Author: Richard Morgan

Paulines will be pleased to know that the College ethos of service is being upheld by two alumni who have been re-elected to the House of Representatives in the May 2025 election.

The Hon Andrew Gee (at St Paul’s 1987-90) stood as an Independent candidate in the Division of Calare in the Central West NSW. Andrew was elected to Federal Parliament in 2016 as a National Party MP and in December 2022 he resigned from the Nationals over his party’s opposition to an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, subsequently rejected by the people at a referendum. Andrew served on numerous Parliamentary Committees between 2017 and 2022, then as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister (2019-20), then in ministerial roles in the Morrison Government: Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education (2020–2021) and Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment, and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs (2021–2022) and Minister for Defence Personnel (2021–2022). Previously he was member for Orange in the NSW Legislative Assembly (2011-16).

Andrew completed BEc(Hons) in 1991 and LLB in 1994 at the University of Sydney and was a barrister from 2003 to 2011.

Andrew appears to be headed for re-election with an increased majority on a two candidate preferred (TCP) count (subject to declaration of the poll by the Acting Australian Electoral Commissioner). As at 5 May Andrew had gained a 56.35% majority (TCP).

Dr Andrew Charlton (at Paul’s 1997-99) stood as an ALP candidate the Division of Parramatta. Andrew was first elected to Federal Parliament in 2022 when he took the seat from the Liberals. Andrew has served on a number of Parliamentary Committees during the previous Albanese Government.

Andrew completed BEc at the University of Sydney 2001; was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for NSW in 2001; MEc and PhD Econ at the University of Oxford; was an analyst for the United Nations Development Programme 2003; research fellow at the London School of Economics from 2005 to 2008; Senior Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister and G20 Sherpa from 2008 to 2010; General Manager at Wesfarmers from 2010 to 2014; Founder and Managing Director of AlphaBeta from 2015 to 2020 and; Managing Director of Accenture from 2020 to 2022.

Andrew appears to be headed for re-election with an increased majority on first preferences count (subject to declaration of the poll by the Acting Australian Electoral Commissioner). As at 5 May Andrew had gained a 62.75% majority (TCP).

The Pauline community sincerely congratulates our two serving Federal MPs on their expected re-elections and we wish them well for the Parliamentary Term.

