The newsletter of Whitley College Issue 8 - December 2012
Rev Dr Frank Rees In this edition of WCL we celebrate the contribution of Rosemary Dillon, who recently retired from the College after working with us for 40 of the 47 years of Whitley’s life. Rosemary has been so much a part of the College that it is difficult to image life here without her, but we are trying to get used to it! We are also celebrating the recognition of two of our staff members as Professors in the new MCD University of Divinity: Professor Mark Brett and Professor Terry Falla. Mark Brett holds the office of Professor of Hebrew Bible at Whitley, while Terry Falla is a Research Scholar at Whitley, continuing his work with the International Syriac Language Project. These appointments invite us to think about the title Professor and what it really means. What makes a Professor a Professor? It is more than a label. In fact, at the heart of the matter is an idea very close to the related term ‘professional’. Both carry the idea of professing something and that’s the key idea here. To profess something is to say that you have a belief or a conviction about how things are and should be. And that’s what is crucial to our understanding of a professor. In the modern university, a Professor is a scholar who has achieved prominence in their field of study, through their sustained research and teaching. But these things in turn arise from that ‘profession’ which guides the scholar in their work. A Professor professes a vision of reality—some conviction about how things truly are. They will have some understanding of this, but will also be convinced that they do not yet know it all. They know a lot, but they also have some apprehension of mystery, something fascinating and alluring yet to be discovered. Hence the Professor is given to study, research and rigorous enquiry. Very likely they will challenge some of the existing theories or ideas, seeking to understand more fully or more effectively. For this reason, Professors are often prophets too, in the sense that they may challenge the ideologies and common practices built upon what they see as inadequate theory or knowledge. The Professor works to discover and teach a better understanding. They not only have their own ‘profession’; they also seek to offer that vision and insight for the good of other scholars and, in the end, the wider community as well. It is perhaps no accident that Whitley’s new University Professors are both Old Testament scholars, who have each followed the pathway of the Prophets from the Hebrew Bible. All of us who know them and especially those privileged to be taught by them, know that they are possessed by a strong sense of reality as centred in the grace and provision of God. They have each been committed to researching how these ancient scripture texts can be brought into creative contact with the challenges and possibilities of our world today. These same dynamics shape our life as a College community. We too profess a calling, to pursue a more holistic and creative vision of our life together in this world. We congratulate Professor Brett and Professor Falla and wish them continuing success in their calling. WHITLEY COLLEGE LIFE ISSUE 8, December 2012 Editor: Sivonne Binks, Community Relations Manager
COVER: Kirsty McKenzie and Helen Lawrence before the girl’s football. Photo by William Stanley.
Photography: Photos in this edition taken by the editor along with student photographer William Stanley and staff, paticularly Roslyn Wright. If you have any news or submissions for future issues, please send them to: sbinks@whitley.unimelb.edu.au Whitley College 271 Royal Parade Parkville VIC 3052 T: 03 9340 8000 www.whitley.unimelb.edu.au
Rosemary dillon retirement dinner Early in December, the College held a dinner to celebrate the career of Registrar Rosemary Dillon, who retired in September. Rosemary began working for Principal D M Himbury in 1965, as Whitley College was preparing to open. She has been an integral part of the College staff ever since. The dinner was a fitting tribute to her contribution to the College, with guests entertained by amusing stories and heartfelt memories from former student Daryl Collins and past staff member Graeme Garrett. Reflecting on her years with the College, Rosemary said, ‘I made many lifelong friends in those years and, most importantly, I married one. We all shared lots of fun times in College and have continued to do so right up to now.’ Rosemary and her husband Bill now look forward to more opportunity for holidays and for visiting their daughter Zoe in England. Right from top: Rosemary and Bill Dillon; Graeme Garrett, Ellie Barnes, Milton Warn; Roslyn Otzen, Gordon Wild and Val Billingham; Laurel Stewart, Don Stewart and Ron Ham; Struan Macdonald, Lester Sawyer and Terry Falla.
