SANCTA MAGAZINE APRIL 2019

0 2 FRO M T H E P RI N CIPA L 16 S A N C TA E XC EL L EN C E 3 2 P RO FES S IO N A L M EN TO RI N G

ANNUAL GALA DINNER+ALUMNI AWARDS 2019

GUEST SPEAKER LORETTA JOSEPH

THURSDAY 23 MAY 2019 | 6:00 – 9:30 PM THE GREAT HALL, THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY SCIENCE RD, CAMPERDOWN NSW 2050 DRESS CODE: BLACK TIE OPTIONAL

We warmly invite you to join us as we celebrate Sancta and our enduring tradition of empowering humanity.

• Student performances • Drinks, canapés and three-course dinner • Luxury raffle • Sancta Alumni Awards 2019 presentation • Fresher Year/Grad House Reunion tables available TABLE/SEATING DETAILS Individual Tickets: Please provide seating requests and dietary requirements by mail, email or phone.

Tables: Please provide all guest names and dietary requirements by email or mail.

E marketingdevelopment@sancta.edu.au M 61 403 921 425 TICKETS • Online via our website at sancta.edu.au (please note that online purchases will incur a third-party site booking fee) • Credit card over the phone by calling T 02 9577 2100 • Bank transfer, credit card or cheque – fill out the form below

Alumna and global FinTech leader Loretta Joseph (Fresher 1988) on “Blockchain to Empower Humanity” “Sister Shan really made us feel like we could do anything we wanted to do. She cemented my self-belief and made sure I studied hard. I wasn’t the best student and I was often in her office for the wrong reasons, but she embraced my quirks and kept me focussed on the end goal”.

Today, Loretta is the advisor and regulator for 27 governments and counting on blockchain, having written the technology’s first adopted legislation, with a focus on anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism. She works with world leaders, regulatory bodies, and sits on The Vatican’s Humanity 2.0 Papal Council to imagine and realise new solutions to poverty and all of its symptoms.

DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIP We are seeking sponsors and donors to help us raise $1m towards residential scholarships and bursaries for students with financial need.

Can you donate luxury items or experiences for this event?

Are you able to make a monetary contribution?

Contact the Office of Marketing and Development at: E marketingdevelopment@sancta.edu.au M 61 403 921 425 Please note: This event is for persons aged 16+. Underage guests will be given wristbands and will not be served alcohol.

CALL SANCTA OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK YOUR TABLE OR TICKET/S EARLY BIRD PRICES – ORDER BEFORE 17 MAR 2019

TICKET ORDER FORM 1. Direct Deposit

This edition of SANCTA

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All meals Please this order form with your seating and/or table The College motto – Walk in Wisdom – was laidenclose out NAME OF CARDHOLDER arewith provided, as well as specialised academic and guest details along your method of payment to: by our Founders and has remained the mission of professional mentoring, and there are countless Marketing and Development Manager, Sancta Sophia College every generation of College leaders throughout ways to involve NSW oneself in the cultural, spiritual, 8 Missenden Road Camperdown, 2050 SIGNATURE our 93-year history. The Sancta tradition of social and sporting life of the College.

C O N T E N T S APRIL 2019 We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

02 From the Principal

04 Sancta Snapshot

08 From the student leaders

16 Josie Clarke – From flood plain to the city

18 Alumna and global FinTech leader – Loretta Joseph

30 The Power of Giving – our plan for the future

32 Sancta’s professional mentoring program

42 Sancta Global - celebrating our international and exchange students

46 The Anser Launch

The editor has compiled SANCTA from various sources. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the information published is accurate, the editor cannot accept responsibility for inaccuracies in the content or authenticity of that information.

C ELEBR ATING AN ENDURING TR ADITION 02

The University of Sydney’s College communities have been prompted over the past few years to open their eyes to their respective cultures. For Sancta, this journey of review has not been about damage control, but rather about refinement and amplification.

Sancta has always lived out a different story; a story of consistently high academic performance, female empowerment, safety and support for all. We’ve not traditionally been great at telling that story – an effect of our tendency towards humility and ‘quiet achievement’.

I believe it is time for the Sancta community to be more vocal about what makes us special, and what makes us different.

Students are, time and time again, the best at articulating this: “I got a different feeling when I visited Sancta for the first time – no pretention, no intimidation…

I already felt at home” “Sancta was my second choice when I applied to colleges. I look back now and realise that missing out on my first choice and thus ending up at Sancta, was the best thing that could have happened to me” “Sancta girls look out for each other. We rise above the petty stuff”.

“Sancta’s Postgraduate men become champions of respect for women simply by being here – they are entering a community with values too strong to be misrepresented” Beyond being a safe and supportive place for women and men — consistently for 92 years — we have always been an organisation that

seeks to give opportunities and voices to those without them.

Our pioneering leaders – the Religious Sisters of the Sacred Heart – advocated for countless young women to secure scholarship support that would grant them access to a University of Sydney education — support which led to some of the first graduating female doctors in Australia.

For many decades, our students visited the mothers and children of St Anthony’s Home in Croydon to provide food, clothes and support, and our ‘Wisdom Forums’ have become an institution in themselves, inspiring a culture of debate and action around social issues.

Our alumni is generously decorated with social impact heroines across countless fields including disabled rights advocacy, human rights, charity, education and more. In the past ten years alone, more than six Sancta alumnae and past staff have been appointed membership to the Order of Australia for their contributions to society.

This unrelenting tradition of social action has been steadfastly maintained by today’s Sancta residents. Our students are fast to act when an environmental disaster affects regional Australia, scrambling to generate awareness and support wherever they can, producing events and campaigns so polished that one wonders where they find the time to also land themselves on Deans’ lists.

They volunteer on Sydney’s streets, engaging with the city’s forgotten citizens, serving food and helping with laundry. We see it in our Postgraduate community’s

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commitment to champion a mature culture centred around respect not only for women, but for diversity in general. We even see it in the way our student leaders engage with their neighbours to organise activities, compete, and resolve disputes.

When I think about the immense contribution that every single Sancta student manages to make in one academic year, I truly wish that I were placed to recognise them all through scholarship support.

Furthermore, I think about the thousands of young women and men for whom the Sancta experience is simply too far out of reach. I wish I could make Sancta accessible to more of them, enabling us to further amplify our role as an empowerment machine for greater society.

2019 is about celebrating Sancta – we are a community that knows who we are, and we hold our heads high when we look back on our story from 1926 to today. Please, join us on Thursday 23 May 2019 in celebration of the mark we continue to make on the world.

Annual Gala Dinner and Alumni Awards 2019 Thursday 23 May, 6:00pm – 9:30pm

Fiona Hastings Principal

SA N C TA

S N APS H OT

1 Brigid Carrigan with Sr Mary Shanahan and Sancta’s new Notre Dame Medicine students at their Blessing of the Hands Ceremony in March 2019 (Absent from photo: Javaria Chaudhry) 2 L-R Sister Pauline Verschaffelt RSCJ, Alumna Fresher 1980 Cheryl Walters, Sister Mary Shanahan RSCJ, Alumna and current Vice Principal Brigid Carrigan and Sister Catherine Quilligan RSCJ in the 1980s.

3 Inaugural Sancta Sleepover. 4 September: Postgraduate Alumna Dipti Shankar writes, produces and directs the Notre Dame Med Revue, “Bulk Billy Elliot”. 5 Sancta Open Day 2018.

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2019

2 JULY Brigid Carrigan (Fresher 1981, Senior Student 1984) commenced as our new Vice Principal.

AUGUST: > Palladian Debating weekend > Palladian Vocal Ensemble performance > The University of Sydney Open Day 2018 and inaugural Sancta Sleepover: Year 12 students from across NSW came to stay at Sancta overnight to experience life at Sancta. > Sancta Safari: Sancta’s informal event of the year, see the album in Social Pages (page 36) >M edicine Academic Mentoring Event SEPTEMBER: > Palladian Art show > Law Academic Mentoring Event

> Science Academic Mentoring Event > Sancta Speaks: speakers were Madigan Aranda and Danny Zhang > R U OK? Dinner > Business Academic Mentoring Event

> Spotlight on the Sophs: leadership information evening for potential student leaders

> Athletics Carnival - Sancta comes first, winning the Carnival and coming 2nd in Rosebowl

> Wisdom Forum on “The marginalisation of muslims in Australia”

> Group drama performance

OCTOBER:

> Medical Science and Pharmacy Academic Mentoring Event

> Academic Mentoring events for Nursing, Applied Health Sciences, Education and Veterinary Science

> Father’s Day Dinner > Engineering and Architecture Academic Mentoring Event

>A nnual General Meeting of the Senior Common Room: new SCR leaders elected (more information on page 09)

>D entistry Academic Mentoring Event >G roup instrumental performance

> Annual General Meeting of the Student’s Association: new House Committee and secretary positions elected (more information on page 10)

> Sancta Alumna Postgraduate 2017 Dipti Shankar writes, produces and directs the Notre Dame Medicine Revue, “Bulk Billy Elliott”, which was highly acclaimed.

