Southern Cross University honours graduates

Five outstanding Southern Cross University nominees are in the running to be named Alumnus of the Year for 2005, to be announced at the second of two graduation ceremonies at Southern Cross University's Lismore campus on Saturday, September 17.

Inclusion in the nominee list is itself a mark of high achievement and an indication of excellence in a chosen field. The five nominees for Alumnus of the Year 2005 are:

James Haselwood, Bachelor of Contemporary Music, 1999; Paul James, Master of Business Administration 2003, Doctor of Business Administration 2005; Julie Anne Perkins, Associate Degree in Law (Aboriginal Paralegal) 1995, Bachelor of Laws 1998; Deborah Rockstroh, Bachelor Technology Education (Honours), 2005; Rob Smith, Bachelor of Business, 1995.

All nominated alumni, with the exception of James Haselwood who has interstate music performance commitments, will attend the ceremony to hear the announcement.

The Alumnus of the Year 2005 will be presented with an award from SCU Chancellor, the Honourable John Dowd AO QC. All nominees will be recognised with a plaque bearing their name in SCU's Alumni Court.

The award, first introduced in 2004, celebrates what can be achieved with a Southern Cross University education. Alumni are selected according to leadership; stimulation of new ideas and services in their field; innovation and creativity; dedication and community service.

Nominee James Haselwood is a contemporary music graduate. He is the bass player for the Dissociatives, a contemporary music line-up which won two ARIAs and was nominated a further four times at last year's ARIA Awards. The Dissociatives feature Paul Mac and Daniel Johns from Silverchair. Mr Haselwood toured England, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria with The Dissociatives earlier this year.

Nominee Paul James, a development manager for Country Energy, has an MBA from SCU and will receive his DBA on September 17, 2005. His research is in the cutting edge area of knowledge management (KM). His enthusiasm and contribution to this area is marked — last year he set up a research forum in KM and he has set up a refereed journal to publish students' research papers. He has strived for information exchange through the new research forum and journal he set up, he published six papers and presented at international conferences during his DBA candidature.

Nominee Julie Anne Perkins is the chief executive officer of Many Rivers Administrative and Legal Service, with 45 staff covering the Central Coast of NSW to Tweed Heads. The service focuses on criminal, civil and family law. Ms Perkins is a leader in her community of Corindi and chairs the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation and the Aboriginal Family Wellbeing Service in Coffs Harbour.

Ms Perkins is a founding executive member of Grafton Court Support Service; is a member of the Coalition of NSW Aboriginal Legal Services; was an original member of the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council to the NSW Attorney-General; and was instrumental in gaining pilot funds to commence the Family Violence Prevention Unit in Kempsey NSW, a model for 26 other units. Ms Perkins, a Gumbaingirr woman, values education and is committed to supporting local schools and encourages the study of law, with three of her staff undertaking law degrees.

Nominee Deborah Rockstroh's story is one of dedication to people and personal triumph. She is an SCU tutor, research assistant and PhD candidate, undertaking a project to assist remote and rural Indigenous families develop sustainable livelihoods through fostering innovation. She has received, through a competitive grant, a stipend to undertake her PhD with the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). This national network aims to improve livelihoods through linking local knowledge with science and education. Deborah Rockstroh's from SCU, and earlier gained a TAFE Certificate in Information Technology.

Nominee Robert Smith is General Manager of Twin Towns Services Club in Tweed Heads, Australia's largest Services Club. He has played a leadership role with the Club Managers Association of Australia, and with Clubs NSW; is an invited Board Member of Tweed and Coolangatta Tourism Inc.; and was recently elected chair of the Combined Tweed Clubs, representing over 16 clubs in the Murwillumbah-Tweed region. Mr Smith is a supporter of junior sport, guiding the reopening of the former Southern Tweed Junior Rugby League Club after it closed its doors, bringing about a new name, look and family focus. Twin Towns will donate over half a million dollars this year to local charities, sporting and community groups.

The award of Southern Cross University Alumnus of the Year 2005 will be made by SCU Chancellor, the Honourable John Dowd AO QC at the 11.30am graduation ceremony at SCU's Whitebrook Theatre on September 17.