12 October 2005
12 October 2005
Australia's largest collection of Antarctic fossils has taken up residence at Monash University.
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The collection of more than 1000 fossils features invertebrates (including shells with their original mother-of-pearl still intact), leaves and partial tree trunks, remains of giant penguins, vertebrae and teeth of large marine reptiles such as Plesiosaurs, and a 65-centimetre-long skull cast of a meat-eating Therapod dinosaur.
The fossils are mostly between 40 and 70 million years old.
All but 5 per cent were collected by research fellow Dr Jeffrey Stilwell (pictured), from the School of Geosciences.
The collection also includes sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks as well as ventifacts -- rocks that have been sharpened and flattened by wind abrasion.
It was catalogued during 2004 and 2005 with financial assistance from the Monash Research Fund.
Dr Stilwell has completed five Antarctic expeditions -- two to Seymour Island, 100 km south-east of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, and surrounding islands of the James Ross Island Group; and three to East Antarctica, including the Transantarctic Mountains and the McMurdo Sound region.
"Seymour Island is the only place in the Antarctic where you can see the chain of events at the end of the Cretaceous Period that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs," he said. "The island is literally paved with fossils.
"The fossil evidence indicates that the extinction in Antarctica was not as great as in a lot of other places around the globe. Still, shallow marine communities did not bounce back for 300,000 years -- that's how long it takes for a community to recover from an extinction event, which is important to know in this day of looming habitat loss and species extinctions."
Dr Stilwell said Monash was one of the few universities in the world where Antarctic fossils were routinely used in teaching and research.
"There are not many Antarctic fossil collections, so this collection is a valuable resource for people from other institutes and centres who are interested in extinction, palaeontology, geology, and many other fields."
Although much of the collection is millions of years old, there are also vertebrates and invertebrates less than 10,000 years old.
12 October 2005
Monash achieved sixth place in the recent Australian University Games, taking out gold in taekwondo and women's tennis.
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| Monash student Ms Emma Knight won a gold medal in the long-jump at the recent Australian University Games. |
Students from all Monash campuses were represented in the 350-strong team, which competed in 24 sports.
Monash also won bronze in men's and women's badminton and came fourth in athletics.
The athletics team achieved some excellent individual results with Ms Emma Knight winning gold in the long-jump, Mr Marty Duriska winning silver in the discus throw and Mr James Filshie winning gold in the pole vault.
Mr David Nankervis from Monash Sport said it had been a great effort by all of the students, in hot and humid conditions.
"The taekwondo team did extremely well, with all Monash students managing to secure a medal," Mr Nankervis said.
"The men's Australian Rules football team came close -- they played hard but just missed out on a place in the finals.
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| Monash student Ms Sarah Mason helped the women’s beach volleyball team achieve seventh place. |
"The women's softball team also deserves a special mention. They didn't win any games, but everyone agreed the girls had a great attitude and really enjoyed themselves.
"They were singing and chanting and really bonding as a team -- it was fantastic to watch."
About 6000 competitors from 42 Australian universities competed in the games, which are held each year around the second semester break.
Twenty Monash students were selected for honorary 'green and gold' teams -- which were announced at the end of the games and comprised the best athletes from all universities.
12 October 2005
Dr Xiaodong Wu, a research fellow in the Department of Materials Engineering, has been named the inaugural recipient of the university's Taft Fellowship.
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| From left: Dr Xiaodong Wu, Dr Kiyonori Suzuki, Professor Richard Larkins and Emeritus Professor Ron Taft. |
The Taft Fellowship was introduced last year following a generous gift by Emeritus Professor Ron Taft and the late Mrs Ellen Taft.
It enables Australian-Israeli collaborations through research conducted jointly at universities in both countries.
Professor Taft held the university's Fred Schonell chair of education from 1968 until his retirement in 1981.
Dr Wu, who was nominated for the fellowship by his supervisor, Dr Kiyonori Suzuki from the Department of Materials Engineering, will collaborate with Professor Gad Gorodetsky of Israel's Ben-Gurion University in his research.
