Celebrating Excellence

Julie McCrossin praises staff

Edward O'Daly

10 February 2006: The similarities between Radio National and the higher education sector were a theme of guest speaker Julie McCrossin's address.

Ms McCrossin, who hosted Radio National's Life Matters program for five years, cited a collegial environment and a value placed on specialist expertise and using "internal values when it comes to measuring performance" as areas of common ground. Both were subject to "similar pressures" to compete in the market, she added.

Ms McCrossin also said appreciated the way the University recognised excellence in the staff and promoted their achievements. She made the point that too often we live in a culture which does not thank the services of the people who made organisations successful.

"My primary message is I want to say thank you," she said.

"Education has the power to change lives and change nations - great teachers change lives."

In an amusing speech, Ms McCrossin explained she had a "genuine passion for education" and encouraged academics to use the media to promote their work and help the public to understand higher education.

She said she was "truly impressed" with those staff who had spent 15 or 25 years at the University.

"Thank you for sticking with the higher education sector, which is misunderstood and massively undervalued."

Ms McCrossin says playing a silent clown called Plain Jane on TV's Play School was her proudest media moment.

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