St Paul's College Boomalakka News - May 2023

Boomalakka

St Paul’s College - May 2023

From the Warden

Ed Loane

With the teaching weeks of Semester One behind us the students of St Paul’s are focusing on their exams before a well-earned break. It was a fantastic end to Semester with the full variety of collegiate life on display from drama performances to rowing to musical concerts. The transition to a fully co-residential College has continued from strength to strength and credit must go to our pioneering women along with our men who have made them feel so welcome.

The work on the Waddy Performance Centre has begun and we look forward to opening that facility in the second half of the year. The entire project will be a wonderful addition to our College facilities with an expanded gym, music centre, and the purpose built performance space. We are still seeking fundraising support for this endeavour and I hope our wider community will be able to get behind this project in any way they can.

Ed Loane

Fathers at College

During Semester 1 dads had the opportunity to join their Pauline son(s) and/or daughter(s) for dinner in Hall. Due to the popularity of this event, and with such a full College, the Fathers’ Dinner was held over two nights (two groups) on 28 and 29 April. A huge thank you to the organising committee of staff and students for making these evenings very enjoyable.

Music on the nights was provided by Bryson Constable, Alice Farrow-Pryke, Annika Johnson, Callum Knox, Olivia Laverty, Isander Mesimeris, Jack Stephens, Elinor Trevelyan-Jones and Bligh Walter. It was great to see fathers who are new to St Paul’s this year along with some who have had a long association, like former SubWarden Dr Andrew Blattman (pictured below with his twin daughters Kate and Claire and talking to Vice Warden TJ Christie). After dinner the enjoyment continued in the Salisbury Bar .

Semester 1 draws to a close

Anazac Day at College

The Annual Anzac Commemoration Dinner was held on 19 April when 260 members of the undergraduate community heard from Rev’d David Hastie who has served for many years as a naval officer, and soon to return as a naval chaplain. He was our guest speaker at the Anzac Service as well. The dinner speech from the Alex Back (Lord of Yore) reminded the College of the extraordinary sacrifice of its men in world conflicts.

280 current students attended the Sydney Dawn Service on Anzac Day. This was followed by the College Service of Remembrance at 10 am when Senior Student Simon Toscan and Students Club Treasurer Jack Holt read the names of Paulines fallen during war. Part of the Anzac tradition at College is to organise ‘vertical’ groups of undergraduates bringing seniors and freshers together for a visit to the city to join post-parade celebrations.

Undergraduate Junior Dean Lieutenant Ben Bradshaw RAInf with GofH Lieutenant the Rev’d David Hastie RAN

Alex Back addresses the Anzac Commemorative Dinner

By Katie Newcombe, Senior Tutor

Our annual undergraduate Academic Dinner for 2023 was once again a wonderful night full of celebrations, congratulations, and comradery. It was a great pleasure to recognise and celebrate the hard work and academic talent of our students.

The guest of honour this year was NSW Chief Justice the Hon Andrew Bell. An Old Pauline, distinguished jurist and Rhodes Scholar, Chief Justice Bell addressed our students at dinner, giving us a powerful reminder of the importance of community, listening to each other, and that learning communities such as St Paul’s can be a wonderful antidote to social and intellectual isolation. Together with the Warden, Chief Justice Bell presented prizes to some of our highest achieving students.

Prizes were awarded for high achievement in specific subject areas, as well as service to the College, and excellent academic achievement overall. It was particularly fantastic to welcome back Paulines whose valedictory was last year and congratulate them on their achievements in their final year of College. A special mention must also go to Ed Taylor (BE(Hons)/BA) for achieving not only the highest Fresher marks last year but the highest in the College overall!

Also awarded at our Academic Dinner was the St Paul’s College Teaching Excellence

Academic Dinner Celebrates 2022 Scholars

Award, given to the tutor, nominated by their peers, who most embodies the Pauline values of excellence and supporting others. We had over 10 nominations this year and the prize went, with raucous applause, to Mathu Pushpakumar (BE(Aero-Space)(Hons)/BComm). 2022 was a particularly successful year for our tutorial programme with over 1,100 tutorials taking place throughout the year.

