Author: Richard Morgan

Pictured above: Jack Rowe, Ria Alva and Grace Carter with the winning artwork

Creativity continues to thrive at the University of Sydney, and this year’s Palladian Visual Art competition was no exception. Representing St Paul’s, students came together to produce a truly unique and collaborative piece that earned them first place in the visual arts category.

Led by Ria Alva (BArch II) who curated the work, the project took a fresh approach to the traditionally individual-focused category. Ria’s vision was to create a community mural that captured the emotional connection between music and visual expression. She posed a simple but powerful question to members of the Group Vocal Ensemble and audience participants: “How do you feel when you hear music?”

The result was Let Every Voice Be Heard—a mural composed of 90 individually painted postcards, each representing a wave of emotion. With the help of Anna Morrison (BPPE I) and Nick Carmody (BComm/BAdvStud I), Ria added finishing touches to unify the pieces into a flowing shoreline of sound and sentiment.

“The waves become a shoreline of change, with each note feeding the wave,” said Ria. “The chorus of heard voices is a reminder that transformation in sound and society is a communal process.”

What made this entry especially meaningful was its inclusivity. Students who don’t typically engage in visual art were encouraged to contribute, making the mural a true reflection of the diverse talents and voices within the College. Grace Carter (BA/BAdvStud II) was also part of the Art team entering an individual work on behalf of St Paul’s. Each college is asked to provide two works of art for the judges.

The College community extends warmest congratulations to all the students involved in this inspiring and well-deserved win!

Palladian Visual Art Results:

• 1st Place – St Paul’s College (3 points)
• 2nd Place – Wesley College (2 points)
• 3rd Place (tie) – Women’s College & Sancta Sophia College (0.5 points each)

Overall Palladian Points Standings:

• Wesley College – 12
• Sancta Sophia College – 11
• St Andrew’s College – 10
• St Paul’s College – 8
• Women’s College – 3.5
• St John’s College – 3.5

On 11 September, Graduate House was delighted to welcome Professor Saskia Hufnagel, who presented a compelling seminar as part of the postgraduate series, exploring the intersection of law and art forgeries. Joining her at the formal dinner was her husband, Professor Colin King, also a Professor of Law at the University of Sydney.

Prof Hufnagel’s talk delved into the legal and ethical tensions that arise when forged artworks are discovered. Surprisingly, such cases rarely reach the courtroom. Institutions—whether museums, galleries, or private collectors—often prefer to settle quietly with sellers or avoid public scrutiny altogether, fearing reputational damage. Among the many intriguing examples she discussed was the alleged Brett Whiteley forgery, Orange Lavender Bay, a landscape purportedly painted in 1988. Read more:The Whiteley Art Scandal – The Whiteley Art Scandal – ABC News

Prof Hufnagel was a Visiting Academic Member at St Paul’s College Graduate House in 2023. She is currently Professor of Law at the University of Sydney, where she serves as Co-Director of the Sydney Institute of Criminology. Her academic journey spans Germany and Australia, with a Law degree from Trier University, and an LLM and PhD from the Australian National University. She is also a Senior Associate Research Fellow at the University of London, a qualified German legal professional, and an accredited specialist in criminal law.

Her research focuses on global law enforcement cooperation, transnational and comparative criminal justice, and art crime. She is particularly interested in cross-border policing and the legal frameworks surrounding the detection and prosecution of art crimes in the UK, Germany, and Australia.

From 2013 to 2023, Prof Hufnagel was based at Queen Mary University of London, where she taught Criminal Law, led the LL.M. in Criminal Justice, and co-directed the Criminal Justice Centre. Her previous roles include research fellowships at Griffith University, the University of Leeds, and teaching positions at the ANU College of Law and the University of Canberra.

The College community was especially pleased to welcome Saskia and Colin back to St Paul’s to present a very popular academic seminar. These weekly seminars are part of the academic offering for students at St Paul’s College and are open to alumni and friends. Read More about Graduate House HERE.  

The transformative power of education is vividly reflected in the lives of three postgraduate students from Kenya who are now thriving members of the St Paul’s College community at the University of Sydney. Their journeys—from modest beginnings in rural and urban Kenya to postgraduate study in Australia—are a testament to resilience, ambition, and the life-changing impact of educational opportunity.

Victor Kibisu, Jacinta Onwonga, and Patrick Matata each arrived at St Paul’s through the support of the Oasis Africa Foundation, a humanitarian organisation committed to bridging educational inequality for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their stories exemplify the mission of Oasis Africa, which since 2002 has enabled hundreds of young Africans to access quality education and pursue their academic potential.

• Victor Kibisu joined St Paul’s in Semester 2, 2024, to pursue a Master of Data Science, following his Bachelor of Science from the University of Eldoret.
• Jacinta Onwonga arrived in the same semester to study a Master of Commerce, having completed a BSc in Strategic Management at Moi University.
• Patrick Matata commenced in Semester 1, 2025, undertaking a Master of Computer Science after earning a Bachelor of Information Technology from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

All three students grew up in Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, where access to education is limited and daily survival is a challenge. Through Oasis Africa’s scholarship program, they received full support for their primary and secondary education, and later for their undergraduate studies. Their academic excellence and determination led them to the top percentile of national exam results, opening the door to international study.

The University of Sydney provides Sydney International Equity Scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, covering tuition and living costs. In partnership with Oasis Africa, a new collaboration has enabled Victor, Jacinta, and Patrick to reside at St Paul’s, where they have become active and valued members of the postgraduate community.

Their integration into College life has been marked by meaningful friendships with both local and international students, and participation in events such as the St Paul’s College Foundation Dinner, where scholarship recipients were celebrated for the diversity and richness they bring to the College.

