Blog | Page 16 of 24 | St Mark's College

01 July 201902 September 2019

New Head of St Mark’s College

I am pleased to announce that Dr Don Markwell is to be the next Head of St Mark’s College, Adelaide.

Dr Markwell is the current Warden of St Paul’s College at the University of Sydney and former global head of the Rhodes Scholarships. We are delighted to attract such an internationally recognised educational leader to lead St Mark’s in the next stage of its development.

Don Markwell has a proven and effective commitment to collegiate education, to working with students to ensure the best possible student experience, to improving opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, and to leading cultural renewal to promote gender equality and cultural diversity.

His decades of college experience in Australia, Britain, and the United States will be of immense value to St Mark’s as we build on our existing strengths and enter a positive new phase for the College.

Dr Markwell will commence at St Mark’s on 1 November 2019. He will succeed Ms Rose Alwyn, who has served as Master of the College since 2008, and who was recently appointed Warden of St John’s College within the University of Queensland.

To ensure that all students at St Mark’s College have the best possible collegiate educational experience, Dr Markwell will continue the important work of cultural renewal commenced with Rose Alwyn.

As Warden of St Paul’s College at a transformational period in its history, Dr Markwell has led the development and implementation of its Action Plan for Cultural Renewal in response to the Broderick Report on the College’s culture.

Born in Quilpie, outback Queensland Don studied at the University of Queensland and was the 1981 Rhodes Scholar for Queensland at the University of Oxford. He continued his education at Princeton University in the United States.

Dr Markwell was the first Rhodes Scholar to be Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford (2009-12), which is responsible for Rhodes Scholarships globally. He had previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) of the University of Western Australia (2007-09), Warden of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne (1997-2007), and Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Merton College, Oxford (1986-97).

Dr Markwell has also served as Senior Adviser on Higher Education to the Federal Minister for Education (2013-15), and Senior Adviser to the Attorney-General and Leader of the Government in the Senate (2015-17).

He worked closely with former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on the development of the New Colombo Plan, which supports Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the Indo-Pacific region.

A political scientist, Dr Markwell’s publications include several books on international relations, constitutions and other political issues, higher education, and leadership.

Dr Markwell has been an active Anglican layperson for many years, including serving as a Lay Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne, and St George’s Cathedral in Perth.

I know that you will make Don welcome and he is very much looking forward to working with the students, staff, Board, alumni and friends of St Mark’s College to offer the students a broadening and life-changing collegiate education within a respectful, inclusive and safe environment.

Linda Matthews
Chair
St Mark’s College

20 June 201927 August 2019

Outstanding academic success

In our first Academic Prizes Ceremony for 2019, St Mark’s College celebrated our returning students who received outstanding results in the 2018 academic year. Over 60 students were acknowledged for their outstanding academic performance.

Academic success is a core element of College life, and as such it was fitting for our Collegians to be celebrated in front of their peers at Formal Hall. Nearly 95 years ago, the College’s founders believed in the benefits of a collegiate education – of university students living and learning together in a residential academic community in which they could take part together in enriching and broadening activities of an academic, intellectual, cultural, sporting, spiritual, service, and social kind. Whilst students today are very different to those 95 years ago, this core mission of learning and enrichment remain. The College works hard to give every student the best support we can to achieve their full potential in all aspects of their life. The students we acknowledged at this ceremony are outstanding examples of the very best a Collegian can be. They are students who have embraced College life to the fullest, combining academic success with a full collegiate life. These include our College Club President and other members of the College Committee, our Residential Advisors, both Head Residential Advisors and Assistant Dean, our academic tutors, sports captains, and our Charitable Foundation executive members. We are proud of all our students for their academic achievements.

April Catford accepts The St Mark’s College Prize for Outstanding Overall Academic Performance in 2018

Ella Graham accepts The St Mark’s College Prize for Law

The following is a full list of academic prizes awarded in this ceremony, congratulations to all students.

The Edward A Radcliff Scholarship. This is a prize that was established for a student with the best academic performance in a previous year by a returning student. It was established in 1953 after the death of Edward Radcliff who left money in his will for St Mark’s, St Barnabas College and the Anglican Board of Missions. In 2019 it was awarded to Alasdair Leslie. Alasdair is an outstanding scholar and maintained a high distinction average for the first three years of his medical degree.

