Middle Common Room Election

Pictured above (l to r): Brandon Pretorius, Ava Greay, Isla Joyce, Emma Crack and Simon Homsany

The postgraduate students’ organisation is the Middle Common Room which began as a student representative body in 2019 and has been responsible for numerous student-led events and initiatives since that time. These include the annual Graduate House Ball—being held this year on 24 October—friendly sports competitions for The Saints’ Cup, purchases of art works for the College Collection, the wine cellar, and many diverse cultural activity days.  

Congratulations to the new MCR Executive which begins its term of office immediately:

  • Isla Joyce (MN) – Middle Prefect;
  • Emma Crack (DPhysio) – Committee Member
  • Ava Greay (DDM) – Committee Member
  • Simon Homsany (JD) – Committee Member
  • Brandon Pretorius ((DDM) – Committee Member

The College community acknowledges the work of the 2025 MCR Executive under Middle Prefect Claudio Garcia Ramirez and thanks them for their untiring support for the College and the work they have done for the benefit of every member of the St Paul’s postgraduate community: 

  • Claudio Garcia Ramirez (MPP) – Middle Prefect
  • Emmanouil Vourvahakis (JD) – Secretary
  • Simon Homsanay  (JD) – Treasurer
  • Anna Corff (MPE) – Calendar Officer
  • Helena Pathimos (MD)- House Officer

Rawson Athletics Win

On 15 October the Intercol Athletics Carnival was held at Sydney Olympic Park and provided an exciting night of track and field events for the Rosebowl and the Rawson Cup competitions. In the women’s track events St Paul’s found four 2nd places and 2nd in the 4 x 400m relay and a win in the 4 x 100m relay. The field events were more exciting with wins by Hannah Ferguson in high jump, Lola Cayzer and Milana Henderson in triple jump heats, and Milana again winning long jump.

The Rosebowl Athletics results were St Andrews 9 points | St John’s 7 | St Paul’s 5 | Women’s 3 | Wesley 1 | Sancta 0.

The men’s track events saw St Paul’s wins with Tom Collins in the 400m, Ben Verella in the 5000m and 2nd places in 1500m, 200m, the 4 x 100m relay and 4 x 400m relay. St Paul’s stole the field events with Charlie Sherlock’s amazing performance winning triple jump, long jump and high jump, and Ed Taylor winning the discuss.

The Rawson Cup Athletics was won by St Paul’s on 7 points | St Andrew’s 5 | St John’s 3 | Wesley 1.

Final Intercol Competition Results

  • Rosebowl: St Andrew’s 54 | St John’s 45 | St Paul’s 36 | Wesley 31 | Women’s 26 | Sancta 8
  • Rawson Cup: St John’s 50 | St Andrew’s 32| St Paul’s 26 | Wesley 20

The St Paul’s community proudly celebrates the student-led spirit of teamwork that shines through in every sporting event. Their enthusiasm for health, fitness, and active living is deeply woven into College life—evident in the Rosebowl and Rawson Cup competitions, our oval, the Tag Gym and aerobic studios, and everyday traditions like ‘tip’. This vibrant culture of participation reflects the energy and commitment of our students, both on and off the field.

Recruitment for Two Roles: Vice-Warden; Dean of Undergraduates

St Paul’s College is the oldest and one of the most accomplished university colleges in Australia. Established by an Act of Parliament in 1854, St Paul’s is an Anglican College ‘of and within the University of Sydney’. The College has produced leaders and nation builders beyond proportion to its size, including two Prime Ministers.

St Paul’s is a fully co-residential College made up of an undergraduate community of around 300 students and a Graduate House of around 120 students. The College offers an extensive programme of academic and co-curricular opportunities including tutorials, seminars, sports, music, drama and chapel. There are also numerous leadership, career readiness and mentoring opportunities provided.

Vice Warden

The role of Vice Warden is the deputy head of the College. It is a full-time, residential position and a vital member of the senior management team. Duties are primarily focused on the various aspects of the residential life at St Paul’s and will have responsibility for both the undergraduate and graduate communities. The Vice Warden will oversee a team of Deans responsible for the pastoral and academic aspects of the College.

