Carrick Citation Awarded to Dr Simon Darcy

The Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education has presented Dr Simon Darcy with a Carrick Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning for his key role and sustained involvement in the Academic Liaison Officer (ALO) Network of UTS in a ceremony that took place at the Powerhouse Museum on Tuesday 7th August.

Marie Flood from the Student Services Unit, Dr Mary Coupland and Narelle Woodland of the Faculty of Science, and Fran Rogan from the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health have also received a Carrick Citation for their contribution to the ALO Network.

Since its creation in 1992, the ALO Network has worked to improve the learning experiences and outcomes for vulnerable students within the university, particularly those with disabilities and social disadvantage. ALOs provide an interface between students, faculties, and central support services, thus fostering a strategic approach to meeting inclusive learning practices.

The philosophy of the ALO role is that academics within faculties are best placed to understand the requirements of courses and to negotiate alternative learning practices that maintain the integrity of academic programs.

The Carrick Institute was established in 2004 to promote and advance learning and teaching in Australian higher education. Each year, the Institute grants a selection of highly competitive awards, which involve an intensive selection process. For more information about the Carrick Awards please visit the website of the Carrick Institute.

CAUTHE 2007 Conference hosted by the School of Leisure, Sport & Tourism, UTS

From 11-14 February 2007, the School hosted the Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE) annual research conference. This conference is widely considered the foremost academic tourism and hospitality conference held in the Southern Hemisphere, and is attended by academics and practitioners from all parts of Australia and the world.

Held at the Manly Pacific Hotel, the conference attracted 286 delegates, including eighty eight international visitors. Keynote speakers included tourism Professors John Tribe, Tom Baum, Brian Wheeller, and Richard Butler from the United Kingdom, and from Australia, Professor Philip Pearce - Australia’s first Professor of Tourism. Keynote speakers from the tourism industry included Lynda Kelly from the Australia Museum, David May from Jetstar and Penny Figgis from the World Commission on Protected Areas.

For the first time, the Conference administration was totally electronic, with all paper submission and reviewing, and delegate registration being done on-line and the proceedings published on a CD. The delegate conference evaluation, using an on-line survey tool, rated the conference very highly. More details and photos of the conference are available at www.cauthe2007.uts.edu.au.

OAM to Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management

The contribution of Johnny Allen, the foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), to the field of event management and education has been formally recognised in the 2007 Australia Day Honours List. Johnny's career in the event field stretches from the renowned Nimbin Aquarius Festival in the early 1970's, to his most recent position as Manager Special Events, Tourism New South Wales. Along the way he held a number of positions including Event Manager for the Darling Harbour (now Sydney Harbour Foreshore) Authority, where he was responsible for over 1000 events – some involving over 300,000 people. His work in the area has been previously honoured with his appointment as Patron of the Australian Festival and Events Association, and his induction into that same organisation's Hall of Fame.

Following his formal retirement in 2003, Johnny has retained his active involvement with UTS as Associate Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management. As well as teaching within the professional education program of the Centre and conducting industry-based research, he has continued his work in the event management graduate programs in the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism.

Nathan Hindmarsh - Deconstructing the Ultimate League Warrior

On September 10 2006 The Sun-Herald published an article about League Legend Nathan Hindmarsh titled 'No guts, no glory: why this machine will never shut down'. The article included a section on research conducted by Leisure, Sport and Tourism PhD student Anita Sirotic, who analysed Hindmarsh over four NRL games. She found his workrate was much larger than every other second-rower in the NRL and Premier League.

Average total distance covered: 9.7km (9.4 to 10.7km)

Average sprinting distance: 350m (350 to 450m)

Average high intensity activity: 1.1km (900m to 1.3km)

Number of activity changes: 850 (800 to 900)

In lab testing, he maintained an unusually high blood lactate concentration. With samples collected every five minutes over 30 minutes, his levels ranged between 16 and more than 22 mmol/L. These values are unusually high, and he could maintain these levels for 30 minutes.

What This Means:

• Less acid build-up in his muscles delays fatigue which allows him to...

• Complete high-intensity exercise for longer periods meaning he can...

• Keep backing up when others tire.

Beijing-Sydney Institute for Sport Management

The School conducted its fourth annual sport management training program in February and March this year with Chinese staff associated with the delivery of the Beijing Olympic Games. The Beijing-Sydney Institute of Sport Management was established in 2001 to facilitate the training of sport managers in China as part of their then bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

The training programs are conducted over a six week period and involve a mixture of lectures by School staff, site visits and group research projects. Site visits incorporated the major Olympic venues in Sydney, including the international Regatta Centre and Whitewater Stadium at Penrith Lakes, and the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Adjunct Professor Richard Cashman launches new book

The School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism and the Australian Centre for Olympic Studies (ACOS) recently launched Prof Richard Cashman’s latest book, ‘The Bitter-Sweet Awakening: The Legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games’. The book is the first of its kind - no previous work has examined the legacy of an Olympic Games in one city and country. The Bitter-Sweet Awakening demonstrates that legacy is not a one-off occurrence but is dynamic and evolving. The book argues that there is a need to capture and document continuing impacts in an Olympic city.

Prof Cashman joined UTS as Adjunct Professor in 2004, and on October 6th 2005 ACOS, a national research centre for Olympic studies, was officially launched at UTS.

ACOS was pleased to have former SOCOG Deputy CEO and MI Associates Partner Mr Jim Sloman conduct the launch, which was held on Thursday 2nd March in the Olympic Studies Room at the UTS Kuring-gai Campus Library.