> Sydney University Medical Society Annual General Meeting: several Sancta students elected to leadership positions.

> Arts Academic Mentoring Event

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> Athletics Victory Dinner > Missenden Road Players (Sancta and St John’s performance) > Formal (see page 34) > Vale (see page 8) > Intercol Sports Dinner Penelope King is awarded Intercol Hockey MVP award NOVEMBER: >E nd of Year Drinks: guests enjoyed an entertaining inaugural intergenerational debate on whether Sancta should introduce mandatory academic dress.

DECEMBER > Two Sancta alumnae establish new STEM scholarships for regional women, adding to our scholarship program.

SA N C TA

S N APS H OT

2019

1 END OF YEAR DRINKS 2018: Intergenerational debate adjudicators Samuel Buswell, Alumna Fresher 1957 Dr Sue Kelly and Rita Andraos. 2 Penelope King is awarded Intercol Hockey MVP award, October 2018. 3 Open Day 2018. 4 International Women’s Day March 2019.

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JANUARY

MARCH

> Sancta Alumna Janene Cootes (nee Simpson) is appointed as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her outstanding career in social work and disabled rights advocacy. Janene is currently the Executive Officer of the Intellectual Disability Rights Service.

> International Women’s Day – Some Sancta students and staff broke from lunch on Friday 8 March to strike the pose related to the 2019 IWD theme #BalanceforBetter

FEBRUARY > Commencement 2019 > Welcome Week 2019

> Palladian Solo Instrumental – we congratulate Fresher 2019 Lucy ClarkeRandazzo for placing 3rd in the competition with a captivating violin performance; we also commend the extraordinary piano piece performed by Fresher 2018 and regular Sancta music representative Cassie Parke. Both students are

studying at The University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

COMING UP APRIL/MAY > Wisdom Forum on Medical Ethics > Rosemary Morrow (Fresher 1966) will accept The University of Sydney’s Alumni Award 2019 for International Achievement, in recognition of her permaculture and education work internationally. Rosemary has been enabling impoverished and refugee communities around the world to grow their social, environmental and economic resilience

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through permaculture systems and education; she is a highly respected leader in the permaculture and humanitarian fields.

She studied Agriculture at The University of Sydney and Rural Sociology at Sorbonne University in Paris and co-founded the Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute. > Annual Gala Dinner and Alumni Awards 2019 a night not to be missed, held in The Great Hall of USyd for the first time.

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FROM THE 2019 STUDENT LEADERS

By Samuel Buswell Senior Common Room President

With Welcome Week coming to an end, it is already obvious this year at Sancta will be a great year.

The level of student involvement and the sense of community developing amongst the Postgraduates both new and old generates excitement.

The focus this year for Postgraduates at Sancta is community and involvement; involvement within our own community of Postgraduates and the College as a whole.

Despite undertaking rigorous degrees, I challenge all Postgraduates to focus on their work-life balance — study efficiently and try to enjoy the process. Take advantage of the countless opportunities within Sancta.

Your presence and participation in the social, sporting, cultural and academic life of Sancta will enrich our culture of community and will further strengthen our intercollegiate competitiveness.

In particular, I encourage athletes of all skill levels to try out for Sancta sport teams. Sport at Sancta is a great way to get to know other Sancta students as you compete in front of the Sancta cheer squad. You do not have to be an ex-Olympian to get involved in Sancta Sport; we compete in Rosebowl and Rawson as well as the more casual Intramural competition (which we won last year in both the male and female competitions).

At the universities we attend, whether it be USyd, UNSW, Notre Dame or UTS, you will encounter thousands of students who are highly competitive, and by all means, when you are out there in the trenches, give it your all. But when you come back to Sancta, leave it all behind, because here at Sancta we foster an environment of support. An environment where we share with each other our knowledge (and notes) so that all students at Sancta can collectively rise above the average.

2018 overall at Sancta was an amazing year, however, there is room for improvement and the Senior Common Room and myself, under the Principal and Council’s guidance, will tackle 2019 head on.

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By Rita Andraos Senior Student

I always had in mind that I wanted an enhanced university experience. For me, Sancta was the most exciting and obvious choice.

This was not because of the location, or because of the convenience of receiving amazing meals prepared three times a day, but because I knew I could be part of a community – a community of girls, who not only live together, but eat together, celebrate together, support each other and live through shared experiences.

At the time of applying, I didn’t know anyone in Sydney, let alone anyone living at Sancta. I was a little fish in a big pond!

For any incoming students in this position today, I completely empathise with how you are feeling. However, I can assure you that by the end of your first week, you will feel like Sancta is your home away from home.

I would like to share some important advice with you all. Firstly, in the words of Dr. Seuss, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose”. Put simply, you have all been given a clean slate – be whoever you want to be and branch out from your comfort zone!

Get to know the girl next to you, your roommate, your RA, the quiet ones, the outgoing ones, and the funky fresh down the hall. Everyone is so diverse and has their own personal story – you’ll grow so much by being open-minded.

Secondly, get involved – join in with the sporting, cultural, academic, social justice, and social events around the College. I can guarantee there will always be something for you to do. There is no need to be the best – it’s all about having a go and trying new things.

The more you put in, the more you will get out!

One of the most important things at Sancta is our spirit.

The Sancta crowd, decked out in our red and white, is one of the biggest, best and loudest crowds! Every year, we give the other colleges a run for their money in every competition, and with your involvement and enthusiasm, I look forward to this determination and performance continuing throughout 2019.

You all have all embarked on a completely new educational adventure. University will provide you with the opportunity to attain deeper knowledge of the things you’re passionate about, and to build skills for a career you’ve been dreaming of whilst having an amazing time doing it.

One of the hardest things for you this year will be managing to live at College, go to Uni, work, and maintain a social life whilst simultaneously managing the demands of young adulthood. Some days you will get the balance right and some days you won’t.

But, as a community, we support each other. You are so lucky to be in an automatic support network of people looking out for you. Utilise it and remember it is always okay to ask for help. We are all here for you.

(An excerpt from the Commencement Dinner speech of Rita Andraos, February 2019)

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To o ur Vale t a n t s a n d Gr a du a n d s o f 2 0 18, I express my gratitude, on behalf of all students and staff of Sancta, for your contributions to our community during your time here. I am always proud of the leadership and community mindedness displayed by Sancta women and men, whether or not they hold official leadership roles. 2018 saw Sancta maintain an excellent academic standard across the board and was one of the strongest Intercollegiate sporting years in our history.

Your membership to our community does not end here. I look forward to following your journeys into the future and we do hope to see you mid-year at our ‘6 months out’ reunion celebration. More details to come.

Fiona Hastings Principal

VA L E TA N T S A N D G R A D U A N D S

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VALEDICTORY AWARDS 2018

HOUSE COMMITTEE 2018

Award winners as voted for

by Sancta students and the Principal

Honorary Secretary Sophia Wright

Principal’s Award: Markarid Sarkissian

Senior Student Mary Schnelle Honorary Treasurer Jesseline Ingold Social Secretary Hannah O’Callaghan Sports Secretary Lucy Edwards

The Nita Macrae Award: Mary Schnelle

Cultural Secretary Lucinda Spence

The Sheila Hurley Cultural Award: Charlotte Webber

Social Justice and Sponsorship Secretary Josie Clarke

The Jean Daly Oration Award: Ellie Solomons

Junior Intercol Representative Emma Clark

Sportswoman of the Year: Caitlin O’Shea Sportsman of the Year: Alexander “Boi” Lubis Yvonne Swift Individual Achievement Award: Viola Yu

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Liturgical Secretary Markarid Sarkissian

Senior Intercol Representative Amelia Bryant Senior Year Representative Cristina Lucas Sophomore Year Representative Matilda Single Fresher Year Representative Tate Kiddle

We congratulate all Sancta Valetants and Graduands.Â

SENIOR COMMON ROOM AND SECRETARIES 2018 President Behzad Memarzadeh Secretary Isobel Rowe Treasurer Elizabeth Mansourian Sports Representative William Adams Cultural Representative Charlotte Webber Social Representative Caitlin O’Shea Academic Representative Anivartha Herur Social Justice Representative Louisa Sondergeld Food Representative Samuel Buswell Photo Secretary Alexander Boi Lubis Intramural Sports Secretary Danny Zhang Intramural Cultural Secretary Angelica Chowdhury Editor-in-Chief of The Anser Apurv Yadav Chief Gardener Kishen Sukumar

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1 Valetants and Graduands releasing balloons. 2 Undergraduate Valetants Lucy Goodrick and Tayla Watt. 3 Inside the Dining Hall.

