News of Alumni - Archive 2005
Check out the latest news from alumni who have been in touch recently
Yiing Cheong WONG (1991-1993)
Graeme de GRAAFF (Director 1966-1986)
Terry BIRTLES (1967-1968)
Michael CHAO (1969-1973)
Vinod KUMAR (1969-1971)
Pauline LYLE-SMITH (1969-1972)
Mealy TRUONG (1970)
Belinda (DAWSON) LAMB (1970-1972 Assistant Director Programme)
Kam LOUIE (1970-1973)
Lenore HEATH (1975)
Charles CHAN (1978-1980)
Gillian POLACK (1983-1987)
Robert MIRAFUENTE (1986-1988) & Veronique BAERISWYL (1988-1989)
Mie TAKEUCHI (1990-1991)
Tze Tec CHONG (1995-1996)
James MOSES (1997-1998)
Chris TAN (1998-2002)
Kevin SHAH (1999-2000)
Michael JOHNSON (1976-1978) & Ingrid MIDDENDORF (1997-1978)
Gregory ANDERSON (1986)
Brian GIBEL (1997)
Manindra KAPHLE (1999-2002)
David CORDERI (2002)
Idit REGEV (2003)
Yiing Cheong WONG (1991-1993)
At the end of June 2004, Yiing Cheong married
Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion, another Sydney University medical graduate,
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is an ophthalmologist at the National Eye Centre, Singapore.
Graeme de GRAAFF (Director 1966-1986) wrote to us recently with news of some sightings of past Programme Directors: ‘My wife and I were, last night, as a pair of committed republicans, hugely enjoying a TV programme which was arguing that the current Queen of the United Kingdom and Australia is not rightfully on the throne due to a covered-up illegitimacy a few hundred years ago. The man who should be King is a titled Englishman who has lived as a contented migrant in Jerilderie in NSW – appropriately right in the heart of bushranger country.
At one stage a posse of learned professors were called in to discuss the claims, and I said to my wife – “I know that voice; it is Michael BENNETT (1974-1976), some-time resident and some-time Programme Director in the House.” Sure enough, when the camera panned round, there indeed stood Michael. Looking a bit white, to my surprise, but then it would be well over twenty years since I last saw him and Fatimah (HASSAN) (1975 -1976) before he whisked her off to the University of Tasmania.
Funny how ex Programme Directors turn up on the Telly. A while ago I also thought I recognised one of those North Country accents, and looked up at the Telly to see Dr John VINE (1974-1975) discussing the serious problem of drug testing in the horse-racing industry.
Is it not a good thing that even if some of our Alumni do not write to SUIHAA they do expose themselves on the TV!’
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Terry BIRTLES (1967-1968) emailed his news and comments on the May Newsletter: ‘the copy of Alumni News arrived and I am most impressed. I am about to head overseas for two months but I wish all the very best to Nuli (1968) & Margaret (BROMLEY) LEMOH (1967-1968) whom I recall with fondness.
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Michael CHAO (1969-1973) in early May sent photographs of a dinner with Bosco FUNG (1973-1974), his wife Maria, and Michael’s son, Richard, in Hong Kong. ‘I was in Hong Kong at the start of the Labour Day holidays. I was told over 1.6 million Chinese crossed the border to Hong Kong SAR [Special Administrative Region]. Their main goal was to buy the genuine merchandise, wherein lies the irony: I was going across the border to Shenzhen to buy the fakes.’
Michael later emailed the Editor after reading the Newsletter on the SUIHAA Website: ‘it is always a pleasure to meet up with old friends from IH. The Internet and the digital cameras have made the reunions more easily shared with all the alumni of IH. I have just read the pdf format of the SUIHAA Newsletter. It is the best; it is the greatest. Richard has really outdone himself with this issue. My congratulations to both of you for putting it together – what can we expect from the next issue?’
(Many thanks for your encouragement, Michael – Ed.)
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Vinod KUMAR (1969-1971) wrote to update his contact details and new address in Queensland at the end of May and added: ‘I was, as always, delighted to get the Newsletter in the mail this morning. As a bonus, it contained a picture of Val HAZLEWOOD (1967-1969).
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Pauline LYLE-SMITH (1969-1972) sent an email from London in an attempt to arrange a meeting with IH Director, Jessica Carroll, during her visit to the Meeting of the Heads of International Houses Worldwide in London on June12th. Richard Ng, our energetic SUIHAA Database Officer, was able to supply the information that could put them in touch with each other.
