Page 3 - Luce 2023

Fro m The Interim P rincipal

From the Interim Principal

Coming out of COVID: other long-standing colleagues – has led me to reflect on
2022, a year to what sustains Heads, Deputies and Deans in these complex
remember and sometimes isolated roles. The support of colleagues who
become friends is a big part of the answer.
It was a genuine privilege
to lead the Janet Clarke In September we said goodbye to Genevieve Leach who had
Hall community as filled the role of Acting Deputy Principal for several months.
Interim Principal. I am I was grateful for the support, collegiality and good sense
most grateful to the staff, Genevieve brought to this role. Having previously worked
students and Council for together at another college I was reminded again about how
their support in what was important it is to work with colleagues whom you know
a rich and varied year. and trust.
There have been joys and
sorrows but, unlike the The tutor team, four of whom were new to JCH at the
previous two years, there was a great deal of normal College commencement of the year, have been wonderful role models
activity. I sincerely appreciate all of the JCH students who and mentors to students and have such an important role
contributed to the life of the College through their academic, to play in creating the caring and academically supportive
musical and sporting activities during the year. community that we prize.

Leadership throughout COVID and beyond has required At Valedictory Dinner, and more recently, we have farewelled
courage. According to the Harvard Business School, the five many longstanding members of the College community.
characteristics of courageous leadership are: authenticity, Resident and musician, Josh Hooke, has left us after ten
resilience, emotional intelligence, self-discipline, and years. Having completed his PhD, Josh will be travelling to
commitment to purpose. These are characteristics I continue the United Kingdom and Europe to further his career through
to develop in myself and encourage my staff and students to concert performances and further study. We look forward to
develop. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, his returning to perform at JCH in the not-too-distant future.
consultant Josh Farr was contracted to run a number of
leadership training courses, encouraging our student leaders Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion
to stay true to their values and bring an attitude of service (CUAC)
to their roles. It has been most gratifying to see students During the July mid-year break, JCH hosted a special lunch
requesting further sessions, having been positively impacted for eight members of the executive committee of CUAC,
and inspired by this training. including the General Secretary Rev’d Canon Dr Jamie
Callaway from Trinity Church Wall Street (New York City) and
Commencement Rev’d Canon Dr Bob Derrenbacker, Dean of the Theological
Despite a tentative start to the year with our first cases of School at Trinity College. The luncheon and meetings which
COVID in the College appearing during Welcome Week, followed were an opportunity for the committee to meet
2022 was a year of renewed connection and celebration. with staff at JCH and tour the College, in preparation for the
Many events and activities are described in the pages that Triennial Conference to be hosted jointly by Trinity and JCH
follow but there are a few that I would like to mention here. in July 2023 when we will welcome guests from the Anglican
community across the world.
The year opened with a Welcome to Country and Smoking
Ceremony conducted by Uncle Bill Nicholson in the In summary
redeveloped courtyard garden as it neared completion, thanks It was a year of friendship, farewells, food, fun, and the all-
to the generous donation of Dr Margaret Harper (Lush 1962). important freedom to participate in normal activities once
In May the garden was officially opened, with the former again. In contrast to the ‘social atrophy’ identified by Dr Alice
Principal, Dr Damian Powell, returning to share the excitement Chen, the ‘need to be connected to one another’ is more
with Margaret, her family and several JCH alumnae who have easily met in the close-knit community of JCH, where it is
been her friends since College days. unusual to be lonely.
A scholarship awards afternoon tea was held on 28 May In September we welcomed the new Principal, Dr Eleanor
which some of our benefactors were able to attend and many Spencer-Regan and her family to Australia and to the Janet
students had the opportunity to meet and thank their donors Clarke Hall community. I am looking forward to working
in person. with Eleanor to continue to encourage the growth and
development of JCH students, staff and the wider JCH
Farewells community whilst creating an environment where young
The year began and ended with a number of significant people can thrive in the post-COVID world.
farewells.
Margie Welsford
On 25 June we formally farewelled Damian and his family Interim Principal (February - September 2022)
and thanked them all for their commitment to JCH over the Deputy Principal
20 years of Damian’s leadership. Farewelling Damian – and

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