Monash Magazine

Former mayor of Port Phillip, and former lawyer, consumer activist and erstwhile ballet dancer Cr Dick Gross (BA 1980, LLB 1980) lived through some racy times as an undergraduate student at Monash in the 1970s.

"I remember massive demonstrations, and students even locking the prime minister at the time, Malcolm Fraser, into a toilet in the Alexander Theatre," he said. "The place was swarming with police, and the mood was quite threatening."

Cr Gross was publicity officer of the student representative council and in the thick of student politics at a time when "everyone was absolutely politically engaged, and far more left of centre. I remember huge student general meetings in the Forum, and passionate debates."

For Cr Gross, whose fellow Monash students at the time included current Federal Treasurer Mr Peter Costello, his brother the Reverend Tim Costello, former Victorian Liberal Party president Mr Michael Kroger and current State Health and Planning Minister Mr John Thwaites, coming to Monash was a "lightning rod".

Politics has long played an important role in student life at Monash.

"I have an incredible fondness for Monash," he said. "My political life was nourished by my experiences there, both academically and socially -- and I met my wife at uni."

Cr Gross, who, for two years headed the socially progressive Port Phillip Council in Melbourne -- the first to draw up a memorandum of understanding with local Koorie tribes -- has been politically active for most of his life, and is currently a member of a committee advising the State Government on safe injecting rooms.

Like Cr Gross, federal parliamentarian Ms Anna Burke (BA (Hons) 1988) was inspired to enter the political arena to "change the world for the better".

As a student, she was involved in many issues-based groups on campus, but it was her experience as a delegate to the 1988 International Year of Peace Youth Forum that cemented her resolve to become involved in the political process.

"The forum degenerated into a brawl -- complete chaos," she recalls. "It demonstrated to me that you have to be on the inside to make things happen. That's why I joined the ALP that year."

A term as student representative on the Arts Faculty Board at Monash gave Ms Burke "the opportunity to see how things worked" and the sort of experience that had proven invaluable, she said.

Mr Joshua Frydenberg, right, with Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Alexander Downer.

A stint as a Victorian parliamentary intern in 1995 gave Mr James Higgins (BA (Hons) 1996, LLB (Hons) 1999) a dream start to his political career. At 25, Mr Higgins is now senior legal and policy adviser to the Victorian Premier, Mr Steve Bracks.

While studying politics at Monash, Mr Higgins was selected to work with a politician of his choice as a parliamentary intern.

He chose "up-and-comer" Steve Bracks, then the member for Williamstown, and together they toured regional Victoria to investigate issues of unemployment and decentralisation.

Mr Higgins then wrote a report on decentralisation, which won the president's prize for best parliamentary intern. Some of his ideas were adopted by the Opposition Cabinet and formed part of 1996 Labor Party policy.

Mr Higgins went on to work for the then Opposition leader Mr John Brumby, and now advises Mr Bracks on parliamentary tactics, legal affairs, gambling, Workcover and police matters.

"My strong interest in politics, especially international relations, was cultivated by a number of academics at Monash."

"Monash gave me a lot of support during my studies, and the parliamentary internship definitely opened doors for me in Victorian politics. I deal with an enormous range of issues in my job -- it's very exciting," he said.

Mr Joshua Frydenberg and Ms Phoebe Dunn are just two of a number of Monash graduates working as senior advisers to Federal Government ministers.

Mr Frydenberg (BEc (Hons) 1994, LLB (Hons) 1996), political adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Alexander Downer, is a "huge fan of Monash".

"Canberra is full of Monash graduates, and they are great ambassadors for the university," he said.

A high-achiever by anyone's standards, Mr Frydenberg went on to complete a masters in international relations at Oxford University. He recalls his time at Monash as "both academically and socially stimulating".

"My strong interest in politics, especially international relations, was cultivated by a number of academics at Monash, who were willing to spend time discussing issues with me in depth," he explained.

Ms Dunn's (BA 1991, LLB (Hons) 1994) desire to be "at the coalface of making laws" made an offer to work as adviser to Federal Attorney-General Mr Daryl Williams "too good to refuse".

Awarded Monash's Supreme Court Prize in 1993 as the top final-year law student, Ms Dunn went on to become a senior associate at Blake Dawson Waldron, and a director of the Law Institute of Victoria.

As a Monash Law Society honours representative on the University Council, she lobbied for students' rights. "I found that what I put in at Monash was definitely what I got out of it," she said.

Similarly, it was an interest in having a say in policy-making that drew former Monash tutor and university councillor Senator Kay Patterson (PhD 1976, DipEd 1978) into the political fray.

A researcher in gerontology, Senator Patterson was concerned that the needs of an ageing Australian population were not being addressed.

"Aged care and retirement incomes policy were just some of the issues that needed attention," she said. "I got involved to make sure they received it."



		The annual Monash Postgraduate and Professional Information Evening provides prospective students with information on a range of postgraduate courses. For details, contact Ms Duyen Vo on +61 3 9905 3087.