Page 9 - Luce 2018

N ews a nd Events N ews a nd Events

The Ants Are

Our Friends
Each year, students of Janet Clarke Hall
have the opportunity to participate in the
College’s annual play. This year’s offering
was a reading of the play The Ants Are
Our Friends written by Pera Wells (1968),
former Secretary-General of the World
Federation of United Nations Associations.
I had the privilege of coordinating the play
reading and credit the rewarding nature of
the experience to the active involvement
of both Pera herself and a large number
of Janet Clarke Hall students. With three
students behind the scenes and 21
members of the student club performing –
and even Dr Powell taking on a role – there
were many ways to become involved. Andrew Haveron and Anna Goldsworthy delivered an electrifying performance
The play itself was both thought-provoking In Concert:
and occasionally light-hearted, providing
John Marsden opens up on writing a timely insight into the intersection of
Literature Dinner climate change and global politics. It An Afternoon of Musical Excellence
offered insights into the complicated politics
Internationally acclaimed writer John Marsden was speaker and guest of surrounding climate change and looked Described by The Australian as a ‘musical ambassador,’ Janet Clarke Hall’s Kenneth
honour at our Literature Dinner, speaking with candour and humour about into the lives and differing perspectives of Moore Memorial Music Scholar, Dr Anna Goldsworthy, is one of Australia’s most
writing, the creative process, and offering tips for young writers. While John university students. A panel discussion held acclaimed and versatile musicians. In our 2018 ‘In Concert’ Anna
may be best known for his Tomorrow series of young adult fiction (translated after the play raised thoughtful questions was joined in concert by Dr Andrew Haveron, Concertmaster
into five languages and selling many millions of copies), his more recent about climate change which were explored of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and one of the most
convict novel South of Darkness provided the background to his talk. and considered with Pera. Especially sought-after violinists of his generation, playing on a violin
interesting was consideration of how we made in 1757 by G.B. Guadagnini.
While it was John’s first time in the College, as students can create change, particularly
connections to JCH abound. Our Artist-in-Residence when overwhelmed with a lack of political In a virtuoso performance, Andrew and Anna took the
Alice Pung, who welcomed John, has written reform. audience through a musical journey spanning both sides
movingly on their friendship and the influence that of the English Channel over four tumultuous decades in
John’s books had on her younger life in Alice Pung Miriam Lewis which Europe was riven by catastrophic warfare and artists
on John Marsden. Having engaged with a student Janet Reid (née Malley) Scholar questioned the role of music in the face of human degradation.
panel, the vote of thanks was offered by first-year As the accompanying CD suggests, the works performed are strikingly eclectic,
student Rose Forrest, who was awarded the John revealing the marriage of violin and piano in multiple guises. We hope you enjoy the
Marsden and Hachette Australia Prize for best challenging repertoire so wonderfully rendered.
fiction for her story ‘A Stretching Summer’ at the
2017 Melbourne Writers Festival. Leadership Dinner

Our outgoing Vice-Chancellor Prof
Glyn Davis AC spoke forcefully and
eloquently on the realities of leadership,
drawing from his personal experience
within the public service, academia and
in association with veterans of Officer
Training Unit Scheyville, established in
Grappling with climate change through 1965 to expand the Army officer corps
performance
for service in Vietnam.
Citing the Empire poetry of Alfred Lord
Tennyson (‘Into the valley of Death/
Rode the six hundred’ ) – a call to
‘heroism’ belied by the experience
of Vietnam veterans Glyn has come
to know and respect – he noted an
ever-present challenge for good leaders
to avoid clichés and to accept honest The Principal met up with College Fellow Tim Thwaites (1973) and Artist-in-
discourse and critique in matters Residence Alice Pung at the Jewish Writers Festival. While Alice joined a writers’
Shamus Clarke and Rose Forrest talk literature Pera Wells takes us through our paces in ranging from war making to university panel, Tim’s wife Lilit spoke on her translation of Antonio Iturbe’s The Librarian of
with John Marsden preparation for the play reading policy. Auschwitz

8 LUCE Number 17 2018 J anet Clarke Hall 9