The Annual Review
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THE ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 ANNUAL REVIEW FOR THE COMMUNITY OF ST JOHN’S COLLEGE CONTENTS From the Chair 2 From the Rector 3 The Fellows 4 St John’s and the Great War 6 A Catholic College 8 Staff 10 Scholarships 12 Finance 16 Student demographics 20 Volunteer Network 24 House Committee 25 Student welfare 26 Alumni 27 Academic publications 30 ANNUAL REVIEW St John’s College 2014 1 FROM THE CHAIR ONCE AGAIN I AM ABLE TO SAY THAT IT WAS A MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR THE COLLEGE t gives me great pleasure to introduce that the Council is reduced in size from should we seek his help, but leaving the the Annual Review of St John’s eighteen to twelve and the number of governance and administration of the College for 2014. Once again I Clerical Fellows be reduced from six College to the Council and Rector. We Iam able to say that it was a most to three, that the Clerical Fellows be welcomed our new Vice-Rector, Dr Paul successful year for the College. Signs of appointed by the Archbishop of Sydney Gallagher. Dr Gallagher has had long that success are to be found in the pages and that one Fellow be appointed by the experience on the staff of both Queen’s which follow. I shall concentrate on just Vice-Chancellor of the University, that four College and St Mary’s College, in the one aspect of the life of the College: its Fellows be elected by the members of the University of Melbourne, and we hope governance and leadership. College, and the remaining four Fellows that our relationship with him, and with his be appointed by the Council itself. wife Annie, will be long and happy. In 2014 we farewelled our great past Chairman of Council Mr John Phillips. This composition will ensure that Finally, I would like to acknowledge the John died on 3 November 2014. Though the improvement in the standards work of my fellow members of Council, he had retired as Chair the year before, of governance of the College will be in particular the Chair of the Finance he was still a source of advice and maintained and that the Council will Committee (Joe Hayes), the Chair of the support. He articulated the primary continue to be properly responsive to all Building and Works Committee (Matt goal of the College in a way which has its stakeholders (the Catholic Archdiocese Gordon), the Chair of the Scholarships continued to guide us: to educate the of Sydney, the Catholic community of Committee (Sr Giovanni Farquer) and the next generation of Catholic intellectuals to New South Wales, the University, the Chair of the Student Relations Committee make their contribution to the Australian staff, current students, past students, etc). (Prof Tony Shannon) and Deputy Chair of community. He encouraged us to continue In that regard I can say that, over the last Council (Prof Tony Shannon). The College, the task of reforming the governance two years, the Council has understood its and all its stakeholders, is certainly in of the College and in that regard was responsibilities – and their limits – as well their debt, as it is to the Rector, Adrian warmly in support of the unanimous as those of the Rector, and has worked Diethelm, and to all the staff. recommendations of the College Council productively and harmoniously with the BERNADETTE TOBIN to the Premier of New South Wales. staff of the College. CHAIR OF COUNCIL In summary, the Council has In 2014 we farewelled our Visitor, His recommended to the Parliament that Eminence Cardinal George Pell. He it amend the St John’s College Act so was an excellent Visitor, available to us 2 ANNUAL REVIEW St John’s College 2014 FROM THE RECTOR IT IS A CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WISH TO EXPERIENCE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO, ALL THAT ST JOHN’S HAS TO OFFER 014 was a year of consolidation relative lack of advantages may have objectives set in 2013. Initiatives taken in all areas of College life. had on performance to date. Our policy in 2014 laid the groundwork for a more One area I would like to focus gives preference to applicants who do articulated planning process to take place 2upon is admissions, where not have a home in Sydney (and we during 2015, including the completion of we saw continued strong demand, XQGHUVWDQGWKDW6W-RKQ¶VKDVVLJQL¿FDQWO\ a Strategic Plan and Master Plan, and with 324 completed applications for 74 fewer Sydney-based students than other a process for making some important commencing places in February 2014. colleges). The College also values its decisions about the John Hopkins site. connections with families who have Council also took several steps towards a The admissions process consumes had sons and daughters, and siblings, more streamlined corporate governance VLJQL¿FDQWUHVRXUFHVIRUDERXWDQHLJKW at St John’s over many