In recognition of her significant contribution to the College, Whitley College has established the Rosemary Dillon Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a residential student from rural Australia each year and is part of the College’s broader program of ensuring students have access to the opportunities for enrichment that come from the College experience and a University education. For some students financial support is essential to allow them to focus on and continue their studies in Melbourne. The Rosemary Dillon Scholarship is designed to assist such students. We invite you to support the Rosemary Dillon Scholarship fund and help us to continue Rosemary’s legacy of care and support for students from rural areas. To contribute, please contact the Community Relations Office: Telephone - 03 9340 8018, Email - whitley@whitley.unimelb.edu.au
Thank you to the following scholarship supporters: Daryl Collins Anne Cooper Des Dodds Meewon & John Gilmore H M Leitch Jill Lorenzen Alan Marr Ros & Peter Otzen Don Stewart Richard Thwaites Beryl Turner
Margie Welsford
Valedictory Dinner formally marks the end of the year. We farewelled 10 of our Valedictorians after 3 years, Tom Cazaly after 4 years, Ben Zagami and Tom Wettenhall after 5 years and Shane Emanuelle after 8 years. Anne Roberts, an alumnus from the 90s, spoke about the importance of friendship and community in and beyond the walls of Whitley. Awards were given out to honour residents who have excelled academically and served the community well. Congratulations to the following people:
Fifth year resident Tom We with University of Melbo ttenhall (far right rear) urne Formula SAE car tha t the team designed and raced in October.
The Academic Award: Sam Lam The Arts Award: Ben Zagami The Service Award: Marc Nguyen and Julian Berk (shared) Our new student leaders are already up and running, having spent the first day of Swot Vac in training and preparation for Transition and Orientation. The new Student Club Executive hosted their first CRD with the theme “Game On”. The intercollegiate athletics carnival was a successful first task for our new Sports Reps with Whitley looking good in new singlets and making the finals in some events.
m with The 2012 College Netball tea their Premiership Trophy.
We have shared many good times in Semester 2. The netball premiership was a highlight and, of course, the WARTS production of the “Drowsy Chaperone” provided much entertainment. Genevieve and Mario gathered talented musicians from near and far and produced the Ex-Ressies/ Ressies Soiree, a most enjoyable experience. During the last half of August, marriage was on everyone’s minds as dinner times were taken over by imaginative and heartfelt proposals. One lucky young man was asked by two women for his hand. Sadly, only one couple could be winners and be ‘married’ on Girls & Guys Night. Fortunately, Tutor Belal was more successful with his proposal and will be married to Naib Khan at home in India in January. Dr Kahn and his new wife will return to Whitley next year. Belal presented at the Asia Pacific Conference for Bone Marrow Mineral Density in Perth and won the prize for best paper at the conference. We were educated and engaged by two more Tutor seminars: Jess Holmes gave a seminar explaining her chemical cages and their implications for health and industry, Dhruv Sawhney presented his honours work on vaccines and the latest findings that have made vaccines easier to produce and safer to administer.
Georgie Upton and Jack Power receive the awards for Sp ortswoman and Sportsman of the ye ar.
Thank you to all the students and staff who have made the residential College such a special place to live in 2012. Best wishes to those who are moving on to exciting futures. We hope you will stay in touch and come back to visit. Marc Nguyen and Julian Berk each receive the Service Award.
model students Graduating Biomedicine students Chris Lai and Jeremy Wong have each been awarded a place in the professional Medicine degree. Chris and Jeremy have both completed their third year of studies and are the first Whitley College students to enter Medicine via the new Melbourne model. The model allows entry to professional degrees, such as medicine, only to those who have earned another degree. Chris, who is returning to Whitley College in 2013 as one of our growing contingent of Graduate students, said that he has enjoyed Biomedicine, ‘It broadened my horizons and let me study a range different things. But I am really looking forward to getting Clinical experience next year’. We are excited to see future Biomedicine students following in the footsteps of Chris and Jeremy and getting the most out of the Melbourne Model and life at College.
not so Drowsy In August the Whitley Annual Residential Theatre Society (WARTS) staged a production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Directed by James White, the show brought to life a bunch of quirky and lovable characters in ridiculous and funny situations. With 12 lead roles and a large chorus, there were plenty of songs and story lines for the actors to sink their teeth into. A hilariously over-the-top performance of the character ‘Aldolpho’ was a fitting swan-song for WARTS veteran Ben Zagami. (Clockwise, from top): The cast and chorus; Will Evans and Sam La Salle with an athletic dance number; William Stanley as ‘Man in Chair’ the musical’s on-stage narrator; Ben Zagami as ‘Aldolpho’
2012 Valedictorians (Back, from left) Tom Cazaly, Tom Wettenhall, Shane Emanuelle, Nick Grosfeld, Julian Berk, Chris Lai, Chris Lee, Dhruv Sawhney (Front, from left) Ben Zagami, Marc Nguyen, Jeremy Wong, Samuel Lam, Jason Zhang and James Ward.
