Introducing Our 2019 House Committee
On Monday 9 October, the Students’ Club Annual Elections were held to determine the 2019 House Committee. This is the 121st year in which the College has hosted a Student Committee election, however, in light of the changes proposed in the Broderick Review, the selection process has now changed.
In 2018, the nomination process changed to ensure a 40/40/20 split in elections. This split was to represent 40% women/40% men/20% of either gender in these important leadership roles.
Where previously individuals were elected for specific positions, individuals are now voted onto the Committee and then placed into roles in consultation with their fellow House Committee members.
This system was a success and the St Andrew's community was pleased to welcome a group of fine young women and men in equal numbers to leadership positions within the College for 2019. St Andrew's will continue to implement the system in the election process moving forward.
St Andrew’s College congratulates the following: Senior Student – Jack Mackenzie-Wood, Honorary Secretary – Neive Roebuck, Honorary Treasurer – Cameron McMillan, HAT – Lachlan Barrett, Female Intercol Representative – Millie Ryan, Male Intercol Representative – Sam Vail, Rosebowl Representative – Emma Bills, Rawson Representative – Harry Todd, Social Representative – Declan Drake, Cultural Representative – Violet Williams, Alumni Liaison – Francesca Spry
Rev Dr Gareth Clayton OAM, Chaplain
As Moses led the children of Israel to the Promised Land, he was given a PILLAR of CLOUD by DAY and a PILLAR of FIRE by NIGHT to guide him (Numbers 14:14).
And so to Andrew's although in several ways GENEROSITY and COMMITMENT have become the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. And as we think of our visions and dreams it is perhaps worth remembering that old saying,
The BEST way to make your dreams (and vision) come true is TO BE AWAKE!
From the Chair & Bird
Thyne Reid Link Development Launch
Cultural Change & Leadership
Details and timelines for the TRL project construction
The Vice Principal gives an update on the Broderick
Drews claims the Rawson, Rosebowl and University Cups.
The Andrewsman who oversaw the design of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Professional Development Program
Taylor Scholars 2018
LGBTQI+ Community
College Community
From the Archives
Nation Builders - Community Profiles
Alumni Community Events
Honours & Obituaries
Blue & White is published twice a year by the College Advancement and Marketing Teams for the St Andrew's Community
The College would like to thank all of our student photographers for their contribution to Blue & White
Editorial Team
Hannah Atwell
Monique George
Eden Puriri Photographers
Arabella Jones
Juliet Lochrin
Lily Harper
Tom Sanderson
I am very excited about the students we are attracting to St Andrew’s. They have continued to surpass all expectations in what they are contributing and achieving, while at the same time taking on the challenge of modernising our college and building a community of which we can all be proud.
Our students continue to surpass expectations across their academic, community and other pursuits. We celebrated at the Universities and Schools Dinner where 155 students received a distinction average or above; the average mark for St Andrew’s College now stands at 72 – significantly higher than previous years. We continue to excel in cultural and sporting pursuits with many outstanding team performances. We also saw the College continue its support of the Sony Foundation Children’s Camp for disabled children, now in its sixth year.
Whilst continuing to strive to be their best, our students have taken up the challenges in the upgrading and modernising of our College to provide access to more students. This includes the commencement of the new Thyne Reid Link Development and Kitchen construction projects, marking the first phase of the Harper Master Plan.
The implementation of the Broderick Review recommendations must also be noted along with the new electronic voting system for the Students’ Club elections.
The Students’ Club has shown strong leadership in reviewing its activities, to ensure that they both encourage inclusion and participation as well as being safe, meaningful and enjoyable for all. They have also reviewed their approach to alcohol consumption, by implementing more alcohol-free events.
While continuing to improve our culture and facilities, another change that we will pursue in the coming months is to modernise our governance and adopting the Corporations Act. Most institutions were set up under Special Acts of Parliament (including St Andrew’s) and have now transitioned to the latter in order to have a more stable, modern and accountable form of governance. The Act will require us to adopt more rigorous and transparent financial accountability; Councillors would become Directors, and be subject to Directors’ responsibilities under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). St Andrew’s College would continue to nurture its relationship with the University thus maintaining the standards required for affiliation. We would also be regulated by the ASIC, removing the ambiguity around the role of State Parliament. There will be no changes to the election of Councillors or other aspects of governance which are working well. This contemporary governance structure is an opportunity for St Andrew’s to embrace transparency while demonstrating our rich heritage, our financial viability and our operational strength to the market.
We encourage those in our community to ask questions and engage with us in conversations. There are numerous ways to be involved in this vibrant place - whether as alumni or parent. Thankyou to everyone for the support over the past year, and wishing you all the best for the break and next year.
