SANCTA Magazine February 2020

02 FROM T HE PRIN CIPA L 14 A LUM NI E XCEL LEN CE 18 REGIO N A L ROA DSHOW

This edition of SANCTA was prepared with much enthusiasm as our editorial team sought to capture Sancta life throughout throughout 2019 and early 2020.

We would love to hear your news and feedback.

Simply write to us or email marketingdevelopment@ sancta.edu.au

Front Cover: Alumnae Freshers 1999 celebrate at the Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards 2019.

Back Cover: Vale Celebration 2019 - Drinks in the Quad.

A B O U T S A N C TA In Sapientia Ambulate - Walk in Wisdom Sancta Sophia College is one of The University of Sydney’s six residential colleges which make up a rich part of its 170-year story. Our female Undergraduate building has been a home away from home for thousands of young women from regional Australia and metropolitan Sydney over the past 94 years.

Our Graduate House, the first of its kind in The University of Sydney Colleges’ history, was opened in 2014 to further diversify the Sancta community and is now home to over 100 Postgraduate men and women who join us from across Australia and the globe.

The College motto – Walk in Wisdom – was laid out by our Founders and has remained the mission of every generation of College leaders throughout our 94-year history. The Sancta tradition of

empowerment continues to create an inspiring, inclusive and supportive community for all.

L O C AT I O N Located within the arts and culture hub of Sydney’s Inner West district, Sancta is just 10 minutes from the city. We share the same postcode as the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and The University of Sydney, making us a short walk to lectures at all centrally based universities.

M A K I N G T H E M O S T O U T O F YO U R UNIVERSITY YEARS Sancta is a complete home away from home, where residents can focus on achieving academically and enjoying the best of student life in Sydney. All meals are provided, as well as specialised academic and professional mentoring, and there are countless ways to involve oneself in the cultural, spiritual, social and sporting life of the College.

C O N T E N T S FEBRUARY 2020 Sancta Sophia College acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and we recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

02 From the Principal

04 Sancta Snapshot

10 Welcome from the New Student Leaders

12 Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards

18 Regional Roadshow

22 Academic Dinner

32 Valetants and Graduands

38 Power of Giving – Young Alumna Gives Back to New Generation of Sancta Students

46 From the Archives – Sancta’s Community Spirit

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.

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Bushfire Crisis 2019-2020

accommodation here at SANCTA for the weekend.

We look forward to a full house of Sancta supporters to acknowledge outstanding alumni and to celebrate our ever-evolving story.

Australians will remember the summer of 2019-2020 with heavy hearts, recalling the devastating bushfire season that continues to unfold as I write to you in our first edition of SANCTA for the year.

24 Years of Excellence – A Heartfelt Thanks and Farewell to Terry Nixon

As a College with regional students at the heart of our identity, our thoughts and prayers are with the courageous firefighters and volunteers who are sacrificing so much to fight these fires. We are with the families in NSW, Victoria and South Australia who have found themselves needing to defend their homes or even evacuate their towns. It is too soon to know how our community may have been affected, so we will continue to offer our College as a safe haven to any Sancta supporters who find themselves needing temporary accommodation.

Sancta is blessed with a wonderful staff team that works tirelessly to deliver the best possible student experience.

Nearly every resident and staff member who has spent time at Sancta in the past 24 years would recognise Terry Nixon. Since 1996, Terry has been Sancta’s Facilities Manager, taking absolute pride in his role to maintain our beautiful grounds and facilities. Our beautiful Quadrangle garden that is the most cherished space by Sancta alumni – without Terry’s passion for its perfection, it may not still be in its prime some 94 years after its establishment. Terry has carried Sancta through many periods of capital works, including the establishment of Graduate House in 2014.

More recently in 2018, he was pivotal in supporting the College through an upgrade to our fire safety infrastructure which involved many months of hard work and red tape. Together with his Maintenance and Housekeeping teams, Terry has ensured cleanliness and serenity for our residents and guests. We will always remember Terry for his exceptional management skills, teamed with genuine kindness and compassion.

Coming together in 2020 Our College enters its 94th year in 2020 and, as comes with every new year of Sancta’s history, we have more reasons to celebrate: •

Our students continue to excel academically, performing well above the Sydney University average.

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We have grown to become the ‘place to be’ for Medicine and Health Sciences students in Sydney, with over 80 of our residents studying Medicine and related degrees.

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The immediate past Dean of the Sydney University School of Medicine, Professor Arthur Conigrave, joins Sancta’s Academic Mentoring Program in 2020 as our Medicine Mentor, giving our Medicine students direct access to his lifetime of Medical practice and research coupled with engaging charisma and wisdom.

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Our global network of alumni and supporters was strengthened in 2019, with an unprecedented number of events held domestically and internationally; we plan to further expand our reach in 2020. Read more about our Roadshow on page 18.

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I have spent the past few months interviewing prospective students for a place at Sancta. I am struck, as always, by the generous ambition our students bring to their lives.

The common thread that runs through our students is a desire to excel, and to excel for the benefit of others. In a world that, at times, seems captive to fear and hysteria, we can take heart in the knowledge that these young people are curious, intelligent, just and they are wanting to carve out careers that have a positive impact on the world.

The pleasure and privilege I have in getting to know them is profound.

In 2020, I am looking forward to connecting with more of you (former students, families and friends), wherever in the world you may be. A full schedule of our 2020 community event dates can be found on page 49.

May you all have a safe and blessed 2020.

We look forward to our 2020 Annual Gala Dinner and Alumni Awards, to be held on Saturday 23 May in the MacLaurin Hall of The University of Sydney. Following the success of 2019’s event, held inaugurally at The University, we have made this year’s event more accessible for our regional alumni by holding it on a Saturday evening and by offering discounted

Fiona Hastings Principal

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1 Mother’s Day Dinner: Sisters Rose and Charlotte Burden celebrate with their mother and grandmother 2 Alumnae Rachel Launders and Sue Kelly celebrate 2019 with Postgraduate Clara Jane Armstrong at the End of Year Drinks 3 Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards 4 Scholars and Donors Luncheon: Donors Marea & David Donovan, Mary Smoker and Angela Wales Kirgo with Sancta’s scholarship recipients 5 Student Ambassadors Eulalia Angeli, Khyati Kakwani, Katie Fitzpatrick and Kathryn Soen at Open Day 2019

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2019

5 MARCH > Palladian Solo Instrumental: Lucy Clarke-Randazzo wins 3rd place > Academic Mentoring Event for Social Work and Education > Palladian Solo Vocal

APRIL > Sancta Under the Stars (see page 30) > Palladian Oration: Charlotte Target wins 1st place > Archbishop’s Mass and Dinner > Semi-Formal > Wisdom Forum 1 on ‘Medical Ethics’ > Postgraduate Saint’s Cup: Sancta wins inaugural 2km running event > Welcome to Sydney Postgrad Rooftop Drinks: Sancta welcomes new international postgraduate students to Sydney (see page 44)

MAY > Victory Dinner: Celebrating Charlotte Target’s win in Palladian Oration > USyd Alumni Awards: Rosemary Morrow (Fresher 1966) is awarded Alumni Award for International Achievement > Palladian Solo Drama: Alice Best wins 3rd place

> Mother’s Day Mass and Dinner > Palladian Dance > Rosebowl Women’s Hockey: Sancta wins 2nd place > Graze to Raise (see page 30) > Regional Roadshow to Newcastle (see page 18) > Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards (see page 12)

JUNE > Regional Roadshow to Bathurst and Orange (see page 18)

JULY > Welcome Drinks: Sancta welcomes new and returning residents back to the College for Semester 2 > Welcome to Sydney Cocktail Party: Sancta welcomes new international postgraduates to Sydney

AUGUST > Scholars & Donors Luncheon > New2Sem2 Dinner: Sancta welcomes all new residents to the College at a special ‘meet and greet’ dinner > Regional Roadshow to the Riverina and Canberra (see page 18) > Ashé DeBiasio (Alumna Fresher 2012) establishes the

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Burwash Scholarship for Women in Medicine and Health in honour of her grandmother and dedicated nurse, Bev Burwash > Rosebowl Women’s Soccer: Sancta wins equal 2nd place > Rosebowl Women’s Basketball: Sancta wins 3rd place > Palladian Debating weekend: Sancta wins against St. Pauls > Arts Academic Mentoring Event >A cademic Dinner (see page 22) > Wisdom Forum 2 on ‘Women in Politics: Empowerment and Equality’ (see page 30) > Palladian Vocal Ensemble > Social Basketball: Sancta Men defeat College All Stars 71-38 > The University of Sydney Open Day (see page 42) > Annual SANCTA Sleepover (see page 42)

SEPTEMBER > Sancta Safari: Sancta’s informal event of the year (see the album on page 41) > Father’s Day Mass and Dinner > Sr Shan is awarded with a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to tertiary education and as a mentor of young students