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VA L E TA N T S

A N D

G R A D U A N D S

4 2018 Sportswoman of the Year, Postgraduate Nursing student Caitlin O’Shea. 5 Postgraduate Valetant Paul King. 6 Sancta Receptionist Miki Kyaw and Dean of Admissions and Studies Mia Trinidad.

7 2019 Senior Resident Assistant Elizabeth Redpath and Spanish exchange student Gemma Gallardo HazaĂąas. 8 Undergraduates Cassie Parke, Khyati Kakwani and Carmel Hall. 9 Alexandria Everett and Casey Griffith. 10 Postgraduates Harleen Aulakh, Dipti Shankar, Jessie Meijer, Keara Beatrix Chan and Sahil Singh. 11 Senior Student 2018 Mary Schnelle, Cultural Secretary 2018 Lucinda Spence and Liturgical Secretary & Senior Resident Assistant Markarid Sarkissian. 12 Postgraduate Valetants Sachini Wickramarachchi and Harleen Aulakh.

13 Graduand Martha Shikhule with Principal Fiona Hastings and Council Chair Cathleen Crossley.

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13 SECRETARIES 2018 College Council Representative Rita Andraos Dance Secretary Alice Morrison Debating Secretary Ellie Solomons Drama Secretary Gabrielle Vella Palladian Art Secretary Alice Schwager Music Secretary Lucy Goodrick Instrumental Secretary Gwyneth Au Photo Secretary Matilda Macqueen Other Universities Secretary Jessica Ambler Semi Formal Secretary Elsa Presslaber Formal Secretary Jessica Kong

Informal Secretary Alexandria Everett Cheer Secretaries Tayla Watt Bailee Brown Guest Speaker Secretary Lilli Thompson Sancta Ambassador Representative Elsa Presslaber Gabrielle Karagiannis Food Secretary Madigan Aranda Vocal Secretary Antoinette Radford Merchandise Secretaries Georga Knight Bridie MacPhail Publications Secretaries Gabrielle Vella Matilda Macqueen Cumberland Campus Secretary Lucy Edwards

Conservatorium of Music Secretary Lucy Goodrick

Tennis Georgina Harrison

Environment Secretary Emma Clark

Athletics Phoebe McGeoch James Healy

Intramural Secretary Charlotte Target

RESIDENT ASSISTANTS 2018

SPORTS SECRETARIES 2018

Markarid Sarkissian (Senior RA)

Netball Imogen Leary

Rita Andraos

Swimming Amy Phillips Andrew Honda

Harleen Aulakh

Rowing Madigan Aranda Nicholas Kellow

Alexandria Everett

Hockey Ellen Brown

Bridie MacPhail

Soccer Molly Windsor

Alice Morrison

Basketball Emily Matthews Mahindra Ramani

Elizabeth Redpath

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Mekhala Anjaria Taylor Bramble Caitlin Chant Therese Kelly Andrew Leigh Amelia-Anne Merz Elsa Presslaber Isobel Rowe Charlotte Webber

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VA L E TA N T S First name

Surname

Gaurav Ahuja Bianca Almeida Ruikun An Gwyneth Au Georgina Brandon Amelia Bryant Annabelle Carter Keara Chan Sharon Chang Josie Clarke Karen Gao Saarah Hassen Katherine Huang Nicholas Kellow Georga Knight Alexander Boi Lubis Bridie MacPhail Jesse Meijer Nikolaos Papadopoulos Jordyn Price Wenbo Song Claire Steven Juliette Suermondt Eleanor Turnbull Simone Windrim

14 2018 Sancta Valetants. 15 Undergraduate Valetants/Alexandria Everett, Casey Griffiths and Katie Chittick. 16Postgraduate Student

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Claire Steven and Undergraduate Emily Matthews. 17 2018 Sancta Graduands.

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G R A D U A N D S RETURNING TO SANCTA First name Surname Jessica Ambler Cindy Chang Jessica Chen Maraia Pickering Shikhule Martha GRADUANDS LEAVING SANCTA First name Surname

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William Adams India Anderson Mekhala Anjaria Harleen Aulakh Natalie Ball Georgia Booth Elena Buenrostro Chloe Cant Molly Carr Georgia Carrigan Mary Carter Annika Cavanagh Caitlin Chant Wendy Chen Samantha Cherian Katie Chittick Angelica Chowdhury Louise Connell Fleur Connick Hunter Corvin Lucy Cumming Georgia Cusack

Janice Davis Rebecca Egan Alexandria Everett Megan Findlay Felicity Galbraith Gemma Gallardo Hazañas Millicent Gordon Prue Gordon Aubrey Gray Casey Griffiths Hana Gross Lachlan Hegarty Nadjaliette Hernandez Lopez Anivartha Herur Andrew Honda Ziyuan Huang Claudia Hunter Jesseline Ingold Charlotte Inwood Alice Ireland Ruchira Jayasena May Johnson Sophie Jordan Aashima Juneja Gabrielle Karagiannis Paul King Jacqueline Krynda Tiffany Kwong Olivia Lalak Lilly Lay Imogen Leary Andrew Leigh Roscoe Lim Zehui Liu Cristina Lucas Matilda Macqueen Grace McClintock Eliza McGowan

Isabella McGrath Behzad Memarzadeh Alessandro Merli Emily Moroney Isabella Mullan Madeline Murrie Katelyn O’Reilly Teresa Ortega Meghana Pampapathi Grace Pang Sarah Parsons Beixi Peng Gabrielle Perry Elsa Presslaber Isobel Rowe Rocío Ruiz-Gallardón Utrera Markarid Sarkissian Mary Schnelle Dipti Shankar Sahil Singh Matilda Single Kirsten Smith Ellie Solomons Lucinda Spence Alexandra Touw Gabrielle Vella Sharon Wang Tayla Watt Charlotte Webber Talia Weiss Lucy White Sachini Wickramarachchi Molly Windsor Clark Xie Victoria Xu Viola Yu Amanda Yung Zoe Zhou

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By Markarid Sarkissian Senior Resident Assistant and Liturgical Secretary 2018, Alumna Fresher 2016

J O S I E C L A R K E

FROM FLOOD PLAIN TO THE CITY I n 2 0 16, J o sie C lar k e le f t h e r h o m e o n t h e mid - n o r t h c o a s t n e ar K e m p s e y, N S W, t o e m b ar k on a new adventure: u ni v e r si t y. J o sie b e g a n a B a c h elo r o f S cie n c e a t T h e U ni v e r si t y o f S y d n e y.

1. J osie out in the field.

2. Josie with her father, Glen Clarke, at Sancta’s annual Father’s Day Dinner.

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only natural that her community is there for those suffering from drought. “A lot of my family friends are out west, so our community really got involved in making a hay run and we collected donations and stuff like that just to support other farmers. That’s what rural people do, people want to help each other out when things go wrong.”

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“I wanted a change. I wanted to go to a university that had the facilities and a good reputation for my course. I wanted to challenge myself and go for something different rather than move to another regional area. There’s a lot more opportunity for me in the city to study my degree, and bring it back home in the future.”

Moving away from home is a drastic change, especially for rural students, so College was the optimal accommodation for Josie.

“I thought I would be better off being at College because everyone’s in the same position — I’m moving from so far away, I won’t have to worry about cooking dinner; I knew I was so close to campus, so I wouldn’t have to worry about finding my way to uni. It’s a really easy way to get to meet people and form really good friendships over the years.”

Over her years at Sancta, Josie has been involved in all aspects of College. She has been a member of the Rosebowl soccer team for all three years, as well as involved in various other social sports. She has been on the Social Justice Sub-Committee since her first year, and at the end of 2017, Josie was elected onto the House Committee for 2018 as the Social Justice and Sponsorship Secretary. This leadership position allowed for Josie to organise fundraisers and social justice opportunities for Sancta students to be involved in, often reflecting current issues.

In 2018, the true extent of the prolonged drought was brought into the spotlight. Coming from a rural background, this was a very dear cause for Josie.

Josie’s hometown is located at the top of a flood-plain, so her family is no stranger to natural disaster. She recalls that when her community was struggling with floods, family friends from across NSW were the first to help out, sending hay and supplies. So it’s

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The drought has hit close to home for many of Sancta’s students, so Josie decided to organise a fundraising event to raise money for the Buy a Bale program, a charity that provides drought assistance to Australian farmers in more ways than one. The event, Graze to Raise, was hosted in the Sancta Quad and was attended by Sancta students, staff and parents as well as students from other Colleges.

