Page 12 - Luce 2020

J unior C o mmon Ro om

Step Up Week

The College introduced Step Up Week
in Semester 1, comprising eight short
evening sessions focused on both
academic and practical, life skills.
Facilitated by College tutors and staff,
the week-long program featured not
only the usual writing, organisational
and research skills but also included
wellness and relaxation as well as Enthusiastic workers on board
Photo courtesy of Lily Li. learning a new language. ‘Personal for a day at the farm

Stars in their eyes Finance’, led by former Bursar Jennifer Farm Visit 2019
Smith, attracted a roomful of students,
eager to find out how best to manage
MSAS* was founded in the middle of their saving accounts and make wise In October, the students of JCH had
2018 to give Janet Clarke Hall its own financial decisions. the opportunity to travel to the farm
Astronomical Society. We are open to of much- loved alumna, and College
all interested students who would like Fellow, Jaan Enden (1960), to learn
to share their interest in astronomy about conservation and management
and science in general. of land, particularly after the recent
bushfires in the Bunyip forest. We
One of our first activities involved planted new trees and learnt the art of
getting up at 3 am on 28 July 2018 to clearing the land to save property and
observe the total lunar eclipse (blood lives – a delicate balance that had been
moon event). A group of JCH students highlighted at our Literature Dinner with
and I walked over to Royal Park and Chloe Hooper. The farm program is now
enjoyed a very beautiful moon, as in its eleventh year and is a wonderful
shown in the photograph taken by opportunity for our students to venture
Lily Li. Jennifer Smith made talking finance outside of the College to experience life
entertaining as well as informative on an Australian rural property.
On two occasions over the past year,
we invited the volunteers from the
Telescope in Schools (TIS) program,
organised by Clare Kenyon from the
University of Melbourne, to present
talks about gravitational waves, In the Christmas spirit
astronomy in general and a stargazing
night. We also enjoyed a thought- Christmas in not-quite-July was Australian twist! The relaxed, happy and
provoking talk from Dr Charles Hill of celebrated at Formal Hall on 8 August. supportive atmosphere gave everyone
the Centre of Excellence for Quantum The Dining Hall was decorated with some downtime from university
Computation and Communication green, red and gold as students, tutors commitments. Seeing everyone give and
(CQC2T) who shared with us his and staff shared in a hearty ‘Christmas’ receive gifts as part of Secret Santa was
research in quantum computation. dinner of vegetarian cannelloni, chicken another highlight of the night. And how
And last, but not least, we had a and fruit punch. The Choir sang carols could anyone forget the screening of
presentation about the largest engine and even invited everyone to join in Love Actually afterwards – a Christmas
ever built, the large hadron collider a sing-along of The Twelve Days of tradition around the world, it seems!
(Cern). Christmas.
A festive, glittering JCR
I am looking forward to inviting more At the conclusion of dinner, everyone
guest speakers over the next twelve adjourned to the Junior Common Room
months and hoping for good weather which was bedecked with fairy lights
for the coming stargazing nights. and torn wrapping paper. Students in
their Christmas cracker hats curled up
Dr Michael Stuiber on couches and beanbags, enjoying
Tutor the hot chocolate and Christmas snacks
prepared by the ‘food committee’. It was
*Editor’s note. The ‘Michael Stuiber a comforting, friendly sight.
Appreciation Society’ was a name
insisted upon by the JCH students, There was a variety of performances
despite Michael’s embarrassment including fairy-tales retold with an
and protestations.

12 LUCE Number 18 2019