Dr. Hankey, Annie Fogarty and some of the scholars

Dr. Graeme Hankey is one of Australia’s top Neurologist and Head of the Stroke Unit at Royal Perth Hospital, and Clinical Professor at the School of Medicine and Pharmacology at The University of Western Australia. The UWA Fogarty Scholars were extremely fortunate to have a fireside chat with Dr. Hankey.

Dr. Hankey shared his experiences, trials and triumphs with the scholars and discussed any parallels with their lives; discussed the difficult choices he made to pursue his career and encouraged the students to take risks and challenge themselves and society’s ‘views’ on reserach.   The evening concluded with a discerning speech of gratitude from Tom, one of the Fogarty Scholars.

The Fogarty Foundation is bringing NASA Astronaut Andy Thomas to Perth.

Dr. Andy Thomas was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He went to the University of Adelaide and graduated with a bachelor of engineering degree in mechanical engineering with First Class Honours in 1973. In 1978 Dr. Thomas received a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Adelaide. In 1992, Dr. Thomas joined the NASA team and was qualified for assignments as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews. In June 1995 Dr. Thomas was named as payload commander for STS-77 and flew his first flight in space on Endeavour in May 1996. STS-77 was a 10-day mission during which the crew deployed two satellites, tested a large inflatable space structure on orbit and conducted a variety of scientific experiments in a Spacelab laboratory module carried in Endeavour’s payload bay. The flight was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre on May 19, 1996 and completed 160 orbits 153 nautical miles above the Earth while travelling 4.1 million miles and logging 240 hours and 39 minutes in space. Since then Dr. Thomas has completed four space flights on STS-114 and has logged over 177 days in space.

In September 2010, The Fogarty Foundation in collaboration with the University of Western Australia, ICRAR, ABC Radio, Curtin University of Technology, Scitech, Spice, Aspire UWA and the US Department of State are very excited to host Dr. Andy Thomas at a range of events.  The events include a corporate breakfast, talk with UWA Fogarty Scholars, Scitech visit with primary school students, a presentation for Aspire high school students and a talk to Spice teachers,  a live studio audience with Geoff Hutchinson for 720 Perth Radio and a public lecture at Curtin University with a live audio link to the International Space Station.

 For further information please contact The Fogarty Foundation at info@fogartyfoundation.org.au

John Atkins (C) with scholars Neil Thomas (L) and Thomas Williams (R)

As part of the Leadership Series of Fireside Chats, John Atkins from ANZ challenged the UWA Fogarty Scholars to access and take opportunities, extend and invest in themselves and to access a mentor to mould thinking.

With a wide range of business and community interests and a portfolio of different careers, John emphasised that the basic leadership tenet is the need to bring others along with you as leadership is about change not management of operations. In terms of leadership styles, John went on to say that one can effectively lead from the front, within and from behind with supporting and directive roles.

After successful careers in varying professions, John’s philosophy was to “always do the right thing in the organisation in which you work and to get the moral compass properly set to your values.”

James Lucas, President of the UWA Fogarty Scholars Association, thanked Lavan Legal for their generosity in hosting a function for the UWA Fogarty Scholars. Against the backdrop of the Swan River, Lavan Legal staff and scholars mingled in an informal setting. The function afforded the opportunity for scholars to learn more about life at one of Western Australia’s leading law firms. Greg Gaunt, Managing Partner, spoke about the need for scholars to accept ‘knock backs’ in life as part of the learning environment.

Lavan Legal Managing Partner, Greg Gaunt (left); UWA Fogarty Scholar Alumni and articled clerk at Lavan Legal Jasmine Rhodes; Annie Fogarty, Executive Chair Fogarty Foundation; and James Lucas, President UWA Fogarty Scholars Association.

 Annie & Caitlyn Fogarty (centre) at the Fogarty Learning Centre

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kerry Cox  and the Director of the Fogarty Learning Centre Prof. Deslea Konza provided an insight into the Fogarty Learning Centre (FLC) at the Joondalup Campus of Edith Cowan University (ECU). Guests included Annie and Caitlyn Fogarty from the Foundation and Dr Ken Chern, US Consul General and his wife Ronni. The FLC is an innovative education initiative with a strong collaborative and community focus. FLC researchers excel in the teaching of literacy to both pre-service and postgraduate teachers through the provision of clinical teaching experiences in literacy and numeracy.

FLC also specialises in researching the pedagogy linked to those curriculum areas and fosters both on-site and school site literacy and numeracy coaching for children. Other research areas include learning difficulties, behaviour management and early childhood studies and school effectiveness.

ECU is also establishing a FLC ’outpost’ at the new Roseworth Primary School to forge a closer link with teachers and children in schools and undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education students. A major focus will be improved outcomes for children through research findings.

The 2010 Scholars Breakfast at Trinity College provided a warming environment for the new scholars. The six city and three regional scholars and the Beazley medallist were joined by other scholars and provided with a welcoming address by James Lucas, President of FSA, and other UWA dignitaries. The UWA-Fogarty Scholars now number 56.

AC Grayling at the Leadership Series

As part of the Leadership Program, scholars were privileged to have an exclusive one-on-one which British Philosopher AC Grayling. Referring to the Greek classics as a critical stage in the development of human rights, AC Grayling was also able to portray how the Reformation had played  a crucial role in the thinking of man and the need for arts and science to come together more in a university environment.

Ms Caitlyn Fogarty was recently appointed as a Trustee of the Fogarty Foundation. As an observer since her parents started the Foundation in 2000, Caitlyn is currently studying at The University of Notre Dame and is completing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has a special interest in early education which complements a direction of the Fogarty Foundation. Caitlyn sees her appointment as the start of a life long involvement with the Foundation.

Harmony and Annie Fogarty

Harmony Clayton and Jasmine Rhodes have recently completed their undergraduate studies and will graduate in 2010, becoming members of the UWA Fogarty Scholars Alumni.

While Harmony will continue her studies by completing a PhD, in Biochemistry and Genetics at UWA, Jasmine will undertake her articles with Lavan Legal in 2010.