Dear Alumni,

The Young Alumni Group (YAG) initiative is really taking off, with a number of successful events having been held so far, including the 'Snack To The Future' careers networking evening in March and the Guitar Hero and Singstar Battle Time event in May (more details below).

We would love to see recent graduates become involved in the YAG events, please contact us for more information or to provide us with comments and suggestions for what you would like to see us offer through this new venture.

In the next couple of months, we will be unveiling a new Members Area on the alumni website, which we are testing at the moment.  It will allow you to more easily update your details, as well as providing other benefits and services exclusively for alumni members.  Look out for the new look Members Area soon at www.latrobe.edu.au/alumni.

Warm regards,

Chintan Bharwada

Manager, Alumni Relations

FEATURED ARTICLES

From Afghanistan to Awards Presentation honour: Khodadad Rezaee’s extraordinary journey.

Khodadad Rezaee’s tertiary education pathway was born a long way from the classroom, teachers and parents that most young Australians are used to; his new life began on the Indian Ocean, sandwiched between two fears, the Taliban and the unknown.  Now, he is the living, breathing embodiment of an issue whose human face is often lost in the bureaucracy of words.  He was a ‘refugee,’ an ‘asylum seeker,’ one of those ‘boat people’,a sometimes generalised perception in the minds of the Australian public.  Now he is Jason, his adopted Australian name, newly naturalised and proud to call himself ‘true blue’ and play his part in what he believes is a great nation.  Read more

RECENT EVENTS

YAG Battle Time

Eagle Bar rocked to the sounds of Guitar Hero and Singstar on May 6, as YAG unleashed its first social event for the year.

Some sixty students, alumni and friends turned out to either strut their stuff on stage or just admire the spectacle as both the hardcore and would-be gamers alike battled well into the night.

Competing for the guitarist’s dream Epiphone Les-Paul Studio electric, the expert plastic-axe performers amazed the crowd, while karaoke kings and queens performed vocal magic in the race for free recording time at Soundworks Music Studio.

The grand finalists in expert level Guitar Hero had the crowd mesmerized for the entire seven-and-a-half minutes of the infamous Dragon-Force – the longest and toughest track in the Guitar Hero collection – as they battled head-to-head to the death. La Trobe student James McCallum emerged victorious over Jonathan ‘Mad Dog’ Pittas taking home a brand new guitar and ultimate bragging rights.  Read more

Check out the YouTube videos of the competition finales:
Singstar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=724Gx8CAv1c
Guitar Hero Medium - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSLrUin_mxM
Guitar Hero Expert 'Dragonforce' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPfZs7Ih1x8

Bendigo Teacher’s College Reunion: A Great Success!

The class of 1959 are excited about the success of their first ever reunion – the 50th anniversary of when they first started their teaching training. All who attended the reunion were very happy to see each other again. Indeed, the reunion was such a success that there is even talk of another reunion next year.

The Bendigo Teacher’s College 1959 Intake Reunion started with an afternoon tea function at Jessie Burnett Lounge at the old Bendigo Teacher’s College Osborne Street Campus on Saturday 18 April 2009. The afternoon tea gave past students and friends a chance to catch-up, reminisce, and look at memorabilia. They all then continued on to All Seasons Quality Inn where they enjoyed a two-course meal. This was followed by the singing of College songs which was greeted with great enthusiasm amongst the former students. The reunion gave the former students the chance to swap life stories – some of whom have stayed in education, some have moved overseas, and others have written books.  Read more

La Trobe Annual Dinner

Members of the Bendigo Chapter of the Alumni Association joined with University Staff, Alumni members and Distinguished Guests at the La Trobe Annual Dinner and Distinguished Alumni Awards held at NGV International on the evening of Wednesday 29th April.
 
The Dinner celebrated the achievements of La Trobe staff and students during 2008, and honoured a number of alumni who have demonstrated outstanding professional or community service achievements, inspirational leadership in their field, and exceptional human qualities. Among those honoured were two alumni with strong connections to the Bendigo Campus: Dr Ian MacBean and Ms Jamila Gordon.

