The Pelican Issue 2 June/July 2022

Amazing Community, Awesome Experience.

The Pelican

A look back on the activities, events and achievements which have occurred within the College in Semester One, 2022. ISSUE NO.2 |

Head of College Welcome

A Connected Community of Care and Companionship!

The College has celebrated a wonderful First Semester with numerous highlights and amazing events throughout. Our students have shone both individually and collectively on many fronts and their performances in sport, on the stage, in their social journey and most importantly academically have been outstanding. This vibrant beginning comes after an incredibly difficult Semester Two last year for so many in our community with the physical and emotional cost of the Covid-19 pandemic hitting us all in some way.

From student departures to staff upheavals Covid certainly left its mark on the College, although great institutions always rise above these fragile moments and I believe that the hardship felt last year galvanised many in our community and some of our students genuinely display an extraordinary maturity, further courage through adversity and in fact authentic leadership that has empowered them well for their journey beyond college life.

I am thrilled at the positive energy we have begun 2022 with, and the way our leadership team has invested so much of themselves into supporting their peers to have the ultimate time through these crucial years of transitioning to adulthood. The focus for the team was on a united front where a truly cohesive team can implement great culture, support, and an environment where academic aspiration is valued greatly. This meant that whilst portfolios were key, everybody at every level could feel a sense of ownership and empowerment towards creating the ultimate Johns journey.

We have enjoyed some wonderful guest speakers this semester including alumnus and Chairman of Batyr, Seb Robertson, Senior Manager at EY Kim Ward, alumna and Senior Security, Defence and Public Policy Advisor Jacinta Carroll and Mollie Duncan from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Their insights, advice and raw honesty were inspiring, and our students have often spoken of the significant influence these speakers have made this year to them. They inspired us all to be aspirational yet humble, confident yet kind and despite the contradiction selfish yet selfless all at the same time.

Possibly the greatest highlight was the fact that the College was able to contribute an amazing $25,000 to MacKillop House, a women’s refuge run by Catholic Care that houses some 40 women and 25 children. Much of these funds came on the back of the inaugural 'Ladies we Love' Lunch. We hosted nearly 400 people in the Dining Room, where we heard a stunning speech by the amazing Pam Lehm, mother of Charity co-President Erica, who along with co-President Imi Holly ran a highly successful auction on the day.

Finally, I wish to thank all the staff, students and members of the Board for your ongoing efforts in supporting us as we work together to create the ultimate college experience for all who are associated with our amazing community. I hope 2022 continues to be a successful one for all and that each of you remains ‘happy, healthy and safe’ as we enjoy the festivities of the second half of the year, whilst embracing the academic culture that the College is renowned for.

Jas Lincoln Head of College

(Sr. Noelene Quinane pictured with Charity Presidents and Jas Lincoln after the College presented a cheque for $25,000 to Mackillop House.)

College board Chairman report

Starting at the top, we have an inspirational Head of College in Jas (Jason) Lincoln who works tirelessly to provide student welfare together with a supportive and balanced college life. This necessarily includes academic support, student driven social activities, sport and the facilities for each individual to pursue their own academic interests and personal projects. On behalf of all sectors of the College, I wish to thank Jas for his extraordinary efforts.

Hello All,

The last time I wrote for the Pelican, I set out the Colleges’ Strategic Plan process and discussed our current building program.

I have no doubt that anyone associated with Johns will have noticed the building activity in the administration block and the maintenance activity in the accommodation block. With some relief I can report that the “front of house building work” is nearly complete.

This means that our resident population can not only enjoy the new glass foyer and enhanced dining room, but will soon enjoy a magnificent re-vamped common room area. The Board hopes that this newly-completed and very flexible space will give residents the opportunity to spread out and use the facility in many different ways. There should be adequate space for large gatherings, small private meetings, tutorial sessions and private nooks for people to cluster to conduct conversations. The great part of the plan is that all of the above can happen simultaneously.

