Cancer victim’s posthumous PhD to be awarded at SCU graduation ceremonies

May 7, 2009

carmen_zammit_web Excitement is in the air for 560 students who will attend graduation ceremonies at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus on Friday and Saturday.

For one family attending on Friday, the day will hold bitter-sweet emotions. Victor Zammit will travel from Sydney to accept his late sister Carmen Zammit’s PhD. Other family members and Carmen’s husband, Michael Brooke, will also be there. Carmen, formerly of Kyogle, died last year after a long battle with breast cancer.

Her PhD thesis explored the theme of cancer and survival. In it she shared the insights she gained from her experience of living through late stage, terminal cancer, from which she had seemingly recovered before the disease unexpectedly and rapidly took hold once more.

An artist and writer, Carmen (pictured) vividly illustrated her PhD with images that depicted all parts of her journey.

“It would mean a great deal to Carmen to be receiving this award,” Victor said.

“I have no doubt that she will be standing on the podium right alongside me as I physically accept the award on her behalf.

“Carmen’s spirit lives on and it is wonderful that her PhD was completed before she passed into spirit so that her research and insights into cancer survival could inspire others.”

You can read about Carmen’s healing work based on her PhD research at www.victorzammit.com

With students and their families and friends arriving from all over the nation and overseas, the five separate graduation ceremonies being held over the two days hold the promise of a bright future for those who have invested so much time and effort to get a university education.

Inspirational talks will be given by a number of occasional speakers, including Lismore Mayor, Councillor Jenny Dowell; well-known sports journalist, rugby league coach and author Roy Masters; Major General Peter Arnison, Chancellor, Queensland University of Technology; popular culture commentator and head of Media Studies at Southern Cross University, Associate Professor Karen Brooks; and Southern Cross University Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Clark.

Also receiving an award tomorrow is MBA graduate and PNG Minister for Transport, Works and Civil Aviation, and the Deputy Leader of the National Alliance Party, the Honorable Don Pela Sana Pomb Polye.

So far this year, 1824 awards, degrees and diplomas have been conferred by the University Council, 1354 for graduands studying via the Lismore Campus.

CEREMONY DETAILS

FRIDAY, 8TH MAY, 2009

9.30 am
Faculty of Business and Law
School of Law and Justice
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Occasional Address
Cr. Jennifer Dowell BEd, BA(LaT), TTCTD(Vic), DipT(Primary)(Geelong) Mayor, Lismore City Council, will deliver the Occasional Address.
1.30 pm
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Health and Human Sciences
Occasional Address
Professor Paul Clark, Vice-Chancellor, Southern Cross University, will deliver the Occasional Address.
4.30 pm
Faculty of Business and Law
Graduate College of Management
School of Commerce and Management
Occasional Address
Major General Peter Maurice Arnison AC, CVO (Rtd) BEc, DLaws(UQ), DUniv(QUT), DUniv(Griffith), DLetters(USQ), Chancellor, Queensland University of Technology, will deliver the Occasional Address.

SATURDAY, 9TH MAY, 2009

9.30 am
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples
School of Education
Occasional Address
Mr Roydon John Masters BA, MLitt, DipEd(UNE), will deliver the Occasional Address.
1.30 pm
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Arts and Social Sciences
School of Environmental Science and Management
Occasional Address
Associate Professor Karen Brooks BA(Hum)(Hons)(LaT), PhD(UOW), will deliver the Occasional Address.

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