Charlie Taylor (Fr
1982)
Senior Student 1985 Chair of Council
From the Bird
A warm welcome to the summer edition of this year ’ s Blue & White As our residents depart for the long break we focus our attention on their remarkable achievements during 2018, and also on the thrilling excitement of new growth
This edition reports on outstanding academic results, with the College averaging 72 across the entire cohort, with almost 50% achieving Distinction average or higher Victory in Rosebowl, Rawson and University Cups, a close second place in the Palladian Cup and a continuing richness in our music and other performing and creative arts programs has again highlighted our great success, and deep engagement, in the extra-curricular domains
We have made great progress in implementing the recommendations arising from Elizabeth Broderick’s cultural review during this first year of our two-year action plan In a wonderful re-statement of the power of the St Andrew’s collaborative model, Council, staff and students have worked tirelessly throughout the year to choose and cherish all that is good about College culture, and challenge and change all that is not The students have, frankly, been magnificent in this regard, challenging assumptions around the necessity for change, and in so doing, re-discovering and embracing the original purpose of many of the elements of the cultural landscape in College A detailed analysis of the implementation progress after year one is available on the College website
The House Committee, led by Senior Student Susannah Cooke, and assisted by a dedicated team of student Pastoral Leaders, have accepted the challenge of finding practical solutions to the change principles articulated by each of Broderick’s recommendations, and have achieved every milestone. Conversations have already begun with the 2019 leadership team to continue this momentum through the summer planning period to address the remaining elements of the action plan.
St Andrew’s Day – 30 November – heralds the commencement of new growth. The Thyne-Reid Link building development begins with the soil being turned on a project which will deliver rooms for 85 new residents in a combination of studio and shared apartment living. The building also contains common rooms, state-of-the-art gymnasium and studio spaces, and rooms for tutorials and music rehearsal. The new building represents the largest single increase in accommodation capacity in the College’s history, and is the next stage of our strategic commitment, in enabling access to Andrew’s. The Campaign for Andrew’s also begins with the turning of the soil, and presents an opportunity for the wider College community to join us in support as we bring together a combination of carefully managed financial assets, sensibly structured debt funding, and your generous philanthropic contributions to deliver this first stage of the Harper Master Plan
This ambitious development, at a cost of $25million, is a bold statement of our confidence in the strength of the St Andrew’s collegiate model; a confidence in the value proposition which we bring to the student accommodation market, knowing that what we have to offer is so much more than a bed on campus You’ll hear much more about our value proposition during 2019
Wayne Erickson Principal
Thyne Reid Link Development Launch
This November, construction has finally commenced on the largest single expansion in the College’s history since its inception in 1867
The Thyne Reid Link (TRL) Development will add over 85 new single and ensuite bedrooms and additional spaces to cater to a variety of our students’ needs To retain senior undergraduates at College in their fourth and fifth years, there will also be 4 and 5 bedroom apartments within the Link which will allow more independent living at College The $25M first stage of this development will also include college life facilities including much-needed tutorial rooms, music rehearsal rooms, a gym, and common areas for social activities
There will be a large student hub on the ground floor with multiple breakout spaces for students to study and collaborate in Three new tutorial spaces will be added to allow students to focus on their university studies in the comfort of their homes, at any hour of the day Four music rehearsal rooms will allow our students to experience the College’s renowned music program and give them the opportunity to practice and collaborate at home in their own community The gym will be equipped with a separate weights area and a cardio area, as well
as a semi-private studio space that can be used for stretching, yoga or dance rehearsals Additional laundry facilities will also be included in the new wing to accommodate the residents’ needs
Outside the Link, The Glen – the space between Thyne and Reid Buildings – will be landscaped with gardens and seating to create an inviting outdoor area to be used for formal and social activities The College is also required by Council to commission a Public Artwork for our campus as part of this project and is working closely with an experienced art consultant to develop this artwork with St Andrew’s history, culture and residential community in mind The new bedrooms will be included in the Students’ Club’s room draw, and students will get to choose these new rooms in 2020 As the newest rooms in College, they will most likely go to senior undergraduates This means Freshers will still remain in Main Building, and we will work with students and an interior designer to develop plans for a refurbishment of these rooms, for a program of upgrades over the coming years
The following pages provide further images as well as a timeline and overview of the development’s journey for the next 18 months
Artist's Interpretation of The Glen outside the Thyne Reid Link
Artist's Interpretation of the Gym
Artist's Interpretation of the Common Room
Artist's Interpretation of Music/Tutorial Rooms
Artist's Interpretation of the Apartment Kitchen Facilities
Early Works
Preparation of the building site commenced mid October 2018
Demolition
Demolition began on 26th November in the Glen and the Ground Breaking Ceremony was on 30th November.
Construction
Construction will begin mid-December 2018 and continue to February 2019.
Kitchen Refurbishment
The Kitchen Refurbishment will be completed over the Summer 2018/19 break and be completed by April 2019.
Reid Refurbishment
The remainder of Reid will be refurbished with new beds, wardrobes, carpet and desks in the Summer break of 2019/20.
Artwork
A public artwork will be installed on the St Andrew’s Campus prior to the completion of the new building
Completion
The Thyne Reid Link Building will be open for students in March of Semester 1 2020.
Thyne Reid Link Launch
Timeline
The TRL project is scheduled to commence in October 2018 and conclude on 3 March 2020 (18-month program). Our Builder, Buildcorp will commence an Early Works Package on 17 October 2018 which includes constructing a road on the oval, site establishment works and tree removal. Once semester ends on 24 November 2018, the Major Works Package begins with demolition, piling and excavation. Thyne and Reid will be unoccupied during this time and for the rest of the summer break.
