Victorian College of Pharmacy

03 Breakthrough in treatment for malaria11 ARC Linkage Grants success13 First Pharmacy Rural Scholarship recipient16 Alumni profiles – Rex Goble and Wilfred Amarant OAM

FormulationSciencegraduates at work

03 13

Inside

AlchemyAlumni Magazine Issue 07 Summer 2004

03 From the Dean03 Breaking News

– Breakthrough in treatment for malaria04 Looking Back

– Sir Eric Scott OBE05 Looking Forward

– Celebrating a successful Graduation Dinner 2004– Success of the Foundation’s first Annual Appeal

06 – 07 College News– Vale: Shirley Dixson– Welcome to Marian Costelloe– The 2004 Pharmacy Careers Expo– Master of Clinical Pharmacy: first graduates

08 – 09 Teaching News– Bachelor of Formulation Science: graduate

snapshots10 – 12 Research News

– Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation: update– ARC Linkage Grants success– Support for prostate cancer research– International scholarship brings new researcher

to the College13 Rural News

– First rural pharmacy workshop– First Pharmacy Rural Scholarship recipient

14 – 15 Student News– Pharmacy students and Sigma get down to

business– Reality bites: Remedy’s Real World Dinner 2004– International Pharmaceutical Students Federation

Congress– Pharmacy Abroad 2005– Mathew Peck Travelling Scholarship update– Annual Soccer Championship

16 – 19 Alumni News– Alumni in profile: Rex Goble– Congratulations to Wilfred Amarant OAM– 1954 reunion a real hit– Further College reunions– College staff publish new book– Major award for Michael Dooley– $70,000 Cyril Tonkin Fellowship 2005– Interstate Cricket Challenge– Alumni update form

20 Back Page– Acrux Limited: a great success story for

the College

Contents Alchemy, the alumni magazine of the VictorianCollege of Pharmacy, is published twice a year.The next issue is due for publication in May 2005.

The magazine is published for the Victorian Collegeof Pharmacy community, which includes alumni(both pre and post the Monash amalgamation),current and former staff, students, friends andcolleagues of the College.

To contact Alchemy:Tel: 613 9903 9507Email alumni@vcp.monash.edu.auVisit www.vcp.monash.edu.au/alumni

Or write to:AlchemyVictorian College of Pharmacy381 Royal ParadeParkville Victoria 3052Australia

The Victorian College of Pharmacy began life in 1881 as the School of the PharmaceuticalSociety of Victoria. In 1992, it became a facultyof Monash University.

Front cover photo: 2003 Bachelor of FormulationScience graduate Anthony Agnew in the lab atApplied Australia where he works as aDevelopment Chemist.

03

From the Dean we can all be proud. For example, the first evercommercially successful drug developed in Australia,Relenza®, was developed at the College in 1989and subsequently released on the internationalmarket by GlaxoSmithKline.

Recently, researchers at the College’s Centre forDrug Candidate Optimisation, working with aninternational team, made a major breakthrough in malaria treatment. This research is of worldwideimportance in fighting a disease that kills betweenone and two million people annually.

This year research at the College has again attracteda high level of funding from the Australian ResearchCouncil and from other sources in Australia and

The new synthetic drug, set to become a majorweapon in the fight against multi-drug resistantmalaria, could be available to patients within three years.

Professor Bill Charman, Professor of Pharmaceuticsand co-director of the Centre for Drug CandidateOptimisation at the College with Associate ProfessorSusan Charman, said the drug (OZ277/RBx11160)is highly effective against the most lethal forms ofmalaria, inexpensive to prepare and manufacture,and has the potential to save millions of lives. A major goal of the research team was to ensurethat the compound would be affordable for eventhe poorest nations.

Professor Charman cited estimates stating thatmalaria kills between one and two million peopleevery year. In sub-Saharan Africa, one child diesevery 30 seconds from the mosquito-borne disease.

“We are thrilled with the progress and speed withwhich this drug has been developed. It is nowentering human trials in Europe,” he said. “Assumingall goes well with future clinical trials, we anticipatethat it will be available to patients within the nextthree years.”

Professor Charman noted that the ability ofOZ277/RBx 11160 to treat drug resistant malariais the key to its success, as other malaria medicinesdeveloped over the years have been less effective.

Development of the drug has been an internationaleffort, with researchers from Monash University,the University of Nebraska Medical Center, theSwiss Tropical Institute and Hoffmann-La Rocheof Switzerland working on the project since the late 1990s.

The results of the work were recently published inthe highly regarded international scientific journalNature, leading to significant coverage in print andelectronic media worldwide.

For further information contact Professor Bill Charman, tel: 613 9903 9519 or email bill.charman@vcp.monash.edu

Professor Bill Charmanand Associate ProfessorSusan Charman.

This issue of Alchemy carries stories about theVictorian College of Pharmacy’s research eminencein the pharmaceutical sciences and in pharmacypractice.

The College’s past and current strength in drugdesign and development is something of which

Breakthrough intreatment for malaria

What has been described as thebiggest breakthrough in malariatreatment of our generation hasbeen developed by an internationalteam that includes Collegeresearchers.

overseas, and there is currently a record number of talented research students at PhD, Masters andHonours levels – 73 in total.

We can look forward with confidence to the Collegecontinuing to undertake world-class research, mostof which will directly contribute to improving thehealth and wellbeing of our communities.

Professor Colin Chapman (1970)Dean

04 Looking Back

Looking back at a fighting spirit:Sir Eric Scott OBEThe buildings on the Parkville campus are named in honour of three great leaders who left their markon the College and the profession – Scott, Sissons and Manning. In issue six of Alchemy we profiledA.T.S. Sissons, Dean from 1920–1962. Here we look at the life and career of Sir Eric Scott, one of thefounders and a long time president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and a president of thePharmaceutical Society of Victoria.

Until the 17th century, physicians and pharmacists in the Netherlands were members of the guild ofthe hawkers. Only in 1638 were they allowed toform their own guilds.

Point of Interest

Sir Eric was a former amateurheavyweight boxing champion ofVictoria and a league footballer. Aswell as having a reputation for notbacking away from confrontation, hisearly working life was full of adventureand variety. He was at one time ajackeroo, pearl diver, cane cutter anda successful businessman, apart fromhis extensive work in pharmacy.

His interest in pharmacy dated fromhis first marriage, to a pharmacist’sdaughter. He was apprenticed to R.J.Poulton of Bourke Street but did notsit for his exams after serving hisapprenticeship. Instead he travelled,bought a hotel and took on otherjobs. He did not resume professionalstudies until 1925, passing his finalexamination in September 1927 andbecoming registered the followingyear. He grasped the essentials ofpharmacy with astonishing speed andalso showed an aptitude for politics.

On 1 May 1928 he took part in thefounding of the Pharmacy Guild inMelbourne, which occurred at a massmeeting of pharmacists at the College(then situated in Swanston Street).This meeting was organised byAlexander McGibbony, who becamethe first Victorian Guild and NationalGuild president. After McGibbonyretired in 1930, Sir Eric was electedVictorian Guild president, and laterNational Guild president, a positionhe held from 1947–1971. In 1948 Sir Eric led the Guild’s successfulnegotiations with the ChifleyGovernment, which recognised theGuild as the sole negotiator forpharmacy under the new nationalhealth scheme.

Sir Eric also held the post of presidentof the Pharmaceutical Society ofVictoria from 1955–1960. The Collegewas founded and conducted by theSociety until it was administered bya number of higher educationorganisations in Victoria, culminatingin the Monash amalgamation in 1992.

Many important milestones werereached during Sir Eric’s tenure aspresident. In 1958 the War MemorialBuilding Appeal was launched to buildthe new College in Parkville, whichopened in 1960. He was personallyresponsible for obtaining a largefinancial loan from the VictorianGovernment for building the newCollege – the first time it had eversupported the College in such asubstantial way. This loan was thebasis on which the whole buildingproject was able to go ahead. Hecommissioned the Sissons mural and ensured that the College was the most modern and best equippedschool of pharmacy in Australia atthe time.