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2019

1 Alumnae Freshers of 1999 Celebrate at the Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards 2 Principal Fiona Hastings celebrates with Sr Mary Shanahan after receiving OAM Medal 3 Resident Elena Turunen visits her old high school during the Regional Roadshow to Griffith; pictured with her mother Rose Turunen (left) and aunt Toni Griffiths (right, Sancta Alumna Fresher 1977), who both work at Marian Catholic College 4 Alumnae celebrate 40 year reunion at Sancta

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> Palladian Art

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

> ‘Til Death–A Double Bill: Postgraduates Jeanne Hamman and Isabel Schueler feature in The Impresario and Her Players’ 2020 theatre production

>S ports and Cultural Dinner

> Final College and Memorial Mass

> Regional Roadshow to Brisbane (see page 18)

>P alladian Drama Ensemble

> New York Alumni Celebration (see page 18) > Palladian Instrumental Ensemble: Highly Commended result by Cassie Parke, Karolin Velliste and Lucy Clarke-Randazzo > 40 Year Alumni Reunion hosted by Sancta Councillor Jann Gardner (Fresher 1979) > SANCTA Sleepover for USyd’s ‘Life at Sydney’ event (see page 42)

>A nnual General Meeting of the Student’s Association: new House Committee and secretary positions elected (see page 10) >S ancta Ambassadors Thank You Party >B usiness Academic Mentoring Event

> Women in STEM High Tea for Year 10 women from the Bathurst Catholic Schools Network >S ingapore Alumni Celebration (see page 18)

COMING UP FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2020 >C ommencement Dinner

>M usic Academic Mentoring Event >F ormal (see page 40) >R osebowl Women’s Athletics: Sancta wins 2nd place >E nd of Year Drinks and Annual Intergenerational Debating Competition (see page 43)

>W elcome Week: Sancta welcomes all new and returning residents to the College

>P alladian Solo Instrumental >P alladian Solo Vocal

>V ale (see page 32)

Don’t miss out on the big events in 2020! See page 49 for SAVE THE DATES.

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By Rita Andraos Senior Student 2019

In 2019, we continued to strive for the ‘education of the whole person’ ideal on which Sancta was founded.

Our Rawson and Palladian victories were made possible by our undivided, indestructible Sancta community spirit. Regardless of whether we were winning or losing, our crowd, decked out in red and white, was one of the largest and loudest at every event.

Being part of a community that knows who we are and that holds our heads high regardless of the outcome, always makes me immensely proud to be a Sancta girl.

Being surrounded by the biggest and brightest minds over three years has taught me that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can be and do anything if you put your mind to it. Sancta has taught us all, no matter the circumstance, to be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when to ask for help and brave enough to ask for it.

FROM THE 2019 STUDENT LEADERS

Thank you for a remarkable year and for your many individual achievements. You are all destined for great things and I wish you every success in the future. Let us never forget the Sancta dream to ‘walk in wisdom’, to live a life of use to others and to lift each other up.

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By Samuel Buswell Senior Common Room President 2019

2019 for the Sancta Sophia Postgraduates has been a year of success – in every aspect of college life – including sport, social, cultural and social justice. Where opportunities were available, the community answered the call and got involved.

efforts in 2019 were reflective of a community that values getting involved and enjoying oneself, whilst also knowing when it is time to hit the books.

Reflecting on the year just passed, it is hard to see where anything could be improved, but I challenge Clara Jane and her team to build on this year’s success and to foster even greater levels of community and Sancta spirit.

It would be insincere for myself, or any one person, to be attributed with the success experienced in 2019.

Rather, it was the result of the combined efforts of both the Senior Common Room and the Postgraduate community at large.

I am proud of our communal determination to go above and beyond in 2019 and to continue to enrich the foundations of Sancta’s Postgraduate community.

We creatively spearheaded a series of unique social events throughout the year and championed the Sancta Postgraduate Sport motto – ‘show up, give it your all, try to win, sometimes win’. Each of our individual

1 House Committee 2019: Phoebe McGeoch, Lilli Thompson, Therese Kelly, Elena Turunen, Hannah O’Callaghan, Rita Andraos, Jess Kong, Georgia Griffiths, Katie Merriman, Lucy Robson and Claire Phillips 2 Senior Common Room 2019: Hans Wei, Thushira Gammune, Caitlin O’Shea, Samuel Buswell, Jiyoon Lee and Mitchell Tung (Absent: Casey Allen)

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WELCOME FROM THE 2020 STUDENT LEADERS

By Georgia Potter Senior Student 2020

As the Senior Student for 2020, I cannot wait to warmly welcome and immerse the incoming cohort of Sancta residents into everything our amazing College has to offer.

During my two years at Sancta, I have been graced with the allure of the College itself, and arguably more significant, the allure of the people that reside within its walls. I myself, originating from a rural town and moving to Sydney to study my desired degree not knowing a single soul, understand the daunting process of tackling university study in a foreign environment.

With this, there will be challenges. Challenges in your degree, challenges in settling into a new lifestyle, and challenges in adapting to the demands of young adulthood.

Therein lies the support provided by Sancta.

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We have not long ago been right where you are now – on the cusp of a major change in life that can at times, both excite and terrify you. Perhaps you’re starting your journey from interstate or coming to us from across the oceans – regardless of where it has begun, we are thrilled it has led you here.

I can attest that the unwavering sense of community at Sancta eases these obstacles and accommodates its residents through a dynamic, inclusive and lively culture.

This powerful culture radiates everywhere— from the Dining Hall where we share meals, to the common rooms, and in the beautiful Quadrangle situated at the heart of our College. Our culture creates a home away from home for all Sancta girls and facilitates personal growth as we collectively live through shared experiences and progress through our studies.

And on that note, I’d like to take a moment to say, congratulations! Your acceptance into postgraduate study is an incredible achievement that has no doubt come with hard work and sacrifice. So, take pride in your accomplishment and we can’t wait to raise a glass to you when you arrive!

Leading our great College into 2020, there are several things I wish to pursue as we strive to better the experience for both returning and new residents.

We understand that there is no shortage of challenges that come with taking the leap of faith you are about to, and we are not strangers to the uncertainty and homesickness that can come with leaving behind the people and places you know. But I can promise you that with a deep breath and a little faith, Sancta will soon be a welcome refuge at the end of a long day.

Firstly, I wish to uphold the loud and proud spirit that lies at the heart of the Sancta community. Our rowdy masses of red and white have always mirrored our competitive presence in the Intercollegiate arena – let’s continue to prove we are a force to be reckoned with! I will encourage all incoming residents to involve themselves as much as possible. What you invest in Sancta, I can guarantee you will be rewarded twofold!

Here, you will meet people that challenge your perspectives, open your mind to things you hadn’t considered, but above all, will accept you for what you believe in and where you have come from.

The strength and vibrance of Sancta’s postgraduate community continues to be integral to our diverse cultural identity. I see the year ahead as an opportunity to strengthen our undergraduate and postgraduate relations through more bonding events and integration initiatives.

In doing so, the sense of community within Sancta will only continue to grow, as we harness our diversity as a College and embrace the qualities that differentiate Sancta from its counterparts.

Here, more than anything, you will find community – people who share more than a place to live but a shared purpose and commitment to each other. So, until we meet (which I hope to be soon), I leave you with some advice as you start your journey:

In essence, the Sancta community is like no other – a place of support where we can grow and learn together. I see 2020 shaping up to be another ground-breaking year of success and prosperity, where we build and strengthen our community beyond expectation.

I very much look forward to welcoming all the incoming students, as well as seeing the Sancta community grow with its limitless potential.

By Clara Jane Armstrong

Senior Common Room President 2020

1. There is far more power than we realise in “hello”. Don’t be afraid to say it – for me it’s been the start of many kindred friendships that I will cherish long after I’ve moved on. And; 2. Your time here is short – it’s not easy when the world moves so fast, but don’t let it slip through your fingers.

P.S. Don’t be afraid to reach for your loftiest goals. We’re behind you – win, lose or draw.

Warmest wishes and best of luck on the road ahead.

To our incoming postgraduate students, Welcome!

On behalf of myself, the Senior Common Room Executive and our postgraduate community, we could not be happier that you will soon be joining our home away from home.

Photo (left): Treasurer Lucy Robson, Senior Student Georgia Potter and Secretary Elena Turunen. Photo (right): Senior Common Room President Clara Jane Armstrong.

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“To the students past and present: It’s not about where you start, or what you start with, it’s about how you apply yourself to building something for the world.”

The Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards of 2019 was a grand celebration of Sancta’s past, present and future, held for the first time in The University of Sydney’s majestic Great Hall.

Over 160 community members and supporters, including our amazing alumni, current students, families and friends, Council members, staff and generous donors, came together to acknowledge the achievements of six inspiring alumnae and celebrate Sancta’s enduring tradition of empowering humanity.

The event was also a heart-warming and fun-filled reunion for alumni of the ‘9s’ Fresher years – 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2009.

Loretta Joseph, Alumna & Global FinTech Leader

Simone Whetton, Alumna Fresher 1987, provided an outstanding execution of the Master of Ceremonies role, whilst Loretta Joseph, Alumna Fresher 1988, featured as the evening’s keynote speaker and gave an engaging address on her involvement in FinTech in recent years.

After the absolute success of the evening, we look forward to another grand celebration of Sancta at our 2020 event.

