Page 25 - Luce 2024

S enior C o mmon Ro om

2023 - A Year Bogahapitiya Gamage, and Rose Gertsakis – have all acted as

of Change guides and inspiration for our younger students.
and Continuity Three new students commencing post graduate degrees joined
the Senior Common Room:

‘In the years when I knew JCH, • Klearhos Murphy commenced studying for a Master of
both as a student and as Principal, Music (Research) and tutored Music History and Theory.
I found it a place where kindness, Among other awards and scholarships, he won the coveted
consideration and friendliness 2023 Willoughby Symphony Orchestra Young Composer
abounded.’ Dr Enid Joske* award for his piece ‘Prayer for Makronissos’.

I suspect little has changed inside JCH since 1964, though • Kevin Chen commenced his PhD in the biomedical
a lot has changed in the outside world. This does not mean field of cancer research (please see page 28) and tutored
there are no challenges or difficulties with people living in the undergraduate Science subjects.
JCH community. What it does mean is that when people are
kind and considerate then solutions can often be found and • Josh Nguyen commenced his PhD in psychology,
issues resolved. researching a tool for suicide prediction in young people.
He presented his findings at one international conference
It has been a privilege to share in the leadership of the Janet and seven national conferences, won the Best Abstract
Clarke Hall community as Deputy Principal this year. I am Award at the Mental Health Symposium held in Melbourne,
most grateful to the staff, students and Council for their and still found time to tutor undergraduate students in
support in what has been a rich and varied year. Psychology.

I am pleased to report on another successful College year in Our Resident Tutors continued their studies and teaching.
2023, including for members of the Senior Common Room.
This group of people represents outstanding talent, teaching • Bek Markey-Towler passed the first-year milestone
ability, passion for their subject areas, and wide-ranging for her PhD looking at the importance of climate change
interests across the sciences, arts, languages and sports. considerations in relation to banks’ mortgage portfolios
Above all, they are very humble about their awards and (please see page 8).
achievements and unfailingly kind and gracious with their
peers and in their interactions with members of the Junior • Amy Bongetti passed her second-year milestone and
Common Room. We are home to a number of University of presented at a number of conferences and symposiums.
Melbourne and RMIT researchers. Their areas of research Her research involves Intensive Care Unit muscle wastage
include: muscle wasting in ICU; cancer; autoethnography; and minimisation and how to improve clinical practice.
environmental sustainability. I am pleased to see contributions
from some of these SCR members in this magazine. • Jack Tan passed the third-year milestone for his PhD in
creative writing and is intending to submit his thesis in mid-
We are also part of the worldwide Anglican community, 2024.
and this was highlighted when our planning, commenced in
2022, came to fruition in July with the triennial conference • Aidan Carter commenced working for the Department of
of the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Community Defence, while continuing part-time study for the Master of
(CUAC) Conference hosted by Trinity College and JCH. The Translating and Interpreting at RMIT.
Conference title was ‘Rediscovering Community: Discerning
Truth, Deepening Learning and Enhancing Wellbeing’. • Josh McLeod continues teaching on the Foundation Studies
course at Trinity College and singing in choirs. His choral
My personal highlights were travelling with my husband to highlights include performing with the Melbourne Chamber
Spain and Ireland in the middle of the year. We were fortunate and Symphony orchestras and representing Melbourne at
to be able to complete the Camino Primitivo in Spain and in the Australian Chamber Choir Festival.
Ireland stayed at St Patrick’s College at Maynooth University
for a conference and visited the beautiful Trinity College • Bee Ellis, Dean of Studies, returned to study a Master of
campus in Dublin to view the famous Reading Room and the Education part-time.
Book of Kells. Then there was the arrival of a ten-week-old
Red Heeler puppy called Riff at the start of Swot Vac in late SCR Farewells
October. What an impact this small package of energy and At Valedictory Dinner we farewelled many loved and
love has had on both students and staff! longstanding members of the College community. A number
of students completed their degrees and graduated. Others are
Senior Common Room (SCR) planning for exchange semesters and travel in 2024. We wish
The Resident Tutors have provided wonderful role models and them exciting and stimulating times.
mentors to students and have such an important role to play
in creating the academically supportive and caring community We farewelled two staff members – Tutor Elise Matthyssen after
that we value. The students who moved up from the JCR two years, and Librarian Cindy Derrenbacker after four years.
and joined the SCR – Eve Gray, Amy Wortmann, Shanuka Elise completed a Master of Applied Linguistics and has headed

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