Lumen Summer 2016 - Flipbook - Page 11
Many University of Adelaide
alumni make outstanding
contributions in their specialist
昀椀elds and are recognised in
Australia and globally.
Every year we celebrate these achievements through
our Distinguished Alumni Awards which are bestowed
on former and current students and staff. Three
alumni are recognised in the 2015 Distinguished
Alumni Awards – celebrated economist Professor
Emeritus Geoff Harcourt; award-winning architect
Professor Phil Harris and former Federal MP and
occupational health professional Dr Richie Gun.
Pioneering architect
inspires a new generation
Caring for the
underprivileged
A
T
road trip around
Australia proved
a career defining
experience for newly
qualified architect Phil Harris.
He was captivated by
the historical architecture
of the Australian tropics
and in 1980 founded
Troppo Architects with
fellow University of Adelaide
graduate Adrian Welke.
Thirty-five years later and
Troppo is one of Australia’s
Universities have
most awarded architectural
to
be
leaders and deliver
practices, famous for its
a discourse in cultural
pioneering and sensitive
approach to design that
topics that are important
embraces the environment,
to communities. I try
climate and history.
to do that through my
“Our university course
made us socially aware and research, public speaking
included a strong strand
and practice.
in building science which
enabled us to investigate the
interaction of design and climate,” says Phil. “It also taught us a
love of drawing and those skills have been particularly useful in
reproducing the historic buildings that we investigated in Darwin.”
Despite running a highly successful practice with offices around
Australia, Phil has made time to give back to the University’s
School of Architecture and Built Environment as a guest lecturer.
He has been a visiting research fellow and now professor,
and intends to extend his investigation into the history and
science of building offshore in Vanuatu. He wants to support
the local community in making architectural decisions based
on its own unique culture.
“Universities have to be leaders and deliver a discourse in
cultural topics that are important to communities,” says Phil. “I
try to do that through my research, public speaking and practice.”
Phil also has an eye on the future of architecture and has a
policy of providing internships for final-year Adelaide students
at Troppo, with many given employment. “It’s part of trying to
keep our practice young,” he says.
he career of Dr
Richie Gun AO
has taken many
directions over the years
but there has always been
a common focus – he’s a
staunch defender of the
disadvantaged and
a principled advocate
against the status quo.
His concern for other
people has taken him from
country GP and politician to
a campaigning occupational health professional and
now a volunteer medical practitioner in East Timor.
Richie graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1959
with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and
spent three years as a GP in Whyalla where he first became
interested in politics.
He then practiced as a specialist anaesthetist before winning
Kingston for the Australian Labor Party in 1969, a seat he held
for six years. It was after leaving federal parliament that Richie
moved into occupational health, which included an 18-month
period as a visiting scientist with the US National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health.
“I was very fortunate because this gave me a huge amount
of experience before I set up the postgraduate course in
occupational health at the University of Adelaide,” says Richie.
“This is a legacy that I’m most pleased about as we started
with about 10 students and built it up to more than 150.”
Richie was a Senior Lecturer in Occupational and
Environmental Health from 1988 until 2002, after which he
became the principal investigator on an epidemiological study
of Australian veterans involved in the Maralinga atomic tests.
He has continued his association with the University as a
visiting research fellow and guest lecturer.
Since his retirement Richie has been a regular visitor to the
Kimberley region in Western Australia and East Timor where
he delivers much-needed medical and emergency care to
remote communities.
Find out more about the Distinguished Alumni Awards at
www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/recognised/
The University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 9
