2023 St Hilda's Chronicle

CONTENTS

From the Principal

From the Dean of Students

Student Club President

My Hilda’s - Student Reflections

Communitas Report

Around the Grounds

The Addams Family production

Performing Arts Report

Christmas in August

Diversity Report

Wear it Purple

Farm my School

Student Support & Development

Transformative Experiences

Installation of our 7th Principal Paddock to Plate

Whitby Dinner

Valedictory Dinner

Founders & Benefactors’ Dinner

From the CFO

Alumni Engagement Report

Gold Leaf Dinner

College Reunions

Change

ST HILDA’S COLLEGE

The University of Melbourne

19-27 College Crescent, Parkville, Victoria 3052 Australia

Tel +61 3 9248 8400

Email: communitas@hildas.unimelb.edu.au www.hildas.unimelb.edu.au

instagram.com/sthildasunimelb/ facebook.com/sthildascollege/ tiktok.com/@sthildascollege linkedin.com/school/st-hilda-s-college-university-of-melbourne

ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which our college is situated. We pay our respect to all the Elders of Indigenous students who call St Hilda’s home.

We also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community, the University of Melbourne, and the wider world.

St Hilda’s College Ltd

ABN: 68 426 085 488 ISSN: 1442-6935

Principal: James Hardiman

Editor: Carly Damen

Photography: Organic Photography, Luke Parolin, David Elijah & Carly Damen

Design: Abbey Miller

Thank you for all your contributions

EDITOR’S NOTE

As St Hilda’s College says farewell to 2023 and looks ahead to its 60th Anniversary in 2024, the Community Engagement Team has been spending plenty of time in the College archives. As a result, we have been able to reflect on the nature of The Chronicle (and its various counterparts) over time.

Whilst the prevailing styles and focal points of the different eras have changed over the decades, what consistently comes through in these various publications is the desire to keep a record of each individual year and to reflect the experiences of the Hilda’s community at that point in time.

As a residential college at The University of Melbourne, it goes without saying that the students are at the heart of this community. In 2023, the goal for The Chronicle has been to ensure that the voice that comes through in this year’s publication is unashamedly that of the student body.

This extends not only to all of our Student Club reports, but to various articles from this year’s Communications Intern, Pema Deane and the wonderful images from our 2023 Student Photographer, Luke Parolin.

We also have a number of reflections from students that chronicle what 2023 has been for them, as well as a couple of past students who have taken the time to reflect upon the spirit of Communitas as members of our alumni.

The student voice is also evident in this year’s design. St Hilda’s College strives to provide its students with opportunities to develop their talents and passions alongside their formal studies and so this year’s Chronicle is designed by one of our own students, Abbey Miller.

I’d like to thank everyone who has helped deliver a fabulous 2023 Chronicle, especially all of our amazing student contributors.

To readers, be you a current student, a future student, an alumni, a staff member, one of the many friends of the college or the person who picks this up in our archives 60 years from now, I hope you can feel the love and appreciation for the St Hilda’s community that comes through the stories on these pages.

CARLY DAMEN Community Engagement Manager

Fiona Cadorel, Carly Damen, Kate Abraham & Rose Parente, Welcome Saturday 2023 Diego & Carly’s dog, Herbie

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

It’s hard to believe we’re already wrapping up 2023. My first year as Principal has flown by and it has been my absolute pleasure to navigate it alongside an incredible community of students, staff, alumni and friends. I am often asked, by prospective students, what my favourite thing about St Hilda’s is and my response is always the same: I love the people. I love the mateship that is formed like nowhere else. I love the sense of pride in our community shown by everyone involved. Thank you to the 2023 cohort for continuing to build on the things that I love about our college and thank you for supporting me during my first year in this role.

There have been too many highlights to recount but I wanted to draw on a few here as an overview of what I’ve been most proud of in 2023. When I reflect on each of these highlights, I come to appreciate just how well rounded our community is and how wonderful it has been to see so many students engage in the breadth of activities on offer here.

From an arts and culture perspective, I was personally blown away by the production of The Addams Family this year. I attended the final night and it was standing room only. The amount of effort put in by all cast and crew is truly amazing and this performance was the jewel in the crown of a fabulous arts and culture portfolio this year – well done to everyone involved.

I’ve also loved sitting on the early morning sidelines to watch our teams battle it out on field and court. A personal highlight was the penalty shoot out to bring home the women’s soccer trophy (though I’d prefer a regular time victory next year thanks…) and generally the dominance of the women’s teams. The spirit and sportsmanship of the men’s teams was also admirable and I appreciated the chance to don the pads for the hockey bronze medal match.

As ever, the spirit of Communitas has also been strong this year. I treasured the chance to spend a day on the farm at Bellarine Secondary College, with over 30 of our students, as we contributed over a months’ worth of people power to the school and local community. Speaking to the team down on the Bellarine, it’s clear that the $10k raised at Paddock to Plate alongside our help on the farm has made an amazing impact. Thank you to all involved.

Given the amount of effort required to achieve all of these things, it’s also remarkable to acknowledge that over 25% of our students achieved a H1 average in their academic results. This is even more remarkable when you realise that some of our third-year students sat their first in-person exams this year after a number of covid-impacted exam seasons. You should all be proud of your ability to balance your studies and your contribution to our community so well.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the tireless and often thankless work of our student leaders. There’s been some ups and downs this year but one thing underpins the incredible leaders of our college: an unwavering commitment to our students. I know every single one of you will go on to achieve amazing things and it has been a pleasure to work with you in my first year as Principal.

We’ve also been incredibly lucky to welcome Fe to our community this year. Having moved my family from Sydney to St Hilda’s in 2020 for the opportunity to take on the Dean’s role, I wholly appreciate the leap of faith it takes to take on a role like this. Thank you for trusting St Hilda’s and thank you for the incredible impact you have already had on our community.

On that note, I also want to thank the amazing team of staff here at Hilda’s for their incredible commitment to our community and our students. In my 15+ years working in colleges, I’ve never worked with a more positive, generous, values-driven and cohesive group of people and I feel grateful every day I turn up.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of our Board & Fellows, along with all of our donors and friends of the college. Your generosity, be it through your time, your expertise or through your philanthropy (and for many of you a combination of these) is invaluable to our community and enables us to fulfil our goal of providing a life changing experience for our students. Getting to know more of you on a personal level as I’ve stepped into the role of Principal has been a personal highlight.

So, it’s been a busy year and a rewarding one. I have cherished every opportunity to meet new students and build stronger relationships with returners. I am grateful to all of you for challenging me, helping me grow and filling me with optimism for our future.

It’s never goodbye – but instead – see you soon.

Go Well, Jimmy

JAMES HARDIMAN Principal

Fiona Cadorel & James Hardiman

FROM THE DEAN OF STUDENTS

What a year! It was wonderful to join the St Hilda’s community this year. I have been impressed by St Hilda’s sense of community and I am grateful for the way in which students and staff have welcomed my family and I into the community. It has been a privilege working alongside such dynamic, thoughtful and talented students and I have loved getting to know each of them throughout the year.

Over the year, I have come to understand the true meaning of St Hilda’s motto, Communitas . I have learnt that Communitas is much more than a strong sense of community and belonging. I have seen Communitas in action on a daily basis, with students going out of their way to support their friends, or students representing St Hilda’s in sports they have never played before, or performing on the stage in the college musical. I have watched students being caring and community minded, fostering a college culture that is inclusive, welcoming, thoughtful and seriously fun.

It truly has been a fantastic year! It is wonderful to look back on the year of events and it is difficult to reflect on just a few highlights as there have been so many!

As I know our student leaders will reflect on the myriad of social, cultural, sporting events, I would like to share a few of the opportunities that our students have participated in, that have supported their personal and professional growth. Living at St Hilda’s College and studying at university is an exciting time of life. It is a period of exploration, self-reflection and immense personal and professional growth.

This year, we offered our students experiences that promoted holistic wellbeing and the development of their whole self, for we believe that social and emotional wellbeing is equally as important as developing their academic and professional self. As the year comes to an end and I reflect on my favourite memories, it is not just the big events that come to mind, it is also the everyday moments of seeing students build friendships with each other during meals, at turns, on the stage and on the sporting field.

St Hilda’s College is a place where students can truly be themselves, where everyone’s unique gifts are celebrated and where students are empowered to make the most of their college experience to become values-led leaders.

As some of our students depart, I look forward to seeing the positive contribution they make in the world and we will welcome them back to college as alumni to mentor the next generation of Hildarians.

FIONA CADOREL Dean of Students

Fiona Cadorel, Founders & Benefactors 2023

FROM THE STUDENT CLUB PRESIDENT

2023, what an extraordinary and action-packed year filled with unforgettable moments and remarkable experiences. Together we journeyed through the ups and downs, faced challenges, and celebrated many successes that have shaped the fabric of our college community.