‘The Bitter-Sweet Awakening: The Legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games’ is available for purchase for $49.95.

Merrick and Rosso visit UTS Kuring-gai Sports Centre

The UTS Kuring-gai Sports Centre recently played host to comedy duo Merrick and Rosso. The radio and television personalities were filming for their new show currently being aired on Channel 10. Merrick and Rosso joined the surprised regular gym users in having a quick workout at the Fitness Centre. Although their apparel was quirky and their exercise technique unconventional, Merrick and Rosso entertained the gym with their unstructured, improvised, ad-lib brand of comedy. Whilst Rosso was burning calories on the cross trainer, Merrick delved into the weights area to 'pump some iron'. With cries of "you've got to burn to earn", Merrick strained, stretched and squeezed his muscles in an unorthodox manner. The antics continued with Rosso complaining of hernias in each of his pectoral muscles after spending some time on the chest press machine. After leaving no stone unturned in the gym, the boys finished off with some abdominal exercises and stretches. Merrick and Rosso's visit to the UTS Kuring-gai Sports Centre culminated in them proclaiming "best gym ever!".

Staff Member on Getaway program - 'Kokoda Getaway Trek'

Staff member, Associate Professor Stephen Wearing appears on the Channel 9 Getaway program over the next three weeks. Stephen has been involved with the Kokoda Track Foundation since 2003. He was invited to run workshops for the Kokoda Track Authority and WWF in Sydney and Papua New Guinea in order to develop processes for involving local communities in sustainable tourism enterprises along the track.

The Kokoda Track Foundation was established by a group of Australians determined to acknowledge the invaluable assistance given to our diggers during the Pacific War by the people of Papua New Guinea, especially the beloved Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angel. The Foundation aims to promote education, health and sporting initiatives, initially for the local communities living along the Track, and later for Papua New Guineans generally. Its Patron-in-Chief, Major General Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC and its board has members such as Hon Charlie Lynn MLC, arguably the most experienced non-Papuan trekker of the Kokoda Track. Charlie has led more than 30 treks across the Track since he first walked and visited it in 1976. A Vietnam veteran and former career officer in the Australian Army, Charlie is a member of the Upper House of the NSW Parliament. He has an extensive knowledge of both the terrain and the history of the Track. He is a constant campaigner to promote knowledge of the history of the Track and is conducting an ongoing campaign to establish an eco-tourism industry which will give long-term security to the people who live there.

The Getaway program traces a 'typical' Kokoda Track experience. Channel 9 will be screening the 'Kokoda Getaway Trek' in three episodes over the next three weeks, with the first episode going to air at 7.30pm, Thursday 13 October 2005.

LST Masters student wins award at the UTS Human Rights Awards 2005

The School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism would like to announce that The Elizabeth Hastings Memorial Award for Student Community Contribution was awarded to Nico Schulenkorf, a Masters Research student within the School. Nico received a High Commendation for his contribution to humanitarian aid and long term peace projects in Sri Lanka through the Asian German Sports Exchange Programme.

This award is given to UTS students in recognition of a significant contribution to the community in the areas of equity, diversity, social justice or human rights.

Visiting Scholar, Professor Bill Gerrard

Professor Gerrard will be visiting the School over the next month. He will be involved with teaching, public seminars and research workshops with staff.

Dr Bill Gerrard is an international authority on sports finance. He has published academic papers on the player transfer market, measuring player quality, coaching efficiency, sports sponsorship and the media ownership of teams. He is Acting Editor of the European Sport Management Quarterly and a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Sport Management and the Journal of Sports Economics. He is a member of the North American Society of Sport Management and the European Association of Sport Management. He undertakes consultancy work in the sports industry, advising teams, governing bodies and financial institutions. Dr Gerrard has developed player transfer and wage valuation systems for use in the football industry. He has undertaken squad valuations for various football clubs, including Leeds United.

PhD Collaboration RPA Hospital

Shaking all over : exercise for the older population

It is well known that the ageing process is associated with a decrease in muscle mass, strength and performance. These physiological and functional changes can limit people's independence and lead to a reduced quality of life. To date, exercise is by far the best 'medication' to maintain and improve muscle quality. A new form of exercise, whole body vibration, has come into the spotlight as a potentially beneficial form of training for an older population. Whole body vibration exercise involves standing on a platform that oscillates vertically at a very fast speed. Preliminary research suggests that this vibration stimulus can increase muscle strength, power, flexibility and bone density.

Sven Rees, a PhD candidate (Sport Science) in the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism is researching this new exercise modality: "The effect of whole body vibration exercise on muscle strength, power and performance of functional tasks in the older population." News of this research has been greeted with great interest. UTS recently benefited from consultation with Dr Nalin Sing, a specialist in geriatrics at the Royal Prince Alfred and Balmain Hospitals. Dr Sing is a strong advocate of the use of exercise as a medicine for diseases associated with ageing. During his visit, Dr Sing trialled whole body vibration exercise and discussed collaboration with future research projects.

The following articles are available at UTS:News Online or at UTS Media Releases.

Gender history at Rugby Club

Canadians at UTS

Sydney Swans get fit at UTS

Internship boosts job prospects

Different attitudes to open spaces

Mobiles a confidence boost for young women

Research at the Royal Easter Show

TAFE and UTS join forces for dual hospitality qualification

UTS goes for gold in Beijing

Future of leisure

Exercise for grey power

Demand for event management courses

Beijing Olympics to benefit from UTS-led training initiative

Volunteer tourism beckons

Sandy Hollway now UTS Adjunct Professor