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Mealy TRUONG (1970) who, as readers of the last Newsletter will remember, is now working on his Masters degree in the Department of International Co-operation Studies at the Graduate School for International Development at the Nagoya University, wrote: ‘I am happy to inform you that everything concerning my academic work here in Japan is going as smoothly as I had expected it to. What I need to do now is to work hard and remain healthy. I received a hard copy of the May 2004 Alumni News by airmail and it is very nice looking! The colour is great! I like it. And I can also open the one on the Website, too.’
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Belinda (DAWSON) LAMB (1970-1972 Assistant Director Programme) wrote on receiving the May Newsletter: ‘Well done: it looks FANTASTIC. Just a minor error in my entry (probably cos of my lousy handwriting)…I was actually at IH 1970-1972 (not 1977) under my maiden name DAWSON, and as Assistant Director Programme, working with Graeme de Graaff!
Great to read so much news of so many residents about the same time!
My eldest daughter Rebecca, 27, still wandering the world, is to be a volunteer at the Athens Olympics and will be staying with Fani (MANIKAKIS) NICOLANDIS (1969-1973) who is also a volunteer!
[Mea culpa, Belinda, mea maxima culpa. I should have known better because I was actually there with you. Sincere apologies and I hope that you’ll find that the entry has now been fixed. Ed]
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Kam LOUIE (1970-1973), now Professor of Chinese Studies at the Australian National University, was the guest speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Australian Chinese Studies Alumni in December and took as his subject the development of his academic interest in the sexuality of Chinese men. He later caught up with IH Alumni Gwen (BURROWS) NG (1968-1970) & Joan ROWLANDS (FARRAR) (1970,1979-1980) at a Sydney University Alumni Reception.
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Lenore HEATH (1975) emailed us to update her contact details. She is now living in Wamboin NSW.
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Charles CHAN (1978-1980) has also been in touch recently to notify his change of address. He is now the Deputy Managing Director of Vision Century Corporation in Hong Kong.
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Gillian POLACK (1983-1987) had her first novel, ‘Illuminations’, reviewed in our last Newsletter. Her second novel, ‘The Art of Effective Dreaming’, will be released this year. She has now had over twenty pieces published (including a story for which she won an Australia Day Award), and has completed several major works, including one play and a cookbook. In addition to her writing Gillian currently teaches at the Centre for Continuing Education, Australian National University, and is a member of the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Women.
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Robert MIRAFUENTE (1986-1988) & Veronique BAERISWYL (1988-1989) wrote to notify us of their change of address but are still living in Manila. ‘Please send mail and alumni news to this new address – there is no need to send two copies of the Newsletter.’
[Some may not realise how hard we try not to duplicate Newsletters when both partners are Alumni, but we really do our best. We still make mistakes and are aware that these are expensive, but I would like to extend a warm welcome to any critic who thinks we should do better: please come and help with the mail-out! Ed.]
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Mie TAKEUCHI (1990-1991) wrote in June to update her address: ‘I moved to this new place last August, but I was too busy looking after two kids and settling into the new environment. I’m interested in the Calenderfest and hopefully will be able to send some calendars next year! Hello to those I know and warm greetings to Mr Andrews!’
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Tze Tec CHONG (1995-1996) Richard Ng, our Database Officer/Webmaster, emailed Tze Tec following the return of the May 2004 Newsletter to us. From his reply we found that he had indeed moved – from Ultimo in Sydney to the United States: ‘if there are IH people in the Boston area, I’d love to meet up…’ He can now be contacted through the SUIHAA Website.
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James MOSES (1997-1998) After leaving the Navy and returning to his home state of Western Australia, James sent us a further update: ‘I have now begun a career in private dental practice. Things are a lot busier now! I look forward to returning to Sydney and catching up with my drinking buddies from IH.’
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Chris TAN (1998-2002) caught up with a few IH ex-residents in Tokyo in April and forwarded some details of the Reunion: ‘here are some of the photos we took on that night. We were out all night, drinking and singing until 5.30 a.m. and then caught the first train home the following day, except Kiichi who had to go straight to work…The people in the photos are: Satoko MURAKAMI (1998-1999), Chris TAN (1998-2002), Kiichi TOTANI (1997-2001) Chris MacMEIKAN (1996-1999), Andrew BLACKMORE (1998- 1999), Masami TOMINAGA (2001).
