Page 20 - Luce 2021

P oint of View

A unique perspective from JCH Fellow, Jaan Enden (1960)

had ‘rescued’ from a skip at the College academic support available to students.
some fire hoses which she used to She noted that COVID has made it
hook into the pipeline that runs past especially difficult for JCH in that ‘you
Labertouche to the Flinders Naval Base. need to walk around to feel the unique
That day, Jaan held the fire hose for 5.5 atmosphere of the place’. She speaks
hours on the house. It was saved but fondly of her time as Chair when she
they lost 14 kms of fencing, their hay, really was part of the College again,
and 300 acres of pasture. Fortunately, knowing the staff and students, many of
the cattle fled the flames and saved whom are still close to her today.
themselves. They were not so badly
impacted by the 2019 fires, thanks to College friendships from student days,
18 fire trucks at the farm. she believes, are long and lasting, the
ones you keep for life – made through
Development Associate, Kay Sadly, Bruce died suddenly 11 years living with people and really getting to
Attali, spent an enjoyable ago and, in recent times, Jaan has been know them. She has fond memories of
afternoon with Jaan Enden and slowly stepping back from the everyday sleeping on the ‘big balcony’ and of the
mist that would drift through in winter.
running of her beloved property which
compiled this engaging account she visits as often as she can, dividing ‘Airy’ is how she describes it.
of the life and reflections of the her time between Labertouche and
College’s distinguished Fellow. Melbourne. Jaan was very keen to pay tribute to
the two decades of service provided by
Jaan grew up in north-west Tasmania Before COVID restrictions, each year a Damian. She stressed that, during her
near Burnie but was sent to board at group of JCH students – many of whom years as Chair and in the years since her
Firbank Grammar School in Melbourne had never previously visited a farm – departure, she has watched the College
for her secondary schooling, an would spend a day at Labertouche, under his leadership be transformed,
experience which she credits with planting trees or painting fences; the becoming a place of academic
making her independent and resilient. highlight of the visit was a barbeque excellence, a place where young people
Her consuming interest was history, around a bonfire. Jaan hopes that these learned from and about each other. The
but not seeing a career path in that visits may resume in the future. Like transformation of the physical buildings,
direction, she chose to study Law at the many of us, Jaan is concerned about the too, has added to the College’s social
University of Melbourne, which in 1958 current situation, in particular the spread environment, and are also an important
was largely male-dominated. In 1960 of misinformation and the growing part of his legacy.
she arrived at JCH where she was to anger of the far right. She feels the
spend the next four years. restrictions on movement have affected Key to this positive transformation, she
the young who need to feel secure and noted, was the unlikely combination
Like many of us on graduating in the independent, and consequently have of Damian’s authority and gentleness.
sixties, Jaan set off for London, where become less confident. She believes it is essential that, as a
she did her Articles in Law. On her small College in a highly competitive
return to Melbourne her clients were Although Jaan had always kept in touch environment, JCH must shine, be vital
organisations like the Salvation Army with College friends, it was not until and flourishing, be academically strong
and the Uniting Church and she was a call went out for volunteers that she and supportive, and provide a happy
involved in drafting the legislation to really did reconnect. After assisting in atmosphere for its residents. Jaan is
formalise the split from the Presbyterian various capacities, she eventually took deeply gratified that today JCH continues
Church. on the position of Chair of Council in to be recognised and admired for all
1994, which was a critical time in the these qualities.
Jaan’s husband, Bruce, had a cadetship College’s history.
with General Motors after completing She held that
a Commerce degree at the University position until 2006
of Melbourne, but he had always and has watched
wanted to be a farmer. In 1983 they the College flourish
decided to follow their dream and under Damian
bought a property in East Gippsland at Powell’s leadership.
Labertouche. Jaan, who was working in
the city, continued to practise part-time Jaan has been
for a few more years before retiring from delighted with the
law altogether to become a full- time increased number
breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle. of country students
As for so many on the land, climate being in residence
change and the environment are major and thinks that the
concerns for Jaan. During the Black College’s excellent
Saturday bushfires of 2009, she jokes results speak for
that JCH helped save her house. She the tutoring and
20 LUCE Number 20 2021