COCA News March 2020

Volume 24 Issue 1 March 2020

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

CROMWELL COLLEGE

CONTENTS

03 PRINCIPAL’S LETTER 04 - 07 COCA & STUDENTS’ PRESIDENTS REPORTS/LinkedIn 08 - 15 COMMENCEMENT DINNER 2020 16 - 17 MEET THE COCA EXEC 18 - 19 CROMWELL MEMORIES 2020 20 - 21 THE CROMWELL DARKROOM 22 - 23 ENGAGING Q&A 24 - 25 YOUNG ENDEAVOUR/THE O-WEEK DROPOFF 26 - 29 COLLEGE NEWS 30 - 35 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 36 INFO

2 COCA NEWS

PRINCIPAL’S LETTER

To the Cromwell Community

This year commenced as any other…..for a while! The Student Leadership Team arrived for P (Preparation) Week in mid-February brimming with enthusiasm and ideas, and our 117 terrific first year students soon followed.

O Week played out, our returning students moved in, and Cromwell began to settle for the year ahead. In the first three weeks, our students experienced a taste of the academic, sporting, social, cultural and community service programs. University commenced, Cromwell based Tutorials got under way, and Michael, Krishna or I were meeting pastorally with each first year student.

We officially welcomed our new students at our formal Commencement Dinner. Students swam or supported at the ICC Swimming Carnival, and Badminton gave our boys their first ICC Sport win in six years! Most of Cromwell packed into the UQ Red Room to support Kira and Lachie representing Cromwell in College Idol, Adam organised participation in the Clean Up Australia day, and the Social Convenors and the Shop Team both organised events to further encourage student bonding. The RA’s were well advanced in integrating and helping all in their corridors, Jenny had hosted the first two corridor dinners, and our cavoodle “Ollie” was starting to make her impact! In short, the year was successfully underway and on track, until the issue of COVID-19 ground everything to an abrupt halt.

With the gravity of the situation unclear and no precedent, my approach to this issue since early March has been conservative and precautionary. I felt it prudent to encourage students who were healthy and able, to return home (small group situation) and continue their studies online with College support. The opposing course of action would have been to keep everyone here and potentially expose 247 students and staff to COVID-19, should anyone here have exhibited symptoms or tested positive. Quarantine or self-isolation, should it have then been mandated, would have been realistically impossible in a full communal residential college such as Cromwell. I was also concerned that an externally forced closure at short notice with a full college would have been very difficult for families, especially if restrictions were placed (as they now have been) on travel. So over the last three weeks, I have progressively seen almost all of our students walk back out of the driveway they happily entered a few weeks ago, and return home.

Staff have worked largely from home, and from 9 April 2020, given further restrictions on gatherings, I have felt no option other than to pause residential accommodation here until further notice.

In all of this, the resilience and maturity of the whole Cromwell community has been uplifting. The messages of support and encouragement that have been received from students and parents have been greatly appreciated. This issue is unprecedented. I have said to students that COVID-19 will be one of those “where were you” moments for their whole lives. For me, 11/9/2001 and Neil Armstrong walking on the moon (21/ 7/1969) yes I can remember that….just! are the other two.

While Cromwell is temporarily pausing residential accommodation, please remember that there remains online academic and pastoral support. You only need to reach out. Until we are all back together at Cromwell again, please look out for each other, stay in touch with your friends, ask them “R U OK” and please stay safe.

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

PRINCIPAL COCA NEWS 3

COCA Cromwell Old Collegians Association

CROMWELL COLLEGE

est. 1973

y yq y yD

COCA President Report Dear Cromwellians, It certainly hasn’t been the start to the year most of us were expecting I’m sure. The COVID-19 crisis has shocked the world and has affected so many of our friends, families and colleagues.

As with many other organisations, COCA has postponed its events for the majority of the 2020 year. The decision was made to push the normally biennial Ball back until 2021 to allow more time for people to get back some normality in their lives. So we look forward to welcoming you all then.

For now we will be operating at a reduced capacity but will be here to support and assist where possible.

For those of you within the COCA community who’ve fallen on hard times due to this outbreak, we wish you all the best and please don’t hesitate to reach out. Cromwell sets itself apart with its incredible sense of community spirit and this will not falter during this time.