Our chosen location for this year is the MacLaurin Hall, another of the University’s stunning heritage spaces.

Following valuable alumni feedback, we will hold the event on Saturday 23 May, allowing more of our widely dispersed community to attend for a weekend of nostalgia and celebration.

We invite all friends of Sancta to be a part of our biggest annual event which will include additional social events at Sancta throughout the weekend! Connect with your Sancta peers, bring a table of 10 together, and join us in celebration. A limited number of rooms in Sancta’s Graduate House will be available to event guests – early bookings are encouraged. Purchase tickets online at sancta.edu.au

1 1 University of Sydney Alumni Award Winner Rosemary Morrow (Fresher 1966) and Sr Mary Shanahan 2 Jessica Moloney (Fresher 1999) and Alumni Award Recipient Reneé Bolot (Fresher 1999) 3 Ruth Maxey (Fresher 1986), Wendy Mason (Fresher 1986), Master of Ceremonies Simone Whetton (Fresher 1987), Former Vice Principal Maryanne Pidcock (Fresher 1986) and Anna Edwards (Fresher 1986) 4 Postgraduate Students George Glass, Clara Jane Armstrong, Hans Wei and Maraia Pickering 5 Alumnae Freshers 1999 6 Guest Speaker Loretta Joseph (Fresher 1988), Sr Mary Shanahan, Marketing and Development Manager Amy Coleman and Master of Ceremonies Simone Whetton (Fresher 1987) 7 Alumnae Freshers 1989 with Sr Mary Shanahan 8 Mr Dennis Wilson, Principal Fiona Hastings, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC and student Genevieve Dreyer 9 Guests enjoying a three-course dinner in The Great Hall

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SUNNY PAIA’AUA Graduate Award for Social Impact

ROSEMARY MORROW University of Sydney Alumni Award for International Achievement Rosemary (Rowe) (Fresher 1966) is a pioneer of permaculture and has spent a career of over 40 years providing aid and education to people the world over. Rowe works largely with traumatised people in dangerous and war-torn parts of the world, particularly with communities where generations of knowledge have been lost with those who have died in conflict. Having created a globally applicable coherent framework for cultivated systems that will enable people to live, Rowe provides these people with the practical skills to transform their own lives.

“I think the most significant thing about Sancta is that is a wonderful refuge, it is a place to regroup, a place to have intellectual discussion and it is a place to be accepted. Most of all, it is a place to be safe.”

PROF MARGARET ALSTON OAM Alumni Award for the Empowerment of Women Margaret (Fresher 1971) is currently Professor of Social Work at The University of Newcastle, and Professor Emeritus at Monash University. She has worked for many years to improve the lives of women through gender equity, undertaking national and international studies to identify issues and find solutions. At Monash, Margaret established the Gender, Leadership and Social

Sunny (Fresher 2012) is the founder of OiOiOi, an organisation which spreads mateship through a shared sense of experience, mutual respect, and unconditional assistance between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This is done by engaging local Indigenous artists and providing them with a platform to showcase their artwork on a national and international scale on the shoes of players from multiple national sporting codes. Sunny is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and the Chair of the QLD Red Cross Youth Advisory Committee. She was invited to be part of the International Red Cross/ Red Crescent movement whereby she mobilised young Australians and gained valuable insights that will contribute globally to the Red Cross’s Strategy 2020.

“It’s no secret that the disparities Indigenous Australians experience – incarceration rates, life expectancy, resilience post-disaster – is not up to standard… While I was at Sancta, I really honed in on the “that’s not right” spirit and that was a pivotal time that led me to what I work for today.”

Sustainability (GLASS) research unit, attracting up to 20 PhD students. She has supported many students, particularly women, through their studies at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She is a member of the UN Women’s Major Group, was awarded an OAM for her services to work and rural women, and has recently completed projects on gender and climate change with OXFAM and UNESCO.

“To all the young people: When you see a challenge, really look it in the face. You’ll be uncomfortable but there’s no room for complacency now. Put rights and social justice at the centre of your work and never stop learning because humanity depends upon it.”

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RENÉE BOLOT Alumni Award for Professional Achievement

DR JULIA ATKIN Alumni Award for Innovation For over 30 years, Julia (Fresher 1968) has worked with teachers, school leaders, designers and architects, from early childhood to tertiary institutions to develop and transform education appropriate to the knowledge era and to the demands of the 21st Century. She has mentored educators throughout Australia, NZ and USA, whilst being a guiding light in education internationally with bodies such as the OECD as an educational advisor, and the World Bank in designing schools for learning in Central Asia. Julia continues to innovate learning for all by teaching teachers how people learn and by designing curricula and environments for effective, personalised learning to take place.

“The real power of education is to enable each individual to know themselves, their aspirations and their passions to set them on the path to become who they can be in order to live a full life and contribute to the lives of others.”

MAVIS CLAIRE PIROLA OAM DSG Alumni Award for Religious Service Mavis (Fresher 1954), alongside her husband, Prof Romano Pirola OAM, has devoted her life to self-funded ministries of marriage and family. She has played a significant role in the Church, including 27 years of service to the Pontifical Council for the Family and has established the Parish and Marriage Resource Centre and the Family Working

Renée (Fresher 1999) works as a LifeFlight nurse bringing lifesaving treatment to patients throughout Australia and around the world, via helicopter and fixed wing planes.

With her extensive experience in ICU and emergency departments throughout Australia and the UK, Renée mentors young nurses and assists in the management of Royal Brisbane Hospital’s Disaster Portfolio. She has assessed aeromedical teams internationally, enabling them to improve their clinical and safety systems and currently reports directly to the Queensland Government on preventative and improvement strategies and for the future needs of LifeFlight. Renee continues to develop her professional career through her study of a Master in Public Health, majoring in Aeromedical Retrieval.

“In my job I see people in their most vulnerable states every day. I’ve realised that they just want you to be honest, to be compassionate, and they want to know they are loved. If I can do that for them, and show others to do the same, I’ve done my job. “

Group–which was the precursor to the Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council. In recognition of her ‘faith and scholarly-based leadership in promoting the nature and integrity of marriage within the Catholic tradition’, Mavis was awarded an honourary doctorate at ACU in 2016, and has recently been made a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory for distinguished services to the Church in the Archdiocese of Sydney.

“May Sancta Sophia College continue to provide a strong base from which young women can launch themselves into a new and fulfilling future for the sake of others.”

Nominate a Sancta Alumnus in 2020 Sancta Alumni have made countless outstanding contributions across the globe in many spheres of endeavour.

Nominate an Alumnus to be recognised for their efforts and achievements by visiting sancta.edu.au or emailing development@sancta.edu.au. Nominations close Friday 1 May 2020.

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LEARNING TO BE ALONE: ADVICE FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Mitchell Tung was invited, as the 2019 Sancta Postgraduate Social Secretary, to address a large audience of newly arrived international students at Sancta’s Welcome to Sydney event hosted in collaboration with The University of Sydney. The below is an excerpt from his speech.

It’s not easy to move away from home.

We all have our different definitions of ‘home’ – the house you lived in, the streets you played on, the people you grew up with.

I’m from Canada–more specifically, Calgary. We hosted the Olympics once… I think. People outside of Canada don’t know it very well and from a global perspective it’s a pretty inconsequential city, but it’s where I call home.

BY MITCHELL TUNG 3rd Year Dentistry student at The University of Sydney Senior Common Room Social Representative 2019

When I think of Calgary, I think of three places. There was this one playground just outside my backyard. Lining the perimeter of the playground were slabs of sandstone rocks stacked on top of each other, and in between them was a little space with a depression that perfectly fit the concavity of my five-year-old butt. Whenever things got too heated at home, I would sneak off, crawl through the thick bushes and arrive at my ‘spot’ to have a moment of peace and silence.

Then there was Griffith Woods. If I drove out a little from my house down the highway, took a left, and then made my way past the houses of Discovery Ridge, I would arrive at Griffith Woods. After parking my car and walking along the concrete path, I would turn left into the bushes that would lead me to a grand view of the Elbow River, rushing past me, and the Rocky Mountains, standing far away in their silent magnificence.

1 1 Mitchell with Postgraduate Javaria Chaudhry on the Postgrad Boat Cruise 2 Mitchell with Postgraduates George Glass and Hans Wei at Vale 3 Mitchell receives his Vale sash from Vice Principal Brigid Carrigan

Making my way along the river due north, I would eventually enter Tsu-Tina Reserve – unregulated, unsupervised and remote land fit for the pubescent seventeen-year-old boy I was. I’d have nights of bonfires, s’mores and ‘tests of manliness’ with my friends. There was one time where we randomly met a gang of hoodlums – friendly hoodlums, that challenged my friends and I to

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3 And for a time, I was lost. I hated feeling lost. I wanted to be in control. So, when I landed here, I took control of my life and fully threw myself into change. My girlfriend and I parted ways, I made new friends, studied hard, partied hard – the works. It was fun. But eventually, the novelty faded and I was left in my room, utterly depressed and utterly alone. I took a hard look at my life and I felt so hollow. Sydney was not Calgary.

one of those tests. Being young and brash, we agreed.

