An Academic College continued
Our top-ten undergraduate performers were:
• Ed Taylor (Bachelor of Engineering/Arts II),
• Ben Varela (Bachelor of Engineering/ Bachelor of Science I),
• Austin Markwick (Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Science I),
• Bella Taylor (Bachelor of Science (Medical Science I),
• Aidan Riethmuller (Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Commerce III),
• William Defina (Bachelor of Engineering/ Bachelor of Commerce I),
• Jack Bouvier (Bachelor of Advanced Computing II),
• Miku Sugimura (Bachelor of Science (Medical Science) I),
• Andrew Brennan (Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Science I)
• Assistant Senior Tutor, Riley Jones (Bachelor of Advanced Computing/ Bachelor of Science III).
From this list, it’s clear our budding engineers and scientists gave quite a showing last semester. In these difficult degrees, these results are seriously impressive and we are very proud of these students’ hard work. Last semester, with the help of our fantastic senior engineering students, we also reformed the engineering College tutorial offering with all first year students having a College mentor for their various streams (mechatronic, mechanical, civil, etc) as well as for their professional engineering experience programme which
we hope contributed to these outstanding results. Five out of our top 10 performers were also Freshers – indicating the College’s academic future is in safe hands!
For Graduate House, students studying taught courses (around ⅓ of Graduate House) received a SAM of 70%. We have a wonderfully diverse range of taught courses in Graduate House this year – from the Juris Doctor, to Masters of Social Work, to a Masters of Architecture. It was also fantastic to see all our research students have a successful and enjoyable start to their degrees – from PhDs to Honours projects!
As usual, 1st year medical students and allied health students had a busy semester working through their introductory blocks in the muscular skeletal system, the respiratory system, and cardiology, and learnt clinical skills such as taking patient histories. Our Graduate House medical students are also using their knowledge to help out undergraduates this semester, tutoring undergraduate medical science and helping aspiring medical students ace the GAMSAT. Within Graduate House, our comprehensive medical tutorial programme, for all years 1 and 2 learning blocks, continues under the guidance of our Assistant Senior Tutor (Medicine), Meheer Zaveri.
Other good news for the student body was the return to in-person exams for most students.
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Semester 1 also saw another successful semester of in-College tutoring. 675 tutorials took place across College in Arts, Languages, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, Health Science, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Nursing, Programming, Education and Life and Physical Sciences. Assistant Senior Tutor, Riley Jones, reports: “Through the College tutorial programme, Seniors and Freshers have worked together to foster an academicdriven environment.”
In the early weeks of Semester 1, Riley encouraged our students to see tutorials as a great way for Freshers to get to know Seniors, benefit from their experiences both at university and in College, and feel more quickly at home at St Paul’s. The Freshers’ commitment to the tutorial programme has
Monday Speaker Series
been impressive with over 90% of students making use of the tutorial programme. Our students report that tutors: “go the extra mile in helping others understand concepts”, and are “extremely encouraging and set [students] on the right track to achieve excellent results.” Of one tutor, a student said, “Quintessential Pauline. Puts others before himself.”
We are so proud of all the young people who teach in our tutorial programme – more than tutors, they are wonderful academic leaders and role models. For Sem 2 we have already logged 26 tutorials! So we’re off to another great start.
Judged on Semester 1 results, the St Paul’s community is committed to academic excellence: “The proof is in the pudding!”
The Governor of NSW was guest of honour for the first Monday Undergraduate Seminar of Semester 2. Her Excellency the Hon Margaret Beasley AC KC spoke at dinner about “the legacy you leave” and the importance of change. She praised the College community for its acceptance of women undergraduates and compared this with the time it took for the first female Governor to take office, now two decades ago. The Governor then gave an address about conflict of interest which created a lively Q&A, followed up with discussion in the Salisbury.
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Monday Speaker Series con’t....
