Trinity College Newsletter, vol 1 no 9, April 1975

Page 1

TRINITY N e e #et isr/ COLLEGE A PUBLICATION OF TRINITY COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

No. 9

APRIL, 1975

FROM THE WARDEN Dr Evan Burge reports on his Wardenship so far. "My first view of Trinity was idyllic — a warm November dusk, trees in full leaf, birds singing, and in the distance the choir of the Canterbury Fellowship. Even when students are bustling to and fro there is a great peace in the buildings and gardens of Trinity — and for this, like many before me, I have often had cause to be grateful.

Seven ninths of the Lodge Family.

I found here a wonderfully diverse, stimulating and friendly Trinity community. This community was, as it has remained, in good heart. My arrival coincided, however, with an unprecedented level of inflation and with soaring labour costs. Sooner than I could have wished, I had to wrestle with the great problem of the economic viability of the College. A fee-rise of $100 for the third term proved insufficient to prevent a deficit of $24,000 on the total year's operations. The question was whether fees would have to be set so high that we would price ourselves out of the market. Difficult problems demand imaginative solutions. It was immediately obvious that Trinity remained a genuine academic community and was contributing an enormous amount to the development of its members. I could never look at our buildings or at the books in our library, so many of them gifts of people who have loved this place, without reflecting that other Wardens had faced hard times, and had been determined that Trinity would serve the generations of the future as well as of the past. Here is what we are doing. In 1975, our budget will balance. At $1,450 for the year, the fees should be sufficient to cope with inflation. Bursary help has been promised to several good students who could not otherwise afford to come. Our management staff has been reduced by appointing Mr. Alan Todd to act as both Bursar and Domestic Manager. A system of

Domestic Bursaries means that many members of the College share, as is normal in a family, in such tasks as gardening, cleaning and waiting at table. For such students the fees are greatly reduced. This is one way in which members have a personal stake in the condition and efficiency of the College. It has been known for some years that the College should increase its membership to remain viable. Our kitchen and dining hall are adequate for about 250 students. We do need a further building, for we are desperately short of space for tutorial rooms, common rooms, music rooms, and efficient offices. Unlike other Colleges we have no married tutors' flats. A private dining room would also be a great advantage. Yet, even without another building, much has been done. This year, the College opened with 225 students in residence, an increase of 17 upon last year. The additional places were gained by using four staffrooms for students, and by turning the bedrooms of Clarke into single bedstudies. The increase in numbers, the Domestic Bursary arrangements, and the reorganization of our staff will go a long way towards securing our financial viability. The essential academic elements of College life are being preserved and developed. My predecessor, Dr. Sharwood, once spoke to me of the important links between the Senior Common Room, formal meals (including the wearing of the academic gown), and the tutorial programme. My ex-

perienCe in Trinity, in contrast to other places 'where these things are not honoured, shows clearly that he was right. Trinity remains a place where students can work, and where academic study and research of a high order is being done. I must leave to the Senior Student's report on the back page the many other facets, social, sporting and cultural, of College life. I do want to say, however, that last year's group of nine women students proved an asset to the College in every way. They took a full part in sport, contributed fully to our social life, helped to bring about a more gracious atmosphere in Hall, and finally did well in their examinations. This experience has encouraged us to increase the number of female residents to 43 (of whom onethird are in second year and beyond). Ultimately the number of resident Trinity women will be between 65 and 70. There we must draw the line to preserve our appeal to lovers of traditional college sports and to keep the College, despite many changes, essentially the same College as it has always been. It will be clear from all this that I am greatly enjoying the challenge and responsibility of being the fifth Warden of the College. My wife and family have been welcomed unreservedly by all members of the College, past and present, and we are honoured to have been chosen to enter a community which spans several generations and many fields of experience. Your support and friendship are somehing we value highly."

UNION OF THE FLEUR-DE-LYS 1975 DINNER Following the outstanding success of last year's `mixed' Dinner, arrangements this year will be similar. The Dinner will be held at College on Friday, 9th May, at 7.30 p.m. and will be preceded by drinks and a very brief Annual General Meeting in the Junior Common Room. Professor A. G. L. Shaw has been nominated as President for 1975. Invitations are enclosed with this Newsletter and more may be obtained by telephoning the Warden's Secretary on 347 1044. The Warden is keen to meet members of the Union, i.e., all former members of the College and would like to hear from those who are able to lunch or dine in Hall.

CRICKET 1975 As we go to press news comes that Trinity has won the Intercollegiate Cricket (by beating Ormond). This is the first win since 1960.


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Trinity College Newsletter, vol 1 no 9, April 1975 by Trinity College Collections - Issuu