“I thought it would be good to support [Buy a Bale] since a lot of Sancta girls are from drought affected areas. I guess that’s why I was passionate about it. It’s something that not just our College, but the other Colleges can get around and support, too.”

Josie’s passion for helping rural communities goes beyond social justice. Her degree allows for her to be involved in some groundbreaking research in the agricultural sphere. Towards the end of January, Josie was part of a research program in Narrabri at the Grains Research Centre. Here she has been conducting her own research project on different wheat varieties, trying to find out which variety is most resilient in drought conditions. “What I’m doing with the wheat might be able to help wheat farmers who might be in drought conditions. If they grow this wheat they might not lose as much crop, or lose as much yield or profit and keep going even in the tough times, which I think is really important.”

Prior to this, Josie completed an internship with Horticulture Innovation Australia on a blueberry and citrus farm near Bundaberg in Queensland, where she was working in agronomy and plant nutrition research. “That’s what I want to do in the future, work in science that can help other people. I definitely want to do something to do with environment and innovation for the future — helping develop plants, and looking into plant genetics to help with different, extreme climatic conditions.”

Josie is set to graduate from her Bachelor of Science from The University of Sydney in April of this year.

Photo credit: Business Magazine - K. Memraj Mahadoo

ALUMNA AND GLOBAL FINTECH LEADER

By Amy Coleman Marketing and Development Manager

L O R E T TA J O S E P H O N “B L O C K C H A I N T O E M P O W E R H U M A N I T Y” #weareallinthistogether #collaborationisthenewsurvival

I have been talking with Loretta about blockchain, her career, Sancta, and life in general via WhatsApp in recent months. She prefers WhatsApp over email these days. Loretta will speak at Sancta’s upcoming Annual Gala Dinner and Alumni Awards 2019 on Thursday 23 May. Trader turned FinTech leader Loretta Joseph has risen as a leader in socially responsible government and commerce.

She started from humble beginnings, having grown up in the mining and steel town of Lithgow, New South Wales.

Since her time at The University of Sydney ((when she resided at Sancta), she has forged an exceptional career in finance and today stands among some of the world’s most influential FinTech leaders and is an active humantarian.

Not only must her pioneering role in the uptake of blockchain technology be acknowledged; it is vital that she also be recognised as a key driver of its evolution as a tool to protect and increase the rights of some of the world’s most vulnerable.

Much of Loretta’s blockchain advocacy centres around the technology’s capacity to generate and protect data.

She believes that blockchain technology can play a role in increasing human access to personal identification, which could in turn increase vulnerable individuals’ agency and provide them with greater protection from crimes such as human trafficking.

“Blockchain technology is about data. Over 2 billion humans do not have access to banking because they do not have identification. Blockchain presents an opportunity to give identification to billions of us without it - allowing greater agency, mobility and security.”

These ideas are ones that she passionately shares with associates at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the humanitarian groups and governments for whom she is a consultant.

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“Collaboration is the new survival. We need governments, policy-makers and industry to adopt the technology and unite in the way we legislate around it. We need to collaborate if we are to derive the benefits it offers to humanity.”

fondly the unique style of mentoring provided to residents in the 1980s by then Principal, Sister Mary (Shan) Shanahan.

“Sister Shan really made us feel like we could do anything we wanted to do. She cemented my selfbelief and made sure I studied hard. I wasn’t the best student and I was often in her office for the wrong reasons, but she embraced my quirks and kept me focussed on the end goal”.

These are just some of Loretta’s achievements over the past ten years: • Developer of the first legislation on blockchain technology to be adopted by a government (Bermuda).

Over 27 governments have since adopted similar legislation, mostly with her consultation.

Loretta went on to forge a successful career in banking expanding banks into new overseas territories, consulting for countless high net worth clients, and trading across most markets over a span of 25 years.

• Engaged by The Vatican’s Humanity 2.0 Papal Council to explore solutions to poverty and human rights impediments with 100 other innovators from across industry and society.

In the early 2000s, Macquarie Bank asked Loretta to relocate to Mumbai to establish a new venture in India.

Loretta packed up her life in Sydney and boarded a plane with her daughter Sophie to start a very different life.

• Currently advising the South Australian Government on how to embed blockchain into their revised economic strategy.

It was in Mumbai that Loretta recalls her eyes being opened more widely than ever before to the lack of human rights and freedoms experienced by so many.

• Frequently invited to speak within the cryptocurrency enthusiast community (a world whose members would normally turn their noses up at an ex-banker hailing from the financial ‘bourgeoisie’ that they set out to disrupt some years ago).

“Raising a young daughter in India as a single mother was challenging, but our life there was very comfortable. We had a number of staff supporting us in our home. The 13-year old daughter of our maid was raped and murdered one day. There was little that could or would be done to bring her attackers to justice; one of the reasons for this was the lack of identification available for the victim and the criminals who so violently ended her life. Her family had no money and lived in a slum. We helped as much as we could. It broke my heart. I wanted to start doing more for the people with whom I was co-existing.”

• Working with the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money-Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) as a consultant.

• Producer of the film Hotel Mumbai which was released to world cinemas in 2019. The film tells the story of the 2008 terrorist attack inside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Her choice to be a producer of this film is personal; she was living in Mumbai, and inside the hotel at the time.

• A key member of the founding team for the Lamdon Jamyang School in Ladakh, India. A series of rainstorms had left over 6,000 people, including many Tibetan refugees, displaced and orphaned in the region. She successfully engaged the support of the Dalai Lama to open up Lamdon Jamyang, a school primarily for orphan children of the region.

• ‘Fintech Leader of 2017 Award’, Fintech Australia • ‘Female Leader of 2016’ Award, Fintech Australia She also sits on several advisory boards for regulatory bodies and universities in Australia and overseas.

Regardless of where Loretta’s journey takes her, Sancta continues to hold a special place in her heart. She recalls

Loretta’s growing humantiarian interest coincided with the pioneering years of blockchain technology. She saw the potential of this new technology and recalls reading ‘The Blockchain Revolution’ by Alex and Don Tapscott which became “a game changer” for her.

“I am for the greatest amount of efficiency I can get in the smallest amount of time. I don’t always believe what’s going on in the past should be in the future. I like to break the rules and maximise efficiency.”

From then (early 2000s to now), Loretta has moved around a lot, becoming a key player in financial technology and expanding her humanitarian commitment. She still visits India often where she conducts financial literacy workshops with women.

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Q&A QUESTION & ANSWER

Whilst in India, you became immersed in the belief systems and customs of various different religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism. How has this affected your own spiritual identity?

“I see value in all religions, and I see my own faith as a mixture of various beliefs and customs in which I see value, in addition to my ‘native’ Catholicism.

Yoga helps me immensely in my busy life; it keeps me centred. My spirituality has helped me to evolve as a human and navigate life. At the end of the day, I think that if you believe in a higher power, you’re fine. Do good, it will come back to you.”

How has your time at Sancta impacted on your values as a person and as a professional?

My time at Sancta taught me a lot of things. Sancta is a Sisters of the Sacred Heart community; the sense of community throughout the College has always been so strong. When things go wrong, we band together and support one another. These are values which I continue to carry with me; I approach my work with community and collaboration at the forefront.”

Who at Sancta inspired you?

Sister Shanahan and the Sancta community as a whole. The key message of Sancta was that we as women can do whatever we want. Shan instilled in us that we were powerful women.

What do you miss most about being a Sancta student?

Comradery. Community.

What would you say to your Sancta resident self back in 1988? What would you tell her about her future and who she is?

We rise and we lift others. We are all good enough.

Take advantage of the privilege of being a member of the Sancta community and all the opportunities.

Make the most of it.

What would your advice be to young women (and Sancta women, in particular) about entering the world of finance, considering the issue of male dominance in such a field?

You can do whatever you want. If someone tries to tell you that you can’t do something, it generally means that you can.

In February, Mauritius passed legislation regarding digital custodianship with Loretta’s advice and support; a part of the African nation’s plan to embrace blockchain into their economy. Loretta is currently based between Mauritius, France and Australia. The position taking up most of her time is with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris as an Advisor. She is in Australia as often as possible to visit her daughter Sophie who boards at Kincoppal Rose Bay, a Catholic girls’ school (also a Sacred Heart community) in Sydney’s east.

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W H AT I S BLOCKCHAIN? Here’s a good explanantion by Drew Ivan, a Healthcare Solution Strategist: Blockchain is an immutable, public, distributed ledger that anyone can read or write. Here’s a breakdown of what that means.