Terry Falla and Mark Brett have been recognised as Professors in the new MCD University of Divinity
Rev Bruce Tudball What sorts of people study theology and why do they do it? Good questions! Some answers can be found in the Awards list and those who received them at ‘Celebrate the Journey’, the final event of the year for theological students. The Biblical Languages prize is named after Florence Sims, who completed Bachelor of Divinity in 1926, the first woman to graduate from the Melbourne College of Divinity. Long before women were ordained, Florence taught Biblical Languages at the Baptist College from 1907 until 1941. Some years ago, the College received a bequest from David Farr who died quite young. David was a member of the Abbotsford Baptist Church, a friend of the College and a man who wanted to encourage theological study. This award is given to encourage excellence in the study of worship. The Ruth Sampson Scholarship was established in memory of the Rev Ruth Sampson, pioneering woman pastor, peace and justice activist. She was pastor at Kew Baptist Church when she died too young. The scholarship is awarded to assist a woman student proceeding towards ordained ministry.
Delegates enjoy the chance to ch at during a break at the 20 12 School of Min istry
When we turn to some of those who received awards this year, they reflect a variety of disciplines and interests. One award recipient is a candidate for the Baptist ministry. She has excelled in Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology and preaching. Another person to receive an award is a young man who is still exploring the directions of his future ministry. He has excelled in all his theological units, including a rather confronting unit about the challenges of caring for people in grief and loss. In contrast, a much older person’s grandchildren wonder why she has gone back to ‘school’ when she did not have to. She has other degrees but has greatly enjoyed the blend of academic and practical applications in her theology degree. Three people from the past and three from the present illustrate how the study of theology can open new worlds and offer fresh approaches to faith and life.
iguez, Steer, Antonio Rodr an th Na ts en ud st tober The Ordination of Phil Assender in Oc d an l el pb m Ca ie Adam Hince, Debb
religious Art PRIZE The inaugural Religious Art Prize encouraged some fabulous creative activity around the College. The finalists represented both Theological and Residential students and a number of artistic media, from sculpture to digital fabric prints. The winner of the Prize was Resident Nathaniel Taylor, with his Triptych on Faith and Ministry. The judges were particularly fond of the way he managed to capture passing moments in nature in his photography. During the exhibition, which ran in the College Library during November, a People’s Choice prize was voted on and awarded to Libby Byrne. Nathaniel’s prize includes a week’s exhibition at Chapel on Station Gallery. He will use this opportunity to hold an exhibition in mid 2013.
Top picture: Frank Rees and Anne Mallaby present certificates to the Art Prize finalists at the launch of the exhibition (left to right) Enes Bowen, Joe Pinkard, Nathaniel Taylor, Xiaoli Yang, William Stanley, Sarah Kent, Bree Ellett, Frank Rees, Anne Mallaby and Libby Byrne. Above: Students with their art (clockwise from left) Nathaniel Taylor, Libby Byrne and Joe Pinkard.
2012 Academic award winners The award winners, with Principal Frank Rees: (From left) Narelle Mancer, Luke Bowen, Pauline Tudball, Jarrod Thomas, Debbie Campbell, U-Wen Low, Frank Rees, Katrina Lambert, Gayle Hill
Alumni events college day In June we had the annual College Day, welcoming some of our Retired Ministers for lunch and laughter. Top right: Ross Prout, Graham Neilson and Ron Ham Bottom left: John Wright, Geoff Blackburn and John Strugnell Bottom right: Peter Jenkin, Alan Nunn, Trevor Farmilo and Chris Cohen
whit’s End drinks
We celebrated the end of the academic year in the Residential College in November. Students from 2011 returned to catch up with the students from this year over a barbecue and drinks in the courtyard.
2013 Senior Students Briana Ellis, Rhiannon Walder and Nicole Chisholm
2011 Student Club President Pat Au
Xuebing Li (2011-12) and 2012 Student Club President James Ward
Tim Green (2009-11), Jeremy Warne (2011-12) and Melissa German (2008-11)
Courtney Waterson (2009-11) and Nick Grosfeld (2011-12)
Nick Twaddle (2011-12), Jeremy Chan (2010-11) and Tim Green (2009-11)