This brings me to the purpose of all this building activity, which is to enhance the student experience in college. We hope to provide an inclusive group experience for 300 people while also providing all of the facilities of home. The Board intends that every student and every student group can find a space which is comfortable, fit for purpose and perfect for your chosen activities.

But there is more to a college than bricks and mortar. We are a living, breathing community of unique individuals who each have their own needs and aspirations. It is time to discuss the human services which Johns provides to our residents. The Board is keenly interested in the student experience and the welfare of our residents.

As you would be aware, Jas leads a large team which includes a Deputy Head, a College Life Manager, Deans, the Admin Staff, Senior Residents, Academic Tutors, and Student Representatives. It also includes a college counsellor and a night porter. It then works in conjunction with a Residents Association which brings the students perspective to every discussion. Each and every one of those people make valuable contributions to college life.

Without intending to exaggerate or to brag, I believe that we have the greatest number of student support staff and the most comprehensive student support program of any equivalent facility in Canberra. It is the college ambition to combine all of the support mechanisms which we have into a seamless whole which ensures that no one gets left behind.

It is refining and enhancing our resident support services which will now be the focus of College life at Johns for the next couple of years. That is a two-way process. There is no point in having a magnificent system if it is not used, a supportive college administration only works with student collaboration and support.

While the Board and administration work to enhance our student services, we request our student body to participate in some very specific ways. Please give us plenty of feedback about what you like and what you don’t. Use the college surveys, suggestion boxes and face to face interactions to express each of your individual views clearly. Please also cooperate and collaborate to the fullest extent that you are able with the college programs and initiatives.

Lastly, and most importantly, study well and make full use of our resources. I hope you have a happy, fulfilling and successful 2nd Semester 2022.

John Harris John XXIII College Board Chairman

ACADEMIC GIANTS

High Distinction Average

Erica Lehm

Ella Edwards-Smith

Claudia Petrie

Bridie Swingler

Charlotte Collier

Josephine Happell

Anna Miller

Millie Anderson

Darcy Sharpe

James Inwood

Jasper Delbridge

Harry Nielsen

Liam Macleod

Lucas Campbell

Hugh Ritchie

Claire Smith

Harry Wetherill

Mia Anderson

Charlie Rossi

Olivia Kibble

Sacha Bennett

Robbie Matthews-Lane

Lucy Chubb

Micah Zhao

Mackenzie Cooke

Chloe Lyons

Tiffany Smith

Mia Cameron

Nicholas Weston

Kai Saalmann

Simrin Hartmann

Erica Lehm

Ella Edwards-smith

Claudia Petrie

Bridie Swingler

College Life Manager Ollie Grimble

residents. Ahead of my move into my position at J23 I was dreading overseeing the academic side of student support within the College. In hindsight, my apprehension seems laughable. Under the leadership of Darcy Sharpe and Josie Happell, the Academic Mentors have all been amazing in their roles and I have been so proud of their dedication and work ethic in Semester 1.

How do you like to spend your free time?

What do you like most about working at J23?

There’s a lot to like about working at J23. Since commencing work at J23 in January I’ve loved working with a bright and energetic community who despite two years of Covid lockdowns has emerged with its proud identity intact. In addition to the community, I would say that working with a resilient, driven and emotionally intelligent group of student leaders has been humbling and has definitely made my first 6 months at J23 very rewarding.

What drew you to J23 originally?

When I was considering my role at J23 I contacted a number of former J23 residents and I did the due diligence of researching the College, the Australian National University and Canberra. Despite my research it was the college alumni who sealed the deal for my move to J23. A number of ex-ressies, which included several school friends and my cousin, all spoke so highly of their J23 experience that I could not refuse the opportunity to work here.

What has been your favourite project at J23?