We followed them to their ‘base’, where there lay rest a tree trunk probably eight metres long. Essentially, the game was to see who could throw the massive tree trunk farthest in the water. I almost died because I thought I could throw this trunk like a javelin and I ended not being as strong as I thought. The tail end of the tree trunk would have clipped my head into the ground if I hadn’t ducked down at the last moment!

I describe this period as quite dark and unsavoury, but in retrospect I think it was necessary. I think there is this stigma with being lost. There is always a voice, whether it stems from societal, familial, or personal expectations to always know who you are and where you are going.

But in a sense, it is that voice that limits growth. Because the only thing worse than not knowing where to go, is pretending like you know where to go.

Then there was Sun Chiu Kee. Every Sunday afternoon, it would be bustling with families trying to get a seat. The waitress would yell at you asking how many people, and she would scribble a number on the greasiest piece of paper and you’d wait your turn. While waiting, you could quickly scan the restaurant for your ex to avoid or you could turn to your right and see roasted ducks and pork tenderloins hanging and dripping with juices, steaming up the window with their fragrant aroma that just screamed this is the “real deal”. Lots of screaming in Chinese restaurants. Once you get to sit down, you order the crispy pork with rice combo. In five minutes, a plate of crispy pork belly topped on a bed of steamed rice slides in front of you. The crispy pork has the perfect meat-tofat ratio that melts in your mouth right after you hear the satisfying crunch from the crackling skin completed with a balanced out stable note of plain white rice. This was my Sunday every week.

I can never replace the things that make Calgary my home.

I can never turn back time to choose to stay in Calgary. I can never fight the feeling of being lost, stranded on this island infested with poisonous spiders and drop bears.

But what I can do is lean into it. Lean into the discomfort.

Because when the party’s over and the dust settles, there will be times where you will feel so alone it hurts, and the worst thing you could do is suppress how you genuinely feel, and by extension, who you genuinely are.

Everybody responds to change differently. It wasn’t my first choice to come to Australia. It wasn’t even my fourth.

Who could blame me? I had everything in Canada. I had my little ‘spots’, a solid group of friends, my family, and a stable girlfriend. But in the end, Australia turned out to be the best option if I wanted to move on with my life. And I really struggled with that. Moving on, that is. I didn’t want to move on. I wanted to hold on to the times at the river, eat the crispy pork and rice every Sunday, and take evening walks through that playground with my girlfriend.

I have come to realise that studying abroad is more than just earning a degree or exploring a new place – it’s about learning to be alone. You probably have the same types of places back home as me – the place where you felt truly at peace, the place where you spent time being stupid, and the place that brought your loved ones together every week. Keep these places in your heart as I have, but be willing to let go so that you can give yourself the chance to let the people and places in Sydney pleasantly surprise you as to how much of a home it can be. Lean into it.

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S A N C TA’ S

R O A D S H O W

STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNIT Y TIES FAR AND WIDE NEWCASTLE, MAITLAND & HUNTER VALLEY

Students from regional Australia have always been at the core of Sancta’s existence. They continue to make up over 60 per cent of our Undergraduate student population. In 2019, we embarked on the Sancta Regional Roadshow to strengthen our regional networks for the benefit of past, current and future students.

May 2019 Total Kilometres Travelled: 404 km Visited: Newcastle & Lake Macquarie Careers Expo, and Hunter Valley Careers Expo Hosted: Alumni & Community Celebration at The Lucky Hotel Newcastle

Our goal was to both thank and mobilise our alumni and supporters to ensure our founding mission of being a ‘home away from home for regional women’ remains honoured into the future.

In an incredible feat, we travelled over a combined 48 000 kilometres to visit 10 schools, 21 tertiary education and careers expos, and host 8 reunion celebrations for our globally dispersed community of alumni and supporters.

This year we aim to meet and reconnect even more alumni and supporters and share the Sancta spirit with more schools across regional Australia. If you would be interested in helping us organise community events and school visits in your area, please do get in touch.

Newcastle Alumni & Community Celebration: (From left) Past Vice-Principal Maryanne Pidcock (Fresher 1986), member of Sancta

2019 Regional Roadshow Team Staff: Fiona Hastings, Principal Amy Coleman, Marketing & Development Manager Hayden Edwards, Marketing & Development Officer Student Ambassadors: Simone Badiu Elizabeth Bowmer Lydia Fagan Emily Matthews Keiraley O’Connor Elisa Quan Elizabeth Redpath Janet Trembath Elena Turunen

Council Jann Gardner (Fresher 1979), Jane Hall (Fresher 1979), Student Ambassadors Janet Trembath, Keiraley O’Connor and Elisha Quan, Current Parent Jennifer Parke, Marketing and Development Officer Hayden Edwards and Alumna Shirley McHugh (Fresher 1949).

We warmly invite all Newcastle & Hunter Valleybased alumni, supporters and current/past parents to join our Alumni & Community Celebration at the iconic Honeysuckle Hotel on Newcastle Harbour.

Drinks and canapes provided.

DATE & TIME: Friday 15 May 2020, 5:30pm – 8pm.

RSVP at development@sancta.edu.au

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BATHURST & ORANGE June 2019 Total Kilometres Travelled: 504 km Visited: Mackillop College Bathurst, James Sheehan Catholic High School and Kinross Wolaroi School Hosted: Alumni & Community Celebrations at The George Hotel Bathurst, and Chesterfields Bar at The Hotel Canobolas Orange

Bathurst Alumni & Community Celebration: (From left) Michelle Maher (Fresher 1987), Sr Paula Smith

Bathurst Alumni & Community Celebration: Sancta

RSM (Fresher 1956), Sr Patricia Powell RSM (Fresher

Resident Emily Matthews with her family.

1963), Sr Gabriella Gresz RSM (Fresher 1963), Lorraine Ryan (Fresher 1958), Prospective Parent Mrs Russel, Sr Bernie Evens RSM (Fresher 1956), Student Ambassador Elizabeth Bowmer, Prospective Student Emma Russel and Principal Fiona Hastings.

Orange Alumni & Community Celebration: (Back, from left) Kinross Careers Advisor Kimberley Jones, Cara Denman (Fresher 1989), Current Parent Michael Fagan, Joanne McRae (Fresher 1994), Wendy Mason (Fresher 1986), Janey Burrows (Fresher 1988), Current Parent Sarah Moloney, Current Parent Janine Kermode, Mackillop College Bathurst: Student Ambassadors

Prospective Parents. (Middle, from left) Andrew de Graaff

Lydia Fagan, Elizabeth Bowmer, Emily Matthews and

(Wesley Alumnus), Jacqueline Grant (Fresher 1960), Prue

Principal Fiona Hastings give Mackillop College’s senior

Kevans (Fresher 1988), Jo Keown, Prospective Student.

female high school students the scoop on College life.

(Front, from left) Student Ambassadors Lydia Fagan and Elizabeth Bowmer, Prospective Students Zoe Keown, Emer Spora and Lucy Kirk, and Principal Fiona Hastings.

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GRIFFITH, WAGGA WAGGA & CANBERRA August 2019Â Total Kilometres Travelled: 1151 km Visited: Marian Catholic College, Murrumbidgee Regional High School, Mater Dei Catholic College, Canberra Girls Grammar Hosted: Alumni & Community Celebrations at Exies Club Griffith, The Hampden Bar at Romanos Hotel Wagga Wagga, and Walt & Burley Kingston

Murrumbidgee Regional High School: Students with Careers Advisor Anna Bergamin, Student Ambassador Elena Turunen.

Griffith Alumni & Community Celebration: Current Parent Rose Turunen, Student Ambassador Elena Turunen, Belinda Panebianco (Fresher 1993), Rebecca Barry (Fresher 1999),

Marian Catholic College: Student Ambassador Elena Turunen

Toni Griffiths (Fresher 1977), Marketing and Development

speaks to senior students and staff at her old high school about her

Officer Hayden Edwards, Lucy Burrows (Fresher 2014),

experiences at Sancta.

Denise Salvestro (Fresher 1969) and Marketing and Development Manager Amy Coleman.

Wagga Alumni & Community

Mater Dei Catholic College: Senior

Canberra Alumni & Community

Celebration: (From left) Principal

Students with Principal Fiona Hastings,

Celebration: (From left) Student

Fiona Hastings, Student Ambassadors

Careers Advisor Richard O’Connell,

Ambassador Elizabeth Redpath, Alex

Elena Turunen and Elizabeth Redpath,

Student Ambassadors Elena Turunen and

Galland (Fresher 1990), Hilaire Graham

Marketing and Development Manager

Elizabeth Redpath and Marketing and

(Fresher 1971), Miriam Middelmann-

Amy Coleman, Current Student

Development Manager Amy Coleman.

Fernandes (Fresher 1995), Sarah Bucknell

Josephine Daly and Mother Kelli Daly,

(Fresher 1987) and Rachael Rodney Harris

Scholastic Hewson (Fresher 2013),

(Fresher 2007).

Joanne Carter (Fresher 1983) and Susan Pottie (Parent of Alumna Fresher 2012).