We are incredibly proud of our prize winners and high achievers honoured at our Academic Dinner and also proud of the friends, tutors, and peers who encourage all students to do their best and aim high at St Paul’s College.

Prizes for 2022 were awarded to:

• Ed Taylor: Prize for the Highest Annual Average Mark in College

• Jack Holt: McWilliam Prize for law and service to College

• Jackson Rogers: Uther Prize for three years’ distinguished examination results and service to College

• Bryson Constable: Sir Ian McFarlane Prize for exceptional results in economics/commerce and for service to college

• Hayden Fleming: Portus Prize for exceptional examination results in History, Economic History of Philosophy

• Mathu Pushpakumar: Prize for Most Outstanding Tutor – nominated by his peers ...continued over

Those gaining a High Distinction average in 2022 were:

Bryson Constable

Nicholas Jones

Riley Jones

Tommy Lu

Austin Markwick

Luka Mattani

Alessandro Petagna

Joseph Scopas

Aakash Singh

Alexander Siu

Harsh Talathi

Joshua Taleb

Edward Taylor

Julian Visalli

Tylor Wessels

Those gaining Distinction average in 2022 were:

Harry Algar

Wiley Anderson

Oliver Andronicus

Mitchell Arcus

Luke Arnold

Henry Blackwell

Jack Bouvier

Lachlan Bowen

Lachlan Brewer

Lachlan Brown

Thomas Burge

Oscar Carr-Middleton

Samuel Choi

Charles Dight

Lachlan Donaldson

Nicholas Dower

Joe Dyson

James Feetham

Hayden Fleming

Thomas Follett

Oliver Freeman

Auxence Gide

Nathaniel Gleeson

Thomas Green

Joshua Hall-Johnston

Sebastian Hodge

Walter (Jack) Holt

Nicholas Horne

John Houstone

Marcus Howes

Alan Huang

Henry Hughes

Archibald Hyles

Thomas Jarvis

Joshua Jones

Nicholas Laforest

Matthew Leijer

Henry Lewis-Thorpe

Leo Li

Benjamin Locke

Hunter McAuliffe

Isander Mesimeris

Michael Mingay

Nicholas Moroni

Isaac Morse

Theodore Mower

Finnegan Murdoch

Cooper Nagy

William Nicholas

Jonah O’Sullivan

Thomas Phelps

Maximilian Philips

Max Prince

Mathu Pushpakumar

Alexander Ranson

Samuel Richards

Aidan Riethmuller

Jackson Rogers

Alexander Rosic

Charles Rutledge

Jack Sandelin

Oliver Schnitker

Toby Smith

Kyle Soepono

Joska Steinbusch

Zinzan Still

William Studdert

Simon Toscan

Nicholas Trotter

Joshua Turner

Hugo Walker

Harry Whitehead

Lachlan Whitehead

Connor Whiteley

Devon Wilson

David Zhang

Sebastian Shanahan

Rhodes Scholars of St Paul’s who gathered in 1996 – Andrew Bell 2nd from right

Graduate House

The McMillan Building provides an excellent level of accommodation for post graduates who come to St Paul’s from all over the world. As a home for dedicated students the College provides an environment of scholarly discipline, meals, friendship and social activities. To enhance these activities a new garden setting has been acquired for quiet work outside and for more frivolity after study.

The key to a successful time at uni is commitment to scholarly pursuit of your chosen discipline. This was made abundantly clear at the naming of the Chalmers Common Room by distinguished old Pauline Prof John Chalmers AC (in College 1956-60) on 25 May. The room is used by the Middle Common Room, the postgraduate Paulines in residence, as their social lounge, music room and occasional meeting and lecture room. At the unveiling of the plaque on 25 May John made the point to the assembly of students that he took his “study ethic” with him to work in medicine and his extraordinary career.

