“Consider what the evident benefits are that your son or daughter has had by attending St Andrew’s. Think about the sector or area you believe your help can make a difference. Discuss with the great staff at the College!”

In 2015, Grant and Sandra Close made the pivotal decision to provide their support to St Andrew’s College by establishing a scholarship to assist students from rural or regional Australia.

The first mention of St Andrew’s College came from their daughter Emily, who met an Androvian while she was at a sports camp in Australia and was impressed by what she heard. Even though she was 25 years old at the time and had already finished University, she still decided to relay the information to her family and especially to her younger brother Edward who was nearing the time of choosing where to study. Edward went to an all-boys boarding school in New Zealand, and so St Andrew’s, having moved to a co-education system in 2002, was a perfect match for the opportunity to have a diverse and new experience. With this in mind, Edward and the family flew over just to visit St Andrew’s (no other Colleges), applied, and was accepted to start his first year in 2014.

Grant explained that being from New Zealand can feel like “a big fish in a little pond”, whilst Australia is “a big country, with big skies and big opportunities”. Like their wish for their son to experience these opportunities, they also wished to help other students who had the hope to “broaden their horizons and have a breadth of experience” and as students from rural or regional Australia are the most affected by financial constraints, this was added as a requirement to their scholarship. Grant and Sandra both know the benefits of studying and working in a large country and so through their scholarship, they hope to enable more students to experience college life and a university education.

Michael Baldock is one of the students currently benefiting from the Close’s generosity. He was awarded the scholarship in 2018 and again in 2019, during his second year at College. Michael, originally from Armidale, remembers walking around Drew’s when he came for his interview and ending up spending the whole day here “just loving it”. He was able to meet Grant and Sandra in May for an informal afternoon tea whilst they were in Sydney earlier this year, where he expressed his appreciation for the support that they have given him that has enabled him to experience College life to the full, whilst studying for a BA in Health Sciences and Physical Education. He is a keen rugby player, so discussions were had on the Wallabies and the All Blacks. They were also joined by another past recipient of the Close Scholarship, Illie Hewitt (Fr 2016). Now an alumna of St Andrew’s, she took the opportunity to thank the Close family for their support in 2016 and 2017, inform them of her progress since leaving College and share memories of her time at Drew’s. Similarly to Michael, she remembers Drew’s feeling “more authentic, kind and welcoming” than other colleges nearby and thankful that support was offered.

In addition to supporting St Andrew’s, Grant and Sandra are long-time patrons of the arts, supporting the Christchurch Art Gallery and local Arts initiatives. Grant’s building firm ‘PlaceMakers Riccarton’ has been instrumental in helping with the city’s restoration after the earthquake. This philanthropic nature is evident in many of our supporters and we thank them for providing opportunities for more students who would be otherwise unable, to become part of the St Andrew’s family.

The Plaskitt Family Scholarship was established by Peter and Libby Plaskitt in 2017. Their connection with St Andrew’s College began with Peter, who became an Andrewsman in 1958. However, his road to College wasn’t the most conventional nor easiest of paths. After a year jackerooing on the family farm at Quirindi he decided to go to Sydney to study economics and to “take the business world by storm”! However, his application to Drews did not have the outcome he desired. Instead of “taking no for an answer”, Peter caught the midnight mail train and knocked on Principal Dougan’s door early on a Sunday morning!

This resulted in being placed in “a broom cupboard under the stairs with a gentleman from Newcastle” for his first year, and he was very happy to be in St Andrew’s.

His grades improved while at Drews studying Economics, which eventually led to his career in property development. During his four years, Peter was part of the shooting team (which does not exist today but group photos can be seen along the Main Building’s corridor) and also a less formal Sherry Club which involved buying a “flagon of sherry and gathering in Hugh Lander’s room for a tipple before dinner”. Peter has many fond memories of his time at St Andrew’s and this was a major factor in his and Libby’s decision to support the College. “The experience stays with you – friends, grades, parties etc!”

Peter’s connection with College extended to his position 35 years later on the College Council for 9 years. Peter was heavily involved with the development of the Hanks building and the College’s transition to co-residential (claiming “it was one of the best things the College ever did”). Peter is now part of the Major Works Committee that is currently involved with the Thyne Reid Link Building. Peter and Libby even hosted an Elizabethan themed party in the Dining Hall a number of years ago. Their two daughters, Hannah and Sarah, although not alumni, are university graduates and both are thrilled that young women now have the opportunity to attend St Andrew’s.

The Scholarship is awarded annually to two students, one from west of the Great Dividing Range NSW and the other from New Zealand, with a preference to the South Island. Why these two areas? As Peter put it:

“You feel you owe something to places that have contributed to your life”.