Canberra Alumni & Community Celebration: Marketing and Development Officer Hayden Edwards with Alumna Freshers 2014 Emma Pullinen and Kate Dean.

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BRISBANE September 2019 Total Kilometres Travelled: 1462 km NEW YORK:

Visited: All Hallows’ School

September 2019 Total Kilometres Travelled: 31958 km Hosted: Alumni & Community Celebration at the Press Lounge & PRINT Restaurant 11th Avenue New York

All Hallows’ School: Marketing and Development Officer Hayden Edwards and Student Ambassador Keiraley O’Connor engage with senior students about student life in Sydney.

New York Alumni Celebration: (From left) Judith Malo (Fresher 1982), Allison Shook (Fresher 2013), Anika Burgess (Fresher 1998), Gemma Burgess (Fresher 1995).

SINGAPORE November 2019 Total Kilometres Travelled: 12601 km Hosted: Alumni & Community Celebration at The Lantern Bar at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore Singapore Alumni Celebration: (From left) Wendy Goh (Fresher 1995), Prospective Parent Sabine Ries, Charli

New York Alumni Celebration: (From left)

Bromley (Fresher 2009), Current

Marketing and Development Manager Amy

Postgraduate Aurelia Goh, Anne Leung

Coleman, Jessica Cid (Postgraduate 2014),

(Fresher 1991), Current Parent Yvonne

Isabelle Duggan (Fresher 2009), Emily Falk

Goh, Ying Pei Soo (Fresher 2008),

(Fresher 2010), Judith Malo (Fresher 1982),

Marketing and Development Officer

Allison Shook (Fresher 2013), Anika Burgess

Hayden Edwards, Althea Tan (Fresher

(Fresher 1988).

2008), Selena Young (Postgraduate 2009), Prospective Student Maskali Ries and Jonathon Khoo (Postgraduate 2015).

New York Alumni Celebration: (From left) Emily Falk (Fresher 2010), Isabelle Singapore Alumni Celebration:

Singapore Alumni Celebration: Jane

Alumnae mingling with current and

Blakeney (Fresher 1993) and Anne Leung

prospective students.

(Fresher 1991).

Duggan (Fresher 2009), Allison Shook (Fresher 2013), Jessica Cid (Postgraduate 2014), Judith Malo (Fresher 1982), Anika Burgess (Fresher 1988).

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A C A D E M I C D I N N E R

A U G U S T

The Academic Dinner celebrates high academic achievement by members of the College, particularly those who have been recognised in the University Honour Roll and Dean’s Lists, by gaining High Distinctions and as recipients of various Special Awards and Prizes.

The College is honoured to recognise these outstanding students and is privileged to call them part of the College community.

1 1 Principal of St Andrew’s College Wayne Erickson, Principal Fiona Hastings, Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson, Chair of Council Cathleen Crossley, Dean of Women’s College Natalie Smith

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UNIVERSITY HONOUR ROLL 2018 University Medal Meghan Williamson BAppSc(Phty) Hons I

First Class Honours Alexander Leathem BSc Hons I Maraia Pickering BSc(Adv) Hons I Meghan Williamson BAppSc(Phty) Hons I Lauren Yuile BAppSc(SpPath) Hons I

Second Class Honours Francesca Earp BAVB Hons II, Division 1 Sarah McInnes BE(Chemical & Biomolecular) Hons II, Division 1

Ethnie Xu BDesArch

Carlee Millikin BE(Biomedical) Hons II, Division 1 Edward Voet BA(Lang) Hons II, Division 1

Dean’s List of Excellence in Academic Performance Justine Landis-Hanley BA(Media&Comm) Elizabeth Redpath BEd(Sec:HumSocSc)/BA Emma Robertson BSc/BAdvStudies

Lauren Yuile BAppSc(SpPath) Hons I

Academic Merit Prize Methmi Perera BSc(Adv)/MD Ethnie Xu BDesArch

Special Awards and Prizes Jordan Bayne The Colgate Cariology Award

Martha Shikhule BMedSc

Sophie Brown Dental Alumni Society Prize No II for Proficiency in PreClinical Operative Dentistry

Amilee Srethbhakdi MD

Cindy Chang A L Sadler Prize for Japanese

Meghan Williamson BAppSc(Phty) Hons I

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Damisha Jivraj Top Clinical Dental Student in the Doctor of Dental Medicine Program, Integrated Clinical Dentistry A/B 2018 Jade Nutting Campbell Kordick Memorial Prize in Psychiatry Elizabeth Rose Mrs Elva Rae Talented Mathematics Students Initiative Award Myriam Song P J V Beumont Prize in Psychiatry Medicine

A C A D E M I C D I N N E R

A U G U S T

2 Principal Fiona Hastings, Alumna Lauren Yuile, Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson 3 Principal Fiona Hastings, Daniel van der Merwe, Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson 4 Principal Fiona Hastings, Elizabeth Redpath, Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson 5 Principal Fiona Hastings, Martha Shikhule, Chancellor Belinda Hutchison 6 College Choir 7 Undergraduate and Postgraduate students enjoy a formal dinner 8 Alumnae Georgia Booth (Fresher 2017), Elsa Preslaber (Fresher 2017), Sarah Parsons (Fresher 2016), Mary Schnelle (Fresher 2016) and Helen Johnson (Fresher 2017) 9 Sancta Sophia Academic Dinner 10 Valetant Penelope King and Current Student Katie Merriman

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COLLEGE SCHOLARS 2018

Keara Chan

Caitlin O’Shea

Mahindra Ramani

Sharon Chang

Sophie O’Toole

Louisa Sondergeld

High Distinction Average

Cindy Chang

Morgan Overmass

Apurv Yadav

Victor Chen

Emma Charles

Cassie Parke

Academic Heads

Abbey Connor

Emmaline Clark

Sarah Parsons

Aimee Dai

Eloise Coleman

Elsa Presslaber

Laura Addis Creative Arts

Aashima Juneja

Fleur Connick

Jordyn Price

Jacqueline Krynda

Georgie Cope

Anant Sharma

Alexander Leathem

Rebecca Egan

Paris Slade

Elizabeth Mansourian

Alexandria Everett

Kirsten Smith

Emily Moroney

Nabilah Fakim

Kathryn Soen

Isabella Nilsson

Megan Findlay

Louisa Sondergeld

Meghana Pampapathi

Kathleen Fitzpatrick

Mandy Song

Maraia Pickering

Karen Gao Kathryn Gill

Wenbo Song

Elizabeth Redpath

Lucinda Spence

Emma Robertson

Millicent Gordon

Matilda Starr

Elizabeth Rose

Nikita Gour

Claire Steven

Martha Shikhule

Sophie Gray

Annie Sun

Daniel van der Merwe

Carmel Hall

Emily Thompson

Lauren Yuile

Georgina Harrison

Lilli Thompson

Distinction Average

Lachlan Hegarty

Alexandra Touw

Laura Addis

Katherine Huang

Mitchell Tung

Bianca Almeida

Claudia Hunter

Astrid Utami

Jessica Ambler

Alice Ireland

Eliza Williamson

India Anderson

Helen Johnson

Dana Atallah

Sarah Jones

Jemimah Back

Alexandra Kelleher

Natalie Ball

Nicholas Kellow

Eliza Benecke

Tiffany Kwong

Georgia Booth

Caleb Lau

ACADEMIC TEAM 2019

Sophie Bradley

Yupei Li

Senior Tutors

Georgina Brandon

Cristina Lucas

Clara Jane Armstrong

Ellen Brown

Hannah Lukeman

Dr Jen Scott Curwood

Gabriella Brown

Katie Merriman

Samuel Buswell

Alice Morrison

The Anser Editorial Team

Chloe Cant

Kaushik Mulukutla

Clara Jane Armstrong

Amy Carrigan

Hala Musa

Sharon Chang

Annika Cavanagh

Isabella Nolan

Amelia-Anne Merz

India Wilson Simone Windrim Sophia Wright Viola Yu Amanda Yung

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Eliza Benecke Media & Communications Shannon Black Veterinary Science Ella Brown Social & Political Sciences Caitlin Davies Science Lucy Edwards Exercise & Sports Science Bronte Harvey-McKean Business Sarah Jones Law Alexandra Kelleher Economics Caleb Lau Architecture Aron Lazaridis Dentistry Hannah Lukeman Medical Science Isabella Nolan Education & Social Work Keiraley O’Connor Engineering & IT Cassie Parke Music Lisa Suetomi Arts Eliza Williamson Applied & Health Sciences Isabelle Wood Nursing Lucy Yeung Medicine

S P O R T S

R E P O R T

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Katie Merriman Sports Secretary 2019 Hans Wei Postgraduate Sports Representative 2019

ROSEBOWL 2019 was another successful year for Sancta in sport. In the Intercollegiate Women’s Rosebowl Competition, Sancta placed 2nd in Hockey, equal 2nd in Soccer, 3rd in Basketball and 2nd in Athletics. This landed us in 4th place in the overall standing which is a huge achievement. The competitive level of each college was incredibly high, and I would like to congratulate everyone who participated in 2019!

