COCA News December 2017

Volume 19 Issue 1 December 2017

STRAIGHT SEVENS

A magazine for Old Collegians, Friends of Cromwell, Current Residents and their Families

CROMWELL COLLEGE

CONTENTS 03

PRINCIPAL’S LETTER 04 COCA PRESIDENT REPORT 05 - 07 STUDENT PRESIDENT REPORT 08 THE COCA STARTUP SERIES 09 COCA TRIVIA NIGHT 10 A CRO-WEEK WEDDING/OPEN HOUSE 11 COMMENCEMENT DINNER 12 - 17 ACADEMIC DINNER 18 - 21 VALEDICTORY DINNER 22 - 23 FORMAL DINNERS 24 - 25 DANIEL BAUM 26 VALE FRED DECKERS 27 2010 STUDENT LEADERS DINNER 28-31 12,000 kms ACROSS AFRICA 32 INFO 2 COCA NEWS

PRINCIPAL’S LETTER Ross Switzer

With the final semester of this year about to close, I would like to thank the entire Cromwell community for a highly successful year.

As I travelled around regional Australia in the middle of this year visiting schools and parents, I continually heard people refer to Cromwell College as a close, family community of academic excellence. This has again been evidenced with the GPA well above 5. It is interesting to note that within this statistic, both male and female students averaged above 5. Eight students achieved the perfect score of GPA 7.0, and three of these were first year students. The academic support programs here at Cromwell are a contributing factor, and are going from strength to strength.

Pastorally I thank those members of the student leadership team (RA’s and Executive) who have worked hard to support the students and the College. This year, the appointment of Dr Vicky Dawes as Cromwell Student Counsellor, has offered even more avenues for support. With the new student leadership team recently elected and appointed, we look forward to Roxane Mutschler (President 2018) and her team making their mark soon.

The college performed well in the Inter College Competition (ICC) this year despite our size relative to the other colleges. The main feature was high participation and support, as is the Cromwell way. We congratulate our girls who won the ICC Soccer this year!

The social program with its diverse functions and activities allowed students to get to know each other better, further nurturing the community spirit here. The service component of Cromwell continued this year, along with several engaged in spiritual enquiry.

The staff team works hard to support the students. On occasions, decisions are made juggling constraints not always visible to students. I applaud these people who so often go beyond the call of duty. I would like to thank Michael Crome (Deputy Principal) who took on the role of Acting Principal for three months in my absence earlier this year.

I thank the Board of Governors for its strategic oversight of the College, and COCA (Cromwell Old Collegians’ Association) for its increased presence in the College.

Finally I hope that you have a safe and restful holiday season, and that 2018 will be another great year for Cromwell.

Mr R.A. Switzer, M.Ed. B.Ed.St. Dip.T. MACE, MACEL, MAICD PRINCIPAL

COCA NEWS 3

COCA CROMWELL COLLEGE

Cromwell Old Collegians Association est. 1973

COCA President Report

The “Cromwell Bubble” has not popped. 2017 proved yet again that Cromwell Old Collegians still love a chance to experience their old comradery in some capacity.

Last year kicked-off with a new event - the COCA Trivia Night. With over 60 people in attendance and $500 raised for an anti-poaching rhino charity, the night was deemed a success.

COCA initiated yet another new event last August. A panel of young entrepreneurs were invited to the College to talk about their “Start-up” and inspire the minds of uni students. We hope to continue this event this year, giving students a glimpse of new enterprise.

A new concept of integrating current students, their parents, the Board and past students was trialled in October at Open House.

During a relaxed BBQ and small ceremony, Cromwellians were recognised as they made the transition from current students to COCA members. A commemorative plaque was placed in the courtyard outside the dinning room signifying the contributions made from all old boys and girls.

Looking to 2018 COCA would love to see more old collegians get involved. Please feel free to contact Tania Dempsey or myself if you would like to contribute in some capacity.

In other news a COCA Ball date for August/September 2018 is due to be finalised in the coming weeks. So stay tuned for future details as it is sure to be a great night.

Finally, I would like to thank the COCA admin team for their endless help and ideas over the last year. I look forward to 2018 and continuing to sustain the beauty of our bubble.

Warm regards,

Joanne “Hip Hop” Landmark (2008 - 2010) COCA President

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Student President Report Troy ‘Ling’ Stark

What a year 2017 has been. I am incredibly fortunate to be able to sit here, reflect on the year that was, and give recognition to the achievements of so many Cromwellians.

It all starts out with O-Week. The drive or walk in through the

front gate of Cromwell for the first time is one of the longest you will ever experience in your life. The nervous entrance is not done alone, with over 30 leaders dressed head to toe in black and white, cheering uncontrollably, and clapping as you walk by.

While the start is challenging and you are often left wondering why I even decided to come to College, I think you can only truly appreciate O-Week once it has come and gone. Through the friendships made during the week, the times you made fools of yourself in public, the amount of weight you lost due to skipping everywhere, or just the amount of general enjoyment you got out of the week – it will be one of those memories you never forget and is the best start to the College year.