He is studying the electro-resistance effect in giant magneto-resistance materials.
"This research is important for the development of next-generation spintronics devices, with major implications for the IT industry," Dr Wu said. "It could, for example, be used in developing new random access memory (RAM)."
12 October 2005
Due to unforeseen circumstances the 2005 Monash-PEN Melbourne Lecture by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, scheduled for 25 October at the State Library of Victoria, has been cancelled. Ticketholders should contact the Victorian Writers' Centre on (03) 9654 9068 to arrange a refund.
African playwright, poet, political activist and 1986 Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka will speak at a public lecture this month hosted by Monash University and PEN Melbourne.
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Professor Soyinka (pictured) will deliver the 2005 Monash-PEN Melbourne Lecture at the State Library Victoria on 25 October.
The lecture has been organised by Dr Chandani Lokuge, director of Monash's Centre for Postcolonial Writing, and Ms Judith Buckridge, president of PEN Melbourne. PEN represents writers worldwide.
Professor Soyinka was the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He writes in English and has published more than 20 major works including drama, novels, poetry and essays.
Dr Lokuge said the lecture was a special event for Monash.
"Professor Soyinka is one of Africa's leading intellectuals, a giant of the literary world and one of the world's foremost postcolonial writers," Dr Lokuge said. "As a playwright, poet, novelist and essayist, he is passionately engaged in the socio-political rights of his people and in justice as the first condition of humanity.
"It is a great honour for Monash to be involved in a literary event of this significance that reaches out to the wider community of Victoria."
Professor Soyinka was born in 1934 in Abeokuta, western Nigeria, and educated in Nigeria and England. After completing a doctorate at the University of Leeds, he returned to Nigeria in 1960. He has been imprisoned several times for criticising the Nigerian government. After five years of voluntary exile in Europe from 1970 to 1975, he returned to Nigeria and became active in local and national politics.
In 1981 he published Aké, which is considered a classic of childhood memoirs. Other works include The Man Died: The Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka (1972), Art, Dialogue and Outrage (1988), The Open Sore of a Continent (1996), From Zia With Love (1992), and Beautification of Area Boys (1999).
In 1994, he was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of African culture, programs and communication.
Professor Soyinka will deliver the lecture at the Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library Victoria, La Trobe Street, Melbourne, from 8 pm to 9.30 pm (entry at 7.45pm).
Tickets are $20, with $15 concession tickets available for students and members of PEN and the Victorian Writers' Centre. Contact the Victorian Writers' Centre on +61 3 9654 9068.
12 October 2005
The Victorian Planning Minister, Mr Rob Hulls, yesterday launched the new Bachelor of Regional and Urban Planning, which will be offered at the Berwick campus from 2006.
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| From left: Chancellor Mr Jerry Ellis, Mr Rob Hulls, dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Homer Le Grand, Associate Professor Heinz Kreutz, Member for Gembrook Ms Tammy Lobato MP, and pro-vice chancellor Professor Phillip Steele. |
The new degree will have places for about 30 students in its first year and will address a significant shortage of suitably qualified planners throughout Australia.
Mr Hulls said urban and regional planning was an important field that needed more skilled professionals.
"Planners guide the future development of cities, regional towns and rural areas to produce built liveable, sustainable and economically prosperous environments for both the present and future," he said.
"This new course will help to address the challenges ahead, and Monash University is to be congratulated on this fantastic initiative."
Associate Professor Heinz Kreutz, associate dean of academic programs for the Arts faculty, said the idea for a planning course occurred to him earlier this year after he became aware of the frequent public attention on planning issues and the need for more professional planners.
"It's particularly appropriate that the course will be offered at Berwick, which has a strong community building focus and which was opened nearly a decade ago to service Victoria's largest growth corridor," he said.
"We're hoping to attract students of all backgrounds and interests. It will be very much a hands-on vocational course, as planning is about everything from environmental and heritage issues to sustainability -- it's a very complex and challenging area."