To all of our COCA community please look after yourselves and your families (and wash your hands!).

Please do not hesitate to reach out to COCA on email - coca@cromwell.uq.edu.au Yours from afar,

Ben Durance 0435 317 624 COCA President

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STUDENTS’ PRESIDEnT REPORT The 2020 year started off with a bang! We welcomed 118 Freshers into the Cromwell community with an excellent O-Week and welcomed back our remaining 128 returning students with an excellent Closed Bunker. It’s been such a good start to the year seeing all the new and returning faces come back to be as one community.

The Student Leadership Team arrived at college a week before O-Week to attend Preparation Week (P-Week) which involved a variety of activities including running through 7am morning programs, pastoral and leadership workshops, Mental Health, CPR and First Aid training.

This gave the opportunity for our RA’s and Student Executive to prepare and bond for the year ahead.

Orientation Week (O-Week) was a great success which allowed for the Freshers to bond with each other and our leadership team, before our 2nd and 3rd Years returned. Appreciation of the week was shown by the Freshers upon their reflection of the week as the unique opportunities they were given ensured they were given the best start at Cromwell. A big thanks must go to our O-Week Convenor Aidan ‘Scooby Doo’ Fong and his Committee for their hard work and preparation to make the week what is was.

At the end of O-Week we had our first social event known as Closed Bunker. This was to welcome back our returning students and to give the Freshers an example of the social life involved at Cromwell. The event was a great success thanks to Ishmum ‘Jimmy Nunchucks’ Akram, Declan ‘Thirsty Caterpillar’ King and Cooper ‘Sandy’ Murray who make up our 2020 Socials team. The Socials, in close communication with our Treasurer Josh ‘Meely Wheely Automobilee’ Eiser, have made sure that our socials events come in as close to budget as possible, making a profit of $19.90 for Closed Bunker.

Student Leadership Team conclude P Week with dinner prepared and hosted by Jenny Switzer COCA NEWS 5

The Cromwell community have once again come out strong this year in the ICC Cultural and Sporting events.

So far in the year we have been restricted due to the outbreak of COVID-19 restricting large gatherings.

Sporting events so far have consisted of: Swimming which saw Cromwell come 6th in the Men’s and 5th in the Women’s; and Badminton which saw the Crommy Boys winning their first competition in 6 years by beating International House in a fantastically supported final.

Rugby and Touch trials have taken place with teams chosen and games hopefully due to start after midsemester break.

Team challenges in P Week Matt ‘Ralph’ Smith and Jacinta ‘Fetch’ Thefs have been working hard to keep the College active during this sporting down time by encouraging smaller activities amongst those who are interested.

Cromwell’s cultural skills have been put to show with a brilliant performance from 1st year student Kira ‘Armbar’ Dooner at College Idol, where she performed ‘Wish You Well’ by Bernard Fanning, against many other brilliant performers. She placed 6th in a tie with Kings College. Trials for BandFest, ChoralFest and Debating have taken place in which our Cultural Convenor, Ethan ‘Swish Swish’ Forge is working hard to have them take place shortly after mid-semester break.

Cromwell have really shown up this year on the fundraising side of things which has been heavily lead by our Vice President Adam ‘Eats’ Wormington. Cromwell placed 7th in the Clean Up Australia Day event where 25% of the College showed up to help the cause. We’re also going very well with our fundraising for World’s Greatest Shave where we’ve raised just over $2900. If you are interested in donating to this wonderful cause you can sponsor the Cromwell College team on the World’s Greatest Shave website where every donation is appreciated.

Overall, Semester One has been an absolute blast so far with a few bumps along the way due to our awareness of COVID-19. I am very impressed with the way freshers have shown true enthusiasm with everything to do with Cromwell and their eagerness to give everything a go. I am honoured to have the opportunity to be in this leadership position at Cromwell and I am so excited to see what the remainder of the year has in store for all of us.

Warm Regards, Kaleb “Grouch” Jeynes 2020 President Cromwell College Students’ Association Inc.

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RECONNECTING WITH COCA THROUGH LinkedIN

Did you know that you can link with fellow Cromwell alumni through LinkedIn? The first essential step is to become a member of Cromwell College UQ on LinkedIn. If already a member, please list Cromwell College UQ as ‘education’ instead of under ‘experience’.