Many accolades were published inAustralia and overseas on Sir Eric’sretirement in 1971, congratulating himon his significant contribution to theadvancement of pharmacy educationand pharmaceutical research throughhis work at the College. A dynamicleader and elder statesman, Sir Ericdisplayed a spirited and tenaciousability to negotiate through difficultcircumstances. His tireless work forthe Guild (both in Victoria andnationally) and for the PharmaceuticalSociety of Victoria distinguished himas an outstanding leader of pharmacyin Australia.

In issue six of Alchemy we profiledA.T.S. Sissons, who was Deanfrom 1920–1962. The articlereferred to him as A.T. Sissons,leaving out his initial ‘S’, whichstood for Stanley. We are told thatthis is the name his wife calledhim – although he was knownaffectionately at the College as‘Sisso’ or simply ‘A.T.S.’.

A.T.S. Sissons

Eric Scott OBE, after the investitureby Sir Dallas Brooks, His Excellencythe Governor of Victoria, onSeptember 23, 1958. Sir Eric isstanding on the lawn of GovernmentHouse following the ceremony withhis son Barry.

Looking Forward 05

Celebrating a successfulGraduation Dinner 2004

Graduates, their parents, partners,family and friends came together forthe inaugural Graduation Dinner forthe Bachelor of Pharmacy and theBachelor of Formulation Science2004. Held at Hilton on the Parkfollowing the graduation ceremony atMonash’s Clayton campus, the dinnerwas celebrated by over 150 guestsand staff.

Alistair Lloyd (1956), Chair of theVictorian College of PharmacyFoundation, formally farewelled thegraduates as students and welcomedthem as professional colleagues.Professor Colin Chapman spoke highlyof the group’s achievements, especiallygold medal winners Yee Voon Yap andFrances Peach, as well as MonashAbroad students who had travelledfar and wide on internationalplacements.

Course directors Associate ProfessorLouis Roller and Dr Barrie Finnin alsoaddressed the graduates. Both spokeof how proud they were of thegraduates’ accomplishments, urgingthem to stay in touch and to use theCollege as a resource as theyadvanced through their careers.

The highlight of the evening wasguest speaker Lauren Burns OAM,taekwondo gold medallist at the2000 Olympic Games, who spokewith passion about overcomingobstacles and maintaining goals.With a video display featuring hergold medal winning match anddemonstrations of her taekwondoability, Lauren spoke of her journeytowards excellence that includedovercoming several serious injuries.

Her demonstration involved a willingaudience participant and taekwondo

Lauren Burns OAM in action.

Success of the Foundation’s first Annual Appeal

The Victorian College of PharmacyFoundation’s first Annual Appeal,launched in May, has already receivedgifts totalling more than $30,000.

Alistair Lloyd AO (1956), Chair of theFoundation’s Board, is very pleasedwith the result so far.

“I am delighted at this excellent starttowards creating a significantendowment fund for the College andwish to thank all who have generouslysupported the Appeal,” said Alistair.

Money raised from the Appeal will go toward a number of key projectswhich could not otherwise be teachingand research revenue. These includefunding more postgraduatescholarships to further expand theCollege’s research strengths andundergraduate scholarships to

ensure equity of access to all courses,especially for rural students.

In just a short time, the Foundationhas achieved a great deal. It hasfunded the appointment of the firstProfessor of Pharmacy Practice,supported the development of thePharmacy MBA program (the first of its kind in Australia) and establisheda new postgraduate scholarship inMedicinal Chemistry.

Other plans to assist the College toachieve overall excellence includesupporting the appointment of aProfessor of Clinical Pharmacy inassociation with a major teachinghospital, and the development ofthe Monash University Centre forPharmacy Management, the Centreof Medication Safety and the Instituteof Pharmaceutical Sciences. TheFoundation will also support thedevelopment of state-of-the-artteaching, laboratory and researchfacilities in the planned new building.

“Over the coming years, we willcontinue to ask all Victorianpharmacists and graduates for theirsupport, to give the College thefinancial flexibility and independenceneeded to achieve all-round excellenceat world standard,” said Alistair.

Gifts to the Foundation are taxdeductible in Australia and all donorswill be acknowledged in anappropriate way. There is a range ofnaming opportunities available andthe Foundation can assist those whowould prefer to defer their support bymaking a bequest of money, propertyor shares to the Foundation as alasting legacy.

One of the first donors, Kilmorepharmacy owner Simon Yu (1972),quoted a Chinese proverb – ‘whenyou drink water, think about thesource’ – when explaining why he supports the Foundation.

“The profession has been good tome,” said Simon. “In making thisdonation I am giving back to thesource of my good fortune and, likemy predecessors, am supportingfuture generations of pharmacists.”

novice who, under Lauren’s tutelage,smashed a pine board with oneimpassioned blow. Lauren impressedeveryone with her challenge to makethe mind strong and the outcomespositive, staying afterwards to havephotos taken and to meet with someof the graduating students.

The evening was a great successand all who attended were keen tosee the Graduation Dinner become a College tradition.

Alistair Lloyd AO (1956) with studentsat the College.

06 College News

Vale: Shirley DorothyDixsonIt was with great sadness that the Collegecommunity learned of the passing, in June, oflong time staff member Shirley Dixson, so soonafter her retirement.

Shirley joined the staff initially as a tutor inMicrobiology in 1994, a position she held until 1999.Following the retirement of Ian Griffith she becamecoordinator of Microbiology and was subsequentlypromoted to the position of lecturer. She expertlymanaged the teaching of PharmaceuticalMicrobiology in the Bachelor of Pharmacy andBachelor of Formulation Science programs between2000 and her retirement at the end of 2002.

She was a very accomplished microbiologist, beinga Fellow of the Australian Society for Microbiologyand a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologistsin London. Prior to joining Monash, she worked atthe University of Melbourne, St Vincent’s Hospitaland the Royal Free Hospital in London.

Keri Jones, an assistant lecturer in the Departmentof Pharmaceutics, speaks about Shirley’sprofessional and personal life.

“She was a private lady, ageless and with boundlessenergy. Cultured and learned with a sense of funand an adventurous spirit, she was my mentor inmy early days at Parkville and my very dear friend.Shirley enjoyed our Friday night glass of red winein the Pharmaceutics meeting room and religiouslysupplied the cheese and biscuits. Although sheenjoyed fine dining, she ate like a sparrow, muchto the despair of our then canteen lady, Pat. Veryhappy and productive times were spent with Shirleyand Karen Finnin in our little corner of the thirdfloor when I first came to Parkville five years ago.

Shirley’s family has described her as ‘inspirational,adventurous, thoughtful, unique … and funky!’She was also a very private person and usedwords sparingly. As a microbiologist she wouldhave appreciated this quote from Louis Pasteur,‘the microbe will have the last word’. Shirley wasvery special – one of a kind.”

Marian Costelloe joined the College on 31 May asthe new faculty manager. Marion previously spentover 17 years at the University of Melbourne invarious roles, most recently as General Managerin the Faculty of Architecture.

A Monash graduate, Marian first enrolled in welfarestudies at the Gippsland campus. She went on tocomplete an Arts degree followed by a GraduateDiploma in Education and a masters degree inHistory at the University of Melbourne.

Marian has a firm wish to work as part of a dynamicteam and to consolidate the work achieved by herpredecessor, Janet White.

Welcome to Marian and best wishes for the futureto Janet, who is now working at the MonashFaculty of Law.

Welcome to Marian Costelloe

The 2004 Pharmacy Careers Expo

The inaugural Pharmacy Careers Expo was heldon 28 May at Cossar Hall. It provided an opportunityfor Pharmacy students to explore career optionsand for pharmacy owners from across Victoria tomeet face to face with the next generation ofpharmacists.

Exhibitors at the Expo included: Association ofProfessional Engineers Scientists and ManagersAustralia (APESMA), Defence Force Recruiting,GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Healthwise, Mayne, MyChemist, National Pharmacies, Pharmore, Raven’sPharmacy Services, Slade Pharmacy, Terry White,the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Victorian Branch),the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (VictorianBranch), the Society of Hospital Pharmacists(Victorian Branch) and Victorian Friendly Societies.

