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TRINITY COLLEGE NEWSLETTER
A PUBLICATION OF TRINITY COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE Registered by Australia Post — Publication No. VBG 4336
No. 17
JULY 1982
A GRUELLING BUT PRODUCTIVE TERM From the Warden, Dr Evan Burge I don't remember any time in my life quite so busy as the present: every aspect of College life seems on the move. At the student level — which is what counts above all — there has been some exciting blossoming of artistic talents. It was a great day when several students came to request the provision of an art room in the College. Others came soon after with news of a series of lunch hour concerts they were arranging in the Chapel. Best of all, these skills are being put at the service of the whole College community and are universally appreciated. Notices of coming events around the College are often artistic, lively, and witty. This year's College play, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, was a fine theatrical event with some exceptionally good acting, and a deeply moving last scene. In sport, we are now neck and neck with Ormond in points for the Cowan Cup while the women are again leading in the Holmes Cup competition. There is plenty of participation and training — which explains our decisive victories in rowing, athletics and soccer. In cricket, we narrowly lost the final to Ormond (our best result for some years). Our football results were again disappointing, in spite of our having the best and most determined team for years. Next year, perhaps? It is not these things, however, which have been occupying most of my time. Behind the scenes, there has been a great deal of preparation going on for the future launching of the Trinity Foundation. As with the foundation of a building, there is much to be done before anything spectacular appears above the surface. Among other things, Mr John Hopkins, the Director of the Foundation, has organised a series of dinners and discussions attended by former members of the T.C.A.C. Committees over the years. These have been invaluable both for giving us good advice and for building up enthusiasm. Part of my work has been to write a detailed document stating the case for supporting the Foundation. Another current enterprise has been a thorough review of College staffing and management conducted on an honorary basis by McKinsey and Co. Inc. The report (which will be confidential), is yet to be presented, but already it is clear that the College stands to benefit greatly from the work. It is no accident that the person heading up McKinsey's in Australia is Bill Cowan, former Senior Student and son of the third Warden. Yet another investigation is in process to discover whether or
not there would be substantial advantages if Trinity and Ormond shared their catering arrangements. No decision has yet been made, but the investigation so far has included such matters as forming a company to run the joint venture, recompense for the use of shared facilities and equipment, and the "cook/chill" system of producing meals for a whole week in a 40-hour, five-day week, using a common kitchen. A fourth, and very exciting project is the restoration of the Chapel fabric. The College is indebted almost beyond words to the generosity of Mr Robert Cripps and the companies with which he is associated. Over the years, the Chapel has been admired more and more as an architectural masterpiece and as a superb auditorium for music. It is in almost continuous use for worship, prayer, and meditation. At the same time, its physical condition has become more and more worrying as the large west window has become increasingly dangerous, and the sandstone pinnacles and plinth facings have broken and crumbled. Thanks to Mr Cripps'. generosity, the work of restoring all this will soon begin. With all this and more on the Warden's plate you will understand my pleasure at having Dr Peter Wellock, Trinity's new Chaplain, fully immersed in the job, not only ensuring the pastoral care of the College students and staff but shouldering some of the administrative burden as well. Equally, it is good to welcome back Dr John Gaden, Director of the Theological School, after seven months' study leave (details of which are printed elsewhere in this Newsletter). Bishop John McKie, to whom we owe so much for looking after things during Dr Gaden's absence, will be keeping in touch. Like so many of our graduates, he now has a daughter in College. Elsewhere in this Newsletter is an article on the nature of a College, written by a Trinity man, Dr John Morgan (1961), who is now Warden of St John's College, Brisbane. It sets out some of the goals which must always be held before the eyes of those who are responsible for the welfare of our Colleges. To fulfill our obligations in Trinity, we need the continuing and generous support and interest of all our College members. The programme of the Trinity Foundation, shortly to begin, will give us all the opportunity to acknowledge enthusiastically the debt we owe to "The Dear Old Coll.", and to those whose faith and idealism have left us such a magnificent heritage.