Banksia Magazine-June 2022

BANKSIA THE

MAGAZINE FOR OUR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

Edition 8 | June 2022

— 1

Australia Day Honours

— 2

First Look Inside Our Curtin Campus

— 4

Tackling Climate Change With Delicious Food

— From the CEO

— Contents — Features Australia Day Honours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 St Catherine’s College Opens at Curtin University . . . . . . . . . 2

— Alumni Profiles Ming Fung Chua: Tackling Climate Change with Delicious Food . 4 Getting Started in Software Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

It is a significant year for the St Catherine’s Community, as we have opened our Curtin campus and grown to nearly 800 residents for the first time.

I am incredibly proud of the hard work and sacrifices our staff and stakeholders put in to get us where we are today.

St Catherine’s is bigger, better and stronger than ever, and we all played a part in making that happen.

I want to acknowledge our Director of Advancement, Mandy McFarland, who has been an integral part of our Alumni Community for the past seven years and left the College in December 2021.

Whilst we were sad to see her go, taking on the CEO role at EducatePlus is a fantastic opportunity.

I am excited to announce that we are organising an Alumni Weekend later in the year to coincide with St Catherine’s Day on 26 November.

Our entire alumni community will be invited to a schedule of events and activities across both campuses, and we cannot wait to see you all. To be surrounded by our passionate alumni who make this College such a special place to live and work will be a highlight for our residents

— College Life Commencement Dinner: New Beginnings, Old Traditions . . . . . 7

— Around the Colleges What’s Been Happening? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

— Looking Back 50 Years On - St Catherine’s Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

— Dandjoo Darbalung The Six Noongar Seasons with Dandjoo Darbalung . . . . . . . 12

— Feature

and staff. Please keep an eye

Family Ties at St Catherine’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

on your emails as we will be

— Resident Profile

sending out further details on the weekend in the coming months.

Jackson Gillett - Curtin Resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

I hope you enjoy this latest

— Bloom: The Centre for Youth Innovation

edition of The Banksia.

Fiona Crowe, CEO St Catherine’s College

Preparing Young People for the Future of Business . . . . . . . 16

Editorial team: Sian O’Sullivan and Rachel Dalton

— Giving at St Catherine’s

Design: Kandina Terrar - Indelible Imprint

Annual Giving Fund and Philanthropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Photographic contributions: Darius Toh and EyeCandy Imagery Printing: Scotts Cover image: Daniel Lim, Jackson Gillet and Riana Coshott at our Curtin campus.

— Australia Day Honours Congratulations to St Catherine’s College Board Member, Dr Sue Boyd, and College Fellow and Winthrop Professor, Marc Tennant AM, on becoming Members of the Order of Australia as announced in the Australia Day 2022 Honours List.

Dr Sue Boyd Dr Sue Boyd AM was awarded the title for her significant service to international relations, tertiary education, and women’s affairs. During her time as a St Catherine’s resident from 1966 to 1969, Sue was the first female student to be elected as the Student Guild President at the University of Western Australia.

Sue went on to become a high-ranking diplomat, serving in countries including Bangladesh, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Fiji and played an important role in improving the status of women serving in foreign affairs.

After retiring from public service, Sue relied on her network to help further her career in business. Currently, she serves on the Board at St Catherine’s College and is the WA Chair and Executive Business Coach with Foresight Global Coaching Partnership. She has also been on the Board of the Gold Corporation, Volunteering WA and the UWA Senate and worked in the Kimberley Region with Aboriginal corporations.

Winthrop Professor Marc Tennant AM Winthrop Professor Marc Tennant AM was awarded the title for his significant service to dental tertiary education and professional associations. Throughout his academic career, Marc has dedicated his time to addressing issues of equity and justice through reforming health services globally.

Marc is the Director and Founder of the International Research Collaborative – Oral Health and Equity in Human Sciences at UWA. The Collaborative is a global leader in driving reform focused on marginalisation and addressing health inequality. Marc is also on hand to mentor residents each week as part of the Scientists in Residence Program at our UWA campus.

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FEATURE

— St Catherine’s College Opens at Curtin University In February 2022, we opened the doors to our Curtin campus for the very first time. This marked a monumental achievement for our College, as we became the first independent university college in Australia to open campuses in two separate locations.

Studio Room for senior students

Located in the brand new Curtin Exchange Precinct, residents enjoy public transport, recreation facilities and soon grocery stores and specialty retailers right on their doorstep.

The new building spans six floors of Single Rooms and Studio Rooms, with plenty of common spaces inside and outside for studying, socialising and relaxing.

