Page 20 - Luce 2018
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Develop ment                                                                                                                                                                                            Develop ment





          From the Director

          of Development



          As an alumna of the College almost half                            the JCH community those students who
          a century ago, I always find it especially                         are the ‘right fit’ for JCH. Academic
          interesting to talk to today’s students                            achievement is rightly very important,
          about their experience of JCH. I never                             but so too are character, empathy and
          cease to be impressed and delighted by                             a social conscience. Thanks to the
          their spirit, intelligence, maturity and                           generosity of donors, testators and
          perception – and their awareness of and                            trustees, our comprehensive scholarship
          gratitude for the privilege they enjoy in                          and bursary program means that                        Susan Sypkens and Margie Welsford                                   Janet Limb, Jenny Happell, Fiona Caro
          being part of the JCH community.                                   financial constraints need not preclude
          Nothing could better express the feelings                          the most deserving students from a place
          so often expressed to me than this                                 at JCH.                                               Friends and Society Reunion
          extract (re-produced with permission)
          from an email sent to the Principal late                           As a small College that is determined                  Once again, Henderson House was the   This commitment to maintaining the   community spirit and the personal
          in 2018:                                                           to remain small, the ability of JCH                    setting for another enjoyable gathering   modest size of JCH student numbers   growth of the highly motivated young
                                                                             to continue to fund a strong level                     of JCH Friends and Society members.   was strongly supported by the   people within its walls.
          ‘I thought I should at the very least                              of endowment in an increasingly                        The official reason for the afternoon tea   gathering. Dr Powell also emphasised
          express my gratitude for the College                               competitive environment is critical to                 event was to celebrate fifty years since   the College’s need to continue to grow   As always on such occasions,
          for the last two years. Janet Clarke                               our future. My keen awareness of the                   the Trinity Women’s Society, established   our scholarship and bursary program   conversation was lively and varied
          Hall has been one of the greatest                                  importance of this funding once again                  in 1899, was proudly re-born in 1968   to ensure that all worthy students have   with friends sharing memories and
          things to happen to me – giving me                                 prompts me to thank sincerely those                    as the Janet Clarke Hall Past Students’   the opportunity to enjoy the privilege   news. There was much amusement at
          the opportunity to meet unique and                                 alumni and friends who so generously                   Society. However, there was certainly   of JCH, regardless of their economic   the recollection of ‘The Morgue’ (now
          interesting people who I can now   illustrates. Whether in academic,   support the College through bequests               a warm agreement amongst the     circumstances. He shared aspirations,   the Bursar’s office) where young men
          comfortably say are my family. Over   sporting, artistic, community or career   and donations. I hope they will take      assembled group that no ‘reason’ was   too, for continuing building works to   were required to wait when collecting
          these last two years, I have met people   pursuits they so often exemplify all   some meaningful gratification from the   necessary to facilitate a gathering of   extend the Junior Common Room and   a young lady for an outing in the
          with different passions and views but all   that JCH strives to nurture in its young   sure knowledge that generosity towards   old friends with a lively interest in the   build tiered seating in the back garden   1950s, and of the practice of the then
          with a common drive to make a positive   residents.                Janet Clarke Hall today will contribute                JCH of today and tomorrow. The group   for performance and recreation.  Principal, Miss Bagnall, of entering
          change in the world and it is why I am                             to valuable – sometimes life-changing –                was joined by Dr Powell, Ms Welsford,                              students’ rooms and writing her initials
          so proud to be a part of this wonderful   At the gathering of Friends and Society   support for deserving young people in   Mrs Davies, and Palawa woman,   Everyone was delighted and       in the dust on the mantelpiece as a
          JCH community.                   members in October, it was gratifying –   the future.                                                                     appreciative that Eleanor McCormack   none too subtle hint to the occupant
                                           although not at all surprising – to witness                                              Chancellor’s Indigenous Scholar and   kindly made time at such a pressured   that a little housework was in order!
          On a smaller scale, I have been able   their heartfelt validation of the Council’s   Ms Shelley Roberts                   Student Club Vice-President, Eleanor   time of the academic year to join the
          to participate in events like the Fresher   determination for JCH to remain small,   Director of Development              McCormack.                       group to share a little of her experience
          Dance Off and even try out for the   even as other colleges continue to                                                   Dr Powell brought everyone up    of JCH today. Eleanor came to College
          rowing and basketball teams. Along with   expand student numbers to a ‘new
          the JCH Ball and many other events, I   normal’ of 300+ and the University                                                to date on the College’s strategic   from Ulverstone, Tasmania and spoke
          have made many valuable memories that  increasingly promotes accommodation                                                priorities: he spoke about the   frankly of her joy at being part of the
          will stay with me for the rest of my life.’   options from private providers. A JCH   Living overseas                     Council’s commitment to the College   ‘family’ that is JCH and of the wonderful
                                           that provides a supportive and respectful   and want to support                          remaining small in contrast to the   friendships she already feels sure will
          Our alumni and our current students   academic environment for deserving   Janet Clarke Hall?                             expansion of neighbouring colleges   be lasting. She praised the culture of the
          are an endless source of pride for the   students from a range of backgrounds                                             and the rapidly increasing number of   College, valuing as it does academic
          College, as this magazine so clearly   and financial circumstances is a JCH that                                          university accommodation options.   achievement, cultural diversity,
                                           our alumnae heartily endorsed.      We know that there are many JCH
                                                                               alumni spread across the globe!
                                           As I observe the painstaking process of   Your donations to the College
                                           student interviews and final selection
                                           carried out by Dr Powell and his team   would be greatly appreciated and
                                           every year, it reinforces for me the vital   can be made securely and tax-
                                           importance of scholarships and bursaries   effectively online.
                                           in enabling the College to invite into
                                                                               For details, please visit:
                                           Mary Stannard (1955) and Mary       www.alumni.unimelb.edu.au/give/
                                           Schramm (1957) (seen here with      giving-overseas
                                           College Librarian Jenny Martin) were
                                           welcome visitors when they dropped by
                                           the College to present a copy of College
                                           Fellow Dr Valerie Asche AM’s memoir
                                           Walking My Baby Back Home: My                                                           Margie Richardson and Elizabeth Meredith    Donna Davies, Student Vice-President Eleanor McCormack, Jenny Ross,
                                           journey with TB before antibiotics.                                                                                                 Angela Grutzner

      20    LUCE  Number 17  2018                                                                                                                                                                                        J anet Clarke Hall  21
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