The Playford Trust marked its 40^th anniversary in April by recognising 50 high-achieving South Australian students working in areas of strategic importance to the State.

We are thrilled four St Ann’s College students, Dana Hurrell (Bachelor of Advanced Sciences), Hayden Schultz (Bachelor of Engineering Mechanical), Jasper Harding (Bachelor of Advanced Mathematical Science) and Sophie Glamuzina (Bachelor of Advanced Science) were rewarded valuable scholarships for their endeavours. The awards included the first Playford Trust STEM Encouragement Scholarship, which was presented to Dana Hurrell whose ambition is to become a STEM teacher. It was a bonus for St Ann’s that both Dana and Hayden were two of three speakers who concluded the event.

The Playford Trust Awards are the premier awards for tertiary students from major Universities and TAFE in our State, and since 2010 the Trust has supported more than 600 students and provided over $5 million dollars in support to high-achieving South Australians. For 2023, total support for new and continuing scholarship and award recipients across University and TAFE will be close to $700,000.

The College community is grateful to The Playford Trust and our partners – Chartwells and the St Ann’s College Foundation, for sponsoring the individual awards. What a great evening it was for St Ann’s College and the students who were honoured.

Congratulations to current student Cooper Huntly who was awarded the Casella Family Brands Undergraduate Scholarship in March. The Scholarship was established by the Casella family to support three undergraduate students who begin a Bachelor of Viticulture & Oenology at the University of Adelaide in 2023.

Cooper is an Australian rules football fan and in life, likes to adhere to these words by John Kennedy Senior – an ex-Hawthorn Coach, ‘Don’t think, don’t hope, do! Do something! Come off the ground and say, I did this, I played on. At least I did something.’

Ironically, Cooper is an Essendon football club fan, however he is thrilled to receive the Scholarship and notes it has gone a long way in helping him to alleviate any financial hardships. Cooper was on a gap year and working full-time in the wine industry before undertaking his degree at the University of Adelaide.

Photos right: Cooper Huntly pictured with his mother, and Professor Cassandra Collins – Adelaide University Course Coordinator

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide Dr Jane Lomax Smith AM joined us in early April and delivered a stellar and inspiring speech to students. The Lord Mayor urged students to see politics not as a job, but rather as an opportunity to serve. She also reminded students not to say no to opportunities as she warned, they may not come again.

Dr Jane Lomax Smith AM, who is a Pathologist with a career in research and clinical medicine, also has a degree in Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy from the University of London. The first member of her family to go to University, she trained as a Specialist Pathologist as well as gaining a PhD in renal immunology from the University of Adelaide. She was also engaged in laboratory research in Adelaide and Boston, before managing hospital departments and private pathology practices including the one she founded in South Australia.

During her address, she outlined how her early medical education and training continues to be useful today as she employs a scientific framework and curiosity to issues, problems and arguments.

In May, we heard from Andrew Chadwick Group Account Manager from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. After a highly successful career working in the Government, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors, Andrew joined the Australian Red Cross just over six months ago, to follow his passion for meaningful work at a not-for-profit. His role is to educate and encourage people to donate blood. Over the last year, St Ann’s College blood donations helped to save over 51 lives.

Next Semester we look forward to hearing from Professor Peter Hoj AC, Vice Chancellor at the University of Adelaide and Emily Hopkins, a Flinders University student and disability advocate, as well as a host of other special guest speakers.

Recently we kicked off The Wednesday Project, an informal, yet engaging series of workshops, seminars and presentations designed to meet the academic and professional needs of St Ann’s Students. These events have broad appeal with the topics and schedule based on student feedback.

In our inaugural semester, we heard from a number of speakers including Dr Gareth Furber from Flinders University who spoke about importance of developing good time management and study skills early. Our Senior Academic Tutor – Piers Lewis, checked in with our new students and spoke about how to navigate university life, which he acknowledged can often feel overwhelming. Our Director of Learning – Dr Tamara Agnew, talked about essay planning, and a panel of our students including Annie Firth, Hayden Shultz, Chiara Castiglia and Ruby Chen talked to students about how they study in the lead up to exams, and what to expect when students get into the examination room. The number of students attending has been gradually increasing, with feedback extremely positive.

In the second semester, we will focus on professional development, with some great guests including Collegians Ashley Hams and Lisa Virgo talking about requirements of the modern workplace, Member of the South Australian House of Assembly, Jayne Stinson will talk about career pivots; and Mr Aron Hausler from the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science will cover entrepreneurial pathways. We are excited to see how this program evolves.

National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June 2023) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. To mark this occasion our St Ann’s College students invited Uncle Frank Wanganeen – an Elder in the Kaurna community, to deliver a Welcome to Country and a Smoking Ceremony at the College. A beautiful ceremony hosted on Monday 27 May, students gathered outside in the driveway to experience this ancient and contemporary custom among some Aboriginal Australians that involves smouldering native plants to produce smoke. Thank you to Uncle Frank Wanganeen for visiting St Ann’s College. (photo right). On the Wednesday evening, a number of students tried their hand at dot painting (photos right).

International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is held annually on May 17. St Ann’s College students marked IDAHOBIT Day with the Residential Advisors and College Club wearing rainbow pins to show support, and at 8pm a kahoot games night was hosted followed by marshmallow toasting by the fire in the Common Room.

IDAHOBIT Day was created to help educate people and raise awareness for the work required to combat discrimination against individuals in the LGBTIQ+ community. Well done to our students for supporting this important initiative!