A particularly special feature of the College is the Dining Hall, which serves as a vital place of connection for the St Catherine’s Community. From daily meals and catching up with friends to Formal Halls and celebrations, the design of the Dining Hall incorporates the modern style of the new campus while maintaining the warm College feel. Designs based on the Swan River also feature on the doors, showcasing the College’s connection to country, which is seen across our two campuses.

Residents enjoying the rooftop garden

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“I toured the UWA campus last year and was impressed by the culture and programs on offer. So when I was offered a place at Curtin University and found out a new St Catherine’s College was opening up, it was a no brainer for me to apply!

Now I have moved in, what I love about College life is meeting interesting people from all around the world. The best conversations happen over a meal in the Dining Hall, and they can range from light and fun to deep and intellectual.

My perspective on life is broadening, and that is what your university experience is meant to be about.”

- Daniel Lim, a first year Physiotherapy student at Curtin University and Residential Advisor

There are common rooms on every floor

“The design of the St Catherine’s building at Curtin was

The interior design was heavily influenced by the

undertaken by architects Nettleton Tribe. The concept

St Catherine’s team and creates a welcoming, warm and

references the existing concrete brutalist vernacular

contemporary aesthetic. There are a variety of spaces

that characterises the campus and is complimented and

for the many types of functions the College is renowned

softened with metal fenestration in the form of curved

for, from a student bar to casual courtyard dining, music

balustrades and vertical louvres. The courtyard-style

room and Private Dining Room. The College also has the

building has a communal green space as the central

only communal dining facilities on Curtin University’s

focal point providing an internal outlook for many of the

campus, which we use for larger events and daily meals.

student rooms, whilst upper levels take advantage of

The design has considered every aspect of the student

treetop views and vistas of the city of Perth.

experience and is a unique addition to the Curtin University Campus, which St Cat’s is proud to offer.”

- Ali Devellerez, Architect and former Board Member for St Catherine’s College

Residents and their families in the Dining Hall on Move-In Day

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RESIDENT PROFILE

— Jackson Gillett Jackson is in his first year of a Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree at Curtin University and is also an Residential Advisor (RA) at our Curtin campus. He applied to live at St Catherine’s because, apart from having delicious meals cooked for him in the Dining Hall, living on-campus gives him the perfect balance between his studies and his social life. We sat down with him to find out more.

What do you enjoy most about living at College?

What do you enjoy most about being an RA?

I enjoy seeing the College grow. We have new residents moving in every week, and our family only seems to be getting bigger.

Being an RA is truly an amazing experience, especially in our foundation year. The role puts you in a leadership position for a particular Level, but people from all around the College are always welcome to come and have a talk with you about anything that they may have on their minds. I really enjoy getting involved with our College community by being an RA.

What are some of your favourite memories?

I really enjoyed Orientation Week, especially when we went to the Curtin Stadium’s Oval and played games, such as tunnel ball, sock wrestling and watermelon speed eating, against residents from other Levels within the College. We got competitive pretty quickly!

The Inter-Residential Sports Carnival was also an amazing experience to be a part of. We came out in full force to compete against the residents from other accommodation options at Curtin University. Of course, there was an overwhelming turnout from St Catherine’s, with everyone wearing their College polos! It’s great to see our culture so strong already.

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Where are some of your favourite places on campus?

It has to be the rooftop garden or one of the various study rooms around the College. When I’m not in class, I like to play pool or table tennis in The Buttery with a few mates or relax and watch movies in the microcinema. You’ll also find me playing the piano downstairs in the soundproof music room.

FEATURE

— Family Ties at St Catherine’s College St Catherine’s has been home to many generations of incredible young people, which makes it so special when the children of our alumni come to the College for their own university experience.

Alumna Tan Hui Ping recently revisited St Catherine’s as her daughter moved into our UWA campus earlier this year.

We sat down with Tan Hui to find out why it is so special that Amiee has started at the College.

Where did you live before coming to St Catherine’s College?

I was living with a family friend while I completed Year 12 in Perth before coming to St Catherine’s College. Prior to that, I was living and studying in Singapore.

What is your favourite memory from living at St Catherine’s?

It’s tough to choose, as I have so many. One of my favourites is the supper cookout at Upper Whitefield. The joy, laughter and tears we shared of our experiences deepened our friendships.

The life experiences we learnd from each other helped me deal with the challenges that came my way when I entered the workforce after graduation.

I also fondly remember Formal Dinner nights! The guest speakers were always so thoughtfully selected and inspiring.

