In Brief ... Two ANU scientists are conducting a fact-finding mission in Papua New Guinea to assess the impact of droughts, especially in the troubled Highlands regions. The PNG Government has called for foreign aid to ward off widespread famine in the country, which is being ravaged by drought and frosts attributed to the El Nino weather pattern. Doctors Bryant Allen and Mike Bourke, from the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, who were due to leave for PNG on Sunday, will prepare a report that will be used to advise both the Australian and PNG Governments. John XXIII College, which was facing closure at the end of the year, is to continue indefinitely as an ANU college of residence. Following an intensive letter-writing campaign by students, parents and staff, Father Mark O'Brien, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Order in Australia which operates the college, wrote that the Dominican's intention to surrender the sub-lease for the college had been rescinded. Father Colin Fowler, Master of Johns, reassured students that the college will continue operating next year. "There was an advertisement around college promoting the John XXIII College tie as the perfect Fathers' Day gift. For this Father, the perfect gift is John XXIII resurrected," Fr Fowler said. He has invited final-year students thinking of studying in Canberra to spend a day as guests of the College. Maria Joseph, an accountant employed by ANU Financial Services, has been recognised as one of the most outstanding young accountants in Australia. She was one of the top five performers in recent examinations by the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, contested by more than 1800 candidates from Australia and overseas. Passing the CPA exam is necessary to become certified as a practising accountant in Australia. The Vice-Chancellor Deane Terrell turned the first sod in the construction of the new Graduate House building adjacent to Eggleston and Garran Roads on August 22. Construction on the 108-room building is due to begin soon. A section of Eggleston Road is being relocated westward as part of the construction. Dr Donald Rawson, a Visiting Fellow in the Division of Historical Studies, Research School of Social Sciences, died in Canberra on June 20. He was 67. Dr Rawson joined the University in December 1957 as a research fellow in the Department of Political Sciences. He was promoted to Fellow in July 1960 and in 1961 resigned to begin a Readership in Political Science at the University of Queensland. He rejoined the ANU as Senior Research Fellow in 1964 and was then made Senior Fellow in 1965. In may 1989 Dr Rawson became the first Associate Director of RSSS, retaining the position until 1992 when he returned to full-time academic work as a Senior Fellow in the Division of Historical Studies. He retired in 1995 and became a visiting fellow in the division.