothing commercially available in the way of a small, two-person, non- inflatable recreational fishing boat which was lightweight with maximum portability,” he said.
“What was available either had to be towed on a trailer, inflated or was too large or heavy to fit easily on roof racks.
“The collapsible boat solves these problems in a design for a boat that is lightweight, robust and has maximum portability.”
Mr Oppelaar said his design would appeal to the consumer who enjoyed fishing or boating but who had limited storage space.
“It could be someone living in the inner city or a town house who doesn’t have room to be storing a boat and a trailer,” he said.
He said the craft could be fashioned from a tough vulcanised PVC fabric, similar to that used in inflatable boats.
“This fabric would be reinforced with kevlar tape in the seams to make them as durable as possible,” he said.
“The major advantage of the design is its ability to fold in half providing excellent portability while still main- taining stability and safety when the vessel is in use.
“Safety is in the form of two air-en- capsulated flotation chambers which pro- vide buoyancy in the unfortunate event of the vessel taking in water.
“The design is very conscious of a number of ergonomic factors including the workload related to transporting, operating and maintaining the vessel, the position of the body when using the boat, and demands on perception, vigi- lance and skill.”
111 George Street - July 18 - 28 Design for the Community
Bridge model using timber
Designs for child care centres take account of Queensland climate
Brookfield bridges satisfy community need Students
design art for
the home
QUT architecture students have helped the Brookfield community in the outer western suburbs of Bris- bane prepare a strategy to better care for the creek which runs through their district.
The Upper Brookfield Creek Care Committee approached QUT in Janu- ary to design a series of new bridge crossings to help overcome a number of ecological problems which had de- veloped since the 1974 Brisbane floods.
A group of 70 second-year students took on the project as part of their first-semester work this year and pre- sented their reports, drawings and models to the community at an open day in April.
The Upper Brookfield Creek Care Committee approached QUT in the hope of obtaining viable options and possible solutions to then make a well- researched submission to the Bris- bane City Council.
Senior lecturer Mr Adrian Boddy said the students’ work focussed on an environmental analysis of the creek environment and appropriate bridge design.
“Many of the temporary crossings, which had been installed during the floods to restore vehicular access into the community, still remain today,”
Mr Boddy said.
“There are 17 crossings along the creek and each one has affected the natural scouring process of the creek.
The flow of the water has been im- peded and has led to water pools or small dams forming upstream from each crossing,” Mr Boddy said.
“This in turn has affected the bal- ance of life in the creek and led to weed infestations and an observable loss of birds, terapins and platypus in and around the creek.
“New development in the area has also washed a lot of gravel into the creek. Surges of gravel through these water pools have compounded problems.”
Mr Boddy said the students pro- duced 15 different bridge designs, working in groups of four or five on separate bridge concepts. Students worked with either steel, timber or masonry materials in mind.
“The educative advantage for the students was that they offered design ideas to clients who had real percieved and political reasons for wanting those designs.”
Mr Boddy said engineers from the Brisbane City Council attended the open day presentation and showed considerable interest in the designs.
“This isn’t a case of students com- peting with other professionals. It’s a case of collaboration and fresh young minds coming up with new ideas.”
Committee representative Mr John Cutts, who was unavailable for fur- ther comment, congratulated the stu- dents on their “superb efforts” in a letter of appreciation to Mr Boddy.
QUT’s Design for the Commu- nity exhibition coincides with the release of a new 180-page publica- tion by the same name.
Written by QUT staff, students and graduates from different design backgrounds, the publication gives a clear illustration of the design process and its role in the community.
Design disciplines represented in this publication are architecture, in- dustrial design, interior design, landscape architecture and plan- ning, and urban planning and design.
“While each discipline has its own distinctive body of knowledge and approach to problem-solving, this publication attempts to explain and illustrate their common task which is to design a better future for, and often with, the community,”
co-editor Associate Professor Vesna Popovic said.
“The papers are intended to give the reader a better understanding of the design process, its impact on the community and the way in which design itself is subject to change in a changing environment.”
The publication was edited by Professor Popovic, an industrial de- signer, Ms Paula Whitman, an ar- chitecture lecturer, and planning senior lecturer Dr Brian Hudson.
Book complements design exhibition
QUT interior design students are required to design and pro- duce a piece of furniture or join- ery as part of their studies.
The examples pictured below il- lustrate the results of the skilful blending of form and function to create art for the home interior.
Buffet - Kay Merguard Shelf unit - Robert Backhouse
Hall stand - Kellie Barton Chaise - Fibi Ng
Page 8 INSIDE QUT July 18 – 31, 1995
Design for the Community
Public Exhibition - 111 George Street - July 18 - 28
The unique character of Queens- land’s beachside communities is be- ing preserved through planning for sensitive, sustainable development.
School of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Surveying lecturer Delwynn Poulton said QUT had been approached by a number of communi- ties for advice on preserving treasured elements of community character.
“We’ve worked with several com- munities who see the potential for de- velopment and want to ensure that the elements of lifestyle and landscape which attracted them there are pre- served,” she said.
“We’ve been approached by groups from Mackay, Coolum, Maroochydore, Woorim on Bribie Is- land, Airlie Beach and they all say the same thing.
“They don’t want their community to become another Gold Coast, or even another Port Douglas, they want to retain the specific character of their communities.”
Ms Poulton said the project con- ducted for the Woorim community was illustrative of the school’s approach to community planning.
In that project students initially sur- veyed residents to find out what ele- ments the community valued most and those areas where they wanted change.
She said the survey results informed the development of landscape guide- lines for the township.
“The student groups then concen- trated on a particular theme. One took an environmental theme, another looked at the shopping district, another at the beach/community interface, while one group decided to work on cultural/historical issues.
