Imagine being accused of a murder you didn’t commit and imprisoned for more than 20 years.
This is what happened to Adelaide man Henry Keogh who was convicted in 1995 of killing his fiancé Anna-Jane Cheney and sentenced to a minimum of 25 years jail.
Freed in 2014 after his conviction was quashed, Mr Keoghisdedicatinghis life toshowing others how to freethemselvesfrom the various lifelong prisons they may be grappling with whether it be abusive relationships, cyber-bullying, physical and or mental health issues. He also wants toeducate others about the many innocent people still languishing in Australian prisons.
Mr Keogh recently spoke with Griffith Law School students undertaking the Innocence Project course, and gave them an insight into his life over the past 20 years.
“Once the legal system gets rolling it doesn’t stop, it’s a juggernaut,’’ he said.
After two trials, the first a hung jury, the second convicting him, he began life as a prisoner.
Crammed into a 5ft x 10ft cell with another inmate for 12 to 18 hours a day, Mr Keogh said he had to quickly learn the difference between official prison rules and unwritten inmates’ rules.
“Because that was a lesson that would determine how well or how long I would survive in prison. I had to stay alert and keep my wits about me,’’ he recalls.
As the days wore on he battled with depression and contemplated suicide — but knowing what that would do to his daughters and the promise he had made to his father stopped him.
After hitting rock bottom he made a decision that would alter the rest of his time in prison.
Survival
“I knew that I had to work on my head, my health and my heart,” he said.
I had to control the voice in my head and stop obsessing about the things I had no control over. I started exercising again. I chose to stop hating and I let go of my anger.
“Those three choices gave me true freedom; freedom behind bars.”
He said one of the worst parts of being in jail was the insidious way it became the new normal.
“The process of survival was a disengaging from life, all the daily touchstones you relied upon — family, friends, work, phone — are no longer there.”
Henry Keogh with lawyers Jonathan Nyst and Ron Behlau who volunteer their time and expertise with the Innocence Project.
Mr Keogh asked the law students to remember when they became lawyers, that prisoners do not have ready access to their solicitor or counsel.
“We have to jockey, even fight (sometimes literally), to use the phone. Every decision you make in jail is an opportunity cost — choosing your lawyer means you miss out on calling your spouse or family.”
He said without the dedicated people working on his case outside, he would most definitely still be in jail.
“Remarkably, not one of my team of helpers knew me prior to my incarceration — they were all moved by what they saw as injustice. Academics, lawyers, scientists, they could see that it could easily be one of them, one of their children, their parents, their partners.
“The work people like you do is critical and invaluable,” he told the students. “Without you there would be many more innocent people languishing in jail.”
Griffith University Innocence Project Director Ms Lynne Weathered met Mr Keogh at a miscarriages of justice conference in South Australia in 2017.
“He very kindly offered to speak to our Innocence Project students, trusting it would highlight to them, the importance of the work they are doing here,’’ she said.
“There is nothing more compelling for those of us doing this type of work than to listen to someone who has experienced the devastating impact of a wrongful conviction.”
Over his 20 years in prison, Mr Keogh had three petitions for mercy rejected, prior to his case being heard under a new appeal provision in South Australia which allows for a second and subsequent appeal if there is fresh and compelling evidence that a substantial miscarriage of justice has occurred.
Under that legislation, Ms Weathered said, Mr Keogh was able to get back into the courts in 2014 and finally have his wrongful conviction corrected.
“His case highlights the importance of this new appeal provision. The Griffith University Innocence Project currently has a submission with the Queensland Attorney-General, highlighting the need for a similar provision to be introduced in Queensland,” she said.
For law students Natasha Lawton and Sophie Gorrick, listening to Mr Keogh’s experience has reaffirmed their desire to help innocent people wrongly imprisoned.
Griffith Law School students Sophie Gorrick and Natasha Lawton.
Natasha said she had always been fascinated by cases such as this, and is interested in the judicial process of exoneration.
“What I’ve learnt from the Innocence Project is how long it takes from when new evidence is produced — the process is inevitably slow.”
“It’s rare to have someone wrongly convicted speak to us, and hearing his story has made me more determined to continue my studies in this area,’’ said Sophia, who volunteers with the Innocence Project.
For Mr Keogh, spending time with his wife, family members and just spending time outdoors is a blessing.
Key representatives from Vietnam are taking part in a study tour as part of the “Promoting Industry Linkages with Vocational Education and Training (VET)” professional
development activities funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
On 5 March, the first group of Vietnamese logistics business managers, VET colleges and Government of Vietnam high-ranking officials arrived in Australia for a ten-day study tour to learn from the Australian experience in Industry-led Vocational Education and Training, focusing on logistics.