For further information about exhibiting at the 2005 Pharmacy Careers Expo contactLouise Merkesteyn, tel: 613 9903 9504 or email louise.merkesteyn@vcp.monash.edu.au

Morphine was first isolated from opium in 1805by the German pharmacist F.W.A. Sertuerner.

Point of Interest

College News 07

Master of Clinical Pharmacy:first graduatesThe Master of Clinical Pharmacy is designed to establish skills in evidence based practice, quality use of medicine, practice based research and provision of clinical pharmacy services at a high level.

The first group of students in the new Master ofClinical Pharmacy program will complete theirstudies at the end of 2004.

The Master of Clinical Pharmacy was introducedin 2003 to replace the former Postgraduate Diplomain Clinical Pharmacy. Modules in the course includebiostatistics and epidemiology, evidence basedpractice, clinical pharmacology (includingpharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics andbiotechnology), interpretation of clinical data,pharmacotherapy, a research project, journal cluband specialty clinical placement.

Josephine McGuiness is a clinical pharmacistworking in the Specialist Medicine team at theAlfred Hospital and specialising in InfectiousDiseases. She was the recipient of a 2004 JuniorResearcher Support award from the AustralianSociety for HIV Medicine, allowing her to attendtheir conference and to present her mastersproject.

Josephine’s primary area of research interest isthe integration of acute and community serviceproviders for HIV-positive patients, to improvefollow up and continuity of care within this patientpopulation. She is currently conducting a researchproject based at the Alfred Hospital called thePatient Information Exchange study, which formsthe basis of her masters project.

This project aims to improve and formalise theprocess of information exchange between all thehealth care providers involved in the care of anHIV-positive patient and to evaluate the benefitsof implementing a new service utilising a casemanagement model of pharmaceutical care.

The study measures the impact of assigningpatients a ‘primary’ pharmacist (one dedicated toan individual patient’s care), allowing the provisionof individualised care and improving follow up ofpatients by acting as the key contact regarding allmedication-related issues.

“After working for three years across a variety of clinical disciplines in hospitals in the UK andAustralia, I had identified the key benefits ofpostgraduate study. I had specialised in InfectiousDiseases, but still wanted to be able to adapt myclinical skills to all areas with an equally high levelof expertise and be equipped to approachunfamiliar clinical scenarios confidently, efficientlyand comprehensively.

The strong emphasis on evidence based practice,discussion forums and mentoring, coupled withthe sustained form of study coursework offers,particularly attracted me to this course. I thoroughlyenjoy the clinical work I encounter at the Alfredand to have the opportunity to combine this withcomplementary academic study is a real benefit.

This course has given me the opportunity toexperience clinical research first hand and topresent my findings at a national conference. I have been able to explore the possibilities ofdiversifying the role of clinical pharmacists andthis has allowed me to appreciate the importanceof good quality research and critical evaluation.During the two years, I have developed key skillsin both of these areas and in presentation. This is allowing me to achieve a higher level of jobsatisfaction and in turn, I hope, enabling mycareer to move forward in the right direction.”

Master of ClinicalPharmacy studentprofile: JosephineMcGuiness

The course is conducted on a part time basis overtwo academic years, with one full day of contactper week. In addition, each student is required tocomplete a four-week specialty clinical rotationwith an experienced clinical preceptor. The timingof this placement is flexible and dependent on theuniversity, the preceptor and the student. Studentsare also required to carry out a small practicebased research project.

Coordinator of the course, senior lecturer KirstieGalbraith, says that the new qualification has beena great success.

“Our graduates possess excellent clinical pharmacyknowledge and skills as well as the ability to promoteand carry out research projects in their workplaces,”she said. “They will become valued mentors toyounger pharmacists who are developing theirclinical expertise.”

For further information about the Master of Clinical Pharmacy visitwww.vcp.monash.edu/mclinpharm/

08 Teaching News

Bachelor of Formulation Science:graduate snapshotsThe Bachelor of Formulation Science program is the first of its type in Australia. It produces graduateswith a solid science education and vocational skills in product development. Here we look at what ourgraduates are achieving in a diverse range of product development careers.

“My employer, Cardinal Health Australia, is a contact manufacturing company that makes health and nutritional as well as over the countertablets and capsules for other companies. I’minvolved in troubleshooting problem products,evaluating new raw materials, formulating newproducts and supervising pilot batches within themanufacturing plant.

I enjoy innovative projects the most. As a formulator,they allow me to think outside the square andcreate something that has never been createdbefore. When I walk into a pharmacy and seeproducts I’ve worked on, it gives me a real buzzto know I played a part in getting that productonto the shelf!

I chose to do this course because I was interestedin science and chemistry but I didn’t just want todo testing or work on a lab bench all day. Thecourse provided me with the opportunity to workin any industry imaginable – every industry needsnew products and development. I would definitelyrecommend it to people like me who want to stayin the scientific/development side of things butalso want diversity in their jobs. My work is neverthe same from week to week and I am constantlyjumping from project to project, which keeps thework interesting.

In the future I hope to be in a managerial rolewhere I can oversee all the different departmentsthat are involved in the success of a product –from marketing and sales to formulating, businessplanning and much more.”

“I’m currently working as a scientist in researchand development at CSL Limited in Parkville. Mycurrent project involves the formulation of a malariavaccine using a variety of adjuvants and optimisingconditions that will promote a stable formulation.

This is my first job and I’m enjoying it – it givesme great satisfaction to know that my work hasthe potential to help millions of people! It’s a lot ofhard work but very rewarding. I’ve always wantedto become a scientist, so being in this position isa dream come true.

I chose the Bachelor of Formulation Sciencebecause, unlike every other science degree, itfocuses on the skills and knowledge that industryneeds. It is also a very broad course in that it doesnot limit graduates to a particular industry – we canlook for work in the pharmaceutical, food orcosmetic sectors. I would highly recommend thecourse because it can lead to so many differentjob opportunities.”

Formulation ChemistCardinal Health Australia

Research & Development ScientistPreclinical Formulation Optimisation (PFO) Formulation & Finished Product DevelopmentCSL Limited

Development ChemistApplied Australia

Cathy Smith Sophie Batty Anthony Agnew

“My role involves communicating with salesrepresentatives, market and technical managers,and consulting with customers to create newproduct formulations. Working to a specified budgetand timeline, I research, formulate and test manysample formulations so customers can choosethe sample most suited to their requirements.

I’m involved in the reformulation of existing productsto improve their performance, reduce costs or tocomply with the requirements of new customers.There is also a service role to ensure the qualityof the batches we produce.

What I like best is the variety of formulations I getto work with, such as exterior aircraft cleaners,touch-free automotive wash, coal dust suppressantsin mining, carpet sanitisers and spot-stain removers,and waterless hand cleansers. There are alwaysnew formulations to work with, new ideas to exploreand the chance to apply what I have learnt fromthe course and from my previous work experiences.

I enrolled in the Bachelor of Formulation Sciencebecause I’ve always found the idea of creatingproducts out of chemicals to be fascinating. Now,in addition to creating formulations, I can controland manipulate these formulations by altering theirchemical compositions. The career prospects atthe end of this degree are immense because itcovers the required theory and gives practicalhands-on experience in many chemical and sciencebased industries.

There is still much to learn, but in the future I’dlike to work up to the role of a project manager,leading a team of experts on the development ofunique and innovative products from an idea onthe whiteboard through to a fully commercialisedconsumer product.”

Teaching News 09

“Cognis Australia supplies raw materials for coatings(paint), agrosolutions, personal care, food and miningproducts. I’m in charge of the personal care divisionand my role is to provide technical support forcustomers. I deal with problems that customersmay encounter with our raw materials and do projectwork that will assist with product promotions. Thebest thing about my job is that it’s spontaneous – I learn something new each day, and every day isa whole new challenge.