Shortly after the introductions were done in O-Week, it was time to kick the year off with the first major event on the social calendar, and one that Cromwell is well known for – The Cromwell College Bunker. The theme “Cromorrowland” saw people in speedies, tight and bright clothing and festival themed outfits, with acts such as Dom Dolla, Airwolf, Nuyuh and our very own Dibsy. The standard was yet again set high, with the night far exceeding everyone’s expectations. A huge thankyou goes out to Conrad “Immageddunn” Zewe, Ellie “Hand” Price, and Eliza “Oh-J” Parry-Okeden for taking the time out of their holidays to organise and plan the event which ensured its successful functioning.

As I am sure you are all aware, the life of a Cromwellian involves participation in a mixture of sporting, cultural, social and spiritual events. The Inter College Council (ICC) facilitates the running of all sporting and cultural activities that involve the numerous colleges surrounding the University of Queensland.

Cromwell could not be any prouder of the eagerness and positivity displayed by students towards the sporting events held in the first Semester, with some notable mentions to both the Male and Female Cross-Country Teams for placing 2nd in the relay event, the Female Touch Football team placing 3rd (1st for co-educational colleges), and both the Male and Female Rowing Teams, with the Female Fifths placing 1st and the Male Eights placing 3rd. Alongside all of the sporting events, first semester saw a whole lot of cultural achievements take place that we were extremely proud of. As per usual, Cromwell always rises to the occasion with enthusiasm, encouragement and participation, and starting the semester off culturally, was College Idol, followed by Choralfest, Bandfest, Debating, Chess and finally ICC Art. A big thanks to the Cromwell ICC Cultural, Phoebee “Dr. Phil” New, who worked alongside the Union ICC Cultural to allow Choralfest to take place on campus for the first time ever, as opposed to in Southbank. There was a distinct improvement in crowd participation from this small but effective alteration, which I hope is implemented in the years to come. Unfortunately, Cromwell was yet again robbed of some well-deserved results, but regardless, we will still be there to compete and look forward to second semester, where we will have the opportunity to show off even more cultural talent.

“Boat Cruise,” one of Cromwell’s most looked forward to events of first semester, was organized by Hannah “Browse” Gunn and yet again held on the deck for now the third year in a row. Cromwellian’s COCA NEWS 5

were taken to a Winter Wonderland for a chilly night of delicious cuisines, classy cocktails and live entertainment from popular band, The Dollar Bill Murrays. Welcoming old and new Crommies to mingle on the deck and the Dowling/Han-Cock lawn, the night was a great opportunity to celebrate the cultural talent displayed so far in 2017.

While Semester One was a great start to the year, Semester Two has been monumental, and one that has been filled with a number of unique experiences. We have welcomed new half year students and farewelled others, fostered newfound friendships, and have shared in various victories as well as some unfortunate losses. This Semester always proves to be the most challenging due to the plethora of events and opportunities on offer, but always proves to be the most enjoyable and rewarding. We started with Croweek which enabled the re-establishment of friendships that had spent 4 weeks apart, then shortly after moved onto Ekka Day, which strengthened the relationship between current and old Cromwellians. There were sporting and cultural activities made readily available on weeknights and weekends, with students participating to the best of their ability, and their supporters in the background donning their white and black merch. Some highlights for the Semester include the Male Opens Rugby Team beating Union College, the Cromwell Female Soccer Team taking out the Inter College Cup in Soccer for the second year in a row, and an honourable mention to the Female AFL Team who narrowly missing out on a podium finish in fourth place. With Dancefest yet to come, I am sure we are in for an impressive performance and result due to the hard work and dedication from the convenors and participants.

The success of Cromwellness week last year ensured its running this year, which was managed by our Vice President, Molly “Starburns” Farmiloe. Using some of the ideas from previous years, as well as including some of her own, Molly created a week that was enjoyed by all, with important and contentious issues such as racism, mental health, sex, sexuality, gender and depression explored. My personal favourite component of the week was having some current and old students come in and share life experience tips they have picked up along the way.

As the Semester nears a close, a number of events are organised in order to celebrate the achievements and success in various Inter College Competitions as well as some in house ones. The Cultural Dinner, organised and run by Hannah “Browse” Gunn, was recently held and was a huge success. With a hard act to follow after last year’s surprise guest Shannon Noll, Hannah delivered with the entertaining and crowd-pleasing Magician, Matt Hollywood. A few notable acts include making a student float on stage, causing the disappearance of his assistant, and having everyone’s favourite principal up on stage being dressed as a miniature man and being impersonated. Sports Dinner was held the week after mid semester break thanks to Chelsea “Trix” Wood and Joshua “Casper” Moy, and saw a number of guest performers showcasing their abstract skills in sport, which made for an entertaining evening.

A huge congratulations to all students who received awards in recognition for their hard efforts and commitment throughout the year.