Please say Hi to Jessica Carroll for me. Thanks.’
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Kevin SHAH (1999-2000) In April Kevin migrated back to Australia, ‘after a good experience working in Mauritius for about 15 months with a consulting firm, and a great opportunity to explore a wonderful country with beautiful beaches and landscapes. I have now settled here and got a permanent job with GIO (Insurance Company and part of Suncorp Metway Group). I was in the city before but then opted for their new office in Parramatta. I am currently staying in Ashfield as a paying guest as it was an easy option to settle initially. I have met a few friends from the 1999-2000 batch – Brendon DRAIN (1999-2000), Sachith NANNYAKKARA (1997), Nishan KARIYAWASAM (1995-1999) & Sasha (? BEYDERWELLEN 1991), whom I accidentally met near IH one day, but I would like to know of others from 1999-2000 so that I can catch up with them too.’
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Michael JOHNSON (1976-1978) & Ingrid MIDDENDORF (1997-1978) were in touch recently in response to an email from Richard NG, SUIHAA Webmaster.
They had previously expressed concern regarding the exposure of SUIHAA email addresses to spamming and Richard was able to reassure them that the recent revamping of the SUIHAA Website, carried out at the end of last year by Stephen GARRETT (1981-1984) ensures that no email address is publicly listed. Mike has now replied that this ‘looks and works well’ and suggests that we could encourage more people to add their email addresses with this ‘new functionality’ by referring to it in this Newsletter. We hope that others will check out the new website and send us their feedback.
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Gregory ANDERSON (1986) wrote with a change of address in Darwin for the mailing list. ‘I always enjoy hearing the news. I am still in Darwin with my wife Annette and four children, working for the Anglican Church in training Aboriginal church leaders in the remote part of Arnhem Land, close to where I did my PhD fieldwork in the mid-80s. I still correspond with Peter FRIEND (1984-1985) & Julie (GILBERT 1984-1986) MORRISON. Darwin is a lovely place for bringing up children, although the fast lane of City Road still has an attraction for me.’
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Brian GIBEL (1997) sent a personal update when updating contact details for himself and his wife, ‘IH brought together Hyun-hee KIM (1997) & Brian GIBEL (1997) who were married on June 27,2004, in the middle of the forest at Brian’s parents’ home in Arizona, U.S.A. Brian left Sydney in 1997 and went on to earn his Master’s at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy in the U.S. and later joined the U.S. Foreign Service. Hyun-hee also left Sydney in 1997 but later returned to study and work on her PhD thesis in Education. Together the couple is moving to Seoul, South Korea, where Brian will be working in the U.S. embassy and Hyun-hee will return to her teaching job. Please feel free to pass on our information to other SUIHAA members.’
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Manindra KAPHLE (1999-2002) wrote to let us know that he had no permanent address as yet: ‘I am in the process of moving here as well…The Kathmandu address should be fine for now, as I am heading home for summer (Northern Hemisphere’s!) anyway…Look forward to getting the Newsletter.’
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David CORDERI (2002) ‘Hi, I just want to let you know that I have finished my Bachelor of Economics in Spain this June. Now I am starting a Masters in International & Developmental Economics at Yale University (U.S.A.). I also received a scholarship to finance my studies. I have to tell you that I really miss IH, though I lived there for only one semester. I have such good memories, specially for the good times I had with the Latin Cartel.’
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Idit REGEV (2003) ‘Hi guys. I have been waiting for things to get clearer for me before writing…I moved to Tel Aviv after getting a job in the area and figuring that all my friends were there. Well, in Tel Aviv I miss my family and find that changing my entire way of living – not knowing how to get to places and so on – makes me crazy…Until now I have felt a bit of a stranger in the apartment and in the city in general, but as time goes by and I slowly shape it to reflect my taste (the apartment of course) it feels better. I think that the move to Sydney was much easier than the current move to Tel Aviv, but when I think about it, in Sydney I didn’t work and totally did as I pleased…At work we are working on getting approval of a few tens of millions for our new marketing plan and I ended my working days last week with total tiredness and a large dose of adrenalin in my bloodstream after dealing with the analysis of the financial side of the whole thing. To be frank, I’m not sure that this crazy way of working is for me – my biggest dream is running my own guesthouse…
I got the SUIHAA Newsletter – it was so cool to read a summary of my New Zealand adventures – I would give a great deal to be back in those surroundings…
Write some, stay in touch and may we meet again…’
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