This educational, hands-on study tour, delivered by Griffith University’s International Business Development Unit, will provide participants with the opportunity to understand how Australia’s Industry-led VET model works in practice.
With various site visits, networking events and presentations from prominent logistics and industry skills experts, the tour takes place in both Canberra and Melbourne.
Ms Helen Bulle, Director of Griffith University’s International Business Development Unit, says the visit is one of the professional development activities included in the “Promoting Industry Linkages with VET”, which is a key component of Aus4Skills, an Aus4Vietnam program funded by the Australian Government.
This component addresses the identified problem in Vietnam that quality of vocational training and its graduates does not meet the requirements of the employers and the labour market.
“This study tour is a precious opportunity to showcase Australia’s VET system and its Industry-led VET model to members of Vietnam’s newly established Logistics Industry Reference Council, including business and training institution representatives, and Government of Vietnam officials to identify relevant elements that can be applicable to Vietnam”, Ms Bulle said.
Participants of the tour left Canberra on Wednesday and will spend the remainder of their visit in Melbourne, where they will continue to learn from and network with Australian VET industry professionals in the logistics sector.
The advice leapt from online to real life for Tori Macklin, a Griffith Student who scored an internship through using eCareerCoach.
“The eCareerCoach platform is so beneficial for students because it allows us to easily connect with professionals willing to share their knowledge gained from years of experience in their industry. Coaches also get the opportunity to mentor future professionals, expanding their network and giving them the ability to give back to the up-and-coming young generation,” Tori explains.
The program, created by Griffith Business School, sees Coaches matched with current students to provide career advice and respond to queries about their job paths through a digital portal. The resulting relationship could be just a few questions long, or the Coach could choose to take on a more comprehensive role. Which is exactly what happened when Tori matched with Carly Green, the Human Resources Manager at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort.
“My online cohort was invited to participate in a trial period of the eCareerCoach platform and I was really intrigued because it was a great opportunity to connect with professionals in my industry,” Tori explains. “I’d not had that opportunity before so I jumped at the chance.”
She says it only took a couple of emails back and forth with Carly before the HR manager invited her to the visit the resort to chat further about her career aspirations. It was during that meeting that Tori was offered an internship with the highly respected hospitality brand.
“It was during our initial meeting at the resort that Carly asked if I would be interested in doing an internship with both her and [HR co-ordinator] Natasha. And of course I was interested to work with successful HR professionals!”
The Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management and Management) student says she was motivated to participate in the eCareerCoach program to help her get a head start in the job market once she graduated. “I was specifically interested in advice as to how to start a professional career in Human Resources,” she says. “I’d been advised by multiple sources that gaining an entry-level job in HR can be challenging and wanted to know how I could gain a competitive advantage in the application process.
“Through the use of eCareerCoach, I was also wanting to gain insight in how to be an effective HR manager, which is my dream job.” Clearly Tori’s determination and drive impressed Carly, who offered her the educational role.
“The internship has been a great learning experience. I’ve developed some HR-specific skills and observed the theory learned at university implemented in a practical environment,” Tori says. “This internship has also enabled me to expand my professional network and meet some incredible people.”
She’s also gained extremely valuable industry insight through her Coach’s advice. ”Carly highlighted the importance of an online presence and networking in order to seek career opportunities. I remember in our initial meetup she mentioned that she still communicates with one of her first employers even after completing her HR degree.
“It’s about nurturing your professional relationships because you may be in contact or working with them in future.”
In the global war against plastics contamination, a groundbreaking Griffith University study has found Antarctic krill which ingest microplastics are able to turn them into nanoplastics through digestion.
The study, which formed the PhD research of Dr Amanda Dawson, was published in Nature Communications this week. The work was conducted under Associate Professor Susan Bengtson Nash’s Southern Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP) in collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division, and has uncovered the ability of an Antarctic species to physically change ingested microplastics in a way not previously described.
“Despite a growing body of research, there are still considerable knowledge gaps regarding spatial patterns and abundance of microplastics in the marine environment,’’ Dr Dawson said.
“The phenomena of digestive fragmentation has never before been reported in other planktonic crustaceans despite the facts that many possess similar gastric mills and mouthparts designed for mechanical disruptions.”
The researchers also identified the potential for translocation (movement across biological membranes) to occur after an organism has physically altered the ingested plastics.