Peter (being from Quirindi NSW, west of the Great Dividing Range) and Libby (graduate of WA Uni), live in Sydney but co-owned a sheep station on the South Island of NZ for 10 years and thereafter built a holiday home in Queenstown which they have enjoyed for the past 20 years.

These two areas have given them so many good experiences in life that they felt that their scholarship should reflect this. In this context their aim was to encourage the diversity of students at Drews. Libby noted their desire “that St Andrew’s have a mix, of overseas, interstate, country and city and if more stay beyond second or third year, as Peter did, a greater spread of ages also results”.

Peter and Libby recently met with the 2019 Plaskitt Family Scholarship recipients over Formal Dinner at the College. Fergus Bragg (from Aberdeen, NSW) and Liam Brandwood (from Wellington, NZ) are both currently in their third year at St Andrew’s and thoroughly enjoying their time here. They both discussed how integrated they have become in Drews life and especially with its sporting culture. This year, Fergus led the Rawson Rugby team to victory and Liam was a member of the successful Rawson cricket team. Whilst Fergus is pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Sydney, which echoes Peter’s own studies, Liam is studying for a Bachelor of Architecture, but both students agree that they are passionate about their courses and are excelling in their fields. An addition to the evening was Liam’s brother, Sam Brandwood, a recent alumnus who the Plaskitt Family also assisted as part of their scholarship the year previous. Although Sam has moved on from Andrew’s after graduating with a degree in Economics, he still took up the opportunity to see Peter and Libby again, as being the recipient of a scholarship comes with a long-lasting feeling of gratitude.

Our thanks go to the Plaskitt Family for their support and commitment to St Andrew’s and its students. It is through these types of scholarships that more young people get to experience the unique College Life that Andrew’s provides.

The Petre Foundation was founded by husband and wife Daniel and Carolyn Petre over 20 years ago. The organisations they support are numerous, and include the Sydney Theatre Company, Garvan Foundation, Social Ventures Australia, Westmead Children’s Hospital, Ravenswood School for Girls and The Inspire Foundation. They have also funded 3 chairs in medical research (Paediatric, Neurology, Cancer Genomics and Prostate Cancer) and support multiple other causes. Their family view is that:

“If you have been fortunate in life, then it is your responsibility to give back to others less fortunate. Choose a cause that matters to you.”

Having both grown up at the time when University was free, it was worlds away from when their 3 daughters attended the University of Technology in Sydney and subsequently St Andrew’s College. In choosing to reside at St Andrew’s, Grace (Fr 2008), Eliza (Fr 2013) and Alice (Fr 2016) marked the foundation of the connection between the Petres and the College. All three were very involved within the College, supporting sports and arts teams in their collegiate competitions and managing to find ”a sense of belonging”. More recently, Grace has taken up a position on the Foundation’s Board of Management.

Whilst the time at university and college is incredibly rewarding, the family were also conscious of the “bubble of Sydney” and so have travelled extensively to counter this. All three daughters have gone a step further and undertaken separate major projects in under-privileged countries which they believe has helped them “develop perspective on the world”. This understanding was a contributing factor to the Petre’s decision to establish the Petre Foundation Travelling Scholarship.

“We felt that giving outstanding students the ability to travel to locations/institutions where they could engage in world class learning and broaden their horizons would add value to their lives, and without the support they probably could not have had these experiences”.

The Travelling Scholarship has been in place since 2014 and to date, has helped over 20 students experience life-changing exchange programs. Previous recipients of the scholarship have expressed their gratitude to the Petre Family for their incredible generosity and for providing them with the otherwise unattainable opportunity which helped them develop personally and culturally whilst enhancing their university studies on their return.

The Petre’s support for the College continues in 2019 in a new form, following the family’s decision to direct their support to provide funding specifically for female undergraduate students in need of financial support. As a family with 4 women, there is a particularly strong and meaningful understanding that:

“Females are still not provided the same level of career opportunity that males do.. by focusing on female students we hopefully are giving some female students opportunities to enhance their career aspirations”.

The College and our students thank the entire Petre Family for their generosity and continued commitment to providing deserving young adults with the opportunity to experience university and college life.

Tom Woodcock, a 2nd year law student at the University of Sydney, attended an exchange program to Washington, DC over the 2018 summer break after being awarded the Petre Foundation Travelling Scholarship in 2018.

“The program, which was organised by the United States Studies Centre comprised of two main components: internship in the US Congressional Offices, and two subjects of university.