Originally, I chose Formulation Science because I wanted to transfer into Pharmacy. But afterstudying and having this job, I realise I’ve got many more opportunities ahead of me. From thisjob I hope to travel, do product promotions andexpand my knowledge. Maybe the experience willlead me to a managing role or starting my ownbusiness with newly developed products!

This course leads to so many opportunities.Graduates are not restricted to just one particulararea, and there’s always room to make changes.”

“My position is mainly involved with formulating new and improving existing products in the market.Some testing of raw materials is also part of mydaily routine.

I started with this company while I was a third yearstudent for my four-week placement. Then I foundshort term employment for the summer last year,working both in the decorative and protectivecoating areas.

I chose to do the course because I believed that I would gain a lot of knowledge about how todevelop a product from scratch, and how to improvea product’s quality to maintain its existence in themarket.

I will never regret my four-year course and I wouldrecommend it to anyone. I learnt so much. Inaddition, there are many opportunities to gainexperience working in different companiesthroughout the course. By the time I graduated, I had a very good picture of what work in this fieldwas like.

In the future I would love to see myself excel byimproving my knowledge and experience in thiscareer. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I will be able to establishmy own commercial business.”

“My PhD project, which I started in August, involveslooking at the regional variation in transdermal drugdelivery.

In June, I completed a six-month contract with theMurdoch Children’s Research Institute at the RoyalChildren’s Hospital. I was employed as a ResearchAssistant in the Dermal Therapeutics Researchgroup. It was a great opportunity to broaden myknowledge in transdermal research.

I’m really excited about starting my PhD candidaturein a challenging and educational environment underthe guidance of academics with vast knowledgeand expertise. I’m looking forward to workingindependently, learning continuously, coming upwith novel results and contributing to the knowledgethat already exists on transdermal drug delivery.

I’ve always had an interest in research. I found thatthe Bachelor of Formulation Science offered scopefor employment in various research fields includingproduct development, biological research orchemical analysis.

I would recommend the course because theknowledge and skills obtained in it makes graduateshighly employable. The strong emphasis onexperience, through organised industrial placementsin second and third year, were invaluable andprovided us with an opportunity to experience aprofessional work atmosphere and to demonstrateour abilities.

In the immediate future I’m dedicating the next threeyears to my PhD candidature.”

For further information about the course, visitwww.vcp.monash.edu/undergrad/bformsc/

Development & Technical Service Chemist –Care ChemicalsCognis Australia Pty Ltd

Graduate ChemistDecorative Development Group, Research and Development DepartmentDulux Orica Australia

PhD studentVictorian College of PharmacySupervisors: Dr Barrie Finnin, ProfessorJonathan Hadgraft of the University of Londonand Dr Andrew Humberstone of Acrux Limited

“When I walk into a pharmacy and seeproducts I’ve worked on, it gives me a real buzz to know I played a part in getting thatproduct onto the shelf!”

Rachma Saputra Brunda Nijagal Thao Dang

10 Research News

Centre for Drug CandidateOptimisation: updateThe Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation (CDCO) was officially opened at the College on 16 December 2003 by the Victorian Minister for Innovation, the Hon. John Brumby. The CDCOis a unique venture that was established with a $4 million grant from the State Government’s2002 Science, Technology and Innovation Infrastructure Grants program.

The CDCO works collaboratively with commercialand not-for-profit research organisations by providingready access to state-of-the-art instrumentation andhighly qualified and experienced drug developmentscientists to fill the crucial gap between drugdiscovery and drug development. The co-directorsof the CDCO are Professor Bill Charman andAssociate Professor Susan Charman.

Progress and activitiesOver the past 18 months, the CDCO hassecured research and related funding in excess of $2.7 million against an original business plantarget of $1.8 million.

The CDCO utilises project revenue to pay staffsalaries, consumable costs and equipmentmaintenance contracts, and to purchase new itemsof capital equipment. For example, late last yearit purchased a Culex® automated blood samplingsystem to support pharmacokinetic and metabolismstudies and recently purchased a further tandemquadrupole LC-MS/MS instrument to enhancebioanalytical capabilities.

Another important milestone is the number ofcollaborative projects undertaken by the CDCO.The business plan called for a total of 29 projectsover the initial three-year period of operation –currently, 28 projects have been undertaken and/or initiated.

Professor Charman paid tribute to the 25 scientistswho work within the CDCO.

“The contributions of our scientists are key to thissuccess,” he said. “Their commitment, dedicationand hard work is very much appreciated by boththe CDCO and our research partners.”

A valuable resourceThe CDCO plays a key role in contributing to the broader infrastructure and research programs of the College. Recently, the CDCO spentapproximately $300,000 on equipment inconjunction with the Department of PharmaceuticalBiology and Pharmacology to undertake newbiological studies in support of lead optimisation.The CDCO also supports a PhD scholarship andfunds student placement positions andundergraduate faculty prizes.

Recent initiativesAs projects at the CDCO are commercial-in-confidence, progress reports are unavailable.However, some results from the publicly-fundedMedicines for Malaria Venture (MMV, Geneva)research program can be described. As part ofthis program, the CDCO recently attracted fundingfor a second drug discovery project to follow theinitial program in which the designed drug candidaterecently entered first-time-in-man Phase 1 studies.Results of the research were recently reported inthe premier international journal Nature, with thepublication of the results and description of thenew drug receiving extensive international print,radio and television coverage. (See page 3 formore details about this development in the fightagainst malaria.)

The CDCO is currently involved with a range of new initiatives for funding and collaborativeresearch. For example, a recently announced jointhigh throughput screening program with the Walterand Eliza Hall Institute, funded by the World HealthOrganization, will identify new drug leads in malariaand African sleeping sickness.

For further information about the CDCO, its activities and programs contact Professor Bill Charman, tel: 613 9903 9519,email bill.charman@vcp.monash.edu or visitwww.vcp.monash.edu.au/cdco/

“I have a responsibility to my science to search for its truths by use of the scientific method, and to enrich it by my own contributions for the good of humanity.” The Chemist’s Creed, the Council of the American Chemical Society, 1965.

Point of Interest

Research News 11

ARC Linkage Grants success

College researchers recently received more than$570,000 in ARC Linkage Grants. These prestigiousgrants are awarded by the Australian ResearchCouncil (ARC) to foster excellence, partnershipsand the highest ethical standards in research andresearch training in all fields of science, socialsciences and the humanities. They are designedto build links between research centres in Australiaand overseas by funding collaborations.

Dr John Haynes, a senior lecturer in the Departmentof Pharmaceutical Biology and Pharmacology andProfessor Colin Pouton, Head of the Department,with Dr R.J. Lang (Department of Physiology,Monash’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and HealthSciences) and Dr M.J. Munsie from Stem CellSciences Pty Ltd., will receive funding totalling$398,734 over three years to investigate neuronsisolated from embryonic stem cells as functionalmodels for drug discovery. Stem Cell Sciences willcontribute a further $109,598 in cash to the project.

The study will highlight the functional effects of geneselection procedures on stem cell-derived neurons,and will investigate the responses of these neuronsto neurotransmitters and neuropharmaceuticals. Theproject aims to obtain dopaminergic neurons typicalof the mid-brain from embryonic stem cells. Thesecells degenerate in Parkinson’s disease, leading tothe well-known symptoms characterised by paucityof movement, difficulty initiating movement andresting tremor. Parkinson’s disease affects about1% of all people over 50 years old.

Dr Martin Scanlon, a senior lecturer in theDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry and ProfessorBill Charman, Professor of Pharmaceutics andco-director of the Centre for Drug CandidateOptimisation (CDCO), with Dr H. Sakellaris and Dr L.B. Farrell from GBS Ventures, will receive$103,906 over two years. Their project is titled‘DsbA: A target for the design of drug candidatesas selective inhibitors of oxidative protein folding in Gram negative bacteria’.

This study focuses on the clear need fordevelopment of novel antibiotics that are capableof treating the increasingly prevalent strains ofpathogenic bacteria that are resistant to currentlyavailable drugs.