The full position description is found HERE

To apply, please submit:

  • A cover letter outlining your relevant experience and how your character and skillset enable you to fulfil the requirements of this role
  • A full curriculum vitae including names and contact details of two professional referees

For further information about the role, or to submit a formal application, please write to the Warden, Rev Dr Ed Loane at careers@stpauls.edu.au

Applications close at 5pm, Friday 7 November 2025.

Dean of Undergraduates

The role of Dean of Undergraduates has primary responsibility for the undergraduate students at St Paul’s College. It is a full-time, residential position and the Dean is a vital member of the residential life team. Duties are primarily focused on the various aspects of the undergraduate residential life at St Paul’s and will also include overseeing the College’s sporting programme. The Dean will report to the Vice Warden and will also engage collaboratively with the Dean of Graduates, the Academic Dean and the Chaplain. The Dean will also manage the student leadership team of Junior Deans and Peer Support Leaders.

The full position description is found HERE

To apply, please submit:

  • A cover letter outlining your relevant experience and how your character and skillset enable you to fulfil the requirements of this role
  • A full curriculum vitae including names and contact details of two professional referees

For further information about the role, or to submit a formal application, please write to the Warden, Rev Dr Ed Loane at careers@stpauls.edu.au

Applications close at 5pm, Friday 7 November 2025.

Students’ Club Committee for 2026

Pictured above: Axel Bailey, Alice Radford, Mack Jonston, Milly O’Connell, Liv McMillan, the Warden, Heidi Best, Will Cox and Abigail Ballhausen

The St Paul’s College Student’s Club held its AGM on Monday 13 October which included the elections for the 2026 Committee and Executive. As always there was great anticipation and excitement about the voting and the outcome.

Congratulations to the following members of the undergraduate community on their election:

  • Heidi Best (BE(Hons)) – Senior Student
  • Liv McMillan (BPPE) – Honorary Secretary
  • Milly O’Connell (BE(Hons)/BComm) – Honorary Treasurer
  • Abigail Ballhausen (BAppSci) – Committee
  • Axel Bailey (BComm/BAdvStuds) – Committee
  • Will Cox (BA/LLB) – Committee
  • Mack Johnston (BE(Hons)/BComm) – Committee
  • Alice Radford (BEd) – Committee

The committee-elect begin their roles in the New Year with a retreat to coalesce as a team and to work with the Warden, Dean and residential life staff to formulate plans and goals for the year ahead.

The College community acknowledges the work of the 2025 committee under Senior Student Tilly Walker and thanks them for their untiring support for the College, Intercol, and the work they have done and are still doing until the end of the year for the benefit of every member of the St Paul’s community: 

  • Matilda Walker (BA) – Senior Student:
  • Jack Dawson (BAppSci) – Honorary Secretary
  • Gus Gregg (BA/BAdvStuds) – Honorary Treasurer
  • Kate Brenner (BE(Hons)); Will Cox (BA/LLB); Jack Rowe (BE(Hons)/BComm); Harry Scambler (BComm) and Ollie Webster (BSc) – Committee Members

Victoriana! Celebrates 61 Years of Laughter, Music, and Tradition

The 61st annual production of Victoriana! played to packed houses across four vibrant performances held on the weekends surrounding the Mid-Semester 2 Break. This cherished College tradition drew enthusiastic crowds of younger alumni, current residents and their parents, all eager to support a spirited cast and a finely tuned crew—most of whom hail from the College’s own residential community.

Remarkably, 19 of the 23 cast members were current students, a powerful reflection of the musical talent flourishing at St Paul’s today.

Guests were treated to a delightful three-course dinner, impeccably served by Les belles dames et les beaux messieurs of the Trippas White Group. The evening’s programme featured 14 familiar tunes, including crowd favourites Mandalay and Where Did You Get That Hat?, alongside newly unearthed gems from the Victorian archives such as What Can You Give a Nudist on His Birthday? and I Can’t Do My Bally Bottom Button Up.