Pauline Members of the Australian Federal Parliament

• 1922-37 Member for Richmond NSW (Country Party): Roland Frederick Herbert Green (1885-1947; in College 1910).
• 1940-49 Member for New England NSW (Country Party); The Hon Joseph Palmer Abbott, OBE MC (1891–1965; in College 1910-13), Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Co-ordination, 1941; Minister Assisting the Minister for the Army, 1941; Minister for Home Security, 1941.
• 1949-61 Member for Oxley QLD (Liberal Party): The Hon Dr Donald Alastair Cameron, OBE (1900-74; in College 1918-20, 1922-27, Senior Student 1925-27); Minister for Health,1956-61; Minister for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation,1960-61.
• 1949-82 Member for Lowe NSW (Liberal Party): The Rt Hon Sir William (Billy) Daniel McMahon, GCMG CH PC (1908–88; in College 1927-33); Minister for the Navy, 1951-54; Minister for Air, 1951-54; Minister for Social Services, 1954-56; Minister for Primary Industry,1956-58; Minister for Labour and National Service,1958-66; Vice-President of the Executive Council, 1964-66; Treasurer,1966-69; Minister for External Affairs;1969-70; Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1970-71; Prime Minister of Australia, 10 March 1971 to 05 December 1972.
• 1952-78 Member for Werriwa NSW (ALP): The Hon Edward Gough Whitlam, AC QC (1916-2014; in College 1935-42, Senior Student 1941); Prime Minister of Australia 05 December1972 to 11 November 1975; Minister for Foreign Affairs,1972-73; served as Treasurer, Attorney-General, Minister for Customs and Excise, Minister for Trade and Industry, Minister for Shipping and Transport, Minister for Education and Science, Minister for Civil Aviation, Minister for Housing, Minister for Works, Minister for External Territories, and Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts, 05-19 Deceber1972; Minister for Environment, 02-14 July 1975.
• 1964-73 Member for Parramatta NSW (Liberal Party): The Hon Sir Nigel Hubert Bowen, KBE AC QC (1911–94; in College 1928-30); Attorney-General, 1966-69; Minister for Education and Science, 1969-71; Attorney-General, 1971; Minister for Foreign Affairs, 1971-72.
• 1966-69 Member for Warringah NSW (Liberal Party): Edward Henry St John QC (1916-94; in College 1934-38).
• 1969-83 Member for Maribyrnong VIC (ALP): The Hon Dr Moses Henry (Moss) Cass (1927-2022; in College1945); Minister for Environment and Conservation,1972-75; Minister for Environment, 1975; Minister for the Media,1975.
• 1984-96 Member for Deakin VIC (Liberal): Julian Howard Beale (1934-2021; in College 1952-53).
• 1984-96 Member for Hughes NSW (ALP): The Hon Robert Edward Tickner AO (b 1951; in College 1970-71); Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, 1990-91; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Aboriginal Reconciliation, 1991-93; Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, 1991-96.
• 1989-2007 Member for Gwydir NSW (Nationals): The Hon John Duncan Anderson AC (b. 1956; in College 1975- 76), Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, 1996-98; Minister for Transport and Regional Development,1997; Minister for Transport and Regional Services,1998-2005; Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, 1999-2005.
• 1993-2008 Senator for NSW (Nationals): The Hon John Alexander Lindsay (Sandy) MacDonald (b 1954; in College 1972-73); Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, 2005-06; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, 2006-07.
• 2001-04 Member for Wentworth NSW (Liberal): Peter Edward King (b 1952; in College 1971-75).
• 2016– Member for Calare NSW (Nationals to 2022; Independent from 2022): The Hon Andrew Robert Gee (b. 1968; in College 1987-90); Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, 2019-20; Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education, 2020-21; Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment, 2020-21; Minister for Defence Personnel, 2021-22; Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, 2021-22.
• 2022- Member for Parramatta NSW (ALP): Dr Andrew Henry George Charlton (b. 1978; in College 1997-99).

Source: https://handbook.aph.gov.au/Parliamentarian/ [5 May 2025]

On the 110th anniversary of the Anzac landings, 25 April, the College community gathered for the annual service of commemoration in the Chapel. The day is very important in the College calendar and for students to remember the sacrifices made in war. 47 Paulines laid down their lives in battle and are commemorated on the memorial wall of the College Chapel. The address by Rev’d Dave Schweinsberg, the senior Defence Force Chaplain – Sydney, was a powerful reflection on the devastation of war and its personal impact, the struggle for peace through military service, and the Christian ethos of love.

In the pictures are: the students gathering before heading off to the Sydney Anzac March; the Anzac address (above); Kate Brenner reading the first lesson; Jack Dawson reading the second lesson; Graduate House Prefect Claudio Garcia Ramirez with Senior Student Tilly Walker laying the wreath.

The service was led by Chaplain Rev’d Antony Weiss with wonderful music directed by Dr Jack Stephens and the College Chapel Choir accompanied by Organist and Composer-in-Residence David Drury and Undergraduate Organ Scholar Bailey Yaates. Rupert Begg on trumpet sounded Last Post and Reveille.

We will remember them. Lest We Forget.

On the night of 5 April 2025 the Union held a black tie dinner-dance at the College which brought together 160 Paulines and friends with large groups of freshers of 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005.

The St Paul’s College Union is planning that this April date will become the regular annual event for current and old Paulines and their partners.

Two black tie dinners for students and their fathers were held on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 March organised and hosted by students. With over 330 undergraduates two nights are needed across the dining hall and JCR to accommodate the demand for this very happy event. The College is in indebted to the Holmes à Court family and Vasse Felix and the Toll Family for their generous support of the event.