Dr David Chalmers, a lecturer in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and manager of theComputational Chemistry Facility, and Dr MartinScanlon will receive $70,668 over four years inpartnership with Starpharma. Their project is titled‘Understanding dendrimer pharmaceuticals: The application of parallel computing to theinvestigation of dendrimer structure and activity’.

This project aims to use computer-aided molecularmodelling and spectroscopic methods to investigatethe three dimensional structure and dynamicbehaviour of dendrimers or starburst polymers, an important new class of synthetic material withphysical and chemical properties that lie betweenthose of small organic molecules and traditionallinear polymers. This will assist in the design of newcompounds to target diseases such as secondarycancers, asthma and viral respiratory diseases.

Professor Colin Pouton is also an investigator onthe University of New South Wales project ‘DrugDelivery Devices: Hydrogels manufactured utilisingDense Gas Technologies’, which was awarded$257,804 in ARC funding.

Dr Martin Scanlon

Professor Bill Charman

Dr John Haynes

Professor Colin Pouton

Dr David Chalmers

Congratulations toDr Martin Scanlon,Professor BillCharman, Dr JohnHaynes, ProfessorColin Pouton andDr David Chalmerson their success.

12 Research News

Support for prostate cancer research

Congratulations to Dr PhilipThompson, a lecturer in theDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry,who received $15,000 from the SirEdward Dunlop Medical ResearchFoundation.

Dr Thompson, in partnership with Dr Stephen McPherson from theMonash Institute for Reproductionand Development, will be studying the potential of type II phospho-diesterase inhibitors as inhibitors of prostate cancer cell proliferation.

It has been suggested thatphosphodiesterase enzyme PDE2plays an important role in theproliferation of prostate cancer cells.However, understanding the trueclinical potential of inhibiting thisenzyme has been prevented by the lack of potent, selective PDE2inhibitors.

“In this project we aim to develop suchinhibitors to assess the role of PDE2in cell proliferation, apoptosis and cellcycle progression of prostate cancercell lines,” said Dr Thompson.

The Sir Edward Dunlop MedicalResearch Foundation promotesmedical research and awards grantsto projects that benefit war veteransand their dependents, in particular

those relating to cardiovasculardisease, prostate cancer anddiabetes-related illnesses.

’Weary’ Dunlop is a major figure inAustralian history and a Collegegraduate (1927). After graduatingtop of his class and receiving thegold medal and the first H.T. TompsittScholarship at the College, he wenton to study medicine at the Universityof Melbourne. As a surgeon in theAustralian Army during World War II,he became a national hero for hisdedication to the men under hiscommand while a prisoner of war.He went on to become a pioneeringcancer surgeon and was Australianof the Year in 1976.

For further information about the Sir Edward Dunlop MedicalResearch Foundation visitwww.siredwarddunlop.com.au/

For further information about Dr Thompson’s research emailphilip.thompson@vcp.monash.edu.au

Dr Philip Thompson.

International scholarship bringsnew researcher to the College

The College attracts and supportsresearchers in all departmentsthrough a variety of internal facultyand Monash scholarships, as well as outside scholarships supportedby the Commonwealth Government and industry.

The Monash InternationalPostgraduate Research Scholarship(MIPRS) tuition scholarships aredesigned to bring the brightest andbest young researchers from overseesto the university. In 2004, the Collegeattracted Daniela Roth from Brazilunder this scheme.

“I started my research career a fewyears ago back in Brazil, when

I began to work in a cytogeneticslaboratory during my Pharmacydegree. I gained some experience in research, especially in the field of genotoxicity and cytogeneticanalyses. After my Pharmacydegree, I studied for one more year to obtain a postgraduate diploma inBiochemistry. This enabled me towork in a laboratory of pathology,where I spent two years workingwith microbiology and haematologyanalysis.

At this point in my professional life I realised how much I appreciatedworking in the research field, and I decided to do a masters degree.During my masters I had theopportunity to acquire very goodexperience in molecular biology and immunology.

Since arriving in Australia, I have hadthe opportunity to work with ProfessorColin Pouton, Head of the Departmentof Pharmaceutical Biology andPharmacology at the College, to gainsome experience and to improve myEnglish before I started my PhD.Fortunately, last month I was awardeda Monash Graduate Scholarship andMIPRS Scholarship and I could start

Daniela Roth.

my PhD studies. My PhD projectinvolves collaboration betweenProfessor Pouton and Dr MeganWaldhuber of the College, andProfessor David Jans from theDepartment of Biochemistry andMolecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine at Monash.

The major goal of my project is tounderstand how some nuclear andviral proteins get into the nucleus, inparticular the intracellular trafficking of proteins along microtubules. Thisstrategy may help to enhance DNAdelivery into the nucleus, makingpossible treatment of cancer orinfectious diseases by non-viral genetherapy. DNA vaccines are currentlyinefficient because few DNA moleculescan reach the nucleus of target cells.”

Jean Baptiste van Helmont, (1577-1644), was an alchemist famous for a cure for injuries causedby knives and swords. The unique feature of hisointment was that it was not applied to the woundbut to the weapon which caused the wound.

Point of Interest

Rural News 13

First rural pharmacy workshop …and more to come

A workshop recently held inWangaratta brought local pharmacistsand College staff together to discussthe issues faced by rural pharmacistsand to assess the College’s ruralfocus.

The workshop, preceded by a lightmeal and refreshments, was hostedby Professor Roger Nation, Head of the Department of PharmacyPractice and Katrina Fitzsimon, whoadministers the student placementprogram in the Bachelor of Pharmacyprogram.

At the workshop, local pharmacistsheard an update from ProfessorNation on the College’s Rural EntryScheme, which encourages studentsfrom rural areas to enter the Bachelorof Pharmacy degree course. He alsoadvised the gathering about the newBachelor of Pharmacy RuralScholarship, which assists andencourages applicants from ruralareas into the Pharmacy course.

The workshop participants wereinvolved in a round-table discussionabout the many issues they face asrural pharmacists, including theshortage of pharmacists (both inhospital and community rural practice)

and the difficulty of attracting newgraduates to work in rural areas.Participants also related their positiveexperiences of hosting third andfourth year Pharmacy students oncompulsory rural placements. Theyespecially noted the favourable effectthat placements had on city studentswho were previously unaware of thecareer options available to pharmacistsin a rural area.

“It was very beneficial to have theopportunity to discuss with ruralpharmacists the range of issuesconfronting rural pharmacypractitioners,” said Professor Nation.“From the workshop, Katrina and I have several suggestions for waysin which the College can furtherpromote rural pharmacy and assistrural pharmacists.”

College staff plan to visit furtherregional centres to hold workshopsand meet face to face with morerural pharmacists. Rural pharmacistsare also encouraged to alert Collegestaff to opportunities for promotingpharmacy careers through localsecondary school career nights.Representatives will then be sent to these events with brochures andfirst-hand information.

Fourth year pharmacy student TonyUng on his rural placement withpharmacist Chris Robb (1971) inSymons Amcal Pharmacy, Wangaratta.

First Pharmacy Rural Scholarship recipient

Sarah Lum is a first year Pharmacystudent and recipient of the inauguralPharmacy Rural Scholarship, whichwas established to encourage regionalstudents to study Pharmacy.

“I grew up in a small rural town –Holbrook in New South Wales – whichhas a population of 1400. I am theyoungest of seven, with my twin sisterand elder brother both studyingPharmacy in Wagga.

My parents, Marjory and Desmond,were a great support during highschool, often driving myself and mytwin sister into Albury seven days aweek for musical, sporting and otherextra-curricula commitments.

Much of my motivation to studyPharmacy came from my father, whohas been the pharmacist at Holbrook

for 24 years and has contributedenormously to the town’s vibrantcommunity. Pharmacy is a highlyrespected profession, and I admirethe trusting relationship betweenpharmacist and client.

During my year 12 studies, I did muchresearch on where I could studyPharmacy. I found that the Collegewould not only give me the opportunityto study and live in the city, but itplaces an excellent focus on ruralpharmacy, which is how I cameacross the university’s Rural EntryScheme and Rural Scholarship.Monash recognises and addressesthe acute shortage of pharmacists inrural areas, and provides rural studentslike myself with a great deal of supportand encouragement.