A special congratulations goes to Emily Matthews for winning the Intercollege Basketball MVP, and to Maggie Smith for winning Intercollege Sportswoman of the Year at the Intercollegiate Awards Night.

SOCIAL SPORT We had an amazing increase in social sport participation in 2019, with teams entered in the University’s Lunchtime Social Sport Competition for Futsal, Volleyball, Netball and Touch Football. The emergence of a Sancta 7’s Women’s Rugby team saw Sancta defeat

Wesley/John’s 25 – 5 in a curtain raiser to the Men’s Rawson Rugby finals. Sancta’s Men’s Basketball team celebrated a massive victory, taking on the ‘College All Stars’ team and winning 71 – 38.

RAWSON CUP Sancta’s postgraduate men represented Sancta honourably in the Rawson Cup again in 2019, taking home individual victories in Swimming and Athletics. Thank you to the postgraduate sports secretaries in 2019 for all their hard work!

SAINTS’ CUP The Saints’ Cup was established in 2019 as an exclusive sporting competition between the two Graduate Houses of The University of Sydney – Sancta and St Paul’s. Sancta’s Postgrads started strong, winning the inaugural 2km running event, however, it was St Paul’s who secured the Cup in 2019, narrowly winning the remaining Mixed Netball, Mixed Touch Football and Mixed Basketball events. Congratulations to all who competed in the inaugural Saints’ Cup!

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7 1 Mixed OzTag Team 2 Men’s Basketball Team 3 Mixed Netball Team 4 Intercollege Basketball MVP Emily Matthews 5 Men’s Futsal Team 6 Women’s Hockey Team 7 Saints’ Cup Running Team 8 Sancta’s Athletics Team

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C U LT U R A L R E P O R T PALL ADIAN CUP The Intercollege Performing Arts Challenge, also known as the Palladian Cup, is a highly anticipated annual competition between the six residential colleges of The University of Sydney. The competition comprises of a lively and competitive showcase of both individual and group performances across a variety of categories, including dance, debating, oration, drama, art, instrumental and vocal.

1 SANCTA PALLADIAN HIGHLIGHTS IN 2019

1 Georgia Gunnis performing in Palladian Solo Drama 2 Alice Best

Instrumental

in Palladian Solo Instrumental 4 India Kermode and Charlotte Target

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Lucy Clarke-Randazzo came third in Solo Instrumental. Cassie Parke also represented Sancta.

Sancta in Palladian Oration 6 Sancta Palladian Dance group

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Cassie Parke, Karolin Velliste and Lucy Clarke-Randazzo were Highly Commended for their Instrumental Ensemble performance.

Eulalia Angeli, Katie Fitzpatrick and Paige Billow also represented Sancta.

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performing in Palladian Solo Drama 3 Lucy Clarke-Randazzo performing representing Sancta in Palladian Oration 5 Charlotte Target representing

Oration & Debating

Most Outstanding Contribution Award: Lucy Clarke-Randazzo

Vocal •

Lucy Andrews and Lucy Goodrick represented Sancta in Solo Vocal.

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Sancta was represented in Vocal Ensemble by Aaron Yang, Beth Bourke, Carmel Hall, Cassie Parke, Dana Atallah, Elena Turunen, Eloise Coleman, Eulalia Angeli, Genevieve Dreyer, Hannah Lukeman, Isabella Nolan, Isabelle Fuller, Jed Endaya, Kathryn Soen, Katie Fitzpatrick, Lilla Mckenzie, Lucy Andrews, Maddison Raffe, Natalie Law and Tate Kiddle.

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Charlotte Target won first place in Oration.

India Kermode also represented Sancta.

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Sancta celebrated Charlotte’s win with a Victory Dinner.

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Sancta won against St Paul’s in Debating. Sancta was represented by Carmel Hall, Charlotte Target, Grace Banks, Jeanne Hamman and Manjot Kaur.

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Most Outstanding Contribution Award: Charlotte Target

Drama

Most Outstanding Contribution Award: Lucy Andrews

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Alice Best came third in Solo Drama.

Georgia Gunnis also represented Sancta.

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Sancta was represented in Drama Ensemble by Charlotte Target, Georgia Gunnis, Isabella Nolan, Katie Merriman, Manjot Kaur and Tate Kiddle.

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Most Outstanding Contribution Award: Georgia Gunnis

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Sancta was represented in Dance by Alice Morrison, Annika Rhoades, Elena Turunen, Elisha Quan, Eliza Anwar, Elizabeth Rose, Emma Clark, Isobel Berryman, Juliette Radford, Kaylee Harding, Lola Ohlsson, Lucy Clarke-Randazzo, Lucy Goodrick, Rose Burden, Samantha McCormick, Sarah Jones and Tate Kiddle.

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Most Outstanding Contribution Award: Isobel Berryman

Art •

Anne Leven-Marcon, Eloise Coleman and Juliette Radford represented Sancta in Visual Art.

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Most Outstanding Contribution Award: Eloise Coleman

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SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORT

1 Elena Turunen Social Justice & Sponsorship Secretary 2019 Jiyoon Lee Social Justice Representative 2019

It is difficult to describe the sense of community at Sancta because it is something unique that can only be felt once you are immersed in it and living amongst it. The College is full of brilliant and compassionate people and 2019 was an inspiring example of how we were able to make a meaningful impact, not only within our own community, but for greater society.

The first Social Justice event of 2019 was ‘Sancta Under the Stars’ which was hosted in the Quadrangle and involved a screening of Disney’s Inside Out; the event’s focus was on mental health awareness. All proceeds from the event went to our local Headspace centre in Camperdown, and ambassadors from the centre joined in to help build our mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and discuss ways we can all find help and support.

We also continued our support of Bear Cottage, a palliative care home for children at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Over Easter in 2019, we delivered toys, books and chocolates to the children to help brighten up their day, and we also supported ‘A Bear Affair’ – the annual gala ball to raise funds to support the incredible paediatric palliative care programs at Bear Cottage.

In May 2019 we held ‘Graze to Raise’ on the Rooftop Terrace to raise funds for the ‘Buy a Bale’ initiative that provides aid to thousands of rural Australian families, including families from Sancta, suffering through drought, bushfire and other natural disasters. Sancta Alumna, Gabbi Vella, provided live musical entertainment, and a delicious grazing table was kindly donated by a local supermarket.

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Wisdom Forums are key events on the annual College calendar, and in 2019 we were thrilled to host two engaging discussions that featured panels of prominent Australians at the forefront of debate. Our first Wisdom Forum grappled with the topic of medical ethics and the importance of respect and institutional conscience. Insight was offered by panellists Dr Bernadette Tobin and Dr Steve Matthews of the Plunkett Centre for Ethics.

‘Women in Politics: Empowerment and Equality’ was the topic of our second Wisdom Forum which discussed the real and perceived barriers for women considering a career in politics and how they can be overcome. Joining this lively discussion was Fiona Davies (CEO of the Australian Medical Association (NSW)),

1 Marketing and Development Manager Amy Coleman, Postgraduate Student Louisa Sondergeld, Jenny Leong MP, CEO of the Australian Medical Association Fiona Davies, Principal Fiona Hastings and the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP 2 Social Justice Committee set up for Sancta Under the Stars 3 Postgraduates Callum Vidler, Jiyoon Lee and Clara Jane Armstrong delievering Easter goodies to Bear Cottage 4 Sancta Undergradaute students Manjot Kaur and Elizabeth Bowmer with Wisdom Forum panellist Hon Tanya Plibersek MP 5 Undergraduate Students Hannah Lukeman, Isabella Nolan and Carmel supporting Graze to Raise

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Senator Hollie Hughes, Jenny Leong MP and Hon Tanya Plibersek MP. We look forward to more engaging debates in 2020 with topics including sustainability and careers in social justice – see page 49 for Wisdom Forum dates.

Our final initiative for 2019 was organising care bags for homeless women and children for Christmas, which were filled with essential

daily products including deodorant, soap, feminine hygiene products and toothpaste. This was extremely successful, and we are incredibly grateful to the community for donating products to support Sydney’s homeless people during the festive season.

These are just a few of many social justice endeavours that were upheld or initiated this year, and each one of

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them illustrate the value of service and the strong sense of community that we share at Sancta. The College brings together a diverse group of students who have come from all walks of life with different passions and interests and it has been wonderful to see the community collectively make strides towards creating a better society.

