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Retiring JCH Council Members reflect on their Council years

Alex Murphy (2004) in Dr Spencer-Regan, the College has a Stephen Higgs observed how the demands of Anthony Wood Over the years, it is abundantly clear to

Council member 2016-2024 leader who is again asking the College Council member 2015-2024 governance have become ever more Council member 2006-2024 me that, notwithstanding its small coterie
intensive, nowhere less, for example, than
to reimagine itself. How can it change to
of residents, especially by comparison
best do now what it has always existed in the domain of risk. Risk management to some of the larger colleges around
to do: provide young people – especially is in the purview of that committee, and the Crescent, Janet Clarke Hall regularly
communities often excluded from it – the that’s clearly very important, but equally punches above its weight and definitely
best possible communal environment to important in my mind is the opportunity leads by example.
study and grow? for young people to have freedom From my perspective, the challenges
to explore the world and undertake
Not many Council members get to challenges. Regulators don’t always facing JCH today are pretty much the
celebrate the incredible contribution and understand that. same as they were nearly 20 years ago:
tenure of one Principal, rely on a great • To have full enrolments;
Vice-Principal, Margie Welsford, to lead In the pandemic years, the boundary • To maintain the high educational
through a transition and then join the between governance and management standards;
effort to find the next visionary leader necessarily became blurred as Council • To maintain and enhance the College
across the globe. I was exceptionally and in particular the Chair supported experience; and
fortunate to be there. the Principal and staff in dealing with • To foster and encourage leadership,
Step through the main entrance of Janet Old oars passed down through the family the most extraordinary upending of In early 2006 I was approached by the resilience and respect.
Clarke Hall on a quiet day and you’ll see A contribution to a board or Council remind us of my grandfather’s allegiance normality – and how brilliantly they did then Chair of Janet Clarke Hall, Jaan
light cascade through windows and might formally be marked with these to Queen’s College, where he was that! Enden (1960) to fill the position of Earlier in 2024, I advised the then Chair,
across study spaces, as if it has always big transitional moments (or occasional preparing for ordination as a Methodist So, in the face of the increasing Treasurer which was soon to become Clare Pullar, that I would not be seeking
done so, and always will. That light lured crisis), but that’s not how I’ll remember minister. One of my sons and I were vacant. I attended my first Council re-election to Council, and that I would
me in as a student on Open Day a very it. Nor is it really about process, despite subsequently affiliated with Queen’s, complexity of governance, it’s very meeting in May of that year. resign my position in December 2024.
encouraging to see that there has been
long time ago. the rhythm of budgets and audits and so how did I come to join the Council of From my perspective, it was a baptism Having completed more than eighteen
meetings. The Council appoints the Janet Clarke Hall? significant refreshment in the ranks of years as Treasurer, I felt that it was time I
But the great secret of JCH is that none Principal and has its governance role – Council in recent years, with impressive of fire. Not being an alumnus of the stepped back, having done my best for
of its beauty, culture or community is which it takes appropriately seriously. For several decades I had the privilege skills being brought to the table. And I’m College or of the University of Melbourne, all those years. Would I do it again? Most
eternal, or to be taken for granted. It has However, its best moments are where the of being Headmaster of Ballarat and delighted by the new directions being the challenge was to prove myself. The definitely, yes!
all been wrought: a space clawed out for connections, life experience and wisdom Queen’s Anglican Grammar School. navigated by Dr Spencer-Regan, and then Principal, Dr Damian Powell, and
those who had previously been denied of a diverse group of people link up to Through his role as Chancellor of the not just because I’m a Durham graduate the then Bursar, Graeme Latham, were Thank you to all who have supported
tertiary education; a small college that support the Principal and each other, in Diocese of Ballarat, Professor Robin myself! The need-blind admission instrumental in settling me into the me over the years, and I wish all the very
decided to stay that way, even as others quiet conversations, reassuring texts and Sharwood AM, former Warden of Trinity objective will bring greater richness of Treasurer’s role. Graeme’s attention to best to the current and future Council
closed around it; a space that has sought collective action. College, became involved with Ballarat diversity to the College, and Eleanor’s detail was meticulous, and he was a members, staff and residents of Janet
out visionary Principals, dedicated Grammar, and recommended that Dr community service and sustainability great source of knowledge for what was Clarke Hall.