years, in some model, clarifying the respective roles of month period. At the end of the process instances into the fourth generation (or we seek to have a resident population management and the governing body. perhaps even more). ZKLFKKDVDVXI¿FLHQWSURSRUWLRQRI At the management level, while the Catholic students, while acknowledging All of these aspects are considered very College’s operations are not especially that St John’s is enriched by the carefully, because in the end the future large, they depend critically upon having presence of people from a range of of the College depends on the renewal a skilled and effective staff. During 2014 cultural backgrounds. of its student body, year by year and there were several senior appointments The overall aim of our admissions policy decade by decade. It is important to have (Director of Operations, Vice-Rector and is to create and sustain a community a student body which acknowledges the Dean) which are noted elsewhere in which values academic excellence &DWKROLFIDLWKDVDFRUHGH¿QLQJHOHPHQW this Review. College management also and intellectual enquiry, encourages of St John’s, which takes academic implemented an organisational change leadership development, and maintains work seriously, and which values project involving restructuring of reporting our strong traditions in sports, music and individuality and diversity as contributors lines with much greater clarity of roles cultural pursuits. At the same time we look to community life. It is a cause for and responsibilities. Throughout the year for new members who seek to put others optimism that many young people wish the commitment and hard work of College ¿UVWUHDFKRXWWRSHRSOHZKRDUHOHVV to experience, and contribute to, all that staff was outstanding. advantaged, and contribute to a culture of St John’s has to offer. Student affairs are reported on elsewhere respect and tolerance. Taken together this 7XUQLQJEULHÀ\WRRWKHUPDWWHUVLQ in this Report. I am pleased to say that is a lot to ask for, but fortunately there are November 2013 College Council held ZDVDWHUUL¿F\HDUIRUVWXGHQWOLIH young people who are ready, willing and a Strategic Planning Day to determine at St John’s, and for me personally it able to rise to the occasion. priorities for the 2014 year. Some of the continues to be very rewarding, and a Admissions decisions are hard because questions discussed were: What can St great privilege, to lead this marvellous each applicant is unique. It is inherently John’s aspire to be in the 21st century? and venerable institution. As always, I am GLI¿FXOWWRFRPSDUHLQGLYLGXDOVDFFRUGLQJ What facilities can the College offer its grateful to the Fellows, both individually to parameters such as academic students and the community? What are and collectively, for their support. potential, leadership capability and WKHNH\¿QDQFLDOFKDOOHQJHVIDFLQJWKH Nisi Dominus frustra! willingness to give back. We endeavour College? In November 2014 Council to take into account the effects which reviewed the year’s progress against the ADRIAN DIETHELM RECTOR ANNUAL REVIEW St John’s College 2014 3 FELLOWS OF ST JOHN’S COLLEGE CHAIR OF COUNCIL THE CLERICAL FELLOWS DR BERNADETTE TOBIN FR GERALD GLEESON FR PAUL STENHOUSE MSC Dr Bernadette Tobin is director Fr Gerald Gleeson is a priest of the Fr Paul Stenhouse is a Missionary of of the Plunkett Centre for Ethics, Archdiocese of Sydney, and Parish the Sacred Heart. He is a member of a joint centre of the Australian Priest at Summer Hill and Director of the Council of the Société d’Études Catholic University and St Mission at CatholicCare, Sydney. Fr Samaritaines within the College de Vincent’s & Mater Health Sydney. Gerald Gleeson is Associate Professor France and the author of numerous She is Conjoint Associate in Philosophy in the Sydney College monographs on Middle Arabic Professor in the Faculty of of Divinity, teaching at the Catholic Grammar, and various aspects of Medicine at the University of Institute of Sydney since 1986. Samaritan and Falasha history, New South Wales and Conjoint chronology and religion. He has a PhD Associate Professor in the from Sydney University. Faculty of Health Sciences at the FR DANIEL MEAGHER University of Sydney. Fr Daniel Meagher was ordained as a priest in 1995 and has spent most VERY REV PETER G. WILLIAMS of his time as a priest in the parishes Very Rev Peter G Williams is currently of Sydney. He is a graduate of the Administrator of the Diocese of University of Sydney in Economics Parramatta, and for eleven years was and Law and practiced as a solicitor in Executive Secretary of the Bishops the late eighties. Commission for Liturgy for the ACBC. He was Director of Liturgy for World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. FR BRENDAN PURCELL Fr Purcell is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame and holds degrees in philosophy and theology.