Alasdair Leslie accepts his award from Director of Learning, Kathy Radoslovich

The G Angas Parsons Scholarship was endowed by the late Geoffrey Angas Parsons in 1982 for an outstanding academic performance by a returning student. Geoffrey Angas Parsons was a well-known grazier in the Eden Hills who once owned the original land known as Pewsey Vale, one of South Australia’s oldest vineyards. The College has a very long and strong association with the Angas Parsons family, a family of eminent academics and professionals in the science and legal areas. With two outstanding years of academic performance and a GPA just under 7, the 2019 G Angas Parsons scholarship was awarded to Madeleine Whitehouse.

The WF Werhstedt Prize can be traced back to the Council meeting of 14^th February 1939 where a legacy had been left to the College by the Reverend WF Wehrstedt for the purpose of founding a prize for a scholar in the Arts and Humanities. This prize was awarded to Hannah Bradshaw.

The BP Wait Prize dates back to 1939 and was named after long term residential tutor Mr Wait, who lived at the College in the late 1920s and 1930s. It is for study in the classics or modern languages which were the subjects that Mr Wait taught and the prize goes to Beth Leese.

The WA Collegians’ Prize was established in 1965 by Josh Reynolds – first Rhodes Scholar of St Mark’s and President of the College Club – marking an end of an association with the West Australian Medical Students after the UWA Medical School was established. In 2019 this prize is awarded to Nicki Bakaj.

The St Mark’s College Prize for Outstanding Overall Academic Performance in 2018 was awarded to April Catford and Roan Gillam, who both achieved GPAs over 6.6.

The St Mark’s College Prize for Law was awarded to Ella Graham

The St Mark’s College Prize for Medicine and Dentistry was awarded to Erin Widdison

The St Mark’s College Prize for Business and Commerce was awarded to Isaac Montefiore

The St Mark’s College Prize for Engineering. Computing Science and Mathematics was awarded to Benjamin Cmrlec

The St Mark’s College Prize for Allied Health and Medical Sciences was awarded to Lucy Bunge

Commendation for Exceptional Academic Achievement: Awarded to students who achieved 5 or more High Distinctions in 2018

April Catford	Roan Gillam
Isaac Montefiore	Madeleine Whitehouse
Alasdair Leslie

Commendation for Outstanding Academic Achievement: Awarded to students who achieved 3-4 High Distinctions in 2018

Nicola Badran	Sarah Bennett	Danielle Boniface
Hannah Bradshaw	Lucinda Bunge	Lacey Burston
Evette De Jager	Lukas Egger	Ella Graham
Jacob Grahamr	Morgan Hill	Benjamin Joy
Ashlee Nicholr	Olivia Watt	Erin Widdison

Merit Certificate for Academic Achievement: Awarded to students who achieved 1-2 High Distinctions or 5 or more Distinctions in 2018

Nicholette Bakaj	Wilson Bindi	Adam Burford
Ruby Chant	Lachlan Clark	Benjamin Cmrlec
Callum Crespan	Madeline Crettenden	Nicola Donaldson
Thomas Edney	Britney Doyle	Sarina Ferguson
Abby Goodwin	Drew Guegan-Brown	Taylor Hand
Molly Healy	Lauren Hurst	Catherine Jenkins
Annabelle Jones	Carmen Joubert	Callum Kain
Eliza Kennedy	Alexandra Kenny	Stella Lillis
Sarah Logan	Brady Martin	Victoria Martin
Nicholas Marzohl	Isobel McFarlane	Ryan Morrow
Callum Peck	Connor Perone	Bronte Phillips
Megan Schwartzkopff	Liam Stevens	Timothy Torzsok
Arna Westhead	Charles Westwell	Alana Winter
Meekah Zangari

18 June 201922 August 2019

Hawker Scholarships presented by Australian of the Year

Dr Richard Harris SC OAM presented University of Adelaide students Sophie Ludbrook and Kaidy Morgan with their 2019 Charles Hawker Scholarship certificates at a ceremony held at St Mark’s College on Thursday. Sophie studied at Scotch College in Adelaide and is from Mylor in the Adelaide Hills. Kaidy completed her year 12 studies at St Joseph’s College in Port Lincoln and grew up on her family farm at Coulta.