In Sem 2 Week 2 Australian Rugby Union legend John Eales AM joined the Monday Speakers Series and gave a very popular presentation in the Dining Hall. John gave the undergraduate members of the College his very sound principles of service for life.
Monday Seminar Series at Graduate House
An interesting line-up of speakers at the Graduate House “Dinner Seminar” series has dug deep into considerations about the future society into which our postgraduates will be emerging.
In Week 1 Jordan Baker, Chief Reporter at the SMH, spoke about the future of news and the future of education. Jordan was previously the senior education reporter and has often written about St Paul’s and the other colleges. Jordan focussed on the future of educational choice, government funding, and the need for more excellent teachers.
PICTURED ABOVE: Frances Foster-Thorpe from the NSW Government strategic forsight team addresses the Monday Seminar in Week 2 in the McCredie Room
In Sem 2 Week 2 Frances Foster-Thorpe, the founding director of NSW’s strategic foresight team – Shaping Futures and Data Insights, spoke about shaping the vision for the future within NSW Government. Her lifelong interest is in public policy and how the public service can be evidence-informed, effective and accountable. As a strategic policy professional, Frances has worked on complex, national reforms ranging from the NDIS, education, water policy and data for the Commonwealth, NSW Government and (briefly) as a consultant.
As a senior executive over the past five years, Frances has become focused on how the public service can transform itself into the capable and trust-worthy institution needed to tackle the multiple challenges of our times. Her presentation raised many questions about ethics and public perception of politics and leadership and the important part university research can play in developing trust and respect for future governments.
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Alumnus Angus Dawson (at Paul’s 199194) gave the Week 4 Seminar. He engaged those present with a global perspective on assumption versus fundamental belief in a world full of rapid change by asking the audience for their perspectives on WW2, the Cold War and COVID-19. Angus is Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and is the former Managing Partner for McKinsey in Australia and New Zealand. He is one of the thought leaders at McKinsey and used worldwide resources from statistics to primary sources to well-researched scholarly articles that define the world in which we live and what leadership is needed. He shared his insights on where the world is going and what our future standard of living will look like.
These seminars are very popular, drawing together guests, post graduates, undergraduates, and staff. The discussion and debate kicked off at the seminars continues at formal dinner in the Refectory and after dinner back in the Chalmers Common Room.
Debating win for Paul’s
• “That we support the rise of youth wings of political parties” (Negative) (Won against Wesley)
• “That we regret the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe” (Affirmative) (Won against Drew’s)
• “That we regret the norm of parents financially supporting their children after they become adults” (Negative) (Won against John’s)
• “That Latin American countries should form an economic and political bloc similar to the European Union” (Affirmative) (Lost to Women’s)
The Intercol Debating fixture is part of the Palladian competition and over a two day tournament in August Paul’s was victorious. Led by Debating Convenor and coach Sophie Jeffries, the team members were Bryson Constable, Isander Mesimeris (2nd highest speaker score in the whole competition), Jack Sandelin, Will Nicholas, and Will Defina.
The final debate was “That we support the imposition of a significant inheritance tax” (Negative) (won against Drew’s in the final). During the competition the following motions were debated by Paul’s:
• “That we regret the prioritisation of sportsmanship over maximising competitiveness in sport.” (Negative) (Won against Sancta)
Paul’s was very successful at characterising the debates in a way that was advantageous while each topic and opposing team presented their own challenges too.
Congratulations to the Debating Team on their impressive weekend campaign and bringing home the Debating Trophy once again.
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ABOVE: Angus Dawson addresses the Graduate House Monday Seminar on 21 August in the Chalmers Commor Room
Palladian Solo Drama win
On Thursday 18 May Paul’s was represented by Hugh Robinson and Sam McCredie in Solo Drama. Both gave excellent performances. Sam presented an extract from Bertold Brecht’s “The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui” and Hugh won with a performance of his own piece “Sexual Perversity in Chicago”.