We started with a strong sporting campaign, bringing home another cricket premiership and continued to showcase our sporting prowess by claiming another two premierships during the year. Our talented Hildarian’s led the way in the cultural space too. Many were involved in the intercollegiate activities along with our internal cultural events, including another spectacular play performance.

Through a series of events and initiatives in the calendar, we pushed the boundaries of our own potential.

From charity events to cultural celebrations, we’ve shown that our differences are our strength.

Each event was a testament to our collective commitment to unity and growth, a reminder that together we can achieve more. I hope that by having such a diverse array of events this year, everyone had an opportunity to push themselves and try something new or broaden a passion or interest they already had.

I have always believed that people won’t always remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel. I hope this year, whilst I have talked a lot, that I have made you feel like you are valued and that you do belong here. I hope that 2023 challenged you and that you were able to push yourself that little bit further; be it through trying out for a new sport, signing up for the musical or hanging out with different friends at the dining hall every day.

I am so proud of the college community we have here and how well our community continues to grow. However, the wonderful events and smooth running of our college do not just happen instantly. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible GC who work relentlessly behind the scenes to ensure our college experience is one to remember.

To Jimmy and Fe, I know you were thrown some curveballs this year, but I am so fortunate to have had your guidance and mentorship throughout my journey. You have listened to my ideas and opinions, you have challenged me, and I have challenged you, but most of all, you have helped shape me into a better version of myself.

And of course, thank you to all of the 2023 Hildarian’s. The passion, dedication and unwavering spirit that you brought to this college inspired me every single day. Our college thrives not only because of our mighty athleticism, academic excellence and ability to bring PAs back to life, but because of the incredible individuals who make up this vibrant community.

As we come to the end of the college year, it is most definitely bittersweet. I am sad to be leaving as I have loved my three years here at Hilda’s. I am excited and nervous to break the college bubble, but I take comfort in knowing that the experiences at St Hilda’s will forever stay with me wherever I go. I know that the incoming student leadership team is working tirelessly to ensure that next year is bigger and better than ever. Paddy, Bryce, Josh and Tobias you will all do amazing things for this community, and I cannot wait to watch you all thrive.

It has been an absolute honour to serve as President this year. I am eternally thankful for the opportunity to lead this college and be a part of all your lives. I will hold all these experiences and lessons with me through the rest of my life. This role gave me the opportunity to grow not only as a leader, but as a genuine human.

Thank you for having me Hilda’s.

HOLLY MORRISON Student Club President 2023

Holly Morrison, Valedictory Dinner 2023

Holly Morrison, Welcome Saturday 2023

MY HILDA’S

My name is Will Munday, I’m a second-year biomed student, and I have been tasked with trying to encapsulate 2023 on behalf of the second years. Coming back for a second year prompted a lot of questions. Is the dynamic going to change? Will it live up to the great year I had last year? Are the freshers gonna like me? Well, instead of saying this year was “special,” or “like no other,” for me,

2023 has been a year where these questions have all been met with exceeded expectations. It’s a year that we can all be proud of. Don’t believe me, here’s proof.

Geez, we did pretty good at sports last year, can we top it? How about premierships in cricket, football, and netball, and not to mention a vast array of 2nds and 3rds in that mix...

Play was pretty good last year, is it possible we could do it better? I mean 500 tickets across three nights is pretty damn impressive.

I wonder if the events will be as fun as last year? In a year of drag queens, snow machines, and D3 raves, I’m sure that we’ve had that covered.

Unfortunately, not all questions have answers, and will be left to float forever. What is the Society of Secret Whispers? Is it Queens or Ormond making noise? Has anyone ever actually seen Bryce and Batman in the same room? And while for some these questions may find their answers in the new year, for others these questions will linger in their mind.

Standing up here is a bittersweet moment, not just for me, but for all of us second years who will be leaving at the end of this year. That is a testament to the times I’ve had at St Hilda’s and the people I’ve met while being here, as the memories we’ve made have meant so much to us all. I can say without question that the people I have met here will be friends for life, and I have felt so lucky to know you all and honoured to stand alongside you all at every turn, every Hilda’s day, fest, hottest 100.

To the freshers, thank you for your energy and unabashedly being yourselves. As I said before, you’re not the only ones hoping to make a good first impression at the beginning of the year. The eagerness and excitement you brought to being at college made it so easy to get to know you all and you’ve really made this year the super-fun experience it has been. The college and spirit of Communitas are now in your more than capable hands and I can’t wait to hear all the fun stuff you get up to. To the third years, thank you for showing us the ropes from when we were freshers, and it too has been great to get to know you all so much more this year, and congratulations on finishing your degrees. To Jimmy, Fe and all the staff, thanks for keeping us all on the right track and reminding us that we all have our own degrees to finish, even though sometimes it might be hard to remember it.

The thought of no more barista-made coffee, no more impromptu games of pool or JCR movie seshs is sad, but I will always look back at my time at Hilda’s as some of the best times of my life. We are all truly grateful for this opportunity and will miss this place a lot. Green and blue in our veins will never pass, and our hearts will always beat with the power of Communitas

WILLIAM MUNDAY

A.K.A Gomez Addams -Second Year Delivered at the 2023 Valedictory Dinner

William Munday & Jessie Williams, Founders & Benefactors 2023

William Munday & Ethan Prescott, Annual Play 2023

Moving to Melbourne from my hometown, Echuca for University was a very big and daunting move for me. I was nervous about being away from home and being in the city, making friends and fitting in, starting university classes, and hoping that my sub-par navigation skills would hold up when catching a tram. But coming to the St Hilda’s community, I was immediately reassured of all the worries I had, making my move one that was so easy.

When I think back to Welcome Saturday, as 130 fresh faces met for the first time in the Front Quad, it feels like just yesterday.

Within the first week at college, I could tell St Hilda’s was the right place for me.

The St Hilda’s community and the culture that has been fostered is one that is so welcoming and accepting of everyone. I truly felt in those first few weeks that I had made 130 new friends.

Looking back on the year, we have achieved a lot as a cohort. From bringing home a few sporting cups, dancing on stage at Billboards, being robbed in Battle of the Bands and completing our first year of our degrees, we should all be so proud of ourselves. Throughout the year we have worked together as a cohort supporting each other through our ups and downs and wins and losses, and I could not think of a better group of people to do this alongside.

To the Returners, thank you for showing us the ropes and inviting us into the Hilda’s community. From how best to cram last minute for an exam the next morning, to the best place to go out on a Thursday night, we appreciate all your wisdom, guidance and advice. For those not returning next year, we wish you all the best. To the St Hilda’s staff, thank you for everything that you do for us. And to the other Freshers, thank you for the best year, I cannot wait for next year to be even better. Hilda’s really is a home away from home and I am so grateful to be here.

ASHAH DOWNIE

First Year Representative

Ashah Downie & Jesse McDougall, Semester 1 Spotlight Dinner 2023

Ashah Downie as Diego at the

COMMUNITAS REPORT

The Communitas portfolio this year has devoted itself to growing, learning, and building connections with those around our St. Hilda’s College community. Our environmental sustainability, charity and volunteering have been at the heart of our pursuits in 2023.

The charity and environment convenors and our newlyestablished Environmental Sustainability Committee have shown excellent Communitas spirit in their endeavour to educate, and create change within our community and those around us. With events like Earth Hour and Clean Up Australia Day kicking off the start of our year, our community realised changes needed to be made to increase our eco-consciousness. Some of these included getting rid of our single-use takeaway coffee cups, as well as plastic takeaway food containers. Our volunteering at Princes Hill Primary School and Farm My School on the Mornington Peninsula, allowed our community hands-on experiences to actively make change happen and discover the endless possibilities of building connections and working together.

The culture of giving back here at Hilda’s is embedded within our daily lives. We are very fortunate to be in a position where we can give back and our gratitude for this opportunity has led us to come together to raise funds for those who need it most. Our skills auction and week-long relay for breast cancer saw a rallying of St Hilda’s Students working together for the highly-valued McGrath Foundation. We also raised funds for the Farm My School initiative, working to increase food security among low-SES communities. We are very appreciative of everyone in the Hilda’s community who donated and contributed in any way to our giving-back efforts this year. Thank you.

As a community, we have grown in many facets of our lives. We have learnt the power of building connections, working together, and making active change. We have grown not only as leaders but as people. We are very grateful for the many opportunities we have and are given by St. Hilda’s College and realise what a truly special thing it is to be here. The Communitas spirit remains strong and present within our community and I cannot wait to see the future of the green and blue and the places it will go.