My favourite project so far at J23 has been working with the Academic Mentor team to ensure the academic success of our

Since my Questacon life ban, I’ve been getting back into the outdoors by exploring Canberra and the ACT on my mountain bike and on hikes. Unfortunately, since leaving school I have gained enough weight that I don’t bounce like I used to, so my mountain bike rides have an emphasis on scenery rather than speed. Growing up, Canberra and the ACT was generally seen through the car window as my family would bypass the city on the road to the Snowy Mountains for ski trips. It’s been a welcome experience being able to take time to explore Canberra and its surrounds. I am lucky enough to have a few friends in Canberra from my uni days and school who have shown me a bit of the Canberra nightlife and have made it very easy getting to know the ins and outs of the city.

What is something not many people know?

There are nine hammocks on the moon, Sea slugs can regenerate any part of their body and I have never lost a game of Monopoly.

What is the best thing you’ve done in Canberra?

For a bit of a laugh with some friends, we went to a ‘Pro Wrestling’ match at the Ainslie Bowling Club. The type of wrestling where everyone smugly says “yOu KnOw iT’s fAkE rIgHt?!?”. I went with the intention of having a bit of a giggle but walked away a super fan of ‘Pro Wrestling’ and will be ringside at the next match.

Ollie Grimble College Life Manager

CHARITY EVENTS

What we think sets Johns apart from other colleges is that we actively support residents in undertaking community service and have close relationships with a number of charities. Charity is essential to our culture, and we think it’s these opportunities which help to ground us and give us a greater understanding of the world.

Our first fundraising effort this year was a raffle at the ‘Ladies we Love’ Mother’s Day lunch event. John XXIII College has partnered with MacKillop House, a domestic violence shelter for women and children in Lyneham. This year, we have aimed to raise $25,000 for a new security system for the House which will greatly improve the mental well-being of those finding shelter there. We reached out to local businesses and the wider Johns community to ask for donations – some of which included holidays at the Gold Coast and Portsea, wine collections and vouchers to various restaurants and shops. The raffle was a huge success, with over 200 tickets sold and $10,000 raised. Together with money raised last year, recently Johns deposited $25,000 to MacKillop House, a shelter in Canberra for women experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. This money will go towards upgrading their security system on all the rooms and external doors of the shelter. Additionally, many Johns female residents will begin volunteering at MacKillop House next semester by cooking, teaching Pilates lessons, and performing.

We are so proud of the Johns community for coming together to raise money for such an important cause and we look forward to continuing our support of MacKillop house this year.

Another important initiative which has taken place this year is the Red Cross blood drive. Johns ressies (or “bloody legends”) have been donating plasma and red blood cells at our local donation centre in Canberra. There is a strong need in our community for blood donations and we think giving blood is

such an easy and fun way to help people in need. So far this year we’ve had 45 donations with is equivalent to 135 lives saved and we topped the donations chart for ANU.

On top of this, we offer Johns ressies a multitude of volunteering opportunities to suit everyone’s needs. If ressies are time poor, we suggest volunteering for Ethical Education, a non-for-profit organisation which involves tutoring disadvantaged students online. Due to the high cost of private tutoring which merely benefits the fortunate, I strongly believe that equity should be restored to the education landscape. If ressies are more interested in helping alleviate homelessness, they can volunteer for St Vincent’s Home Visits. This program aims to give a helping hand to people experiencing homelessness by helping with food, clothing and bills.

This semester has been phenomenal for charity at Johns and we’re very excited to continue this momentum into Semester 2!

Charity at Johns is essential to our culture, and everyone always loves to participate.

President's Address

John XXIII College sits on land of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people and as traditional owners we acknowledge and pay respect to elders past, present and emerging.

With Semester One now completed it is important to reflect on what has been and look forward to what is to come!

The commencement of each new year brings in new faces, new events and a renewed sense of excitement. This year the excitement was more palpable than ever, with the threat of another COVID lockdown practically non-existent the residents were excited for an uninterrupted year of sports, socialising and events.

