Study leads Alison to rewarding career

When Alison Jeffery steps forward to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree at Southern Cross University’s graduation this week, she will quietly celebrate that she made the right choice to lead her to the career path she is passionate about.

Alison, from Eltham, will be among the more than 600 students attending the graduation ceremonies at the Lismore campus on Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28.

A country girl at heart, Alison said she had no hunger to seek out the bright lights of the city to look for work.

“I love this area and want to stay right here and fortunately, I have already picked up some paid work doing what I love – music research,” she said.

Alison, who for five years presented ‘Home Grown’, her own 2NCR radio show on Australian music, is now undertaking a project for the North Coast Ad Agency, searching out obscure Australian songs from the past that should have been hits but never really made it.

“I have been enjoying myself tremendously and getting paid for it,” she said.

“I would like to continue working in a field that combines my love of music with my love of writing and will be looking for more work as a writer or researcher in the field.

“My other project is researching a couple of potential ideas for a crime novel.”

A total of 1174 students will have their awards conferred at ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, with 606 students, their families and friends attending. The ceremonies, to be held in the Whitebrook Theatre, are as follows:

Friday, April 27, 2007

10.30am
Faculty of Arts
School of Education

Occasional Address
Professor Paul Thom MA(Hons)(Syd), BPhil(Oxon), FAHA, Executive Dean of Faculty of Arts, Southern Cross University, will deliver the Occasional Address.

2.00pm
Faculty of Arts
School of Arts and Social Sciences
School of Law and Justice

Occasional Address
Dr Margaret Hannah Olley AC, HonDLitt(Macquarie), DLitt(honoris causa)(Qld), HonDUniv(Sydney), will deliver the Occasional Address.

4.30pm
Faculty of Business
School of Commerce and Management
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Occasional Address
Mr Bill (William) James BEc, DipEd(Sydney), founding director of Flight Centre Ltd, will deliver the Occasional Address.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

9.00am
Faculty of Health and Applied Science
School of Environmental Science and Management
Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples
Faculty of Business
Graduate College of Management

Occasional Address
Professor Robert Henry BSc(Hons)(Qld), MSc(Hons)(Macquarie), PhD(LaTrobe), DSc(Qld), FRACI, CChem, director of Southern Cross University’s Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics, will deliver the Occasional Address.

11.30 am
Faculty of Health and Applied Science
School of Health and Human Sciences

Occasional Address
Mr Christopher Crawford BA(Hons), LLB(UNSW), LLM(Sydney), MBA(Macquarie), chief executive of the North Coast Area Health Service, will deliver the occasional address.

Photo: Alison Jeffrey prepares for her graduation on Friday.