It goes without saying that Cromwell Ball and Recovery are the most anticipated events of the year, a chance for current students to celebrate before they knuckle down to complete their end of year examinations. Themed “Ignitaball,” students were treated to a night of fire twirlers and performers, speeches and awards, and endless food and drink. With an early start the next morning for recovery, the socials followed suit with the success of the ball evening, by providing a jumping castle at the college on the volleyball courts and a mechanical bull at the venue, which was a huge hit with all those who attended. Again, the Socials need to be thanked for the amount of effort and commitment they have put into the year, which has seen strong relationships formed between other colleges, new and exciting events, and most importantly, enjoyment from the students.

I have been extremely proud to have worked alongside the Leadership team of 2017, who have not only worked tirelessly to allow our final year to flow smoothly for the students of Cromwell, but also 6 COCA NEWS

demonstrate the behaviour we hope to see exhibited now, and forever. The Executive have poured their hearts into both semesters, each playing a significant role to making Cromwell the enjoyable place it is today. Continuing to display and encourage peaceful behaviour among students, we have pushed and reminded students of the significance of the “Equity Policy”, as created by the 2015 Student Executive. It has been a priority for the Leadership time and I to maintain a culture here at Cromwell that is completely free of discrimination and prejudice. The leadership team have also spent a lot of time in raising awareness of sexual harassment and really encouraging an environment for students to feel safe and at home at Cromwell. We felt it was very much time for Cromwell to have a counsellor and pushed extremely hard for this, where the Board of Governors then approved.

We are still searching for someone who will be able to listen and guide students with that little extra professional wisdom. I am so pleased to have worked with people who were both my friends and colleagues, and assisted in making 2017 a year I am very proud to have been a part of.

Overall, I am incredibly fortunate to have been elected into my position at Cromwell. The role of President has proved to be both challenging and persistent, but more so exciting and enjoyable. It has given me the opportunity to expand my horizons and meet new people, share in conversations and gain new perspectives, as well as gain an appreciation for those who in the past, have contributed in changing the College community. In any leadership role, a number of newfound responsibilities comes with it, and the vulnerability to criticism from others for decisions made is often the case. I commend those in the past that have facilitated necessary change, often to the disarray of others, and followed through with their decisions. With the elections for future leadership positions approaching fast, I wish all those who have nominated the best of luck and hope that the remainder of the year is a good one.

Kind Regards, Troy “Ling” Stark President, Cromwell College Students’ Association Inc. 2017

CROMWELL COLLEGE

Looking for somewhere to host your next conference or event?

Cromwell offers COCA members discount for accommodation, function rooms and use of The Deck......

Please contact us at stay@cromwell.uq.edu.au and we can tailor make a package for you

COCA NEWS 7

The COCA StartUp Series

In early August COCA had the great privilege of hosting Nick Molnar, one of Australia’s foremost entrepreneurs. Nick shared with a lucky crowd of alumni and students his journey as the founder and CEO of Afterpay, an online payment processing startup that began in his bedroom and now facilitates 15 percent of all online fashion retail in Australia and is valued at $500 million on the ASX. His is a classic story of hard work and determination meeting opportunity.

Joining Nick on a panel afterwards was Old Collegian Stewart Glynn, who works for Shark Tank investor Steve Baxter, and Isabella Hawker, founder of WhippNews. Together they fielded questions from the audience on the tricks and tips of starting a new enterprise.

This event was the very first of what COCA will build into a series of events for the entire Cromwell community, students, alumni, parents, and anyone else besides. Our mission is to create opportunities for inspiration, learning and networking.

Have you ever started anything from scratch? A small business? A community organisation? A new tool or technique? To keep the series going we need Old Collegians to put their hand up to share their stories. You needn’t even have been met with success, in fact, it’s said we learn the most when we lose! So please, get in touch with COCA with a brief introduction to your story.

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COCA Trivia Night

COCA held its inaugural Trivia Night on 22nd April supporting the efforts of an Old Boy Charles ‘Peki’ Butler. Around that time Charles was peddling his way down the length of Africa raising awareness of Rhino poaching.

Much fun was had on the night with tables invited to dress up. A healthy $500 was donated from the bar revenue to go towards The Black Mambas.

The night’s success has led to discussion that a Trivia Night will be put on COCA’s calendar next year. Listen out for upcoming dates early next year!

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A Cro-Week Wedding

For those of you who are not familiar with Cro-Week and its events. The Wednesday night usually lends itself to “wedding night”, a night in which the girls and boys have separate social events. At the end of the night students regroup for a mock wedding ceremony.

In 2010 one Mid-Dowling boy proposed to a Top Cock girl in the spirt of Wedding Night. Seven years later Jessica Foster and Ross Van Der Werf are set to be married for good. We wish them all the best in the future after their celebrations on October 7th.

Dedication of Old Collegian’s Court

The lawn and gardens out from the dining room and deck, and between Dowling and Han wings, have been dedicated as Old Collegian’s Court at the Open House event held in October 2017.

In the future, each leaving cohort of Cromwellians will place a physical artefact within the Court, providing a permanent, prominent object of which they can take ownership.

“We felt the dedication of a space to Old Collegians would allow current students to remember those who have gone before them. Such a space provides students with a sense of community, one in which they can more easily place themselves as part of a larger and longer history and tradition,” said COCA President Joanne Landmark.

