FROM THE BIRD'S CAGE
From the Bird’s Cage – Principal’s Newsletter
August 2009
Dear Friend,
A busy end to an intense first semester, and in a blink the second seems half complete. Some things never change in College! I hope you enjoy this snapshot of life in St Andrew’s.
Academic Honours
I am pleased to report that St Andrew’s College residents have claimed some prestigious awards and scholarships over the course of the year. Congratulations to the following students:
Camilla Whittington (fR2003) – Fulbright Fellowship
Camilla has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright fellowship which will allow her to spend one year in the US at the Washington University Genome Sequencing Centre studying the genetic components of platypus venom. The prestigious Fulbright program is the largest educational scholarship of its kind, created by US Senator J. William Fulbright and the US Government in 1946. Aimed at promoting mutual understanding through educational exchange, it operates between the US and 150 countries.
Andrew Bilski (fR2002) – Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship
Andrew will be studying the Masters of Environmental Change and Management at Oxford University funded by a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.The Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial Scholarship is its oldest and best-known program and was founded in 1947. Since then, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. The Rotary Foundation’s Ambassadorial program is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program.
Jana Vitesnikova (fR2007) – University of Sydney, Faculty of Science Dean’s Honour List
Jana is studying B. Sc(Adv)/Medicine and has received the Faculty of Science Dean's Honours List Prize for exemplary academic performance at the University of Sydney. This prize is awarded by the Faculty on the basis of academic merit to the student with the highest Weighted Average Mark (WAM). Jana’s hard work and achievement also sees her on the Dean's List of Excellence in Academic Performance. To achieve a place on the Dean's List of Excellence in Academic Performance, a student must have obtained a weighted average mark at the high distinction level in the 2008 examinations in a minimum of 48 credit points. Congratulations Jana.
Willem Henskens (fR2009) & Giles Gardam (fR 2009) - Farrand Science Scholarships
Congratulations to both Willem and Giles who were awardeda Farrand Science Scholarship. The scholarship is in memory of Anne Farrand and is awarded on academic merit to students enrolling in the Bachelor of Science degree.
Neil Saunders (2009 Postgraduate) – Faculty of Science Dean’s Award for Citizenship
Willem Henskens (fR2009) & Giles Gardam (fR 2009) - Farrand Science Scholarships
Congratulations to both Willem and Giles who were awardeda Farrand Science Scholarship. The scholarship is in memory of Anne Farrand and is awarded on academic merit to students enrolling in the Bachelor of Science degree.
Neil Saunders (2009 Postgraduate) – Faculty of Science Dean’s Award for Citizenship
St Andrew’s College warmly congratulates Neil Saunders as a 2009 postgraduate recipient of the Faculty of Science Dean's Award for Citizenship. Neil took up a residential tutorship at St Andrew’s in 2008 and continues in that role in 2009
St Andrew’s Medal
In 2009 St Andrew’s College awarded the St Andrew’s Medal for the first time: the recipient was Ivan Kwong BEng-Aero & Space (Hons 1). Congratulations Ivan. A very gifted student, Ivan achieved first class honours and also won the much coveted University Medal.
If you would like more information about the St Andrew’s Medal you can access this via the website
Palladian Cup – The results so far…
The 2009 Palladian Cup, the inter-college performing arts challenge, commenced with the vocal section on Monday 24 August. There was an extraordinary turn out with an audience of approximately 600 people gathered in St John’s College. St Andrew’s took first and second place in the solo category, with Miriam Gardiner winning first place with her rendition of Estelle’s American Boy and Supertramp’s Take a look at My Girlfriend, and James Clohesy taking second place with King’s of Leon Use Somebody.
In the ensemble section, the College choir sang Lean on Me arranged by conductor Sophie-Anna Shumack, plus a number of other well known favourites including Jack and Dianne and The Gambler. Although the choir didn’t win a place it was extraordinary to witness a choir comprising of nearly 25% of all College residents come together and perform - that is truly team spirit!
The second group item was an ensemble of James Clohesy, Lachlan Dellar, Aaron Price, Melissa-Kelly Franklin, Miriam Gardiner and Sophie-Anna Shumack. They sang a Rockapella inspired rendition of I Can See Clearly. The ensemble thoroughly deserved second place.
Even though St Andrew’s performers displayed a great deal of talent on the second night of the competition we were not as successful in the instrumental section. Hopefully, we will be able to retain the cup with strong performances on Drama Night. Please watch the website for further information.
Rosebowl and Rawson Cup update
Rosebowl Softball was the first sport to be contested this semester. Our women had a very strong, young team, and proved too strong for the teams from Women’s, Sancta and John’s College. However, Wesley went on to win (5-4) in a very tight match. Leonie Lum, Sports Manager from the University of Sydney Sports Union, reported that the final between Andrew's and Wesley was "the most exciting softball match I have seen in 3 years. It looked like Andrew's had the tournament in the bag, but a late comeback from Wesley to steal the win in the final stages of the game had everyone up on their feet."
The Rosebowl tennis competition finished with a super win by the St Andrew’s team. Our women dominated the grass courts winning against: Sancta (6-0), St. John’s (6-0), Women’s (6 -4) and Wesley (6-2) to secure the lead in the Rosebowl Tally.
The men have found the going tough in the football codes– taking 3rd place in both Rawson rugby and soccer. Our men played there final game against St John’s, and after a commanding first half managed to hold on to take 3rd place.
The Andrew’s soccer team also finished in 3rd place. After losing to Paul’s and Wesley, we managed to secure a nail-biting win over St John’s in a penalty shoot-out.
