Perfect weather greeted over 130 freshers joining the undergraduate community and 31 arriving postgraduates joining Graduate House on their first day at St Paul’s on Monday 17 February. Many of the undergraduates were accompanied by their parents, care-givers and, for those from overseas, their locally-based relatives.
A packed program included arrivals, keycard pick-up and move-in, the traditional welcome ceremony and signing of the College Register, parents’ cocktail party, then Chapel for all new students followed by formal dinner in the Hall. What is exciting this year is the growing number of new Paulines from outside Sydney: 33 from regional NSW, 19 interstate and 20 who live overseas.
Our new members of Graduate House were welcomed at a rooftop lunch by the Dean, Dr Antone Martinho-Truswell, and are representative of a range of higher degrees from across the spectrum of courses offered at The University of Sydney.
The undergraduates have chosen a wide range of degrees, from Commerce and Engineering being the most popular, to Science (Medicine), Arts, combinations with Law and a range of degrees in the Applied Sciences, Psychology, Design and Politics. We are also seeing the resurgence of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Science amongst the choices.
The welcome ceremony was held in the Waddy Performance Centre Theatre which comfortably catered for the gathering of 400 people. A number of key messages were delivered to the students: the Warden encouraging our students to be “other-centred” and be there for their fellow Paulines; Senior Student Tilly Walker asked freshers “to be your unique self”; and Head of Admissions TJ Christie emphasised that “Paul’s is a place to make deep connections”.
Before the formal dinner in Hall the freshers attended their first St Paul’s College chapel service welcomed by Chaplain Antony Weiss with wonderful music led by the Chapel Choir under Director of Music Jack Stephens.
Welcome Week continued with a broad and deep programme of history, culture, academic writing, drugs and alcohol risks, code of conduct, city and beach visits, university campus tour and visits to other colleges.
The St Paul’s community welcomes our fresher cohort and look forward to seeing and hearing about their achievements throughout 2025.