COCA NEWS 7

COMMENCEMENT

On Tuesday 25th February one hundred and seventeen new students (Freshers) were inducted into Cromwell at the Commencement Dinner.

Thirty six special guests were present to witness the special occasion, including Moderator of the Uniting Church, Queensland Synod, Rev. David Baker. Our guest speaker was our Principal, Mr Ross Switzer, who gave an inspiring talk on what can be achieved in life, and university, based on lessons he had personally experienced in walking the Kokoda Track, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and trekking to Mount Everest base camp.

T DINNER 2020

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, Thomas Hallam and Olivia Lyons. Alexandra Mison showed off her wonderful musical talent by playing ‘Arabesque Number 1’ by Debussy.

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

COCA NEWS 9

Kaleb Jeynes, Blake Whitehead, Dominic Retschlag

Students’ Association President Kaleb Jeynes

Nicola Grobler receiving her Cromwell pin and The Promise from Principal Ross Switzer

COCA NEWS 11

Top Dowling 12 COCA NEWS

Bottom North

Daniel Plumbley signing the Cromwell Commencement Register

Lockley / House

Top Thatcher COCA NEWS 13

Joe Goodall & Associate Professor Sally Butler

Top Han

Mid Begbie

Krishna Stanton, Sami Green, Kaleb Jeynes

Principal Ross Switzer

Joe Goodall, Rev David Baker

Bottom Cock

Red Frogs CEO Andy Gourley, staff and Bottom North

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Ross & Jenny Switzer and Rev David Baker

Mid Begbie

Abbey Mayall and Ross Switzer

Kiara McIntyre

Alex Mison playing Debussy

Top Dowling

Rev Peter Lockhart

Olivia Lyons and Thomas Hallam

COCA NEWS 15

MEET THE COC

BEN DURANCE (2010-2012) COCA President I lived at Cromwell for 3 years under the Fresher name “Husky”. I’m currently working for the Gold Coast SUNS FC in sales - a far cry from my days living in the U-Turn and organising Thursday night outings. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with fellow Cromwellians at any future alumni events.

ALAN WRIGLEY (2010-2012) COCA Secretary Hi there, my name is Alan Wrigley and I am the COCA Secretary for 2020. I was at Cromwell between 2010 and 2012 and my fresher name was “K+”. At Cromwell, I was Bottom North RA and also rowed in the 1st Vlll. I am now a Lawyer at McCullough Robertson in Brisbane and currently studying a Masters of Law part-time at the University of Melbourne.

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ALEXANDRA NEW COCA Tre

I was also know as “Honey B Cromwell. I am currently w at BDO while completing m qualifications. This year m connections between curre alumni and get more alumni

JOANNE LANDMAR COCA Committe

My first taste of Fresher life 2008 and led me to become St Still to this day I am known as Cromwellians. Life has moved of my time as a physiotherap looking forward to helping ou I can.

CA EXEC TEAM

WTON (2014-2016) easurer

Badger” during my time at working as an accountant my Chartered Accountant my aim is to help create ent students and COCA connecting at our events.

RK (2008-2010) ee Member

started in Top North in tudent President in 2010. s “Hiphop” among fellow on and I now spend most pist in Brisbane CBD. I’m ut the committee where

DANIEL BAUM (2011-2014) COCA Committee Member I am currently living in Sydney, finishing off my medical studies. Since leaving Cromwell after 3 and a half greate years, alongside my work with COCA, I have also completed a Masters of International Public Health and sprinkled some travel in between. please reach out if you have any queries about the challenges of getting into medicine, or if you ever find yourself in Sydney. I am always keen to trade stories with old Cromwellians!

RICHARD SHANNON (2001-2003) COCA Roustabout I was known as “Climax” during my time at Cromwell. My day job is advocating for the Queensland horticulture industry. This year I am keeping COCA connected with the work of the Cromwell Foundation which I chair, and also helping organise a 20 year reunion for alumni.