Disruption
Throughout 2019, 4 bedrooms per floor in Reid (4 x 3 floors) and 4 bedrooms per floor in Thyne (4 x 4 floors) will be unoccupied reducing the size of College by 28. Buildcorp’s site sheds will be installed in the Glen area adjacent to the oval. This area will be unavailable from Oct 2018 – Feb 2020 and includes use of the Oval’s Change Rooms. A vehicle access road will be constructed around the Carillon Ave end of the oval from Western Ave entry gate through to the Glen.
Safety
To provide students with safe passage into Reid, a scaffold overpass will be constructed over the road to gain entry into the Reid entry door. Emergency egress at the opposite staircase will be maintained during occupancy periods. A safety fence will be erected around the oval perimeter to separate students on the oval from the road. An access gate will allow retrieval of lost balls.
Worker Separation
Materials will be safely stored within the fenced off site area between Thyne and Reid. Workers will only enter and exit through the Fellows Gate pedestrian entry via Cadigal Lane. All Building work will occur between 7:30am – 5pm MondaySaturday. No trucks will be able to enter Western Ave gate outside of these times without prior permission. Site sheds have been erected in a single location in the Glen to minimise impact and provide necessary facilities. Workers will not be permitted to enter any other buildings and a smoking area will be established within the site shed compound in the Glen to control and monitor impact on residents.
For fortnightly construction updates and further information, please visit our website: www.standrewscollege.edu.au
Thyne Reid Link: Enabling Access to Andrew's
On St Andrew’s Day, Friday 30th November, over 100 members of our community came together for the official Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new TRL Development
This milestone marks an exciting point in the College’s Harper Master Plan, which, in consultation with our community, has seen the College Council identify two priorities that will allow us to further develop a worldclass experience for more students: Increasing Scholarships and the Thyne Reid Development
As Principal Wayne Erickson puts it, “It’s a simple and compelling message Enabling access by providing more rooms and more scholarships to students of merit.”
We receive over 600 applications each year for approximately 100 places, meaning we turn away many talented young people who cannot access the St Andrew's College experience or, in some cases, the University of Sydney. The new TRL Development aims ll f h d d b d
In addition, building a strong scholarships program will allow us to welcome the most talented students, and further investment in needs-based scholarships will allow us to attract and retain an academically competitive and diverse student body Having built upon the philanthropic foundations laid by the generous benefactors who created St Andrew’s in the 1860s to reach this point, we are once again seeking philanthropic support from our community to build world-class accommodation and to provide scholarship funds to support students at St Andrew’s Together we can enable access to the unique experience that St Andrew’s provides, irrespective of where students come from or their financial circumstances
There are a number of different opportunities by which to support the Thyne Reid Link Building Project and/ or our Scholarships and Bursaries Program.
If you would like more information, please contact Hannah Atwell, Director of Advancement via E: advancement@standrewscollege.edu.au T 61 2 9565 7303 M 61 434 728 720
Cultural Change & Leadership
Each year our students complete training in order to become eligible to apply for an appointed or elected leadership position In 2018, a diverse range of options were offered as part of this training; an LGBTQI+ forum, ‘fortnightly forts’, senior student forum, cultural leader forum, annual lecture and a face-to-face session where the current 2018 leadership group discussed their roles. Additionally, students completed an online confidential survey where they were asked to give their views on College life.
Of the 163 students who undertook the survey, the sense of community, support and friendship were seen to be the most important:
‘….From the day I arrived at College during O-Week, what struck me most about St Andrew's is the open and inclusive social environment. In the weeks leading up to starting at College, reading the news articles about purported hazing practices at Drews, and the exclusive, elitist social environment they described, had made me doubt how much, if at all, I would enjoy my College experience. However, the atmosphere I have experienced has been nothing but positive, and I am so grateful to be able to live in a place with such a strong sense of community and
camaraderie, in which I feel so comfortable to be myself ’ (Ragavi Jeyakumar, Female, Aged 18)
Academic support was also seen to be an important part of what College offered. This year our semester one academic results achieved an average mark of 72%. This is a wonderful testament to the work of our tutors and AATs, as well as the hard work students themselves put into achieving their academic aims.
The St Andrew’s community has enthusiastically engaged with the Broderick Review recommendations. Our students are leading its implementation to ensure that St Andrew’s is a safe and connected place for all our members, including gender equality. ‘ …. I think the College has had real success in adjusting itself to meet the requirements of the Broderick Review whilst still holding on to the life, spirit and traditions that the older students loved about the past years. ’ (Max Neville, Male, Aged 19) .
The calibre of our students is a strength that College continues to support and nurture. It is our strength and our future.