IMMUTABLE – data written to a blockchain can never be changed, so readers can be sure it was never altered.

PUBLIC – data on a blockchain is visible to everyone, which makes it perfect for storing public records like bitcoin transactions, land titles, and asset tags.

DISTRIBUTED – unlike a centralised ledger that is kept by a trusted institution, blockchain runs on an entire network of computers, meaning there is no single system that can fail or be compromised.

LEDGER – blockchain is suited to storing small transaction records, not large files.

Taken together, these characteristics allow two parties to trust one another based on the strength of the blockchain network without the need for a third-party institution like a bank or government.

Source: comparitech.com

S P O R T S

R E P O R T

GLORIOUS IN V IC TORY! ROSEBOWL Sancta had a phenomenal year of Sport in 2018, particularly with our achievements in the Rosebowl Cup. We started the year off strong by coming 3rd in Netball, 3rd in Swimming and 4th in Rowing.

Another proud moment was Sancta’s performance in Hockey, taking out 2nd in the competition. Second semester started out strong with another 2nd place in Soccer. Sancta’s efforts in Basketball and Tennis were also admirable. A consistent and determined effort in Athletics saw Sancta come 1st, a win that has not been achieved in Sport since 2015. A well deserved Victory Dinner was celebrated. The win at Athletics saw Sancta come 2nd overall in the Rosebowl Cup, a legendary result that sums up the tone of sports at Sancta for the year.

Special thanks goes to Lucy Edwards and the sports secretaries for their fantastic leadership and contribution to a well deserved result. Congratulations also goes to Penelope King for receiving the Intercollegiate MVP award for Hockey.

A full report of the Rosebowl Cup can be found on the SUSF Intercollegiate Sport website.

2018 SANCTA SECRETARIES AND AWARDS: Netball Secretary: Imogen Leary MVP: Louise Vincent Contribution: Eliza McGowan Swimming Secretary: Amy Philips MVP: Mackenzie Smith Contribution: Amy Philips Rowing Secretary: Madigan Aranda MVP: Sarah Parsons Contribution: Amelia Bryant Hockey Secretary: Ellen Brown MVP: Penelope King Contribution: Jessie Ambler Soccer Secretary: Molly Windsor MVP: Phoebe McGeoch Contribution: Katie Merriman Basketball Secretary: Emily Matthews MVP: Emily Matthews Contribution: Georgia Potter

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Tennis Secretary: Georgina Harrison MVP: Georgina Harrison Contribution: Jess Kong Athletics Secretary: Phoebe McGeoch MVP: Madigan Aranda Contribution: Abbey Connor RAWSON CUP Once again, Sancta’s postgraduate men participated in the Rawson Cup, representing Sancta honourably. Sancta’s men entered into the Swimming, Rowing, Basketball and Athletics competitions. Thank you to William Adams and the postgraduate secretaries for all their hard work this year!

2018 SECRETARIES AND AWARDS: Swimming: Andrew Honda Rowing: Nicholas Kellow Basketball: Mahindra Ramani Athletics: James Healy

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7 1 Sancta Athletics. 2 Sancta Rowing teams. 3 Sancta Rowing teams. 4 Rosebowl Swimming.

5 Sancta Tennis team. 6 Sancta Rosebowl Soccer team. 7 Sancta cheer squad. 8 Rosebowl Hockey

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C U LT U R A L R E P O R T PALL ADIAN CUP In 2018, Sancta and St John’s decided to revive “Missenden Road Players”, a joint production by the two Colleges. The chosen play for 2018 was “The Virtuous Burglar”, which was performed on 17 October at Manning Bar to a full crowd of amused Sancta and St John’s students.

A huge congratulations is owed to all involved in the production. The Palladian Cup was also well enjoyed, with debating, art and group ensembles of instrumental, vocal and drama taking place. Congratulations to Lucinda Spence and the Cultural Secretaries for their success in 2018.

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SECRETARIES AND AWARDS: Dance

Palladian Art

Vocal

1 The Virtuous Burglar: Sancta

Secretary: Alice Morrison

Secretary: Alice Schwager

Contribution Awards: Elizabeth Rose and Bella Nolan

Contribution Awards: Anne Leven-Marcon and Eloise Coleman

Secretary: Antoinette Radford

2 Palladian in 2019 - in March,

Debating/Oration

Music

Secretary: Ellie Solomons

Secretary: Lucy Goodrick

Contribution Awards: Carmel Hall and Jeanne Hamman Drama Secretary: Gabrielle Vella

Instrumental Secretary: Gwyneth Au Contribution Awards: Cassie Parke, Eulalia Angeli and Kathryn Soen

Contribution Awards: Alice Best and Elena Turunen

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Contribution Awards: Dipti Shankar and Bella Nolan

and St John’s Missenden Road Players 2018.

Fresher Lucy Clarke-Randazzo placed 3rd in Palladian Solo Instrumental.

3 Palladian: Sancta residents and

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stars of ‘4th SRC Meeting of

Overall Cultural Contribution: Cassie Parke and Elena Turunen

Thompson, Charlotte Target and

the Year’ Elena Turunen, Lilli Ellie Solomons.

4 Palladian: Sancta residents and ‘LAB2032’ stars (L-R) Molly Ley, Bella Nolan, Jess Ingold and Cristina Lucas.

S A N C TA’ S

C H A P E L

1 Markarid Sarkissian Alumna Fresher 2016, Liturgical Secretary and Senior RA 2018

Sancta’s Chapel is not just a place of worship. Over the years, the chapel has been used for many different purposes that reflect what it means to different people.

Students have been known to sit quietly in the chapel to read or reflect.

I’ve even seen some students FaceTime (video chat) their family from the Chapel, as it can sometimes be the only place in the College where one won’t be disturbed. The Chapel is often also used for choir, vocal and instrumental practices, which I personally find quite beautiful and poetic. Meditation and reflection sessions are also held in the Chapel on occasion, especially during exam periods, and are open to all students

and staff. Also during exam periods, the Chapel is fitted with desks and chairs to be used as a space for learning and study. This year, the Chapel was used during Vale for the presentation of the sashes, where Valetants and Graduands officially received their sashes. This was an emotional ceremony for many, as the Chapel was where most students’ commencement ceremony began when they first came to Sancta. Of course, our Sunday evening Masses retain our Chapel as a place of

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worship, as we have many members of our community and visitors join us for this celebration on a regular basis throughout the year.

Very often people are unsure how to act in chapels if they are not strictly practicing Catholics. However, the fact that students have come to feel comfortable with our Chapel says a lot about the kind of space that it is — a space of comfort, refuge, reflection and meditation. The space has created its own unique meaning with every student through its multi-function and represents more than simply our College’s Catholic tradition.

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5 1-6 2018 Vale Ceremony in the Chapel

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SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORT

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This year, Sancta’s Social Justice secretaries and their committee members have raised significant amounts and increased community awareness for the causes of various charities.

Some of the causes included the Buy a Bale campaign and School for Life.

This is not including item donations made to charities such as St Vincent de Paul, the Newtown Asylum Seekers Centre, Bear Cottage, donations of blood and plasma to the Red Cross, as well as other donations of time and volunteering efforts. A massive congratulations goes to Josie Clarke and Louisa Sondergeld for leading these initiatives, and to their subcommittees for their continued efforts.

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to Raise 2018 was a successful afternoon event enjoyed by all, raising funds in support of Rural Aid. 6 Social Justice Committee members

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P O W E R

O F

GI V ING When someone is loved first, the natural response is to love in return. I have spoken about the heart of Sancta. Well, at the heart of this very special scholarship is both love and affirmation, not simply the remission of fees.” excerpt from the 2018 Launch event speech of Louisa Sondergeld (Inaugural Recipient of the Sister Shanahan Scholarship, Graduate House 2017)

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2019 has already seen two new scholarships established by two discrete Sancta alumni – both aiming to encourage regional women to pursue studies in STEM. Our 2019 goal is to raise $1m in scholarship funding for our current and future Sancta residents, with a focus on those with significant financial-need. One way you can help us reach this goal is by attending our Annual Gala Dinner and Alumni Awards to be held in The Great Hall of The University of Sydney on Thursday 23 May. The event will include a luxury item and experience raffle, student performances, an archive presentation of Sancta throughout the ages as well as the 2019 presentation of Sancta Alumni Awards - a night not to be missed. More details on the inside cover of this edition.

Our 2018 – 2021 fundraising plan places Sancta’s values, traditions and community at its centre.

1. Equity and access: scholarships and bursaries for continued excellence, diversity and opportunity.

2. Heritage and facilities: to maintain and improve the safe and historically beautiful environment afforded to our community.

