unfold
the future
the
150th Anniversary Capital Appeal
... a visionary step forward in the history of St John's College
"I
am appealing to you to build on the historic legacy we have inherited
by ensuring that future generations of Johnsmen and women can celebrate
their tercentenary as we celebrate 150 years of scholarship and
companionship today."
Patron
of the 150th Anniversary Capital Appeal, Michael Hintze, (John's 1974 -
1976)
A new building along the Missenden Road alignment will contain a
further 70+ ensuite rooms, thereby establishing the foundations of a
viable, thriving and sustainable college environment with excellent
student and conference facilities. As we embark on the next 150 years
of educational excellence, the vision and foresight of our founders is
clearly matched by the energy and methodical planning of members of the
Building
and Works sub-committee of College Council (Robert Farrell, Phil
O'Hara, Fr Paul O'Donnell)
and members of the Project Management team. All of these people should
be commended for their relentless drive and vision. The development
application was approved by Sydney City Council in January 2008. The
first sod of soil was turned in August, 2008 shortly after the 150th
anniversary of the enactment of the St John's College Act in 1858. The
building schedule continues to keep rapid pace with expectations and a
November 2009 completion is expected, taking some of the strain off
high demand for places within the University of Sydney campus.
Chairman
of the College Council, Mr Philip Meagher,
(John's 1962 - 1964) is fully supportive of the project, as are all the
Fellows who worked tirelessly over the previous three years to bring
about this substantial development for the College. The new wing is a
fitting commemoration of the Sesquicentenary of St John's, and we can
have every confidence in the strength of St John's in facing the future
with modern facilities, integrated with the grace of its heritage.
Student
Support
In both
2007 and 2008, the respective student clubs finished the year with a
significant financial contribution to the Capital Appeal, reflecting
the desire of the students to give back to their own community, and a
real confidence in the building plans and the future of the College.
The Capital Appeal committee encourages all who know St John's to
follow their lead, and the example of benefactor through the decades,
providing donations of substance to the College's 150th Anniversary
Capital Appeal.
A
History of Philanthropy at St John's
In his
speech to Leaders of the Capital Appeal, Patron Michael Hintze
reflected on the words of Archbishop Dr Bede Polding, at a general
fund-raising meeting for St John's on 28th July 1857, when he declared
that they were "assembled to accomplish a work, the performance of
which had hitherto been a privilege of royalty." He continued, stating
that they were "called to build up a noble structure; the sum was
large, but if one considered the number of individuals who were to
contribute, the amount must appear small - so small that to fail in
raising it, and that speedily, would involve each one in everlasting
shame."
And
raise those funds they did - all 10,000 pounds of it, 150 years ago,
over a staggeringly short period of less than 6 months! Incredible,
when one considers that the Irish Catholic community at the time was
relatively poor and the sum amounted to today's equivalent of around
$25 million, matched pound-for-pound with Government funding.
"What
you do now, do well"
Encouraged
by the words of the architect, William Wilkinson Wardell "what you do
now, do well" there's a certain serendipity in the amount raised in
1857, because if we are to realise our current dreams of building not
only a new wing, but also completing Wardell's original plan, complete
with staircase to the Great Hall, reinstating Edmund Blacket's
cloisters, refurbishing the old fretting sandstone and creating a
conservation fund for the general wellbeing of this iconic heritage
building, the sum required is a neat $25 million. Fortunately, the
building is planned in stages and we don't need to wish everlasting
shame on anyone! But we encourage you to give - as generously as you
are able - so that St John's may continue to serve the purpose for
which it was designed: to be a leader in education and to support the
University in accommodating expanding numbers of students.
Many
before you have already supported St John's. Now it's your turn.
Gifts
to the 150th Anniversary Capital Appeal are tax-deductible and can be
spread as a pledge over a period of time. Follow the links to download
the Capital
Appeal Prospectus and the Subscription
Form, or to view the 150Y
Anniversary "Unfold the Future" Capital Appeal Brochure.
If you did not receive the November edition of The
Word
which included the College DVD, please email alumni@stjohns.usyd.edu.au
and update your postal, email and phone details so we can send your
free copy and keep you informed and invited to events, especially over
the coming year. A video of "A
Day in the Life at St John's"
and a full rundown of the "Unfold
the Future" Capital Appeal
campaign will be sent to you on request.
We hope
to see you at the various celebrations planned throughout 2009. (See
the College
Calendar for a full list of
events and stay tuned to the website for updates.) For further
information about any of the events or the Capital Appeal in general,
please contact Trish O'Brien in the Development Office at the College
on +61 2 9394 5204 or email development@stjohns.usyd.edu.au
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