Page 22 - Luce 2016

Develop ment

From the

Director of

Development

In November a special gathering was held to celebrate the
remarkable voluntary efforts of the Friends of JCH, a group Vera Moore Trustees Mr Roger Blythman RFD and Mr Ian
established in 1992. At that time, the College needed to Morrison with Vera Moore Scholar Ms Annabel Livingstone
demonstrate its own fundraising initiatives in order to access
philanthropic grants to assist with urgent building works. As the Director of Development it is my privilege to join Dr
Powell in greeting our guests and attending events such as
Dr Fiona Caro (Macleod 1950) College Fellow who was then those I have described above; an opportunity to meet some
Chair of Council, responded to this urgent need by promptly of the impressive women who have played an important
setting up the Friends of JCH. Over the ensuing decade this role, not just in the College’s past, but also in ensuring the
group of energetic and committed alumnae successfully ran continuation of its traditions and values through their ongoing
a major fundraising lunch and dinner every year until it was engagement with Janet Clarke Hall.
‘mission accomplished’ in 2002.
My role also affords me the opportunity to meet with and
Fittingly, it was Fiona who welcomed the dozen guests who interview some of the outstanding young achievers who
gathered in Henderson House – old friends reunited over have emerged from JCH over more recent years (pages 4-5).
happy memories and afternoon tea almost a quarter of a It is gratifying to hear from Rebecca Duke (2012) and Rob
century after they first came together as a fundraising group. Snelling (2014), not just of their affection for the College
Fiona regaled the gathering with a lively account of the which is evident in their answers to my questions, but also
Friends’ activities and adventures, leaving everyone somewhat of the part the College played in helping guide their personal
amazed at the extent of their achievements! development, as well as their studies.

Honouring a long-held JCH tradition, Dr Powell presented Thanks to the continuing generosity of individual donors
each guest with a single rose, thanking them on behalf of and philanthropic bodies, almost half of our students were
the College for their wonderful fundraising efforts which, awarded a scholarship or bursary in 2016, ensuring that the
he explained, “to a very real extent saved the College from most promising and deserving students have the opportunity
closing.” to experience all that the College has to offer, regardless of
their financial circumstances.
Earlier in the year a similar spirit of fond nostalgia prevailed
at a JCH Society afternoon tea, also held in Henderson This year we were saddened by the passing of JCH Fellow,
House. Shared memories, in many cases going back well Dr Olive Mence OAM (Wykes 1940) and were honoured
over half a century, jostled with accounts of recent travels, to learn that she had generously remembered the College
family updates, future plans and insightful questions about the in her Will, leaving a bequest for the purpose of providing
College today. scholarships, bursaries or prizes.
Once again, my involvement with JCH – its alumni and
friends, its students and its staff – has been a source of
inspiration to me. It strengthens my resolve to overcome a
natural reticence and to advocate boldly for the financial
support that I genuinely believe the College and its students
deserve. We are a small College and a small alumni
community. That is our strength. It is also our challenge when
it comes to building a corpus of funds to assist the College
and its students today and into the future. Donations and
bequests – no matter how modest or how large – will always
be sincerely appreciated and wisely used.

Ms Shelley Roberts
Director of Development
William Angliss Trustee Mr Digby Norris with William Angliss
Scholar Ms Miranda Williams

22 LUCE Number 15 2016