News and Events
Honouring PhD Graduates
On 15 November the School of Physical Education held a ceremony to recognise its doctoral graduates. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne, together with PhD graduand Rebekah Scott, were delighted to assume ribbon-cutting responsibilities to open a permanent photo display in the original Phys Ed building at 655 Cumberland Street. The display will provide inspiration to current staff and students as they pass by on a daily basis.
The first PhD was awarded to Bruce Abernethy in 1986, and 54 men and women, both New Zealanders and “Internationals” who investigated a diverse range of topics, have since joined him. A photo of each alumnus, together with their year of graduation and subject area of study, form the display.
The idea for the project came from a conversation between Dr Rex Thomson, an alumnus and former lecturer at the School and the Dean, Professor Doug Booth. The 55 Graduates from around the world were subsequently contacted and photographs sourced.
Rebekah Scott, who is graduating with her PhD in December, made an inspiring speech at the ceremony, which was attended by staff, students, supervisors and some of the PhDs being honoured.
"The successful completion of my PhD would not have been possible without the amazing support and facilities from the School and from my incredible supervisor. I challenge all supervisors to continue being inspirational motivators and remind all postgraduates that the brick walls that we all encounter during the PhD journey are there so you can prove how badly you want something"
International Research Symposium
During 20-22 September 2011 the School of Physical Education hosted a very successful international research symposium. The purpose of the symposium was to critically examine sporting technologies and to stimulate discussion, debate and understanding of the multidimensional issues associated with technologies in the field of sports science and sports coaching. To this end leading international researchers from the academic disciplines of philosophy, medical ethics, sociology, law, skill acquisition, and pedagogy shared their research and opinions on technologies in sport. The symposium received considerable national and local media coverage. For more details of the symposium and stories reported in the Otago Daily Times please see the following:
http://physed.otago.ac.nz/hosted/techsport2011/
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/178727/technologies-sport-discussed
http://www.odt.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/rwc-latest-news/179059/virtual-way-assist-real-play
Coaches' Day: Research Snacks at the Sportscafe
On 23 September 2011 the School of Physical Education, in conjunction with Sport Otago, hosted two events (7.30-9am and 4.30-6pm) with the aim of sharing and discussing current sport research relevant to coaches. The informal style of Coaches' Day was inspired by popular television sporting chat/issue-based shows and the University's "3-minute thesis" competition for doctoral students. The MC for the event was Dallas Seymour, former New Zealand rugby union and rugby sevens player and a roving reporter for the team on Māori Television's Hyundai Code when not conducting work for SPARC. The speakers were staff from the School of Physical Education and invited guests from national and international institutions. It is expected that the Coaches' Day will become an annual event.
BikeNZ Award for DR Mark Falcous
17 June 2011 Congratulations to Dr Mark Falcous, lecturer in sociology of sport at the School, for receiving the prestigious Shona Smith Trophy awarded by BikeNZ in Auckland recently.
This award is for raising the involvement and profile of women in cycling.
Mark runs a Women on Wheels programme in Otago that gives females the chance to try track cycling in a supportive environment.
He has introduced more than 30 female riders to cycling by running track coaching clinics and bunch rides.
Mark explains that he “wanted to push the women riders past the comfort zone and get them used to the steep banks of track racing. They rose to the occasion”.
Alison Shanks, who is the face of NZ women’s cycling, won the Female Face of Cycling award.
Bereavement - Nick Beharrell
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our colleague and friend Nick Beharrell.
Nick was working at the University on Saturday 22 May 2011 and died unexpectedly at the Outdoor Education storage facilities.
A blessing at the Outdoor Education store was held at noon on Tuesday 24 May and memorial arrangements at the School are underway.
A funeral service was held at 2pm on Thursday 26 May, at Campbell and Sons Chapel, 95 Gordon Rd Mosgiel.
Nick was a great personality and a valued member of staff, especially in the Outdoor Education programme. He will be sorely missed.
The text of the tribute given by Chris Sulivan at Nick's funeral service has been made available in the alumni section of our website
Palmerston North Reunion 7 April 2011
The School of Physical Education was well represented at the University of Otago alumni event held at Caccia Birch House in Palmerston North. The chancellor John Ward outlined some of exciting new developments at the University including Otago’s successes in research and scholarship, the growth in student numbers and the changes in the campus environment envisaged in the Campus Plan.
Co-host David Gerrard paid tribute to local alumni achievements singling out Physed’s Sally Clark who, in the equestrian sport of three day eventing, won silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Sally was inducted into the School’s Wall of Fame in 2010.
