IMPACT OF GIVING PLASKITT FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
The Plaskitt Family Scholarship was
Lander’s room for a tipple before dinner”.
Dividing Range NSW and the other from
established by Peter and Libby Plaskitt in
Peter has many fond memories of his time
New Zealand, with a preference to the
2017. Their connection with St Andrew’s
at St Andrew’s and this was a major factor
South Island.
College began with Peter, who became an
in his and Libby’s decision to support the
Andrewsman in 1958. However, his road to
College. “The experience stays with you –
College wasn’t the most conventional nor
friends, grades, parties etc.!”
easiest of paths. After a year jackerooing on the family farm at Quirindi he decided to go to Sydney to study economics and to “take the business world by storm”! However, his application to Drews did not have the outcome he desired. But instead of “taking no for an answer”, Peter caught
Philanthropy Report 2019
the midnight mail train and knocked on Principal Dougan’s door early on a Sunday morning!
Peter (who is originally from Quirindi NSW,
he became a member of the College
west of the Great Dividing Range) and
Council. Peter remained on Council for
Libby (a graduate of Western Australia
9 years and during this time was heavily
University), live in Sydney but co-owned
involved with the development of the
a sheep station on the South Island of NZ
Hanks building and the College’s transition
for 10 years and thereafter built a holiday
to co-residential living. Of the latter he claimed, “It was one of the best things the College ever did”. Peter and Libby even hosted an Elizabethan themed party
broom cupboard under the stairs with a
in the Dining Hall a number of years
gentleman from Newcastle” for his first
ago. Their two daughters, Hannah and
year, and he was very happy to be in St
Sarah, although not St Andrew’s alumni,
Andrew’s.
are university graduates and both are
His grades improved while at Drews studying Economics, which eventually led to his career in property development. During his four years, Peter was part of the shooting team (which does not exist today Main Building’s corridor) and also a less
“You feel you owe something to places that have contributed to your life.”
after he matriculated, and 35 years later,
This resulted in being placed in “a
but group photos can be seen along the
8
Peter’s connection with College continued
Why these two areas? As Peter put it:
thrilled that young women now have the opportunity to attend St Andrew’s. Peter is currently serving as a member
home in Queenstown which they have enjoyed for the past 20 years. These two areas have given them so many good experiences in life that they felt that their scholarship should reflect this. In this context their aim was to encourage the diversity of students at Drews. Libby noted their desire “that St Andrew’s have a mix, of overseas, interstate, country and city and if more stay beyond second or third
of the Major Works Committee helping
year, as Peter did, a greater spread of ages
to manage College capital works projects
also results”.
such as the Thyne Reid Link Building Development.
Last year Peter and Libby met with the 2019 Plaskitt Family Scholarship recipients
formal Sherry Club which involved buying
The Scholarship is awarded annually to
over Formal Dinner at the College. Fergus
a “flagon of sherry and gathering in Hugh
two students, one from west of the Great
Bragg (from Aberdeen, NSW) and Liam