“Within each theme students devel- oped a design for a particular area.
“They came up with lots and lots of designs which we then presented to the community and they were enthusiastic.
“The community is encouraging the
Caboolture Shire Council to look at them and see from the drawings the sorts of things they want to happen in their community.”
Ms Poulton said in the past commu- nities had been left out of the planning process.
“Twenty years ago the idea was that you just got on with development re- gardless of what may be happening around it,” she said.
“If you look at most councils and government departments now they are
Informed planning for development will preserve Queenslan’s beach landscape for future generations
Plans for a vibrant public space offered a derelict Naval Stores building at Kangaroo Point the means to continue its history of service to the Brisbane community.
QUT interior design student Ms Kelly Southee developed the plans after thorough research into the building’s heritage past
“The stores were built in the 1880s, and as a naval depot were used to store torpedoes and other armaments,” she said.
“Located opposite the Botanical Gardens, it provides sweeping views of the city. Nestled as it is below the cliffs of Kangaroo Point, the site has a serene quality.
“As a place accessible only by foot, bicycle or boat, it has the po- tential to become a haven close to the inner-city.”
Ms Southee said she intended to create a multifunctional space dedicated to the Brisbane River culture by incorporating art, food and leisure in the final design.
“By appealing to all the senses, especially taste, the design in- cluded a bakery and cafe for visi- tors to relax and enjoy the set- ting,” she said.
“The original blacksmith’s forge
within the Naval Store has been de- signed for use a smithy’s shop or craft workshop or art studio.
“Artist’s accommodation has been provided on the first floor. This unique environment would be inspi- rational to any artist.
“The bygone era has been pre- served by the inclusion of a naval museum. Overall the design is dedi- cated to the past, present and future.”
Ms Southee said the future uti- lisation of the building could be enhanced by its inclusion as a stop on the new ferry service on the Brisbane River.
Ms Southee is in her final-year of the Graduate Diploma of Inte- rior Design course and for the last two years has worked for Nettleton Tribe Partnership, a team of Brisbane architects and interior designers.
Interior designer Kelly Southee – sharing her vision for the renovation of the Naval Stores located on the river below Kangaroo Point
News lease of life for derelict naval stores on Kangaroo Pt.
Planning preserves Qld beach lifestyle
Housing choices for
people with disabilities
QUT architecture students and staff are working to improve the lives of people with disabilities through the design of appropriate, adaptable housing solutions.
To date three houses have been built based on designs from School of Architecture, Interior and Indus- trial Design students and staff.
The first house, built at Sunnybank Hills in August 1990, was designed by student Cathy Archer as her entry in a 1989 com- petition sponsored by the Queens- land Housing Commission, the Queensland Master Builders Asso- ciation and SEQEB.
Cathy said her design was prem- ised on the philosophy that archi- tects are in a unique position to as- sist people with disabilities maxim- ise their community life through appropriate designs for housing, work environments and public spaces.
“When I entered the competition I adopted Selwyn Goldsmith’s theme that people with disabilities want to live the same life as everyone else and that we, as architects, can help make this a reality for them,” she said.
“The aim of the competition was to promote accessible, affording housing for people with disabilities which doesn’t draw attention to it- self in a suburban setting and to in- crease the awareness of these issues in architects and the community.
“The brief was to design a dwell- ing for four people with differing levels of impairment, one was ago- raphobic, another deaf, one dyslexic and the fourth used a wheelchair.
“It was assumed that the residents would spend more time in the home than a typical family might and the design had to accommodate this while also offering privacy to the in- dividuals.
“The final criterion was flexibil- ity as the needs of the potential oc- cupants could differ greatly from the four people in the brief.”
Cathy’s design solutions included making all four bedrooms wheel- chair accessible, extensive use of slid- ing doors, widening passageways, making ensuite and house bath- rooms wheelchair accessible and creating a semi-private outdoor space for each bedroom.
All of the bedrooms also face north-east to receive maximum ben- efit fromcool summer breezes and warm winter sun.
At the culmination of the competition the Housing Commis- sion and the Master Builders Association joined forces to fund and construct Cathy’s design at Sunnybank Hills.
Head of QUT’s architecture school Associate Professor Gordon Holden said the Sunnybank Hills house served as inspiration for two houses constructed on the Gold Coast by Coastal Accommodation Support Services Incorporated (CASSI), an organisation offering services to people with disabilities.
“Initially CASSI required two shared house designs for people with disabilities on particular sites,” he said.
“It was also envisaged that sev- eral other houses may be required in the future.
“The major objectives paralleled those of the competition with the added criteria that the designs be adaptable across a range of sites.
“Principles underpinning the de- sign included positioning to maxim- ise summer breezes, minimising in- ternal distances to communal facili- ties for all residents, different sur- faces for different areas to assist sight-impaired people to orient themselves and the elimination of hallways which make passing diffi- cult for people using wheelchairs.
“An adaptable design which took account of these principles was sub- sequently prepared for CASSI and two houses were completed by late 1991.”
consulting the community first.”
Ms Poulton said it was wrong to assume the communities were neces- sarily opposed to development.
“Most of these beach communities are aware that development can and probably will happen and they can usually see the benefits it will bring,”
Ms Poulton said.
“They want development, but they want it to happen on a human scale, they don’t really want the scale of the place to change.”
Helmet for surf safety
Nearly losing an eye in a surfing accident inspired industrial design student Ian Piggot to develop a helmet for surfers. The helmet comes in two forms, one offering full face protection and one with protective goggles.The full face design includes earphones enabling the surfer to enjoy their favourite music while riding the swell.
