St Hilda's College Newsletter Q4

HILDA'S NEWS Q4 2023 The Year in Review Our students have thrived in 2023 and been ably supported by the staff of St Hilda’s College and the Student Club Executive & Committee.

St Hilda’s won the women’s Cricket, Soccer & Netball, while the men played hard across their sports and made the Bronze medal play off in the Hockey.

Your paragraph text Further event highlights included ‘The Addams Family’ play, St Hilda’s Day and Wear it Purple Day demonstrating the diversity and talent of our cohort.

Academic results are strong and our tutorial and professional development programs continue to provide an enriched University experience for our residents.

Parents sold out the Paddock to Plate event this year helping to raise more than $10,000 for ‘Farm My School,’ an initiative to farm under-utilised school property and teach regenerative farming skills. Continuing this partnership, Dean Fiona Cadorel led a group of students on a 2 night camp to the Bellarine Secondary College where they got stuck in to preparing and planting for the Farm My School project.

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 of $8,190.

We know that many students would not be able to attend College without this support and we are grateful for all contributions.

The 2024 60th Anniversary Program of Events promises to deliver plenty of opportunity to connect with St Hilda’s in the new year & we hope to see you at some of the events and activities.

We think you’re going to love it!

Principal‘s Message 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. I have been so pleased to watch our 2023 cohort continue to build on the things that I love about our college and I have greatly appreciated the support they have shown me during my first year in this role.

There have been too many highlights to recount here; I will leave that instead for the 2023 Chronicle, but I do want to take note of how wonderful it has been to see so many of our Your paragraph text students engage in the breadth of activities on offer here.

What makes college so special is that it allows students to have a truly holistic educational experience while they are completing their tertiary studies. Whether it has been involvement in Arts & Culture, Sport or our various Communitas-focused activities, our young people have leapt at the chance to take advantage of these opportunities. Alongside their cocurricular commitments, over 25% of our students have also achieved a H1 average in their academic results. I am so proud of our students' ability to balance their studies and their contributions to our community so well.

To have an environment where all of these things are possible not only requires a phenomenal student group, but an amazing team of staff. I'd like to acknowledge all of the 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, valuesdriven and cohesive group of people and I feel grateful every day I turn up.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of this year's student leadership team.

It's been a year of development and change for all of us and, even where there have been challenges, I truly believe that we have come out stronger. I would also like to congratulate all those who have been appointed to leadership roles in 2024 and who are already busy preparing for the year ahead.

So, it’s been a busy year and a rewarding one.

From my family to yours, we wish you a happy, safe and relaxing festive season, James Hardiman

Q4 Alumni Events Gold Leaf Dinner Celebrating our past Student Club Presidents and award winners across our student Honour Boards, the Gold Leaf Dinner in September was a delight!

In addition to the great company and food, we enjoyed looking through some old editions of The Chronicle, College photos and some of the treasures from our archives.

Our thanks to Zodie Bolic (2020) and Kate Weeks (2002) for speaking at the Gold Leaf dinner about what Communitas means to them. You can read their speeches in full in the soon to be released St Hilda’s Chronicle 2023.

Gold Leaf Dinner 2024 Saturday May 4th

Zodie Bolic (2020), Kate Weeks (2002) Principal James Hardiman

Richard Ebbs (1986) and Amanda Gray To see all of the photos from our events, check out our flickr account (click below)

Founders & Benefactors Dinner Each year we celebrate and thank our founding students and the community that give so generously to St Hilda’s. Without their support, we would not have the diverse student population we see today, nor the enriched experience for students that our community contribute to.

Three generations of family involvement at St HIlda’s: Olivia Malouf (2023), Anna Howell (2023), Sally-Ann Miller (1999), Andrew Miller and Rob Hamilton (2000)

Annette Webb-Neckers, Margaret Browne and Margaret Harrison (Founding Students 1964)

Christine Penfold & Heather-Anne Field (Founding Students 1964)

We were delighted to have second year Arts student, Jacinta Baker speak at the dinner about the impact that her St Hilda’s scholarship has had on her life. Jacinta’s memorable speech reminded us of the importance of scholarship support for so many of our students.

First year students Regina Laletha (Vocals) and Rachel Lee (Keys) also provided a glimpse of the talent we have in our midst at St Hilda’s The full set of photos from the night are on our Flickr page.

Jacinta Baker

Rachel Lee and Regina Laletha entertain at the Founders & Benefactors Dinner

St Hilda‘s Fellows Installation At this year’s dinner, we also installed St Hilda’s Fellows Elizabeth Alexander, Anne Frankenberg and Barbara Green, valued advisors and friends of the College.

The work of our Fellows is such an important part of our college culture and we were pleased to be able to publicly acknowledge the contributions of these three amazing women who were unable to attend last year’s installation ceremony.

Lynne Williams (PY 1973) & Elizabeth Alexander (Tutor 1964) with Principal James Hardiman

Anne Frankenberg (Peer Year 1986)

Barbara Green (PY 1975 and Principal 2000 - 2017)

Founders & Benefactors First Year Recital Our first year music students put on a recital in the auditorium prior to the Founders & Benefactors dinner event this year, featuring Sonia Freiburg (Cello), Alice Dagwell (Soprano), Eleanor March (Violin) and Maya Fuller (Oboe).