Dr Hester Wilson Vice Principal & Director of College Life
Professional Development Program
The Professional Development Program is the newest addition to the College Life Program and is the result of investigative research by the College Life Officers into the requirements of our emerging adults as they transition into their chosen careers The Program, to start in 2019, will build considerably on the existing Careers Week Evenings, with the aim to develop the student’s professionalism through an iterative process over the course of their time at College The Program has been co-developed with input from current students
Following College run focus groups and a survey, student requirements were classified into three streams; skills, mentoring and the digital impact The skills stream of the Program will provide workshops, panels and events that assist students with basic employment skills like CV writing and interview techniques The Program will also help students with obtaining appropriate work experience For those pursuing an academic career, assistance will be given with supervisor selection, employment expectations and applying for scholarships
Further academic research into the mentoring stream has provided some interesting insights with regard to our current cohort of students who have grown up entirely in the digital age
Digital millennials and Generation Z students display different and new behaviours around cognitive processing, values and ethics and their use of technology, which have the potential to add to their career and life successes To address this, a number of mentoring styles will be implemented for students taking part in the program; traditional mentoring, peer mentoring and reverse mentoring
The final stream, digital impact, is based on new PhD research focusing on problems resulting from the digital age, and will employ self-mentoring within an organic management style of instruction This stream is directly targeted at the current cohort who require assistance in developing consistency of values and motivation as they repeatedly transition from the ‘digital’ to ‘real-world’ environment
The implementation of the comprehensive new program will, therefore, be incremental, with a student selected pilot program commencing in 2019 that will allow the team to regularly evaluate and adjust the offering to optimise outcomes
Dr Diane Spencer-Scarr College Life Officer
Taylor Scholars
Established in 2015 by the St Andrew’s College Chair of Council, Charlie Taylor (Fr 1982), the Taylor Scholars program supports and encourages senior students of College in continuing to engage significantly and meaningfully with College life.
Taylor Scholars develop and implement a special interest project that will benefit the College community. The project can be related to any aspect of College life and should aim to increase the diversity or depth of the College experience.
In 2018, there were ten Taylor Scholars working on a variety of projects. In Blue & White's June issue we featured five Scholars. In this issue, we feature the remaining five Scholars and their projects.
Jayson Gilchrist (Fr 2015)
Jayson is a 4th year student at USYD, studying a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry).
My Taylor Scholarship project envisages to increase St Andrew’s residents' environmental awareness through a range of initiatives over the year. These initiatives include a Bottle Return Program, a social event to promote waste reduction, the creation of personal recycling processes, and a general increase in sustainable awareness via the existing student environmental society, Drewts and Shoots.
During my time at St Andrew’s, I witnessed a real absence of environmentally conscious behaviour. A particular reason for this stemmed from a lack of education and a subsequent lack of accessibility for such programs. I am confident that I can instill a lasting philosophy of environmental responsibility and awareness, and assist in shaping the College’s attitude towards being environmentally friendly.
Kieran Bonin (Fr 2015)
Kieran is a 4th year student at USYD, studying a double degree in Secondary Education and Art (History and Geography).
My Taylor Scholarship project is inspired by my time at the Reach Foundation, an organisation which aims to inspire young people to reach their full potential. My project is to create a new leadership training option for students that wish to become leaders in 2019.
Each fortnight, a heterogeneous group of students join together for the ‘Fortnightly Fort-night’ to build fort. Students will learn new leadership techniques by reflecting on their personal identities, with the idea that everyone has a talent or has a way to express themselves. My project means that I can contribute my passion for engaging young adults back into the College, whilst still being a part of th enriching St Andrew's community.
raduate student at USYD Doctor.
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Minami Takahashi (Fr 2014)
Robbie Hayward
(Fr 2015)
Robbie is a 4th year student at USYD, studying a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
My Taylor Scholarship project has been focused around the creation of the Pipes and Drums of St Andrew's College, which consists of students and alumni bag-pipers and drummers. The aim of the project is to enhance the College's Scottish and Presbyterian culture.
The formation of a Pipe and Drums band will expand the College’s community and university engagement as well as strengthen our identity and pride. The band practices weekly and has already played at many College functions. I am grateful for the opportunity to start the Pipes and Drums band and proud to implement a project in our home. It has been a humbling experience and encouraging to ensure the project grows.
Illie Hewitt (Fr 2015)
Illie is a postgraduate at USYD studying a Doctorate of Medicine.
I grew up in Central NSW and was fortunate to attend an expo in my final year of school that hosted a stand for St Andrews College It was a place I’d never heard of before but am extremely thankful I had because I was able to call St Andrew's home for the past three years Not only did living at College provide me with the opportunity to become involved in social, sporting and academic endeavours, it also provided me with the foundations I needed to move from Central NSW to the very intimidating city in pursuit of an academic career
My Taylor Scholarship project aims to increase recruitment of regional students through the return of St Andrew's students from regional backgrounds
LGBTQI+ Community
St Andrew’s College has a long history of liberal engagement, born from the Scottish Enlightenment This has stood us in good stead to acknowledge and engage with the needs of those of our residents who identify as diverse in sexuality or gender. We are acutely aware of the issues that young people from the LGBTQI+ community face in the current day. 11% of Australians identify as LGBTQI+; many still experience violence and discrimination, and therefore hide their sexual orientation or gender identity. The effects of this on the wellbeing, mental health and educational outcomes of young people, in particular, is profound.
We know, from the Broderick review and a recent anonymous survey within the college, that 7% of our community identify as sexually diverse and 0.96% identify as gender diverse. We also know that there have been incidents of homophobia and transphobia in our community. College residents who have experienced discrimination generally feel that it comes from a lack of awareness rather than an intention to harm. To tackle this, all 80 of our student leaders and staff have undertaken Ally
We’re especially proud that the Intercollege LGBTQI+ Support Network was reactivated by two St Andrew’s College students last year, one of whom continues to run the group, and to speak at O-Week events across the community. The Support Network has run fundraising events and maintains a strong relationship with the University of Sydney Ally Network. Thanks to the initiatives of our students, St Andrew’s has become a leader in raising awareness of LGBTQI+ issues within the Intercollegiate community.