I was fortunate to intern 4 days per week for Congressman Mike Bost from Illinois. Some of my roles included managing constituent enquiries from Illinois, attending policy briefings on behalf of legislative assistants, and writing floor speeches for the Congressman. Highlights included a trip to the West Wing where we went inside the oval office, being in the room at the Cohen Hearing and personally watching the House of Representatives vote on the government shutdown.

We studied and lived at the University of California, DC Campus (UCDC). Class was scheduled two nights per week after work. Although I am completing a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws at USYD, it was very interesting taking politically based electives over there, particularly as we would study policy that was being discussed at work.

The whole experience has enabled me to develop skills which are transferrable to any industry I choose to work in. In fact, the internship has inadvertently contributed to my employment at a law firm back in Sydney. [The Petres’] generosity has given me a significant head start as a 2nd Year law student, from which I will continue to benefit from for years to come.”

Mei Zheng, a 3rd year Advanced Science student at the University of Sydney, attended Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences during semester 2 of 2018 with the help of the Petre Foundation Travelling Scholarship.

“Academically, I thrived a lot at Cornell University, where professors are extremely passionate in their field of research and the classes they teach. One class helped me clarify my direction for future study and research and I now aspire to become an epidemiologist.

Another highlight of my exchange semester was that I was able to join the Cornell University Wind Symphony. After my semester, I also travelled with the Symphony to Haiti and the Dominican Republic on a service-learning tour.

Studying abroad has really help me a lot personally, allowing me to understand more about myself and develop stronger independent living skills. It has also allowed me to be exposed to new scientific ideas and cultures which have inspired my future research pathway.

This exchange programme has not only been a professional development opportunity but has also enhanced my global awareness and cultural competence as an individual. It’s been an exciting semester for me to gain other worldly experiences and insights which I now look forward to share with other students at St Andrew’s and the University of Sydney. I’m extremely grateful to be able to have experienced such an exciting semester at Cornell University and will treasure these memories for a lifetime.”

For many young Australians, a scholarship is more than a prize. It means being able to follow dreams over the socioeconomic bridge towards a university degree. As the educational sector of Australia continually pushes the boundaries of excellence, juggling the expense and issues of daily life with the pressure to achieve the results at University is a struggle for many young adults. St Andrew’s College has always understood that many students face financial stress during their time at university, and strive to help alleviate this. Fortunately, St Andrew’s has had incredible support from its alumni and parent community, who agree with this view and so make it possible for the College to award scholarships and bursaries to residents in need.

Mrs Robin Stevenson established the ‘WRD Stevenson Scholarship’ in 2000, in honour of her late husband, William Robert Dill Stevenson OBE (Fr 1932). Her intention was simple: to help inspire and support the next generation of lawyers. William, who was known as Bob both during and after his time at St Andrew’s, came to the college on the ‘Knox Grammar Scholarship’. This scholarship, established in 1926, provided its recipients with between £40 to £60 and was awarded based on merit. Without this scholarship, Bob would not have been able to attend the college. He later went on to become a distinguished Australian war veteran of WWII and president of the Law Society of NSW.

Bob was only able to attend St Andrew’s for one year, but it was a monumental year of his life. The Honorable Judge Paul Brereton, the nephew of Mr and Mrs. Stevenson, has recalled with fondness the way his uncle would reminisce about his time in college and the lifelong friendships he forged during his stay. Bob’s story is similar to so many St Andrew’s alumni, those who were given the gift of financial relief, only to find that the real prize was in the form of a community and a supported future at university and beyond.

Today, 18 years after the WRD Stevenson Scholarship was founded, many St Andrew’s residents have come and gone through the college having received the same opportunities as Bob. Emily Tyrrell, the recipient in 2018 and 2019, studies Law at the University of Sydney and described it as her dream university. Emily has said that,

“If not for the scholarship, I would not have been able to afford residency.”

The WRD Stevenson Scholarship continues every year to provide a high quality law student with the opportunity to maximize their experience of university and give them every opportunity to be the best student and person that they can be.

When she was first accepted into the course, Emily found it difficult to travel between university and her home in Western Sydney whilst working at the same time, and felt she missed the opportunity to fully engage in university life or establish friendships with her peers.

Since receiving the scholarship, Emily has not only had the burden of travel and the stress of a work-life balance alleviated, but she’s also been given the freedom to pursue her interest in creative writing, which led to her winning the Principals Prize for Creative Writing in 2018. It has enabled Emily to achieve more in her Law studies, whilst allowing her to dedicate as much energy to her English Major, as both require a myriad of skills and time.