The year commenced with the John XXIII College Residents Association organising and facilitating O-Week activities to welcome back returning residents and introduce new residents to the College community. The week went off without a hitch, apart from a few late evenings and the occasional dusty morning. The events residents enjoyed the most included ‘Welcome back Wednesday’, ‘Pelican Day’ and ‘Music in the Courtyard’. At the conclusion of O-Week the atmosphere within the halls was one of inclusivity and excitement about what was to come in the rest of the year. The incoming first year residents did an exceptional job of getting involved and have already been a welcome addition to the Johns family!

Other than O-Week, the RA organised other social events throughout the semester. The climax being the Annual Johns Ball, held in May at the QT Hotel.

This year the Ball was ‘Oscar’s’ themed with a red carpet, photobooth and shimmer wall. On the night, awards were presented in the form of miniature Oscar trophies to residents with certain skills such as being the ‘Best Dressed’ or being the ‘Cutest College Couple’. Overall, the night was a lot of fun and all residents in attendance loved being there. I would like to thank Alex Nell and Tommy Michell, the 2022 Social Reps, along with the RA executive for putting in so much work to make Ball such a successful night.

The Residents Association are looking forward to the

commencement of Semester Two with plenty more exciting events planned. Semester Two events include the annual Barn Dance, Bush week, SPARTOS, and Proposal week!

Sports

Each year all of the colleges at ANU battle it out on the sporting field to determine the winner of the ‘Interhall Sports Shield’. Throughout the history of this competition Johns has won a staggering 24 times out of 38. With Semester One complete the Johns sports rep Sean Metelovski, Heidi Finlayson, Eugenie Rickard and Stuart Dingley have led the College to a great start in the competition. During Semester One, a wide variety of sports were played. The College participated in Basketball, Hockey, Disc, Touch Footy, Volleyball, Rugby 7s and AFL 9s. To say that Johns has been successful in sports during Semester One is an understatement. With relatively good results throughout each sport in Semester One Johns currently sits at first place in the Interhall Sports Competition. Some noteworthy sports highlights include incredible results in the following sports: 1st in Men’s Touch Footy, 2nd in Women Touch Footy, 2nd in Ultimate Disc, 1st in Men’s Basketball, 2nd in Women’s Basketball, 1st in Men’s Rugby 7s and 1st in Women’s AFL 9s.

I would like to congratulate every resident who participated in sports during the First Semester, your hard work at trainings has clearly paid off. If you didn’t get involved this semester, we still have plenty of other sports coming up in Semester Two, including Football, Tennis, AFL and Badminton. Thank you also to the sports reps who, despite being busy with University work, put in a lot of hours and effort to ensure that the residents get an opportunity to play the sports they love.

Arts

Similar to sports, ANU holds an annual Interhall Arts Competition which runs throughout the academic year. Unlike sports though, Johns has unfortunately never attained the Interhall Arts Shield. Although this is the case, during the First Semester the Johns residents have done exceptionally well in arts events. Arts events during the First Semester included Debating, Trivia, 40 hours of Film, Theatre sports, Chess and Big Night Out. Some of the best results came from our Trivia team which came a staggering tied 2nd and our Debating team which ended up in a respectable 7th place. However, the highlight of Semester One was a 4th place in the annual ANU Big Night Out competition.

The ANU Big Night Out is a ‘Battle of the Bands’ styled competition where each ANU hall/residence submits a band on their behalf. Due to Covid, 2022 was the first year for this to go ahead in 3 years. The Johns Band members included Johns residents: Saxon Purcell, Oscar Arnott, Liam McSweeney, Georgia Perry, Ella Edwards-Smith, Daniel Rodi, Oscar Platt, Molly Keegan and Louis Sturm. With resounding renditions of old classics such as ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Dreams’ in front of 1,500 ANU students the Johns band did an incredible job. The evening was incredibly fun and a 4th place finish topped it off as one of the best nights of Semester One 2022.

