Issue 8, Monday 17 June 2002

Tennis all round

It may have been a long time coming, but the new tennis courts located adjacent to building T at the East Caulfield Reserve are now ready for action.

The courts have been jointly funded by the City of Glen Eira ($318,000), MONSU Caulfield ($260,00) and Monash ($210,000) for use by students, staff and the general public.

Campus Director Mr John White congratulated all those involved in the development of the tennis courts.

"The courts provide a major asset for Monash students and staff, and the City of Glen Eira alike," he said. "All credit to those who collaborated on this project including Bradley Williamson, who was instrumental in bringing it all together, and Glen Cormick from MONSU."

The hours of operation are Monday to Saturday 8 am to 10.30 pm, and
Sundays and public holidays 8 am to 9 pm.

All hirers will be required to show a current form of identification
(driver's licence, learner's permit, passport, student ID card) to pick
up the keys. 

First time bookings will take about five minutes, as a user account will be established, which will hasten the process on future booking. Bookings can be made at the Fitness Centre, located in level 1 of building S, or via phone on extn 32358.

Once the weather has improved, many staff have indicated their interest in starting a regular, social competition. Stay tuned for better weather and more information.

	The form and style may have been there even if the attire was not exactly the white Wimbledon standard.  Facilities and Services manager Bradley Williamson (left) and Campus Director John White (below) were the first to try out the new courts.

Health check reminder

Tomorrow is your last chance to take part in a free health screening for the inherited iron overload condition  Haemochromatosis. 

The simple and painless test for Haemochromatosis will be held in A2.05, at 1 pm on Thursday 20 June as part of state wide HaemScreen project.

Haemochromatosis is a genetic disease that causes excessive levels of iron in the body and effects around one in 300 people in Australia. While it is not life threatening per se, undetected it can cause serious health implications later in life including liver failure, heart disease, arthritis, chronic fatigue and impotency. 

The good news is it is easily detected with a simple cheek brush sample that is analysed for the genetic change that indicates the disease. It is also easy to prevent the onset of symptoms by donating blood three to four times a year.

To be eligible to take part in the screening participants must be aged between 18 and 35. Those interested can attend an information session about the disease followed by the actual test, which is self administered with participants taking their own cheek brush sample. 

Keeping those in need warm

For the month of June, 774 ABC in conjunction with The Salvation Army and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) are running a campaign called the Melbourne Drive Heater Campaign.

People are being asked to  donate new or second hand column heaters (fully sealed, filled with oil or water) that can be passed on to elderly residents who live within the local area.  

Heaters will be given to the local MFB fire stations and then collected by the Salvation Army who will have the heaters checked by qualified electricians and tagged as safe for use.  The heaters will then be delivered to elderly residents who have been identified by the Salvation Army as in need of assistance this winter.

The MFB will provide a fact sheet on using heaters safely and responsibly and this will be delivered to each elderly recipient with their heater. The MFB will then coordinate a home visit and smoke alarm check by a fireman from the closest fire station.

So how can Monash staff help? Do you have a second hand column heater  that could be donated or could you donate some money so that Monash can purchase new heaters for this very important cause.

Imagine going through a cold winter with no heating, or having an old bar heater and exposing yourself to the high risk of fire. This is an opportunity to help people within our community.

We are the lucky ones, so lets consider those not so fortunate and dig deep. You could donate individually or organise your own workgroup collection.

You can drop off money donations or a new or used heater to Community Services, 7 Princes Avenue (opposite the Gym), or contact Judy Evans on extn 32500 for further information.

MYLIBRARY@Monash: Major Library database initiative

The Library has selected the Faculties of Business and Economics and Engineering to trial a new service during the first part of 2002. 

As this is a potentially major investment by the Library we need to obtain significant feedback from our users.  If the trial is successful, the library will move to full implementation of the service for all faculties, beginning in August 2002.

MyLibrary@Monash  is able to search across multiple databases simultaneously and report search results in one sequence.

At present between 30 and 40 resources are available for searching. Other relevant resources are included as  hypertext links which must be accessed separately.

Links are provided from the results to electronic copies of the full  text where a subscription is held by the Library.

Currently around 10,000 titles have been made accessible.

Further information is available from the Monash University Library Portal.

Health & Safety Week 

As part of Health & Safety Week this week, OHSE is offering to visit individual workstations to review PC and workflow arrangements and suggest methods for reducing the risk of PC aches and pains. 

So if you are experiencing any discomfort or pain whilst working at your PC, please email ohsehelp@adm.monash.edu.au and an OHSE consultant will visit you as soon as possible. 

Further information can also be seen at the OHSE website.

Christmas in July

MONSU catering invites staff to their 'Touch of Red Christmas in July' luncheon on Wednesday 17 July in the Gryph Inn.

• Roast turkey with a walnut and thyme stuffing accompanied by traditional cranberry sauce
• Rare roasted porterhouse with a seeded mustard and cracked pepper crust
• Baby spinach, pumpkin and pine nut risotto in a three-cheese sauce
• Moroccan chicken breast salad with lemon tahini yogurt dressing
• Roast hassle-back potatoes and buttered seasonal vegetables
• Salad Selection
  - A fresh garden salad of mixed leaves, tomato, cucumber, cabbage, carrot and cheese 
  - Roasted vegetable salad of sweet potato, parsnip, carrot and potato
  - Singapore noodle salad of chow mein noodles, mushrooms, zucchini, capsicum, beanshoots with a honey soy dressing
• Selection of freshly baked breads including baguettes and rolls
• Dessert - Individual plum puddings served with brandy custard, and fresh seasonal sliced fruits and berries
• Freshly brewed coffee, tea and herbal infusions

COST: $15 per person for the Christmas Luncheon with drinks available at bar prices.

For bookings contact Adele on extn 32530 or email MONSU Catering's Functions to reserve your place. Book a table of 10 by 10 July and receive two complimentary bottles of Champagne for your table.

Retain your ticket for entry and for the chance to win a gift voucher to the value of $75 for your own Staff Christmas Party.

Also get into the spirit and dress with a ‘Touch of Red’ to be in the running for spot prizes.

Caulfield moves

Wendy Blastock has commenced  as the new Campus Manager at the Monash International Caulfield Office. Ms Blastock arrives at a Monash International after working in the International office of the Monash's Faculty of Business and Economics.

Anne Mulcahy, previously from Psychology, has moved to the Department to the Accounting and Finance at Caulfield campus, to 
take up the position of Administrative Assistant to two professors. Anne can be contacted on extn 32019.

Are you or someone you know making a move this year either to a new job, a conference or through a collaborative venture? Please let Offcourse know. 

Authorised by the Office of the Campus Director - Caulfield 

Contributions can be emailed to Julie. Ryan@adm.monash.edu.au by 5 pm Thursdays.