The evening was a wonderful celebration of individuals who, with the benefit of undertaking Higher Education at La Trobe, have worked hard and seized opportunities that have allowed them to achieve their potential, and are deserving of their recognition as Distinguished Alumni.  Read More

Bionic Ear Founder Joins La Trobe

Pioneer of cochlear implants, Professor Graeme Clark, has taken up the first post of Distinguished Professor at La Trobe University in the quest for the next-generation hi-fi bionic ear.

Professor Clark joined La Trobe late last year to establish the Graeme Clark Hearing and Neuroscience Unit in the School of Psychological Science where he will conduct research with Associate Professor Tony Paolini and other specialist groups at the University dealing with hearing, speech and language.

Professor Clark says he will be returning to his first love, auditory neurophysiology, that has been crucial in guiding him in developing the bionic ear, as well as continuing his strong commitment to speech science.   Read more

PROFILES

Soula Bennett Dip Ed 1985

For BHP Billiton Science Teacher of the Year Award recipient Soula Bennett, returning to La Trobe University to participate in In2Science Peer Mentoring and other science programs is 'like going back home'.
Read more

Charles Henry BA 1971

President of Tupperware Korea, Charles Henry, discusses the challenges of living and working abroad for 22 years, his love affair with Africa and hazy memories of a sinking boat at training for La Trobe University Rowing Club. Read more

RESEARCH

Agriculture reform for India - A La Trobe economist is contributing to the global debate on how we can help the rural poor.  Read more

CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

A range of careers information is available on the Careers and Employment website, www.latrobe.edu.au/careers, under the heading “Services for Students”. Under “Services for Alumni”, you can also read about the services that are still available to you once you have graduated and ways in which you can get involved with our current students. You can continue to access our jobs database, La Trobe Career Hub, but you must first register as a graduate. Please email careers@latrobe.edu.au or call 9479 2459 for more information.

La Trobe Alumni Lifestyle Benefits - Show your Alumni Card and Save

Travel and Accommodation

• Odyssey Travel - Travel programs are currently operating in more than forty countries and there is also an extensive in-bound program for overseas participants. Save $250 on 2009 programs.
• STA Travel - Various travel discounts on airfares, accommodation, and travel insurance
• Thrifty Car Rental - receive discounted corporate rates for car hire
• Beechworth Accommodation - save up to 15% off accommodation
• Holiday Accommodation in the High Country - 5% discount on any midweek booking at Howqua Lodge, or Manton at Tolmie.
• Rydges Hotels and Resorts - 10% off the best available rate on accommodation, 20% off food and beverages and late check out
• Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary - 15% discount on Nocturnal Tours

Subscriptions and Memberships

• CEO Online - FREE premium subscription, valued at $200 per annum.
• National Gallery Victoria (NGV) Membership - $10 discount off your first year subscription fees.
• Student Magazines Australia - Alumni member subscription offers

Products and Services

• CD Wow - 10% discount on CDs, DVDs, Games + free delivery
• Australian Translating and Interpreting Service - 10% discount on services.
• Dell Australia - Up to 10% on Dell’s retail products.
• Rebel Sport - 5% discount off full price merchandise.
• Ultra Tune - 10% off servicing
• City Osteopathy - Massage Therapist - $10 off any massage treatment
• Heavy Metal Group - Counselling Service - 15% off regular services.

La Trobe Services

• La Trobe Sports Centre - 30% discount off membership rate.
• Image La Trobe - 10% discount off all merchandise.
• La Trobe Podiatry Clinic - 50% discount on initial consultation fee.
• La Trobe Agora Theatre - 25% discount.
• La Trobe Bookshop - 15% off recommended retail price.

NEW BENEFITS PARTNERS

Alumni Benefits are a great way to promote your business and maintain a link with your alumni network. We would welcome Alumni to be involved in this program. Please contact alumni@latrobe.edu.au if your business would like to be part of the Alumni Benefits program.

The next edition of E-News @ La Trobe will be published on 5 June 09 

IMPORTANT LINKS

• ALUMNI HOME

• UPDATE YOUR DETAILS
  

• CAREER HUB

• STUDY @ LA TROBE

• CONTACT US  

CHAPTERS 

• Art History Chapter
• Bendigo Chapter
• Biological Science Network
• Golden Key Network
• Graduate School of Management Network
• Malaysia PALTUM Chapter
• Psychology Chapter
• Physiotherapy Network
• Sports Clubs
• Young Alumni Group