COCA NEWS 17

CROMWELL MEMORIES 2020 John Heller (1975 - 1977)

Forty five years ago, in 1975, I moved from my hometown of Bundaberg and started an Engineering degree at UQ. That year, I was a fresher at Cromwell College and I lived there for the next two years as well. I became friends with a group of people there – undergrads from various locations around South East Queensland plus some postgrads, one of whom had come from Scotland. We were all studying for different degrees, but the shared experience and comraderie of college life bound us together.

After those three years we slowly drifted apart. Some remained longer at Cromwell, some moved to share houses and some had completed their studies and moved on. After I finished my degree I went to work in the UK for a number of years and when I came back to Australia, I settled in Sydney. I lost touch with everyone.

But a few did keep in contact, and it was when the Internet started to make its way into people’s lives around the turn of the century that we managed to reconnect. It was by email at first and then eventually we had a reunion in Brisbane one weekend. Later, of course, Facebook came along and we have stayed in contact ever since.

In February this year our Scottish friend, Andrew Kent (late 1976-1977), visited Australia. He came primarily to visit his daughter, who is living in Brisbane, and his grandchild. It was a good reason though for us to re-unite and we gathered in Brisbane on what turned out to be the weekend before O-week. One of our number, Chris Rinehart (nee Lamprecht), had made contact with Tania Dempsey (Cromwell Community Relations) and a visit to Cromwell was arranged so we could have a look around.

Tania was generous with her time. She gave us a very thorough tour, and listened to our stories of places and events and let us look at our old rooms (mine was 101 in Lower Hancock). So many things have changed, but some things remain the same. The Shop back then was in Lower Dowling, and it was generally only opened for about 15 minutes at 9:30pm each night. A shout of “shop” would go out, and people would descend on it to buy snacks.

Cheryl Petersen & Grant Griffiths outside what used to be the darkroom (no smartphones or digital cameras back then - all photos had to be developed and printed) 18 COCA NEWS

A reminiscence like this wouldn’t be complete without some photos from that period, and a little about some of the differences between now and then. The rooms were a bit more spartan then.

No fridges or wi-fi. The common areas were also quite plain and not used much. Mostly we hung out in people’s rooms. There was a phone at the end of each corridor (no mobile phones back then, nor even landlines in each room). It was an unwritten rule that the person living in the end room would answer the phone when it rang and then go find the intended receiver (or pretend they weren’t home!)

During the tour when we went down to look at the Bunker. That was there back then, but

smaller and without the graffiti art walls. The TV room (with the only TV) was at the bottom of the stairs and the Bunker beyond it. It was the Saturday before O-Week and we encountered some residents painting hats and name tags for the Freshers who were to arrive the next day. Things like that didn’t happen in my day (There were no O-Week activities at College, only at the campus), but I was struck by the scene before us. Here was a small group of friends listening to music and working together for a bonding activity to spring on the Freshers, and there was us – 45 years older Gary Smith, Andrew Kent, Grant Griffiths and Cheryl Petersen wandering through the memories of our time there. They were happy to chat with us, and I wondered if they understood how this time in their lives would be remembered so fondly. We all knew it, and we enjoyed that small vicarious reconnection to college life through people living it now.

Our visit was completed with morning tea on the Deck (which certainly wasn’t there in our day).

Afterwards we moved to the home of Gary Smith and enjoyed a long and languorous afternoon and evening eating, talking and remembering people and places. We don’t see each other all that often, but we parted reluctantly that day. We were warmed by the enduring friendships we had stuck at in those years at Cromwell College. They were forged there in a daily life of lectures, study and play in the prime of our lives. The spirit of Cromwell lives on.

Reunited: L to R: Gary Smith, Chris Rinehart (nee Lamprecht), John Heller, Andrew Kent, Bruce Greiner, Cheryl Petersen, Grant Griffiths, Judy Gilloway (nee Freiberg) COCA NEWS 19

Experimenting with darkroom techniques

First photo ever printed in dark room 20 COCA NEWS

The Cromwell College Dark Room (1975 - 1978) In late 1975 a few of the inmates with an interest in photography decided to put together a basic darkroom - in the small room next to the present-day computer room (which used to be a sewing room and baggage room). This room had a sink and running water, which was ideal, but no ventilation, which was survivable - for short periods anyway. Rather sacrilegiously we found on a recent visit that this room is now a toilet.