The idea of the dedication came from the Cromwell Old Collegian’s Association and was met with unanimous approval by the Board of Governors. Dr Joe Goodall, Chairperson of the Board of Governors, believes the dedication will be the beginning of an important annual event. “The act of dedicating the space and then of placing an artefact each year provides an opportunity for the Cromwell Old Collegian’s Association and the wider Cromwell community to join in celebrating the passing of residents to old collegians who will remain always part of the Cromwell fabric.”

The student body have lent the dedication their support. “There is currently no inclusive, student-led act of leaving a mark at Cromwell. Not everyone can see themselves and their time at college reflected on the walls of Bunker. This space and an artefact will give returning students a natural focal point for recollection and reflection,” said 2017 Student President Troy Stark.

We were very honoured to have Reverend Harold Kilah perform the dedication. Rev Kilah is a Cromwellian (1971 – 1976), served on the Board of Governors for a period after leaving Cromwell and was also the Minister of the St Lucia Uniting Church.

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Commencement Dinner 2017

This year one hundred and eighteen new students (Freshers) were inducted into Cromwell at the Commencement Dinner which was held on Tuesday 28th February.

Twenty eight special guests were present to witness the special occasion, including President of the UQ Academic Board, Professor Fred D’Agostino, who was representing the Vice Chancellor.

Each of the students were presented to the Cromwell community by their respective RA’s, congratulated by the Principal and Student Association President and then invited to sign the Cromwell register. The student oath was led by the Freshers of the week, Lillian ‘Kanga’ Horneman-Wren and Declan ‘Cheeky Dog’ Oag. Jaryu ‘Written Off’ Shaw, our Senior Tutor, played a stirring rendition of Scherzo Opus 16 by Felix Mendelssohn and highlighted his amazing talent as both a pianist and academic.

The night was topped off with a beautiful three course meal courtesy of the kitchen staff.

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Academic Dinner 2017

This year’s Academic Dinner was held on Tuesday 22nd August with special guest speaker Nkosana Mafico.

Cromwell students performed very well academically with the College Grade Point Average in First Semester being 5.13. The following eight students are to be congratulated for achieving a GPA 7.0 in Semester One: Vyasa Bliss B Biomedical Science Jasmine Burr B Engineering (Hons) Riley de Jong B Engineering (Hons) Ally Molachino B Architectural Design Bethan Needham B Nursing/B Midwifery Carla Newlands B Engineering (Hons) Scarlett Raine B Engineering (Hons) Gregor Tims B Economics In Semester One there were 110 grades of 7.0 awarded for courses undertaken by Cromwell students, with a further 237 grades of 6.0 awarded. There were 56 Cromwell students who achieved a GPA greater than 6.0.

Academic Excellence (GPA 6.50 - 6.99)

Rebecca Apel B Economics/B Arts Daniel Ash B Podiatry Nathan Brown B AdvFinEcon (Hons) Marley Chia B Science Elly Domrow B Engineering (Hons)/B Arts Colin Hitchener B Engineering (Hons)/B Mathematics Clare Johnston B Engineering (Hons)/B Mathematics Cameron Kroon B Engineering (Hons)/B Economics Craig Land B Arts/B Laws (Hons) Lang McKenzie B Medical Imaging Daniel Ryan B Engineering (Hons)/B Science Kyle Sutton B Science Brittany Tapiolas B Engineering (Hons)/B Commerce Nikki Wilson B BusMan/B Commerce Emma Wright B Design (Hons)

High Academic Achievement (GPA 6.0 – 6.49) Amelia Braithwaite B Exercise Sport Sciences (Hons) Callum Breetzke B Engineering (Hons)/B InfTech Alison Brown B Science Laura Brown B Engineering (Hons)/B Commerce Marcus Colledge

B Science Matthew Cook B Engineering (Hons)/B Science Lily Dargusch-Haig B Advanced Science (Hons)

Adriana Di Bella B Arts/B Education (Sec)

Tori Elliot

B Bus Man/B Economics Caitlin Foley B Nursing Jared Fowler B Mathematics Madeline Grace

B Journalism Kimberley Gunther B Advanced Science (Hons) Joe Haines

B Information Technology Bronte Holding B Journalism Megan Hunter B Agricultural Science (Hons) Lucas Jones B Advanced Science (Hons) Meredith Melvin B Journalism Ryan Moloney B Mathematics/B InfTech Jacob Moore B Politics Philosophy Economics (Hons) 12 COCA NEWS

High Academic Achievement (GPA 6.0 – 6.49) (cont.)

