Renewable energy for the College

Power for the Sydney University Campus is provided through the University’s contract supply arrangements and St Paul’s has chosen to be one of the colleges benefitting from renewable energy optimisation. From July the University will be purchasing its electricity from Red Energy and 100% of its electricity in NSW originates from renewable sources, backed by Snowy Hydro. Under the contract the University’s and College’s activities will be powered by solar energy. The positive impact will be in excess of removing 31,200 cars from the road. It also brings the University, with some of the colleges, a step closer to implementing zero emissions by 2030. An interesting Pauline connection to the early years of hydro-electric power generation in Australia was Mr J Russell Ashton CB (in College 1943-46) who studied Civil Engineering and was the Commissioner of the Tasmanian Hydro-Electric Commission between 1977 and 1987. He led the commission during the

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Prof Frank Nicholas appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM):

Emeritus Professor Frank William Nicholas has been recognised in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for significant service to animal genetics, and to tertiary education. Frank was at College 1967-71, and completed BScAgr in 1970 and at Edinburgh University a PhD in 1974. Frank has had an academic career in Animal Genetics and is Emeritus Professor Genetics Laboratory at the University. The fascinating book, written with his wife Jan, Charles Darwin in Australia, chronicles the impact Darwin’s visit to the colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land had on his theory of evolution. To find out more about Frank’s academic career CLICK HERE. The College community congratulates Frank on his appointment as AM for his impressive contribution to the worldwide study of animal genetics.

John Anderson becomes a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC):

The Honourable John Duncan Anderson AO has been recognised in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for eminent service to rural and regional development, to leadership in international agricultural research and food security, to social commentary, and through contributions to not-for-profit organisations. John was at College 1975-77 and completed a BA in 1978 and MA in 1980. John was appointed AO in 2011 For distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly through support of rural and regional communities, transport development, and water management initiatives. John served as the Federal Member for Gwydir 1989-2007 and was the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia 1999-2005. To find out more about John’s political career CLICK HERE. The College community congratulates John on his elevation to AC for his contribution at the highest level to rural Australia. [Pic source: Wikipedia]

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

College celebrated the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign with a Platinum Jubilee Evensong followed by a Platinum Jubilee Dinner on 24 May. The choral works during the service were taken from the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 and highlighted the quality and depth of the College Choir and organists.  During Dinner the Loyal Toast was proposed by the Student’s Club Secretary, Mr Sebastian Shanahan, followed by a rousing singing of God Save the Queen and the College Hymn, Sir Hubert Parry’s Jerusalem. Interesting commentary about the Jubilee and the Queen’s place in Australia today can be found here within the University’s Modern Monarchy in Global Perspective Research Hub, CLICK HERE

Two Paulines in the next Federal Parliament

It is exciting to report that the College community has a new MP in Dr Andrew Charlton who has won the seat of Parramatta for the ALP.  Andrew was in College 1997-99 and studied Economics and won the University Medal before heading to the London School of Economics and then Oxford to complete his doctorate as the NSW Rhodes Scholar for 2001. From 2008, through the period of the global financial crisis, he served as senior economic advisor to the Prime Minister of Australia and Australia’s senior government official to the G20 economic summits. We look forward to learning of Andrew’s contribution to the nation as a member of the Albanese Government (Mr Albanese being another Sydney University graduate). The seat of Parramatta was held by another old Pauline, the Hon Sir Nigel Bowen AC KBE between 1964 and 1973, he was in College 1928-30. Sir Nigel had a distinguished

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