Behind the scenes, a large crew of student volunteers ensured the evenings ran seamlessly. The Cellarers of St Paul’s kept libations flowing, while musical direction was masterfully handled by composer-in-residence and organist David Drury, supported by resident organ scholar Bailey Yeates.

Charismatic MC Simon Ward led the 2025 show with flair, delighting audiences with his signature Noel Coward number Don’t Put Your Daughter on the Stage, Mrs Worthington!.

The enduring enthusiasm for Victoriana! among current Paulines owes much to the leadership of director and producer Dr Jack Stephens, whose vision and dedication delivered a triumphant production. Though Director and MC Emeritus Lloyd Waddy was unable to attend, he was warmly acknowledged at each performance for his pivotal role in bringing Victoriana! to St Paul’s in 1964.

With such strong student involvement in 2025, the future of this unique and joyful fixture in Sydney’s entertainment calendar looks brighter than ever—here’s to another 61 years!

Curtain Up: Two Unmissable Productions Light Up Semester 2

The Waddy Theatre is set to dazzle once again, with two high-energy productions that promise laughter, intrigue, and unforgettable performances. Alumni of the Mummers and Impresarios will be thrilled to see the next generation of St Paul’s talent take the stage.

Graduate House Impresarios present:

The Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery
By Brian D. Taylor

Saturday 11 October, 7:00 PM (Foyer Bar opens 6:15 PM)

Sunday 12 October, 7:00 PM (Foyer Bar opens 6:15 PM)

A play within a play—where the only thing more twisted than the plot is the cast trying to solve it. Expect chaos, comedy, and a killer twist.

For tickets CLICK HERE

St Paul’s College Mummers present:

One Man, Two Guvnors
By Carlo Goldoni, adapted by Richard Bean

Saturday 1 November, 7:30 PM (Foyer Bar opens 7:00 PM)

Sunday 2 November, 7:30 PM (Foyer Bar opens 7:00 PM)

A riotous farce of mistaken identity, slapstick, and split loyalties. This modern classic is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

For Tickets CLICK HERE

Both productions showcase the comedic brilliance and versatility of our student actors. With murder, mayhem, and masterful timing, these shows promise wholesome entertainment for all ages—and plenty of laughs along the way.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of live theatre at St Paul’s.

Mid-year Sports round-up

Soccer

A hard fought soccer competition was interrupted by some serious rainfall and extended the competition through to 25 August.

Rosebowl Round 1 was held on 13 August and St Paul’s (3) defeated Women’s (0) with goals by Anoushka Cayzer (2) and Abigail Ballhausen. In the Round 2 match we were defeated by Wesley (2). A runaway win by St Paul’s (6) against Sancta (0) saw goals scored by Elizabeth Carey (2), Anoushka Cayzer, Lucy Molineux, Milly Simpson and Katie Tyo. Round 4 saw St Paul’s with 3 goals defeated by St John’s (5), goals from Elizabeth Carey and Katie Tyo. The final round on 25 August was a 2-all draw with St Andrew’s, goals by Heidi Best and Anoushka Cayzer.

Student’s Club Intercol Rep, Kate Brenner, said “the girls played really well throughout the season with some great wins, and the future of Rosebowl soccer looks very bright. It was an excellent final outcome and they should all be proud of their achievements.”

In the Rawson Cup Round 1 saw St Paul’s (0) defeated by St Andrew’s (1) in a tight game on 14 August. In Round 2 St Paul’s (1) was defeated by St John’s (2), with the goal by Spencer Selikowitz. The men’s team’s runaway was in Round 3 on 25 August against Wesley (0) with six goals from Sam Andrews (2), Owen Marschner (2), Felix Power and Robbie Sanderson.   

Special thanks to Rosebowl Soccer convenors Ria Alva, Matilda Johnson and Sophie Davis and Rawson convenors Daniel Paridis and Arthur Egerton.