He said course coordinators would work with councils, communities and industry to develop an evolving curriculum that would equip graduates with the necessary skills for future employment and engage with changing community needs.
As part of the course, students would undertake internships with local government or planning bodies, as well as develop skills in problem definition, policy formulation and implementation, understanding of urban design principles, conflict resolution and research methods.
12 October 2005
More than 700 people visited the Melbourne Town Hall last week to find out about postgraduate study opportunities at Monash.
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The 2005 Postgraduate Expo profiled all faculties - except Pharmacy and Art and Design - and highlighted the Monash Research Graduate School, off-campus learning and the Monash Postgraduate Association. Staff from fees and international recruitment and admissions were present to provide advice.
Prospective Students Office assistant manager Ms Helen O'Keeffe said the event attracted many people with a serious interest in postgraduate studies.
She said there was significant interest from international students and that the Faculty of Business and Economics was particularly popular on the day.
The Post Graduate Expo has been held at the Town Hall for several years to make it more accessible to prospective students who often work in the city.
"It also enables us to get students undertaking city-based studies to drop in and have a look at what we offer," Ms O'Keeffe said.
12 October 2005
Academic staff from the School of Arts and Sciences at Monash's Malaysia campus spent a week at Monash's Victorian campuses last month.
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| From left: Ms Rosalind King, Faculty of Arts; Dr Heinz Kreutz; Associate Professor Gil-Soo Han, Professor Graham Oppy and Arts Faculty dean Professor Homer Le Grand. |
Those who visited were the head of Arts - Associate Professor Gill-Soo Han, Dr Yeoh Seng Guan, Dr Sharon Bong, Dr Patricia Goon, Dr Jaganathan Marimuthu, Dr Andrew Ng Hock Soon and Ms Sheila Murugasu.
Professor Graham Oppy, associate dean research, and Dr Heinz Kreutz, associate dean Academic Programs, in the Faculty of Arts, facilitated the visit .
"The visit was an opportunity for our Malaysia colleagues to meet and talk with their counterparts at the Victorian campuses and participate in training," Professor Oppy said.
"It was a highly successful and productive week for all concerned. It was good for them to meet with colleagues with similar research interests."
The group spent time at the university's Clayton and Berwick campuses meeting with senior Arts faculty management and research staff, as well as faculty staff members with allied disciplinary interests. Some also visited the Gippsland campus to meet staff there.
During the week they also attended a series of seminars, information sessions and staff meetings that addressed topics such as the Australian Universities Quality Agency audit, higher degrees by research (HDR), faculty structure, curriculum planning and staff research management.
The group also participated in one of the new master classes for research supervisors, conducted by the Monash Research Graduate School, in preparation for the supervision of HDR students that will begin in Malaysia in 2006.
"Arts is a growing and important area in Malaysia and this can only benefit Monash Malaysia," Professor Oppy said.
He said there were plans for collaborative research projects and academic staff exchanges under the university's mobility scheme. One of the likely projects is a joint conference in communications and media studies.
12 October 2005
An exhibition of photographic works that explore religion and spirituality starts tomorrow at the Art and Design Faculty Gallery at Monash's Caulfield campus.
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Places of Worship is the first exhibition by artist and academic Claudia Terstappen (pictured), who began at the faculty in 2004 as Professor of Fine Arts.
Professor Terstappen's major focus is on the relationship between religion, superstition and science.
The exhibition features 13 large-scale photographic prints by Professor Terstappen that explore ideas of cultural memory and the spirituality of object and place.
The prints, including several landscape photographs, depict natural altars and man-made altars in Europe, Iceland, Australia (Northern Territory and Queensland), North and South America, and Asia.
Also on show are five light boxes documenting places of worship, an installation of car rear-view mirrors featuring contemporary adornments dangling from the mirrors, and spiritual and religious artifacts from the artist's own collection.