The Dean of the School, Doug Booth reiterated the ongoing strengths of the School including strong student demand for places in the Bachelor of Physical Education (BPhEd), high enrolments and completion in the postgraduate programme, and the School’s high research profile in the government’s performance based research Funding (PBRF) exercise.
Physical education alumni adjourned to the Village Inn after the event for further reminiscing and an enjoyable evening was had by all.
A selection of photos from the event is available in the Alumni Photo Gallery
Publishing Bonanza - Six Books by Six Academic Staff
21 March 2011 To recognise and celebrate the significant achievement by six of the School’s academic staff in publishing six books over the past year, a book launch, hosted by Associate Professor Ken Hodge from the School, was held on 21 March.
Special guest speaker was Dr Richard Pringle from Auckland University, School of Critical Studies in Education, who spoke at length about each book, and commended the School for achieving the rare feat of publishing six books in one year.
The books and their authors are as follows:
- Embodying Dixie – Studies in the Body Pedagogics of Southern Whiteness by Josh Newman
- Globalization Sport and Corporate Nationalism – The Cultural Economy of the New Zealand All Blacks by Jay Scherer and Steve Jackson
- Dance and Politics edited by Alexandra Kolb
- Sport in the City – Cultural Connections edited by Mike Sam and John Hughson (due out in May)
- Sport and Migration – Borders, Boundaries and Crossings edited by Joseph Maguire and Mark Falcous
- Surfing – The Ultimate Guide by Douglas Booth.
Photo L-R - Mark Falcous, Alexandra Kolb, Richard Pringle, Mike Sam, Joshua Newman, Douglas Booth, Absent: Steve Jackson
Welcome to Lyne Pringle, Fellow 2011, Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance
The School is delighted to welcome Lyne Pringle, the Caroline Plummer Fellow for 2011. Lyne is a former graduate of the School and originally from Dunedin, although she has lived in Wellington for many years. Lyne is a very experienced dancer/choreographer and writer/reviewer, and has her own company called BiPeds Productions.
Earlier this year she took a chorus of private sector dance students to the Nelson Festival with her production Lily and will be touring nationally with this production in late 2011, after the conclusion of her Fellowship. The inspiration for Lyne’s CPF dance project, which she anticipates showing in September, is Caroline Plummer’s poem about St Clair and St Kilda beaches.
Alumni Function Invitation, Palmerston North April 2011
We invite Otago Physed Graduates and partners to join us at the University of Otago’s alumni function to be held in Palmerston North on Thursday 7 April 2011 from 6-8pm at Caccia Birch House, 130 Te Awe Awe Street. It will be a great opportunity to meet with alumni, colleagues and friends from the School of Physical Education.
Immediately afterwards, all physedders and partners will be invited to adjourn for further refreshments and reminiscing. You are encouraged to contact old class mates and bring them along to share in past and present friendships.
RSVP now to www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/functions (preferred) or contact the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
Doug Booth and the staff at the School of Physical Education
Service to Physical Education Recognised
31 December 2010 The name of popular School of Physical Education former lecturer, Dr Rex Thomson was included on the 2011 New Year’s honours list. For his longstanding services to sport and education, Rex has been made a member of the NZ Order of Merit, an award that has been applauded by those familiar with his unstinting support of Physical Education and physical educators.
Best known for his diligent pastoral support, Rex was the face of the School of Physical Education for almost 3 decades of students, postgraduate students, and staff. His career in Sport Sociology started at Otago in the early 1970s and subsequently led him to postgraduate studies in North America. In 1976 he returned as ‘Dr Thomson’ to a lecturing position at the School, and through his close student involvement became a coach and key administrator of the University rugby club. Rex has been a tremendous influence on many students, rugby players and colleagues, who benefited from his academic and career/life mentoring.
Known as a humble man with a keen sense of humour, Rex has always enjoyed the success of his students and colleagues. No surprise then, that he was the driving force behind the School’s Wall of Fame that celebrates outstanding physical education graduates who have achieved highly in their endeavours.
After completing a 6 year term as Associate Professor at Auckland’s Unitec, Rex now describes himself as retired. He claims that he has never been busier; editing the odd book, proof reading colleagues’ and student works, and ‘putting in his contributions’ on numerous committees and sub-committees. All of which is testament to his lifelong commitment to ‘education and sport’.
We all join in celebrating Rex’s thoroughly deserved ‘honour’ and wish him well in his ‘busy future’.