With many more arts events lined up for Semester Two the ressies are hopeful that we can push for a top 5 finish in the arts competition this year. Again, I would like to thank the Residents Association Arts representatives Liam, Tom and Saxon for all their hard work and effort this semester.

If you have any questions about events in Semester One and upcoming events in Semester Two please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Jamie Graham John XXIII College RA President 2022

John xxiii Ball

Let’s hear from a first-year

A first-year student at John College, Sarah Curtis.

How have you found your time here so far?

The past 6 months in the 23 community have been a blur of starting courses, meeting people, and settling into the welcoming atmosphere at the college. Since the awkward meets and greets of O-Week, the college has been nonstop with an abundance of sports, social, music, and arts events that have helped form many friendships.

When choosing which university to attend the “mainland” had an overwhelming number of options. In the end Curtis, my brother, a second-year resident at Johns convinced me ANU and Johns was the one. When I first moved up to Canberra for the big move-in day, being the only first-year from Tassie and only knowing Curtis was a daunting feeling. This feeling quickly melted away from the welcoming and friendly staff and second years. Johns mantra, ‘put your hand up to get involved and put your hand up to ask for help’ for both participating in sport, enrolling in courses, and attending events assisted with the smooth transition to college. The first years are excited for bush week and to continue to settle in and welcome new faces over the remainder of the year.

Sports at John xxIII

Sports in Semester One at Johns has been a huge success once again with four championships and seven grand finals made.

Term One consisted of Touch Rugby, Volleyball, Ultimate Disc and Road Relay. After undefeated pool stage games for both Male and Female identifying Touch Rugby teams, both teams entered the Grand Final eager to leave as the victors. The Girls started the day off against Burton and Garran Hall in an enthralling encounter which entered extra time before eventually falling short. Congratulations to Charlie Brigstocke who was names Johns MVP. The lads also entered the Grand Final undefeated and faced familiar opponent Ursula Hall for the second year running. After going down an early try a spirited second half saw the lads on top and the first Johns premiership of the year was won. Hugo Weymouth was named MVP and was the Grand Finals Best Player. Well done Brick.

Led by coaches Katie Economos and Micah Zhao, Johns participated in the Volleyball with some surprising results. The girls finished the pool stage undefeated and fell agonizingly short of a grand final, losing out in the semis. Coach Katie Economos was also named as the Johns MVP. The lads came in not knowing much about volleyball but a quick YouTube search and a shaky start in the first game was erased as a come from behind victory against Griffin Hall led to a semifinal berth. We rightfully got what we deserved a huge loss at the hands of Bruce Hall in the semi-final but fourth place was secured. The Johns MVP was James Larkey truly a spectacular player.

Ultimate disc is the ANU ISO sports first mixed gender game consisting of equal Male and Female identifying players. Disc is one of the most popular sports on the ISO sport calendar and drew a number of huge crowds during Term One. An exciting semi-final against rivals Burgmann College went down to the wire in front of a huge crowd at Fellows Oval. A late score meant Johns were into yet another final in Term One. However, Griffin Hall was the better team in the final and second place was where we finished. Congratulations to Sports Rep Eugenie Rickard and Robbie Matthews-Lane for receiving the Johns MVPs.

The final event for Term One was Road Relay. Thank you to all of the first-year volunteers who helped set up the event and who ran for Johns. A strong field meant only 9th place could be achieved however considering the circumstances a massive effort. George Cox-Williams and Liv Tallis were the best of the runners and were head and shoulders above the rest. Well done to them.

The inaugural John XXIII College Canberra vs St. Johns College Sydney Netball and Rugby Match was held in Sydney and provided an exciting opportunity to mix with students outside of Canberra. A big thank you to Vice-President Sarah Manwaring and resident Jack Graham for organising the event. It was a hugely successful day with both the Men and Women winning the Rugby Union and Netball respectively in a two highly spirited encounters. Thank you to all involved and we can’t wait to hopefully continue this tradition into the future.