We started off investing in some chemicals and trays and a base-model Durst 90 enlarger for basic black and white film developing and printing. We gradually acquired more equipment: timer, darkroom light - and a 9” electric fan which almost doubled our breathing time - and a wider range of paper grades, finishes and sizes.

The first photograph we ever printed was of a roadside lantern hanging on a barrier at the end of Walcott Street (see opposite).

We soon graduated to taking photographs of College antics and functions, and in 1976 we took the College group photograph for the first time - a huge learning curve as we had to buy a better enlarger lens and print well over a hundred copies.

We also started to experiment with darkroom techniques such as solarisation and making lithographs with special sheet film (see 2nd image opposite). By printing a reverse image and offsetting it we could produce line drawings. Now this can be done with Photoshop and a single mouse click.

That year we branched out into 16” x 20” and some really big trays! This allowed us to do the recognition photos for the first time - taking headshots of ~150 people, cutting them out, identifying them, sticking them on a 16” x 20” sheet, writing the names underneath, re-photographing the completed sheet and printing one for each wing. I’m exhausted just writing about it.

After that we forayed into the much more challenging world of colour processing, photographing events such as the “At Home” and even a couple of College-related weddings.

We still have large amount of highly-amusing prints from that era that I’m sure could leverage a small fortune from now-famous Cromwellians.

Cheryl Petersen and Grant Griffiths

COCA NEWS 21

ENGAGING Q&A

Recently engaged couple Morgan Freney (Tokio) and Glen Thorpe (Trunks) who met while at Cromwell, sat down with COCA for a quick Q&A: 1.

What years did you attend Cromwell and what did you study?

M:

I was at Cromwell for my first and second year of Uni (2014-2015) and studied a Bachelor of Biotechnology, majoring in Molecular Microbiology. I’ve just started back at UQ this year to undertake a PhD in Molecular Virology!

G:

I first arrived at Cromwell in 2012 for my first year of Engineering. I didn’t know it yet, but I would actually end up staying a whole 5 years until I completed my Masters in Chemical & Biological Engineering.

2.

What sports and activities did you participate in at Cromwell?

M: I mostly did sports such as swimming and waterpolo. I’m not so culturally inclined.

G: I played fresher rugby my first year (got knocked out in my first game). I had more

success at Choralfest (4 years) & Dancefest (4 years - convened twice).

22 COCA NEWS

3.

How did you meet at Cromwell?

M:

So my fresher year was the first year that Lockley was a co-ed corridor and my RA was good friends with the Begbie RA- Glen (don’t worry we were the same age).

We became friends throughout all the corridor hang outs, movie nights, Ville trips and game nights! We were just friends for a solid 6 months before realising just how compatible we were.

G: In my third year, a good friend of mine was the Lockley RA. Naturally I spent a

heap of time in his corridor (aircon life). Morgan and I became close friends due to shared interests, before we started dating (much to her RA’s displeasure).

4.

Did you do ball line up for each other?

M: We lined up for each other both years of Ball (offical by the first year so I kind

of had no other options haha). If I wasn’t his first choice he would have been in

trouble! Ball ask is still one of my favourite memories.

G:

Getting out of ball lineup was never an option! I loved planning ball asks, which are probably some of my favourite memories from my entire time at Cromwell.

Please follow Morgan on Instagram @virus.vs.labcoat COCA NEWS 23

YOUNG ENDEAVOUR

Taisha ‘Phun & Games’ Burr (2016 - 2018) In 1988, the United Kingdom marked the Australian bicentenary with a peculiarly British gesture; they gifted Australia a large square-rigged sailboat.

Pleased with this acquisition but uncertain what to do with it, the Australian government passed this ship onto their Navy who have since used it to provide sail training and outdoor education to 14,188 young Australians, including myself. In January 2020, I joined the youth crew of the Young Endeavour on an eleven-day voyage from Hobart to Melbourne.

Having never sailed previously, the voyage was a difficult but profoundly rewarding challenge.

Young Endeavour

Each morning we were woken by obnoxiously cheerful music being blasted through the ship’s speaker system and had to quickly climb out of our bunks and into our safety harnesses and walk circles on the upper deck until everyone was up. No experience has ever reminded me quite so much of Crommie O-Week! Despite being tired from spending between an hour and four hours per night on watch, I never minded the cool early mornings as the sunrises were more than worth it.

