Last night, we had the privilege of coming together with members of our local community to celebrate research and its profound impact.
This event was inspired by the late Bill Wheeler - an esteemed community member, a respected figure in the legal fraternity, and a dedicated member of Kiama Rotary.
Bill’s passion for medical research was truly infectious. His visits to the IPRI labs uplifted everyone involved, particularly our younger researchers. The time he spent affirming the importance of their work and expressing the community’s gratitude strengthened their determination to deliver meaningful advancements.
Following a meeting with Professor Graeme Clark (pioneer of the Bionic Ear) and Distinguished Professor Gordon Wallace, Bill and his Kiama Rotary colleagues organised a fundraiser garden party at Hartwell House. Sadly, not long after, Bill passed away. The funds raised were used to establish the annual Bill Wheeler Symposium, with the inaugural event held in 2009. This symposium celebrates the achievements of both an outstanding researcher-clinician as an invited keynote speaker, and emerging researchers at the beginning of their careers.
Last night, we heard from last year’s Bill Wheeler Award winner and PhD student nearing completion, Anna Kulaga. She shared insights into her research on new 3D bioprinting strategies aimed at enhancing the efficiency of islet cell transplantation for diabetes treatment. Anna had the opportunity to present her findings at a major international conference in San Diego last year, an experience that reinforced the importance of global engagement in career development.
Such engagements test the credibility of ideas, provide benchmarks against world-class facilities and experimental infrastructure, and foster global research collaborations. All of these elements contribute to building the reputation, credibility, and international standing of any university.
Our keynote speaker, Laurencia Villalba - Wollongong’s only female vascular surgeon - spoke about her groundbreaking work in revolutionising the treatment of pulmonary embolism.
Using this example, Laurencia emphasised the importance of identifying needs and pioneering innovative solutions that challenge the status quo. Achieving such breakthroughs is an accomplishment, but successfully navigating the patience, persistence, and resilience required to implement these advancements in a system that often favours tradition demands truly exceptional individuals - and Laurencia is undeniably one of them. She also highlighted the importance of community engagement and support in ensuring that the value of research continues to be recognised.
Ironically, in these tumultuous times - such as those currently being experienced at UOW - these engagements and the partnerships they foster are more vital than ever. However, they often slip down the priority list, and operational constraints make them increasingly difficult to sustain or initiate. This is a challenge we must tackle together. These relationships are crucial to our journey toward recovery.
In attendance were Bill’s wife, Lexie Wheeler, and his grandson, Jacob (a UOW student), along with members of the Kiama Rotary Club. This was the first Bill Wheeler Symposium held in partnership with the Keira Institute, a part of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.
Finally, a big shoutout to our hosts for the evening - Stuart Creal and the Science Space staff - for making the event a success.