StHilda’sNews
September saw the election of the first Co-Presidents of the College, Sharon Anthony and Harry Walker-Jones (above) who take up their positions in 2025.
Their appointment followed a successful vote of the Student Club after 2024 President and Vice-President, Paddy Ryan and Bryce Junk-Gibson put forward the proposal to the student body to change their Student Club consitution to embed gender diversity within the Executive. The successful campaign sees the St Hilda’s College Student Club being the only one in Australia that currently has a copresident model requiring gender diversity. In recognition of their advocacy, Paddy and Bryce were jointly awarded the 2024 Change Champion Award at the recent Valedictory Dinner.
Other awards at the Valedictory Dinner on 10 October included:
Collegian of the Year - Tobias Miliankos-King
Alice Paton Award for the Quiet Achiever - Ashah Downie
Peter Kempen Leadership Award - Abbey Miller
2024ValedictoryDinner& Awards
As always, the end of the second semester sees us celebrating with our annual Valedictory Dinner where we recognise the endeavours of our students. This is also our opportunity to farewell all departing students, with a special ceremony that congratulates our third-year cohort on all their achievements.
The night was full of emotion and reminiscing and we encourage you to check out all the photos HERE.
Ashah Downie receives the Alice Paton (Quiet Achiever) Award
Paddy Ryan & Bryce Junk-Gibson receive the Change Champion Award
Abbey Miller receives the Peter Kempen Leadership Award
Tobias Miliankos-King receives the Communitas Prize (Collegian of the Year) Award
The Class of 2024
2024StHilda’sPlay
LegallyBlondetheMusical
Following in the footsteps of recent years, the 2024 St Hilda’s College Play was a smashing success!
With many in the audience booking repeat viewings, it’s safe to say that Legally Blonde: The Musical was a favourite amongst cast, crew and the wider Hilda’s community. It even made history with the highest attended opening night ever for a St Hilda’s play. Covering all three nights, the students sold over 660 tickets and the production itself saw the involvement of over 85 people.
2024 Producer, Lili Reus-Smit (St Hilda’s College 2nd Year) sums up the thoughts of those involved when she says she “would not have traded this experience or these people for anything.”
Photos all taken during rehearsals in the Auditorium
Semester2 Aroundthegrounds
Semester 2 is always a busy one for the students with plenty of winter sports, ICAC events, GC elections, Fundraising events and plenty more!
Some stand out events included our Fresher Reps in 2024 delivering a very successful Christmas in August event that saw plenty of festive cheer and paper crowns on display in the Dining Hall.
The sun also shone on the Front Quad for a wholesome day of crafts, lip syncing and dancing as part of Wear It Purple Day, organised by 2024's Queer Rep.
Alongside the many co-curricular offerings that our students have been enjoying, they have also been kicking goals in the academic space with 1 in 3 achieving High Distinction averages by the time we headed into the exam block. This is an incredible achievement and we are so proud of all of our students for the effort that they have put into their studies.
Enjoy this small set of photos showing the highlights of Semester 2 and check out all the albums on our Flickr page to see the full set!
Our men had a crack at netball this year
In racquet sports, it was time for badminton
2024 Women’s Footy
Clay designs quickly became a competition to see who could design the best clay version of
Sem 2 Commencement Dinner saw our local member, Adam Bandt visit as the guest speaker, pictured here with 2024 Treasurer,
Glass painting on offer during Wear It Purple Day
The Grinch even made an appearance at Xmas in August
There were plenty of Santa photos before Xmas in August Dinner
Hilda’s mascot, Diego
Josh Lee
Party hats and Secret Santa gifts stole the show during Xmas in August Dinner
Founders&Benefactors Dinner
Last weekend we hosted our annual Founders & Benefactors Dinner where we honour those in our community who so generously invest time, expertise or financially in St Hilda’s College.
For those who were keen to arrive a little early, they had the opportunity to enjoy a Music Recital from three of our resident VCA students: Alice Dagwell (voice); Sonia Freiburg (Cello); and, Kate Katheklakis (Saxophone). This recital event, under the supervision of St Hilda’s music tutor, Alex Gorbatov (PY2018), was launched last year and is designed to help the students prepare for their final performance exams.