“This reveals a previously unidentified dynamic in the plastic pollution threat, with the implication that biological fragmentation of microplastics to nanoplastics is likely widespread within most ecosystems,’’ Associate Professor Bengtson Nash said.
“As such, evaluating the harmful effects of plastic pollution must take into consideration not only the physical effects to the individual arising from macro and microplastic ingestion, but also the potential cellular effects of nanoplastics. Similarly, a biological role in plastic fragmentation will influence life cycle assessment of plastics in the environment.”
In the study the researchers exposed Antarctic krill to polyethylene (PE) microbeads along with an algal food source to determine the fate of microplastics ingested by a planktonic crustacean of high dietary flexibility and ecological importance. The krill were exposed to daily feeding either on a ‘high’ diet (80% PE and 20% algae) or ‘low’ (80% algae and 20% PE).
Whole krill were enzyme-digested after exposure to isolate the ingested microplastics as was faecal material collected through the experiment.
The researchers found all krill contained a mixture of whole PE microplastic beads and PE fragrments. The fragments were, on average, 78% smaller than the original beads with some fragments reduced by 94% of their original diameter.
Whole beads were found in the stomach and midgut as well as faecal pellets. Exposure concentration played an important role in the ability of krill to fragment the PE beads where lower plastic concentration appeared to facilitate the krill’s capacity triturate (grind to a powder) plastic.
Krill contained significantly more whole beads when exposed to a high plastic diet than a low plastic diet. Faecal pellets also followed this trend.
At the beginning of each daily exposure, krill were efficient at fragmentation but as they ingested more beads the fragmentation efficiency decreased.
“Current contamination levels in the Southern Ocean are theoretically low enough to promote efficient digestive fragmentation by krill species, and in a global context, possibly for other zooplankton with sufficiently developed gastric mills,’’ said Dr Dawson.
The researchers observed microplastics within the oesophagus, stomach, digestive gland and midgut of deceased krill and plastic was also visible in the stomach of live krill.
Their mandibles frequently had plastic fragments enmeshed in the grinding surface. The bulk of plastic maceration took place in the stomach and gastric mill, responsible for mechanically fragmenting food particles under usual feeding conditions.
Due to their mainly herbivorous diet, Antarctic krill have complex digestive systems.
The researchers did not examine the effects of digestive enzymes on microplastics so cannot rule out the possibility that digestive enzymes contributed to the fragmentation. While small food items pass through a filter into the digestive gland, large plastic fragments and full-sized beads were excluded from the digestive gland and directed to the midgut for excretion.
Krill being released back into the southern ocean. Photos supplied: Rob King/Australian Antarctic Division
Krill facts
Krill are ecologically important because they form the staple diet of many animals including seals, whales, fish, squid, penguins and other seabirds.
Krill feed on phytoplankton but regularly prey on other zooplankters. They filter feed by forming a feeder basket through water is passed. Food particles are retained on the basket and then transported to the mandibles for mastication. At the base of the oesophagus the mandible is equipped with a cutting and grinding surface. Food is then directed through the short oesophagus into the stomach and gastric mill where it is mixed with digestive enzymes for further mastication.
Believed to be the most lucrative student art prize ever offered in Australia, Brisbane Airport’s competition was open to QCA students across all disciplines, with applicants invited to submit concepts for the vast space that explored themes of adventure, discovery, connection and flight.
More than 100 entries were received, with five finalists considered for the major prize. The four runners-up each received $5000 prize money and the winner received $25,000.
This significant piece of public art will be seen by millions of travellers each year.
The Master of Visual Arts student created his striking work in the QCA workshops at South Bank, making a series of wood block prints that were blown up and digitally printed onto vinyl panels.
Michael said the work was inspired by the idea of the airport as a melting pot of different cultures and languages.
“Airports are really vibrant places,” he said. “You get this incredible mix of people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
“The work I created uses large scale shapes that echo human forms, and I also wanted it to look a little like its own language — a kind of indecipherable graffiti.”
He said the commission was “a fantastic opportunity”.
“It is great exposure for my work, and the chance to work on this scale doesn’t come by very often.”
Queensland College of Art Director Professor Derrick Cherrie said the project offered students a chance to test their work in an industry setting.
“It is a really exciting opportunity for Michael to have his work exhibited on a large scale, and for him this is a career defining moment,” he said.
“But it has also been a fantastic learning opportunity for all of the students who submitted work.”
Professor Cherrie said public art was an important part of contemporary art practice.
“Many of our students will go on to work in the public art sphere, and this project gave them a chance to test their ideas with a real client, and make work that was vigorous, exciting and accessible,” he said.