GH Impresario Players a Hit

Saturday 20th May. The McMillan Building Refectory was buzzing with friends, family, Paulines past and present, as we eagerly awaited the Impresario’s Players and their interpretation of The 39 Steps

A full review is on the College website

Prof John Chalmers AC, addresses members of the MCR and staff before he and his wife Alex jontly unveiled the new plaque

Pauline Selected to Netball Australia National Pathway Squad

Mia Baggett, one of our 2023 Freshers, has been selected in the 19/U Netball Australia National Pathway Squad for 2023-24. Mia, from Mudgee NSW, was one of the stars of the history-making Paul’s netball team in Semester 1 and Mia will be joining an elite group of 28 players from around Australia in her age group. Netball Australia refers to the “impressive skill to react under pressure” of the women in the 19/U and 17/U squads. Mia’s goal is to be selected as a training partner in the Suncorp Super Netball clubs and aspires to play in the Origin Australian Diamonds, the Australian National Netball Team.

The College community congratulates Mia on her contribution to the life of the College and her recent selection to the national training quad programme this year.

Top of the votes in USU election

Bryson Constable has been elected with the highest number of votes to the USU Board in its recently held 2023 campus-wide election.

He joins old Paulines Nicholas Dower, Nick Comino and Cole Scott-Curwood (USU President) who were elected in 2022 (USU directors now serve a 2 year term). Bryson, currently in his 2nd year at Paul’s was elected as ‘the voice of the colleges’ and wants to bridge the gaps between University clubs and societies and student counselling services.

The USU Board of Directors is composed of 14 directors, including 11 elected student directors, two Senate-appointed Directors and the Immediate Past President.

Palladian Dance

Palladian Dance troop rehearsed in the Quad over many nights and having fun under wonderfully skilled women student leaders who have given dance a lot of momentum this Semester. Outdoor rehearsals will be a thing of the past when the Waddy Performance Centre is complete! Always a tough competition, the Paul’s gave a “fabulous dance” but Sancta 1st, Andrew 2nd, Sancta 3rd was the outcome on 4 May at the Seymour Centre.

A significant part of the Waddy Centre will be a multi-purpose dance studio, welcoming individuals and groups to use it as a rehearsal space. This facility will also be used for a range of workout activities such as pilates, cardio, strength training, fusion, barre and yoga.

If you are interested in supporting this project, please donate today via the website.

We truly appreciate your support.

Did you know Boomalakka is published as an e-News letter regularly. It provies news of acheivers, successes, activities and up-coming events. If you are not receiving this by email that means the College does not have your current email address. PLEASE UP-DATE YOUR DETAILS TODAY

Sports Digest

from the Dean of Undergraduates Harry Croker

The Rawson Cup and Rosebowl tournaments have produced varying levels of success this semester, and have been thoroughly enjoyed by those participating and supporting, alike. As it stands, The College is 2nd in Rawson and 6th in Rosebowl.

The Rosebowl hockey team displayed a valiant effort during the tournament. The experienced players displayed their prowess, and those who were playing for the first time showed promise. Fresher, Bella Taylor, embodied the Pauline spirit, fearlessly defending the goals. Scores: St Andrew’s 5 b St

The Rawson XV proved strong, once again, defeating Wesley 49-7 and St John’s 47-0 before losing to St Andrew’s 32-20 in a see-sawing affair at No. 2 Oval (now SUFG) on Wednesday 24th May.

In other 15-man code news, St Paul’s fielded a team in the Intercollegiate Women’s Rugby 7s tournament on Sunday 14th May. Despite being Mother’s Day, there was a large turnout at St John’s Oval, where the tournament was held. The women in gold and gules played well and advanced to the quarter final where they were beaten by the hosts.