MEG KENNEDY-RIPON Communitas Director, 2023

Annie Blenkiron, Fiona Cadorel, Kirsten Tsui, Pip McWilliams & Georgie Bailey, IWD 2023

Wesley Ross, Harrison Neville, Kai Daly, Audrey White, Harriet Rodgers, James Hardiman & Tobias Miliankos-King, Princes Hill Primary School Voulenteering

Meg Kennedy-Ripon, Paddock to Plate 2023

Hilda’s Day 2023

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Sport at St Hilda’s is always an opportunity for students to connect, bond and make memories whilst displaying their skills or trying something for the first time. 2023 was a year like no other for sport, the women’s teams always managed to put on a masterclass on the field and the men’s teams always showed their passion and love for the college in their efforts. The College managed to bring home three premierships in the process; the winners being our Women’s Soccer team, our Women’s Cricket team and our Women’s Netball team. All three teams showed their willingness to go above and beyond for the college but most importantly above and beyond for each other. The supporters at these games were like no other, having over 90 college students run onto the soccer field when the winning penalty went in was an experience like no other and having the same support travel forty minutes to watch the netball team beat Queens was a sight to be seen. When looking back on Hilda’s sport in 2023, these are two great moments where we can celebrate the effort and love of our Hildarians.

In Semester one, it was as though we didn’t stop playing sports. Cricket, Tennis, Soccer, Cross Country, Hockey, Athletics, Rowing, Table Tennis and Swimming all happened one after the other. When our students weren’t out representing the college, they were off training or off developing team chemistry.

In Cricket, our men’s team gave it a crack but after a few interesting calls by the umpire they found themselves out of the tournament.

But, this gave them the opportunity to go and watch our women’s team play! Our Women’s team was quite the opposite,

it was as though our team had trained for months. It was great to see our players go out there unfazed by whatever came their way and soon enough they were raising the trophy, yet again.

Our Tennis team was subject to some early mornings and some tough competition. After a good win to start us off, a mixed doubles team coming to our rescue and a couple of misplaced shots we found ourselves out of the tournament again.

Soccer came around faster than we expected, but once again the men’s team was hopeful; they had some great talent. But then after a couple injuries,

Tess Jackman, Cricket 2023

Victoria Thorp, Supporter Convenor 2023

Matilda Puckett, Tennis 2023

Women’s Cricket Premiership Team 2023

Men’s Cricket Team 2023

the loss of a few of their best players, they were left with their passion and hope. Sadly, it wasn’t enough and they left the tournament. Our women’s team made it all the way, battling through every game, fighting their way to the top and they won through the most intense penalty shootout that the college had ever seen.

Cross Country was a day that showed how much Hilda’s can give, with each participant giving it their best and running their heart out for the college.

Our Hockey season was interesting, showing that our Men’s team can make it to the top! They battled their way through all the way to third place. Each player put in a great shift. Our Women’s team sadly exited early, but the team still showed up and gave the other team a run for their money at 7:10am in the morning.

Athletics was an opportunity for Hilda’s to get around each other for two days straight and they did. Support and effort were great as our Hildarians ran, threw, and jumped. It was great to see everyone out for a great day.

Rowing and the regatta are always highlights on the college calendar. Although each team didn’t win their overall competitions, it should be recognised that weeks of waking up at 5:30am, catching crabs and developing their skills should not go unnoticed and that we celebrate their efforts and the way they went about representing the college to the best of their ability.

As for Table Tennis, it was started and finished all on the same day. Our students gave it their best, represented the college and used their paddles to make us all proud.

For Swimming, the college made the journey out to the pool. Smiles were big and the students were ready to dive in and give it their best. The college performed well, with our women coming 2nd overall, and we saw an array of students step up and swim their hearts out. We had swimmers complete 5 races on the same night and looked extremely tired by the end of the night. But that just shows how much they are willing to give to and for the college.

The second semester was no different. The Women’s teams continued their fantastic form as nothing would step in their way and the Men’s teams would always give it a crack.

The semester started with AFL and our famous post-Hilda’s day games. Although most players were working through a headache, they showed up and gave both teams a run for their money.

Men’s Hockey 2023

Men’s Rowing 2023

Women’s Soccer Grand Final Win 2023

The Men’s teams continued to lose three games straight and have many injuries but never gave up. The women’s team went on a finals run like no other and found themselves in a close semi-final game.

Next was Netball and with the re-introduction of 2nds Netball, there were many games to watch. Through the early mornings, trainings, tactics and many more, our 1sts team found themselves in the grand final. After a close game against Queens, Hilda’s came out on top and once again the Women brought home a trophy. Our seconds team are also to be celebrated in their efforts which found them in the semi-finals but unable to progress any further.

Badminton was next. We gave it a good crack, with many Hildarians showing up to support, and others to give their best for the team. We advanced through to the quarter finals but a loss in a close game completed Hilda’s Badminton.

Basketball was soon after. The Men’s team trained a lot prior to their first game, making sure tactics were ready and, most importantly, the team was. However, after two games, the Men’s team found themselves out of the competition. The Women’s team fought their way all the through the final’s stages, once again finding themselves in the grand final. However, this time, after a tight game, the Hilda’s team lost and ended up receiving a second-place trophy.

In volleyball our men’s team made a good run through to the semi-finals before sadly being defeated. Unfortunately, it was much the same for our women’s team. Potentially, Volleyball isn’t for Hilda’s, but who knows, we will see what 2024 brings us.

2023 Sport at Hilda’s was great. We’d like to acknowledge all the students and staff that make Hilda’s sport what it is. By playing, supporting, training and getting around each other, it creates a culture for all Hildarians to give it a crack and make Hilda’s sport.

BRYCE JUNK-GIBSON

Male-Identfying Sport Director 2023

Rafi Gordon, Athletics 2023

Lance Malone, Football 2023

Women’s 1st Netball Premiership team 2023

Women’s Football 2023

Bella Clark, Netball Grand Final 2023

Matt Jones, Hockey 2023

Claudia Perrignon, Alex Randell & Jack Uhlmann

Charlie Williams & Rachel Lee, Table Tennis, 2023

Frances Leach, Athletics 2023

Women’s Soccer Grand Final 2023

Men’s Cricket 2023

Isabella Marino, Women’s Hockey 2023

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Chasing the success of Heathers: The Musical last year, The Addams Family was a huge success.

The Addams Family Musical follows the beloved characters of Charles Addam’s famous TV show, “The Addams Family”. The wickedly entertaining and darkly humorous musical tells the story of Wednesday Addams breaking the news to her far from normal family that she’s engaged to the completely normal Lucas Beineke, inciting chaos as these families collide!

With auditions starting in March, and initial planning beginning all the way back in November 2022, it was a long time that the cast, creative, and production teams had been hard at work. Directed by Charlie Dohler (Alumni, 2022), the process saw many rehearsals tweaking harmonies, learning dances and simply having fun. The Hilda’s play is always a great opportunity for students to meet and bond over their love of the theatre in a creative space.

On September 1st, the vibrant production was held at Union House Theatre at Melbourne University and was nothing less than kooky, quirky, catchy and beyond brilliant. With 532 tickets sold across three nights, it adds yet another impressive musical production to the St. Hilda’s Theatre Group’s catalogue!

Jacinta Baker & Georgie Macho as Wednesday & Pugsley

Marc Silins & William Munday as Lurch & Gomez

Alice Dagwell, Joe Clark & Ethan Prescott as Alice, Lucas and Mal Beineke

One Normal Night, Act 1 Addam’s Family Cast 2023

Scan to view the Program

Congratulations also to William Munday who was nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Musical at the 2023 Union House Theatre Awards

Jessie Williams as Grandma

Alice Dagwell as Alice

Abbey Miller & William Munday as Morticia & Gomez Addams

Move Towards the Darkness, Act 2 Addam’s Family Cast 2023

Secrets, Act 1 Addam’s Family Cast 2023

PERFORMING ARTS REPORT

The cultural year kicked off with the annual intercollegiate Step Up competition run by ICAC – the Intercollegiate Activities Council. Our talented fresher team blew us all away with their hard work and explosive dancing to ‘Physical’ by Dua Lipa. In stiff competition against the other colleges, Hilda’s placed an equal fifth, making a great start to the year. Not long after, Hilda’s hosted our very own Hilda’s Fest, an annual band night held over in the Worker’s Club band room. From a strings ensemble to pop and rock bands, we had collegians from all years show off their musical prowess. Current and past Hildarians alike sang and danced along in the crowd; it truly was a brilliant night loved by all.

Next, Hilda’s crafted a team to compete in ICAC Trivia where our students gained second place over the rest of the crescent. The following week, Hilda’s competed in the newly named ICAC Olympics. This consisted of games such as Twister, Pool, Poker, Chess, and Hearts. Our Hildarians proved to be masters of their crafts, earning us another second place.

That same week, Hilda’s held Hilda’s Under the Stars! If you are unfamiliar, this event is a sensory friendly, acoustic music night. Unfortunately, due to the cold and unpredictable weather this time of year, we had to hold this event under artificial stars strung up in the auditorium. Nonetheless, we brought in the picnic blankets and fairy lights as we listened to the range of musical talent in our community. From Sonia enchanting us on the cello, to Houhong debuting his self-composed piano piece, it was a lovely and cosy evening had by all.