The validity of a collegiate experience has gone under the spotlight after many contemporary criticisms of Sydney colleges in the last few years. For past and present residents of St Andrew’s College however, there is no question of the benefits they received as part of this community. St Andrew’s College continues to deliver a fulfilling and unique experience for all its residents and thanks its community for their support through scholarships such as the WRD Stevenson Scholarship, which are key to enabling more young adults access to this invaluable life experience.

Growing up in Forster NSW, Tony Damian (Fr 1990) resided at St Andrew’s College for seven years whilst completing his studies. He now holds a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Master of Laws from the University of Sydney. Previously a tutor at St Andrew’s College, he continues to lecture at the university and is a Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills in Sydney. He decided to make St Andrew’s his “home away from home” due to the warm reception he received from students and the Principal during his application interview – “…it was welcoming and most accepting of students irrespective of their background.” He felt he could be himself and didn’t have to fit a “mould” at St Andrew’s, and describes his time here fondly, saying he formed “friendships for life” and had valuable opportunities for leadership via the position of Honorary Treasurer of the House Committee.

After seeing a request to fund scholarships in a St Andrew’s newsletter, he decided to give back to the College through the Tony Damian Scholarship which he says “…allowed me to reconnect with the College”. Having had a regional upbringing, Tony understands how difficult it can be for students to attend metropolitan universities and experience College life. Hence, a condition of the scholarship is for recipients to come from a regional background – “the rural and regional element is a small gesture to make sure those people have opportunities.” He believes that everyone should have a chance to experience College life and he encourages diversity. This condition was greatly appreciated by David Bartholot (Fr 2015) and Adrian Whitehall (Fr 2016) who come from Forster and Wollongong, respectively.

David is studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at the University of Sydney and is an elite rower at the Sydney University Boat Club. Growing up in Forster, and coincidentally attending the same high school as Tony, David was attracted to St Andrew’s because of the athletic opportunities and the College’s rowing history. David and his mother were ecstatic when he received the Tony Damian Scholarship in 2017, describing it as “life changing”. Studying full-time and training more than 35 hours a week, David has minimal time to sustain an occupation. The scholarship relieved the financial burden of living expenses such as accommodation and food, giving him more time to focus on his studies and training.

When he first came to St Andrew’s, David was surprised at the diversity and capabilities of his fellow students, describing them as “all very talented”, and praises the College as a great place to live. He was named Rowing New South Wales’ Novice Rower of the Year in 2016 and aims to trial for the National Rowing Team in Canberra. He’s currently enrolled in the Army Reserves and wants to complete his studies before commencing rowing full time.

Adrian is studying a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and specialises in performing the double bass. Adrian started playing music when he was three, and has specialised in bass since the age of ten. His mother said he knew how to play music before he could talk! He grew up in Wollongong and wanted to study at the Conservatorium because of its world class programs and professors. He heard about St Andrew’s in a Careers Session and was enticed by the renowned music program and high profile musicians who attended the College, such as Alice Morgan and Minami Takahashi.

Receiving the Tony Damian Scholarship in 2018 was a relief for Adrian and his family because he could study at the Conservatorium without the burden of transporting his instruments to and from Wollongong. It has also allowed him to easily attend evening musical performances in the city. Residing at St Andrew’s has given Adrian an abundance of opportunities, having recently performed in Melbourne with the Australian Youth Orchestra and travelled to Europe for a master class in conducting with the world renowned Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He describes the music tutor program at College as “amazing” and that it “…is unbelievable compared to the other Colleges. Andrew’s is on a whole other level.”

Tony’s generosity has provided outstanding opportunities for both David and Adrian in their respective fields. Both recipients were able to excel in their studies and professions without the financial burden and stress of living expenses. Additionally, they had the opportunity to access St Andrew’s superior programs and be part of a community that will benefit them for a lifetime. David and Adrian both agree they wouldn’t be where they are today if it wasn’t for the Tony Damian Scholarship. Tony said he simply wanted

“to provide a little bit of help to some people doing wonderful things and help them… focus on the things they are good at”,

and through his scholarship he has been able to achieve exactly that.

Don Jamieson knew he liked chemistry and physics. However, when his Head Master asked him what he wanted to do when he left Kempsey High School in 1953, Don didn’t know for the simple reason that he hadn’t thought about it. “I knew I was interested in industrial chemistry, but that was about the extent of it,” says Don, “my parents, who didn’t go to university, saw two options: the local mechanic or working on my father’s boat.”

Fortunately, the Head Master, Mr Albert Gray, had greater ambitions for Don: studying chemical engineering at the University of Sydney.  While Don’s family didn’t have the financial capacity to pay for Don to go to university, Mr Gray organised for Don to receive a Commonwealth Scholarship.

