Gratefully celebrating our 2024 prize winners!

Our recent Final Service focussed on all we are grateful for at St Mark’s in 2024, and was followed by the Final Dinner at which outstanding achievement in academic studies, sport, the arts , community service, and leadership were recognised, and those leaving the College thanked for all they have contributed to St Mark’s.

One of the College’s highest honours, the Collegians’ Prize, was awarded to Cameron Akehurst (St Mark’s 2020-24), the 2024 Senior Academic Tutor. During Cameron’s five years at St Mark’s, he has held many other student leadership roles including Academic Coordinator, Residential Advisor, and Assistant Dean.

The Lilias Needham Medal for Service was awarded to Lachlan Clarke, who has selflessly served the College community and his peers in innumerable ways throughout his two years at College so far.

Our annual Final Service was held at St Peter’s Cathedral on Saturday October 26, and the Final Dinner that evening on the College tennis courts, marking the end of the 2024 academic year.

Final Service – gratitude for 2024

Donning their academic gowns, students and staff gathered at the College’s front gates for the traditional procession to St Peter’s Cathedral, with third-year student Joe Clyde bagpiping the procession down Pennington Terrace.

Gratitude was the theme of this year’s service, and the Rev’d Canon Stephen Daughtry, Chaplain of St Mark’s, and Professor Don Markwell AM, Head of College, both took stock of the things they are grateful for.

In his sermon, Steve Daughtry reflected on the importance of gratitude:

“That’s the power of gratitude. It’s transformational. It doesn’t ignore the truth – because we all need to acknowledge the truth of our relationships and our past – but it overcomes the barriers of hurt, disappointment and grief, choosing to see what has been life-giving. In doing so, that gratitude becomes life-giving in itself. It can renew and resurrect relationships that could go the other way. Gratitude is a way of being in the world that releases and renews.”

You can read the full sermon here.

Looking back on the very many things he was grateful for at St Mark’s in 2024, Professor Markwell said that, amongst much else:

“I am grateful that St Mark’s College has such inspiring students – young people of potential, sometimes greater potential than you realise, who are not only great achievers but who are good people, and fun to be around. I am proud of the students of St Mark’s, and I am grateful for you.”

You can read Professor Markwell’s full 2024 Final Service address here.

During the service, the College Choir sang The Servant Song as well as leading the Congregation in the singing of the College hymn, and the final hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God”.

After the service, guests, students, and staff returned to the College to enjoy refreshments in the rose garden.

Final Dinner and awards presentation

That evening, we celebrated the end of the 2024 academic year at our Final Dinner. The College tennis court was the backdrop of many fond memories for Collegians throughout the year, and now, transformed into a setting for a gala-style event, it took on a new life as a place of reflection and celebration.

Presentations were made of Club Colours and Awards, Academic Colours and Commendations, the Lilias Needham Medal for Service, and the Collegians’ Prize. We also recognised graduating students and the five most senior student leaders – the College Club President, the two Assistant Deans, Senior Academic Tutor, and Senior Residential Advisor.

During the dinner, the College Club President-elect, Cameron Dixon, proposed a toast to the Leavers.

For those leaving College at the end of 2024, this Final Service and Final Dinner represents the end of a uniquely formative and important life chapter. The mixed emotions were evident in the Leavers’ speech delivered by Georgia Lehmann and Liam Phillips, with the theme of gratitude running strong through their address, too.

The 2024 College Club President, Eloise Montefiore, then addressed her peers for the final time in this role, proposing a toast to the College.

Departing Collegians can be sure of two things: first, that the memories and friendships will endure, and second, that they will always be a part of the St Mark’s community.

About the Lilias Needham Medal for Service

Mrs Lilias Needham, who died in 1975, was the sister of one of the founders of the College, Charles Hawker. Charles Hawker was a South Australian pastoralist and member of federal parliament, who was strongly committed to our founders’ ideal of community service. He might well have become Prime Minister had he not been killed in a plane crash in 1938.

In his memory, Lilias Needham not only endowed the Hawker Scholarships, but was extremely generous to St Mark’s, including helping to make it possible for the College to purchase Hawker House. But she was insistent that there be no public recognition of her generosity to the College in her lifetime. It was only after her death that the College was able to acknowledge all she had done. Lilias Needham is an example of selfless service.

In that spirit, the Lilias Needham Medal for Service is awarded to a student who has given an outstanding example of selfless service – acting in a generous and humble spirit for the good of others without seeking recognition or reward.

In 2024, the Lilias Needham Medal was awarded to Lachlan Clarke.

Coming from Mildura in regional Victoria, Lachlan moved to Adelaide to study a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of South Australia. He joined the St Mark’s community in 2023.

In presenting the Lilias Needham Medal to him, Professor Markwell said: “Tonight we present the award to a student who has not held a senior leadership position, but who has in all sorts of ways, most of them quiet or even invisible, humbly and with a generous spirit acted to help and support his fellow students. He looks out for his fellow Collegians… He is often the first to volunteer or just to come and help, whether it be setting up for events or in the clean-up, or in all sorts of other ways, not confined to Committee events, or the JCR or the Gassie.”

Congratulations, Lachlan! Thank you for all you contribute to our community.

About the Collegians’ Prize

The Collegians’ Prize is awarded to a member of the College who has made a significant contribution across a range of areas over their years at St Mark’s, whilst also embodying and showcasing the College’s values. These areas include academic excellence, their contribution to the College through service, and their contributions to their university and the wider community.