Following canapes in the Front Quad, guests moved into the Dining Hall for the formal part of the event. To highlight the impact that our donors have on the lives of our students, third year resident and 2024 Collegian of the Year, Tobias Miliankos-King spoke about what his scholarship has meant to him and his wider family. You can read Tobias’ speech HERE.
As part of the event, we were also delighted to induct our newest St Hilda’s College Fellows, Mrs Jean Miller, The Hon Justince Cathryn McMillan and Professor Richard James (in absentia).
Tobias Milankos-King explaining the impact of his scholarship
New St Hilda’s College Fellows, Jean Miller (left) & Catheryn McMillan (right)
The pre-dinner recital was a big hit
Founders & Benefactors also acts as the point in the year where we publish our annual Impact Report. If you would like to read this year’s report, you can access a digital copy via the link below.
Finally, to coincide with our 60 year anniversary, this year’s Founders & Benefactors Dinner was where we officially announced the launch of our new bequest society, The Communitas Society.
Founding members of this society will be formally welcomed into this very special group early next year at an inaugural event.
As always, a selection of students attended Founders & Benefactors and were able to catch up with those supporting their scholarships
If you would like to find out more about The Communitas Society, please contact us directly for a confidential conversation or you can find out more via the website.
Learn about The Communitas Society HERE
Principal, James Hardiman delivers an overview of a very successful year at St Hilda’s.
FromtheArchives
As we lead up to Family & Friends Day on Saturday November 23 (see next page for more details on this one), we have been busily framing and hanging a number of artefacts, including decades worth of St Hilda’s Ball posters!
We won’t spoil the walk around for you but here are just a few from across the decades.
We are also looking for a number of Ball posters so if you have copies of any of the following years, please let us know:
Anything prior to 1984 1992 - 1993 2002 - 2003 2014 - 2019
We are also still looking for Full College photos from the following years:
1999 & 2000 2007 - 2013 2015
If you are willing to donate your copy of any of these posters/photos OR simply lend them to us so that we can get them scanned, we would be very grateful.
23 November, 2024
Family & Friends Day at St Hilda’s | 11am - 3pm
60 years of history will be on display at our Family Day where our alumni can bring their family and friends, and walk around the College on guided tours.
A catered, free event there will be opportunity to explore our self-guided art tour and collect some special gifts!
Please register here for catering purposes
The Communitas Ball at San Remo | 6.30 - 11.30pm
We are all but sold out for the Communitas Ball on Saturday 23rd November!
Limited Tickets @$135 are available by request. Please email communitas@hildas.unimelb.edu.au or follow this link to Expression of Interest on Try Booking
1983 Ball Invitation (not in fact the first Hilda’s Ball!)
ValeDuncanIronmongerAM (1931 -2024)
On what would have been Associate Professor Duncan Ironmonger’s 93rd birthday, a memorial service was held at University House on 12 October, 2024.
Those present were encouraged to wear a bow-tie in honour of his particular fondness for the accessory.
Known widely for his distinguished career at The University of Melbourne, Duncan was a much loved member of the St Hilda’s College community during his association from 1989 to 1999 across his roles as Council member, Vice President, President and Pro-Principal.
Along with many others from our community, Principal James Hardiman attended Duncan’s memorial service ensuring that the College was able to pay its respects and pass condolences onto Duncan’s family and friends.
Duncan Ironmonger in the Front Quad of St Hilda’s circa 1999
A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration of Life was held at Toorak Uniting Church on Friday August 30th to farewell Dr Elizabeth Jean Prest.
Principal, James Hardiman was in attendance as a representative of St Hilda’s, along with several other members of the St Hilda’s Community.
A former member of the St Hilda’s College council, Jean was an accomplished Historian and was highly involved in education across her life.
St Hilda’s College extends its sincere condolences to all of Jean’s family and friends and gives thanks for the time and expertise that she so generously gave to our community during her time on College Council.