  • Rosebowl Soccer point scores: St John’s 9 | St Andrew’s 7 | St Paul’s 4 | Wesley 4 | Women’s 1 | Sancta 0
  • Rawson Soccer Point Scores: St John’s 7 | St Andrew’s 5 | St Paul’s 3 | Wesley 1.

Tennis1

The Rosebowl and Rawson Tennis competition was dominated by St John’s from the end of August until 18 September. With St Paul’s only winning one fixture in the Rosebowl, only one point was added to the accumulation. Despite this, our 10 tennis players worked hard across all rubbers and won some of the sets: Round 1 – St John’s (4) defeated St Paul’s (0); Round 2 – St Andrew’s (4) defeated St Paul’s (3); Round 3 – St Paul’s (4) defeated Women’s (0); Round 4 – Wesley (4) defeated St Paul’s (1); and Round 5 – Sancta (4) defeated St Paul’s (3).

Special thanks to Rosebowl Tennis convenor Elise Rosser.

  • Rosebowl Tennis point scores: St John’s 9 | Wesley 7 | St Andrew’s 5 | Sancta 3 | St Paul’s 1 | Women’s 0.

In the Rawson competition it was domination from the three wins to St John’s and two wins to St Andrew’s out of a possible 6 fixtures. Round 1 – Wesley (7) defeated St Paul’s (2); Round 2 – St John’s (6) defeated St Paul’s (2); Round 3 – St Andrew’s (7) defeated St Paul’s (2).  

Special thanks to Rawson convenors Hamish Ierino and Fraser McLaren.

  • Rawson Tennis point scores: St John’s 7 | St Andrew’s 5 | Wesley 3 | St Paul’s 1.

Basketball

In September four wins to the St Paul’s Rosebowl Basketball team delivered them as the runners-up and it landed St Paul’s with 31 Rosebowl points putting us in 3rd overall. In Round 1 St Paul’s (38) defeated Women’s (36) in a very exciting games. Round 2 saw St Paul’s (39) defeat St Andrew’s (38) in a very close game. Again in round 3 St Paul’s (36) won against Sancta (30), then in Round 4 Wesley (36) beat St Paul’s (11). Topping it off in Round 5 St Paul’s (27) defeated St John’s (21). Across these games Eva Osborn scored an amazing 41 points including 20 in the St Andrew’s game.

  • In the end Wesley had won five games bringing the total point scores to: Wesley 9 | St Paul’s 7 | St Andrew’s 5 | Women’s 3 | St John’s 1 | Sancta 0.

In the Rawson Basketball St John’s again dominated. In Round 1 – St John’s (75) defeated St Paul’s  (45); Round 2 – Wesley (65) defeated St Paul’s (41) | Round 3 – St Andrew’s (56) defeated St Paul’s (26).

  • Final point scores are St John’s 7 | Wesley 5 | St Andrew’s 3 | St Paul’s 1.

Special thanks to Rosebowl conveners Sophie Bradshaw and Ines Treharne and Rawson conveners William Hogg and Jackson Broad.


Intercol Point scores

After the Basketball, and with Athletics to go, the overall points:

  • Rosebowl standings: St Andrew’s 45 points | St John’s 38 points | St Paul’s 31 points | Wesley 30 Points | Women’s 23 points | Sancta 8 points.
  • Rawson standings: St John’s 47 points | St Andrew’s 27 points | St Paul’s and Wesley 19 points. 

  1. The Team structure for Intercol Tennis is:
    Rawson: Each team includes 6 singles players and 3 doubles pairs. They can also have up to 4 backup players.
    Rosebowl: Each team includes 4 singles players and 3 doubles pairs, with up to 2 backup players allowed. ↩︎

Graduate House Students Represent the College at National Leadership Forum 2025

St Paul’s College is pleased to acknowledge the participation of two Graduate House students, Emmanouil Vourvahakis (Master of International Security, Middle Common Room Secretary) and Simon Homsany (Juris Doctor), in the National Leadership Forum 2025, held in Canberra at the end of August.