All students are invited to make nominations for the Collegians’ Prize, and being nominated for this prestigious award is an honour in itself. Student leaders and staff are involved in the rigorous selection process of the awardee/s.

In 2024, the Collegians’ Prize was awarded to Cameron Akehurst.

This year was Cameron’s fifth and final year at St Mark’s. In 2020, he moved from Port Lincoln to Adelaide to undertake a double degree program: a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of International Relations at the University of Adelaide. In 2021, Cameron took on his first leadership role at College, becoming an Academic Coordinator. In 2022, he served as a Residential Advisor, and his success in this role saw him appointed as one of two Assistant Deans in 2023. For his final year at St Mark’s, Cameron has served as the Senior Academic Tutor, where he has done a marvellous job arranging study halls and supporting our academic team to enrich the learning outcomes of our Collegians.

The awardee was announced by the President of the Old Collegians’ Association, Mr Riley Glynn, and the award presented by one of last year’s joint awardees, Mr Ben McCure.

Congratulations, Cameron!

List of 2024 Final Dinner Prize and Award Recipients

2024 Winning Sports Teams

The captains of winning teams who competed in inter-college sporting tournaments were invited to present their trophies for display:

- Swimming
- Women’s Football
- Women’s Hockey
- Men’s Basketball
- Athletics

Club Colours and Awards

Club Colours and Awards are awarded by the College Club Committee. Colours are awarded to the “best and fairest” contributor to different areas of College life. The First-Year Student of the Year is awarded to a new student who the College Club Committee felt had best embodied the values of the College.

Tennis Colours
Robyn Coles
Lucas Cockshell

Swimming Colours
Keylah Walker
Ben Grima

Netball Colours
Annie Coffey
Ben Young

Debating Colours
Zoe Hughes
Joel Ransom

Football Colours
Sophie Palmer
Keylah Walker
Nick Devoy

Hockey Colours
Madi Martin
Riley Herbert

Basketball Colours
Alannah Morello
Ben Young

Volleyball Colours
Tayla Rowe
Callum Saville
Andy Kariuki

Soccer Colours
Lara Garin
Kye Bernard

Table Tennis Colours
Manon Finch
Callum Saville

Athletics Colours
Olivia Williams
Hayden Crowe

Arts Evenings Colours
Isobel Jenkin
Grace Thomas

College Revue Colours
Jed Thiel
Lachlan Vandepeer

Athletes of the Year
Keylah Walker
Ben Young

First-Year Students of the Year
Ansa Le Grange
Samuel Marr

Academic Prizes

1st Year Academic Commendations

In recognition of outstanding academic achievement in 2024
Lucas Cockshell
Alex Guidera
Luke Healy
Niamh Leishman
Aaliyah Loffler
Emily Chapman
Eliza Corbin
Bethany Hall
Hugo Hemmings
Nina Pern
Joel Ransom
Eliza Telfer

2nd Year Academic Colours

Awarded to the highest achieving 2^nd year student/s, considering their academic achievement over the duration of their time at St Mark’s
Nathan Rokebrand
Robyn Coles
Zoe Raynes

2nd Year Academic Commendations

In recognition of sustained outstanding academic achievement
Luke MacKay
Zachary Meakin
Olivia Williams
Georgia Craig-Neal
Alara Spirat
Charli Nisbet

3rd Year Academic Colours

Awarded to the highest achieving 3rd year student/s, considering their academic achievement over the duration of their time at St Mark’s
Mackenzie Walter

3rd Year Academic Commendation

In recognition of sustained outstanding academic achievement
Harriet Ellis

4th Year Academic Colours

Awarded to the highest achieving 4th year student/s, considering their academic achievement over the duration of their time at St Mark’s
Oscar Hemmings

5th Year Academic Commendations

In recognition of sustained outstanding academic achievement
Cameron Akehurst
Cooper Ferguson

Students Graduating in 2024

Cameron Akehurst, Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International Business
Alice Alexander, Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences
Shari Brown, Bachelor of Psychology
Aimee Butler, Bachelor of Nursing
Demi Collins, Bachelor of Nursing
Jasper Croot, Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)
Imogen Dickinson, Bachelor of Human Movement
Jordyn Elford, Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences
Cooper Ferguson, Bachelor of Science (Geology) (Honours)
Lani Figl, Bachelor of Nursing
Manon Finch, Bachelor of Health Sciences
Oscar Hemmings, Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Noah Higgins, Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences
Cassandra Joubert, Certificate of Design
Charlotte Le Page, Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health)
Georgia Lehmann, Bachelor of Nursing
Emma Mattiske, Bachelor of Health and Medical Science (Advanced)
Hamish McKenny, Bachelor of Engineering (Architectural and Structural) (Honours)
Tara Phelps, Bachelor of Psychology (Counselling and Interpersonal Skills)
Liam Phillips, Bachelor of Science
Madison Tarabbia, Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences
Mackenzie Walter, Bachelor of Science (Forensic and Analytical Science)
Delta Wardle, Bachelor of Psychological Science
Jonty Williams, Bachelor of Nursing
Estelle Wollin, Bachelor of Architectural Studies
Remi Woods, Bachelor of Nursing
Chi Ho Yip, Master of Accounting and Finance

Acknowledgement of Service by Senior Student Leaders

College Club President – Eloise Montefiore
Assistant Dean – Cassandra Joubert
Assistant Dean – Anthony Doll
Senior Academic Tutor – Cameron Akehurst
Senior Residential Advisor – Gemma Garraway