The mural was installed in the first week of February with passengers being able to view the work in the coming weeks when the International Terminal Northern Concourse expansion is officially opened.
The new installation will complement the 750 metre long ‘Sensory Hug’ by the late Mrs Sally Gabori and the ‘Keep the Sunshine’ artwork by Sebastian Moody both of which are at the International Terminal.
Julieanne Alroe, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) CEO and Managing Director, said the idea behind the art prize was about encouraging local talent and providing a unique opportunity and space for artists to create a significant public work.
“Brisbane Airport is home to one of Australia’s largest collections of public art and this commission is another chapter in our long-term commitment to the arts and supporting local artists,” Ms Alroe said.
Mr Phillips’ winning design was chosen by an expert panel, which included Museum of Brisbane Director, Renai Grace, the Co-Directors of the Institute of Modern Art, Aileen Burns and Johan Lundh, as well as Ms Alroe and BAC’s Head of Corporate Relations, Rachel Crowley.
“The finalist entries were beyond our wildest expectations and a wonderful statement on the range, skill and ambition of our emerging artists. Michael’s entry will be a superb addition to BNE’s public art collection,” Ms Alroe said.
The runners-up for the award were:
Kathryn Blumke
Christine Ko
David Nixon
Pamela See.
Griffith Law School​’s​​​Professor​Mary Keyes and Associate Professor Therese Wilson have been named on the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland (WLAQ) 2018 Inspo List for their inspiring work in teaching, coaching and mentoring future lawyers.
To celebrate its 40thyear and coincide with International Women’s Day, the WLAQ announced its list of women who have inspired them over the course of their careers.
“We have worked together at Griffith Law School for a long time, teaching, coaching Vis international commercial arbitration moot teams, and serving the law school in management positions,’’​Associate ​Professor Wilson said.
“Throughout we have both been passionate about quality legal education and supporting our students to become the best lawyers they can be.
“We are both honoured and humbled to have been included in the Women Lawyers’ Association of Queensland’s 2018 list of women lawyers who have inspired.”
Griffith alumni on the list include: barristers Susan Downes, Dearne Firth, and Borcsa Vass;​solicitor, Cassandra Heilbronn; Brisbane City Councillor Kara Cook; ​and Tanya Deissel on the community list. Student Jess Jonassen also made the list.
An ensemble of twelve musicians will perform the works live on stage in the stunning Conservatorium Theatre – featuring a string and wind quintet, piano and percussion.
Empowering young musicians
Queensland Conservatorium Director Professor Scott Harrison said he was pleased to collaborate with EDC.
“This is our first venture into contemporary dance, and we hope it is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with Expressions Dance Company,” he said.
“The project is unique in its inception, with choreographer and composer working side by side to create a shared vision, all brought to life by the brilliance of the dancers and musicians.
“Giving emerging artists the opportunity to showcase their talents sits at the heart of what we do – it’s all about empowering musicians to find their place on the world stage.”
Collaboration pushes students to new heights
Undergraduate composer Isabella Gerometta is completing a Bachelor of Music, majoring in composition. She said the project had given her the opportunity to grow as an artist.
“This project has really pushed me outside my comfort zone – I think that’s the beauty of collaboration, it takes you in a different direction,” she said.
“It has been great to see and hear it all come together after putting so much work into it.”
“I was composing while I was on the road – on buses, in planes and hotel rooms,” he said.
“I’ve never composed for modern dance before, so this is definitely a first – as a composer, you need to be adaptable, so it’s been a great experience.
“It’s definitely a different type of composing – you have to be careful not to overload the music, and learn how to support the choreography.”
For second-year composition student Jarvis Miller,the project offered a pathway into the music industry.
“This project offered a great chance to network with industry professionals,” he said.
“It is amazing to think that our work will be performed for packed houses over the next week – it’s fantastic exposure.”
Total synergy
EDC ensemble member Jake McLarnon is making his debut as a choreographer with this project, and said the mix of dance, composition and live music had created something special.
“The composers are incredibly talented and a real pleasure to work with, which I think isn’t surprising given the Con’sexceptional reputation,” he said.
“Throughout this whole process it’s been an equal creative partnership. Brainstorming and exploring ideas together from our different artistic perspectives and areas of expertise has produced something special.
“I think that equal partnership is something audiences will notice and appreciate immediately – the dance, the music, the live musicians – it’s a powerful thing to have those art forms and artists fully integrated. It’s total synergy.”
Converge runs from 10 – 17 March at the Queensland Conservatorium, 140 Grey Street, South Bank.Tickets are available throughqtix.