To round out the semester, it came time for the ICAC production of Clue: The Musical, directed by our very own Jessie Williams and featuring many more Hildarians on and off stage. For three nights, students from all around the crescent worked together to put on an amazing show, in which audience members got to pick and guess the murderer, weapon, and location of the murder, just like in the beloved board game.

Step Up Team 2023

Hilda’s under the Stars, 2023

Semester Two started off with ICAC Lipdub in a new online format. To fit in with our O-Week theme, Rodeo Week, we filmed our Lipdub to Old Town Road by Lil Nas X. By doing it online, students were able to watch each college’s video and vote on their favourite. Unfortunately, we missed out on placing, but we had a lot of fun filming it.

The week following, Queen’s College hosted Theatre Sports; a night full of fun drama games, with a team from each college competing. Hilda’s were a comedic team to watch and earned us a fantastic second place.

Not long after, ICAC debating came around. With a team of eager Hildarians, we gave it our all, but were unluckily knocked out in the first round against Trinity College in a close debate. Around this time as well, St Hilda’s Pub Choir was established and in full swing with students collecting in the auditorium weekly to sing their favourite tunes.

At this point in the semester, the time had come for the St Hilda’s production of The Addams Family held at Union House Theatre! After months of rehearsal, the hard work paid off when we hit the stage. The outstanding talent of our cast, crew and band were able to live up to the high standards set by our production of Heathers last year, earning us unmatched amounts of praise from Unimelb Love Letters and The Dialog!

Abbey Miller & Georgie Macho, Pop Rock Band, Hilda’s Fest 2023

Eleanor March, Paddock to Plate

Sonia Freiburg, Hilda’s Fest 2023

Maya Fuller, First Year Recital 2023

Finlay Ekins, Hilda’s Fest 2023

Rachel Lee & Regina Laletha, Founders & Benefactors 2023

Alison White, Saxon Smith, Victoria Thorp, Harriet Jones, Hilda’s Fest 2023

Just a few weeks later, Variety Night went down a treat in the Dining Hall. With cheese, crackers, and delicious mocktails provided by the RA Arts & Cultural portfolio, the Dining Hall was packed with students enjoying the various performances of their friends. With Amy Li-dini’s awe-inspiring magic tricks, Harriet serenading us with lyrics of Noah Kahan and Marc and Arnold performing a memorable rendition of ‘Don’t Go Breaking my Heart’, the night was a huge success!

To round off the year, a cheering crowd of Hildarians came to support our college at ICAC’s Battle of the Bands. Our Hildarians performed an impressive set list consisting of ‘Brianstorm’ by the Arctic Monkeys, ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson, ‘Get Lucky’ by Daft Punk, and ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?’ by The Angels. Despite their brilliant performance, other colleges made for tough competition, leaving us in seventh place. This ultimately led us to a final finish in third place for the ICAC cup.

This year was one to remember for arts and culture at St Hilda’s. There is so much musical and artistic talent in this community, and it is great to see everyone give their time to participate in and support these events. A huge shout out to all of those who participated and supported these events, and a massive thank you to all of the cultural convenors who successfully ran so many of these events. I have had such a blast as Cultural Director this year and I can’t wait to see Sharon Anthony take the lead in 2024!

GEORGIE MACHO Cultural Director, 2023

Jacinta Baker, Paddock to Plate 2023

William Phillips, Valedictory 2023

Jesse McDougall & Alison O’Brien, Paddock to Plate 2023

Ciarάn Noble, Battle of the Bands 2023

Abbey Miller & Saskia Boquest, Battle of the Bands 2023

Thomas Phillips & Kipling Edmond Battle of the Bands 2023

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST

A wintery evening on August 17, with “a touch of Xmas” saw our community come together for a Christmas-themed dinner and the annual Skills Auction. Congratulations to Ashah and Jesse for a great event and special thanks to our auctioneers for the evening, Ben Mithen and Bryce Junk-Gibson.

Bella Clarke

Jessie Williams and Dempsey Doyle

Ashah Downie and Joe Kennedy

Aaron Bennett

Jesse McDougall and Ashah Downie

Eva Worsfold

An enjoyable evening

Lance Malone, Nick Nithirojpakdee, Tai Crismale, Anneliese Hooper, Annie Magnussen, Bridie Gladman, Alison McHarry

Jess Ingle, April Sofra, Kate Anderson, Daisy Kendall and Marc Silins

DIVERSITY REPORT

This year at Hilda’s we have celebrated and made space for diversity within our community to create a safe space in which every student can thrive. By running a variety of events and programs we have created supportive spaces, raised money, and spread joy throughout the college, as well as in the wider community.

These events have included queer-focussed spaces, raising money for queer charities, celebrating queerness through picnics, pride night and wear it purple day, as well as spaces for education using panels and presentations to promote an LGBTQIA+ friendly environment.

In Nick’s portfolio, we have also celebrated our international community through a celebration of culture with food and flight night being used to bring people and culture together.

Jessie has led the charge this year in creating accessible spaces, with a major focus on the neurodiverse community. This has been seen in the creation of new events and, when planning events of all types throughout the college year, making spaces accessible and inclusive for all people. Success in this area was seen in the development of events such as SWOTVAC activities which created an outlet to make stress toys and be creative in a stressful period, and in the video game tournament run to create an accessible and fun event that brings the community together.

Overall, diversity throughout Hilda’s this year has been very successful and will continue to grow into the future of the college.

ANNELIESE HOOPER Queer Representative, 2023

ANNELIESE HOOPER Queer Representative

NICK NITHIROJPAKDEE International Representative

JESSIE WILLIAMS Accessibility Convenor

WEAR IT PURPLE

2023’s Wear it Purple Day afternoon once again saw the Front Quad filled with colour and fun as we came together to recognise and celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community.

Anneliese and the team did an awesome job with lots of activities including terrarium making, tote bag painting, candle decorating and much more! Well done team!

Harriet Jones and Emily Wang

Amy Li, Lucy Briggs and Sharon Anthony

Laura Halliday, Marc Silins and Emily Senior

Alex Rowe and Alice Dagwell

Wear it Purple Day Event

Principal James Hardiman

Tote Bag Painting

FARM MY SCHOOL WEEKEND

On an early winter’s morning on Friday August 4th, 25 of us Hildarians embarked on a journey to Drysdale (near Portarlington), where we volunteered at the Farm My School pilot project: the establishment of a sustainable farm on the school premises of Bellarine Secondary College. This weekend excursion was a direct follow on from Hilda’s support of Farm My School at our annual Paddock to Plate event.

This endeavour was an invigorating experience which allowed a lot of us to take a step back from the busy lifestyle of being a college student. Over the course of two days, we made the most of the opportunity to reconnect with nature while completing various manual labor tasks around the farm and forming stronger bonds with the people around us.

The Farm My School excursion was an opportunity for all of us to give back to the community of those less fortunate than us, as well as educate ourselves on various environmentally-sustainable farming practices. It was a great opportunity for those of us who may not have ever worked on a farm before to truly understand and appreciate the hard work that goes into producing what we consume everyday. Connecting with the local students also helped a number of us to understand the privilege that we have as individuals who are able to go to a university as well as a college. Some of the students at the local school had never considered university, let alone living at a college, which reminded us of how fortunate we are to be in Melbourne with access to such an education and lifestyle.

Overall, we really enjoyed the opportunity to connect with nature and with the people around us in this unique way. We also appreciated being able to temporarily leave the hustle and bustle of Melbourne life behind to help a community which needs it. It is such a fulfilling experience that, at the end of the day, improves both your own mental and physical wellbeing, and the world around you.

JADE BUSCH, JAKE CUTAJAR & HENRY PINDER First Year Students

Sofia Di Vincenzo

Jovita Chia

Bus Ride Fun!

Farm My School Group

Looking at the Garden

STUDENT SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

Students and staff participated in 3 whole day workshops facilitated by the team from Man Cave. The workshops were a whole day immersive experience that promoted social and emotional growth, equipping participants with the 21st century life skills necessary to build healthy relationships and be positive role models in their community. It was wonderful to hear the students reflect that they felt the workshop was transformative and that they came away feeling more connected to each other and empowered to create a college community that promotes a culture of genuine connection and care.

This year our Senior Residential Advisors (SRAs) and our Residential Advisors (RAs) facilitated a series of thoughtful community and block initiatives with the aim to have fun, build friendships and provide mentoring support for students as they navigated independent adult life. Throughout the year, our RAs and SRAs created Wheel of Wellbeing initiatives that promoted belonging and supported students to learn skills to live healthy, empowered and happy lives. They organised outings for block dinners and mini golf, they attended the Connection exhibition at Lume and Candlelit concerts. They organised college film nights, park runs, health week, breakfast club, community volunteering and fundraising events. An exciting new student-led initiative was the introduction of the Hilda’s mocktail bar at college turns. It was great to see 30 students participate in a mocktail making workshop to prepare themselves for running the mocktail bar at college turns in 2024. Students learnt the importance of giving back to their community by walking for a Week and by volunteering and raising money for Farm My School. Our students' passion and drive to support communities less fortunate was impressive.