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3. SANCTA Global: to fund initiatives that grow our international network of supporters, for the professional, academic and personal benefit of all Sancta students — current, past and future.

We ask you, a member of our 5000-person strong community, to consider how you can support our plan for the future.

EQUITY AND ACCESS We want to continue to be able to gift the Sancta experience to talented, ambitious young people who, without financial support, will not be able to attend our College. We also want to build our capacity to support students who experience financial difficulty whilst in

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1 Scholarship Donors Luncheon: Clockwise Fresher 1987 Alumna Therese Catanzariti, Postgraduate 2018 Grace Pang, Fresher 1957 Alumna Pamela Suttor and Fresher 2017 Rita Andraos. 2 Donations enable us to maintain the serene and inspiring home environment we provide to residents. 3 Fr Edmund Campion and Postgraduate 2017 Louisa Sondergeld at the Sr Mary Shanahan Scholarship Launch event. 4 Our scholars are the Sancta supporters of the future.

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accommodation for a socially and academically diverse group of scholars who enrich, inspire and relentlessly advocate for our community.

College. Supporting students who could not otherwise afford to be here adds depth and diversity to the Sancta experience and honours the mission of our Founders.

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Private donor scholarships: Part or full scholarships awarded to individual students, based on criteria developed in consultation with donors.

Establishing a private scholarship gives you the chance to have a long-term impact on the life of an individual student who needs support to be at Sancta.

With no reliance on government or institutional assistance, your generosity will enable us to maintain and improve the beauty and safety of our grounds which inspire the sense of community and support felt by all who walk these hallways.

Our goal is to raise an additional $1m for this Fund by June 2019.

Scholarships and Bursaries Fund: Used to award College scholarships to students who promise to add to Sancta’s academic, cultural and sporting reputation, and to support students experiencing financial difficulty.

Our goal is to raise an additional $1m for this Fund by June 2019.

1000 individual donations of $1000 over the next 12 months will enable us to achieve this goal. A one-off donation of $10,000 could provide relief for up to five self-funded students facing financial difficulty.

The Sister Mary Shanahan Scholarship: Established in 2016 to ensure that Sister Shanahan’s incredible influence and spirit will live on at Sancta through the daily embodiment and advocacy of her values within future Scholarship recipients.

300 individual donations of $1000 will make this Fund perpetual by June 2019.

HERITAGE AND FACILITIES Our 91 year-old main building is breathtaking in its architectural beauty and our grounds provide a serene and inspiring home for all. Our standout landmark — the Quadrangle — has, for so many alumni, been the place where friendships were formed, laughter was had, and problems – both personal and academic - were solved at Sancta. The newly built Graduate House provides modern

1000 individual donations of $1000 over the next 12 months will enable us to achieve this goal.

SANCTA GLOBAL Strengthening and growing our global network of friends and supporters is a key focus of the Office of Marketing and Development. Focus initiatives include our longstanding Academic Mentoring Program which benefits all Sancta students, and our newly established Professional Mentorships Program.

Funding for these programs will allow us to provide interstate and overseas travel opportunities, conference and event access and more to students. From enabling the purchase of practical equipment for Academic Mentoring programs, to expeditions for individuals or groups to meet with their professional Mentors, this Fund will give Sancta students a competitive edge both academically and professionally and will allow us to give Alumni and Friends of Sancta even more opportunities for meaningful, intergenerational engagement.

A one-off donation of $1500 will fund a return flight to Europe for a student to meet with their Mentor.

Ten donations of $200 could fund access to special interest conferences for five individual students.

To make a donation – see page 48 or email marketingdevelopment@sancta.edu.au

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S A N C TA P R O F E S S I O N A L M E N T O R I N G P R O G R A M

by Amy Coleman Marketing and Development Manager

In 2018, we formalised our Professional Mentoring Program within our community of Postgraduate students. This formalised structure resulted in a number of mentorships being established; the outcomes of each partnership were all different, yet equally positive in nature. It was clear we had achieved our aim – to establish a mentoring program that could be driven by the needs and preferences of individual participants, rather than offering a cookie-cutter approach that results in little more than a piece of paper.

Some mentorships were shorter term and led to real work opportunities; others have become longer term relationships between mentor and mentee whereby conversations are had, case studies are analysed together, and a deeper appreciation for one another’s respective journeys has been developed. Feedback from

mentors and mentees has been very encouraging.

We are now determined to push ahead with our goal to make this the strongest mentoring program of any residential college in Australia.

In 2019, we are inviting Undergraduate residents and Sancta alumni to apply for new opportunities as

they arise. It is intended that by the end of the year, we will have ample opportunities available for every student – past and present – that is seeking mentoring for their professional development.

We are currently growing our pool of mentors. We are interested in hearing from Sancta alumni, supporters and friends regarding

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graduate opportunities and mentoring from almost every field imaginable (such is the diversity of our student body).

To express interest in the Mentoring Program, as either a mentor or mentee, please contact the Office of Marketing and Development. marketingdevelopment@ sancta.edu.au

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1 Bernardine Lai-Krauel, Alumna Fresher 1986. 2 Mahindra Ramani (Postgraduate 2017).

L AW / B U S IN E S S BERNARDINE LAI-KRAUEL (ALUMNA FRESHER 1986) & MAHINDRA RAMANI (POSTGRADUATE 2017) Bernardine Lai-Krauel is an international legal and business development consultant based in Minnesota, US. She is a Sancta Alumna from the Fresher year of 1986 and attended USyd. She recently commenced a new role in Client Relations and Client Development at a large US law firm, Faegre Baker Daniels. Faegre Baker Daniels also have offices in Shanghai and Beijing.

Working with Bernardine is best suited to Law and/ or Business students who are looking to develop a connection with a highly experienced lawyer and businessperson with extensive international experience and proven success on multi-million dollar deals and projects.

Bernardine’s specialty is in cross-border transactions, requiring expertise in

international and discrete domestic commercial laws and regulations.

Bernardine was connected with Mahindra Ramani in 2018. Mahindra is a Sancta Postgraduate student studying the Juris Doctor at The University of Sydney.

Prior to his decision to undertake the JD, Mahindra ran a successful landscaping business in Melbourne.

MAHINDRA ON HIS MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE WITH BERNARDINE: ‘If I can make one recommendation to every student at Sancta, it is to take full advantage of the mentorship program.

Having a mentor is one of the most valuable relationships you will gain during your degree and entrance into the workforce. One of the best things about having a mentor like Bernadine is that when I am uncertain or unclear about something, I can shoot her a quick email and get some tips

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and advice on a possible solution. One example of this was in December 2018 when applying for an internship at the Department of Justice.

I was unclear on how to demonstrate a particular skill set that was desired, and Bernardine was able to give me some insight on how to approach this issue in a way I hadn’t previously considered. Having someone that you can call and email when going through unchartered waters is immensely valuable to ensure you have the most successful transition into the workforce and future development of your career.’

SOCIAL PAGES

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S A N C TA S T U D E N T EVENTS Sancta’s social calendar has been filled with many successful events.

In 2018, Sancta’s Moroccan themed semi-formal was a night to remember, hosted in our very own Quad.

Sancta’s informal was a sell out success! The acts included Cosmo’s Midnight, Kinder, Odd Mob and Sweat. Sancta’s formal theme was 007 Casino Royale. In keeping with the theme, the formal featured Casino games and an Espresso Martini Bar (served through an ice sculpture). The Social Sub-Committee also organised Father’s Day Dinner, enjoyed by many proud fathers and their daughters.

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Thanks goes to Hannah O’Callaghan (Social Secretary 2018) for pulling off an amazing year of social events, as well as the fabulous secretaries (Elsa Presslaber, Alexandria Everett and Jess Kong) and sub-committees for their hard work and dedication.

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1-8 Sancta Formal 2018, ‘007 Casino Royale’.

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SOCIAL PAGES

STUDENT EVENTS: S A N C TA S A FA R I

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COMMUNITY EVENTS: O P E N D AY & I N A U G U A L S L E E P O V E R We thank all the Year 12 women who joined us for our inaugural SANCTA Sleepover, coinciding with the USyd, UTS and Notre Dame Open Days in August 2018. We were privileged to host girls from various schools in Sydney, Newcastle and Tamworth. This year, we look forward to being joined by even more future Undergraduates from other parts of NSW and Australia.

Careers Advisers are encouraged to reserve spaces at our 2019 Sleepover event as soon as possible.