The Rawson VIII held on in an extremely tight race at SIRC on Tuesday 23rd May to beat St Andrew’s by 0.34 seconds, and claim a fourth straight victory. As always, work ethic was paramount in the lead up to this race, with Henry Blackwell taking the reins from rowing stalwarts, Oscar Carr-Middleton and Nick Trotter, for 2023. This impressive attitude towards training and preparation was embraced by the Rosebowl VIII as well, who demonstrated lots of potential in their race. They finished in fifth place, and the mixed VIII finished third.

Paul’s 0, St John’s 3 b St Paul’s 0, Wesley 5 b St Paul’s 0, Women’s 6 b Paul’s 0, Sancta 11 b Paul’s 0.

In other sporting news, the College Aussie Rules and rugby league teams had their first hit out for 2023 on Sunday 28 May at 9am on the College Oval, and 2:30pm on St Andrew’s Oval, respectively.

That’s all she wrote for this semester. We’re looking forward to watching the sportsmen and women represent the College again in the next.

Inspired by Aida - Jazz Dinner Dance

This year’s SClub JDD can only be described as ‘epic’ with touches of ancient Egypt that included a Nile, camels rides, the tomb of a Pharoh and an ice sculpture of the Egyptian god Isis, all set in the Quad on sand. Food tents, Beduin tents, roving food, a pyramid bar, fire breathing and jazz all made for great entertainment on 19 May

How we Celebrated the Coronation

Coronation night at the College was a festival of great music, great food, great wine and great company. A gathering of over 180 people helped with some much-needed fundraising for the Chapel Choir all centred on the Coronation of King Charles III. The evening began with splendid music taken from many of the Coronation Services (ie. the best of the best) sung by the choir ...continued over

so ably supported by David Drury on organ and members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra brass. The roof of the Chapel reverberated in the grand sounds of Bullock’s Entrance Fanfare (1953), Parry’s I was Glad (1902) , Handel’s Zadok the Priest (1727) and Vaughan Williams All People that on Earth do Dwell (1953) and psalms and other famous anthems.

Following the chapel concert everyone moved to the Dining Hall, where TWG put on a fine meal which included some Victoriana! numbers Where did you get that hat?, The Road to Mandalay and Land of Hope and Glory

Then it was to the Quad so the gathering, joined by other residents, watched the Coronation Service on the big screen. The festivities continued with refreshments including ice creams and joining in the Homage of the People God Save King Charles!

From Delhi to College

Recent stories about two Graduate House members have highlighted the great work St Paul’s College, in partnership with the University, is doing with the Indian charity Asha Community Health and Development Society which supports postgraduate coursework for students from slum communities in India.

Tushar Joshi joined Graduate House in December 2021 after commencing his Masters in International Relations remotely at home. He is the recipient of a Sydney Scholars India Equity Scholarship and was selected for this opportunity through the Asha program in India. For more on Tushar’s story see USyd News.

Sumit started in Graduate House this year to study a Masters in Public Policy at the University. During his undergraduate studies in New Delhi he was selected to become an Asha Ambassador which gave him the opportunity to study abroad. Read more about Sumit in IndianLink News and AFR.

Both Sumit and Tushar are actively contributing to the life of St Paul’s. They bring a world view that is vastly different to the majority of students at Paul’s but they are embracing and celebrating the values of Australia and the traditions of collegiate life.

Both young men are involved in the Middle Common Room and are active participants in the social life of Graduate House. Sumit details his new life thanks to the College and his scholarship in a great video on IndiaLink.

News of Alumni

Ben Franklin elected President of the Legislative Council

The Hon Ben Franklin MLC has been sworn in as the new President of the upper house in the NSW Parliament. Ben was at Paul’s 1990-96 and from 1994-96 was Assistant Sub-Warden. His elevation has attracted a lot of media attention because he is a member of the Opposition. Some of his National Party colleagues have been unhappy with the move because it effectively removes one of the votes from their side of a potential ‘hung parliament’ in the upper house.

