SUMMER 2013 ISSUE06
from the head There were times when the end of 2013 and the completion of the redevelopment of the Kensington Colleges seemed so far away I could not imagine it. I have taken many groups, including many former residents through the new scheme. Their responses are almost unanimous ‘amazing!’ All have ‘oohed’ at the new rooms with balconies and en-suites, and ‘ahhed’ at the features like the wi-fi and the state of the art security system. Particularly gratifying is the feedback from current residents and recent ex-residents - those who have come on the journey with us over the past four years. The biggest gasps are for the views over the racecourse and to the city from the roof terrace barbecues. The social and collegiate traditions of Basser, Baxter and Goldstein will have a wonderful new home! 2013 has been a great year in many other ways and we are pleased that we have been able to reconnect with so many of you. We have hosted notable alumni as guest speakers, gained your valuable input into the researching the Kensington College history and organised a number of reunions, including ones in Singapore and Hong Kong. We are particularly grateful to those of our alumni who have supported our scholarship programs. Your gifts will make a huge difference to residents for many years to come. I am looking forward to welcoming the new students in 2014, the start of a new era at the Kensington Colleges. Thank you to you all for your continued support. Isabelle isabelle Creagh Head, The Kensington Colleges
newsfeed Generous gifts create new scholarships We are delighted to announce, that thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends of the Colleges, we are now able to offer some significant residential scholarships for next year.
Daniel and Helen Gauchat with the Dean of Medicine Peter Smith, UNSW VP of Advancement Jennie Lang and Kensington College medical students at their Scholarship announcement
We are particularly grateful to the generosity of Baxterian David Nunan (see alumni bio). David has pledged $250,000 to set up the David nunan rural residential scholarships. David was brought up in Broken Hill and was only able to attend university through a scholarship so understands the challenges of rural students well. From next year, three students from a rural background who might otherwise financially not be able to attend UNSW or the colleges will benefit to the tune of $8,000 each a year through this scholarship. Two residential scholarships at $8,000 a year for Rural Medical Students have also been established by Daniel and Helen Gauchat of the Southern Highlands of NSW. A number of Baxter alumni including John Conway and Graham George (both freshers in 1966) have also made donations to start the ball rolling for a baxter College alumni scholarship. We hope with alumni support to have an alumni scholarship fund for each of the colleges. And finally, we have set up a number of returning residents scholarships. The Vice–Chancellor himself has made a significant donation, as have some alumni, to help provide a number of $2,500 scholarships to students who have proved themselves as great Collegians to help them return in 2014. Thank you to all our donors for helping change the lives of our students. With 500 students due into Kensington Colleges in 2014 though, we still need more scholarships. Please contact Chris Lewis if you would like to discuss a donation.
Thanks to our speakers With the reinstitution of academic robes and the successful proposal for more Formal Dinners, residents have had the privilege to experience several distinguished guest speakers in the newly renovated Goldstein Dining Hall. Guest speakers have included: • Mr John Feneley: NSW Mental Health Commissioner early basser reunion - From left to right Harry Maltman, Peter Fox, graeme sheather, noel godfrey, John nicholls, isabelle Creagh (Head of Colleges), neil Morris (unsW VP university services),John niland, bill ticehurst, Zach bush (present basser College President), Chris Fell, Charles (Chas) Pope
• Dr Tina Clifton: Pro-Chancellor UNSW and Basser Alumni • Mr David Nunan: Professor in Education (see bio), Baxter President 1971 • The Honourable Ross Free, Basser President 1964
newsfeed Presidents’ Update
Ruth Wheen Cup
2013 at The Kensington Colleges was a year when each resident, be they Fresh or continuing, was afforded the task of maintaining the spirit of their colleges, as the Baxter building became home to three scaled down colleges.
Congratulations to Goldstein, winners of the Ruth Wheen Cup for 2013!
Each resident has taken to this assignment with immense enthusiasm, resulting in a very high level of participation, enjoyment and legacy.
Semester 1 highlights of this historic trophy included the inaugural Big Eat Off.