First year pharmacy student Sarah Lum.

For further information about theRural Entry Scheme and Bachelorof Pharmacy Rural Scholarshipvisit www.vcp.monash.edu/rural/

For information about becoming a preceptor and hosting third andfourth year students in yourpharmacy contact KatrinaFitzsimon, tel: 613 9903 9043.

Choosing to study here was one of the best decisions I have made in regards to my future. Upon thecompletion of my degree in Pharmacy,I plan to return to the country andhelp to alleviate health issuessurrounding rural populations.”

14 Student News

Pharmacy students and Sigma get down to business

Credit for the first microscope is usually given to Zacharias Janssen from Holland, around theyear 1595. The first compound microscopes heproduced were simply tubes with lenses at eachend whose magnification ranged from 3X to 9X.

Point of Interest

Five Pharmacy students were part ofan award winning team in the 2003Young Achievement Australia (YAA)Tertiary Business Skills program. Thisyear, a new group of Pharmacystudents has joined with studentsfrom Commerce, Arts, IT and Law atMonash to compete in this nationalcompetition.

Established in 1977, YAA is anindependent non-government, not-for-profit organisation that runs programslinking education with business toprovide young people with skills andknowledge to better equip them fortheir future working lives.

Sigma Company Ltd has again beena major supporter of the Pharmacyteam, who have formed a companycalled Idiyada. The 18 students whomake up Idiyada believe the programwill enable them to experience thetriumphs, disappointments andhardships of running a small business,as they endeavour to develop theirbusiness management skills. Theyare also aiming to give somethingback to the community by

volunteering to assist the StarlightChildren’s Foundation.

The company has developed adelightful series of products calledKooshi Kreatures, convertible pillow-blankets (pillows that unzip intoblankets) that are individuallypackaged with their own tags and IDcards. Kooshi-Oink, Kooshi-Moo andKooshi-Quack have two layers ofanti-pill fleece and the blanket, whenfolded out, is cot-sized. The productretails for $25.

Idiyada, with the support of thePharmacy Guild of Australia, recentlylaunched the Kooshi Kreatures tothe profession at the inauguralCommunity Pharmacy SouthernConvention and Exhibition. Demandwas so high that the students soldout of Kooshi-Moo.

For further information aboutKooshi Kreatures contact JeffreyLim, tel: 0431 524 373, emailgeneralenquiries@idiyada.com or visit www.idiyada.com

Idiyada team members at their boothat the Community Pharmacy SouthernConvention and Exhibition.

Reality bites: Remedy’s Real WorldDinner 2004

Remedy is a group of students fromthe College who aim to improve thestandard of pharmacy in developingcountries.

On 3 September the group held adinner to raise funds for a pharmacyschool in southern India, and to givediners a taste (literally!) of theinequalities between developednations and the Third World. Thedinner was held in Cossar Hall, where150 students, staff and friends weretreated to finger food and beveragesbefore being seated to enjoy anIndian dinner.

All present knew that there was atwist to the proceedings to reflectwhat happens in the ‘real world’,emphasizing the fact that for thoseless privileged, reality does ‘bite’.Some were treated to a feast atelaborate settings, some dined on a moderate meal, while others had to make do with plain fried riceseated on the floor.

The event raised funds to help developa Drug Information Centre for thePharmacy Department of AnnamalaiUniversity in Tamil Nadu, India, whichwas the subject of an informative slideshow. Future events and fundraisingactivities will support other areas ofneed in Third World health settings,which the group is currently identifying.

Later in the evening, fourth-yearpharmacy student Michael Frankspoke about his recent participationin a Northern Territory schools healthcareers workshop. First-year studentJaya also performed a traditionalIndian dance. Two guest speakersthen shared their experiences ofvolunteering as pharmacists onoverseas aid programs – Bev Snell(1957) and Michelle Sweidan, a Public Health Fellow at theDepartment of Human Services.

Jana Dostal and Dhineli Perera, third-year pharmacy students, were twoof the organisers of this successfulevent, which raised over $4000.

“It was thanks to a great team thatwe were able to hold a night thatproved to be so successful,” saidJana. “We would like to see it repeatedannually in the years to come so thatwe can provide ongoing supportwhere it is needed, to achieve longterm solutions.”

“The night exceeded our expectationsin every way possible,” said Dhineli.“Not only did we raise funds for aworthy cause, but people learntsomething and had fun at the sametime.”

For further information aboutRemedy, emailvcp_remedy@hotmail.com

Student News 15

International PharmaceuticalStudents Federation CongressA report by Verna Wan, second year student, Bachelor of Pharmacy

“The International PharmaceuticalStudents Federation (IPSF) is afederation of pharmacy studentassociations, representingapproximately 350,000 studentsstudying Pharmacy andPharmaceutical Science from over 90 countries. IPSF has close linkswith the International PharmaceuticalFederation (FIP). The main objectivesof IPSF are to study and promote theinterests of Pharmacy students andto encourage internationalcooperation among them on publichealth campaigns.

This July, IPSF celebrated its 50thAnnual Congress over 10 days inHalifax, Canada. Over 300 Pharmacystudents from all corners of the globemet in Halifax for educationalsymposia, workshops, presentations,IPSF general assemblies and varioussocial and cultural events.

Australia was represented by 15delegates from four of the nine

pharmacy schools. I was one of six students from third year whorepresented the College at theCongress, made possible by winning a poster competition open to Bachelorof Pharmacy students. My prizeincluded a return airfare to Halifaxand registration for the Congress.

The Congress has broadened myawareness of what pharmacy, as a profession, can achieve. I waspleased to discover the extent towhich Pharmacy students can havea role in contributing to and promotingchanges to public health on aninternational level, such as involvementin World AIDS Day and World NoTobacco Day.

All Pharmacy students in Australiaare automatically members of IPSFthrough our national student body,the National Australian PharmacyStudents’ Association (NAPSA). Inturn, NAPSA is made up of theconstituent student organisations at

each pharmacy school in Australia,such as the Victorian PharmacyStudent Association, which representsMonash Pharmacy students.

As part of the Halifax Congress,NAPSA ran a successful bid to holdthe 2006 Annual IPSF Congress inCairns, which will be the first held inAustralia. It will be exciting to bringsome of the IPSF spirit downunder,enabling all Australian Pharmacystudents to be involved in somethingon an international scale, and to showthe world what the pharmacyprofession in Australia has to offer.”

For further information visitwww.napsa.org.au

The Australian student contingent atthe 2004 IPSF Congress.

Mathew PeckTravellingScholarship:updateThe profits have been tallied for theMathew Peck Travelling Scholarshipfundraiser held in May – and theevent raised $7200!

This is a wonderful outcome for thesecond annual ‘Drink II a Dream’organised by Susie Rudd and herband of helpers. The money raisedwill go to support Cancer CouncilVictoria and to the TravellingScholarship that honours Mathew’slife.

The family and friends of Mathewwho organised the event wish tothank everyone who helped makethe second fundraiser a wonderfulnight and a financial success.

To ensure that the scholarship isongoing, the College has extendedits initial commitment of $2000 forfive years, making a total contributionof $10,000. In addition, all profitsfrom the Monash shop located atthe College reception desk will gotowards the scholarship.

For further information about the Mathew Peck TravellingScholarship visit www.vcp.monash.edu.au/students/mpeckscholar/

To make a donation contact the Foundation Office, tel: 613 9903 9507.

The ParkvilleMulticulturalSociety AnnualSoccerChampionshipThe championship is on again in2005, with a twist. As in 2004,when the championship began,teams of staff, undergraduate andpostgraduate students play eachother for the prized trophy. Thisyear, the winner will play a team ofgraduate pharmacists organised byAngelo Pricolo (1987). We will reporton the outcome of the championshipand how the graduate team fared inthe next issue of Alchemy.

Monash University prides itself onbeing internationally focused, withcampuses and centres in Europe,Africa and Asia.

The Monash Abroad Program givesBachelor of Pharmacy students atthe College the opportunity to havean international pharmacy experienceat partnering universities each year. In 2005, 11 students will take upoverseas placements through thisprogram.

