ON THE MOVE
campusreview.com.au
BRUMBY LEADS
THE CHARGE
Former Victorian
premier John Brumby
has become the eighth
chancellor of La Trobe
University.
“Taking up this role is something of a
homecoming,” Brumby said. “My first job in
education was as a secondary teacher in
the Bendigo suburb of Eaglehawk – where
I saw first-hand the benefits of education.
Since then, the transformative power of
education to lift up individuals and create
opportunities has been a constant thread
through my political and professional life.”
Brumby replaces Professor Richard
Larkins who has been in the role since
February 2017.
NEW DAWN FOR
GROUP OF EIGHT
How many Korean loanwords are
there in English? Not many, apart from
kimchi and others drawn from Korean
cuisine. Webtoon is remarkable in
providing an international name for
a mixed genre form of entertainment
that takes the printed comic strip or
animated cartoon onto the internet
and the mobile phone. The word was
coined in Korean English as wep-t’un,
a transliteration of the Korean
pronunciation of web and the second
syllable of [car]toon, and applied to
the web comics that are South Korea’s
version of Japanese manga books
and Chinese manhua. Although the
latter can also be read online, they are
still laid out horizontally like comic
books, whereas the Korean webtoon
is designed in a single vertical strand
that works well on the mobile phone.
Webtoons make the most of colour
rather the traditional black-and-white,
and can add music and animations. This
explains their popularity within Korea,
and increasingly in China, South East
Asia and the US. They are marketed
by companies such as Line Webtoon,
Daum Webtoon, Spottoon, Foxtoon,
all making the most of –toon. So the
Korean word webtoon has launched a
new genre of online entertainment – as
well as a new suffix for English at large.
Written by Emeritus Professor Pam
Peters, researcher with the Linguistics
Department at Macquarie University.
28
The vice-chancellor
of the University of
Western Australia,
Dawn Freshwater, has
become the first female
chair of the Group of Eight universities.
Arriving from the UK in 2014, her success
in implementing an extensive transformation
agenda at UWA “augurs well for the success
of the Go8’s ambitious program of projects
and advocacy,” said Go8 chief executive
Vicki Thomson. Freshwater is committed
to continuing the Go8’s ethos of quality
education, equity and funding in world-class
research – particularly in an election year.
“We will make it clear to government and
opposition that universities are a nation’s
most valuable assets,” she said. “We are here
for the public good.”
BOND NICKS NEW
EXECUTIVE DEAN
As Bond University turns
30, it is taking on a new
executive dean (health
sciences and medicine)
to oversee the launch
of a specialist research institute and the
expansion of its health building.
Drawn to the Bond faculty’s diversity
and its world-class Centre for Research in
Evidence-Based Practice (CREBP), Professor
Nick Zwar has held previous positions at the
University of Wollongong and the University
of NSW, where he achieved world-class
renown in his research into chronic illness.
Alongside his academic work, he has
maintained a strong community connection
serving as a GP for over 30 years.
“I’m looking forward to being part of the
next chapter of the Bond University story,”
Zwar said.
CURTIN CALL FOR
NEW CHAIR
This May, Curtin
University vice-
chancellor Professor
Deborah Terry will be
appointed the new
chair of Universities Australia.
Having served as deputy chair for two
years and on the UA board since 2015, Terry
is taking her leadership cue from outgoing
chair Professor Margaret Gardner, whom
she credits as leading the sector’s stance
against funding cuts and championing the
Respect. Now. Always, initiative.
“It’s a deep honour to be able to give
voice to the profound role of Australia’s
universities to change the lives of individuals,
communities and nations,” Terry said.
TOP PUBLIC SERVANT
TO HEAD FEDUNI
In early March,
Australia’s most senior
public servant
Terry Moran was
officially appointed
the sixth chancellor of Federation University
Australia. Putting the seal on his three-
year term, which began last October, the
ceremony was held at the Mt Helen campus,
with the governor of Victoria presiding.
Moran served as secretary of the
Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet in 2008 under Kevin Rudd, and was
pivotal in guiding Australia through the GFC
with a robust raft of policy responses.
“Terry brings a wealth of experience in
strategic policy decision making, which
includes the university and TAFE sector,” said
vice-chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett.
DOUBLE HEADER
Board member and
proud Western Sydney
University alumna,
Carmel Hourigan,
has been appointed
deputy chancellor
of the university,
while longstanding
board member
Christopher Brown
has been appointed
pro‑chancellor.
WSU chancellor
Professor Peter Shergold congratulated
both on their new roles.
“Carmel and Christopher have both been
outstanding champions for our Greater
Western Sydney region," he said.
"As board members, they also have made
significant and sustained contributions to
the governance of our university.” ■