Head of CollegeJas Lincoln

It has been a busy yet rewarding Semester at John XXIII, highlighted by the Official Opening of our completed renovations of the Johns building. The building scope was to mesh the old with the new. Our new facilities have proven to be innovative in terms of architecture and opportunities created, whilst acknowledging our foundations and history remain relevant. We have created spaces for study, socializing and connection that are utilized every day, and our magnificent foyer which connects the entrance and the Chapel has an ambiance that is first class. This has led to recent awards for both our architects and builders involved in the scope of works, and we congratulate Cox Architects and Capcorp Construction for their deserved success as well as thanking the College Board for their vision.

To have speakers at our opening including our Board Chairman, Mr John Harris and Deputy Vice Chancellor of ANU, Professor Grady Venville was wonderful. Both speeches reaffirmed our strong belief in a connected community of care and aspiration. It was also extremely special to have the official blessing conducted by the Prior Provincial of the Dominican Order, the Very Reverend Fr Dominic Murphy OP.

On the student front, it has been wonderful to commence the year and conclude the Semester at capacity. The students have embedded a culture of support and camaraderie that is the very essence of a key value of the College, ‘Spirit’. The energy created, whether in sporting matches across and beyond the campus, social events, or in support of each other when undertaking challenges, coordinating academic mentoring, getting around the Blood Drive or in support of the College Band at big events, is the epitome of the Johns journey. I believe it is this ‘spirit’ that embeds the character of our college, further it is the heart of what it means to truly achieve ‘companionship’ which creates the life-long relationships which the College prides itself on.

John XXIII boasts thousands of alumni who are contributing to the corporate world, public sector, private enterprise and most importantly, to the broader community at every level. The opportunity to engage with these inspiring people is something that the College is keen to do, with a major focus of ‘blending’ the past and the present in the hope of creating connections and mentorship for the students of today. We have learned that there are people gathering with friends from the College across the country, and we would love to hear these stories and bring relevance to how we can create connection opportunities for past students as much as our current cohort.

To that end, our newly appointed Advancement Manager, Mrs Cheryl Jolly has been working behind the scenes with her team in preparation for our Sydney gathering of our Johns Alumni Community (JAC). This event will be held on the 15th of March, 2024 at the Grace Hotel in the city and we encourage you to ‘Save the Date’ for this inaugural gathering next year.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the student leadership team in 2023. We have 56 leaders at the College, who contribute holistically to the university journey of every individual who resides here. Combined with the 36 wonderful staff, the College has no less than 90 people who are fully invested in the student journey. It is the galvanizing of these teams, led in particular by our President, Josie Bates and Deputy Head of College, Dee Marrapodi, that has seen such an outstanding start to the year. I am grateful to work in a community where our ‘College spirit’ is what sets us apart and I am excited for what lies ahead.

Jas Lincoln Head of College