One defining takeaway that I carry to this day is the importance of embracing not only diversity but, more importantly, inclusion. Especially respecting people who are different as well as the Indigenous community.

This exposure in my early adulthood gave me a head start when I entered the workforce, especially when I was interviewing for job opportunities. The simple mindfulness of embracing and accepting people who are different and diverse opened up many opportunities for me in the workforce when I returned to Singapore.

Aimee and Tan Hui Ping at Move-In Day

How has St Catherine’s remained a part of your life?

Words can’t express how happy and grateful I was when my daughter Aimee was accepted into St Catherine’s this year. The experiences now may be different, but the College culture has not changed. I know that Aimee will find her own experiences living at St Catherine’s, and those experiences will help her excel in life.

I have also kept in constant contact with a fellow St Catherine’s sister. She is now living in Los Angeles. Whenever we catch up in person (pre-pandemic) or over WhatsApp exchanges ever since the pandemic, we still laugh over the silly things that we did.

Memories like PJ parties in each other rooms or the common area and getting told off by our floor tutor for being too loud.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

— Ming Fung Chua:

Tackling Climate Change with Delicious Food Originally from Singapore, Ming Fung Chua lived at St Catherine’s from 2015 to 2018. While at College, she completed a Master of Agricultural Science studying soil and plant nutrition and held various leadership roles, such as Residential Advisor and Student Support Coordinator. She currently works for Wide Open Agriculture, Australia’s leading regenerative agriculture company.

Currently, our food system accounts for 34 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions, meaning the agriculture industry has huge potential to address climate change.

We sat down to talk to her about her role and the future of farming.

Tell us about your work at Wide Open Agriculture?

Regenerative farming takes into account the

Currently, I am the Digital Project Coordinator, and I manage the digital channels for our regenerative food and agriculture brand Dirty Clean Food. In my role, I connect customers to our farmers and suppliers to help them understand and show them where food comes from and how it is grown. In my work, I am responsible for sourcing and purchasing delicious, regenerative, ethical and sustainable products that are both good for the planet and people.

entire ecosystem, from the biodiversity at the

I am passionate about food transparency and how we can best represent paddock to plate in a way that empowers our customers to be conscious consumers.

soil microbial level and the flora and fauna that exists and thrives in the same environment.

It focusses on improving your water cycles, rotational grazing and capturing carbon.

It’s going back to what nature intended and making our environment more resilient to climate change. It also ensures food security

Why is regenerative agriculture important?

for our future generations.

Regenerative agriculture is one step beyond sustainable farming.

Being sustainable is about maintaining the current state we are in, while regenerative is more about improving farming practices and helping to regenerate the land.

More people should learn about this as it is the complete opposite of conventional agriculture. When you purchase from a regenerative farmer, you are supporting the environment and consuming a product from an extremely passionate person who cares about their land. At Dirty Clean Food, we pay a premium to those farmers to encourage them to continue to practice regenerative farming. We call it “for purpose, for profit”.

It’s not a new idea, and it’s been practised for a very long time.

We work with amazing farmers, such as Blythe from Runnymede Farm, and the entire team at Wide Open Agriculture are the most passionate people you will ever meet.

What are your current professional goals?

One of my current goals is to continue to expand my network and support other young women in the agriculture industry. I’m also looking to learn as much as possible about the alternative plant protein space.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

— Getting Started in Software Development Josh Cheng lived at St Catherine’s from 2019 to 2021 and studied a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Mathematics and Statistics and Computer Science. He recently joined Rio Tinto as part of their graduate program.

We sat down to talk to him about his role and how to secure your dream job.

What is your current role at Rio Tinto?

I am a Junior Software Developer and currently learning to create applications and the software development process. In addition, I get to work on pieces of software that they currently use on-site, which is such a fantastic experience. Getting the opportunity to make a difference in production software and improve people’s quality of life on site is valuable.

What has your experience been like so far?

I’ve enjoyed the company’s culture and how friendly everyone is.

I’m most excited to move to Brisbane to work with my team there.

Being so supported in the relocation process has been amazing, and I’m stoked to see what Brisbane offers!

What advice do you have for anyone pursuing a graduate position?

My advice would be to create a cover letter and do your research! There’s nothing worse than getting a question in an interview about the company values and not knowing what they are. In addition, UWA has a tool called BigInterview, which is amazing for interview training and helping people get more confident, which I would highly recommend. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an interview or ultimately don’t get the position. Keep producing quality applications, and you’ll get in eventually.

If you would like to join our mentoring program or build your talent pool and start connecting with St Catherine’s residents and graduates, scan the QR code above.

