Impact of Giving: Plaskitt Family Scholarship

The Plaskitt Family Scholarship was established by Peter and Libby Plaskitt in 2017. Their connection with St Andrew’s College began with Peter, who became an Andrewsman in 1958. However, his road to College wasn’t the most conventional nor 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 the midnight mail train and knocked on Principal Dougan’s door early on a Sunday morning!

This resulted in being placed in “a broom cupboard under the stairs with a gentleman from Newcastle” for his first year, and he was very happy to be in St Andrew’s.

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 but group photos can be seen along the Main Building’s corridor) and also a less formal Sherry Club which involved buying a “flagon of sherry and gathering in Hugh Lander’s room for a tipple before dinner”. Peter has many fond memories of his time at St Andrew’s and this was a major factor in his and Libby’s decision to support the College. “The experience stays with you – friends, grades, parties etc.!”

Peter’s connection with College continued after he matriculated, and 35 years later, he became a member of the College Council. Peter remained on Council for 9 years and during this time was heavily involved with the development of the Hanks building and the College’s transition 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 in the Dining Hall a number of years ago. Their two daughters, Hannah and Sarah, although not St Andrew’s alumni, are university graduates and both are thrilled that young women now have the opportunity to attend St Andrew’s. Peter is currently serving as a member of the Major Works Committee helping to manage College capital works projects such as the Thyne Reid Link Building Development.

The Scholarship is awarded annually to two students, one from west of the Great Dividing Range NSW and the other from New Zealand, with a preference to the South Island.

Why these two areas? As Peter put it: “You feel you owe something to places that have contributed to your life.”

Peter (who is originally from Quirindi NSW, west of the Great Dividing Range) and Libby (a graduate of Western Australia University), live in Sydney but co-owned a sheep station on the South Island of NZ for 10 years and thereafter built a holiday 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 year, as Peter did, a greater spread of ages also results”.

Last year Peter and Libby met with the 2019 Plaskitt Family Scholarship recipients over Formal Dinner at the College. Fergus Bragg (from Aberdeen, NSW) and Liam

Elizabeth Plaskitt, Sam Brandwood (Fr 2016), Liam Brandwood (Fr 2017), Fergus Bragg (Fr 2017), Peter Plaskitt (Fr 1958)

Brandwood (from Wellington, NZ) were both in their third year at the time and thoroughly enjoying being at College. They both discussed how integrated they have become in St Andrew’s life and especially with its sporting culture. In 2019 Fergus led the Rawson Rugby team to victory and Liam was a member of the winning Rawson Cricket Team. Whilst Fergus is pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Sydney, which echoes Peter’s own studies, Liam is studying for a Bachelor of Architecture. Both students agree that they are passionate about their courses and are excelling in their studies. Also joining the dinner was Liam’s brother, Sam Brandwood (Fr 2016), a recent alumnus and past recipient of the Plaskitt Family Scholarship. Although Sam has moved on from St Andrew’s now, having graduated with a degree in Economics, he still took up the opportunity to see Peter and Libby and thank them again for their support. It is clear that being the recipient of a scholarship comes with a long-lasting feeling of gratitude and connection.

Our thanks go to the Plaskitt Family for their support and commitment to St Andrew’s and its students. It is through scholarships and bursaries that more young people get to experience the unique College Life that St Andrew’s provides.

Ms Lisa McKeever Donor Relations Officer