At an administrative level, St Andrew’s College has implemented policies on diversity, respectful relationships, discrimination and stigma, and has procedures to support the safety of all college members. We are developing a relationship with the ‘Out for Australia’ mentoring program, and invite our LGBTQI+ alumni to participate.
We are proud to fly the rainbow flag, take part in Mardi Gras, and host LGBTQI+ events. We are proud of our LGBTQI+ staff, students and alumni and will continue to embrace diversity in all its forms, to make our community a safe place for everyone.
Main Building, St Andrew s College
University & Schools Dinner
At the 2018 Universities and Schools Dinner, St Andrew’s College celebrated a year in which our students contributed greatly to the academic life of Sydney’s leading universities
Twelve Androvians graduated with Honours in 2017, including eight First Class Honours and one University Medal A further thirty-two students were recognised by University awards and prizes Eighteen of our students maintained High Distinction averages and 102 maintained Distinction averages This record of excellence puts our students at the very forefront of the University body
At the Dinner the College also awarded the St Andrew’s College Medal, the highest academic honour for a student who completes 144 credit points with the highest average In 2018, the St Andrew’s College Medal was awarded to Jack LiellCock, a fourth year student in the combined Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science (Advanced) Jack is a graduate of Northern Beaches Secondary College in Sydney and has a particular interest in space exploration, artificial intelligence, and fractal geometry
St Andrew’s was honoured to welcome the Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Tim Soutphommasane, as our guest speaker Dr Soutphommasane reflected fondly on his own time at Balliol College at Oxford University He encouraged our students to be curious about the world and that we should pursue a diversity of thought – an antidote to ‘groupthink’ Dr Soutphommasane maintained that education should have a broader, civic purpose, with thoughtful individuals who could understand the importance of the diverse world in which we live
Dr Soutphommasane also urged our students to be prepared to ‘look at ourselves in the mirror’ and challenge what we see, noting in conclusion:
"Our society requires not merely intelligent individuals, but also wise and humane citizens We must be prepared to have strong convictions, but be unafraid to have them tested We must be able to disagree with others, but be willing to respect differences And we must be imaginative enough to have empathy and sympathy for others, even those who appear different "
Elly Howse Senior Tutor
The Dining Hall, St Andrew's College
Careers Month
During the month of August, St Andrew's saw 45 parents, alumni and friends come to the College over a number of evenings for the annual 'Careers Week' Based on the changing needs of the College and students, this year we extended the previous ‘Careers Week’ to ‘Careers Month’, in order to incorporate career-related workshops in addition to the two existing industry-specific nights The aim of the month is to inspire current St Andrew’s students and broaden their professional connections and knowledge A personal highlight of the month was attending the Personal Branding and Interview Techniques Workshop presented by Fiona McLean, CEO of The Social Index She gave an informative insight on leveraging your online and social media profiles for success in the recruiting process
The main events of the month were the industry nights on the 13th and 14th August Following Formal Dinner on both nights students were given the invaluable opportunity to have Q&A sessions with our guests in particular industry sectors 2018 saw an exceptional amount of industries represented with students having the opportunity to speak to professionals from Agriculture, Environment, Architecture, Property, Business & Management, Engineering, the Navy, Finance, Accounting, and Marketing & Communications on Monday night.
Tuesday night saw representatives from Government, Political, International Relations, Health, Veterinary and Law industries The nights concluded with informal networking drinks in the Junior Common Room There have been multiple separate sessions following these industry nights in which guests have come to College to speak to a smaller and more discipline-specific group of students
It was great to hear stories in the following weeks of students leveraging the incredible networks they had formed: ranging from coffee arrangements to job opportunities The month also gave younger students the opportunity to broaden their outlook in their career opportunities past their own degrees
I would like to extend a huge thank you to all who participated in Careers Month. The Students' Club is immensely appreciative of your time and efforts in attending. I must also give extended thanks to those who travelled for the event. The Advancement Team have been instrumental in organising the month and must be recognised and thanked for their hard work also.