I am grateful for the care and dedication of our team of SRAs and RAs, all of whom wholeheartedly supported our students during their time at college. The mentoring, care and support they offer our students makes the St Hilda’s college experience truly special, for it is important that all of our students know that there are people in their community who are invested in their wellbeing and success in life.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

This year, we have continued to offer our professional development program, Hilda’s Headstart, which provides our students with the opportunity to develop their professional selves and gain a competitive edge that sets them apart from their university peers and prepares them to enter the workforce.

Our students were fortunate to participate in two Whitby Dinners, featuring thought-provoking leaders, Anne Frankenberg and Kim Macmillan, who brought decades of experience in executive leadership and gave our students insight into managing complex workplace situations. Throughout the evenings they fostered ethically charged conversations and provoked in-depth discussion, enriching the college's intellectual landscape.

Students participated in ‘Fireside Chats’ with alumni, bridging the gap between academia and industry, offering students insights into industry and providing valuable networking opportunities. The college also provided students with workshops on employability skills through various sessions, including a mock assessment centre, public speaking workshops, and comprehensive guidance on CV and cover letter writing, along with personal branding. The mock-assessment centre, which simulated a real-world recruitment process used by major employers, provided our students with valuable interview skills to navigate the recruitment process.

Leadership development was a key focus of the Hilda’s Headstart program. We are grateful to College Fellow, Richard Dent for facilitating a series of impactful workshops on the theme, "Leading in the 21st Century", which equipped students with modern leadership skills. We are grateful to all College Fellows and Alumni who participated in the Hilda’s Headstart program in the spirit of mentoring the professional development of our students.

I would like to acknowledge this year’s student leadership team for the way in which they led and served the St Hilda’s community. It has been a privilege to work alongside them and to support their growth during their time in leadership. We are grateful for their commitment to St Hilda’s college and we are proud of their achievements. Congratulations to the dynamic team of 2024 values led leaders. We are excited to work alongside you all and can’t wait to see what you achieve next year.

FIONA CADOREL Dean of Students

Ashah Downie, Founders & Benefactors 2023

TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES

MANCAVE

Wow. What an experience the ManCave was. My most memorable days are those that change how I live my life from there on. For me, the day we went to the ManCave was at the very top of these memorable days. The day was planned perfectly, with ice-breaker games first allowing for the male-identifying St Hilda’s students and staff members to settle comfortably into the environment. The courageous men at the ManCave then started the main parts of the day by opening up about their own challenges they have faced growing up, which allowed all of us to settle in the extremely safe environment.

Engaging conversations were then held with the entire room, discussing our important roles as male-identifying individuals in not only the St Hilda’s community, but more importantly in society. Healthy masculinity and wellbeing were also discussed thoroughly, and by looking around the room, all I could see were faces engaged, as evident through multiple hands being raised at any moment to input their thoughts on these important topics.

The wonderful men at the ManCave had structured the day with sufficient breaks and games to keep each maleidentifying St Hilda’s student and staff member proactive and incredibly engaged. Whilst we continued to settle in more comfortably to the environment, we each checkedin with how our current self is progressing. The check-in activity was incredible.

It is a memory that has stuck greatly with me ever since, given how loved and much I felt I belonged with my St Hilda’s peers during it. Seeing my own college principal open up with his own check-in not only portrayed his honest and courageous character, but more importantly it displayed how comfortable we all were with each other.

Games then wrapped up the end of the day. Each of us had left the ManCave feeling either slightly or significantly more comfortable with opening up and reaching out, dependent on each person due to how difficult it may be in our society.

However, it was evident that everybody had learned valuable lessons from this experience, in particular about our roles in society, healthy masculinity and reaching out to others, in turn taking greater care of our own wellbeing.

I never expected to attend an AFL game just two days after with two college friends and spend the entire match discussing how great this ManCave experience was. Since then, I have felt significantly more comfortable around my peers at college, and I am sure this was the same for many others who attended the ManCave. I have altered my perspective on many important topics, and I feel like I have continued to improve as a person since, greatly due to the ManCave.

TONY BEGBIE First Year Student

ManCave Group

WOMANCAVE

I went into the Woman Cave workshop with no expectations and left with the impression I had just experienced something life changing.

For me, the most impactful aspect of the workshop was called “checking in”, which involved expressing our feelings in that moment. It really affected me to hear some of my closest friends speak about things I’d never heard before. This reminded me that you can never truly know what someone else is going through, and to choose kindness always.

What really touched my heart were the close bonds formed and strengthened in this session.

Friends expressed how much they appreciate each other when asked to “honour” someone in the room, and it was beautiful to see how much love we all hold for those close to us. Overall, the Woman Cave reminded us that close relationships are what make life worth living, and that we must cherish them. The workshop provided nonmale identifying members of the college a safe space to express their emotions and seek support. It also inspired us to check in with our friends more often and create deeper connections.

While the woman cave was the first of its kind at Hilda’s, it has set a precedent to continue running these workshops to foster more fulfilling relationships and support systems in our community.

HANNAH LILFORD

Second Year Student

QUEERCAVE

On the 22nd of September, I, along with 12 other members of the queer community at St Hilda’s, participated in a workshop for Queer students at the Mancave. The day we spent at the Queercave workshop was a time of leaning in – a space to share our own individual experiences being queer young people, in a society that still presents many barriers to the expression of who we each truly are. It was a time for sharing stories, asking questions, and holding space for each other’s joy, pain, and hope.

My experiences as a queer student at St Hilda’s college have been truly transformative.

The space that has been held for me to explore my identity and connect with other members of the community has allowed time to grow so much as a person, and the Queer workshop that was held at the Mancave experience has played a huge role in that. I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to participate in this experience, and look forward to seeing the continued impact that events such as this have on not only the queer community of St Hilda’s, but the journeys of all individuals in our community.

LUCY BRIGGS First Year Student

WomanCave Group

INSTALLATION OF OUR 7TH PRINCIPAL

Friday February 10th of 2023 marked a special moment in our history. On this day, we celebrated the official installation of the College’s 7th Principal, James Hardiman. Having been part of the St Hilda’s community for several years as our Dean of Students, James’ appointment as Principal of the College was announced at the end of 2022, following the departure of Dr Brenda Holt.

Prior to the ceremony, James was joined in the Alice Paton Library by members of the St Hilda’s Board and our Fellows, along with our 5th and 6th Principals, Barbara Green AM and Dr Brenda Holt. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the Library as the group donned their gowns before processing to the Auditorium to commence the installation.

The Auditorium was set up to reflect the various elements of James’ personality and what drives him in his career. In a nod to his engineering career, there were artworks depicting famous scientists in history, including Eistein, Galileo and James’ personal idol, Marie Curie. James’ beloved Sydney Swans featured by way of a scarf, and James’ family was also a prominent theme courtesy of some lovely family portraits and the inclusion of lisianthus as the floral arrangements (James and Julia’s wedding flowers).

The ceremony itself was a secular affair which sought to recognise the significance of community at St Hilda’s.

Led by the Chair of the Board, David Gilbertson KC, the installation saw representatives from St Hilda’s students past and present, along with our Fellows, staff and past Principals welcome James to the helm and remind all in attendance of the core values and mission of our College.

A guard of honour formed by the 2023 student leaders greeted James as he made his way out of the ceremony, highlighting a fundamental principle of his approach to college leadership; a focus on the students themselves.

The afternoon ceremony was immediately followed by a cocktail reception in our beautiful Front Quad where guests were able to enjoy the summer sunshine and hear from James about his vision for St Hilda’s College under his leadership.

The entire St Hilda’s College community congratulates James on his first year as Principal and look forward to seeing his vision unfold over the coming years.

James and Julia Hardiman

David Copolov and James Hardiman

James’ Induction Ceremony

Tien Kieu, Lynn Williams & Kate Abraham

Barbara Green, James Hardiman & Brenda Holt

James Hardiman & the St Hilda’s College Fellows

Liz Dax, Deborah Seifert & Hugh Taylor

FUN, FAMILY & FUNDRAISING

July 22nd and 23rd saw us welcome current families to the College for our family weekend, the highlight of which was our annual Paddock to Plate event.

Following in the footsteps of the 2022 event, the Community Engagement Team once again joined forces with the Student Club to raise money for a good cause. This year, the Student Club opted to support Farm My School, a social enterprise based on the Bellarine Peninsula.