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 2019

HOUSE COMMITTEE 2019

Award winners as voted for by Sancta students and the Principal

Senior Student Rita Andraos Honorary Secretary Hannah O’Callaghan Honorary Treasurer Georgina Griffiths Social Secretary Jessica Kong Sports Secretary Katie Merriman Cultural Secretary Lilli Thompson Liturgical Secretary Therese Kelly Social Justice & Sponsorship Secretary Elena Turunen Intercollege Representative Phoebe McGeoch Senior Year Representative Bailee Brown Sophomore Year Representative Lucy Robson Fresher Year Representative Claire Phillips

The Nita Macrae Award: Rita Andraos The Sheila Hurley Cultural Award: Jessica Kong The Jean Daly Oration Award: Charlotte Target Sportswoman of the Year: Katie Merriman Sportsman of the Year: Hans Wei Yvonne Swift Individual Achievement Award: Elizabeth Redpath Principal’s Award: Cassie Parke

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We congratulate all Sancta Valetants and Graduands.Â

SENIOR COMMON ROOM AND SECRETARIES 2019 President Samuel Buswell Secretary Caitlin O’Shea Treasurer Casey Allen Social Representative Mitchell Tung Sports Representative Hans Wei Cultural Representative Thushira Gammune Social Justice Representative Jiyoon Lee Food Secretary Mujtaba Qureshi Rawson Swimming Secretary Aaron Shikhule Rawson Athletics Secretary James Healy Intramural Sports Representative Neil Murthi Intramural Cultural Representative Apurva Gautam Photo Secretary Vamsi Manikyam Chief Gardener Anjan Kornepati

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1-2 Valetants and Graduands releasing balloons 3 Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Spence

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VA L E TA N T S

A N D

G R A D U A N D S

4 Valetants Amelia-Anne Merz, Olivier Despois, Jed Endaya and Lucy Yeung 5-7 Valetants and Graduands in the Quad 8 Isobel Carruthers receives her Valetant sash from Vice Principal Brigid Carrigan 9 Students Tate Kiddle, Isabella Nolan and Cassie Parke with Valetant Carmel Hall 10 Valetants and Graduands release their balloons 11 Graduand Sophia Wright and Valetant Jessica Ambler 12 Undergraduate Valetants and Graduands 13 Principal’s Award recipient Cassie Parke

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SECRETARIES 2019 Guest Speaker Secretary Genevieve Dreyer Ambassador Secretary Georgia Potter College Council Representative Lucy Edwards Palladian Art Secretary Julia De Mattia Dance Secretary Sarah Jones Debating Secretary Carmel Hall Drama Secretary Alice Best Instrumental Secretary Cassie Parke Vocal Secretary Isabella Nolan Photo Secretary Laura Addis Other Universities Secretary Kathleen Fitzpatrick

Food Secretary Sophia Wright Intramural Secretary Khyati Kakwani Semi Formal Secretary Isabelle Wood Formal Secretary Eliza Benecke Informal Secretary India Rich Cheer Secretaries Penelope King & Phoebe Rowley Merchandise Secretaries Laura Addis & Claire Hamblin Publication Secretaries Elizabeth Redpath & Emma Robertson Netball Louise Vincent Swimming Mackenzie Smith Rowing Megan Harrison

Hockey Penelope King Soccer Phoebe McGeoch Basketball Emily Matthews Tennis Claire Hamblin Athletics Madigan Aranda

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RESIDENT ASSISTANTS 2019 Elizabeth Redpath (Senior RA) Jessica Ambler Taylor Bramble Olivier Despois Justine Endaya Kathleen Fitzpatrick Natalie Law Anne Leven-Marcon Emily Matthews Amelia-Anne Merz Alice Morrison Neel Parmar Emma Robertson Charlotte Target Sophia Wright Lucy Yeung

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VA L E TA N T S Laura Addis Sophie Allen Jessica Ambler Rita Andraos Holly Andrews Caroline Apathy Jemimah Back Alexandra Baldry Aliah Banchik Eliza Benecke Alice Best Paige Billow Trinity Boutin Lucy Brosnan Alessandra Brown Hannah Brown Frances Carrigan Isobel Carruthers Jessica Chen Georgie Cope Amelia Cressey Ela Davies-Etheridge Juliet De Mattia Gabriella Demco Olivier Despois Abigail Downes Justine Endaya Josephine Grady Georgina Griffiths Carmel Hall Claire Hamblin Kaylee Harding Josephine Harris Megan Harrison Bronte Harvey-McKean James Healy Femke Kiki Hoogkamer Sarah Jones Stokes Kandzari Alexandra Kelleher

Therese Kelly Alexandra Kharalampiev Penelope King Jessica Kong Adele Laurie Annabelle Lin Hanshu Liu Ming Luo Aiswarya Manickavasagam Elizabeth Mansourian Jannicke Martin Emily Matthews Arabella McKenzie Amelia-Anne Merz Madison Moore Alice Morrison Aparna Nair Elizabeth Nist Xutong Niu Hannah O’Callaghan Sophie O’Toole Ashika Ramamurthy Elizabeth Redpath Annika Rhoades Leilani Rohweder Phoebe Rowley Olivia Shaw Elinor Shepherd Matilda Simpson Louisa Sondergeld Matilda Starr Kishen Sukumar Srisha Sundarraj Lilli Thompson Esther Ting Amelia Tuffley Mitchell Tung Karolin Velliste Jiayu Wang

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India Yiwei Lucy Y Charlotte Maria Danny

Wilson Xu eung Yip Zermeno Zhang

14 Valetants of 2019 15 Mitchell Tung and George Glass 16 Elizabeth Mansourian, Caitlin O’Shea, Emily Matthews 17 Graduands of 2019

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G R A D U A N D S Madigan Aranda Hannah Barrett- Lennard Taylor Bramble Bailee Brown Ellen Brown Maryanne Carmody Michael Duan Genevieve Dreyer Lucy Edwards George Glass Jeanne Hamman Damisha Jivraj Khyati Kakwani Annabelle Kluck Aron Lazaridis Yupei Li

Roseanne Vinitha Phoebe Jessica Asha Caitlin Amy Mujtaba Mahindra Michael India Alice Mackenzie Charlotte Callum Sophia Aaron

Lim M McGeoch Mockler Murnane O’Shea Phillips Qureshi Ramani Ratnam Rich Schwager Smith Target Vidler Wright Yang

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P O W E R

O F

GI V ING

Amy Coleman Marketing and Development Manager

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Sancta wishes to thank the following major donors of 2018 and 2019. These donors continue to contribute significant amounts towards our scholarship and bursary programme and other causes that support the mission and vision of our College.

Dr Ashé De Biasio

Louise Walsh

Dr Ann Bye

The Mansourian Family

Dr Bernadette (Bernie) Schedvin

Mary Smoker

Dr Janette Sullivan

Patricia Horsley

Dr Susan Kelly

Paula Choi

Elizabeth Giugni

Professor Maree Gleeson

Fr Edmund Campion

Rachel Launders and Paul Clark

Jann Gardner

Sarah Mayo

Jennifer Laffan

Sue Burrows

Jo Phillips

Therese Catanzariti

Pam Suttor

We look forward to adding these generous supporters’ names to our Donors Honour Board which will be launched in early 2020.

IT’S NEVER TOO SOON TO BECOME A DONOR: The Bev Burwash Scholarship for Women in Medicine and Health A new private scholarship was established in 2019 by Sancta Alumna Ashé De Biasio (Alumna Fresher 2010).

The inaugural recipient of the scholarship is Simone Badiu (Fresher 2019); Simone grew up in Western Sydney and wanted to live at College in order to maximise her study time and support. She has been fully self-funding her time at College through significant part-time work hours whilst she completes her Bachelor of Medical Science at The University of Sydney.

1 Recipients of the Patricia Horsley Scholarship Amelia-Anne Merz, Casey Allen and Danny Zhang with Donor and Alumna Fresher 1948 Patricia Horsley 2 Scholarship Recipient Ailish Seedsman with Donors Paul Clark and Rachael Launders (Alumna Fresher 1986), and their dog JT Clark 3 Scholarship Recipients Rita Andraos and Samuel Buswell with Donor and Alumna Fresher 1957 Pam Suttor

Ashé DeBiasio attended Sancta from 2010-2012 whilst completing her undergraduate degree in Science (Neuroscience) and was the first recipient of the JT Clark Scholarship, donated by fellow Alumna Rachel Launders and her husband Paul Clark. As a junior doctor at present, Ashé has now established a scholarship in honour of her

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S A N C TA

BEQUES T 3

Leaving a gift to Sancta in your will is simple. We recommend notifying us.

grandmother, Bev Burwash. Bev was a dedicated nurse who passed away when Ashé was very young. Ashé would like to think that Bev would be proud of her for going into medicine and continuing to use her knowledge and time to help others. Ashé’s two great-aunts and her extended family are based in Canada, but they have continued to have a significant impact on her life and were very supportive during her time at university. Ashé believes it is important to recognise the impact of the women in her family.

It has been fantastic to have a young alumna join our private scholarship program. Ashé, despite being in the initial years of her medical career and facing common challenges for young alumni such as paying off university tuition and seeking to enter the housing market, wanted to establish a scholarship as soon as she could, recognising the transformative impact of the scholarship she received thanks to fellow alumna Rachel Launders whilst she was a resident herself. In her own words “Obviously, it’s a small scholarship but every bit counts!”. Ashé would like to increase the scholarship value in the future.

Private scholarships with criteria negotiated between donors and the College can be established where the value starts from $2,500 per annum. Should you wish to start a scholarship here at Sancta, please contact the Office of Marketing & Development.