Alex Finlay-Jones (Fr 2016) House Committee, Alumni Secretary
Semester 2 Gala Concert
Every year St Andrew's hosts two Gala Concerts in the Chapel to showcase some of the most talented, musically-inclined residents of College In Semester 2, a dozen St Andrew's residents put on a spectacular show for their peers and the larger Andrew's community The audience was wooed with soloist and ensemble pieces with the repertoire of the performers consisting of a mix of classical and modern classical pieces
Drama Society
In October 2018, the St Andrew's Drama Society (DRAMSOC) put together their production of Michael Frayn's "Noises Off" St Andrew's residents came together to create a two-storey set, erected in the Dining Hall The production was a huge success, with the 4 sessions of the performance drawing in many from the Drews community The Director, Violet Williams (Fr 2017) brought a fresh and satirical revision to the 2018 DRAMSOC production
Annual Lecture
In 2018, the College celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Annual Lecture and invited Investigative Journalist and five-time Walkley winner, Kate McClymont, to St Andrew's as the guest speaker With 50 Drews alumni, residents and staff in the audience, Kate spoke on the topic of "Fraudsters, Fakes and the Role of Investigative Journalism " Speaking about "fake news " , the current climate of Australian media and the discourse surrounding journalism in the age of online media, McClymont educated the crowd on how to navigate the media
Palladian
The cohort of talented St Andrew's residents went into the 2018 competition with high hopes for success in their performances The Palladian Cup competition for performance and creative arts concluded with ensemble drama in October, when despite Wesley College’s well-deserved victory on the night, The Women’s College’s second and third placings were enough to secure the Palladian Cup by a whisker from St Andrew’s
Rawson
St Andrew’s secured an impressive win in the Rawson Cup for the eighth time in nine years in 2018 The Rawson Cup returns home after a year in the hands of St Paul’s, who finished second overall Andrew’s won four of the eight sports during 2018, with St Paul’s winning two and Wesley and St John’s winning one each The team was in high spirits for their 2018 campaign, with the friendship developed in the team, it was clear that camaraderie was another prize Drews team won along with the Rawson Cup
Rosebowl
2018 marks the 10th consecutive year that the St Andrew's women have secured the Rosebowl win Winning 6 out of the 8 Rosebowl competitions, Drews sportswomen showcased remarkable feats of physical and mental
From the Archives (Reid Building)
As early as June of 1944 the College Council was already looking towards a ‘post-war extension of the College’. This project was, however, not reactionary but visionary: the Council made available 100 guineas for the services of the distinguished architect, Philip Hudson, to prepare a College Master Plan which envisaged a community of 400 members. While Europe was still stricken by war, our little antipodean College was planning for the future.
In April 1947, after the Master Plan had been prepared by Hudson, Emil Sodersten (who had designed the Australian War Memorial in Canberra twenty years earlier) was appointed as architect for the first accommodation block It was to house fifty-five students and four fellows What resulted is our uniquely serrated Reid Building
The building of this new accommodation block was substantially funded by philanthropy Indeed, Andrew Thyne Reid offered to contribute £35,000 of the £71,491 build cost but insisted that his donation should be anonymous The building also benefited by the minute supervision of College Councillors Gregory Blaxland and Thyne Reid himself.
His particular concern was about how noise in a building with concrete floors could be reduced A disgruntled Sodersten replied testily that he had built some of Sydney’s largest residential buildings and ‘ so far, I have had no adverse criticism’.
In the interests of visual harmony, Sodersten suggested that the bricks be chosen to match the pale colour of the Gloucester House which stands opposite Reid on the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital boundary. However, such attention to detail was a challenge for the builder, W.G. Mason.
Even without Sodersten’s exacting standards, this was a project beset by delays and setbacks The College was obliged to wait a year for planning permission from the State Government, College Council decided to terminate the builder’s contract after six months, the much-debated bricks arrived almost three months late, and the concrete staircase to the first floor collapsed in September 1951
After six years of planning and construction, the College took possession on 23 December 1952 Indeed, Council was so protective of the new building that they
Reid Building, St Andrew's College (circa 1950)
From the Archives (Thyne Building)
By the late 1950s College could no longer meet student demand. Some of the 150 students were sharing rooms and two sittings were needed for dinner in what is now the Chapel In the aftermath of the Menzies government’s adoption of the Murray Report, the Australian Universities Commission had been formed and substantial money for tertiary education was at last available from the federal government College Council immediately planned an extensive building program As well as a new Dining Hall, an equally spacious new Junior Common Room, a new Principal’s Lodge and a proper Oval with a carpark below, Council proposed a new residential block
In April 1964 sketch plans and drawings were submitted by the architects, McConnel, Smith and Johnson. Funding would come 50% from the federal government, 25% from the state government and the remainder from College. The new building was planned to house 59 students, as well as a northern wing with a flat for a married tutor and four tutorial rooms (though the use of the northern wing was later changed to be entirely residential). The total cost was estimated in 1965 as £120,000 Thyne Reid had died in December 1964, after contributing substantially to the cost of the newly completed Lodge He had, however, made no such commitment to underwrite the College’s outlay on the new accommodation building
It was hoped, however, that the continuing Educational Trust established by Thyne Reid, might assist.