The night was a huge success, with tickets sold out weeks before the event and $10k raised for Farm My School. We were very lucky to have Matt Bowles (A.K.A Milly Bowles’ dad) stepping up to the microphone yet again to run our auction and we are hoping we might see him again next year!

We were also extremely pleased to host several representatives of Farm My School at Paddock to Plate and our Dean of Students, Fe Cadorel led a short panel discussion with the team so that we could learn more about their enterprise. We’d like to give a particular shout out to Odi Evans who joined the panel to provide a student perspective.

Chloe Royal and Parents

Alison White

A night like this can’t happen without the support of the wonderful businesses and individuals who donated items or experiences, as well as those who were involved in providing produce for the event. As well as businesses and individuals with direct connections to our Hilda’s community, we also had a number of contributions this year from locally-based businesses and organisations as well as a number from down on the Bellarine who were keen to throw their support behind the endeavours of Farm My School in their local area.

To check out all of our generous supporters, use the QR code below to see the night’s program and, where possible, we encourage you to show these businesses your support in kind.

Congratulations to all involved in the event and a big thank you to all the families who joined us for the night. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

CARLY DAMEN

Community Engagement ManagerMarketing, Communications & Events

Fiona Cadorel, James Mclennar, Ben Shaw, Nina Breidahl & Odi Evans

Scan to view the Program

James Hardiman speaks at Paddock to Plate

Fiona Cadorel, James McLennan, Ben Shaw, Nina Breidahl and Odi Evans

Kim Westcott & Kelly Hirschmann

WHITBY DINNER

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? SEMESTER 1 WHITBY DINNER

The first dinner of the Whitby Series this year was delivered by Kim MacMillan, who has had an impressive career as a chemist and engineer in oil and gas, working in the Asia Pacific at one of the largest companies in the world.

She is also a former Hildarian, coming from regional Victoria and studying science at the University of Melbourne. Before her speech, she gave us some amusing insights into what Hilda’s was like when she was a student. She said squash was the fad sport of her time, and that squash courts had once been found everywhere across Melbourne. She also mentioned that lunch only used to be provided once a week at Hilda’s, and so she would stock up on sandwiches from the dining hall and keep them frozen for lunchtimes throughout the week, which gave me a newfound thankfulness for the lunches we receive now! She also said that the friends she made at Hilda’s are still her ‘go to’ friends today, the friends she knows will always be there in times of support.

After dinner had been cleared she delivered her speech. It focussed on a specific moment of her career where she had to make a decision in a crisis. She began by setting the scene - it was the start of her new job in a large oil company, her first child was about to take her first steps, and it was the turn of the millennium where everyone was convinced the world was going to enda busy time to say the least.

And so during this time, right before Christmas 1999, her company received the news that there had been a malfunction in one of the planes they delivered oil to. Without delving into the specifics of the situation, the decision Kim and her colleagues had to make about the best action going forward was an incredibly hard one, with negative implications on either side. She details it as a sleepless, stressful week of weighing up morals, financial losses, likelihoods and the interests of everyone involved.

At this moment she paused, and each dinner table was given a sheet of the facts her team knew at the time, and the weighted questionwhat would you do?

What I thought when I looked at the facts she had given us was that it was very different to the problems we were used to being given on a test, because in her situation she had limited information to work with, with the exact core of the problem unknown, and the success and the logistics of the suggested solutions also unknown. Instead, it was a matter of figuring out the best way to move forward with the information given, with no single perfect solution existing.

After each group offered a solution, Kim let us know what her team had actually done in the scenario, and it turns out our tables were not far off! What I found really interesting though was the thought process she took to make her decision. She made a decision erring on the side of caution and safety, and she says it is a decision she will always be proud of. She said that for her entire team, the decision became clear when they made the decision personal. In other words, they asked themselves what they would do differently if the situation was directly affecting their own families, and their own homes and futures.

I found it super useful to hear about how someone with experience working in a senior position in her industry still relied on her values to make her decision. I hadn’t given much thought to what changes are made when you move from solving theoretical problems in school to the workforce, where the decisions you make can genuinely impact people’s lives. Her speech sparked a lot of interesting discussion on not just what we would do, but also how to deal with the responsibilities and pressures that come with career decisions.

Many thanks to Kim for sharing her experience, I know it was really eye opening for all of us who attended!

PEMA DEANE

Community Engagement Team

Communications Intern 2023

Houhong Li, James Hardiman & Alison White

William Munday, William Coulson, Rhiannon Barnes, Harriet Jones, Jovita Chia & Annie Blenkiron

Rosa Miles, India Lewis, Mody Yim, Adrian Oats, Matilda Baird, Eva Hermes, Finley Ekins, Rachel Lee,

Kim MacMillan, guest speaker & fellow

AN EVENING WITH ANNE SEMESTER 2 WHITBY DINNER

On a Wednesday evening in the boardroom, adorned with semi-formal dinner wear, a group of Hilda’s students, including myself, were privileged to dine together and speak with an accomplished Hilda’s alum. For these Whitby Dinners the College invites back a former Hildarian who, since leaving college, has embarked upon an extraordinary career, and this semester’s invitee, Anne Frankenberg was no exception.

With an impressive professional history taking Anne from Production Assistant at the Victorian State Opera to CEO of Musica Viva Australia, it was pretty special to hear from a person who has found such meaningful work in her area of passion, having started from the same place where we are now.

But these dinners aren’t just about hearing from accomplished Hildarians and expanding your LinkedIn network (though I did greatly appreciate Anne accepting my request to connect!). They’re an opportunity to delve into real-world challenges and in groups to discuss how best to solve them – a task that requires leadership, innovation, critical thinking and collaboration. For Anne – who has dedicated her working life to connecting people around the country with music – this challenge is providing all Australian children with equal access to quality music education. A challenge made more difficult by little public awareness of how powerfully beneficial music education is for children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development.

Profiting from a wide diversity of perspectives, our ideas ranged from curriculum updates, to facilitating communication between music education leaders and education boards, to upskilling future music teachers. As young people and young leaders who may one day be solving national and global problems like these, debating realistic solutions and challenging each other’s ideas was a very useful experience.

Two things really stuck with me from the evening. It was particularly inspiring how emphatically Anne spoke about ‘finding [her] tribe’ amongst the music community. Finding a sense of belonging, especially in the professional context, is so important and something I hope everyone can find. Anne’s story also served as a valuable insight into the working world coming out of uni. You’ll change careers, you’ll have good luck and bad, you’ll face challenges both professionally and personally. It’s an important reminder for people like us who will soon be young professionals.

From everyone at Hilda’s, it was unreal hearing how many fantastic ideas people have and how differently everyone approaches challenges. The evening was an awesome reminder of how lucky we are to be living alongside such incredibly talented and insightful people from whom we can all learn a lot. And reflecting on the evening and all the people I’ve met here so far, I reckon I’ve found my tribe too.

JESSE MCDOUGALL First Year Representative, 2023

Eleanor March, Rosa Miles, Liz Cope & Adrian Oats

Anne Frankenberg, guest speaker & fellow

Sophia Owen

Class of 2024

Alex Hughes

Harry Dean-Pritchard

Hayden Prussner

Alex Rowe

David Elijah

Harriet Rogers

Emily Wang

Alison White

William Phillips

Dempsey Doyle

Hannah Lilford

Annie Blenkiron

Philipa McWilliams

Holly Morrison

Madeline Baker

Hannah Lilford and Fiona Cadorel

Ben Greiving and Rosa Miles

incoming general committee

Alison White, Alex Hughes and Emily Wang

Claudia Perrignon, Harry Walker-Jones & Toni Louise

Beatrice Lonsdale, Tom Yorke & Bryce Junk-Gibson

Dempsey Doyle, Alex Rowe & Harriet Roger

Lilith Parker & Milly Howles

Annie Magnussen and Tai Crismale

Emily Wang

Ben Mithen, Patrick Bennett, Ciaran Noble & Ashah Downie

Richard Hinman & Cara Dooley-Heath

Graduating Class of 2024

FOUNDERS & BENEFACTORS’ DINNER

Each year we host our annual Founders & Benefactors’ event. At this event, we celebrate and thank our founding students alongside those very special members of our community that give so generously to St Hilda’s College. This year, F&B was held on the evening of November 27 and a wonderful evening was had by all those in attendance.

As has been the habit over recent years, we try wherever possible to use the event as an opportunity for donors to meet the individual students who have benefited directly from their amazing generosity. It is always wonderful to witness the mutual joy that stems from these interactions.

At this year’s event, we were incredibly fortunate to hear from one of the students who has directly benefited from the generosity of others. Second year student, Jacinta “Jason” Baker’s reflections on what a Hilda’s experience can do for “a kid from the country” was a highlight of the event. Jacinta’s ability to command the attention of the audience with her sincerity and wit not only invoked laughter, and the odd tear, but also prompted many earnest conversations throughout the night. For many, her words were a reminder of how important it is for communities like ours to honour our roots and ensure that the next generation of students are afforded the same opportunities that those before them did.