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COLLEGE LIFE

— Commencement Dinner: New Beginnings, Old Traditions Formal events and dinners are a tradition practised at some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. Originating from the residential colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, these events are a fantastic opportunity for residents to catch up over a meal, hear from guest speakers and enrich their university experience, all while wearing their academic robes.

Up until 1973, academic robes were worn every night at dinner.

The student club voted to make regular dinners more casual but wanted to keep the academic robes for special events.

The first special event of the year is our Commencement Dinner.

This is an opportunity to welcome our residents back after the summer break and introduce our newest residents to the rest of the College. The event includes speeches from members of our College community with dinner and dancing under the fairy lights.

We’re already counting down the days until next year’s dinner!

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AROUND THE COLLEGES

— What’s Been Happening?

No matter where our residents’ interests lie, there are always plenty of events and programs happening at our Colleges for them to get involved with.

Our community thrives on a culture of support, which you can see through our high participation in volunteering work, career development opportunities and even cheering at competitions. Here are a few of our highlights.

­­ — INTER-COLLEGE AND INTER-RESIDENTIAL SPORT Last year, our UWA campus dominated the Inter-College Sports Competition, winning the Women’s Cup, the Men’s Cup, the Fitness Challenge Cup and the overall Inter-College Sports Cup. Plus, our supporters were so wonderful; we also won the Spirit Cup! This year at UWA, we’ve kicked off the sports season with a bang.

In athletics, we placed 1st in the Men’s Division and 2nd in the Women’s Division, winning the overall competition. In swimming, we placed 2nd overall, winning the Women’s Division and placing 3rd in the Men’s Division.

At Curtin, we started slow and steady, placing 2nd and 3rd in basketball and 3rd in volleyball. During these competitions, we scouted the opposition and were ready to pounce at Ultimate Frisbee and come away with a win! We are currently winning overall in the Housing Cup and aim to increase our lead in the coming competitions.

­­ — LIP DUB Lip Dup is an event in which each College competes in filming a music video in one take. The most creative, captivating, high energy and exciting music video wins, adding points towards winning the overall College Culture Cup. The song chosen was the Glee mashup of Survivor by Destiny’s Child and I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. With Residential Advisor Tatum Botha organising the intricate event, the final video was a great success!

Scan the QR code to view the video on our YouTube channel.

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­­ — OPEN DAYS Curtin University’s Undergraduate Open Day was a great success for our brand new campus. We hosted over 300 visitors who toured the College and saw first-hand what makes St Catherine’s unique from our residents and staff.

The University of Western Australia took an online approach with a College Row Panel Discussion as part of their Virtual Open Day. Residential Advisor and 2021 Fresher of the Year, Bradley Carter, represented the College and discused why living on campus will give students the best university experience.

We are also hosting our own Mini Open Days in July and September. Scan the QR code below if you would like to register to attend.

­­ — FORMAL HALL Our first Formal Hall of the year was dedicated to Closing the Gap, and was a roaring success, showcasing the lasting traditions that we have at the College. Residents participated in the practice of wearing our black academic robes and enjoyed a delicious meal featuring native flavours and bush tucker, in the company of new friends.

If you would like to speak at one of our Formal Halls, please email our Head of College Ashleigh Benadretti at ashleigh.benadretti@stcats.com.au

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LOOKING BACK

— 50 Years On St Catherine’s Memories From the outside, our UWA campus looks quite different now. With the additions of our new buildings in 2014 and 2019, our College has grown significantly. However, some things at St Catherine’s are timeless, like catching up with friends in your room, getting dressed up for a special event, or having fun. These photos were taken in 1972 and were kindly provided to us by Ann Osborne, who resided at the College in the early 1970s.

Ann McIlroy in Park Road 96, 1972

Ann McIlroy posing out the front of St Catherine’s in 1971

Jane Taylor, Ann McIlroy, Lorraine Patterson, Eleanor Thorburn, Nola Hanstrum, Jenny Falck and Maureen Hoddell

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“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” - Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

Residents getting involved in College sports

Residents gathering in a Whitfield Room

Valedictory Dinner 1972. Maureen Hoddell, Bev Vickers, Penny Clowes, Lyn Angel, Jane Burgess, Ann Osborne, Di McQuillan and Jenny Muir

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DANDJOO DARBALUNG

— Six Noongar Seasons with Dandjoo Darbalung Our Indigenous access program Dandjoo Darbalung has spent several years putting together a series of large canvas artworks that represent the six Noongar seasons. These pieces are the work of our Indigenous residents, with contributions from the wider St Catherine’s community and schools that have participated in the Dandjoo Darbalung outreach program.