This was a great opportunity for our students to get concert experience prior to their final first year performance and assessment and has been suggested as a regular prelude to future Founders & Benefactors events.

Eleanor March on violin

Alice Dagwell, Eleanor March, Maya Fuller and Sonia Freiburg after their First Year Recital.

Maya Fuller on Oboe

November 2023 Reunion Representatives from Peer Years (PY) 2013, 1993 and 1988 came to St Hilda’s in November to celebrate 10, 30 and 35 years since starting at St Hilda’s.

Though small in number, the group were large in Communitas and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to come together and talk about their Hilda’s experience.

Principal James Hardiman spoke of the strength of our community and the hope that our alumni continue to engage with the College where life long friends were made and formative experiences had.

Our tour of the College took in the renovations to our residential rooms, including the building of H Block, the gym and Green Room on the site of the old squash courts, and the Miller Academic Centre that has provided the space for students to meet for tutorials and group study sessions.

1988 Alumni Brad Richards Anne Dunnachie Bronwyn Egan Scott Mackenzie Kirsten Wong Shee Chris Mcswain Sally Elford

Bryce Binne, Vicki Trakelidou, Dima Argyriou & Margaret Young (1995 President)

2013 Alumni Hayden Green, Eleanor Burns & Grace Clark

Upon returning to the Dining Hall, the space had been transformed to include St Hilda’s Ball posters, College, Valedictory and sporting team photos, copies of the Chronicle and Communitas magazines and personal folders. Much reminiscing ensued and the warmth and love was a joy to behold!

We were also graced by the presence of Vicki Trakelidou who was Dining Room Manager from 1981 - 2005 and appeared to squeals of delight and a few tears from the alumni who she had looked after like her own during her tenure.

In 2024 reunions will be celebrated at the Communitas Ball on November 23 and we hope you will consider gathering your peers to create a table or two representing your years at St Hilda’s.

1993 Alumni Dima Argyriou, Rosie Edlund & Kate Hall

1993 Alumni Bridget Horsley, Martin Whitehead & Naomi Di Stefano

1993 Alumni Ben Castledine, Bryce Binnie, Peter Hamilton, Nick Rowe, Bec Edwards & Craig Retallack

Please connect us with your peers If you have contact details for people from your peer year, please encourage them to visit our website and update their details via the form on the Towards 60 webpage.

You can connect them directly with the Community Engagement Team via communitas@hildas.unimelb.edu.au

Don’t miss out on future fun events!

60th Anniversary Year Program of Events The full calendar of events for our 60th year is now available online.

Please put the key dates in your diary and we’ll send invitations and notification of upcoming events and activities throughout 2024.

Monday 26th February

Re-creation of the First Dinner at St Hilda’s, held on 26 February 1964.

Saturday 20th April

The Marjorie Smart Oration Commemorating 60 years since the official opening of St Hilda's

Saturday 4th May

Gold Leaf Dinner - Leaders and Honour Board Recipients

Saturday 11th May

Open House - Visit St Hilda’s and be shown around the College with a student guide

Saturday 26th October

Founders & Benefactors Dinner

Saturday 23rd November

Family Day - Daytime @ St Hilda’s 60th Anniversary Ball - Evening @ San Remo Ballroom

“Communitas: The First 60 Years of St Hilda’s” Writers Clare Rhoden and Louise Zedda-Sampson were delighted to meet many of our alumni at the Founders & Benefactors Dinner this October.

There is great enthusiasm from our community to contribute to the book that will be published by October 2024 and we continue to schedule conversations with those who wish to share their stories, photographs and/or artefacts relating to St Hilda's.

If you have something you would like to contribute, please reach out to the Community Engagement Team.

Alumni and St Hilda’s Fellow Fleur Nicholson with our writers Clare Rhoden & Louise Zedda-Sampson at the Founders & Benefactors Dinner

2020 Alumni and Community Engagement Team staff member, Ally Hardy at the Founders & Benefactors Dinner

St Hilda’s Archives It has been exciting to open up and begin to digitise our archives this year and we couldn’t have done it without the assistance of our Development Intern in 2023, Ally Hardy. We can now access some fabulous photos and documents from our past and will draw on these treasures as we write and compile “Communitas: The First 60 Years of St Hilda’s College.”

As Ally pursues completion of her Masters of Arts Management, we welcome current students Alison O’Brien and Olivia Malouf to the Community Engagement Team to work with us in 2024

General Committee 1966 Back row (L-R): Margery Gulbin; Elizabeth Vibert; Susan Goddard Seated (L-R): Heather-Anne Leigh; Christine Hibberd; Mrs Marjorie Smart

SUPPORTING ST HILDA'S We are always humbled to hear from people who want to support St Hilda's College financially.

Please don't hesitate to reach out for a confidential discussion with us if you are interested in supporting St Hilda's in any of the following ways: Contributing to the Scholarship Fund Supporting our Enrichment Programs Remembering St Hilda's College in your will

ST HILDA'S COLLEGE, 19-27 COLLEGE CRESCENT, PARKVILLE, VIC., 3052 COMMUNITAS@HILDAS.UNIMELB.EDU.AU +61 3 9248 8400