In issue 8 of Alchemy, we will reportback on how the students faredand what they learned from visitingthese very different locations toobserve how pharmacy is taughtand practised in other countries.

PharmacyAbroad 2005

Nottingham Mary Etty-LealUK Jane Booth

Kansas Julie VargheseUSA Esther Koh

Drake Iowa John ChauUSA Andrew O’Brien

London Vivian ChuaUniversity Joanne Gross

Singapore Dhineli PereraWinnie TanNathan Lum

16 Alumni News

Alumni in profile: Rex Goble

“I left school in 1932, and because I enjoyed messing around withchemicals at home, my dad took mearound all the local pharmacies tofind me an apprenticeship. I becamean apprentice at Nobbs Pharmacy inFootscray, working for John Nobbs.

The apprenticeship lasted for fouryears. The first year involved studyingtwo nights a week at the PharmacyCollege in Swanston Street, thenworking at the shop every day it wasopen – even weekends. Second yearwas college every morning and workevery afternoon, then for third andfourth year, study dropped back to a couple of mornings or afternoons a week.

My job at the pharmacy was tosweep floors, polish windows andeventually to make mixtures andointments under supervision. In thosedays the pharmacy was at the frontof the shop and the rear of the shopwas divided into the dispensary anda hairdressing salon run by MrsNobbs. This was a fairly commonarrangement at the time.

I qualified as a pharmacist in 1938and the shop came up for sale, for£900 – which was a lot of money inthose days. My mother organised aloan for £700 from Felton GrimwadeDuerdin, a wholesaler that helped tofinance pharmacies at the time, and I borrowed the rest from an uncle.So at the age of 22, I was the proudowner of a pharmacy – with no clueon how to run a business.

The first thing I did was delegatesomeone to sweep the floor, so I never had to do that again! I reliedheavily on the girls in the shop to

advise me on purchasing stock,because I had never done that, and I also ran the hairdressing salon. Thatclosed in the 1970s because ofsecurity requirements in the pharmacysection.

Quite a few factory workers cameinto the pharmacy for treatment forminor accidents. There was noformal training. I learnt on the job by watching Mr Nobbs. When I tookover the business, I treated thesepeople too. For example, if someonehad a piece of steel in his eye, I’dtreat it with a cocaine solution andremove the steel.

We used to sell a lot of photographicpapers and chemicals because peopledid their own developing. I didn’t havea clue about that side of the business.So I enrolled in a three-year part timephotography course at MelbourneInstitute (now RMIT) and it becamea lifelong hobby. I built up the stockof photographic supplies and

A career in pharmacywas the foundation fromwhich Rex Gobleexplored a range ofbusiness and personalinterests.

Alumni News 17

Congratulations to Wilfred AmarantOAM

Wilfred Amarant wasawarded the Medal ofthe Order of Australia(OAM) in the Queen’sBirthday Honours List2004 for service to thecommunity and to localgovernment in Koroit.Wilfred graduated from the College in 1952, when it was located inSwanston Street. He speaks hereabout his career as a pharmacist and his life in Koroit.

“After graduation, I continued for four years with the pharmacist I wasapprenticed to – E.A.L. Byrnes inBridge Road, Richmond. I was thereuntil 1957. On 1 April 1957 I boughtthe pharmacy in Koroit from the estateof the late R.S. Corson. I was therefor 42 years, until 21 June 1999when the pharmacy was acquired by Deidre Baker. The town was verystable during that time. Koroit is a small service town adjacent toWarrnambool – actually, 12 milesfrom the Warrnambool CBD.

I was a Guild member, of course, butbeing 175 miles from Melbourne witha young family, I chose to be involvedin my local community. I alsoconducted another pharmacy inWarrnambool for 10 years. I boughtit in November 1977, from the lateJohn Wiggins. I sold that to MareeLuxford in March 1987.

My community work involved themanagement of Koroit DistrictMemorial Hospital, which becamethe Koroit Nursing Home in the early1990s. I was a board member for 36 years, seven of those as presidentand four as treasurer. One year I wasboth treasurer and president. I waspresident of the Koroit cricket andfootball clubs. My involvement withthe football club was for 20 years inmajor country football.

I spent 21 years as a municipalcouncillor. That included 12 years asa councillor for the Borough of Koroit,two of those as mayor, and nine yearswith the Shire of Warrnambool,finishing as shire president for acouple of months prior to theamalgamation that led to the demiseof Warrnambool Shire. I was withKoroit Borough for 12 years before itwas amalgamated with the Shire ofWarrnambool. I was also a recipientof a Centenary Medal, which wasawarded for service to Australiansociety. I have been an HonoraryJustice of the Peace for more than25 years and continue to act in thatcapacity.

Looking back on this time, I realisethat I was never home! For that reasonI often say other people should bementioned in acknowledging what I did. My wife’s contribution wasimmense.

My greatest achievements are myfour children. You live for your children– and hopefully, as a result, you willlive on through your children. I am inthe process of enjoying that now.”

equipment, to the extent where I formed a group with six otherphotographic dealers to bulk buy.That group today is Camera House,which still operates Australia-wide. I was the first Chairman and wasactive in the group for my wholecareer.

We used to put a big screen at theback of the shop on Friday nights,and 15 or 20 people would gather to watch movies through the shopwindows. Often they would come into talk about photography and fromthis group we formed the FootscrayPhotographic Society. I was its firstPresident.

The war years affected our suppliesas a lot were imported, like 4711cologne, which was very popular. I began manufacturing my ownproducts to make up for theshortages. My shaving cream soldwell. One buyer used to purchasefour-gallon drums of the product andpack it himself for sale in New SouthWales. I’d buy bulk opaque nailpolish from cosmetics suppliers, adddyes and sell it to the girls from themunitions factory. I also made myown lotions.

In the early 1940s I took a chiropodistinto the salon. She had trainedstudents in the UK, so we begantaking in chiropody students. Thisled to a partnership with a formerlecturer at the Australian ChiropodySchool. Together we established theNational School of Chiropody andthe National Society of Chiropodists,which later joined with other chiropodygroups around the country. Over a 25-year period more than 900students graduated from our courses.Things were busy. I was still runningthe pharmacy, which by then was

50% involved in photographicsupplies, and administering theschool at night. I was also marriedwith three sons. We closed thecollege in the 1970s when thegovernment took over training forthe profession.

Throughout those years I alsoplayed sport – cricket in summerand tennis in winter. I played cricketwith the Footscray Cricket Club andwas captain of the club eleven untilI turned 43. My major achievementwas taking six wickets in one over,in the days when we had eight-ballovers.

Pharmacy today is quite different. I don’t think I would have the sameopportunities to diversify as I had inmy day. But we didn’t learn thingslike anatomy and physiology, whichare so important in diagnosingaches and pains. Computers, too,are a great help in assessing thecompatibility and interaction ofdifferent medicines.

I was in my 70s when I sold theshop and retired, but I still did somelocum work around Melbourne.And every year we still hold abarbeque at home for all the peoplewho worked for us in the shop.

Pharmacy has been a great careerfor me and it gave me a lot ofopportunities. I’ve never regrettedthat choice.”

18 Alumni News

1954 reunion a real hit

On 27June, more than 80 guests attended aluncheon at the Brighton International for areunion of the 1954 graduating year.

Months were spent tracking down colleagues andseeking out past students from all over Australiaand the world. Graduates Beverley Gorr and BryanCasey (both 1954) did some tremendous detectivework collating new addresses and spreading theword among friends and pharmacy colleagues.

“It was a great day,” said Bryan. “I met many friendswho I hadn’t seen in 50 years – some who hadmoved interstate travelled great distances to bepresent for our very special day.”

Professor Colin Chapman welcomed the guestsand spoke of the many changes at the Collegeand the importance of acknowledging theachievements of the reunion guests. MichaelGandolfo (1954), a prominent pharmacist, spokewith great enthusiasm about the work of theFoundation and encouraged others to get involved.

