International Women’s Day at Paul’s – 8 March 2023
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.
She welcomed the most recent change at Paul’s — the admission of women to its undergraduate community — and praised the contribution that Paulines have made to Australian society for so long. She recollected that her husband, Roger Massy-Greene AM, is an Old Pauline and that he regards his years at College to be foundational for his career. She hopes for all current members of St Paul’s to have the same opportunities and success as her husband, and today this includes many young women!
During the dinner we had a solo instrumental performance by Isabella Taylor on violin. What a great occasion to have the first-ever solo in the Dining Hall by a female undergraduate Pauline. Isabella hurried off to join Chris Lennox (clarinet) at the Intercol Palladian Solo Instrumental competition at the Holme Building.
Among the many guests on high table were stalwarts of Paul’s, Edwina and Lloyd Waddy. Both have been unstoppable supporters of good governance and amazing music at Paul’s for over five decades and the new performing arts centre and aerobic studio gym extension is being named the Waddy Performance Centre to honour this legacy. This project is keenly awaited by those students of music, drama, dance and anyone keen to maintain and improve their health and wellbeing. With your support we can complete this project in 2023 so please consider a donation using our webform here.
Pictured are the Chancellor seeing the refurbished Salisbury Bar with the Warden and two of the student Salisbury team behind the bar on duty; the Chancellor speaking in Hall; Palladian musicians Chris Lennox and Isabella Taylor.