Both Sophie and Kaidy are in residence at St Mark’s College and studying at the University of Adelaide. Sophie is enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees and Kaidy was DUX and School Captain and is studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree.

2019 Australians of the Year Dr Richard Harris SC OAM and Dr Craig Challen SC OAM were recognised for their heroic efforts as part of an international rescue mission to save 12 boys from flooded caves in Thailand last year.

Dr Harris presented four new Charles Hawker Scholars with their scholarship certificates this afternoon at a ceremony at St Mark’s College in Adelaide.

The four new scholars are studying Medicine, Agriculture, Law, International Relations and International Security Studies. Forty-five friends and family, college representatives, current scholars, members of the Alumni and Trustees of the C.A.S. Hawker Scholarship attended the function.

Mrs Lilias Needham established the Charles Hawker Scholarship in memory of her brother Charles Allan Seymour Hawker. Today, each of these residential scholarships is valued at up to $60,000.00 over three years. It is one of the most generous privately funded scholarships available to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Australia.

Since 1990, the Trustees have awarded more than six million dollars to 127 young Australians. The four successful 2019 candidates were awarded Hawker Scholarships from an Australia wide field of 140 applicants.

“I warmly congratulate the 2019 scholars. Each of them has already displayed a strong commitment to the splendid ideals upon which the Charles Hawker Scholarship Memorial Trust Fund is founded. They are a talented group of young Australian scholars with a social conscious and an inquiring mind. I wish them well in their studies. I commend the Trustees for the significant contribution the scholarship continues to make to the education of an increasing number of young Australians,” Dr Richard Harris SC OAM said.

There are a number of scholarships awarded each year. The Trustees offer them to capable students of principle and character, who are committed to Australia’s future. The Charles Hawker Scholarship perpetuates the memory and commemorates the achievements of one of Australia’s most respected pastoral pioneers. Born on May 16^th 1894 at Bungaree homestead near Clare in South Australia, Charles Hawker was educated at Geelong Church of England Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Student, soldier, pastoralist and statesman Charles Allan Seymour Hawker died in the Kyeema air disaster on October 25^th, 1938.

Undergraduate and postgraduate Hawker Scholars are able to attend a range of educational institutions. These include the Australian National, Adelaide, Flinders, South Australia and New England Universities and Marcus Oldham College. Postgraduate Charles Hawker Scholars are also able to follow in Charles Hawker’s footsteps by studying at the University of Cambridge UK.

Charles Hawker had a lasting impact on Australian politics and all members of the federal house had an enormous respect for him during his time as Australia’s first Minister for Commerce in the Lyons government in the 1930s.

Scholarship selection is based on personal qualities as well as academic ability. Applications for the 2020 Charles Hawker Scholarships open on December 9^th 2019 and close on January 8^th 2020. An application form and further information is available from www.hawkerscholarship.org or by contacting the secretary to the Trustees on 08 8127 1654.

Sophie Ludbrook and Kaidy Morgan

Sophie Ludbrook and family with Australian of the Year, Richard Harris SC OAM

Sophie Ludbrook accepting her award from Dr Richard Harris SC OAM

The two other 2019 Charles Hawker Scholarship recipients are Yasmin Poole from Victoria and Finnegan Rowbottam from WA and are in residence at Burgmann College and studying Law and International Studies at the ANU.

Charles Hawker presented the College with a painting of C.A.S Hawker

Kaidy Morgan with family and Richard Harris SC OAM

16 June 201926 August 2019

New Business Manager appointed

The College is delighted to welcome Ms Fiona Evans to the College as the recently appointed Business Manager.

Fiona is a Certified Practising Accountant with over ten years’ experience in a similar role within the independent school sector. She has also worked in the corporate and private sector and held several board positions. Fiona has extensive experience in all facets of financial operations, strategic planning, risk management and corporate governance.

Fiona has a proven track record of sound business and financial acumen. Her career is underpinned by a commitment to quality service and bringing the best out in her staff with team orientated results. She has a strong understanding of students and families and is passionate about the education of young people.