Ben has led a stellar career in NSW politics. He was State Director of the National Party between 2008 and 2015, and was elected to the Legislative Council in 2015 for the Nationals. His other portfolios were Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and the Arts, Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy and Northern NSW and from 2021 Ben was Minister for the Arts and Indigenous Affairs until the government changed in May.

Paulines have contributed in many ways to the government of the NSW. From the earliest years of the College a number of Fellows were MLCs including Charles Campbell (Fellow 1864-86), George Henry Cox (Fellow 1886-1901), Charles Kemp (Fellow 185564), Rear-Adm Phillip Parker King (Fellow 1855-56), Robert Johnson (Fellow 1855-66), James Macarthur (Fellow 1855-59), James Mitchell (Fellow 1855-69), James Norton (Fellow1869-1906) and Chief Justice the Hon Sir Alfred Stephen KCMG CB (Fellow and Chairman 1855-70).

Ben Saul elected to University Senate

Prof Ben Saul FASSA, in College 1995-97, the current Challis Professor of International Law at the University of Sydney and an Australian Research Council Future Fellow, was elected to the University Senate in May. He joins another distinguished Pauline on the Senate, the Deputy Chancellor Richard Freudenstein, in College 1983-85, who is one of the Minister’s appointments.

The Paul’s community congratulates Ben on this important contribution to the governance of our University.

It is noteworthy that some of these Fellows were also MLCs at the time the Legislative Council passed the Saint Paul’s College Act in 1854.

MLCs who were students include: the Hon George Thorne, in College in its first year of residents 1858, Queensland MLC 1874-78 (he was the 6th Premier of Queensland 1876-77); Sir John Peden KCMG KC, in College 1891-99, Vice Warden 1892-99, Fellow 1898-1928, MLC 1917-46, and Legislative Council President 1929-46; Sir Norman Kater, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, in College 1893-85, MLC 1923-54; Harold White CMG DSO m.i.d Croix de Guerre, in College 1903-04, MLC 1932-34; and most recently Dr Peter Phelps, in College 1990-93, MLC 2011-19.

The College community congratulates Ben on his election to the President’s Chair.

The Hon Ben Franklin becoming President of the NSW Legislative Assembly (SMH 11 May 2023)

2023 College Elections

Results of St Paul’s College Union Election

The Union held its AGM at the College on 18 April. For the details of the new committee see the Union’s web page www.stpauls.edu.au/ our-union/.

The new committee has set its agenda and will focus on an event that brings together the whole College community at the end of the year.

Mark your diaries now for the St Paul’s Summer Soiree for all students, alumni and parents on the evening of Saturday 2 December and come back to be entertained at College.

Election of Fellows to the College Council 2023

Congratulations to Rev’d Dr Max Wood and Rev’d James Collins OAM who were elected unopposed as Clerical Fellows for six year terms on Council. Both Max and James have served for 8 years as Clerical Fellows.

The College community thanks the four candidates who stood for election as Lay Fellows: Dr Nadia Dimmock, Mr Ralph Evans AO and congratulates Dr Christine Biscoe and Ralph Goninan who were elected for another six year term as Fellows.

The College community is delighted these reelected Fellows will continue to serve.

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)

? 1963 Fresher Reunion Lunch - 11.00 am Sat 15 July - save the date

? 1993 Fresher Reunion Dinner - 6.00 pm Sat 15 July - save the date

? 1940s - 50s + Freshers Reunion Lunch - 11.00 am Sun 16 July - save the date

? Parents’ Lunch on the Lawn - 12.00 noon Sunday 30 July - save the date

? Foundation AGM and Foundation Scholars’ and Donors’ Dinner - Thursday 17 August

? Purcell’s The Fairy Queen Choir Concert - 7pm Saturday 26 & 3pm Sunday 27 August - save the date

? Victoriana! - Thursday 28, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 September - tickets on sale NOW - see College website

? 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

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