Page 18 - Luce 2017

S enior C o mmon Ro om

From the

Acting Principal

There’s a certain rhythm to the College’s academic
year that is somewhat predictable and reassuring.
The welcoming of new and returning students,
commencement of tutorials, social events, sporting
pursuits and of course Sunday night roast dinners.
So it came as somewhat of a shock to us all when our
Principal was suddenly dealing with a debilitating back
injury that would see him largely ‘out of action’ for the
best part of seven months.
Donna Davies, Jack Tan, Katherine Firth, Julia Hastings.

As is often the case in the history of Janet Clarke Hall, the As the year moved on, a number of events occurred offering
women swung into action. Dieni, Corin and Nieve Powell students opportunities in performance, fundraising, outreach,
rallied at home, caring for their husband and father whilst tutoring, sport, arts and friendship-building. The College once
our incredibly calm and capable Chair of Council, Ms Margie again ventured to College Fellow Mrs Jaan Enden’s farm to
Richardson, assumed the role of Acting Principal. At the experience country life for a day.
commencement of the 2017 academic year, I accepted the
honour of leading Janet Clarke Hall, with the wonderful The College was delighted to welcome Rhodes Scholar, Dr
support of my colleagues. Zoe Morrison, on Friday 28 April at our Literature Dinner to
speak to students on her highly acclaimed novel, Music and
The year certainly presented its challenges. The College had Freedom. The new format of a student panel worked well and
one of its largest intakes of first year students, representing raised challenging questions particularly around domestic
two thirds of the student body. In addition, we were required violence. Our special guests included Nobel Laureate,
to adhere to new child safety standards as legislated by the Professor Peter Doherty, JCH Artist-in-Residence Ms Alice
Victorian Government requiring many of our practices and Pung and JCH Rhodes Scholars, Dr Lauren Rickards, Dr Jenny
procedures to be scrutinised and reviewed. It is important Tran and Ms Rebecca Duke.
to acknowledge the advice and support from our Council
members, in particular Mr Paul Turner, for their guidance and The College had a number of staffing changes throughout the
wisdom in this area. year. We welcomed our new IT Manager, Mr Roger Ward,
and Dr Katherine Firth who worked in the Director of Studies
Our Student Club also had its share of challenges with some role. I would like to recognise the excellent work of Dr Firth
unexpected leadership changes and the prospect of running and Ms Julia Hastings as Academic Coordinator in setting
one of the largest orientation programs whilst applying for a up the tutorial program and supporting our students in their
new liquor licence. I would like to congratulate, in particular, academic needs.
Ms Celine Lau for her outstanding leadership which then
passed to the impressive Ms Sasha Greenaway. At the end of 2017, we gave a fond farewell to our Vice-
Principal, Ms Fiona Cadorel, her husband and residential
Over the last few years, Janet Clarke Hall has been at the tutor, Mr Xavier Cadorel and their two children Nina and Ella.
forefront of addressing issues associated with sexual violence The Cadorel family brought great joy to the Janet Clarke Hall
and assault on university campuses. community and always had the students’ best interests at
heart. In addition, Fiona provided important leadership in the
In 2016 a large number of our students viewed screenings Intercollegiate Orientation and Transition program and Xavier
of The Hunting Ground, a film on the prevalence of sexual provided valuable academic support to the Environments
assault on university campuses across America. In response to students and assisted them with their passion for cycling.
our students’ request for greater education and training around
student sexual health and consent, the College undertook a At the end of the 2017 academic year we gave thanks for the
rigorous training program, coordinated by our Vice-Principal, broad-ranging talents and valuable support of our residential
Ms Fiona Cadorel. The Orientation and Transition program tutors:
included experts in fair treatment, sexual consent, safe
partying, harm minimisation and bystander training. Ms Shan Windscript and Mr Jimmy Yan, for their enthusiastic
support of our Arts students.
From the perspective of the College, these training sessions
were incredibly valuable, particularly for new students Ms Caroline Hart, for her professional and caring support for
entering the College, and provided a space for discussion many of our students and her partner Mr Josh Hart, for his
and sharing of ideas and experiences throughout the whole informal mentoring of our students, including the male JCH
College in an open ‘fishbowl’ discussion. rowing crew.

18 LUCE Number 16 2017