Work went ahead on the new building The tender from Costain (Australia) Pty Ltd, who were already building the oval, was accepted in June 1965, with a finishing date of 25 February 1966 Within three weeks after signing the contract, College Council, on 28 June 1966, named the two new buildings Reid and Thyne, Reid ‘to commemorate the association of members of the Reid family with the College’, Thyne ‘to commemorate the close personal association of the late Mr Thyne Reid with the College, “Thyne” being his mother’s maiden name ’
A month later the walls of Thyne began to rise, despite exceptionally wet weather and the collapse of the main College sewer which ran under the site. Some rooms were, deliberately, larger, and therefore more expensive, than the size approved by the Australian Universities Commission, while general building rates had risen, so the cost blew out by 30%. Construction fell behind schedule, but, thanks to a desperate resort to overtime, the building was completed only seven days late, in the nick of time to receive the 1966 student intake. Carpeted throughout with Axminster, unlike Reid, Thyne was initially held in an esteem that students forty years later would have found surprising
Professor Ian Jack Senior Fellow & Archivist
Thyne Building, St Andrew s College (circa 1950)
Thyne Building, St Andrew s College (circa 1950)
Rosalind Croucher (Former Councillor)
Rosalind Croucher (nee McGrath) is an academic whose proclivity for personal and professional development has never known bounds. Rosalind was Dux at SCEGGS and graduated with HSC results that gave her a depthless range in choosing a career path. She decided to follow in the footsteps of her father, Judge Frank McGrath, and study law with the full scholarship she received from the Australian National University. Rosalind went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and a Bachelor of Laws from USYD and a Doctor of Philosophy in legal history at UNSW Following this, she became the Acting Dean of Sydney Law School, the Deputy Chair of the USYD Academic Board, the Dean of Macquarie Law School and the Chair of the Council of Australian Law Deans in succession
And most fortunately for the St Andrew’s community, she became one of the first female College Council Members alongside Rev Theodora Hobbs, in 1999 The two women had an instrumental impact on the St Andrew's community as they were part of a council who implemented a co-residential college in 2001
In 2018, Rosalind is Australia's Human Rights Commissioner, succeeding Gillian Triggs Rosalind's extreme list of accomplishments is full of Honours, awards, fellowships, scholarships and 9 published books However, when pressed on the secret to the sauce of life she merely imparts the wisdom that one should absolutely not eat gluten and to focus on what makes you happy She believes her greatest accomplishment has and always will be in raising her children Her advice to current St Andrew’s residents is once again to never eat wheat and to always value the importance of reading
The discourse of cultural renewal surrounding the University of Sydney’s residential colleges is, as Rosalind says, merely “moving into modernity ” Wherein the scope of culture has drastically changed and will continue to do so for the benefit of equality in the College
There is no doubt that Rosalind Croucher has had a profound and long-lasting effect on Australian Law, and through her contributions to the St Andrew's Council, she has become a historic and extraordinary figure by which her long-lasting dedication to cultural changes has set precedent in college and beyond
John Bradfield (Fr 1886)
In 1931, the students of St Andrew’s College knew Sydney was being changed forever at the hands of one of their predecessors, Dr John J C Bradfield They wrote in their Magazine that, ‘The Sydney Harbour Bridge is now included free in the “splendid panoramic view” from College windows (and even from the tower) ’ Even if we have been deprived of a bridge view by intervening buildings, it serves us well to look back at Bradfield and ask how his time at St Andrew’s shaped his contribution to the nation.
John Bradfield entered College in 1886. He came from Ipswich Grammar School intending to study a Bachelor of Arts, but straight away switched to Engineering and graduated in 1889 with the University Medal After leaving St Andrew’s, he worked and studied in Queensland, London and Sydney winning accolades in each of his endeavours From 1912, Bradfield began to work on several designs for a Harbour Bridge and in 1913 was promoted to be Chief Engineer for Metropolitan Railway Construction. However, it was another decade before the Act was passed and work began on the Bridge. By that time, Bradfield had been awarded his doctorate which Sir John Monash (one of his examiners) described as ‘undoubtedly of exceptional magnitude’.
In the introduction to his 1924 doctoral thesis which proposed a Sydney Harbour bridge, Bradfield said that ‘in attempting to solve the traffic problems of this great city, the arts and sciences, pure and applied must be available to their fullest extent '
He went on, 'Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Mechanics, Architecture, Metallurgy, Electricity, Geodesy, Economics, the Proportions and Properties of Materials, the temperaments, characteristics and habits of the people, the political needs of the day, indeed nature in all her manifold aspects must be studied The past history of the city must be known, present-day conditions understood and the future visualised with imagination, origination [sic], and sound practical judgement '
Although Bradfield wrote his dissertation at a distance of some forty years from his days at St Andrew’s College it is hard to believe that Bradfield could have failed to be influenced by his peers who studied Arts, Dentistry, Medicine and Theology.
In what amounts to a benediction on the science of Engineering (but might equally be a description of the Androvian ideal), Bradfield wrote: by its natural magic the art of applying the manifold seen and unseen phenomena in nature for the use and service by mankind the science of engineering exercises the greatest of all influences on the wellbeing of any nation.
Alex Wright (Fr 2014) Dean of Studies
Rawson Rugby Finals
At the end of May, the College hosted more than 200 alumni, parents and friends at the TAG Grandstand to support the Drews Rawson Ruby team in their Finals Campaign The night saw a tenacious effort from our Andrew’s men, however, the outcome was a hardfought loss to St Paul's with the final score being 33-19
In an Intercol first, the women ’ s Sevens match saw the talented Andrew’s team take the win 25-5 over the combined Sancta and Women’s team Thanks is extended to the Alumni Society for their support of this great event again
Young Alumni Drinks
In July, the Alumni Society invited Freshers from 20002017 to the Young Alumni Drinks at Mr Tipply’s in Sydney’s CBD (the first in six years!) With almost 50 in attendance, the event was a great chance for alumni to catch up and hear from the Principal about the current progress of the College The night was enjoyed by all and the Society plans on making the drinks an annual event If you are a young alumni and would like to be involved in organising future Young Alumni events please get in touch with the College's Advancement Team: alumni@standrewscollege edu au
Regional Reunions
In 2018, the College's regional reunions were held in Bathurst, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Newcastle and Canberra The Principal, Wayne Erickson, Director of Advancement, Hannah Atwell and Dean of Admissions, Will Cesta, travelled to the various towns across NSW and ACT A small reunion dinner was also held in Auckland, New Zealand and we look forward to holding more reunions, big or small, in more places next year If you are interested in helping us host a reunion in your region, please get in contact with the Advancement team
Founders & Benefactors
In 2018, the College honoured Andrew Thyne Reid (Fr 1921), former Councillor and generous benefactor to the College, for the Annual Founders & Benefactors Chapel Service & Dinner The Principal, Wayne Erickson, spoke at the Chapel Service in detail about Reid’s contributions to the College and the wider society, whilst Senior Student, Susannah Cooke, and Thyne Reid Foundation Scholarship recipient, Robbie Hayward, both expressed their appreciation for the support they and the rest of the student body have experienced as a result of benefactor generosity
1867 Circle Lunch
Formerly known as the Dick Spann Circle, the College's Bequest Society has been rebranded to the 1867 Circle in 2018 During the annual lunch, in recognition of those who will leave or indicated they will leave a bequest to the College, Dean of Studies, Alex Wright, spoke about the College's first bequest made by John Hunter Baillie If you would like information about the 1867 Circle and leaving a bequest, please get in contact with the Advancement Team.