If you would like further information on our cultural immersion programs, please get in touch with our Indigenous Program Coordinator Andrew Beck at andrew.beck@stcats.com.au

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Birak: December – January

Bunuru: February – March

The first summer. Noongar people would practice burning to force native animals into the open, making hunting easier.

The second summer. The hottest time of the year, with little or no rainfall. Noongar people would move closer to the estuaries for fishing.

Djeran: April – May

Makuru: June - July

It’s all about good tucker as the cooler weather sets in. Noongar people would continue fishing along the coast. Bulbs, seeds, Jam gum and berries were plentiful and were collected.

The first rains. Noongar people would move inland once the rains had replenished the water systems and prepare for Djilba, the following season, which has heavy rains and cold nights. Noongar people would stock up on fire tools and medicine.

Djilba: August – September

Kambarang: October- November

The second part of winter and the wettest and coldest time of the year, with clear cold nights. Food is abundant in this season, and it is a perfect time to stock up on good tucker like native potatoes.

The wildflower season, when the days become longer, warmer and drier. The baby birds are born, reptiles surface from hibernation and wildflowers bloom. Noongar people would move closer to the coast where the frogs, turtles and freshwater crayfish were.

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BLOOM: THE CENTRE FOR YOUTH INNOVATION

— Preparing Young People for the Future of Business Bloom’s Orbit Accelerator Program is a one-year program that provides five small business founders with the tools to accelerate their business.

The program consists of ten workshops facilitated by industry professionals, paired with one-on-one coaching from Program Director Jeroen van Dalen. By the end of the program, these young entrepreneurs will be better prepared for the future of their business and see long-term growth.

In late 2021, after a visit from the Minister for Innovation, Bloom was one of eight applicants who successfully applied for a Western Australian Government X-Tend Grant for 2022 and 2023.

This gives Bloom the sustainability to run this course for at least two years and build out the success of these young founders.

The first five participants of the Orbit Accelerator Program are Alex Montinari, Fanny Westlund, Imogen Blow, James Audcent and Isabelle Ng. Each participant currently owns a business, and

through the Orbit Accelerator Program, they are learning from industry professionals who are experts in their business fields.

“A program like Orbit increases the innovation atmosphere already established at St Catherine’s College. Residents have the chance to work in the coworking space besides entrepreneurs with established businesses and learn about innovation for the individuals who live and breathe it!” Said Bloom’s Director of Innovation, Andrew Stead.

If you would like to support Bloom: The Centre for Youth Innovation, please get in touch with our Director of Innovation Andrew Stead at andrew.stead@stcats.com.au

Members of our Bloom Community with CEO Fiona Crowe, Minister for Innovation Don Punch, and Director of Innovation Andrew Stead.

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GIVING AT ST CATHERINE’S

— Annual Giving Fund The Annual Giving Fund is an annual request to support the College financially. It reflects our philosophy that we can achieve great things together if everyone contributes, even a small amount.

When you give to the Annual Giving Fund, you can choose to nominate your contribution to the following areas:

• •

Dandjoo Darbalung (Indigenous Support)

• •

Scholarships

Bloom: The Centre for Youth Innovation (Entrepreneurship and Youth Innovation support)

Building Projects

“St Catherine’s is a unique community always striving for excellence, societal impact and encouraging young people to be responsible global citizens. The vision is inspiring, and the energy is contagious! I welcome your enquiry and support.”

— Margie Tannock, Chair of the College Board, Partner at Squire Patton Boggs and Founding Principal at ESG Legal

No matter where your passion or interest lies, your gift has an impact when you invest in St Catherine’s College. Gifts of all sizes combine to create a circle of support and momentum of change that go beyond the borders of the College. Our residents have a ripple effect – not just in academia but in society as a whole.

“I have so much to thank the College for. It’s the medium through which I’ve been able to pursue all my interests.

Being at College has helped me open up to new experiences, opportunities and challenges.”

— Pooja Ramesh, Beazley Medallist and St Catherine’s College resident

Contact Karen Taylor at karen.taylor@stcats.com.au or scan the QR code above for more information.

St Catherine’s College is a registered charity. ABN: 33871420832

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stcats.com.au enquiries@stcats.com.au Curtin Campus Building 433 University Boulevard Bentley WA 6102 +61 8 6478 7680 UWA Campus 2 Park Road Crawley WA 6009 +61 8 9442 0400 If you would like to support St Catherine’s, please scan the QR code below.