Christine Penfold and Heather Anne Field

James Hardiman’s address at Founders & Benefactors

Alice Dagwell, Eleanor March, Maya Fuller & Sonia Freiburg

Erin Krelle and Ryan McAllery

Richard Dent & David Macauley

The evening also gave us a stage to showcase the ever-astounding musical talents of our students. Not only did we have Regina Laletha (vocals) and Rachel Lee (piano) serenade us during the dinner with their lovely rendition of “Let me break your heart again” by Laufey, but the event was preceded by a music recital from a selection of our VCA students. A small but enthusiastic audience were treated to an afternoon of musical masterpieces from four of our first-year students: Sonia Freiburg (Cello); Alice Dagwell (Soprano); Eleanor March (Violin); and, Maya Fuller (Oboe). This recital allowed our students to have a real-life performance experience in preparation for their final exams for the year. The feedback from audience members, the students and their tutor was unanimous in affirming the recital’s success and we are hoping to make this a permanent fixture of the F&B event moving forward.

Finally, this year’s F&B event saw us recognise three of our Fellows who had not been available for last year’s installation event. We were very pleased to be able to formally recognise 2020 Fellow, Anne Frankenburg along with 2022 Fellows, Barbara Green and Elizabeth Alexander. All three of these women were presented with their Fellows gowns by Principal Fellow, Lynne Williams and College Principal, James Hardiman.

Lynn Williams & Barbara Green

Lynn Williams, Anne Frankenberg & James Hardiman

Lynn Williams, Elizabeth Alexander & James Hardiman

FROM THE CFO

Each year on Open Day, we discuss strategies for encouraging potential future students into the College. While the College’s facade may not be its greatest feature, once they walk through the front entrance, and into the front quad, the view changes - it is an impressive vista, even more so when filled with St Hilda’s students!

Especially at the time of writing, in late spring, the College grounds are lush green and looking quite spectacular. One of the key planks of the College’s strategic plan is to maintain the most modern facilities of the Melbourne Colleges.

The College has a regular program of building refurbishments and upgrades and the ground floor of C Block was the most recent upgrade, converted to 14 student rooms over the summer of 2022/23. In completing this refurbishment, an additional five student rooms were created and in 2023, we had 232 students in residence.

Over the summer of 2023/24, we are converting the third floor of H Block into 10 student rooms so, in 2024, the College will be able to accommodate 237 students.

The C Block renovation was significant in that it was the final project undertaken for the College by our long-time builders, VDB Building Contractors. Brian from VDB has spent the majority of his summers at the College for over 15 years and we thank him for his commitment and service to St Hilda’s.

As we emerge from a COVID-enforced reduction in building activity, several other significant projects have been undertaken. One such project was replacing our 20-year-old access control system, installing over 350 new locks in the College. This has provided additional security and safety for our students, as well as being significantly easier to use.

The Principal in 2022, Brenda and our current Principal, James, have both been great advocates for student amenities in capital expenditure. A longterm building master plan was recently presented to the Board, which includes many more exciting projects to improve student amenities, as well as the less exciting projects to keep the College’s buildings’ working to their capacity.

In 2022, the College welcomed external caterers to the kitchen for the first time, in Trippas White Group. The Dining Hall is an important part of the students’ College experience and St Hilda’s has an excellent reputation around College Crescent for catering. We thank Trippas White Group for continuing the tradition.

IT is a critical component of College life and students regularly say that reliable Wi-Fi is their greatest need at the College, even above food! This has been an area of continuous development and improvement over many years. This not only assists students, but it has also resulted in the automation of a number of processes, which has made for more efficient processes for staff. Cyber security is also an area of significant focus in recent years.

The administration of the College would not work without a very good team. Tristan leads the IT team, Chris and Michael look after maintenance, Rose manages the front office and admissions and Carol looks after the accounts. Carol ticked over 25 years at St Hilda’s during the year and Chris will do the same early next year. The College and many students over many years have been fortunate to have this commitment from our staff.

I would like to acknowledge Carol and Chris in particular, but thank all staff for their commitment to the College and the students who have been lucky enough to have St Hilda’s as a big part of their university experience

ROB LANCASTER Chief Financial Officer

Holly Morrison & Rob Lancaster

Adrian Oats, Rob Lancaster, James Hardiman & Fiona Cadorel

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT REPORT

In 2023, the St Hilda’s calendar of events for alumni and friends included a Young Alumni event, the Marjorie Smart Oration, Gold Leaf Dinner, Founders & Benefactors dinner, and a Reunion attended by alumni from 1988, 1993 and 2013. The installation of our Seventh Principal, James Hardiman in February was a highlight with past Principals, alumni, Fellows, Board members and guests enjoying the opportunity to witness the change of leadership.

We also hosted a panel discussion to celebrate International Women’s Day including alumnae Merran Kelsall (1972) and welcomed alumnae Kim MacMillan (1980) and Anne Frankenberg (1986) to lead Whitby Dinner discussions with students. 18 alumni mentors joined with students to talk about career futures and 7 alumni contributed to leadership workshops and Fireside Fridays. Connecting current and former students of St Hilda’s enriches the student experience and is a great way for alumni to contribute to the College.

Alongside these important gatherings was the commencement of research to produce “ Communitas : The First 60 Years of St Hilda’s,” a book that will be released at the end of 2024. Our research has included interviews with alumni, staff and supporters of St Hilda’s and a dive into the archives to digitise content and access some fabulous photos and documents from our past. We continue to welcome contributions from alumni that shine a light on St Hilda’s over the past 60 years.

Highlighting the generosity of our community and the impact of their giving, the 2023 Community Impact Report was released at the Founders & Benefactors Dinner in October. More than $745, 000 in scholarships and bursaries supported 39% of our students to attend St Hilda’s this year, representing an average assistance package to students of $8,190.

We are proud to offer two new opportunities for incoming students in 2024. The Shayne & Robyn Hateley scholarships (1980 and 1981 alumni) will offer four rural/regional students half fee scholarships over three years and the Northrop Women in STEM scholarship will award fee remission and a paid industry placement for three years. Please visit the scholarships page on our website to learn more about these amazing new opportunities and the details of who will be eligible for these scholarships. We know that many students would not be able to attend College without financial support and we are grateful for these new initiatives.

The 2024 60th Anniversary Program of Events has been released and promises to deliver plenty of opportunities to connect with St Hilda’s, including a Family Day and Anniversary Ball on Saturday 23 November.

As we head into our 60th year, we encourage you to reach out via communitas@hildas.unimelb.edu.au to arrange a visit to St Hilda’s to see what has changed and show friends and family where you lived in your formative University years. We think you’re going to love it!

KATE ABRAHAM Community Engagement Manager, Alumni & Development

Kate Abraham

Three generations of the Miller Family

Cheryl Iser and Russell Byard

Carol Briggs & Tim Chenoweth

“WHAT COMMUNITAS MEANS TO ME”

My name is Kate. I lived here 20 years ago. I joined the College as a fresher in 2002, and was President of the Student Club in 2004.

I lived at College before the invention of Facebook and social media. We had an internal telephone system called ‘Audix’, but which we called ‘Audrey’, that we used to record and send audio messages. These messages could be sent to the entire student body, and I have very fond memories of listening to all my Audrey messages when I woke up each morning, or after a late night out at the pub. The messages sent after a turn or the College ball were always particularly entertaining.

When I lived at Hilda’s, A and B blocks were the fresher blocks. C block was for 2nd years, and the rest of the 2nd years as well as the 3rd years inhabited D block, and EFG. H block didn’t exist. We had dollar cans in the Back Quad every Sunday afternoon. We spent our Tuesday nights at the Clyde, Wednesday nights were for turns and other events such as formal dinners or Christmas in July. We held our own against the bigger colleges in intercollegiate sport, and celebrated people’s artistic talents at Music Night and with the College play.

I am a country kid. I grew up in Mansfield and went to school at Mansfield Secondary College. Moving to Melbourne to go to university was exciting – but also a little bit daunting. I must admit that I was pretty naïve when I moved to Melbourne. I remember calling my mum after I’d travelled into the city one day by tram and exclaiming, “Everyone was wearing suits!” For a country kid like me, Hilda’s provided an immediate sense of community. I was welcomed – by name – by my O Week Leaders the moment I stepped through the front doors. As an O Week Leader in my third year, I remember spending hours poring over the photos of the incoming fresher group, so that I could provide the same warm welcome.

I met a whole bunch of people with similar backgrounds to me – people from Shepparton and Wangaratta, Swan Hill and Sale. And I met a whole bunch of people with very different backgrounds to me. Barbara and Colin will remember Xiu Min Lin, from Singapore, a med student whose passion was playing the piano and who stunned everyone with his phenomenal talents at Music Night.

