Prof. Xiaodong Tou of MU-CEL leads MU fundraising efforts to rebuild school hit by Chinese Earthquake
Professor Xiaodong Tou (Sean), an outstanding Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow with MU-CEL for the past 11 months, spearheaded the efforts on the part of Macquarie staff and students to raise funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Sichuan province in China.
Within two days of this truly horrifying natural disaster, Sean and Ms Kuo Huang and other leaders from MQ sub-association of NSW Chinese Students and Scholars Association representing the over 4,800 Chinese students studying at Macquarie congregated in Professor Tou’s office in the Centre for Environmental Law from early in the morning until late each night organising a three-day fundraising campaign that raised the sum of over $47,000 to be used in rebuilding schools destroyed in the earthquake.
Their efforts and the generosity of Macquarie staff and students were recognised at a brief ceremony on the Macquarie campus by the Chinese government through the Education Office of the Chinese Consul-General in Sydney. Mr. Bai Gang, Consul and Head of the Education Office of the Consulate-General of the PRC in Sydney and Associate Professor William McGaw, Macquarie Pro-Vice Chancellor – International thanked the organisers and the many students present for the wonderful response of all of those who felt compelled to do something meaningful for so many less fortunate in China during these difficult times. It is something that all of us at Macquarie can be proud of and likewise all of us at MU-CEL want to thank Sean and his colleagues for providing the leadership that made this fundraising event such an unqualified success. Mr. Zhou Bo, Consul, in the Education Office of the Consulate-General of the PRC in Sydney and Professor Michael Jeffery, QC, Director of the Macquarie Centre for Environmental Law also attended the ceremony.
This event was covered by CCTV, China Radio International, the Australian New Express Daily and the Macquarie Globe.
The following photos were taken at the ceremony celebrating the success of this fundraising effort.
Ms Shirley Tan, Ms Alison Taylor, Ms Robin Guilmette,
Pro Vice-Chancellor William McGaw, Consul Bai Gang, Prof. Michael Jeffery,
Consul Zhou Bo, Prof. Naren Chitty
Media and students attending ceremony
Prof. Xiaodong Tou (Sean) 3rd from left behind table
Huang Kuo (Viola) addressing staff and students
Prof. Donna Craig writing message of condolence for victims
Prof. Michael Jeffery writing message of condolence for victims
Donation booth on campus staffed by student volunteers