Clare Morrison B Arts

Charlie Oliver B Economics Carli O’Shea B Architectural Design Taisha Paterson-Burr B Music (Hons)/B education (Sec) Hannah Payne B Arts/B Education (Sec) Matthew Powell B Biotechnology (Hons) Hannah Richardson B Commerce/B Science Connor Shelton B Science Troy Stark

B Exercise Sport Sciences (Hons)

Alissa Wankmuller B Communications/B Arts Kyle Williams B Science Conrad Zewe B International Studies

Cromwell College Prizes 2017 Edwin Hobart Lockley Prize: HSS highest GPA over 3 consecutive semesters

Craig Land B Arts/B Laws (Hons) GPA 6.64

Rod McElhinney Prize: Highest GPA over three semesters in Faculty of Science

Kyle Williams B Science GPA 6.67 VE Hancock Award: Most distinctions in Business, Economics, Law

Robert Coelli B Economics GPA 5.92 College Governors Prize: Distinguished results in Faculty of Health Sciences

Daniel Ash B Poditary GPA 6.14

First Year Highest GPA Prize: (was The U.C.I.S prize)

Vyasa Bliss B Biomedical Science GPA 7.0

Jasmine Burr B Engineering (Hons) GPA 7.0

Ally Molachino B Architectural Design GPA 7.0 Old Collegians’ Prize: Academic distinction over three semesters in EAIT

Riley de Jong B Engineering (Hons) GPA 7.0

Yvonne Rogers Memorial Prize Student achieving the greatest improvement in rank

David Hilder B Science/B Arts Cromwell College Foundation Scholarship: Exceptional performance over five semesters in any field

Colin Hitchener B Engineering (Hons)/B Mathematics GPA 6.75

Craig Land B Arts/B Laws (Hons) GPA 6.73 Senior Tutors Award: Outstanding contribution to the Academic Tutorial Program

Laura Brown Cromwell Students’ Association Prize: Outstanding Academic Achievement & Contribution to College Life

Roxane Mutschler D.C. Gale Shield Awarded to the corridor with the highest average G.P.A from Semester One

Top Begbie GPA 5.67

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Academic Dinner 2017

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Academic Dinner 2017 (cont.)

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Valedictory Dinner 2017 This year thirty four students were presented to the College as Valedictorians at a formal dinner on Tuesday 17th October. It was a pleasure to host a number of distinguished guests, including Professor Joanne Wright, Deputy Vice Chancellor at UQ, members of the Board of Governors, staff and last year’s College medallist Ms Sophie Davis.

Our guest speaker this year was Adjunct Professor Dr Russell Stitz, a distinguished colorectal surgeon who pioneered the development of laparoscopic colorectal surgery and who has published and presented on many aspects of colorectal disease. Dr Stitz is an Old Cromwellian having resided at the college as a student from 1961 – 1965 (Student President 1965).

During his working life he was a Senior Surgeon at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) and at the Wesley Hospital. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland and previously was the Professor of Clinical Surgery at RBWH. He has achieved a great deal in his professional life and, early in 2015, the New Operating Complex at the Wesley Hospital was named after Dr Stitz in recognition of the contributions he has made over a 45-year career.

In his address Dr Stitz reflected on his time at the College, the challenges he faced through his years of study and in his profession, and traits, such as professionalism, that are needed to excel in today’s workplace.

In a short address, the Secretary of COCA, Mr Alan Wrigley, welcomed all the Valedictorians into COCA and highlighted the benefits of maintaining an association with the college in years to come, particularly networking.

Our Principal, once again wove his literary magic by putting together his annual “fairy tale” combining the Valedictorian’s names and Fresher names, which always proves to be a significant challenge, particularly when some Fresher names are quite obscure or lengthy.

Ms Bronte Holding, a Valedictorian, provided a musical highlight on the night by singing “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, by Crowded House. A very apt song choice for the night. The evening finished with what has become a tradition, with the Valedictorians recessing to a song of their choice, this year being Closing Time by Semisonic.

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COCA NEWS 19

Valedictory Dinner 2017 (cont.)

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Formal Dinners 2017 Spencer Howson - 11th March

On Tuesday 11 March the College was privileged to have ABC broadcaster, journalist, writer and educator, Mr Spencer Howson, at our formal dinner.

Spencer spent 24 years at the ABC, where he presented over 14,000 hours of live daily talk radio. For 15 of those 24 years, he hosted the top-rating breakfast show at ABC Radio Brisbane. Last year, at the age of 44, he decided it was time for a change.

Spencer was born in England but has lived in Brisbane since 1979. He attended primary schools at Bald Hills, Toowong and Manly, did his High School education at Brisbane Grammar, and then studied journalism at QUT. He spoke to students regarding his entry into radio broadcasting, the changing nature of radio, its importance as a communication medium and the personal qualities he feels are essential for anyone seeking employment.

Spencer now writes a morning newsletter for Brisbane Times called “The Gateway� and teaches the radio stars of the future at the University of Southern Queensland.

Dr Marjan Jones - 28th March In March, Dr Marjan Jones was our guest speaker at the second formal dinner for the year.After working in private practices in Brisbane and Sydney, as well as lecturing at the University of Queensland, Dr Jones opened Enhance Dentistry in 2010, bringing to life her vision for the perfect dental practice: one where there is excellence in clinical quality and client care.

After graduating from the University of Queensland with first class honours, Dr Jones has kept abreast of new dental treatment and research through continuing education, media and courses.

She works closely with a broad range of practitioners who share her philosophy and approach to health and well-being such as doctors, naturopaths, chiropractors, speech therapists, podiatrists and counsellors.