Communitas is all about community, and common experiences that are shared by that community.

Many things contributed to Communitas during my time at Hilda’s. O Week helped freshers bond, as a year level, before they were welcomed by the rest of the college with open arms (and numerous buckets of water). Competing against other Colleges in intercollegiate sport. Turns always had a theme, and we would dress up as emergency workers, or in our school uniforms, or in different coloured items of clothing that could be swapped with others during the course of the night, as we did for ‘Rubik’s Cube’ turn. All of these things created a sense of togetherness and of Communitas. But it was the little things, too. Playing endless games of 500 in the JCR after dinner. Doing 2 hours of workscheme, or kitchen duty, with the same 8 people each

week. Playing rock, paper, scissors (or rock papesy, as it was known) to work out who got the last piece of banoffee pie at dinner. These were the things that connected us and which brought us closer together.

So – why is this important?

Well – I think that COVID and the lockdowns we had in Melbourne throughout COVID really highlight the value of community and the importance of connection. Many of us didn’t truly appreciate the importance of community –until it was gone.

I am now a researcher at the University of Melbourne. I work in the Department of Anatomy & Physiology. Two things have really brought home the meaning of Communitas for me over the past couple of years.

The first thing that made me realise how much value I place in community occurred when we went into lockdown, and all scientific conferences were cancelled or went online. As a scientist, part of my job is communicating my findings to other researchers – and one of the main conduits for this is by presenting at scientific meetings. At these meetings, we critique each other’s work; we pull apart and interrogate each other’s hypotheses to see if they stand up to logic and the available evidence. And it can be quite an intense experience being on the receiving end of such a grilling. But – we share a sense of purpose and have a shared understanding of the challenges of doing research and being an academic in a highly competitive funding environment.

Knowing that I am part of a worldwide community of researchers – who share the same experiences and a common purpose – that is incredibly empowering – and that is the value of Communitas.

The second example I wanted to share with you is an experience I have had as an educator at the University of Melbourne.

One thing I have noticed is the difference in self-confidence between student who have done all of their undergrad degree at home, learning online from their bedroom or living room – and with very few opportunities to come on campus and to connect with other students – and those who have had those opportunities and done most of their learning face to face. The difference is quite striking. And it has made me reflect on how connection – and shared experience – and a sense of community – provide a foundation for us to be who we want to be, and to do the thing we want to do, and to grow and to thrive.

In closing – Hilda’s is a very special place, and I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to live and to study here, and to experience Communitas.

KATE WEEKS

Delivered at the St Hilda’s College Gold Leaf Dinner, September 2023

Thank you so much for such a delightful welcome. I feel very honoured to be here tonight, and to be invited to share a little about my story, and what Communitas means to me.

My name is Zodie Bolic, and I lived at St Hilda’s for 3 years, from 2020 to 2022 whilst studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts within the University of Melbourne.

I was born and raised just outside of Mackay, in the north of Queensland, and certainly had somewhat of a typical Queenslander experience. I spent my summers at my mother’s family’s cattle farm outside of Toowoomba, and in Mackay I lived surrounded by cane farms. I proudly cite the farming influence on my life, recognising it as responsible for my values of fairness, hard work, and perseverance. The burning cane fields at the end of a harvest season is always a favoured memory.

Indeed, St Hilda’s stood out to me because of its own farming and regional background. At the time of my application, the Hilda’s website proudly boasted the college’s long history of having regional Victorian students in residence. Keenly aware of my own regional background, and with a suspicion that life in the city was to be very different from my upbringing thus far, I wanted a semblance of my own life as I embarked on my new journey.

More than that, however, I appreciated the college’s motto of Communitas. What I was desperately seeking as a part of my move was community. I wanted a place where I would feel welcomed and supported, and I felt I couldn’t go wrong with a college that put Communitas at its very centre. With that gut feeling, I put in my Hilda’s application. Soon enough I was accepted and started to make plans for a new chapter in Melbourne, at the University of Melbourne.

No one in my family had ever previously attended University; so, I was flying somewhat blind in making decisions regarding my next chapter in life.

When I walked in on Welcome Saturday, not knowing a single person, I was so terrified, and so worried that I’d made the wrong decision.

It’s interesting then to consider, three years later, the question of ‘What does Communitas mean to me?’ There’s the classic examples, drinks in the JCR, movie nights in the lounge or just getting around things. But mostly, when I think of Communitas, I think of community. Communitas is looking out and after one another, and Communitas sums up my experience at St Hilda’s. My time at college was both transformational and aspirational. The decision I made to stay at Hilda’s during the 2020 lockdown was one of the best I could have ever made. I met some truly amazing people that I can not only turn to for support, but who also push me to be better and aspire to more. I was able to transform, and unlock who I really was.

In my current work, I can see the college ethos of Communitas bleed through. Whether that’s supporting students through my work at the university’s student union, advocating for all Victorian young people as the current Co-Chair of the Victorian Youth Congress (the Victorian Government’s flagship youth advisory body) or representing youth as a member of the Y Victoria’s board, at the very heart of my approach is recognising the importance of community. In all I do I try to build an aspirational and transformational community, like Hilda’s was for me.

It’s quite a coincidence that Jimmy mentions the rebrand of tonight’s dinner to the Gold Leaf Dinner. Throughout my schooling years, I made it my own personal mission to make the honour boards of each of my schools. Somewhat of a silly personal mission, I know, but I enjoyed seeing my name permanently linked with places that had shaped me so significantly. It’s an honour to have my name forever tied with St Hilda’s as well, a place that has changed me so much, and allowed me to flourish in ways I could have never imagined. I am forever grateful to St Hilda’s, and to the ethos of Communitas.

ZODIE BOLIC

Delivered at the St Hilda’s College Gold Leaf Dinner, September 2023

Kate Weeks, Zodie Bolic & James Hardiman

COLLEGE REUNIONS

The final official event of 2023 was a College Reunion for the Fresher groups of 1988 (celebrating 35 years), 1993 (celebrating 30 years) and 2013 (celebrating 10 years)! A fabulous night was had by all and particular highlights included tours of the college, reminiscing over old materials and, the number one highlight for the ‘88’ and ‘93’ cohorts, a surprise visit from their Dining Hall Supervisor, Vicki Trakelidou!

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To ensure that you don’t miss the opportunity to connect with friends and be included in the festivities, make sure you update your contact details using the form below (just scan the QR code) and be sure to follow us on Social Media including our LinkedIn group.

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St Hilda’s College was founded with a spirit of determination and generosity.

WAYS TO Contribute

With a belief in education and equal opportunity, we ensure all contributions support our students, enabling them to achieve and be all they can be. Whether you share your time, provide financial support, hire one of our students or speak at a college event, your contribution is an opportunity to celebrate your own accomplishments, facilitate the achievements of others, and leave a lifelong legacy for the community of St Hilda’s.

We have many ways to give back.

SCHOLARSHIP & BURSARY FUND

Supporting students to attend St Hilda’s College based on financial need or merit can change their lives and the lives of those around them.

You can elect to contribute each year, set criteria and name an award, or make a one-off donation. All contributions make a difference!

IN-KIND SUPPORT

Sharing knowledge and life experience, alumni & friends have the opportunity to enrich the lives of our current students. By supporting us through the contribution of your time, your help us to enhance the Hilda’s experience for our students.

INTERNSHIPS & GRADUATE PLACEMENTS

Can you provide work experience, internships or graduate programs for our students to gain invaluable experience in their chosen field?

MENTOR A STUDENT

Mentoring is a fantastic way to give back to the St Hilda’s community and build formative relationships with current students.

GUEST SPEAKER

We host a number of dinners and stakeholder engagement events throughout the year. It can be invaluable insight for our students and young alumni to hear from industry professionals about career pathways and life experiences.

ANNUAL APPEAL

The annual Communitas Appeal raises funds to support the St Hilda’s Scholarships and the Financial Assistance program. Our Scholarships and bursaries help our students to make ends meet. Your support here truely changes lives!

LEAVING A LEGACY

A bequest is a gift to a beneficiary in an individual’s will. As such it’s an enduring contribution that can honour you, your family, or someone close to you, well into the future.

Bequest types can include:

• Residuary (Remainder of the estate once legacies and costs have been paid)

• A percentage of an estate

• Pecuniary (a specific sum)

• Assests such as real estate, shares and/or culturally significant works of art.

STAY IN TOUCH

To stay connected with the College and each other and hear about what’s happening, follow us on our social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/sthildascollege/ @sthildasunimelb

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YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC91mKJUI8umtrS-x3cFSGzw https://au.linkedin.com/school/st-hilda-s-college-university-of-melbourne/

Founders & Benefactors 2023

Olivia Malouf, Georgia Tarr & Aaron Bennett

Tim Chenoweth and Richard Dent

Tobias Miliankos-King & Chloe Royal

Bryce Junk-Gison & James Hardiman