Established in 1997, the National Leadership Forum (NLF) is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading leadership development initiatives. The annual four-day program convenes emerging leaders from across Australia and the Pacific region to engage in values-based leadership exploration, personal reflection, and dialogue with national figures. Co-chaired this year by federal parliamentarians The Hon Julian Leeser MP (Liberal Party, Member for Berowra) and Luke Gosling OAM, MP (ALP, Member for Solomon), the Forum provides a unique platform for participants to critically examine their leadership identity and capacity for service-oriented leadership. The participating MPs included the two Paulines The Hon Andrew Gee MP (Independent, Member for Calare) and The Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP (ALP, Member for Parramatta, Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy).

The 2025 Forum focused on values-driven leadership, fostering connection across diverse backgrounds and encouraging participants to reflect deeply on their personal values and leadership philosophies. Emmanouil and Simon joined small group discussions and plenary sessions alongside Members of Parliament, business leaders, and fellow emerging leaders. Notable contributors included Julian Leeser MP, Luke Gosling OAM MP, Andrew Wallace MP (former Speaker of the House of Representatives), and Senator David Shoebridge. Reflections from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley offered valuable insights into the lived experience of political leadership in Australia.

A central theme of the Forum was Servant Leadership—a model that places service, empathy, and ethical responsibility at the core of effective leadership. For Emmanouil and Simon, this emphasis resonated strongly with the values cultivated within the Graduate House community at St Paul’s College.

Their participation exemplifies the College’s commitment to nurturing leadership grounded in intellectual engagement, ethical reflection, and public service. We commend Emmanouil and Simon for their contributions and for representing St Paul’s College with distinction at a national level.

To learn more about the Graduate House and postgraduate opportunities at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney click here.

Celebrating 40 Years of Residence: Dr Jim Franklin’s Remarkable Milestone

2025 marks an extraordinary milestone for St Paul’s College: 40 years since Dr Jim Franklin first arrived as a resident member of the College community. This achievement sets a new record for continuous residence, surpassing even the legendary Miss Amy-Louise Hart, Matron during the Arnott years, who served for 36 years.

Jim’s journey to St Paul’s began in 1985 when he relocated from Armidale to take up a teaching position at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (formerly NSW Institute of Technology). Advised to find accommodation nearby, he explored several university colleges—all of which had vacancies—but St Paul’s stood out for its proximity, reputation, and notably, its excellent food. He was appointed a resident tutor and joined High Table as a member of the academic community.

Jim arrived one quiet afternoon during the summer break, when the College was largely empty. With the College Porter, David Herd, unavailable, Business Manager Malcolm Harrison stepped in to welcome him and show him to his first room in Lower Radford, facing the Quad. Though his primary employment was with UTS, Jim quickly became a familiar and respected figure within College life.

During his early years, particularly in 1985 and 1986, Jim was a regular presence at High Table. He became affectionately known for his consistent preference for the colour brown—a trait that occasionally inspired good-natured chants of “brown, brown, brown” from the student body, sometimes with a descant added by one of the tables. Jim, ever composed, remained expressionless throughout. Catering was provided by Nationwide and, having now having experienced it, Jim found it to be “rather ordinary”. When Bishop Max Thomas was appointed Warden in mid 1985 he and Jim had extensive discussions about the poor quality of the food and alternative arrangements followed.

One of the more memorable episodes from Jim’s time at College involved his acquisition of a particularly large compactus. Then residing in Garnsey, he consulted with the College architects, who warned that the weight of the fully loaded unit could compromise the building’s structure—potentially ending up in the wine cellar. After much discussion, it was determined that only the newer Albert/Tower extensions could safely accommodate it. Jim was subsequently allocated two rooms in the former Law Library—one for living, and one for the compactus. He continues to reside there to this day.

Jim’s commitment to College operations has been both practical and enduring. He has played a key role in fire safety management, becoming the resident expert on evolving regulations, procedures, and alarm protocols. His long-standing service as Returning Officer for Council elections has been invaluable, and more recently, he has extended this support to the Union, overseeing elections at the Annual General Meeting.