PICTURED: Hugh Robinson being honoured with a Palladian Victory Dinner
Sydney Law School an international stand out
Vered Lalrinpuii who holds a LLM from the National Law University of New Delhi, discovered the Sydney University Law School to fulfil her dream of studying overseas. She met Graduate House Alumna Zoe Brereton (at College 2019) while studying in Delhi who explained the life
Vered arrived at Graduate House in July 2022 and is enrolled in LLM. She is the recipient of a Sydney University Dean’s Scholarship as a result of Professor Simon Bronitt’s visit to India and becoming aware of the limited opportunities for the minority community of Mizoram in Northeast India. Simon is Dean of Law and was a resident academic at Paul’s 2019-20.
Vered was part of the India-Immersion program as a liaisons officer signing MOUs with law schools and meeting Vice Chancellors with Dean Simon Bronitt. Her stance on anti-corruption law has allowed her to undertake comparative studies with her alma mater in Delhi. She has also discovered many shared passions between Indians and Australians beyond cricket, curry and the Commonwealth!
Vered is on a pathway towards a Law PhD. When her studies are over Vered wants to give
back especially in her own country where there are formidable challenges. She aspires to establish a research centre for Northeast India within the University of Sydney. She draws inspiration from two remarkable Northeast Indian scholars, Dr Yankee Modi, co-director of the Centre for Cultural-Linguistic Diversity at Sydney University and Dr Dolly Kilkon, Anthropologist at Melbourne University.
Whilst being part of St Paul’s College Vered has put Mizorma on the map and added significantly to the diversity of culture and thought in the Graduate House community. She is inspired by the genuine engagement of the College community with its First Nations students. After a year living at Paul’s she is contributing to the life of the Graduate House community in many ways, enjoys the traditions of college and is fast becoming a leader and mentor to newer students.
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Parents gather for Lunch on the Lawn
To celebrate the students’ return to College for Semester 2, we invited all parents to attend a lunch in the Quad on Sunday 30 July. It was wonderful to see so many parents come along, eager to catch up with old friends, meet new ones and enjoy a relaxed lunch on the lawn. We were spoilt with a glorious sunny day and our St Paul’s caps sold out before lunch. Lunch turned out to be a long one, with many parents enjoying the chance to visit the renovated Salisbury Bar after lunch.
This event was also an opportunity to tell everyone a bit more about the new Waddy Performance Centre and gym expansion, that is due to open later this semester. The Warden Spoke about the importance of philanthropy throughout the history of St Paul’s, and current parent and Old Pauline, Stephen McMillan, shared with us his own story of supporting the College through his generous philanthropy over many years. Both emphasized the important role that all supporters of the College play in making a fundamental difference to the lives of future students, learning and leadership.
PICTURED ABOVE: The space currently under construction and the artist’s impression of the 275-seat multi-purpose auditorium which will provide a range of uses from concert recitals to Mummers and university lectures.
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If you would like to make a contribution to the Waddy Centre building fund*, please head to the College
Sports Digest from the Dean of Undergraduates Harry
On the heels of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Intercol Soccer was being held. Football fever had certainly settled at St Paul’s for August; the Matildas were making history, the games all being broadcast on the big screen in the Salisbury, and the Rawson and Rosebowl teams were flying. Support for both teams was huge. The hard work given to both campaigns was evident with the men notching up their fifth consecutive campaign victory, and the women finishing the tournament in a valiant 3rd place.
RAWSON: Paul’s 3 def John’s 0; Paul’s 3 def Wesley 0; Pauls 2 def Andrew’s 0
ROSEBOWL: Andrew’s 2 def Paul’s 1; Pauls 1 def Wesley 0; Women’s 1 def Paul’s 0; Paul’s 1 def Sancta 0; John’s 1 def Paul’s 0.
Congratulations to the St Paul’s College Rawson Football team on their win. This brings the Rawson Cup into contention with Andrew’s on 21 and Paul’s on 17 points. With Basketball, Tennis and Athletics to go there is great hope in a Rawson Cup victory for 2023.