Another silver lining was the Navy sailors. They had a brilliant sense of humour in all they did whilst also being extremely competent. Under their direction, we learnt to set and furl sails, navigate via landmarks and climb the thirty metre main mast. Once we could sail semi-competently, the staff handed over control of the ship to the Youth Crew for 24 hours! We held elections to pick a leadership team and then worked in shifts around the clock to the complete the twenty-three tasks the staff had set us. These included six navigational points scattered across Port Phillip Bay which we had to sail within a nautical mile of. I’m quite proud to report that we not only survived our Command Day but were the first crew in recent history to check off every task!

Places on the Young Endeavour are allocated via random ballot and any healthy Australian citizen aged 16-23 can apply. I would seriously recommend the programme to anyone with a sense of adventure and the desire to challenge themselves in a very unique environment.

24 COCA NEWS

The Crew

The O-Week Drop Off (A Parent’s Perspective) Janet Firkin (1982 - 1983)

Thirty eight years ago I walked into Cromwell College. It was my O week. Within 24 hours I met James trying to play ping-pong in the Lion’s Den with a rowing oar he had found hanging on the wall. We went on to sit next to each other in our first lecture. He remains one of my best friends to this day.

Within six months I added two more core friendships to that circle with David and Jane, and then Helen, each of whom have literally stood beside me in the most important times of my life.

Some say, Cromwell is geographically isolated. To my mind that’s one of its best aspects. For the first year or so you rely on each other and work together as one community. There is plenty of time for getting to know the other college kids. Indeed, college reach goes far beyond those we meet at Cromwell but extends throughout the college community and throughout life. Just last year a friend from Johns (who married a Cromwellian) offered me a job in his law firm (after a 15 year absence from law) and I made 2 more core friendships (1 ex-Women’s and 1 ex-IH) volunteering at Riding for the Disabled.

My advice to Edith (and to every other fresher) would be college life is not for everyone and that’s okay. Thankfully we live in a time where differences are embraced. However, you have nothing to lose giving it a shot. I was on the reserve bench in every sporting team but I got to hang out with the sporty kids. Turns out they are not actually stuck up, they are just focused (and would definitely not play ping pong with a rowing oar). Make the most of the opportunities you are given but if you need time out - take it. Finally, think about who you want to be and use this incredible platform to see if that is who you are. It does not matter who you have been up til now, be who you want to be.

L to R: Edith and Janet Firkin, Fresher Sunday 2020 COCA NEWS 25

FIRST ICC MEN’S WIN IN SIX YEARS In March Cromwell participated in the ICC Badminton competition. Both the boys and the girls played some really good games and it was great to see so many supporters come down and watch in their Crommy merch.

The boys team went undefeated throughout the whole competition beating last year’s winners, International House, in the final match (convincingly in just 2 games), therefore winning Cromwell’s first ICC Male Sport in 6 years!

Andrew Northcote Badminton Co-Convener Winning team: Andrew Lu and Stephan Barkhuizen

Back: Caitlin Dorrough, Caroline Buckley, Jacinta 26 COCA NEWSThefs, Lewahna Dale Front: Sophie Wright & Holly Bebendorf

Mitchell Northcote, Andrew Lu, Stephan Barkhuizen and Andrew Northcote

2020 ICC SWIMMING CARNIVAL On the first Friday night in March, Cromwell College had their first sporting event of the year, the ICC Swimming Carnival. Even though we were close to having a huge thunderstorm, we had great student support which was pleasing to see. Everyone had a lot of fun spectating this hectic, fastpaced event with several swimmers backing up multiple times to compete in other races. Overall, Cromwell College was fifth place for women’s and sixth place for the men.

Emily Knox Swimming Co-Convener

Back: Lily Kenway, Chelsea Larkin, Casey Kershaw, Alexandra McGuckin, Emma Stewart, Maxine Allwood Front: Ruby Clarke

Jacinta Thefs, Sophie Bates, Chanele LeGrand and April Heasley

COCA NEWS 27

JENNY’S CORRIDOR DINNERS BEGIN! The Top Begbie girls were the first corridor of the year to have their special dinner (affectionately known as ‘Renny Dinners’) with Ross and Jenny (and Ollie) at their home on 3rd of March. Sharna Leader even celebrated her 18th birthday that night!