The format may have changed since its sporting heyday when the Ruth Wheen Cup was replaced by the inter college sport shields to include Warrane, New etc, but competition remains fierce amongst the three colleges for this cup which was re-introduced in 2005 after a long period of inactivity.
College Presidents (L-r): tom Morrison, emma gorman, Zac bush
As the college executive, we hope that we helped shape the way forward through the re-introduction of academic robes at Formal Dinner; the introduction of an academic peer mentor program; the continuation and expansion of ‘Parents Weekend’; and the restructuring of the college house committee to streamline the management of the student club. Additionally we hosted a successful Alumni Networking Evening, on the 19th of September. Thanks to the 50 Alumni and 130 students who attended.
ruth Wheen Handball Competition players
This year we left behind the greasy gluttony of McDonalds for a much more sumptuous three course banquet. The second event of the year was Foursquare Handball. Playing by an amended set of World Championship rules, ten competitors from each College battled it out over five intense games. The third Ruth Wheen event of the year saw the Phillip Baxter College hallways transformed into a mixture of terrifying, futuristic and magical worlds for ‘Floor Night In’. Baxter’s C2 well and truly scared off the competition with their haunted house to take out the prize for Best Floor. Lawyers, present and future at the alumni networking evening
In living together for these last two years, each college’s appreciation of each other has increased enormously. As our traditions intertwined, our competitive relationships did not falter. Each college will move into 2014 proud of their individuality, yet thankful of the irrevocable friendships that have been forged.
It was down to the Roundhouse for the Pool Comp. Baxter dressed appropriately for the occasion turning up in suit and tie, showing the other Colleges they meant business. The skill demonstrated by many players proved that they have been spending much time in bars and pubs. Baxter annihilated all others. The other Ruth Wheen events included: Dodgeball, Poker, Table Tennis, Video Games, Recyclable Fashion, Comp, Ruth’s Birthday (trivia) The finale was the ‘Vampire Challenge’ where colleges were measured for their generosity of donation when the real Blood Bank came to UNSW!
Kensington College mixed photo 2013
Student Achievements Kensington Colleges continues to provide leaders across the University. Billy Bruffey from Goldstein was elected as the student rep on the UNSW Academic Board. Tom Morrison from Baxter was elected as a director of Arc@UNSW, formally known as the UNSW Student Guild. Austin Lee recently participated in the Leukaemia Foundations “Shave for a Cure” program to fund research into blood based cancers. To date Austin has raised over $1200. Well done! • Lauren Tomasi (Baxter) B. austin Lee shave for a Cure Media and Communications has been accepted on exchange to the University of Colorado with an Elite Athlete scholarship • James Peek (Baxter) has been accepted on exchange to Lund University in Sweden as part of his B. Science/ Commerce degree. • Thomas McFee (Baxter) has been granted an industrial training placement in Brisbane, working at Pacific Aluminium as part of his B. Materials Science/ Engineering degree. • Resident Fellow, Renard Siew (Goldstein) has been awarded one of two global scholarships to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) for their five day PhD academy.
the new Kensington Colleges take shape December 2013
An update on the development These pictures tell the story better than words can on how the new colleges are progressing. Final fit outs are now taking place, with landscaping and furniture all nearly in place, ready to receive the first residents in semester 1, 2014. Looking at the main picture above from December 2013, Goldstein Hall, in the bottom left of the picture, remains the hub of the community and will see over 600 students dine there on a daily basis next year. Basser College is the building still shrouded in scaffolding adjacent to Goldstein Hall whilst Philip Baxter College, overlooking the cafe and Morven Brown carpark, is virtually finished with only the roof terrace and ground floor common areas still under construction. The two new residences, Colombo Hall next to Goldstein Hall, and Fig Tree Hall in the top right of the picture on High Street are new additions to the complex. We look forward to welcoming you all back in 2014 to see the new colleges.