Professor Terstappen began her investigation into 'places of worship' about 15 years ago, inspired by her travels to Brazil and the US where she came across Macumba rituals and the Sacred Land of the Navajo Indians.
In 1996 she undertook an art residency in the Dordogne in France, and over a period of three months interviewed people about their beliefs and superstitions, and took photographs of places and objects of worship people had told her about.
This experience, together with her time in Spain as director of the MA European Fine Art program at Southampton University (Winchester School of Art) in Barcelona, sharpened her focus on individual religious beliefs, festivals and rituals of different cultures.
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| Claudia Terstappen, 'Cruz del Romero, Spain' 1994, photographic print, 300cm x 300cm. |
"Practising a religion brings stability into the life of humans and explains the world beyond the rational," Professor Terstappen said. "Believing in a higher entity takes the terror out of the unknown. Religion gives out answers to questions that nobody can address.
"Objects and images become interesting -- they attract passion, become objects of a universal agreement, are a symbol of truth and power, and have a unique capacity to make real what they depict. It is also interesting that the use of an object or image can be seen as the key to historical and cultural circumstances."
Places of Worship runs until 23 November. Gallery hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 1pm to 5pm on Saturdays.
Claudia Terstappen's film 10 seconds a day (duration 30 minutes) will be screened on Wednesdays at 10am during the exhibition period at the Art and Design lecture theatre opposite the Faculty Gallery.
An artist talk will take place on Wednesday, 19 October from 10am to 11am, at lecture theatre G1.04, Art and Design building at Caulfield campus. The session will include screenings of film works not in the exhibition.
12 October 2005
Monash University Malaysia has hosted a medical partnership dinner to celebrate this year's commencement of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the campus.
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| From left: Associate Professor Mohd Shahjahan Yasin, director of curriculum at Monash University Malaysia; Professor Liddell, and Associate Professor Datuk Dr D M Thuraiappah, chairman of the Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia. |
Chancellor Mr Jeremy Ellis, vice-chancellor Professor Richard Larkins, Malaysia pro vice-chancellor Professor Merilyn Liddell and the head of the Malaysian medical school, Professor Dato Dr Anuar Zaini, hosted 30 prominent guests at the 16 September dinner. The chairman of the Sunway Group of companies, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, who was also present, was honoured for his vision and support for the medical school.
The dinner was attended by doctors, surgeons and senior management from Assunta Hospital, the Federal Health Department, Gleneagles Medical Center, Subang Jaya Medical Center, Medical Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia, Sunway Medical Center, Johor Specialist Hospital, Kolej Tuanku Jaafar, Utama Banking Group and the Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia.
Guests were given an overview of the university and the medical school development by Professor Liddell and Professor Anuar Zaini.
The School of Medicine and Health Sciences enrolled its first 52 students this year. The students are completing their first year at Monash's Clayton campus, and a second batch of students will follow next year. By 2007, the medical course will be fully delivered in Malaysia.
12 October 2005
The annual Gippsland campus Excellence in Disability Support Awards have been presented to staff who have given exceptional support to a student or staff member with a disability.
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| Mr David Abbott (left) received the Jenny Hill Award from Associate Professor Harry Ballis, head of the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Gippsland campus. |
This year's recipient of the general staff award was Ms Felicetta Kile, student services officer in the Faculty of Business and Economics. Dr Beth Edmondson of the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences received the academic staff award, and the school also received the faculty, school or department award.
The recipient of the Jenny Hill Award was Mr David Abbott, Student and Staff Community Services manager at Gippsland campus. The award was established in honour of the late Gippsland campus employee Ms Jenny Hill to commemorate her strong and ongoing interest in disability issues.
Mr Abbott, chair of the Gippsland campus Inclusive Practices Disability Committee, also launched the Monash Inclusive Practices Disability Plan at the awards on behalf of the committee.
Two student awards were also given. Nursing student Ms Donna Matthews received an academic excellence prize, and engineering student Mr Sam Mauger received the encouragement award.