Friday’s line up of speakers began with the Chaplain Rev’d Antony Weiss welcoming the gathering and pronouncing the College Grace, then Senior Student Tilly Walker gave a rousing toast to the fathers with her dad and old Pauline Dr Matthew Walker (in College 1986) responding. Dean of Undergraduates Matthew Newcombe proposed the toast to the College followed by Kristian and Michael Masi performing ‘Sultans of Swing’ by Dire Straights.  After dinner the gathering enjoyed great music in the Salisbury from the student band ‘Downhill Romance’ with Daniel Paridis on drums, Rex Bouvier on guitar, Felix Power on bass, voice and keyboard and Lockie Walter on voice, keyboard and guitar.

The line up for Saturday again began with the Chaplain, then Harry Scambler proposed the toast to the fathers with his dad David Scambler giving a tremendous reply about the St Paul’s values and traditions he had learnt about since becoming a Pauline dad. The toast to the College was proposed by the Warden, followed by musical item ‘I’m on Fire’ by Bruce Springsteen played by Adam Wong on guitar and voice and Helen Jordan on voice. They both continued to entertain the guests in the Salisbury with the addition to their ensemble of Rex Bouvier on guitar, Deuchar Taylor on drums and Michael Masi on bass.

“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.” Charles Kettering, prolific American inventor and head of innovation at GM.

John Gaden AO is one of the country’s leading actors who cut his teeth as a member of Mummers when he was at Paul’s 1959-61. He has been on stage and screen for the last 60 years and at 83 is performing with the Sport for Jove Theatre Company at the Seymour Centre this March-April in The Player Kings. This is a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, Henry V, Henry VI Part 1, Henry VI Part 2, Henry VI Part 3, and Richard III by Damien Ryan Founder and director of the company. The Player Kings is staged over two epic performances during the season from 26 March to 5 April 2025.

“The story glances backward to the journey from Richard II to Richard III, in order to thrust our gaze forward to how political systems collapse and societies devour their own potential” (Seymour Centre), and John says of Damien Ryan’s creativity: “He has an extraordinary sort of understanding of the way Shakespeare works and the way it can be bridged across to a modern world without in any way destroying the fabulous sort of language and structure Shakespeare gives it; so he’s the ideal person to be directing Shakespeare and it’s a joy to work with! I mean it’s inspirational, actually.” (Honi Soit)

Some of the finest actors of Shakespeare in Australia present a hugely inventive and genuinely immersive experience. In the tradition of Shakespear’s Globe Theatre the play is performed on the York stage at Seymour Centre.

As a student John Gaden captivated the College community with his presence and wit. In The Paulines of the time his creative writing was published under “JSG” on several occasions and he was applauded as “the most consistently excellent” (The Pauline 1960) alongside Philip Clifton-Bligh in the Mummers production of Brendan Behan’s The Quare Fellow in 1960, a production very positively reviewed by the SMH.

John’s life has so many highlights and the statistics tell the story of a very rewarding career. He performed leading roles in 146 plays between 1961 and 2019 with 13 roles in 1970 alone. His Filmography includes roles in Muriel’s Wedding and 21 other motion pictures, and his TV roles span 1968 to 2022 in 19 productions including ABC’s Fisk, Rake, Mother and Son and Crawford Productions Homicide on Chanel 7.

John is one of the most distinguished Paulines who has been honoured on many occasions including AM in 1986, promotion to AO in 2018, and Helpmann Awards in 2001, 2005 and 2007.

The election for the two vacancies for six-year terms as Lay Fellows for St Paul’s College Council has concluded.

The election was conducted in accordance with sections 55 (l), 55 (m) and 55 (n) of the By-laws of Saint Paul’s College (2023) and schedule 2 part 2, (5) of the Saint Paul’s College Act 2018 No 71 (NSW).

The four candidates were: Mr Matthew Gerber, Mr Jethro Mahon, Mr Andrew Sinclair, and Mr Adrian Wong.

Congratulations to the following candidates who have been declared elected by the Returning Officer, Dr Jim Franklin:

• Mr Matthew Gerber
• Mr Andrew Sinclair