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St Pauls College THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY 9 City Rd, Camperdown NSW 2050 | 02 9550 7444 | www.stpauls.edu.au
Daniel continues:
“What a privilege it was to experience this wondrous performance of Purcell’s magical music” according to Daniel Kaan in his review of St Paul’s College Chapel Choir’s dramatic opera performances on 26 and 27 August in the Hall. The Choir supported by members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen” under the direction of Jack Stephens. Particular mention is made of the soloists: Brianna Louwen, Andrew O’Connor, Michael Burden, Ariana Ricci, Molly Ryan, Tom Hallworth, and William Varga. A huge thanks to the members of the choir for their contribution to the spiritual life and the musical life of the College this year.
The delightful acoustics and atmosphere of the Gothic architecture of St Paul’s College Blacket Hall at Sydney University was a perfect venue for The Fairy Queen. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, upon which the opera is based, is chaotic enough, but Purcell’s work has very little plot and is more like a loosely connected musical pastiche. That is not to diminish the work; from a musical point of view it is pure magic; every piece delights.
Whatever the limitations of the staging and production, the commitment, sense of fun and musical skill of the ensemble carried this performance off charmingly. And Purcell’s music would easily sustain just a concert performance, so all this added unexpected bonus delight.
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Purcell brings beauty and tradition to the College once more
During the Mid-Year break Casey Handmer (at Paul’s 2006-08) dropped in to see his old College and meet the Warden and Richard Morgan while on a visit to see his family in Sydney (his dad, Bruce (1978-80), was a contemporary of Richard). Casey founded Terraform Industries to do gigascale atmospheric hydrocarbon synthesis in his home town of LA. He has a detailed blog on his website that expands on his interests in music, art, aviation, and maths. Casey and Ed spoke in depth about their shared disciplines of physics and church history.
Alumni Reunions - 30; 60; & Arnott Years
1993 - A rather exclusive group gathered in the JCR for a 30 year reunion dinner on Saturday 15 July. The Freshers of 1993 are actually a large group – Matt Gerber, one of the organisers, took us through the whole 1993 list and discussed who was where and who was doing what. It was pointed out that,
surprisingly and happily, all of them are still in ‘good shape’. In classic Pauline tradition the room was loud with stories of the 90’s and Matt read a fitting message from the Warden of their time, Revd Dr Ivan Head, who has been undergoing hospital treatment and was unable to join them. Ivan wished them good fortune with their lives, families and future.
A key discussion, particularly afterwards in the Salisbury Bar, was how glad they were to have been at Paul’s and not anywhere else. Their time at college – “some of the best years of my life” – forged amazing friendships, founded their working lives and led to manya-romance from across the fence at Womens and further a-field at Sancta. They were impressed with the new-look Salisbury which we remind everyone is operating as a cafe from 7.30 am weekdays and the bar opens at 7.30pm Monday to Thursday and can be accessed from the back drive between Physics and Wesley.
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News of Alumni
Dr Casey Handmer from Paul’s to Silcon Valley
A group of Freshers of 1963 and a number of their spouses gathered on 15 July at Paul’s for their 60 year reunion. This was more than a reminiscence of the past, it was a celebration of the current and future College.
The tour of the buildings and grounds for them was firstly a ‘trip down memory lane’ seeing the Arnott Wing which was brand new and shiny in 1963! They told us that as Freshers they were not allocated rooms in the new building and had to share rooms in Blacket and Radford – how times have changed! They were impressed to see the refurbishments and new facilities for co-res students and remembered the Arnott Tutorial Room as the “TV Room” with one 15-inch black and white TV for the whole College.
