Author: Richard Morgan

Congratulations to Rev’d Dr Max Wood and Rev’d James Collins OAM who have been declared by the Returning Officer as Clerical Fellows for six year terms on Council. Both Max and James have served for 8 years as Clerical Fellows and the College community is delighted they will continue to serve.

An election for two Lay Fellows was conducted by email to those eligible to vote in this election. There were four candidates:  Dr Christine Biscoe (Retiring Lay Fellow); Dr Nadia Dimmock (Nominated by David Keyte and Daniel Sloman); Mr Ralph Evans AO (Nominated by Bruce Fasher and Richard Churcher) and Mr Ralph Goninan (Retiring Lay Fellow).

Congratulations to Dr Christine Biscoe and Ralph Goninan on their election for another six year term as Fellows of St Paul’s College.

St Paul’s College Rosebowl Netball Team made history on 13 March playing the College’s first women’s competition game. The final score was Andrew’s 61 – Paul’s 34. The game was fast, exciting and full of suspense. An impressive crowd of undergraduate men and women packed the stadium which created an atmosphere that truly defines St Paul’s culture. The game was held at the University Sports and Fitness Centre’s Bryden’s Show Court, on the campus at Darlington.

Accolades began with seniors Jonah O’Sullivan and Oliver Thorne publishing an inspirational (and witty) video on the SClub Facebook page, which spoke about every girl on the team. Then shortly after Sydney University Sport and Fitness published their video reel on Instagram titled “History in the making” [Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CptpCdSh-LG/].

Goal scorers included Mia Bagget, Juliet Malcom and Maddi Schmidt. Although the whole game was a highlight, the third quarter was fast-paced and found the crowd sitting on the edge of their seats. The team had a real rhythm and each goal scored by Paul’s resulted in senior Hugh Jordon playing a few celebratory notes on the trumpet. The whole team played with grace and demonstrated true sportspersonship. Captain of Netball, Nat McRory, said of this first game: “the girls completely stunned both myself and the coach. We had been training really well but it was incredible to see the girls break out and truly work as a team”.

The next game will be held on Thursday 16 March at 6.30 pm at Darlington against Wesley College.

At the start of the year the Students Club Committee of 2023 headed down to spend a weekend at The Barn Scone.  “The Barn” Scone is located 3.5 hours North of Sydney and is set in the idyllic Hunter Valley, on one of Australia’s leading thoroughbred nurseries Kitchwin Hills.

As an SClub they discussed and planned our strategic objectives for the year, especially surrounding the integration of females into the College and ensuring that the College delivers to its students the utmost in all areas of academic and social life. The weekend was full of activities. A tour of the horse stud, BBQ by the river and a game of scatter!

It was a great weekend to settle into our new roles, meet each other and prepare ourselves for the year! We couldn’t recommend ‘The Barn’ enough and a big thankyou to ‘The Barn’ and to Kitchwin Hills for such a great time!

For more about the Barn CLICK HERE

There is great excitement as the first St Paul’s Netball team prepare for their first ever Sydney University Intercollegiate Rosebowl tournament. It is not the very first participation of the College in Rosebowl but the first full competitive round. The Graduate House community has been participating every year in the RB friendlies since 2018.

Netball conveners Lucy Eyers and Nat McRory have secured the help of Jessica Keir to coach them. Jessica said: “from my point of view I’m feeling confident about the level of ability the girls on this team have and, for the first year on Rosebowl, we will definitely make a splash!”.

Netball Captain, Nat McRory, believes that every fresher and senior is an asset to the success of the College. “The faculty have selected such well rounded and talented young adults to enter into this historic year, the quality of our freshers will definitely be reflected in Netball” she said. Talent and commitment are being brought to the first ever St Paul’s Rosebowl representation.

In the team photo are: back row – Maddi Schmidt, Tilly Wittenoom, Ami Naito, Mia Baggett, Bis James, Sophie Jefferies, Olivia Laverty; front row – Zoe McHutchinson, Kate Brenner, Ella Mackay, Juliet Malcolm, Natalie McRory (captain).

Paulines of all ages are welcome to attend the games being held in the Bryden’s Showcourt at Sydney Uni Sports and Aquatic Complex, Cnr Codrington St and, Darlington Ln, Darlington NSW.

Games schedule:

• Mon 13 Mar 1.00 pm Paul’s v Andrew’s
• Thu 16 Mar 6.30 pm Paul’s v Wesley
• Fri 17 Mar 4.30 pm Paul’s v John’s
• Mon 20 Mar 4.00 pm Paul’s v Sancta
• Wed 22 Mar 5.00 pm Paul’s v Women’s

It is not surprising that the enthusiasm for celebrating gender equality and embracing diversity has been so strong at the College since the first women enrolled in Graduate House in 2018 and the first women undergrads began only weeks ago. On the eve of IWD the undergraduate community gathered for its IWD Dinner with guest of honour, Belinda Hutchinson AC, Chancellor of the University. The Chancellor spoke about the University of Sydney being one of the first universities in the world to admit women to degree programs (1881) and, that over her 10 years as Chancellor, how the number of women professors and senior leaders at Sydney had significantly increased – with more work to be done.

Over the summer break a big project for the College was a renovation of a tired old Sals. The need to bring the bar up to modern compliance standards necessitated a complete refit of the Salisbury and now the College boasts a 7am – 3pm café and 7:30pm – 10:30pm bar during the week.

The refurbishment features a styled bar area with refined cabinetry and new benchtops but retains the unique sandstone finish of the walls of the original boiler rooms (the bar area) and the 1860s staff parlour (the café). Outside a new bar and patrons’ area is protected by a modern sail cloth roof juxtaposing the grand heritage walls of the Blacket exterior. The paving throughout has been up-graded and fixed and all aspects of this licenced space now meet all compliance standards. It means the Salisbury can continue to trade as a public bar, and is open as a venue for students most days and nights of the week, including the popular Wednesday nights.