12 October 2005
About 75 staff and students from Monash's Clayton campus took part in Bicycle Victoria's annual Ride to Work Day last week to raise awareness of the physical and environmental benefits of pedal power.
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| Mr Hayden Mathysen from the Department of Economics was one of many Monash staff members who rode to work and enjoyed a free breakfast. |
Ride to Work Day is celebrated throughout Victoria and encourages people to leave their cars at home and cycle to work.
The Monash ride was organised by the Monash Student Association (MSA) and the Monash Community Bicycle User Group. It was made possible with support from the Monash University Alternative Transport Fund, the Monash Bookshop, Anaconda outdoor store, Wholefoods Restaurant and The Bikery.
MSA bicycle projects officer Mr Ian Adams, who has been cycling to Monash almost every day for the past seven years, said cyclists came from all corners of Melbourne.
"Some rode from as far as Hallam, Tecoma, Ringwood, Collingwood and North Melbourne," Mr Adams said.
"The event attracted several first-timers as well as those who regularly cycle to work.
"One of the best things about Ride to Work Day is being inspired by so many other cyclists who travel to work regularly by bike, some from 30 kilometres away."
Mr Adams said Monash's involvement in Ride to Work Day was part of the university's commitment to reducing its environmental impact and trying to ensure staff and students were living healthily.
"One of the easiest ways to do this is by changing your transport habits and riding to work or the station," he said.
"Bike riding often takes a similar amount of time as driving or taking public transport. I would encourage others to take up the challenge and ride to work at least once a week."
To celebrate Ride to Work Day, participants enjoyed a free breakfast of sausages and hash browns with fresh fruit, muesli, tea and espresso coffee outside the Monash International building.
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| Mr Ben Leung from the Education faculty and his amazing bike. |
12 October 2005
About 100 Monash staff, students, alumni and Monash Sport members took part in the Asics Melbourne Marathon 2005 challenge on Sunday 9 October.
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| Mr Gilles Gasser, from Monyx, completed his first marathon. |
It was the first time a dedicated Monash team participated in the annual event.
Five Monash team members completed the full 42.2 kilometre marathon. They began by taking a bus from the city, with thousands of others, to the Frankston start line, after which they ran along the Nepean Highway, onto St Kilda Road and finished underneath the Arts Centre spire.
Mr David Collopy from Monash Sport had a great result -- finishing 67th out of 1561 participants in the marathon.
Participants also had the option of running the Melbourne Half Marathon or the 7.5 kilometre Melbourne Marafun.
About 45 team Monash members completed the Melbourne Half Marathon - the largest half marathon event in Victoria, with nearly 4000 participants.
Half of team Monash chose the Asics Melbourne Marafun, which was popular with families, as children under 16 and prams were permitted.
The university's participation in the Melbourne Marathon was coordinated by Monash Sport, as part of Monash's 2005 Community Fitness Events Program.
Monash Sport service assistant Mr David Nankervis said it was a great effort by competitors and volunteers.
"It was a great turn-out considering this was the first time Monash had entered a team in the event," Mr Nankervis said.
"It was an early start, in cold, wet and windy conditions -- but everyone was there bright and early with great attitudes.
"Mr John White - who retired as campus director of Caulfield and Peninsula in 2002, but has continued his involvement in sport at Monash - was part of the Monash team, choosing to complete the half marathon."
Monash Sport will coordinate the university's participation in the Around the Bay in a Day cycling event -- taking place this Sunday 16 October - and the Portsea Swim Classic in January 2006.
Further information is available at the Monash Sport website.
12 October 2005
More than 250 people last week attended the fourth annual dinner in memory of Mr Joe Curtis, former director of the Clayton Campus Centre, CEO of Monash Unicomm and general manager of Monyx Food and Beverage.
The dinner, at the Main Dining Room of the Campus Centre, raised more than $16,000 for the Cancer Council Victoria's Relay for Life.