We look forward to Fiona’s contribution to the College and to welcoming her on 15^th July.

Rose Alwyn Master

29 May 201913 August 2019

Inaugural J C Bannon Oration

Leadership: A Soft Skill Requiring Moral Courage and Integrity

“It is curious – curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare” – Mark Twain

On Thursday, 9 May 2019 St Mark’s College hosted the inaugural J C Bannon Oration in the Ian and Pamela Wall Academic Centre. Over 200 people, including His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le, AC, Governor of South Australia, and a collection of distinguished South Australians, Old Collegians, students, staff and members of the St Mark’s Community gathered to hear Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK AFC (Ret’d) deliver an inspiring address on moral courage and integrity in leadership.

The J C Bannon Oration is an annual lecture hosted by St Mark’s College in memory of the College’s seventh Master, the Honourable Dr John Charles Bannon AO. John was as a student at St Mark’s College from 1962-63, before going on to become Premier of South Australia from 1982-1992, before returning as the Master of St Mark’s College from 2000-2007. A passionate politician, scholar, sportsman and patron of the arts, John had a lasting impact on South Australia. He was ardent about the importance and perpetuity of education and continued learning and inspired this passion in others until his passing in 2015. An annual lecture where great thinkers and innovators share their knowledge, insights and stories to inspire others to achieve greatness of their own is a fitting tribute to his memory.

The evening began with an Acknowledgement of Country from distinguished Aboriginal scholar and Wiradjuri woman Dr Jessa Rogers, before the Chair, Linda Matthews, introduced the evening’s Orator, Sir Angus Houston.

Sir Angus Houston is a distinguished Australian. He was awarded the Knight of the Order of Australia in January 2015 for extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to Australia, through distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force, continued commitment to serve the nation in leadership roles, particularly the national responses to the MH370 and MH17 disasters, and in a variety of roles in the community. He is the current Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast, and is a Chair, Board member or patron of numerous community organisations.

Drawing on over four decades of military experience and a wide range of community leadership roles, Sir Angus shared his Five Principles for excellent leadership, arguing that leadership is “a soft skill demanding moral courage and integrity.” Reflecting on his years in the Air Force, he spoke of the importance of establishing and maintaining a “‘values-based, people first’ supportive culture”, the challenges of doing so, and how his own personal mantras “People First” and “People before Platforms” led him to respond to situational and organisational challenges. Stories included managing the transfer of battlefield helicopters from the Air Force to the Army, safety reform in aircraft fuel tank maintenance, and developing a flying safety culture that has seen no airmen or airwomen lost in Air Force accidents for 20 years.

Sir Angus advocates backing your people and fostering “leadership at all levels”. He believes this is the key to success and cultural reform. In advice every organisation can benefit from, he argues that “strong and consistent leadership at all levels and all parts of the organisation will not only ensure the achievement of the right outcomes but will also enhance morale and avoid failures of leadership”. This approach requires time and effort, and developing trust in the people you work with. It also requires a full commitment to Sir Angus’s fourth and fifth principles: communication and relationships. Knowing when to listen and when to speak is a crucial leadership skill. He also urges us not to underestimate the value of face-to-face communication, and to nurture healthy connections to others. As Sir Angus put it, “in my experience, good outcomes never come from adversarial relationships”.

In concluding his address, Sir Angus took a moment to reflect on John Bannon and his particular style of leadership. In his words:

“John Bannon understood the importance of leadership… [he] was a values-based leader well known for his decency and integrity… Through his actions, John Bannon demonstrated leadership of the highest order. John Bannon was an extraordinary Australian leader who demonstrated that leadership is a soft skill demanding moral courage and integrity.”

To conclude the proceedings Master of St Mark’s College, Ms Rose Alwyn, thanked Sir Angus for his inspiring address. In reflecting on Sir Angus’ words, Master Alwyn quoted Mark Twain and posited that “indeed, moral courage is the engine of integrity – it is our inner voice that inspires us to meet our responsibilities and live up to our principles when doing so may cost us dearly.” To express the College’s gratitude, she then invited the President of the College Club, Ms Evie de Jager, to present Sir Angus with a copy of John Bannon’s 2009 book, Supreme Federalist: The political life of Sir John Downer.

