Month: June 2025

Paulines Warwick Holmes, Sam Richards and Gigi O’Rourke have contributed to the University’s success.

Main image: The USYD Rocketry Team celebrates their victory in Texas. Pauline Gigi O’Rourke (front centre) holds the 10k Hybrid Launch trophy.
Image credit: The University of Sydney

The University of Sydney Rocketry Team has soared to global success, defeating more than 150 international teams to win the world’s largest student rocketry competition—with key contributions from members of St Paul’s College.

Their rocket, Pardalote, claimed first place in the 10k Hybrid Launch Vehicle category at the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) in Midland, Texas. The event, held over six days in June in extreme heat and windstorms, drew 156 student teams from 19 countries. Of the launches attempted, 136 were successful.

Pardalote reached an altitude of 10,342 feet (3.15 km)—just 3.42% off the target—setting a new record for apogee accuracy in the competition’s nearly 20-year history.

A Legacy of Mentorship and Innovation

The IREC, run by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA), has been held annually since 2006 and gained international status in 2011. Sydney’s success is no accident—it is built on years of leadership and mentorship, particularly from Pauline Warwick Holmes (St Paul’s College 1981–82).

Warwick, former Executive Director of Space Engineering in the School of Aeronautical Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, led Sydney University to world championship wins in 2019 and 2022. He mentored lead engineer Mitch Galletly, a PhD student, and introduced the team to European spacecraft engineering standards—a move that made Sydney University the first Australian university accepted into the competition.

Two of Warwick’s top students from the 2019 team have since secured roles at DLR, the German National Space Agency, thanks to his guidance and international connections.

Warwick taught the team how to use the most advanced Engineering standards (called ECSS) which he used when working with the European Space Agency (ESA) for building the big rockets and satellites. He showed the team how to use these very advanced standards and processes, but scaled down (“tailoring” is the word used) to make the first USyd World Champion Rocket called SilverEye.  “How did all this work so well, because USyd have the most exceptional Engineering students!  Just like Gigi and Austin at St. Paul’s!”, said Warwick last week.

Warwick is also assisting another current Pauline, Austin Marwick, fourth year Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)/Bachelor of Science, who is hoping for an internship with DLR in 2026.

2025 Team: New Faces, Same Spirit

This year, Warwick is taking part in the undergraduate mentoring program at St Paul’s being a mentor to Gigi O’Rourke, a third-year student in Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic)(Space). Gigi is also in her third year at Paul’s and is one of the growing number of interstate residents. Her home is in Leith a small semi-rural locality on the central north coast of Tasmania. Gigi is a member of the 2025 winning rocketry team and she is its project manager. Having a leadership role as a member of the three-person executive she has many responsibilities for the development and operations of the rocketry program.

“Paul’s has given me empowerment to chase after my dreams. Being within the College community has helped shape my pathway with the strong surrounding of engineering students who share so many of their capabilities.”

Gigi O’Rourke

The student-led rocketry team designed, built, tested, and launched Pardalote—including developing the propulsion system and ground infrastructure. Their success was underpinned by a strong team culture and rigorous engineering discipline.

From Tasmania to Texas: Gigi’s Journey of Precision

In 2024 the team conducted extensive testing near Goulburn, followed by a full-scale test flight at Tolarno Station in Menindee, western NSW in April 2025. These trials were critical in validating the hybrid propulsion system and ensuring mission success in Texas.

This testing tradition began in 2017 when Warwick Holmes transformed the USYD Rocketry Team by introducing spacecraft engineering standards and emphasizing the importance of full-scale ground testing. He led early teams to Trangie, where they conducted critical flight component tests, laying the groundwork for the team’s current success.

Warwick praised the 2025 team’s precision: “Knowing exactly when to shut down the engines within milliseconds to coast to 10,000 feet is an extraordinary engineering feat, especially given the variability in air pressure, temperature, humidity, and thrust.”

Gigi told USYD News: “Launching far from the comfort of our own Australian backyard, Pardalote’s performance on American soil not only broke records of accuracy but established a new standard for what an undergraduate team can accomplish.”

Living and Learning at St Paul’s

Gigi credits her time at St Paul’s College for supporting her academic and professional growth:

“Living so close to my faculty, with wholesome meals, a Blacket-designed room charged with history, and a community of high-achieving peers, has made all the difference.”

Sam Richards, in College 2022-24, has been part of the Sydney University Rocketry team since the start of 2024 and is an engineer in the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) subsystem. Sam is completing his honours year in Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic). Sam’s father, Tony is also a Pauline (1981-84) and studied Economics at Sydney, Masters of Public Administration at Harvard and PhD at George Washington University and today works in policy at the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Pictured below: Gigi O’Rourke and Sam Richards stand next to Pardalote during its testing in early 2024 at Menindee.

Learn more about the technical side of the project in the full article on University of Sydney News CLICK HERE

Pictured Chief Justice Andrew Bell, the Warden with the University Mace, and Justice Mark Leeming.

In May, three distinguished Paulines participated in a memorable Graduation Ceremony held in the University of Sydney’s Great Hall, where the Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Bell (St Paul’s College 1985–89, Fellow 2004–11) was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

Chief Justice Bell, who also serves as Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales, was recognised for his exceptional contributions to the legal profession and public service. Honorary degrees are awarded by the University to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the community or achieved excellence in academic or creative fields.

