On Sunday night, the Warden, Ms Rose Alwyn welcomed alumni and friends into her home to acknowledge the generosity of the College’s donors and supporters.
A lovely evening with drinks and canapes, the evening also provided the opportunity for the Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Peter Sullivan to speak about the role scholarships play in providing financial assistance as well as recognising academic achievement.
Ms Alwyn added that “bursaries and scholarships provide necessary support to our students, some of whom are first in family to attend university and others who work several jobs over the summer and even during the year to pay their fees”.
Ms Alwyn said that it was her vision to build on the work of previous wardens, most notably, Dr John Morgan who was recently made a member of the Order of Australia. Ms Alwyn said that the College must continue to offer our students an all-round education that prepares them for their future careers – some of which may not even have been thought of yet and we must provide the facilities of a modern university residential College. She added that the refurbishments to Annex-Halse and Goodbury buildings sand other projects are vital to ensure that as a College, St John’s remains competitive with its sister institutions and makes its mark positively as an educational institution, into the future.
Ms Alwyn said “the students here bring us inspiration and a sense of purpose, and they go on after graduation prepared and determined to build a better world – and it is by serving them that we serve the whole community”.
In closing, Ms Alwyn said “to all of you here tonight, the College is fortunate that you come and invest in the College and don’t really ask for anything in return – and that leaves us deeply in your debt.”