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marketingdevelopment@ sancta.edu.au Sleepover highlights: • Guided Uni tours with Sancta students • High Tea on ‘Choosing Courses and College Life’ • Trivia and movie night run by Sancta students • 1 or 2 nights accommodation provided for school staff and students

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S O C I A L

PA G E S

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS END OF YEAR DRINKS A highlight of our 2018 events calendar was the End of Year Drinks in The Quad in Semester 2. Held in the beautiful Sancta Quadrangle at the beginning of summer, the community gathered to celebrate another incredible year at Sancta over drinks and canapes at twilight. Donors, alumni, students and staff enjoyed the new format, particularly the inaugural Intergenerational Debate. The winning team, as agreed unanimously by the adjudicators (Alumna Dr Sue Kelly, and 2019 incoming Sancta leaders Rita Andraos and Samuel Buswell), were the Affirmative (featuring Principal Fiona Hastings and Sancta residents Jeanne Hamman and Jessie Meijer) for the topic “That academic dress should be compulsory whilst on Sancta and university grounds for all residents, in line with the OxBridge tradition”. The Negative team, consisting of past Sancta Council member and Johnsman Mr John Fernon, Postgraduate resident Paul King and Undergraduate resident Ellie Solomons, were also commended for their entertaining performance.

We look forward to another enthralling debate at this year’s event – save the date!

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COMMENCEMENT 2019

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SOCIAL PAGES

POST GRAD C O C K TA I L PAR T Y Sancta’s new and old Postgraduate residents gathered with guests on the Graduate House Rooftop for ‘Sunset in Santorini’ during 2019 Welcome Week. We welcome our new Postgraduates who join us from all over Australia and the world - it is going to be an incredible year in Graduate House!

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S A N C TA

G L O B A L

MEETING OUR INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS ROAD TO SANCTA Choosing my Bachelor’s degree was quite easy for me as I’ve been interested in Biology since the age of 10. Utrecht University in the Netherlands offered a great Bachelor of Biology and was located in Utrecht, which is one of the best student cities with lots of fun stuff to do.

After three years of studying in Utrecht, I was ready for a change. I have always wanted to come to Australia, because of the lovely people, gorgeous nature and awesome animals. A very good way to enjoy a country is through student life. That’s why I decided to go on exchange to Australia. The University of Sydney attracted me the most because the units of study looked very interesting, and the city is, of course, amazing. Through some research, I found Sancta Sophia College which appealed to me as the atmosphere seemed very kind and welcoming. Also, the formal dinners and various events interested me as I felt they could benefit me in the future too. So, I decided to apply for Sancta Sophia College and thankfully, I was accepted.

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LIFE IN THE NETHERLANDS AND AUSTRALIA

A R R I V ED I N AUS T R A L I A : July 2018

During my stay, I’ve noticed some differences between Australia and the Netherlands; one of them being that Australians are very open and helpful. It’s not that Dutch people aren’t, but Australians really take it to the next level.

Another difference is campus life. Colleges like Sancta do not exist in the Netherlands; that is also why it attracted me so much.

H E R E U N T I L: December 2018

BEST THINGS ABOUT SYDNEY

JULIETTE SUERMONDT D EG R E E: Bachelor of Biology, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

The lovely accent and Australian slang are some of the things I really enjoy about Australia (maybe not during lectures, though). Sydney is beautiful, with lots of parks that make a biologist like me very happy. There is so much to do in Sydney, that even after spending four months here, there are still lots of items on my Sydney bucket list.

The University of Sydney has a very luxurious campus with

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2 1 Juliette Suermondt 2 Juliette with Sancta friends exploring NSW

very nice lecture theatres and a lot of opportunities to get involved. Even though the 8.00am classes were hard to attend, I went every single day and my semester here has taught me so much about my field of research. Sydney is definitely the place to go if you want a combination of good education and a great time.

BEST THINGS ABOUT SANCTA Living at Sancta Sophia College allowed me to have a great time and pursue an excellent education simultaneously.

Sancta offers good study spaces and lots of help from other students going through the same struggles as you are. The events at Sancta range from formal dinners with inspiring speeches to rooftop drinks to amazing formals (we would call them ‘proms’).

What I love about Sancta is that you never have to be alone. You will always find people to sit with during breakfast, lunch and dinner and you can always roam around the college and find people to chill with. Everyone is very welcoming, which makes it easy to make new friends. There are good parties at Sancta, but it also offers a quiet place when you need it.

ADVICE FOR FUTURE EXCHANGE STUDENTS Definitely get involved as much as you can, because that is how you will get the most out of your experience in Sydney. Getting involved isn’t hard to do, since both The University of Sydney and Sancta Sophia College offer lots of fun projects, events and opportunities.

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STANDOUT MEMORIES AT SANCTA My most memorable moments at Sancta Sophia College would be the end of year Formal and saying goodbye to all the friends I’ve made. The formal was lots of fun; from finding a nice dress to attending the after-party, it made for a glamorous and memorable night.

Saying goodbye to the friends I’ve made at Sancta was equally memorable (and a bit sad), because I realised that we had grown really close in those four months. I truly believe that I’ve made friends for life here in Sydney and that we will always stay in touch for many years to come.

MOVING FORWARD FROM SANCTA Having graduated from Utrecht University after my semester in Sydney, I am now starting my postgraduate degree — the Master of Biology of Disease at Utrecht University. I hope to realise my dream of becoming a researcher in the field of cancer and I hope this path will somehow take me back to Sydney at some point.

EXCHANGE INCOMING

JANICE (USA): Name: Janice Dawn Davis-Acosta Degree: Bachelor of Science (majoring in Cognitive Science) and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Feminist Studies) From: California, United States Home university: University of California, Santa Cruz Stay at Sancta: Mid July to Late November, 2018 (Semester 2)

GEMMA (SPAIN): Name: Gemma Gallardo Hazañas Degree: Bachelor of Laws From: Madrid, Spain Home university: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Stay at Sancta: July 2018 — November 2018

Best aspects of living at Sancta: The multicultural atmosphere and intertwined urban and natural landscapes of Sydney made it feel like a home away from home. However, I didn’t really know anyone when I first arrived. For this reason, I’m thankful for living at Sancta Sophia College. It was at Sancta that I was able to build meaningful relationships with both locals and other exchange students like myself.

Best aspects of living at Sancta: For me the best part of being at Sancta is the people you get to know around the community. Sancta is very diverse and makes it easy to integrate with both local and international students, who also study completely different courses. Adding to the exchange, the experience of living in the environment of a college enriches you much more as a person. The stay here is unforgettable!

EXCHANGE OUTGOING

ALICE (GERMANY): Name: Alice Schwager Degree: Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Art History and Psychology) From: Rural NSW, Australia Country of exchange: University of Stuttgart, Germany Stay at Sancta: February 2017 — Ongoing

ALEXANDRIA (SPAIN): Name: Alexandria Everett Degree: Bachelor of International and Global Studies, USyd Going on exchange to: Carlos III Universidad, Madrid Spain Stay at Sancta: 2017 – 2018

Looking forward to the most in exchange experience: I am excited at the prospect of spending 6 weeks learning art in a country where English is not the mainstream language. I grew up on a cotton and cattle farm in rural NSW and the wider world was regarded as little more than a myth to me; something that I knew was there but couldn’t fully comprehend as real. This changed in my teen years when I was very fortunate to have travelled to England and America. While travelling to these parts of the Anglosphere has been a wondrous experience, travelling to Germany for an extended period of time presents a new and exciting opportunity to learn about a new culture and language whilst learning about art. I am thrilled to be a part of the exchange and I look forward to the experience.

What are you most looking forward to about life in Madrid?: I’m most excited about all the incredible food I’ll eat and daily siestas and just being able to explore a new city!

What will you miss most about Sancta: I will miss the beautiful community and being able to walk anywhere and know someone!

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

NATALIE (HONG KONG): Name: Natalie Law Degree: Bachelor of Science (majoring in Psychology) From: Hong Kong Stay at Sancta: July 2017 — Ongoing

GAURAV (INDIA): Name: Gaurav Ahuja Degree: Master of Management From: Jaipur, India Stay at Sancta: March 2018 — Dec 2018

Best aspects of living at Sancta: Receiving a huge amount support from Sancta students and staff that makes you feel at home. Also, all the cute dogs we have in college.

Best aspects of living at Sancta: It was a home away from home; I met really nice people and learned a lot about different cultures.

Sancta is a great place to live as it helps you to keep a great balance between university and daily chores by providing you with the convenience of home through meals and other facilities.

KHYATI (INDIA): Name: Khyati Kakwani (Aussies like to call me Kat) Degree: Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in International Business and Marketing)

NABILAH (MAURITIUS): Name: Nabilah Fakim Degree: Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Economics and Politics) From: Mauritius Stay at Sancta: February 2018 — Ongoing Best aspects of living at Sancta: The student community is really friendly and welcoming, which allowed me to meet people from various backgrounds. The semester is also packed with events for everyone to be involved, from sports competitions to musical performances. There is not a moment to be bored.