Mr Curtis died of prostate cancer in 2003, after 20 years at Monash. He was remembered as a kind and thoughtful friend and a loyal servant of the university.
Academic dress manager Ms Arlene Nicholas organised the event with the support of a hard-working committee.
"The event was a fantastic success again -- even bigger than last year -- and we're delighted it has become an annual event," she said.
Mr Curtis's widow Glenda, his three daughters and other family and friends attended the dinner, along with senior Monash staff including pro vice-chancellor (Business and Industry) Mr John Anderson, pro vice-chancellor (Quality) Professor Graham Webb, and International and Equity director Ms Sue Wales.
12 October 2005
A team of Monash staff has been showcasing its talents at the Monash University Staff Club over the past three months, performing Jazz Over Lunch.
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| Clockwise from back left; Mr Hatwell, Mr Smith, Mr Hogan, Mr Du Ve and Ms Vallejos delighted crowds with their jazz performance at the Monash University Staff Club last week. |
More than 200 people attended the latest performance last week.
The lunchtime concerts were organised by student and staff services client services manager Mr Terry Hogan, ITS application services director Mr Jeremy Du Ve, and student services policy and publications manager Mr Mark Hatwell.
Mr Hogan said they first approached the club about performing to help develop a sense of community at the Clayton campus.
"The performers are all musicians in their own right in their recreational lives," he said.
"These performances help bring a bit of lunchtime entertainment to the club and help foster a sense of community across staff at the campus."
The band has been performing at the club on the first Friday of each month. It features a guest singer each performance.
This month the band featured enrollment officer Ms Miranda Vallejos on vocals, Mr Du Ve on saxophone, Mr Hatwell on bass, Mr Hogan on vocals and guitar, and Mr Neil Smith on drums - standing in for regular drummer Mr Winston Galea.
Monash Club manager Mr Adam Kitto said the performances provided a point of interest for patrons at the club.
"People look forward to the events and are starting to book weeks ahead," he said.
The club also features Monash alumnus Mr Maurie Fabrikant performing regularly over lunch.
12 October 2005
An air of delight permeated the kinder room of the Monash Children's Centre last week when nine chicks hatched as part of a two-week Ready Hatch program.
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| Pre-schoolers Naa and Boris show off the new born chicks with help from their kinder teachers Alisa and Cathy (far right). |
Now in its third year at the centre, the program is designed specifically for kindergartens and aims to educate children through hands-on experience.
Ms Julie Cauchi, a Monash Children's Centre coordinator, said the program, which was devised by Queensland company Living Eggs, was a great learning experience for the children.
"It really is a special experience that the kids treasure. They become so excited waiting for the chicks to hatch and love caring for them once they have," she said.
"It's great to have interactive learning opportunities such as this at the centre. We let the children's interest and creativity lead the classroom activities and have lots of discussions about the chicken's lifecycle and the process of hatching.
"And it's not just the kinder class that benefits -- children from right across the centre come to visit the chicks and watch or learn to handle them."
The chicks, whose names include Michael Jackson, Chick Number One and Isabella, will stay at the centre until mid-November before being adopted out to volunteer families or sent to hobby farms or free-range egg producers.
12 October 2005
A group of Monash medical students has played detective in one of Melbourne's most popular entertainment festivals.
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The 25 students performed in the comedy Dun to Death last week as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
The play, a spoof on the 'whodunit' detective genre, was written by final-year medical student Mr Andrew Dixon.
Mr Dixon described the play as a farcical murder mystery set to the accompaniment of a live four-piece jazz band.
"It is a murder mystery in which a millionaire hosts a get-together for a gathering of some of the most famous fictional detectives including Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Clouseau of the Pink Panther movies, Miss Marple of Agatha Christie's novels and even the Dana Scully character from the 'X-Files' television series," Mr Dixon said.
Dun to Death was performed at the Gasworks Theatre in Albert Park from 6 to 8 October.
It was the second comedy by Mr Dixon, whose debut success, Betty and Bruce, was performed at Theatreworks in 2002.