Along with her work in cosmetic and general dentistry, Dr Jones outlined her experiences as a laser dentist, with a particular interest in the treatment of tongue and lip ties in patients of all ages. Dr Jones also spoke to the students about her own experiences at University and College and how a series life experiences led her to find her real passion in the field that she has always wanted to work in.

Major Michael Sheehan - 25th April (ANZAC Day) Our guest speaker at the ANZAC Day formal dinner was Major Michael Sheehan. Major Sheehan has served in the Australian Army as a Combat Engineer in the Royal Australia Engineers for 21 years.

He specialises in explosives, heavy weapons, mine field breaches, horizontal and vertical construction, mobility and water purification and has had operational experience leading his Squadron in a variety of tasks, including bomb searches for the G20.

Michael spoke about the history of ANZAC Day and the challenges faced by some of our returning veterans, including his experience of leading returning soldiers in achieving a 330km unsupported sea kayak crossing of Bass Strait as part of Mates4Mates. He has family ties with Cromwell with his father attending the college in the late sixties and early seventies.

A big thank you to Mr Matthew Thurecht, our Executive Chef, for providing a menu that was reflective of ANZAC Day, the poppies for table decorations made by our Community Relations Officer, Ms Tania Dempsey and the moving rendition of Amazing Grace sung by one of our very talented musicians, Ms Bronte Holding.

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Dr Brenton Gray - 9th May Our guest speaker on 9th May was Dr Brenton Gray. After graduating with an Honours degree, majoring in Mathematics, from The University of Queensland and being recognised as a University Medalist in 1993, Brenton went to work for Bain International, a management consulting firm in Boston. To further his career he returned to the University of Queensland and completed a PhD in 1998. Since 2002 Brenton has founded a number of businesses including Wildfire Text Books and Wildfire Sports. Wildfire Sports, his current business, sells high-end and specialist multi-sports equipment and accessories to communities and individuals across Australia.

Brenton spoke to students about his life at Cromwell from 1989- 1992 and shared a number of pictures from that era that highlighted how many things have changed over the years. He also gave students a wonderful insight into owning a business, what can be the trials and tribulations as well as what it takes to be entrepreneurial. Brenton is married with three teenage children, one of whom attended the formal dinner with him.

Ms Phoebee Nind and Ms Caitlin Gordon-King - 23rd May On Tuesday 23rd May the last formal dinner for the semester was held. It was a special occasion due to the focus on the ‘’live below the line’’ campaign that Cromwell is supporting in order to raise money for the Oaktree Foundation.

Ms Phoebee Nind and Ms Caitlin Gordon-King from the Oaktree Foundation spoke about the uniqueness of the community service group they are involved in and what the money from the ‘live below the line’ campaign would be used for. Oaktree is one of the largest youth-run organisations in Australia and is focused on ending poverty. The girls indicated that poverty isn’t just about how much money you have but also leads to a lack of access to basic requirements such as education, healthcare and social inclusion.

The ‘live below the line’ campaign, that a number of students at Cromwell are participating in, is designed to raise awareness of poverty within communities. The 2 day challenge requires students to live off just $2 per day. $2 is the Australian equivalent of extreme poverty adjusted to reflect the real cost of items in Australia to cover the costs of such things as food, accommodation, transport and medicine.

To highlight the disparity between the “haves” and “have nots” in society, the dining room tables, food and service for the formal dinner reflected this accordingly. The ”haves” had “white tablecloths, table service and a lovely menu, whereas the “have nots” had plastic utensils, had to serve themselves from the back of the room and had bread, rice, a vegetable curry or soup to eat.

Thank you to Matthew and his kitchen staff for their assistance on the night, Molly Farmiloe for her organisation and the students for their enthusiastic participation.

One Girl - Cromwell “Do It In a Dress” On 5th September Ms Sharni Kelly from the One Girl organisation spoke at our formal dinner. She is the HR and Community Manager for One Girl, an organisation that focuses on raising money to educate girls, having completed a Masters of Human Rights degree and has always had a mindset of wanting to change the world. Prior to joining One Girl she participated in a wide variety of voluntary positions both in Australia and overseas including joining the team at ChildFund, working as a Fundraising Coach for hundreds of charity supporters and leading a 400km World Vision cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia.

Sharni pointed out that over 60 million girls around the world are denied an education but Sierra Leone and Uganda, in particular, are some of the worst places on earth to be born a girl. A girl born in Sierra Leone is more likely to be forced into marriage as a child than she is to go to high school and statistically in Sierra Leone and Uganda up to 40% of girls are married before they’re 18.

Education is seen as an essential ingredient for change, since through education it is anticipated that a girl will marry later, have fewer children, and those children will be healthier and more likely to be educated too. Their goal is to educate one million girls in Africa by 2020, commencing with Sierra Leone. October is the month of One Girl’s signature fundraising project, ‘’Do It in a Dress”, which encourages teams of fundraisers across the globe to wear a school uniform dress from Sierra Leone to raise awareness and money. Cromwell College was a major contributor to the $719,000 raised through the campaign in 2016 and will be supporting the campaign once again in October this year. The Principal has indicated he will be participating!