The Chapel was a highlight for them too. It was also a new facility along with Chapel Court rooms. Many had not heard the Flentrop pipe organ, which was installed in 1972 thanks to the generosity of the Albert Family, and Richard Morgan gave an impromptu performance for them. The 21st Century buildings impressed the gathering where they saw the Chalmers Common Room, the Refectory and then stayed on the Roof Top Terrace and Lee Common Room for drinks. Lunch in the Dining Hall began with Grace by the Warden and a speech by Prof Nick Cowdery AO KC, one of the organisers of the day. He reminisced about their time in College, with some great stories of past ‘exploits’ and the reunions the group has been having ever since.
The genuine interest in the current students was enhanced by the support of Alex Back and Sharon Chau who were a great help conducting the tour and explaining their involvement in the life of the College. We had many questions about numbers of students and the layout of the new buildings, and “how can we support the Waddy Centre?”
The Arnott Years Remembered
By the second half of the 20th Century, at the time of the College centenary, St Paul’s was a substantial and integral part of the University community. These years were a time of change and growth. By the mid-sixties, enrolments at the University of Sydney had increased to more than 15,000, and applications to St Paul’s outstripped supply many times over. The 120-150 College residents were, for the most part, undergraduates at the University of Sydney, and many of these young men came from outside Sydney. St Paul’s gave them a home away from home, just like it does today.
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These post war years were overseen by Rev’d Dr (later Bishop) Felix Arnott CMG, Warden from 1946 to 1963. The changes and additions made during the Arnott years have left a lasting mark on the College, thanks to the leadership of Warden Arnott, the vision and commitment of the fellows, notably Sir Alexis Albert and Dr Charles Salisbury, and the contribution of the Paulines, including the 634 Freshers that came to College across these years.
Some notable changes during these years were; the creation of Mummers drama group and the Wine Cellar club, the opening of Dennison Wing, the Chapel and the Arnott Wing, the passing of the much loved Matron, Miss Amy Hart, and the removal of the less loved temporary structure in the Quad, known as The Hut.
Recently we invited the Freshers from the time of Warden Arnott to visit College and catch up with fellow Paulines from those foundational years. We were pleased to welcome 24 Paulines, accompanied by 11 partners, back to their old home for a reunion lunch on Sunday 16 July.
Their visit started with a tour of one of the new buildings, Graduate House. There was great interest in the current students and the future
of the College and our guests enjoyed meeting current students Alex Back and Sharon Chou who were a great help conducting the tour and explaining their involvement in the life of the College.
It was then time for a few drinks and much catching up in the Quad before heading into the Junior Common Room for lunch. We were so grateful to have Freshers from 1949 up to 1962 in attendance and it was wonderful to hear their stories and reminiscences. We were delighted that during lunch Tony Scott (195760), and several others spoke about the more memorable events of their time at Paul’s
Most importantly, it was wonderful to see our oldest Pauline’s meet again with friends from their youth, and talk like it was only yesterday that they were residents at College.
Events Coming up for Alumni and Community
? Evensong with the College Choir, organ and more, in the Chapel - every Tuesday at 5.15 pm (recommences Semester 2 on Tuesday 1 August)
? Chapel Choir in Concert - Friday 27 October 7.30 pm
? Annual Carol Service - in the College Chapel on Sunday 26 November
? St Paul’s Summer Soiree - reunion of alumni, students, parents and staff - come back to Paul’s on the evening of Saturday 2 December from 6.00 pm
Boomalakka e-News is the official news bulletin of the College (including the Union) published about every month and emailed to all our alumni, residents, parents, supporters and friends to keep you informed about the achievements of current and older Paulines and events at the College that are for everyone to enjoy.
If you have news and pictures you think will be of interest please contact me. Thank you for your support for and interest in St Paul’s.
Richard “Rex” Morgan (1978) - Editor t. 02 9550 7472 | e. community@stpauls.edu.au
Please see the College website for more stories and current news items: www.stpauls.edu.au
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Community and Advancement Office | community@stpauls.edu.au giving@stpauls.edu.au