residents won best dressed award at arC event dressed as oompa Loompas
Values in Action: Fundraising efforts of residents
basser foundations with baxter in background shrouded with scaffolding april 2013
Last year, inaugural ‘Spring Fever’ Initiative raised over $10,000 for Turia Pitt, a Baxter College Alumni. Turia tragically suffered severe burns after being trapped in a bushfire in the NT during an ultramarathon. The funds raised are directly supporting her recovery, the costs of which will amount to millions. In 2013, the students at the Kensington Colleges have helped raise funds which will go towards a scholarship for an Indigenous Student. basser has risen December 2013
where are they now? David Nunan
Baxter 1968-1971
David joined Baxter from Broken Hill in far far west NSW on a scholarship from the Department of Education. His journey to UNSW began with a two day train ride and $10 from his Dad to spend on a steak to keep him going. It went on beer! David became President of Baxter in 1971. He recalls fondly his time at Baxter, including a well-publicised protest sleep over, beds and all, on the median strip on Anzac Parade.
current resident profile naMe: : Milonee Shah CoLLege: Philip Baxter College
He received his BA from UNSW in 1971 in English and History, his diploma of Education the year after and went on to have a very distinguished international career in education. He specialises in the teaching and learning of English as a Foreign language. He is a scholar and researcher of note but has had particular success as a text book writer. His books are used in schools and universities around the world. His series “Go For It” is in fact the largest selling text book series in the world, with sales exceeding 3 billion copies! He is Vice President for Academic Affairs at Anaheim University, California and holds numerous honorary and Emeritus professorships around the world. He travels between Hong Kong, Sydney and California and the residents were delighted when he accepted their invitation to speak recently at the Semester 2 commencement dinner.
Greg Raffin
Course: Medicine (1st year)
David nunan at the construction site December 2012
Basser 1965-69
Greg arrived from Central- Western NSW knowing virtually no one in the “big smoke”. He remains grateful to Basser for providing him with a network of friends. Greg’s Fresher year of 1965 brought with it the institution of Female residents and the Ruth Wheen Cup. Greg took to college life with gusto. He headed the second social committee to stage the Formal on floorboards and under a marquee in the smaller quad, alumnus greg raffin edited the 1968/9 magazine and served briefly on the house committee. He also had an unscheduled flight to Fiji courtesy of Qantas: a Foundation Day stunt well-organised by others which achieved its aim and led Qantas to employ seventeen extra security guards after he was able to sneak aboard the plane for a free fight to Fiji! Despite being a teaching scholarship holder he began his career in the Exploration division of WMC before returning to NSW to teach at a number of rural NSW secondary schools. Highlights of Greg’s teaching career include being awarded a NSW Premier’s Military History scholarship in 2005, travelling to South-East Asian countries to study and produce a report on Japanese Imperialism during World War II and mentoring beginning teachers. Greg finished his career as History Head Teacher at a “mixed-mode” mid-North Coast school. Besides enjoying outdoor activities, Greg’s retirement has enabled him to write the historical WWI book “Australia’s Real Baptism of Fire” -in bookshops now.
WHY CoLLege College has given me an entirely new and exciting family to be a part of as I embark upon the unknown and daunting journey that is Uni. There are so many activities and events to be a part of and I meet so many people from all different courses and backgrounds. Most MeMorabLe CoLLege exPerienCe? O-week was definitely the highlight of my College experience so far. Having the opportunity to spend a week alone with freshers, trying crazy/new/awesome things like the scavenger hunt and build strong friendships is a fond and nostalgic memory I will carry with me well into the future. tHis tiMe next Year i’LL be…. Right here! I definitely plan on staying for one more year at College, if not two. I really look forward to the new buildings and meeting all the new residents that 2014 brings
keep in touch … isabelle Creagh Head of the Kensington Colleges Ph +61 02 9385 4591 i.creagh@unsw.edu.au Chris Lewis Development and Alumni Manager Ph +61 2 9385 8344 chris.lewis@unsw.edu.au Linkedin We have now set up Linkedin groups for each of the colleges…Just search for your college by name in ‘groups’ on Linkedin and apply to join. History archives If you have material for our history archives please contact Chris Lewis. Design: P3 Design stuDio REF54945