In the wake of International Women’s Day and the unstoppable momentum behind global movements such as #MeToo and Time’s Up, new research from Griffith University has highlighted the many challenges still faced by solo female travellers around the world.
Dr Yang says that although her study focused on the rising and under-researched Asian market, her findings have broad implications for the sorts of unwelcome and worrying behaviour still faced by women who travel alone.
According to a recent TripAdvisor survey, in 2015, 74% of women globally were interested in travelling alone. In Australia and South-east Asia, the figures are even higher — 81% and 79% respectively.
“My study resonates with campaigns such as #MeToo and #viajosolo — which means ‘I travel alone’ — as well as United Nations sustainable development goals for gender equality and women’s empowerment,” she said.
“My Asian participants experienced sexual harassment and discrimination when travelling alone. They were mistaken as sex workers or offered sexual advances by Airbnb owners, tuk-tuk drivers, hotel workers and others.”
Dr Yang says that the breadth of gender-related risks includes street harassment, catcalling, stalking and unwanted gazes regardless of age, appearance or marital status.
“On top of that, some participants experienced racial discrimination where they were verbally abused by locals at several destinations,” she said.
In navigating these experiences, Dr Yang’s participants revealed a variety of risk-mitigation behaviours, including carrying pepper spray, a whistle, Swiss Army knife or fake wedding band.
Several tourism operators are also taking steps to combat such incidents, including all-women walking tours and the development of destination-based apps to better inform travellers about potential risks.
Some hotels have even begun providing all-female floors, but Dr Yang believes this initiative “is only creating a safety bubble and has a limited effect on the safety concerns of female travellers that go beyond the hotel wall”.
Despite the risks posed for solo women abroad, Dr Yang says that her study nonetheless harbours some positive news.
“My research reveals the agency of Asian solo female travellers in negotiating access to the gendered and racialised tourism space, and how individual empowerment leads to microsocial transformations,” she said.
“However, there is evidently an urgent need for the tourism industry at large to change how tourism experiences are conceived, designed and delivered to make them safer and friendlier for women around the world.”
To celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8), Griffith University is highlighting some of the many remarkable women in our community and how they are working to make a meaningful impact at all levels.
All of these outstanding women are striving to create equality, raise the profile of women and support each other creating a diverse and inclusive community.
Nationally recognised as being an Employer of Choice for Women since 2001, Griffith has again been named anEmployer of Choice for Gender Equalityfor its commitment and best practice in promoting gender equality.
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women throughout history and the world. The theme for 2018 is ‘Press for Progress’.
Griffith University Human Resources Director Mr Ken Greedy said: “It was wonderful to see so many Griffith staff committed to Pressing for Progress in genderparity,by making the “Hands Out” press for progress gesture, or writing a personal press for progresspledge.”
Supporting families, early childhood education and school retention are the key factors in helping people beat the poverty cycle.
Griffith University criminologist Professor Ross Homel AO will outline practical methods and tools to help schools and community agencies lift children and families out of intergenerational cycles of poverty and welfare dependence when he delivers the Keith Hancock Lecture in Brisbane on Thursday, March 8.
“Firstly, we need to support families to provide the best possible home environment, whether that’s practical, economical or emotional support. Let’s start with the assumption that every parent wants the best for their child,” he said.
“Secondly, get the kids into early childhood education at age three, not four. Get them into an enriched kindergarten or pre-school environment, not just child care.
“Thirdly, keep kids at school. One of the biggest risk factors in youth justice is the lack of attachment to school.”
Professor Homel, who was instrumental in creating a large early intervention project – Pathways to Prevention — in partnership with Mission Australia, says despite the best efforts of governments and non-government organisations the gap between rich and poor is widening.
“Children living in economically deprived areas are more likely to become caught up in child protection or youth justice systems than those from more affluent areas.”
Professor Homel cited a recent study that found 89% of children in detention in Western Australia have at least one domain of severe neurodevelopmental impairment.
“More than 950 children in Australia are in detention. In 21st century Australia I don’t know how we can tolerate this extremely high percentage of children locked up, which often leads to years of imprisonment.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth make up more than half of the detainees in detention, so when we talk about the closing the gap, it’s actually getting wider.
“What governments need to do now is to implement best practice social science research into supporting communities.”
Professor Homel and his team have developed a comprehensive prevention support system that is being implemented in nine communities in NSW and Queensland. The Prevention Translation and Support System comprises both human and electronic resources, including outcome measurement tools.
The Keith Hancock Lecture is presented by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and named in honour of Emeritus Professor Keith Hancock AO.