“His Honour’s career reflects a rare combination of intellectual distinction, professional excellence, and deep commitment to public service,” said Professor Fleur Johns, Dean of Sydney Law School.

Also in attendance were the Warden, Rev’d Dr Ed Loane, who had the honour of serving as University Mace Bearer for the ceremony, and the Honourable Justice Mark Leeming, a Supreme Court Judge and Challis Lecturer in Equity at Sydney Law School.

The presence of these three Paulines at such a significant academic event highlights the enduring impact of the College community on the legal and academic landscape of Australia.

For the Sydney Uni media post CLICK HERE

The College community congratulates Professor Richard Kingsford on becoming an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List. Richard completed his studies at The University of Sydney: BSc in 1980, DipEd in 1980 and a PhD in 1987, and was at St Paul’s 1977-79. He is the Founding Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science (formerly Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes Centre), School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, since 2009 at UNSW where since 2005 he has been a professor.

He has worked extensively across the wetlands and rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin and Lake Eyre Basin as a river ecologist and conservation biologist. Previously he worked for the NSW Environment Department from 1986 to 2004. His research has influenced the policy and management of rivers in Australia.

Professor Richard Kingsford AO [picture credit: UNSW]

His AO is awarded for distinguished service to conservation biology, to environmental sustainability research, and to freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems governance. He is a current or former member or chair of three global environmental organisations and over 20 Australian-based organisations, societies and government panels. He has been awarded several national prizes including three Australian Museum Eureka Prizes 2001, 2008, 2023, the Frederick White Prize, Australian Academy of Science, 1994, amongst others. He has edited/co-authored five books and 95 government scientific reports, is a regular commentator in the media and Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society of NSW and the Royal Society of NSW.

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The College also acknowledges the posthumous appointment of the late Matt Peacock as a Member of the Order of Australia. Matt was in College in 1971. Matt began his career as a cadet journalist at the ABC in 1973. He is most well-known as one of the ABC’s foreign correspondents being a familiar face and voice on national TV and radio news, AM and The World Today. From 2013 to 2018 he was a staff-elected member of the ABC Board.

The late Matt Peacock AM [picture credit: ABC]

His AM is awarded for significant service to the broadcast media as a journalist. He was a Senior Reporter for ABC Current Affairs, London Correspondent, 1999-2003, Chief Political Correspondent (Current Affairs Radio), 1995-1999, New York Correspondent, 1990-1993, Director, Remote Area Media, 1983-1988 and Journalist, 1973-2018. Matt was a Founding Member of ABC Alumni and an Adjunct Professor of Journalism at the University of Technology Sydney. His writing includes Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed, 2009 and Author/Interviewer, The Forgotten People – a History of Australia’s South Sea Islanders, 1979 and Asbestos – work as a health hazard, 1978.

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The College community congratulates Richard Turner who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to conservation and the environment. Richard was at College 1950-51 and studied BSc on a Commonwealth Forestry Scholarship to the University and a Dip Forestry from ANU in 1955. His career included the Land Use Survey of the Northern Tablelands 1954-56, Management and Administration of the Coffs Harbour Forest 1956-64 and Forester–in-Charge of the Forbes Sub-District of the NSW Forestry Commission 1964-67.  Richard, now 93, has been honoured for his recent work in conservation as volunteer board member since 1992 and president currently of the Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve; four periods as president and held other offices in the Australian Plants Society New South Wales; Founding member of the Capertee Valley Regent Honeyeater Recovery Project, 1993-2023 at Birdlife Australia, and his contribution to the Crown Lands Trust and Apex Macksville.

“We want to see the new wing!” That was the enthusiastic request from a group of alumni—freshers from the later years of Warden Felix Arnott—returning to St Paul’s for a nostalgic visit in May. For them, no trip back to College would be complete without a tour of the Arnott Wing, which was the “new wing” when it opened in 1961–62.

Their journey through memory lane didn’t stop there. The group also explored the newest addition to St Paul’s, the Waddy Performance Centre, where stories flowed freely—of Mummers productions, Victoriana, Lloyd, and the old music practice room tucked behind Arnott. Though Lloyd couldn’t join in person, his spirit (and that of others who couldn’t attend) was warmly felt throughout the day.

The visit continued with lunch in the Dining Hall, where tales of College life were shared across generations. Later, over coffee at the Salisbury Café, conversation turned to rowing legend David Cay—still rowing strong at 82—and the golden days of the 1960s.

It was a day of reconnection, reflection, and celebration—a reminder that while buildings may change, the spirit of St Paul’s endures.

Pictured (top) in the Waddy Centre are: Michael Lodge (1961-62), Dr Stephen Andersen OAM (1961-62), Peter Crossing AM (1962-65), Angelo Hatsatouris OAM (1961-66, Fellow 1994-2017, Chairman of Council 2013-17), William Rutledge (1961-64), Dr David Cay (1961-63), Prof John Chalmers AC (1956-60), Nick Friend (1963-67) and Dr Alex Bune AM.