Top Begbie girls, Jenny & Ollie

Sharna Leader & Abbey Thomas

Kira Dooner and Lachlan Gabbett

ICC COLLEGE IDOL 2020

The ICC College Idol 2020 competition saw our Cromwell Fresher, Kira Dooner, do an amazing job performing a Bernard Fanning song ‘Do Us Proud’. She was supported on guitar by Lachie Gabbett. 28It COCA was NEWS great to see so many Cromwell students & staff supporting the performance.

P WEEK 2020 The Leadership Team for this year spent a week in early February getting to know each other and learning how to work cohesively and collaboratively. They covered everything from First Aid training, Mental Health education, Team building activities and fire emergency training, all in preparation for the arrival of the Freshers on the Sunday and returning students the following weekend.

Cassia Gulley P-Week team activities

Jacinta Thefs, Holly Bebendorf, Sami Green, Adam Wormington COCA NEWS 29

LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS:

a photographer’s experience of stained-glass windows

by Amy Scrivens

Cromwell College is a building I have walked past for decades without stopping to enjoy its majestic and historic architectural features. I am here to photograph the stained-glass windows of the college chapel. These are a glory potentially overlooked by the regular passer-by. They shouldn’t be.

They are easily overlooked as the encircling buildings offer banquet and billiard tables, and resplendent plaques and trophies; and there’s an overwhelming feeling of grandeur about the grounds. I push those aside and look through the windows I am about to photograph and remember the reason I am there. A part of this architectural sublimity is quite literally casting light onto me. It is the intricate stained-glass windows created by Queensland artist, Warwick Blair.

I walk past these windows and into the chapel. The early morning light is shining a rainbow of colour through the stained-glass windows onto the piano keys and the drum skins under their reflective glass. I take a moment and enjoy the splendour of the chapel in this light- which is highlighted through these stained-glass panes.

I know this artist who has created such beautiful windows- he made one for my parents’ home with the artwork of their wedding invitations.

So it feels appropriate that my father Denzil Scrivens is now writing an illustrated book on Blair. I asked him for some background information on this artist, particularly his work at Cromwell.

Denzil said: ‘Warwick Blair was undisputedly the leading stained-glass craftsman in Queensland in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a pioneer in the history of stained glass making in Queensland, yet today is almost completely unknown. His reputation is remembered by just a small circle of artists, family and friends, and by persons and institutions who were fortunate to have works created by this exceptional artisan over a twenty year career.’

‘Blair died from AIDS in 2002 at the peak of his artistic career, just three weeks after the Queen unveiled the great “Millennium Window” at St John’s Cathedral Brisbane, Blair’s best-known work today. Yet he left a legacy of remarkable stained-glass windows throughout Brisbane - over 2,000 works in school libraries and chapels, hospitals and shopping centres, university colleges and private homes, and also churches.’

30 COCA NEWS

‘There are several characteristic which set Blair apart from his contemporaries.

One was his strong attachment, particularly in the early years of his career to the Art Nouveau style of window design which dominated the early years of the 20th Century with its absorption in nature and its focus on sensuous lines and flowing curves.

A second characteristic of Blair’s work was his special ability to create windows that relied less on painted effects and more on the intrinsic qualities of antique, patterned and textured glass, of which he had an unrivalled collection in Queensland. A third characteristic was his fascination with the use of glass “jewels” to highlight particular elements in the window’s design. In the stained-glass trade, “jewels” or “crystals” are pieces of glass cut to resemble gems. Glass jewels came to feature prominently in Blair’s work often appearing in the centre of flowers or representing features such as Australian gum nuts. Their use added to the three dimensional and radiant appearance to many of Blair’s creations.’

‘All three of these characteristics of Blair’s work can be seen in some of the windows that he created for the chapel of Cromwell College, one the earliest public commissions undertaken by the artist.’

How did a university college acquire such magnificent stained-glass windows?