St Mark’s College would like to acknowledge the seed funding gifted by the Bannon family, which helped bring the Oration series to life.

16 May 201913 August 2019

Scholarship ceremony celebrates student success

At our first semester scholarship ceremony, forty-seven students were awarded scholarships and grants. Over $100,000 was awarded to students in recognition of their academic results, contribution to their home and school communities, and to those with financial need. The College holds two presentation ceremonies each year, and also an academic prize ceremony and dinner, to acknowledge the work of our students who are achieving success in their academic and personal pursuits.

St Mark’s College is immensely grateful to our donors and supporters who provide financial assistance to our students, enabling them the opportunity to have an enriched university experience. Cowan Grant Trustees, Bob and Gayle Cowan travelled from Mt Gambier to present the Cowan Grants to rural and regional students who have moved to Adelaide for their tertiary studies. In the Master’s opening address, she said that scholarship were particularly critical “at a time when many students have to work part-time to support themselves while they study, the value of scholarships cannot be overstated. Scholarship support helps to keep St Mark’s accessible to the best students, regardless of their financial circumstances.”

Congratulations to all recipients!

St Mark’s College Entry Bursary	James Andrews	B.Environmental Policy and Mgmt, Pt Lincoln
	Alec Carrigan	B.Engineering (Mechanical), Mildura
	Brodie Carrigan	B.Health and Medical Science, Mildura
	Blake Dodson	B.Health and Medical Science, Kaniva
	Katherine Dumas	MBBS, Mt Pleasant
	Jackson Furst	MBBS, Redbanks
	Niamh Jones	B.Finance/B.Maths and Computer Science, Cavendish
	Jarrod Morrow	B.Engineering (Mechanical), Horsham
	Declan Ross	B.Music, South Johnstone
	Niamh van Berkel	MBBS, Stratford
	Dominique Wong-See	B.Music/B.Arts, Armidale
	James Xu	B.Dental Surgery, Doncaster
	Oscar Butler	B.Visual Effects and Entertainment Design, Ashmore
	Joo Yeon Lee	MBBS, South Korea
	Madeleine Taylor	B.Health and Medical Science, Campbell Town
Margaret and Harry Scott Scholarship	Ellie Bender	B.Arts, Pt Lincoln
	Yemaya Coleman-Smith	B.Music, Pt Lincoln
	Jenna Enge	B.Education/B.Health Science, Pt Lincoln
	Alleigh Hamnett	B.Engineering (Mechanical), Pt Lincoln
	Bella Heron	B.Agricultural Science, Pt Lincoln
	Lauren Holmes	B.Vision Science/Optometry, Mt Gambier
	Zoe May	B.Physiotherapy, Mallala
	Kira McMahon	MBBS, Berri
	Kahlila Murray	B.Applied Science (Human Movement), Pt Lincoln
	Gemma Nunn	B.Agricultural Science, Bordertown
	Chloe Grosser	B.Pharmacy, Bordertown
	Jade Harvey	B.Design and Visual Communications, Whyalla
	Bonnie Seagrim	B.Interior Architecture, Pt Augusta
	Emily Sheill	B.Education, Whyalla
St Mark’s College Old Collegians’ Bursary	Jack Brady	B.Law/B.Commerce, Buderim
	Kristen Coles	B.Engineering, Clare
	Corey Finlay	B.Sport and Recreation Mgmt, Orroroo
	Georgina Kotz	B.Arts, Point Cook
Cowan Entry Grants	Olivia Dukalskis	B.Health and Medical Science, Mt Gambier
	Oliver Hoskyns	D.Business, Hamilton
	Erin Powell	B.Business (Property), Hamilton
	Oliver Quixley	B.Media Arts, Clare
Cowan Further Grants	Robby Bartee	B.Nursing, Alice Springs
	Matthew Mouvet	B.Education/B.Arts, Mildura
	Joshua Phillips	B.Music, Pt Lincoln
Sodexo Scholarships	Nicola Donaldson	MBBS, Mt Gambier
	Annabelle Jones	B.Law/B.Arts, Kimberley
	Hugo Lee	B.Engineering, Norton Summit
	Stella Lillis	B.Paramedic Science, Alice Springs
	Nicholas Marzohl	B.Psychology, Alice Springs
	Isobel McFarlane	MBBS, Armadale
	Erin Roberts	MBBS, Traralgon