Grandparents' High Tea
In October, the College invited grandparents of current students to the inaugural Grandparents' High Tea, which followed an exclusive matinee performance of DRAMSOC's 2018 production Guests were entertained by the talented String Quartet and Chamber Ensemble and heard from Alex Wright, Dean of Studies, about the history of the College's Drama Society The afternoon concluded with production insights from the play's Producer, Ruby Riethmuller (Fr 2016) and Director, Violet
Annual Dinner & AGM
On Saturday 17th November 2018, the College and the Alumni Society welcomed more than 200 guests - the highest attendance in over a decade! - for the SACAS Annual Dinner & AGM
The night began with pre-dinner drinks in the Highlander, followed by the Alumni Society's AGM presented by the Society's President, Alex Rhydderch (Fr 1994) Guests were then invited upstairs to the Dining Hall, ushered by the traditional Scottish sounds of the bagpipes - led by the College's inhouse Pipes and Drums band (please refer to Robbie Hayward's Taylor Scholarship project on page 13)
The Dining Hall was adorned with candelabras and table runners in the St Andrew's College tartan Each table also had photographs from the College's archives with memories from each Fresher year, such as group College photos, sporting events and the Drama Society
Alex and the Principal, Wayne Erickson, welcomed guests by highlighting the College's wonderful achievements in 2018 The College secured both the Rawson and Rosebowl (tenth consecutive year in a row) cups and finished a close second in the Palladian cup.
The Dinner was also two weeks preceding the Ground Breaking Ceremony in which Senior Student, Susannah Cooke, and Chair of Council, Charlie Taylor, turned the sod in the Thyne Reid Link Development - a College project to link Thyne & Reid Buildings allowing 85 new residents to join the St Andrew's community
Alumni and their partners reminisced about their time at College over a delicious three-course meal, which included the traditional Scottish haggis and concluded with a performance from the talented College Jazz Band Post-dinner drinks commenced in the Highlander shortly afterwards
The Society and College would like to thank those who attended the 2018 Annual Dinner & AGM We hope to see more alumni and their partners at next year ' s Dinner to set a new attendance record!
If you are interested in becoming an Alumni Society member, please get in touch with Monique George: E: alumni@standrewscollege edu au T: + 61 2 9565 7302
BLUE & WHITE
2018 SACAS Annual Dinner, The Dining Hall, St Andrew's College
Queen's Birthday Honours
The College would like to congratulate the below members of the St Andrew's community who have received Queen's Birthday Honours in 2018:
Mr David Anstice (AO) (Fr 1966)
For distinguished service to Australia-America business relations, particularly in the pharmaceutical field, through roles with multinational and educational organisations.
David is a Non-Executive Director of CSL Limited (a global specialty biotechnology company to treat and prevent serious human medical conditions) in Melbourne and Alkermes (a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on central nervous system diseases) in Massachusetts. He is also the Deputy Chair of the US Studies Centre's Board of Directors.
Mrs Anita Belgiorno-Nettis (AM)
For significant service to the community through support and philanthropic contributions to social welfare and arts organisations
Anita is a Board Member of the Sydney Theatre Company and film producer She has produced titles such as The Last Race (2011) and The Black Balloon (2008)
Dr Kim Ostinga (OAM) (Fr 1954)
For service to medicine, particularly to orthopaedics
Kim is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and Co-Founder of The Hunter New England Bone Bank at John Hunter Hospital, a 'Live Donor' femoral head bank He is also President of the Friends of King Edward Park in Newcastle
Obituaries
The College has learned of the following deaths in our comm Our sympathy is extended to their families.
Dr Kevin Hamilton White
Dr Neville Maurice Newman
Dr Keith Douglas Sharrock
Mr Alexander Teys McKenzie
Mr Nigel James Bruce Neilson
Prof Robert Alistair Beveridge Holland
Reverend Ronald Bevan Sparks
Reverend William John McLeod
Mr John M McKerral
Dr Alexander Stephenson Familton
Dr Brian William Barr
Mr Norman Bryan Anderson
Mr Peter Gibson Murdoch