From: Indore, India Stay at Sancta: February 2018 — ongoing Best aspects of living at Sancta: Sancta has truly given me an experience of sisterhood.

As cliche as that sounds, growing up as an only child and coming to a new country with a very funnily different and interesting culture, people and lifestyle, the transition couldn’t have been smoother thanks to Sancta. I’ve learnt how to co-share, learn from a range of personalities, and most importantly how exactly to balance working hard and playing hard(er). It actually has a home feeling, so I never feel like I’m coming to isolating student accommodation, but rather a home I chose and belong at! And little Lewis (Brigid, Vice Principal’s Jack Russell who lives at Sancta) is my biggest source of happiness, followed by my Sancta sisters and the gorgeous Quad.

MARAIA Name: Maraia Pickering Degree: Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) (majoring in Chemistry and Pharmacology), PhD (Science) From: Suva, Fiji Time at Sancta: February 2015 — Ongoing Best aspects of living at Sancta: I moved away from my family to Australia to start university and the support I received from college was what really helped me through that transition and enabled me to make the most of my university experience.

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1 The Anser publication first run. 2 Postgraduate 2017 Mahindra Ramani and Past Principal Dr Marie Leech.

3 Alumna Postgraduate 2016 Jordyn Price

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T H E

A N S E R

L AUNCH NIGHT In lat e 2 018, t he f ir s t e dition of T he A nser, S anc t a’s ow n ac ademic jour nal, w as publishe d and launche d b y t he A c ting V ic e C hanc ellor of T he Univer sit y of S y dney, P r ofe s sor S t ep hen Gar ton.

The Anser interdisciplinary journal is an annual, peer-reviewed collection of articles, essays and research by students and alumni of Sancta Sophia College, within The University of Sydney.

A Sancta student initiative led by Amelia Anne-Merz (Founder and Outgoing Editor-in-Chief, Graduate House 2014), the inaugural issue features six articles by Undergraduate students and alumni, covering the subject areas of international relations, political science, media and communications, art history, global religious studies, and chemistry.

The publication title, The Anser, is a playful Latin tribute to Sancta’s cherished mascot, The Goose.

The Goose can be noticed in the publication’s cover art, designed by Sancta alumna Georgina Kreutzer (Graduate House 2016).

Amelia Anne-Merz established the project whilst working as an Academic

Mentor in 2016, recognising the scope it would have to celebrate and strengthen Sancta’s culture of academic excellence and collegiality.

“The Anser gives our students and alumni the opportunity to develop their work into papers worthy of academic publishing; it facilitates connectedness amongst the student and alumni body; and allows contributors to represent Sancta in the international academic community.”

We look forward to the 2019 publish of The Anser, headed by Postgraduate Resident Apurv Yadav as Editor-in-Chief.

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4 Professor Stephen Garton, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Sydney addressed the Sancta community at the official launch. 5 Alumna and 2017 Senior Student Isabella Barrett with 2018 The Anser editors Jordyn Price and Amelia-Anne Merz.

6 The Sancta red quill used by Professor Stephen Garton to sign the first published edition of The Anser. 7 Outgoing Editor-In-Chief Amelia-Merz, Alumna Fresher 2014 Madeleine Gundy and Liam Mason.

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1939

A L U M N I A N D A R C H I V E S 2 0 19

1949

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CELEBRATING THE 9S Throughout 2019, we will be celebrating and sharing memories of our alumni cohorts who commenced at Sancta in years ending in ‘9’. Dr Tracy Bradford, Sancta’s Archivist, takes a look back at the changing fashions of Sancta residents…

1989

SARTORIALLY SOCIAL Sancta — a place of social and sartorial splendour. From the post-Edwardian fashions of the “Roaring Twenties”, and the undoubtedly fabulous ‘spring evening frocks’ of the 1930s, to the blue eyeshadow and big hair and shoulder pads of the eighties, and the ‘everything-old-is-new-again’ global mashup of the first two decades of the 21st century, Sancta girls have jumped at the opportunity to dress up for a party – no excuse needed, really. Formals, semi-formals, Champagne in the Quad – you name it, Sancta embraced it.

Documenting the fashion (r)evolution and Sancta’s penchant for a great party, the College magazine is a veritable gold mine of photographs and commentary on all things social and sartorial.

And where there’s a party, there’s shopping! In 1939, a young lady could

“skip about” on her Selby Iris shoes with midway heel from (there’s no other store like) David Jones for the sum of 29 shillings and sixpence (around $129.60 in today’s figures).

A decade later, she could snap up a “tailor made” blouse in 23 Californian styles for 36 shillings (or $101 in 2019). No online shopping in the ‘good old days’!

Dr Tracy Bradford

2009

Archivist

Tables for each commencing year ending in ‘9’ have been reserved at the Annual Gala Dinner and Alumni Awards on Thursday 23 May 2019.

Tickets can be purchased on our website or by calling Sancta on 02 9577 2100.

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Revue

Tailor made blouses

Social pages

Semi-formal

Champers in the Quad

Midway heels

Revue

Commemoration day

Culture vulture pages

Social pages

Social pages

Semi-formal

Champers in the Quad

Academic dinner

C E LE B R AT E W I T H SA N C TA

I N

2019

S AV E T HE DAT E SANCTA shone in 2018. Be here with us in 2019 to celebrate an even brighter chapter in our history.

I. TUESDAY 16 APRIL, 2019

Wisdom Forum - Semester 1

A panel event exploring local and world issues, organised by Sancta students.

II. THURSDAY 23 MAY, 2019

Annual Gala Dinner and Alumni Awards

This event, to be held in The Great Hall of The University of Sydney, combines our previous giving events into one spectacular evening dedicated to supporting Sancta.

III. TUESDAY 27 AUGUST, 2019

Wisdom Forum - Semester 2

A panel event exploring local and world issues, organised by Sancta students.

IV. THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER, 2019

End of Year Drinks

Join us in the Sancta Quad to celebrate the year that has been.

Enjoy drinks and canapĂŠs, a lively intergenerational debate and student performances.

V. SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 2019

Final College and Memorial Mass

The final Mass for the year in our Sancta Chapel, dedicated to remembering passed Sancta community members.

EVENTS, CONFERENCES CONFERENCES AND STAYS sancta.edu.au sancta.edu.au

The Anser (1st Edition) Price per unit is $35.00 (includes standard postage Australia-wide) copies of The Anser.

I would like to purchase

to The Anser project fund for future publications.

I would also like to donate $

You can also purchase The Anser online from the Sydney University Press website sydney.edu.au/sup/

Give to Sancta Your generosity will enable us to support others to call Sancta home, and to maintain the beautiful and safe environment we provide to our residents.

Please accept my gift of: I would like to make a regular gift of: I would like to make a one-off gift of: I would like to allocate my gift to: Scholarships and Bursaries (for continued excellence,

Heritage and Facilities

diversity and opportunity)

SANCTA Global

Sister Shanahan Scholarship Fund

Payment Options Your full name: Postal address: Email address: Contact phone number: Any further comments: Direct deposit Sancta Sophia College Principal’s Account, Westpac, BSB 032 030, Account Number 75 0001 Please accept my Cheque

Money Order

Credit Card

Please enclose this donation slip along with your method of payment to:

Please make cheques/Money orders payable to Sancta Sophia College Visa

Mastercard /

Card Number: Expiry date:

The Bursar Sancta Sophia College, 8 Missenden Road Camperdown, NSW

Amex /

/

bursar@sancta.edu.au

/

Online donation Cardholder’s name:

Visit the ‘Support Sancta’ page of our website at www.sanctasophiacollege.edu.au

Cardholder’s signature:

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EDITORIAL TEAM

C O N TAC T U S

Staff

Residents

Amy Coleman, Marketing and Development Manager

Dana Atallah, Current Resident and Marketing and Development Intern, November 2018 February 2019

Fiona Hastings, Principal Mia Trinidad, Dean of Admissions and Studies Dr Tracy Bradford,

Markarid Sarakissian, Alumna and Marketing and Development Intern, November 2018 - February 2019

Archivist

Rita Andraos, Senior Student

Joel Mesas, Freelance Photographer info@joelmesas.com

Samuel Buswell, Senior Common Room President

Sancta Sophia College 8 Missenden Road Camperdown NSW 2050 GENERAL ENQUIRIES Phone +61 2 9577 2100 marketingdevelopment@sancta.edu.au sanctasophiacollege.edu.au

MAIN OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm

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