Reflecting on their experience, Victor describes the College as “enlightening and mind-blowing,” Jacinta praises the formal dinners as “very cool, dressing in gown and hoods”, and Patrick notes that “the food is quite different.” These impressions highlight the contrast between their current environment and their early lives, where they survived on less than US$3 a week.

Their shared history includes attending St John’s Primary School, where the best classes were held in the schoolmaster’s home. Jacinta, whose home language is Gusii—one of Kenya’s 42 local languages—excelled academically and sat her national exams a year early. Her aspiration to study in Australia was realised in 2024 through Oasis Africa’s support.

The Kenyan Government funds only the first year university fees, leaving students to finance the remainder. Oasis Africa continued to mentor and support these students through their undergraduate degrees, ultimately guiding them toward postgraduate study in Australia. Patrick recalls Oasis talked to him about another Commonwealth-member country, Australia, and his friend from Kibera school days, Jacinta, told him about this “multi-faceted college at Sydney University”. Patrick said “my dream came true … I felt I belonged in Sydney—the teaching is student-focused and practical support is provided for every unit.”

Looking ahead, all three students intend to return to Kenya, where they aim to contribute to their communities through the knowledge and experience gained at St Paul’s and the University of Sydney.

The College community deeply values the contributions of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Events and interactions with alumni have revealed shared stories of travel, work, and global engagement, enriching the intellectual and social fabric of St Paul’s. The postgraduate cohort’s energy is underpinned by this diversity, exemplifying the College’s commitment to multicultural excellence.

International students interested in applying for residency at St Paul’s are warmly encouraged to do so.

• Apply to St Paul’s College
• Sydney International Equity Scholarship – Scholarships

The creation of the Yellow Brick Road, witches’ dens, a shrubbery, the dance floor and much more was the creative genius of this JDD Committee led by conveners Zoe Anderson, Milly O’Connell, Charlie Morrison, Charlotte Hocking, Felix Power, Abigail Ballhausen, Olivia McMillan, Jackson Broad, Luka Chopra, Levi Williams, and Jack Beck.

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The College proudly congratulates current student John Kenny (BE(Hons)/BComm III) on receiving the Commendation for Brave Conduct, one of Australia’s prestigious Bravery Decorations. John is among 37 Australians recognised by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council for acts of courage and selflessness.

The awards were announced by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Moyston AC, Governor-General of Australia, in a special release timed to coincide with Wattle Day, 1 September. This marks the first time in the 50-year history of the Australian Honours System that a Bravery List has been unveiled on Wattle Day.

“I am proud to congratulate the most recent recipients of Australian Bravery Decorations,” said the Governor-General. “The golden wattle is Australia’s national floral emblem, and together with the crown, it is part of the Governor-General’s insignia. Today is a time to reflect on the qualities of resilience, courage, care, kindness, and respect, all intrinsic to the recipients.”

John Kenny’s commendation stems from a courageous act on 20 November 2019, when he intervened during a threatening incident on a bus in North Sydney. After a minor traffic collision, an aggressive individual boarded the bus and began intimidating students, including John’s 13-year-old brother. John stood up to the offender in an attempt to protect others and de-escalate the situation. He was physically assaulted, sustaining injuries to his face and eye, but his actions helped shield fellow passengers from further harm.

What began as a routine school bus ride turned into a frightening encounter when a car collided with the bus. Rather than ending with a simple exchange of details, the situation escalated into an aggressive confrontation.

John’s actions in that moment were nothing short of heroic. He didn’t respond with aggression, but with calm and courage—stepping in to de-escalate the situation and protect the younger students. His bravery was later acknowledged in court, where the Magistrate described the incident powerfully:

“This was a simple case of a car hitting a school bus that should have ended with the polite exchange of details. Instead, it escalated beyond road rage where the offender was a bully who tried to subdue children and had no right to do so. In the video we see a coward and a hero. A hero who stood up, not to confront but to calm the situation and look after others. If I was the school, or the father, or the mother I would be very proud of this young man who did what was right, standing and trying to talk to resolve the situation. I also feel for his younger brother, who was immediately threatened but wanted to help his brother that had just been assaulted.”

John will formally receive his award from Her Excellency later this year.

The College community commends John’s bravery and integrity and celebrates this national recognition of his courage. His actions exemplify the values we strive to uphold—resilience, compassion, and leadership in the face of adversity.

On Tuesday 19 August, the University of Sydney’s Intercollegiate Palladian competition reached a new milestone with its largest-ever vocal ensemble performance. St Paul’s College once again distinguished itself, setting a record with over 170 undergraduate and postgraduate students participating in the “B” choral ensemble—an extraordinary demonstration of musical enthusiasm and collegiate spirit.

Under the direction of Dr Jack Stephens, Director of Music, the majority of these students were trained from the ground up, many with no prior choral experience. Their development was supported by seasoned members of the College’s Chapel Choir, fostering a culture of mentorship and musical excellence.

The highlight of the evening came from the College’s “A” choral group, whose refined and expressive performance of Ruth McColl’s arrangement of Waltzing Matilda earned First Place in the competition. Their rendition was praised for its musicality, cohesion, and emotional depth.

This marks the second consecutive year that St Paul’s has won the Group Vocal category, reinforcing its reputation for artistic leadership and community engagement within the Intercollegiate community.

Final Results:

• 🥇 St Paul’s College – 3 points
• 🥈 St Andrew’s College – 2 points (equal second)
• 🥈 Wesley College – 1 point (equal second)

This achievement stands as a testament to the transformative power of music, the strength of collective effort, and the enduring value of leadership in the arts