And somewhere to live in Sydney? Mr Gray recommended his College, St Andrew’s, organising not only a place but also a bursary to cover the fees. And that is how, in 1954, Don came to live at St Andrew’s College. In those first few years, with hundreds of students studying engineering, Don’s closest friends were from College. Decades on, this is a familiar story to 2016 Jamieson Scholar, Erin Wright (Fr 2014). “There can be thousands in the lecture theatre. You don’t get to know anyone,” she says of her medical degree at UNSW, “most of my friends are here.”

After commencing an Arts/Science degree at the University of Sydney, Erin found her calling in Medicine in 2013 after watching her friend’s experience with cancer. “Her family had to move to Sydney,” Erin recalls, “because there aren’t enough doctors in regional Australia. I knew I wanted to be a doctor in a regional community.”

Don left Sydney soon after finishing his degree to pursue his career in chemical engineering, later moving into management and then venture capitalism. About 15 years ago, Don reconnected with St Andrew’s through his friends, attending a number of events and, as he says, being “exposed to giving.” Through this, Don decided that he would like to support students who, like him, wouldn’t be able to come to St Andrew’s or university without a scholarship, “I couldn’t have possibly have had so many interesting jobs without a degree and couldn’t have gone to university without being at Andrew’s.”

Initially, Don gave his scholarship annually, with pledge to leave an endowment as a bequest. However, after meeting the first recipients, Don changed his mind.

“I wanted to give the College certainty that there would be a scholarship and I realised that you won’t know who they [the recipients] are if you wait until a bequest. This is so much more satisfying and I’m tremendously glad I did.”

Like Don, Erin wouldn’t be at St Andrew’s without a scholarship. The Jamieson Scholarship, which supports a student from rural or regional Australia, gives Erin the certainty of a home away from her home in Armidale. “It means everything to be able to get this level of education which I wouldn’t get back home,” says Erin, “meeting Don makes it real, rather than a name on a page. You realise that they [the benefactors] had lives, made money and gave it to you…”

“His mantle is passed on.” David Anstice (Fr 1966)

In July 2014, Will Cesta (Fr 2013) undertook a comprehensive one-month European study trip that started with a week’s mentorship with renowned concert pianist Angela Hewitt and ended at the International Masterclass Series in Portugal under Professor Boris Berman of Yale University and Professor Luiz de Moura Castra of Hartford University. As the 2014 recipient of the Bill Caldwell Scholarship, which is awarded for academic excellence and leadership, Will was able to use the Scholarship to fund a trip that has significantly enhanced his performance talents and skills. In the second year of a Bachelor of Music (Performance) majoring in piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Will was grateful for the opportunity to broaden his experience in Europe, “had it not been for this scholarship, I would not have had access to such an intensive and fruitful setting in which to challenge my own ideas about music, perform internationally and refine my playing.”

The Bill Caldwell Memorial Scholarship was established in 1998 to honour the life of Bill Caldwell (Fr 1964) who was tragically killed in 1993. The Scholarship was created thanks the benefaction of a group of dedicated friends including David Anstice (Fr 1966) and Tom Yim (Fr 1966) who wanted to honour Bill’s life and contribution to St Andrew’s and the community.

“Bill Caldwell, was a wonderful family man, and friend, and a gifted lawyer. He was tragically and undeservingly taken from his family, friends and profession in the middle of his life. His memory is cherished by all who knew him,” says David Anstice, “scholarships in his name, and supported by his friends, are a wonderful way of making his memory live on, and in a productive and enriching way for future generations. His mantle is passed on.”

In addition to recognising academic excellence and leadership, the Scholarship recognises significant participation in College life and, Will has certainly contributed to College. In addition to tutoring, Will enjoys participating in the College’s cultural programs, saying he relishes “playing concerts and contributing to events such as the Palladian Cup or Intercol Orchestra concerts.” However, Wills’ favourite part of College life is “witnessing the way in which people with completely different talents and interests collaborate to form a united and supportive community. I used to think that it was great to see a group of ‘Rowers’ at a Palladian event or ‘Dramatists’ at a Rosebowl Hockey game, but now I realise that we aren’t defined by what we do but how we do it. Regardless of what that the interests are, there is recognition of their value displayed by all members of our community.”

Bill Caldwell was a distinguished and much loved member of College. A 1964 Fresher, Bill completed Arts and Law degrees during his six years at College. He rowed no.2 in the College boat in his first year at College and was stroke for four years from 1966 to 1969. Bill served on the House Committee for four years, including as Senior Student in 1968.