Social life. Whether it be dining together in Hall, yarning with friends in your room or The Salisbury, the College provides unparalleled opportunities to socialise, meet new people and develop deep and life-long friendships. The social life at Paul’s is one of the key reasons students choose to come here.
St Paul’s participates in the Rawson Cup intercollegiate sporting competition for men (cricket, swimming, rowing, rugby, football, tennis, basketball and athletics) and the Rosebowl competition for women (netball, swimming, rowing, hockey, football, basketball, tennis and athletics). St Paul’s is renowned for the large attendance and enthusiastic support given by its members at sports matches. Social matches in these and other sports – including the time-honoured tradition of Tip (touch football) before dinner – also take place.
The Palladian Cup for intercollegiate competition in cultural and artistic pursuits, dates from the 1990s. Regardless of your previous experience, you are encouraged to audition to represent the College in Oration, Solo Vocal, Solo Instrumental, Solo Drama, Dance, Debating, Vocal Ensemble, Art, Instrumental Ensemble and Drama Ensemble. Medals are awarded annually for best performances in Oratory (Asimus Medal), Singing (Drury Medal), Instrumental Music (Albert Medal), Debating (Waddy Medal) and Drama (Felix Arnott Medal).
Music performed by Paulines is central to the life of the College. Student instrumentalists and singers perform throughout the year at Formal Dinners, in the Palladian Cup competition, and at other major celebrations and events. Keen musicians are encouraged to form groups and ensembles at any time. Singing by the whole College at celebratory events is both heartfelt and stirring, and emblematic of a uniquely Pauline spirit!
The Chapel Choir, conducted by the Director of Music and accompanied by the College Organist, performs a traditional and modern repertoire to the highest standards. Its principal role is to sing Choral Evensong each Tuesday evening and at other significant chapel services such as the annual ANZAC service and the Carol Service. Each semester the Choir also presents a choral recital. In recent years, Purcell’s King Arthur and Dido and Aeneas have been staged at the College as have classical and contemporary recitals of professional standard.
Mummers is the St Paul’s College lively dramatic society. Founded in 1948, it continues to stage productions of high calibre each year, including plays written and directed by undergraduates.
Debates are organised between current students and neighbouring colleges, alumni and members of Graduate House.
Outreach activities are opportunities for students to engage with and serve the wider community, for example, by feeding and caring for the homeless through the Newtown Mission and the Cana Foundation at Christ Church St Laurence.
Entrepreneurship initiatives launched by Paulines have included AIME, a mentoring program for marginalised Indigenous youth; ‘threefourfive’, a pre-tertiary mentoring programme for Year 12 students in remote areas; and ‘FundsFest’ which supports causes such as drought relief through fundraising initiatives.
Undergraduate
Friendship and community are at the heart of the Paul’s experience. Paul’s is a place where you are welcomed, respected and recognised for who you are. The College has a strong commitment to providing the best all-round educational experience for our students. The benefits of sharing the learning experience with fellow students are significant to all students who walk through these doors.