On Anzac Eve, the whole student body acknowledged Anzac Day and the ANZACs, laying a wreath as part of the Formal Dinner acknowledgements. On Anzac Day 25 April, more than 30 of our students attended the Dawn Service on North Terrace in the city. Senior Residential Advisors Jessica Nowland and Joshua Graham laid a wreath on behalf of the College student body at the South Australian War Memorial, remembering the fallen ANZACs.

Both were fitting occasions to remember those who served for Australia in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Lest we forget.

For Earth Hour on March 25, students decided to run things a little differently. They began with a games show hosted by Kobe Gerlach and Darcy Goldfinch, and four competing teams – a College Club team, a Residential Advisor team, a returner team and a first-year team. Three rounds of trivia and fun activities were delivered, with the College Club team announced as the winners. At 8.30pm for Earth Hour, the game show staged a ‘system crash’, with all the lights going off and a crash was played over the speakers. This kicked off the hour of candlelit board games marking Earth Hour.

Harmony Day was held one day later on March 26. To mark the occasion, our students created a giant painting with handprints in the harmony day colour of orange which also displayed the theme for this year, ‘Living in Harmony’. The activity was set up in the common room and as students passed through, they were asked to put their handprint on the sheet. A wonderfully relaxed evening and a calming study break for the students involved.

In partnership with Terry White Chemist, St Ann’s College again this year offered a free flu and COVID booster during the month of May. Staff from Terry White vaccinated over 56 staff and students with more than 25% of the College now covered. It is anticipated another 25% of the College were already vaccinated due to requirements for their work and/or University placements. A great outcome for the health and safety of our students and staff.

The historic Tasmanian oak tables in the Dining Hall are iconic to the St Ann’s College experience and encapsulate the grounding and collective experience that the College offers.

You can book your place in the history of St Ann’s by Sponsoring one of the Dining Hall Tables, which allows you to purchase the namesake of the table, identified by a plaque with your name on it. To date, there are 11 of 22 tables sold. This leaves another 11 tables you can Sponsor. To purchase your table, email victoria.lewis@stannscollege.edu.au.

On Monday 27 May, we hosted our annual St Ann’s College Medal Presentation night awarding 62 medals to individual students. College medals are presented to students who have achieved more Distinctions and High Distinctions than any other grade in the previous academic year. The College is delighted that more than 30% (31%) of students are recording outstanding academic results. The St Ann’s College pass rate is currently sitting at 91%. A great outcome for our students, who are listed below and pictured with St Ann’s College Principal – Denise von Wald.

Abbey Dare – Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics; Abbey Rowbotham – Bachelor of Speech Pathology; Alexandra Gibb – Bachelor of Laws; Alice van den Broek – Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting); Alleah Maywald – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; Allende Camblor-Diez – Bachelor of Engineering; Amelia Etchels – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; Andrew Savaas – Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine; Annie Firth– Bachelor of Media with Bachelor of Arts; Antonio Vega Garcia – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; Brock Grayson – Bachelor of Human Movement / Master of Teaching (Secondary); Chelsea Thomson – Bachelor of Paramedic Science; Eden (Tsz Tung) Chiu – Aviation Management; Elizabeth Maybury – Master of Business Law; Ella Dixon – Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance) in partnership with TAFESA; Ella Nicholson – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours); Ella Flaherty – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours); Eloise Whitney – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; Erin O’Halloran – Bachelor of Psychological Science; Flora Siskamanis – Bachelor of Psychological Science; Hayden Schultz – Bachelor of Engineering – Mechanical (Honours); Henry Slade – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours); Holley Shepperd – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy/Health Science; Holly Nichols – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours); Hudson Hearn – Bachelor of Creative Industries; Jackson Richards – Bachelor of Sciences (Advanced) with Bachelor of Economics; Jake Lawrie – Bachelor of Criminology; Jarrod Stolz – Bachelor of Commerce; Jasper Harding – Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences (Advanced); Jess Nowland – Bachelor of Nursing; Joseph McKinnon – Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences; Josh Graham – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical and Electronic); Josh Niarros – Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences; Kahli Lock – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Chemical); Kassie Nikou – Bachelor of Paramedic Science; Lachlan Coathupe – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Chemical) with Bachelor of Finance; Lara Mudie – Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management; Leticia Sismey – Bachelor of Nursing; Macee Reynolds – Bachelor of Psychological Science; Madeline Hansen – Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics; Madison Kelly – Bachelor of Science; Mehdi Sabary – Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced); Ming Sun – Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Niamh Weston – Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour); Olivia Turner – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours); Panashe Mahove – Bachelor of Social Work; Piers Lewis – Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical) with Bachelor of Science; Rebecca Robinson – Bachelor of Nursing; Ruby Chen – Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced); Sabrina Pollon – Bachelor of Psychological Science; Sarah Jacob – Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine; Sarah Wright – Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical); Sophia Weston – Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Effects and Entertainment Design); Sophie Riethmuller – Bachelor of Physiotherapy; Sophie Tonkin – Bachelor of Creative Industries (Film and Television); Syed Mehdi Ahsan – Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine; Tess Jarvis – Bachelor of Health Sciences; Trish Nguyen – Bachelor of Clinical Sciences, Doctor of Medicine; Valerie Yung – Bachelor of Dental Surgery; Zara-Louis Whellum – Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Collegian Ben Goode who finished at St Ann’s at the end 2022, has made the move over to Western Australia where is his working for Aviair. An airline company offering scenic air tours, charter flights and scheduled flights serving The Kimberley and Pilbara regions, Ben is currently working in a ground operations role. A trained pilot, Ben plans to work his way up to flying. What a wonderful experience for Ben and what a beautiful part of the world to live in! We wish Ben all the best.

Remember, we’re always eager to hear what St Ann’s Collegians are up to, so please get in touch with your news: marketing@stannscollege.edu.au