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Daniel ‘The Prodigy’ Baum (2011 - 2014) Over the past 12 months, I have had the opportunity to do volunteer work in Fiji, Nepal and Vanuatu. In all locations, I spent a month. In Fiji and Nepal, I was working with organisations that specialised in disaster relief, living in rural villages and helping with the clean-up from Cyclone Winston, and the 2015 earthquake, respectively. The most recent, was my month in Vanuatu, where I was aiding with the completion of the country’s first National Oral Health Survey.

Vanuatu, being a vast archipelago nation with islands dotted all over the place, has struggled with the completion of such a survey because of the associated logistical challenges and expenses. That is where we came in. The organisation that I joined up with, Medical Sailing Ministries, were there to provide the logistical solution. A 60-foot sailing boat capable of transporting all the necessary medical equipment and personnel, required to run medical and dental clinics, and the survey. In total, there were 13 of us on the boat: 2 dentists, 2 doctors, 2 nurses, 3 Ni-van health workers, and 5 crew members.

Studying a Master of International Public Health and having sailed since I was 6 years old, this program appealed to me on a number of levels. My primary role was as a crew member, preparing and sailing the boat from island to island/ village to village (in total we completed approximately 700 nautical miles). I was also exposed to the challenges of health care delivery in these settings.

Some highlights from this trip in particular, were seeing some of the most remote locations in the world, sailing into anchorages to be greeted by locals in dug-out canoes, engaging in health promotion activities, rescuing two Germans who had hit a rock with their

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boat and were sinking 5nm offshore (a story for another day), and being involved in something that might have positive health outcomes for a whole population.

Some of the lowlights were having to mentally/emotionally deal with the poor access to health services to the outer islands, and the low health literacy that was reflected in these remote communities.

All in all, a lot of lessons learnt from these experiences, and am looking forward to the next challenge!

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VALE: FRED DECKERS ~ 1952-2017 Mr. Fred Deckers was appointed the Maintenance Manager at Cromwell College in 2008, during a time when major refurbishments of the residential rooms were being undertaken.

Over several summer vacation periods, Fred capably co-ordinated the various teams of skilled tradespeople who worked on the Thatcher and Dowling buildings, and then the Hancock buildings.

When the students were in residence, Fred Deckers was constantly attentive to the routine repair and maintenance needs of a busy community. With his staff, he ensured that the property and the grounds were kept in excellent condition. Because of his meticulous attention to detail, Fred was appreciated and respected by the succession of students who passed through Cromwell College during his time on the campus.

One of the greatest challenges Fred faced in his work at Cromwell College came with the construction of the Begbie building. As the College’s expert contact person, he liaised with the architect, project supervisors, builder and individual tradespersons to ensure that the best possible outcome could be achieved. This was no mean feat, given the time constraints for the project from August 2010 to the start of the academic year in 2011. The major flooding in early 2011 added an extra degree of difficulty to the task!

It was no reflection on Fred that a number of defects in the Begbie building became apparent in the years since its completion. To his credit, Fred patiently organised appropriate assessment of the problems and arranged rectification of these issues.

Fred Deckers served Cromwell College very well as expert adviser to the Property Committee of the Board of Governors. The Committee could always trust in his knowledge on a multiplicity of technical matters, and rely on his ability to source information, quotations or the right skills for a particular task. Fred demonstrated his strong commitment to the well-being of the College through his input to the forward projections at Budget time to ensure that replacements or major refurbishments were factored into the planning for up to five years into the future.

It is impossible to go anywhere on the Cromwell College campus without seeing evidence of the handiwork of Fred Deckers, who was a highly skilled craftsman in his own right, and who was a very successful co-ordinator of the skills of other professional people. A list of major and minor projects to which Fred turned his hand would be very long indeed.

On 18th August 2017, aged 64, Fred Deckers left the Cromwell College community saddened by his untimely passing. We are all a little poorer for losing Fred, but can take some comfort in appreciating the results of his outstanding work caring for and improving the fabric of Cromwell College. Vale Fred Deckers 1952-2017.

EricMcChesney-Clark Chairperson 2002 - 2017 Property Committee of the Board of Governors Cromwell College

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2010 Student Leaders Dinner

In March, some of the students leaders from 2010 return to Cromwell for a home cooked meal with Ross and Jenny Switzer.

It was great night reminiscing about Cromwell life and hearing of the changes that have occurred at the College in recent years. This group holds very dear Cromwell coming 2nd in Dancefest in their year, and the circa $80,000 surplus they left in the Students’ Association Account when they departed. These leaders were in their respective roles when the Principalship of Cromwell changed from Hugh Begbie to Ross midway through 2010, and they were instrumental in ensuring a smooth changeover.

It was great to hear how successful each of them have been in their fields thus far, and we look forward to following them into the future with interest. A great night was had by all!

Sponsor a Student Year Photo: $100 Sponsor a Dining Chair: $200 Sponsor a Dining Table: $1000 Contact t.dempsey@cromwell.uq.edu.au for further information Cromwell Old Collegians' Association

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12,000kms across Africa - Charles “Peki” Butler (2008 - 09) On 13 January 2017, Charles “Peki” Butler set off on a 12,000km cycle from the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt to Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. The cycle would see Charles tackle 11 countries in 120 days as he wound his way through Africa’s incredibly diverse interior.