Beyond College life, Jim has had a distinguished academic career at UTS, where he has taught and conducted research for four decades. His scholarly contributions include 12 patent families, one edited book, and numerous published papers reflecting his deep engagement with physics, mathematics, microbiology and philosophy. In 2009 Jim completed his PhD and in 2010 he was appointed Research Fellow at UTS in the Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster and was primarily working on improving the efficiency of photobioreactors for the production of algal biofuels. He was also working with the CSIRO to investigate microalgae in riverine and maritime systems. He has been a UTS Research Fellow Functional Biology and Climate Change since 2013.

Dr Jim Franklin’s presence at St Paul’s has been marked by dedication, intellect, and quiet humour. His contributions have enriched the College community in countless ways—and as he enters his fifth decade of residence, his legacy continues to grow.

Academic Excellence Continues to Climb at St Paul’s College

Pictured above: Ed Taylor making good use of the Mansfield Library

St Paul’s College students have once again raised the bar for academic achievement, with Semester 1 results surpassing last year’s record-breaking performance. The undergraduate community continues to thrive, achieving an increase in the Semester Average Mark (SAM) reflecting a consistent upward trend over recent years. Notably, 55% of students earned Distinctions or High Distinctions, further underscoring the academic strength of the cohort. The 2025 Fresher cohort has made an impressive start, posting an even higher average SAM.

Top 10 Undergraduate Achievers

The top-performing undergraduates represent a diverse range of disciplines, with a strong showing in STEM fields:

  • Ben Varela (Year III) – Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) (Hons) / Bachelor of Science (Medical Science)
  • Ed Taylor (Year IV) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Hons) / Bachelor of Arts (Economics)
  • Grace Merrilees (Year II) – Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine
  • Christine Smith (Year II) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) (Hons) / Bachelor of Science
  • Austin Markwick (Year IV) – Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical with Space) (Hons) / Bachelor of Science
  • Isander Mesimeris (Year IV) – Bachelor of Arts (History) (Hons)
  • Anneka Steele (Year I) – Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Advanced Studies
  • Fraser McLaren (Year II) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Hons) / Bachelor of Project Management
  • Kate Brenner (Year III) – Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) (Hons)
  • Emily Ellis (Year I) – Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Advanced Studies

The dominance of STEM degrees among the top performers highlights a growing trend, as students increasingly pursue these fields to meet the demands of a complex, technology-driven world. As Lucy says: “Another semester of exceptional results. It’s great to see students who are very involved in College and University life also ranked as top academic performers. And it’s worth mentioning that as usual, because of the way different disciplines assess, STEM degrees are overrepresented at the top end”

Postgraduate Success

The postgraduate community also achieved strong results. Thirteen research students and fifteen Doctor of Medicine students made satisfactory progress, while 50 coursework postgraduates achieved excellent Semester Average Marks.

Top 10 Postgraduate Coursework Achievers

  • Alessandro Boaria (Italy, Year II) – Master of Computer Science
  • Izzy Perey (Canada, Year I) – Master of Marine Science and Management
  • Emmanouil Vourvahakis (Australia, Year II) – Master of International Security
  • Sergelen Turkhuu (Mongolia, Year I) – Master of Sustainability
  • Nadeera Yakupitiyage (Sri Lanka, Year I) – Master of Agriculture and Environment
  • Katherine Rosen (USA, Year II) – Master of Digital Communication and Culture
  • Surain He (Canada, Year I) – Master of Occupational Therapy
  • Justina Emoh (Nigeria, Year I) – Master of Sustainability
  • Jesse Henry (Australia, Year II) – Bachelor of Applied Science (Radiography)
  • Yohan Kanji (New Zealand, Year I) – Master of Complex Systems

Academic Support in Action

Throughout the semester tutorials were delivered across 10 coursework areas, including five dedicated GAMSAT preparation sessions, reinforcing the College’s commitment to academic excellence.