Denzil said: ‘Cromwell is perhaps not the finest college architecturally at St Lucia. The chapel is a simple, modernist building in keeping with the College’s Congregationalist origins which eschewed ostentatious decoration in church architecture. But across its south facing wall the chapel boasts a set of floor-to-ceiling windows with multiple panels and over seven years, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the widow of V E Hancock, the College’s benefactor, paid for the College to install a set of stained glass designs in the windows in memory of her late husband. The cumulative commission to design and create stained glass images for the chapel was an important one for Brisbane’s relatively small stainedCOCA NEWS 31

glass industry at the time. It was also a commission that was to completely alter the chapel’s scheme of decoration, turning its minimalist décor into a gallery of window art. The first window was designed by an Indian Christian artist Frank Wesley while the remaining ones were designed and created by Warwick Blair.’

The stained-glass windows of The Cromwell College took seven years to create.

Denzil describes the panels to me: ‘The theme of Wesley’s window is the Parable of the Good Samaritan who befriends and cares for a traveller who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. Wesley depicts the Samaritan as an Australian bushman, complete with bushman’s hat and horse, surrounded by gum trees. The traveller is revealed as a person of colour, perhaps an Indian, recalling Australia’s mixed race heritage.

‘The other windows in the Chapel were designed and executed

by Warwick Blair. Blair continues Frank Wesley’s Australian theme in two major windows in the chapel, both half-figurative, half-landscape in scope. The first depicts the Visit of the Wise Men to the Holy Family. Mary and Joseph are shown in modern Australian dress while the Wise Men are a mix of Anglo Saxon and Aboriginal heritage. The second major window (illustrated here) portrays the Parable of the Sower. The sower appears as a young farmer in “Aussie” work gear while above him is empty cross depicting the Resurrection. The cross is represented as a stark dead grey gum tree with projecting branches like a crucifix. Above it is a dove of the Noah story affirming hope for the world.

‘Both of Blair’s major windows at Cromwell - the Visit of the Wise Men and the Parable of the Sower - are original designs by him, though clearly reflect Blair’s continuing attachment to Art Nouveau motifs, particularly the background landscapes which, though markedly Australian, feature undulating hills demarked by lead lines reminiscent of Tiffany. The brilliantly coloured ensemble of native gum leaves and gum nuts at the bottom left of the Parable window also bear resemblance to the cluster of flowers in the Tiffany-style river landscape at Blair’s own home in Chapel Hill but with a more distinctly Aussie flavour.

At Cromwell the gum leaves are clearly Antipodean.

Noteworthy about this exuberant display of native flora is 32 COCA NEWS

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the distinctive use of glass jewels throughout the arrangement, including the use of prominent red beads as stand-ins for gum nuts, once again having the effect of creating a three dimensional appearance to Blair’s creations.’

I have now taken hundreds of photos of these windows. And the light is shining down on a window easily overlooked. Tania organises a ladder for me to photograph these overlooked last windows. Also by Warwick Blair. For me, these are the most beautiful and fascinating windows I have seen today. They encapsulate both science and religion with a heavy focus on botany, chemistry, physics and zoology. I note the quote about these, “moving over the face of the waters” (“Tongues as of Fire”, Genesis 1:2 and the Pentecost 2:3). The images of Pothos vines and koi carp fish and birds are extra beautiful in the morning light, so I ensure I photograph them as well.

The irony of the situation doesn’t escape me. As Denzil points out: ‘It is an irony of history that a college bearing Cromwell’s name should boast such a rich panoply of stained glass, for during the English Civil War Cromwell’s soldiers destroyed a large amount of glass in medieval English churches and cathedrals, believing that figurative glass and other church ornaments smacked of Catholicism and idolatry.’

As I leave the college grounds, I am left still in awe at the beauty of the chapel, which is so easily overlooked.

And I reflect on the magnificent glasswork of the late Warwick Blair. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to photograph his work and take the time to stop and look and really absorb the beauty of the windows within this chapel. One of many local examples of his artistic brilliance.

As my father said: ‘Warwick Blair was one of those unique artists who had a deep inner creativity whose work left an indelible impression upon Queensland’s artistic heritage, not merely at places like St John’s Cathedral and Cromwell College but across many homes and institutions in Brisbane and further afield.’

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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 Ben Durance CONTACT

Tania Dempsey

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/