MOTHER YVONNE SWIFT BEQUEST SOCIETY “I had been a member of the community at Sancta, where I remember finding Mother Swift intellectually stimulating, sometimes demanding, and, when it was needed, very wise and supportive,”–Mary Ibbett, Fresher 1965

I give [my estate] or [portion/the residue of my estate] or [the sum of $____ ]to Sancta Sophia College, 8 Missenden Road, Camperdown and I express the wish without creating a binding trust that the funds be used and applied for the purposes of: • establishing a scholarship/bursary to benefit a student [from rural or regional NSW / with financial need / with exceptional talent and/or leadership qualities] • establishing a scholarship/bursary to benefit a student studying [choose broad area of study] • supporting a major capital works project of the College relating to its heritage and facilities or if the purpose no longer exists then for a similar purpose at the discretion of the Council of Sancta Sophia College and I declare that the receipt of the authorised officer of the College for the gift shall be sufficient discharge to my trustees.

In addition, I give [my estate] or [portion/the residue of my estate] or [the sum of $____] to Sancta Sophia College, 8 Missenden Road, Camperdown and I express the wish without creating a binding trust that the funds be used and applied for the purposes of being invested to support the Sr Mary Shanahan Scholarship or if the purpose no longer exists then for a similar purpose at the discretion of the Council of Sancta Sophia College and I declare that the receipt of the authorised officer of the College for the gift shall be sufficient discharge to my trustees.

Should you wish to leave a bequest to Sancta in your will, please contact the Office of Marketing and Development to notify us so that you can be added to the Mother Yvonne Swift Bequest Society.

Launched in honour of Sancta’s longest serving Principal Mother Yvonne Swift, the Bequest Society is a collective of Sancta alumni and supporters that have pledged to generously support the future of our College in their wills.

We were delighted to be contacted by a number of new bequestors in 2019. All Bequestors gain donor status and receive invitations to our gold ribbon and major community events.

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SOCIAL PAGES

S A N C TA S T U D E N T EVENTS: S A N C TA F O R M A L

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S A N C TA S A FA R I

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S O C I A L

PA G E S

“I came away feeling accepted as a part of something bigger than all of us, and very optimistic that Sancta could be a very influential part of my future life.”

Eloise, Senior High School Student and Sancta Sleepover Guest

COMMUNITY EVENTS: O P E N D AY & S A N C TA S L E E P O V E R Thank you to all the senior high school women who joined us for our annual SANCTA Sleepovers, coinciding with the USyd, UTS and Notre Dame Open Days in August 2019, and USyd’s Life at Sydney event in September 2019.

We were privileged to host 26 students from 14 different schools, including: All Hallows’ School

This year, we look forward to being joined by even more future Undergraduates from across Australia.

High School Careers Advisors are encouraged to reserve spaces at our 2020 Sleepover events as soon as possible. marketingdevelopment@sancta. edu.au

All Saints’ College Maitland

Sleepover highlights:

Ascham School

• Guided Uni tours with Sancta students

Burwood Girls High School Calderwood Christian School Kincumber High School Kinross Wolaroi School Loreto Kirribilli Merewether High School Roseville College Springwood High School Terrigal High School Wenona School Woolooware High School

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• High Tea on ‘Choosing Courses and College Life’ • Trivia and movie night run by Sancta students • 1 or 2 nights accommodation and meals provided for school staff and students

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS END OF YEAR DRINKS

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S O C I A L

PA G E S

WELCOME TO SYDNEY P O S T G R A D UAT E ROOFTOP DRINKS

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P O S T G R A D UAT E H A R B O U R B OAT CRUISE

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F R O M

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A R C H I V E S

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SANCTA’S COMMUNIT Y SPIRIT

Community has always been an important part of Sancta’s make-up.

The sense of community that exists is something many students – past and present – remember when they reflect on their time at Sancta.

One aspect of ‘community’ which has been evident throughout Sancta’s history has been the College’s involvement with community-based charity work. In the early years of the College, students supported the work of St Anthony’s Home Croydon, which was run by the Society of St Vincent De Paul. It was a home for unmarried pregnant women and cared for them and their babies for up to 12 months after the birth.

Mothers then chose whether to keep their child or adopt the child to the Home. In 1928, Sancta students instituted a “Poor Box” at the beginning of the year, and the proceeds were donated to St Anthony’s.

Voluntary contributions, and “involuntary contributions made by late-sleepers on the Sabbath” amounted to £2/9/3 raised by Easter (which was used to purchase “woollies for the babies”), and a further £2/7/3 between Easter and October from which toys, sweets and cash were donated to the Home.

The College Magazine of 1935 reported that the “activities of the Committee for Charities were… again directed towards a successful afternoon’s entertainment for the children of St Anthony’s Home, Croydon.” Sancta students took gifts of sweets, toys and fruit to be distributed to the children. In 1945, students went to great lengths to make toys for the

children: Sophomores made wooden toys, while Freshers and Seniors “engaged in more ladylike tasks” making felt rabbits and rag dolls for their annual visit to St Anthony’s.

Fast forward a few decades and the College’s connection with St Vincent de Paul Society remained strong. The 1998 Magazine reported that Sancta students were involved with a number of projects including volunteering at Matthew Talbot Hostel, and preparing Christmas hampers (containing toys and food) for underprivileged kids in Glebe. Sancta’s other charitable works included raising money for the Suicide Prevention Centre in Sydney and the Rape Crisis Centre and collecting for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.

Perhaps Sancta’s community spirit can be best summed up by these words from Hannah Tancred, Social Welfare Secretary 1998: “There are so many ways the ladies of Sancta express their concern for others on a day-to-day basis. It is one of the wonderful things about living at Sancta.”

Dr Tracy Bradford Archivist

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C E L E B R AT I N G THE 0s Throughout 2020 we will be celebrating and sharing memories of our alumni cohorts who commenced at Sancta in years ending in ‘0’. Tables for these cohorts have been reserved at the Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards on Saturday May 23 2020. Get your friends together and purchase tickets at sancta.edu.au

1930

1930 College cohort

1970

1970 College cohort

1980

1980 College cohort - ‘muck up’ photo

2000

2000 College cohort

2010

2010 Freshers

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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: Heritage and Facilities To maintain and improve the safe and historically beautiful environment afforded to our community.

Equity & Access *Current priority area Scholarships and bursaries for continued excellence, diversity and opportunity.

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.

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

Payment Options Your full name: Postal address: Email address: Phone number:

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 make cheques/Money orders payable to Sancta Sophia College

Visa

Mastercard

Amex

/

Card Number: Expiry date:

/

Please enclose this donation slip along with your method of payment to: The Bursar Sancta Sophia College, 8 Missenden Road Camperdown, NSW

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bursar@sancta.edu.au

Cardholder’s name:

Online donation

Cardholder’s signature:

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

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C E LE B R AT E

W I T H

SA N C TA

I N

2020

S AV E T HE DAT E I.

THURSDAY 16 APRIL, 2020

IV. SATURDAY 15 AUGUST, 2020

70s Club High Tea

Scholars and Donors Luncheon

n exclusive annual event where we celebrate A select members of our Sancta community who have reached, or are soon to reach, that magical milestone.

celebration of the Sancta students who are A realising their dreams through the generosity of our valued donors.

II. MONDAY 4 MAY, 2020

Wisdom Forum – Semester 1

A panel event exploring local and world issues, organised by Sancta students. This Wisdom Forum will feature 3 high profile panellists exploring the topic of Sustainability.

III. SATURDAY 23 MAY, 2020

Annual Gala Dinner + Alumni Awards

A spectacular evening dedicated to celebrating Sancta and our enduring tradition of empowering humanity, held for the first time in MacLaurin Hall – one of the University of Sydney’s stunning heritage spaces.

V. TUESDAY 25 AUGUST, 2020

Wisdom Forum – Semester 2

panel event exploring local and world issues, A organised by Sancta students. This Wisdom Forum will feature 3 high profile panellists exploring the topic of Careers in Social Justice.

VI. THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER, 2020

End of Year Drinks

J oin us in the Sancta Quad to celebrate the year that has been. Enjoy drinks and canapés, a lively intergenerational debate and student performances.

VII. SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Final College and Memorial Mass

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

EDITORIAL TEAM

Residents

C O N TAC T U S

Staff

Rita Andraos, Senior Student 2019

Sancta Sophia College

Elena Turunen, Social Justice and Sponsorship Secretary 2019

Camperdown NSW 2050

Amy Coleman, Marketing and Development Manager Hayden Edwards, Marketing and Development Officer Fiona Hastings, Principal Mia Trinidad, Dean of Admissions and Studies Dr Tracy Bradford, Archivist Joel Mesas, Freelance Photographer

Katie Merriman, Sports Secretary 2019 Samuel Buswell, Senior Common Room President 2019 Jiyoon Lee, Social Justice Representative 2019 Mitchell Tung, Social Representative 2019 Georgia Potter, Senior Student 2020 Clara Jane Armstrong, Senior Common Room President 2020

8 Missenden Road

UPDATE YOUR ALUMNI CONTACT DETAILS Never miss out on the latest Sancta news and events. Update your email at sancta.edu.au/update-details GENERAL ENQUIRIES Phone +61 2 9577 2100 marketingdevelopment@sancta.edu.au sancta.edu.au MAIN OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm

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