staff and a student body that is wildly, A good JCH Council tests, but commits. Damian Powell be invited to join the initiatives are especially close to my heart. going on in JCH and, indeed, around
brilliantly, deliberately different. JCH is a It asks itself and the Principal the hard Board of the School. It was no small Sue and I have retired to our farm, off- the Crescent. His early support to me
college that has now set itself on a course questions but then puts its hands to the commitment for Damian to travel to was vital for my understanding of JCH
to offer itself to students, entirely without wheel to deliver on the answers. We can Ballarat for regular meetings. But his lived grid on the Moorabool River. Planting and College financial intricacies. I owe
thousands of trees, swimming with
regard to their circumstances. The quiet see this in the philanthropic experience experience of Principalship added special Graeme a great debt of gratitude for this
light was deceptive twice over – the area of our Chair, Clare Pullar*, renewing the wisdom to the Board’s deliberations, platypus and grandparenting will keep support in my early days as Treasurer.
us busy, but I’ll remember gratefully
was brand new when I first saw it (walls College’s connections and relationships, and successive Chairs and I, in particular, Since joining the JCH Council, I have
personally painted by Dr Powell, due and in the OHS and risk management valued his insights and his collegiality. So the encouragement of two JCH Council had the pleasure of serving under the
Chairs, and fondly the warmth of
to lack of funds!) and this is a place that expertise of my excellent successor when I retired from the School, there was leadership of five Chairs of Council, two
moves. Allan Joseland* as her Deputy. The an invitation to reciprocate. collegiality in Council. I’ll look forward
same can be said of each of the other eagerly to reports of the College thriving Principals, and four Vice-Principals. I have
It was a huge privilege to be a student I had seen several very able Ballarat in years to come. also been ably supported by no less than
at JCH, to stay in touch with its leaders Council Members and great staff whose Grammar graduates progress to JCH and five Bursars/Business Managers. All these
tenure coincided with part of mine.
and community (as we all should!) and, thrive in the College environment. With a dedicated people in the management
for several years, to serve on its Council, The College and its Council shifts and large boarding contingent at the School, team have been wonderful to work with,
changes membership to meet each new
including as its Deputy Chair. That has I had contact with many families seeking and made the exercising of my role much
given me the best seat in the house to challenge, but the shared commitment a secure and supportive environment easier than it could otherwise have been.
remains, pushing further forwards into
watch the careful, considered, but always for young people moving to Melbourne I have also been part of a team at
active leadership of two great Principals the light. to study, and I admired the focus which Council level. Of course there have been
and their brilliant staff. ‘For what was before is left behind, JCH had on the needs of students from several changes to the composition of
And what was not comes to be, regional Australia. Clearly, too, the
In Dr Powell’s time the College righted And each moment is renewed.’ richness of the College’s cultural milieu Council over the years. The calibre of
itself from shaky ground and reimagined was very appealing. So I signed up, as those Council members throughout this
its culture. It told students that their Ovid, Metamorphoses, XV:185 one does, for an initial three-year term on time has been remarkable. The passion
individuality, artistry and kindness *In January 2025 Allan Joseland took up the Council, and now sign off after nine years. brought to every meeting, the robust
meant they were at home with us, position of Council Chair, following Clare Throughout that time I was involved discussions, and the clear thinking was a
in a community that did not require Pullar’s retirement as Chair. Clare remains as with the Governance and Nominations hallmark of the way Council approached
conformity but rejected cruelty. Now, Deputy Chair and Chair of the Advancement its role.
Committee. Committee, and through that lens
28 L u ce Number 23 2024 Janet Clar ke Hall 29