The inspiration for the journey came when Tenna and Dove’s dad (Stew and Kirsty Glynn) told us about how he cycled through Africa when he was in his late 20s. Africa back then was a lot less built up then it is now, so he had some really hairy but incredible experiences that he was able to tell us about. Having immigrated from South Africa to Australia when I was 18, the stories really reignited my passion for seeing more the of African continent and I thought that cycling a bike across Africa would be the perfect way to experience the continent, and also further develop my understanding of it.

Another key aspect of the trip was to raise funds that will hopefully help prevent rhinos becoming extinct in the wild. Rhinos are currently being poached at unprecedented levels and at current rates will be extinct in 10 years’ time. In fact it’s part of the much bigger problem of how humans are destroying the very planet we are living on. Rhinos are hardly inconspicuous so what does it say about our priorities if we can’t prevent one of the most symbolic animals in the world from becoming extinct. My aim at helping the rhino conservation is through a charity called Helping Rhinos who are partnering with an elite female anti-poaching group called the Black Mambas. These ladies operate in the Kruger National Park and have been inspirational in reducing the levels of poaching in the park. In addition to this, they are helping to break the stigma that women can’t be rangers and can’t contribute to stopping poaching in the region.

The cycle has given a fantastic insight into all the different countries of Africa and I have had such an abundance of interactions with very friendly locals. All the countries we cycled through were very different from each other - Namibia was a cyclist’s dream with tough roads and hilly terrain which was matched by incredibly dramatic scenery of red dunes and wildlife running next to you. There have been so many other breathtakingly scenic spots on this tour, including some of the obvious ones like the ancient temples of Egypt and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. However, a real visual highlight of the trip was the ride that we had as we descended into Malawi and the Rift Valley. With rows of tea being picked by ladies in colourful east African dresses in the foreground and then beautiful mountains dropping into Lake Malawi in the background it was one of those pinch-me moments that you never forget.

One of my favourite memories of the trip was when I took a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) through the Kenyan town of Kisumu. As much we like to ignore it, there are few moments on the tour when the outside world demands your attention and for me this happened when I desperately needed to print and scan something. Not having the vaguest idea of where to do this, I asked the manager at the camp we were staying how I could get to somewhere that had these facilities - enter friendly driver and the boda boda. The next 20 mins were spent careening through traffic as my own emotions swung wildly from being exhilarated to petrified. Even though my heart was in my mouth most of the drive, I managed to have a great chat with the driver about Kisumu and the surrounding area.

We finally made it to a small shopping centre where, in addition to a small printing shop, there was a KFC. The boda boda driver explained that I should get some because he felt I was too skinny and needed fattening up if I was to make it all the way to South Africa. I needed no further excuse and soon we were homeward bound with me desperately trying to juggle between holding onto papers I had printed out, a huge bag of KFC and clinging onto the boda boda driver.

The trip was an emotional roller-coaster and I think the toughest challenge I faced was the relentless

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uncomfortable nature of camping and cycling in remote, inhospitable locations. It was a bit of a novelty at first but the lack of facilities like showers and clean toilets – basics that you’ve taken for granted your whole life – wore me down after a while. The riding was probably the easiest component of the tour but I had a period in the south of Sudan where my bike broke down and I had to borrow a series of staff bikes to complete the next few days of riding. This was done in temperatures of plus 40 degrees, on bad roads and with a stomach bug…

One of my goals on the trip was to have a haircut in each country I have travelled through. English isn’t widely spoken in a lot of the smaller towns, so the language barrier has led to many an interesting haircut. This led me to become skilled in a basic form of sign language that stood me in good stead throughout the trip. Sign language ability aside, I went into the trip with very limited camping experience, so setting off on a four-month camping adventure was no small feat. Despite getting off to a rough start with Sudanese sandstorms tearing through my tent, I’m happy to report that the rest of the trip went fine.

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CROMWELL COLLEGE Cromwell College Song Cromwell is the greatest College, Proved by every kind of test; Seeking for the highest knowledge, Aiming always for the best.

Generous when we have the victory, Gracious if we know defeat, This is Cromwell’s firm tradition; Freeing Spirit, our heartbeat!

God’s own Spirit brings us freedom Is the Motto we profess; It provides us inspiration, Gives us strength in times of stress.

Hail or shine we stick together, Whether near or far apart; Ever caring, true and loyal, We bear Cromwell in our heart.

The song is sung to the music of “Hymn to Joy” (92 in the Australian Hymn Book)

Editor

Tania Dempsey

COCA President Joanne Landmark CONTACT

Tania Dempsey or Joanne Landmark

EMAIL

coca@cromwell.uq.edu.au

ADDRESS

Walcott Street, ST LUCIA, QLD 4067

WEBSITE www.coca.net.au

www.cromwell.uq.edu.au

FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/Cromwell.Old.Collegians.Association/