Term 2

Term 2 was a hugely successful one for Johns with three championships won from four grand finals. Heading into the second term Johns were sitting on top of the sports shield with a 4-point lead over Rivals Burgmann College.

Basketball was up first, and Johns were looking to get some redemption from last year’s finals. The Girls were undefeated once again heading into the Grand Final. However, they fell at the hands of Burton and Garran. A huge effort to make consecutive grand finals from the girls they should all be very proud of their efforts. Sascha Bennett was named as MVP. The Boys found themselves in the grand final and were also undefeated to this point. An emphatic win against last years winners Bruce Hall meant the lads had won their second title of the year. First Year Charlie Checketts was named as MVP.

Hockey was next and the hype was building before the first game even began. The reigning champion Girls looked to follow suit again this year however, the other colleges had strengthened since and all the girls could muster was 5th place. First year Amelia Barry was named as MVP. The Boys looked to improve on last year’s 4th placed finish and moved

swiftly into a semi-final against reigning premiers Bruce Hall. An exciting match with a packed-out crowd at Willows Field went into a Penalty Shootout after the teams couldn’t be split after regular time. Bruce Hall’s experience in Hockey meant we were no match and we eventually went down. A similar result occurred the next day in the 3rd verses 4th playoff where Burgmann won in a penalty shootout. Well done to Hockey MVP Thomas Brightling.

AFL 9s is a modified format of AFL which is made to be more enjoyable and is played in a smaller space with less players. This format is only played by female identifying players and is one of the most popular on the Semester One calendar. After a thrilling opening round match against Burgmann where we went down by 4 points after a controversial late goal by the opposition the girls never looked back and went on to win the remaining games to take their first premiership of the year defeating Wright Hall in a low scoring tight match. Congratulations to all the girls who trained and played in the team and MVP and Captain Mimi Barnes.

Later on that day of the Girls AFL 9s Grand Final the Men played in the Rugby 7s final against familiar opponent Ursula Hall. An undefeated run to this point in the competition meant that it was only a matter of time before Johns claimed yet another premiership. And that’s exactly what occurred. MVP Stuart Dingley maintained his 100% try scoring record in every game and Johns soared to a 3 tries to 0 victory. The second final won by Johns in the one day. A huge achievement capping off a monster term for Johns.

At the end of the semester Johns now has a 49-point lead in the sports shield. Well done to all that were involved in sports throughout the semester, and I can’t wait to see how the College performs in the next one.

Sean Metelovski Student

John XXIII Sports

John XXIII Sports

John XXIII ANNUAL GALA

GALA MArch 2022

at john xxiii college

Below are a couple of recent pictures of the new facilities, in the next edition of The Pelican we will be celebrating all that is good about the new build which is set to be completed in September 2022.

Hello, my name is Cheryl Jolly and I have joined the College while Hollie McGowan, Community Engagement Manager takes a short break.

I’m looking forward to and I’m excited to be connecting with you and our broader community over the next few months.

Some of the activities and events that I will be focussing on are developing ongoing connections with our Alumni as well as our current and future students. Strengthening the ties with our immediate community and developing new connections within the greater Canberra community with the aim of supporting our students.

Another key focus will be the official opening of the new college facilities. For those of you who have lived through the construction I’m sure that you are looking forward to seeing the final result. I’m looking forward to hearing your stories, your testimonials and life experiences from your time at the College. We will use this to create a timeline and storyline for those who have been following the build.

Please stay connected with us and follow us on our social media channels. Like our posts, share our stories with your connections both current and former students. Send us your memories of your time at the College.

The Pelican is a bi-annual publication to report on the recent fun events, activities and achievements achieved by the community of John XXIII College.

51 Daley Road, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia

+61 2 6125 6900

General Enquiries: enquiries@johnxxiii.anu.edu.au

Special thanks to all our contributers and especially our Community Relations Manager, Bree Mee.

www.johnxxiii.anu.edu.au Find us on Instagram @johnxxiiicollege_anu