2009 St Andrew’s College Annual Lecture
The SAC Annual lecture was delivered by Mr Nicholas Cowdery AM QC, Director of Public Prosecutions for NSW on the 13 August 2009. The lecture entitled An Australian Bill of Rights? Is Australia doing enough?was dedicated to the distinguished Andrewsman, Sir Percival Halse Rogers.
The lecture again attracted a capacity crowd, and was followed by a splendid dinner in the Reading Room. The entire lecture can be viewed on the College website.
Some Artistic Additions
Alumna Ms Eleanor Cheetham organised the delivery and installation of three significant works of Australian modern art which are on indefinite loan to the college, displayed in the Chapel and Senior Common Room.
Artist Graeme Drendel visited the College and gave a presentation on his paintings, The social engineers and The witnesses, in the Chapel on 30th April. The presentation was followed by a dinner in the Reading Room. The large painting hanging over the fireplace in the Senior Common Room is a work entitled “The hunt at Guadelupe” by Peter Churcher.
Emmanuel College Exchange
The 2009 Emmanuel sports tour was a great success with our netball and rugby teams winning both games and receiving the Merrington Shields for each, kindly donated by Professor Stewart Gill, the Principal of Emmanuel College. The shields are named after Ernest Northcote Merrington, a St Andrew’s alumnus, who was the founding chairman of Emmanuel College at the University of Queensland.
Careers Cocktail Evening
On Tuesday 18 August 2009 the Alumni Society hosted the second Careers Cocktail Evening at College. Over 100 alumni and students gathered in the JCR, Chapel and Reading Room for an interactive evening of panel discussions and networking. We had a large number of students expressing interest in participating in work experience or receiving mentoring. If there are any alumni who are interested in offering their time or would like further information please contact Donna Wiemann, Development Manger: development@standrewscollege.edu.au
The next Careers Evening will be hosted in Semester 1, 2010.
Annual Lunch
The Annual Lunch took place on the 26 July in the Dining Hall. The event was a great success with over 220 guests in attendance and in excess of $90,000 raised for the College’s Indigenous Scholarship program. This is a very firm foundation on which we will be able to build a strong program in the future.
In keeping with the inaugural Annual Lunch in 2008, this year’s lunch maintained a strong rugby flavour. Feedback from guests was very positive in relation to all aspects of the lunch from the food and beverages to the entertainment provided by the MC, Vince Sorrenti, the live auction and the Q&A with attending indigenous guests and rugby personalities, including Dave Pearson who refereed the match between the Wallabies and France the following day.
Thank you for all those who attended for your generous contributions and participation on the day.
Up and Coming Events – Gala Concert; and Dramsoc –The Country Wife
2009 Gala Concert – 7.30 pm Sunday 13 September
Kinross Mackie Chapel followed by cocktails in the Reading Room
The 2009 Gala Concert has been scheduled for 7.30pm on Sunday 13 September in the Kinross Mackie Chapel, followed by cocktails in the Reading Room. This year’s event will be another evening of beautiful music and a celebration of the College’s recent success in the vocal heats of the Palladian Cup competition.
Guest artist, Professor Winsome Evans, who teaches at the University of Sydney will perform 16th and 17th century pieces on the College’s newly acquired virginal which was made by Morley of London. Student performers will include SAC Director of Music, Melissa-Kelly Franklin, Miriam Gardiner, James Clohesy, Aaron Price, Sophie-Anna Shumack, Georgie Piper (cello), Cameron Henderson (classical guitar), the St Andrew’s College Choir and the St Andrew’s College Chapel Scholars. Highlights include I Can See Clearly Now by the 2009 SAC a capella Ensemble, Here Comes the Sun by the2008 SAC a capella Quartet; Dr Hester Wilson (vocals) & Prof. Ian Jack (piano) will perform Thomas der Reimer by Carl Loewe; and Whitney Erickson & David Hidden will perform a duet from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, La ci darem la mano.
If you would like to attend the Gala Concert please RSVP to Donna Wiemann, development@standrewscollege.edu.au
Dramsoc –The Country Wife – 15-17 October
This year the Drama Society will stage a production of The Country Wife which was written by William Wycherley in 1675. It is a restoration comedy which was controversial in its day for its sexual explicitness and its outrageously bawdy humour. As was typical of 17th century plays The Country Wife has three interlinked plots which unravel along with the comedic adventures of the central characters - Horner, Pinchwife and Margery, Harcourt and Alithea.
The cast includes: Charlie Freestone, Matthew Henley, Jonathan Heys, Stephanie Littlewood, Eleanor Mackay and Casey Murray. Directed by Harriet Archibald and produced by Sean Ohlendorf
Dates: 15 -17 October
Venue: The St Andrew's Courtyard (outside the JCR)
Cost: $10 students $15 adults
Starting time: 8pm (TBC)
Contact person: Sean Ohlendorf
The Wittins – St Andrew’s College News
Cost: $10 students $15 adults
Starting time: 8pm (TBC)
Contact person: Sean Ohlendorf
The Wittins – St Andrew’s College News
In August 2009 the College introduced a new weekly newsletter entitled The Wittins. Wittins is the Scottish word for news, knowledge or information so in keeping with the College’s Scottish heritage, we thought it a fitting name for our weekly news bulletin. You can view each new edition of the The Wittins on the College website. We hope you enjoy The Wittins and that it will keep you informed and up to date about what’s on at St Andrew’s.
2009 Alumni Society Annual Dinner -28 November 2009
The Alumni Society Dinner will be held on the 28November 2009. Freshers from 1949, 1959, 1969, 1979, and 1999 will be holding their 10 year anniversary and Freshers from 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2004 will also be holding reunions. Cost is $125.00. More information will be posted on the College website mid-September.
For up to date detailed information on happenings at St Andrew’s please visit the College website. Click here to go directly to our latest news page.
Warm regards
Wayne Erickson
Principal