“It was wonderful that the Dean, Colin Chapman,gave up his valuable time to be with us and tellus all about the latest trends in pharmacy,”added Bryan.

All the attending graduates were asked to bringalong some reminiscence of their lives sincegraduation and some of their fond memoriesfrom their student days.

The recent passing of Bob Constable, a friend tomany and a memorable pharmacist, was notedwith sadness.

“We had such a good group of people whostudied with us and formed lasting friendships,”noted Beverley.

A surprise guest speaker, Libbi Gorr (best knownas Elle McFeast from television and radio) arrivedto entertain the gathering with her upfront andsharp observations. Libbi is the daughter of BeverleyGorr, one of the reunion organisers, and her takeon being the daughter of a pharmacist kept theguests in stitches.

“We try to maintain contact every five years or so… and that has always been a success. Althoughtime and distance have separated us, we alwayscome back to reminisce and enjoy each other’scompany and the latest gossip. I loved the dayand I hope everyone else did too,“ said Beverley.

Dennis Farrington, a well-known musician whoprovided the music for Pharmacy Balls during the1950s and 1960s, provided further entertainment.His three-piece band played all the old favouritesand rounded off a terrific day.

“The camaraderie and friendship was evident.Almost without exception, guests were sayingthat they wished they had more time to say helloto everyone. I would especially like to thank SarahVincent and Liz Welch, the Foundation staff, fortheir contributions in making the day happen,”added Bryan.

Fifty years ago a bright young group of graduatesembarked on a professional life, some continuingwith pharmacy and others branching into a rangeof other careers. Many thanks to PharmaceuticalDefence Limited (PDL) for sponsoring and producingthe ‘50 years on’ commemorative booklet.

Reunion organisers Beverley Gorr and Bryan Casey.

Further College reunions

2004 seems to be the year for getting together atthe College. Three graduating years are celebratingvery special milestones this year, with the 1994graduates celebrating their 10 year anniversary, the1979 year marching up to their 25 year anniversary,and the 1954 graduating year marking a significant50 years since graduation.

The 1979 reunion organisers Diana Nowak andIngrid Norton joined with fellow graduates to raise

the roof of Cossar Hall on 9 October, celebrating thepast 25 years, swapping stories and reconnectingwith fellow graduates.

The 1994 reunion is particularly special, as itcommemorates the first year graduating under the Monash banner. Suzanne Caliph, Dan Malone(both now teaching at the College) and DanielaPeers form the committee who organised the1994 reunion, which took place on 2 October.

See the next issue of Alchemy for photos andnews of these reunions.

Reunions are a lot of work but very rewarding forthe committees of organisers who come togetherto track down and reignite past friendships, and tocelebrate the achievements of their fellow graduates.

If you are interested in hosting a reunion in 2005contact the Alumni Office, tel: 613 9903 9507 oremail alumni@vcp.monash.edu.au

Due to the Privacy Act, the Alumni Office cannothand out contact addresses of graduates to reunioncommittees, which is why the Office offers to doall the mail-outs for the reunions (one less thing forthe organisers to do!).

College staff publish new book

Congratulations to Dr Jenny Gowan and AssociateProfessor Louis Roller (1963) who have co-authoredPractical Disease State Management forPharmacists, a recently published text forPharmacy students and pharmacists.

It contains articles designed to assist Pharmacystudents, pre-registrants and practising pharmaciststo deal with everyday situations in community andhospital pharmacies, residential aged care facilitiesand in the individual patient’s home.

Each article is set around a major disease, givingadequate background to that particular diseaseand including case studies. The patient may besuffering from a number of medical conditions,which generally involve multiple medications anddisease states. The basis of the case studies lies in the utilisation of rational drug therapy with anaim to achieve quality use of medicines.

It is hoped that schools of pharmacy in Australiaand New Zealand will adopt the book, which ispublished by Australian Pharmaceutical PublishingCompany Ltd (APPCo).

Alumni News 19

Please help to keep us – and your fellow alumni –up to date with your latest news. Fill in the updateform, tear it off and send it to:

AlchemyVictorian College of PharmacyMonash University (Parkville campus)381 Royal ParadeParkville Vic 3052 AustraliaOr fax to: 613 9903 9058(confidential fax).

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Major award for Michael Dooley

Congratulations to Michael Dooley (1987), Director of Pharmacy at Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute,who has been awarded the Society of HospitalPharmacists of Australia 2004 Clinical PharmacyAward.

This is an annual award by the profession to anindividual pharmacist for ‘outstanding contributionto the field of clinical pharmacy practice andcontribution to knowledge of therapeutics throughresearch and clinical teaching’.

The award will be conferred at the national clinicalconference in October in Sydney, where Michaelwill deliver an oration. This is wonderful recognitionof Michael’s outstanding contribution to clinicalpharmacy in Australia.

$70,000 Cyril TonkinFellowship 2005

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (VictorianBranch) is calling for applications for the $70,000Cyril Tonkin Fellowship, which is awarded everythree years.

The Fellowship will help to support a pharmacistundertaking a major project intended to make asignificant contribution to the practice of pharmacyor pharmaceutical science in Victoria.

This new Fellowship has been developed by thePharmaceutical Society of Australia (VictorianBranch) as trustee for the scholarship fund, inconsultation with Alistair Lloyd and ProfessorColin Chapman.

Applicants are invited to choose their own subjectfor investigation. Preference will be given to projectsthat include at least some time spent on a studymission overseas and on projects that contributeto the development of the profession and scienceof pharmacy in Victoria.

The Cyril Tonkin Fellowship is available to Pharmacygraduates of the College, and other pharmacistsresident and practising in Victoria.

Applications close on 30 November 2004 and application forms are available fromwww.psa.org.au/victoria

For further information contact John Ilott, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia(Victorian Branch), tel: 613 9389 4002.

The Pharmacists’ InterstateCricket Challenge

In 2005, the Cricket Challenge returns to Victoriaon the weekend of the 29–30 January. Both thedinner and match are being held at Wesley College.For further information about playing in the teamor attending the dinner contact Divesh Sanghvion 0405 182 184.

Victorian College of Pharmacy Monash University (Parkville Campus) 381 Royal Parade Parkville Victoria 3052 AustraliaTel: 61 3 9902 6000www.vcp.monash.edu.au

Acrux Limited was established in 1998, after researchers at theCollege invented a method fordelivering drugs through the skin.

Acrux’s underwritten offer of 30 million new shares at $1.00 per share closed oversubscribed.The level of applications underAcrux’s offer meant that, in additionto the $30 million in new capitalraised, over-allotment sharesmade available by existingshareholders were used to satisfyoversubscriptions. Based on theoffer price of $1.00 per share,Acrux now has a marketcapitalisation of $130.9 million.

Acrux Limited: A great success story for the College

Shares in speciality pharmaceutical companyAcrux Limited were listed on the Australian StockExchange at 11am (AEST) on 29 September,under the code ACR.

Dr Barrie Finnin demonstrating Acrux’sMetered Dose Transdermal Spray.

The $30 million raised from the saleof new shares will be used by Acruxto continue the development andcommercialisation of its patient-preferred healthcare products, eachof which uses Acrux’s innovativetransdermal drug deliverytechnology. These products are aseasy as taking a tablet or capsule.with all the safety advantages oftransdermal delivery. They includehormone therapies for women andmen, a female contraceptive andtreatments for severe pain and fordiseases of the central nervoussystem.

Acrux has already completed 13 human clinical trials with sixdifferent drugs and tested morethan 20 drug candidates. Two Acruxproducts are about to enter the laststage of development (Phase 3) forthe United States market.

“This is another initiative that willhelp the College to be acceptedas one of the leading schools of pharmacy in the world,” saidProfessor Colin Chapman. “I congratulate the inventors of the technology – Professor BarryReed (1963), Dr Barrie Finnin (1967)and Dr Tim Morgan (1992).

“Acrux is a great example of thepotential of College research tomake improvements in healthcareas well as to attract internationalpartnerships and gain commercialsuccess in global markets.”

For further information, visitwww.acrux.com.au

Victorian College of Pharmacy