Cowan Grant Trustees, Gayle and Bob Cowan with Cowan Grant recipients

Sodexo Area Manager, Scott Crump, with Sodexo Scholarship recipients

Board member, Mark Penniment with Entry Scholarship recipients

President of the Old Collegians’ Association, Michael Van Dissel, with Old Collegians’ Association Bursary recipients, all with a prior connection to the College through family members.

13 May 201927 August 2019

Board opportunities

The College seeks to appoint three experienced and suitably qualified board members to its highly professional and voluntary Board. For more information please click here.

29 April 201902 September 2019

Message from the Chair

After seventeen years of outstanding service at St Mark’s College, Rose Alwyn has announced her decision to resign, concluding her term as Master this year.

Rose will leave knowing that the St Marks experience is valued by our students. Her dedication and hard work have ensured that the College is in excellent shape.

The Board has engaged Hender Consulting to search for a new Head of College and more information can be found here. The Board is committed to appointing the best person to this important role, maintaining the ongoing success and stability of the College.

Since taking up her appointment as Master in 2008, Rose has been unwavering in her support for students as they participate and strive to excel in the academic, cultural and sporting activities of the College and their university studies.

Rose has worked tirelessly to ensure every student is welcomed, supported and given opportunities for leadership, pursuit of excellence and achievement in all facets of student life. She understands the importance of community service and connection.

The St Marks community has greatly appreciated and benefited from her leadership and commitment to the traditions of our College. Although respecting history, Rose also recognised the need for renewal and change so that there is alignment with community expectations on all issues affecting the wellbeing of students.

Rose will leave an outstanding legacy, as well as fond memories for those who have got to know her during her tenure. There will be a number of occasions to pay tribute to Rose’s leadership and dedication before she leaves us and I know you will all join me in wishing her the very best for her future endeavours.

Linda Matthews
Chair, St Marks College Inc.

09 April 201902 September 2019

Welcome to St Mark’s!

Welcome Week 2019 provided an opportunity for new students, their parents and families to be welcomed into the St Mark’s family. The week-long programme had been designed to support new students in their transition to university by ensuring they received the best possible welcome to the academic year and their new home. This programme included the welcome BBQ for new students and families, the Opening Service, all student photo and Commencement Dinner which saw our students dress up in their best attire for their first formal dinner together as a community.

We also engaged a number of leading presenters to assist us with running an extensive training programme. Students had sessions on the following topics:

– Bystander intervention and respect: MATE

– Looking after your mates: Red Frogs

– Healthy Relationships: In Your Skin

– Consent and respectful relationships: Yarrow Place

– Know your limits: Alcohol and Drug Education Specialists

– Mental Health: Healthy Minds and Headspace

– University 101 “how to succeed”

Feedback collated from our students says that there were many valuable sessions throughout the week and students feel as though they were supported to settle in to College and to Adelaide and be prepared for their university journey ahead.

“I found the healthy minds workshop invaluable as it differed from others that I have heard before. Rather than simply speaking about mental health, this workshop provided viable and achievable coping strategies and methods that can be implemented in order to maintain a healthy mental state. I was able to learn how to deal with my obsessiveness and understand the importance of not trying to make everything perfect all the time, which has already proved beneficial during my first weeks as a uni student”. First Year Female Student

“MATE bystander was definitely the most interesting session of the week. It was really engaging and made everyone more aware to be active in supporting others and helping people make sensible decisions as well as looking out for your mates”. First Year Male Student

“I think the drugs and alcohol session was the most useful as it really did make you realise the effects of alcohol. Many people think they know but we probably didn’t know the full effects”. First Year Female Student

In addition to our more formal programme of training, the College Club Committee ran a number of social, sporting and cultural events which we have had hugely positive feedback about.

