SAP comes to life   Celebrating the success of the new SAP finance/HR system development are, from left, IAS finance team leader Mr Phil Wheatland, IAS project director Mr John Julian, with staff members Ms Anne Cant, Mr Ron Goldberg and Miss Caroline Piesse and IAS client liaison manager Ms Annabel Carle.   For the 1300 staff who have spent 6000 hours training in the new SAP finance/HR system over the last few months, the chance to use their new skills has finally arrived. The staff who had been working on the system breathed a collective sigh of relief as the cut-over to the new system was completed, with the successful first payroll from SAP taking place on 1 July, and the finance module going live on 5 July. As part of the quality assurance process, Integrated Administrative Systems (IAS) staff tracking usage of the new system identified the Monash users who were the first to complete the major different types of financial transactions. First to successfully create an asset on the asset register was Ms Anne Cant from Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mr Ron Goldberg from the Medicine faculty processed the first direct invoice, Miss Caroline Piesse from Facilities and Conference Office processed the first internal debit note, Ms Jean Pettigrew from Physics processed the first purchase order and Mr Rod Wealands from Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering completed the first journal. Each was presented with a magnum of champagne by the tired but jubilant project team.

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Student council under way in Malaysia

A temporary student council has been established at Monash's Malaysia campus to represent the student community.

Called the Pro-Tem Council, the 20-strong student body is taking the opportunity to establish a democratic constitution that will eventually be part of the Monash University Federation of Student Organisations (MUFSO).

The council is currently organising student activities to encourage more inter-faculty interaction, which they hope will enhance the 'collegiate' environment at the university.

The first activity organised was a badminton tournament, which involved 70 students in a lively six-team competition.

And according to one of the student organisers, Mr Tenh Shiao Peng, the experience the students had gained in organising the tournament would stand them in good stead for future events.

"With the support received from the student community, the tournament was a great success. It goes to show that the students at the Malaysia campus are on their way to forging their own Monash identity," he said.

Students in the Pro-Tem Council (above) chose badminton for their first activity and soon had 70 students signed up.

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Tapestries on the move

Three Roger Kemp tapestries on loan from the National Gallery of Victoria were installed last week in the foyer of the Robert Blackwood Concert Hall on Clayton campus.

The arrival of the tapestries is part of an extensive loan program to public and regional galleries across the state and overseas due to the gallery's relocation.

National Gallery general manager Mr Graeme Newcombe said the gallery was delighted the tapestries were going to a good temporary home where they would be enjoyed.

The three tapestries are based on original paintings by Roger Kemp and were woven at the Victorian Tapestry Workshop between 1984 and 1991.

Director of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop Ms Sue Walker said the works were among the most significant and ambitious suites of contemporary tapestries.

"Each tapestry took more than one year to weave by a team of four weavers working full-time," she said. "Hundreds of colours of wool have been skillfully mixed by the weavers to create amazing blends."

Monash University Gallery director Ms Jenepher Duncan said the university was delighted to be able to display these great tapestries which would be seen by everyone who used the Robert Blackwood Concert Hall.

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International and Public Affairs reorganised Deputy vice-chancellor Professor John Maloney has announced some reorganisation of his portfolio to define it clearly into International and Public Affairs. Mr Tony Pollock has been appointed executive director, International, to bring together Monash's international activities and facilitate a directed service to the global community. He will also remain as general manager of Monash International. Mr Ian Porter has been appointed principal adviser, International and Government Relations. "Because of the importance of international institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, Asia Development Bank and others, Mr Porter's tasks will be to stimulate interaction with those institutions," Professor Maloney said. "As well, Mr Porter will provide close liaison with governments, both national and international, and advise on international matters across the university." As previously reported in Monash Memo, Mr Stephen Dee is now executive director, Public Affairs, bringing together the former Public Affairs area with the Visual and Performing Arts. Within Mr Dee's area, two new appointments have been made. Mr Roger Newham has moved from Facilities and Services to become the business and administration manager. He retains oversight of the Office of Continuing Education and the Facilities and Conference Office, both of which have moved to Public Affairs. A new manager of Development, Mr Serhat Abdurazak, started on 5 July. Mr Abdurazak was previously manager of RMIT's Development Office and prior to that, a fundraiser for Mt Scopus College. Mr Abdurazak will be responsible for establishing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the university which takes into account the university's overall needs as well as the specific needs of individual campuses and faculties.

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Treating NAIDOC Day with respect

The Monash Office of Indigenous Employment and Career Development last week hosted a lunch to mark the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC).

Monash indigineous employment consultant Mr Shane Blogg told guests, who included members of the federal Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business, as well as several from Monash, that this year's NAIDOC Week theme was 'Respect'.

He explained that the theme was about showing respect, earning respect, respecting your culture and land and, importantly, respecting your elders.

Commenting on the Indigenous Employment Strategy at Monash, Mr Blogg said it reflected the aim of reconciliation, which was to encourage cooperation and improve harmony between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

"It's about developing a long-term partnership that will benefit both Monash University and indigenous communities," he said.

Celebrating NAIDOC Day at Monash last week were, from left, trainee in the Monash Indigenous Employment Program Ms Renee Swindle, DEWRSB's acting manager of the Market Support Branch Ms Raelene Thompson, senior indigenous employment consultant to Monash Mr Michael Coll, and DEWRSB's manager of indigenous employment initiatives Ms Mary Boek.

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1999 Academic Promotions Round

Deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and Planning) Professor Alan Lindsay has now approved the 1999 Academic Promotions Round, and deans of faculties have called for applications. The closing date is Friday 20 August.

The 1999 Guidelines for Academic Promotion are now on the web at www.monash.edu.au/personnel/acadprom/

Inquiries should be directed to Staff Development and Communications, Personnel Services Division on extn 56800.