Is a Publication of Janet Clarke Hall, the University of Melbourne, Royal Parade Parkville 3052 Victoria Australia

Luce Luce Number 16, 2017 (incorporating the Janet Clarke Hall Newsletter) is a publication of Janet Clarke Hall, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade Parkville 3052 Victoria Australia. ABN 41 004 522 589 Janet Clarke Hall 1 L UCE FROM THE P RINCIPAL Our front cover Blue for a cure Speaking in Chapel Director of Studies Mrs Donna Davies and Chair of Council Ms Margie Richardson. Donna served as Acting Principal From the Principal during Dr Powell’s return to work As with people, institutions have times when they have to find circumstances facing our students as the University and the resilience in challenging circumstances. 2017 was a complex tertiary sector undergo a period of flux. year for the College and for me personally, as my own prolonged absence through a major back injury put strain on The damage done by sexual violence confronts us all. As my small staff, as we embraced our largest student intake in Principal of Australia’s first university college for women, I recent decades. am particularly aware of the duty of care imposed upon Janet Clarke Hall in taking young women, and men, into our care Armed with resilience, we met with great sadness the death at a time of remarkable creativity but also fragility in their of a number of the most distinguished members of our JCH lives. Our response to the AHRC ‘Change the Course’ Report ‘family’ including former Principal Sister Margaret Dewey and comes after a long period of introspection flowing initially College Fellows Hon. Rosemary Balmford and Dr Margaret from the 2011 Broderick Reviews. Having focussed hard on Henderson. In thanking all of those who worked to ensure respectful relationships, I have been heartened by emails the College’s continuing success – Council members, staff from alumni who have emphasised that our College was, for members led by Acting Principal Mrs Donna Davies, and them, a place of significant safety and support. Yet we all students – I do wish to acknowledge the support I received have feet of clay in such matters, and clearly there is more from our Chair of Council, Ms Margie Richardson. It was to be done both within the College and within our parent she as much as anyone who guided the College through University. Our response to the report is noted on p. 29. testing times. I would encourage anyone who wishes to speak with me on any matter raised by our response to contact me at In the course of the year, Janet Clarke Hall responded to the College. three significant challenges facing all of the Melbourne colleges: the rise of private accommodation providers; In 2018, the College will refresh its vision and mission as it government proposals to alter the funding arrangements undertakes a new Master Plan building upon the success that have underpinned the ‘Melbourne Model’; and the of Henderson House. With the creation of a new, full-time soul searching prompted by distressing reports about sexual position of Dean and Deputy Principal from 2018, the violence in Australia’s universities and colleges. College will be better able to cope with future uncertainties, and I wish publicly to thank my outgoing Vice-Principal, In terms of the first and second challenges, we should Ms Fiona Cadorel, for her valuable service to the College. be confident that our distinctive collegiate culture and opportunities provide a genuine point of difference. The retirement of our Vice-Chancellor, Prof Glyn Davis, will However, scholarships and bursaries have never been of bring to an end a long and happy association in which our greater importance in ensuring that we are considered by, parent University has affirmed its leading position within and remain affordable to, anyone of merit who would wish tertiary education. We will remain smaller as others get to study within our walls – and here donations large and bigger, and the personal touch and strength of the staff/ small offer the College comfort and strength. student relationship will be significant markers of our college community. It is clear to me that if Janet Clarke Hall is to Among other donations in 2017, I would note the remain the mistress of its own destiny, we will have to focus extraordinary bequest of Mr Charles Dunn. Charles was on what makes us distinctive and different from others – our literally unknown to the College when he walked through our size, our culture, our heritage, our values. In this, as ever, the Resident tutor Julia Hastings brings front door one day in 2001, and was thereafter an abiding College benefits enormously in the course of the year from a touch of ‘Cabaret’ to the ‘Murder supporter of the College in supporting May Dunn Scholarships the continued support of alumni and friends. I hope that you Mystery’ evening. named in honour of his beloved, deceased wife ‘Mame’. find much of interest in reading about some aspects of our Upon his death at Eastertime 2017, Mr Dunn bequeathed shared life that shaped our 2017. to the College a sum in excess of $5 million to endow such Our front cover: During O Week the Dining Hall was Our back cover: Past Council member Prof Robert Nicol (shown scholarships, to be made available to female undergraduate Dr Damian Powell converted into a 1920s passenger liner for a ‘murder in box above) donated The Occidental Tourist by renowned students studying within the College, in perpetuity. Alongside Principal mystery’, as staff and students stepped back in time for photographer and artist Mel McVeigh; it has found a home in other donations and existing bequests, the Dunn bequest will a night reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. Henderson House alongside his earlier McVeigh donations. help the College to respond on our own terms to the changing 2 LUCE Number 16 2017 Janet Clarke Hall 3 May Dunn Scholarships May Dunn Scholarships A truly remarkable gift: Madeline (science, technology, engineering and other benefits that college life would Mitchell mathematics) and how we can best use provide. science for a more sustainable, food- The May Dunn Scholarships secure world. I arrived from interstate without Please tell us knowing anyone, yet I instantly felt at As noted earlier, benefactor and friend of the College, Mr Charles Dunn, had no what you were In February 2018, I will be travelling to home at JCH. I was surrounded by like- prior association with Janet Clarke Hall before he wandered into the College to studying at the Antarctica with 80 other women with minded people with similar ambitions begin a conversation with the then Bursar, Mr Graeme Latham, about ways in University of scientific backgrounds as part of the in a supportive, caring community. which he might support female students in residence. Melbourne and Homeward Bound leadership initiative. This environment has been crucial how/why you This program will run every year for in enabling me to reach my goals, Over sixteen years, his relationship with the College deepened as he followed with originally came to be resident at JCH. ten years with the aim of creating a both academically and personally. I pleasure the successes of May Dunn Scholars – scholarships named in honour of How did being in College influence network of 1000 women around the could not have asked for more from a his wife, Ethel May Dunn, who had practised as a nurse without the privilege of you/your experience of University? world who can take up positions of college. Moreover, JCH has given me a university education. Upon his death in April 2017, Mr Dunn made one of the leadership to help shape policy around many opportunities to challenge myself largest bequests in the College’s history to fund these scholarships in perpetuity. I applied to JCH in the hope that I would the sustainability of our planet. and make the most of my university Recently, Director of Development Shelley Roberts sought out some of our May be joining a community of like-minds. I Without the support, encouragement experience. Dunn Scholars to discuss the impact of the College, and the May Dunn Scholarship, grew up in Bendigo so I was interested and positive feedback from friends, on their lives. in the academic and social support role models and mentors from JCH, I The extra support that I have received as provided by the residential colleges. can’t imagine that I would have had the a member of a college has been essential I thought a smaller, more academic courage to apply to Cambridge and so in keeping me on track and allowing college would suit me – and it did! much has followed from that. In recent me to reach my potential. In 2017 I was I loved JCH for the intellectual and social years, I have been pleased to be able to elected as the Student Club President stimulation as well as the lovely old red mentor people myself by encouraging and through this role I have gained a lot Catherine brick building. I studied Arts/Science and supporting others to apply for more confidence and wisdom for which Wheller as a Melbourne National Scholar and opportunities such as Cambridge/ I will be forever grateful. was fortunate to receive a May Dunn Oxford and Homeward Bound. Please tell us Please tell us about your post-JCH studies Scholarship in my second year. what you were and career. What did receiving the May Dunn Reflecting on your time at JCH, have Scholarship mean for you? studying at the What did receiving the May Dunn you any advice for students entering University of After I left JCH I pursued an honours and Scholarship mean for you? Melbourne and PhD in Earth Sciences.

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