From a comedy night on the tennis courts, a trip to local cafes and bars, the Amazing Race around Adelaide, through to a river cruise and College party, the Committee made a stellar effort in ensuring new (and returning) students experienced a Welcome Week to remember!

Check out our videos on social media to hear more from our students about their Welcome Week experience.

Uncle Rod O’Brien gives a Welcome to Country at the parents and friends welcome BBQ. He is accompanied by senior staff and student leaders.

The College Club Committee provides an introduction to their roles at the opening briefing.

Dr Tessa Opie ran a total of seven workshops for students on sex positivity and respectful relations.

Parents joined in the training program, attending a Healthy Minds workshop and parent Q&A session with past and current parents.

Michael O’Donoghue from Australian Drug and Alcohol Education Specialists presents to students on drugs, alcohol and wellbeing.

Headspace Ambassadors spoke with students about mental health strategies and supporting your mates.

Michael Jeh presented to students the MATE bystander workshops.

Our good friends from Red Frogs were at events during the week. Here Tom Stott speaks with first year students about the work of Red Frogs and safe partying strategies.

All students had tours of College with senior students, learning about different activities to get involved with. All first year students have a senior mentor who accompanied them to their university campus to show them the ropes and shared top tips for study.

Returning students were excited to meet the new students on Welcome Day.

We welcomed many new and returning parents for a new academic year.

23 March 201918 October 2019

A space for collaborative imagination

“A Learning Commons becomes the physical and virtual catalyst where inquiry, imagination, discovery, and creativity come alive and become central to growth — personal, academic, social and cultural.”

The College’s latest development, The Learning Commons, was opened by the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide, Professor Peter Rathjen, at a function on Monday 18th March 2019. We were delighted to welcome many alumni and those involved in the project to the event. The Learning Commons is a space that epitomises the values of the College and offers the facilities and collaborative learning environment for an incredible student experience, now and into the future.

The Learning Commons realises another piece of the College’s Master Plan: 2025 Towards a Complete and Completed College. This Master Plan outlines a vision to improve the quality of student accommodation and increase numbers of learning spaces to maintain its appeal as a modern and welcoming College.

When the Grenfell Price Dining Hall opened in 1961, the first floor was temporarily subdivided into 15 student rooms to meet the growing demand for accommodation. In 1965, this space was converted into the College Library and that is how it remained for 54 years.

With the construction of East Wing in 2015, the Library was relocated to a new modern and purpose-built space in the Ian and Pamela Wall Academic Centre. At the end of 2016, and with the substantial increase in use of the Academic Centre, the Board examined the feasibility of developing this space to meet student demand, the increased tutorial support for students and additional space to be used for functions and events. Additionally, the shift in teaching and learning pedagogies invites continuing review, renewal and upgrade of learning resources, and facilities for tutorials, community and pastoral care and associated technologies.

It was fitting that the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide was able to unveil the plaque to signify the opening of The Learning Commons. The Vice-Chancellor’s father, Professor Tony Rathjen, lived at St Mark’s whilst studying Agriculture, living in the adjacent Newland building. In declaring the space open, Prof Rathjen said that, “community gives you a sense of belonging, especially important for students from rural and regional areas and overseas. It is also the essence of a successful residential college. Congratulations on what you have done here in developing this space, and to those with the vision and generosity to support this development. This new space will help provide opportunities for all to engage fully in the intellectual, cultural, sporting, social and spiritual life of this busy learning community.” His sentiment that College students have the opportunity to meet others who they may not otherwise have met, from all academic disciplines, whilst broadening their experiences of the world, held true for many of those present.

In response, the Master said that “the College’s Commitment is also aligned with that of the universities’ outstanding reputation in teaching, research and engaging widely with the community. The value of learning with and from those who are different from us remains central to what we do – and we are committed to providing the best opportunities to students from many backgrounds, according to their ability, to benefit from College life.” It was the strong belief that students and staff learn from one another, through experiences of common life, through tutorials, through peer to peer learning, group work and shared experiences that has driven the refurbishment of The Learning Commons.

The College sincerely thanks those involved in the project, particularly from Cheesman Architects and Mossop Construction and Interiors. Without the many individuals dedicated to the project through management, design and engineering support, the College would not be able to successfully realise its vision.