Mary Ruth McKenzie

(30 April 1937 – 15 January 2024)

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mary McKenzie in January.

Mary came to live at St Mark’s in 1964 when her then husband, the Rev’d Malcolm McKenzie, came to the College as Chaplain and was here throughout his years as Chaplain and, from 1968, as Master, before they left the College in 1977.

Mary’s early years were in country Victoria, before attending Portland High School, where she was Head Prefect and Dux in her final year. After attending teachers’ college, she was teaching near Heywood, Victoria, when she met the new Anglican Rector of Heywood, the Rev’d Malcolm McKenzie, whom she married in Hamilton in September 1961.

After Mary and Malcolm moved to Perth in that same year, she taught at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, and two children, Chad and Genevieve, were born. In 1964, the McKenzie family moved to St Mark’s, where Malcolm became Chaplain. A reference from the Dean of Bunbury for Malcolm McKenzie for the position of Chaplain said: “His wife too is an excellent young person with good church experience both as a teacher in New Guinea and also a teacher of Divinity of St. Hilda’s Girls school in Perth and is a real helpmate to him.”

Mary was an avid musician, and during her years at St Mark’s, she lectured in oboe at the Adelaide College of Advanced Education, and taught oboe also at St Peter’s College, before teaching flute and oboe for the South Australian Department of Education. Family summer holidays were often spent in the outback and other country areas, which Mary loved.

The Lion of 1977, referring to Malcolm McKenzie’s departure from the Mastership of St Mark’s, said: “We can only wish him, his wife Mary, and Muffy and Chad the best of luck in the future, and thank them all for what they gave to the life of the College.” (There is a tribute to Malcolm McKenzie’s years as Master in our obituary of him here.)

After moving to Malaysia with Malcolm McKenzie (who was then serving in the Department of Foreign Affairs) in 1979, Mary’s teaching expanded to include the bassoon, which she taught for the Malaysian Ministry of Sport, Youth and Culture. She also taught oboe at Malaysian national music camps, and her performances included the inaugural ASEAN music workshop in Penang.

In 1981, Mary moved to Canberra, where she lived for the rest of her life, teaching music for many years at Canberra Girls Grammar School, and pursuing a range of other interests, including her family which grew with the arrival of much-loved grandchildren, travel, bridge, and in her retirement from teaching, massage.

A number of members of the College kept in contact with Mary over the years, and in recent years she made a kind donation of materials to the College Library which included very interesting materials relating to the Angry Penguins poets, with their strong St Mark’s links.

Mary’s family have kindly donated to the College items of St Mark’s memorabilia which Mary owned, including the framed print of the Grenfell Price Dining Hall which had been given to Mary and Malcolm by the College as a gift at the farewell dinner for the McKenzie family in 1977.

Mary McKenzie is warmly and gratefully remembered as a smart and curious person, who never stopped learning, with a fearless and adventurous spirit, and as a woman of kindness, understanding, strength, wisdom, and warmth. She was much loved.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

There is a link to Mary’s funeral service here.

Our thanks to Genevieve McKenzie and Chad McKenzie for the photograph of Mary above.

 

 

Elisabeth Amy (Beth) Lee

(5 October 1930 – 14 January 2024)

Beth Lee, who has died in New South Wales at the age of 93, is warmly remembered at St Mark’s, including with deep gratitude for her volunteer work for nearly 20 years in the College Library – an enormous contribution to St Mark’s.

Elisabeth Amy Humphris grew up at Mungeree, a sheep property north of Wirrabara, in the Southern Flinders Ranges in the Mid North of South Australia. After boarding at Walford Anglican School for Girls in Adelaide from the age of 10, she became a resident student at St Ann’s College in 1948, the second year of its existence. Beth made lifelong friends at St Ann’s.

Studying English and History at the University of Adelaide, she was awarded the Tennyson Medal for Excellence in English, before commencing teaching in country schools, including Minlaton High School.

While a resident student of St Ann’s, Beth was courted by a St Mark’s medical student from Singapore, Chin Tiong Lee (1930-2009, St Mark’s 1950-52), whom she later married.

Beth and Dr Chin Lee had four daughters – Jane (St Ann’s 1971-73), Chris, Marion, and Susannah – and a son, Jonathan. Jonathan was a resident student at St Mark’s when he was killed by a white pointer shark in waters off Aldinga Beach on 8 September 1991. Jon was 19, and was then in his second year at College, where he was very happy, and at the University of Adelaide.

Beth and Chin Lee greatly appreciated the time they were able to spend with Jonathan’s St Mark’s friends after his death, including when several went to the family’s farm at One Tree Hill to burn the big pile of wood Jon had prepared in the bottom paddock for his annual Paddock Party bonfire.

Following Jonathan’s death, Beth Lee volunteered thousands of hours in the College Library from 1993 until 2012, typically working on Wednesday afternoons each week, especially helping the Librarian, Pirjo Rayner. In this time, she accessioned thousands of periodicals, processed many more thousands of books, helped with the stocktakes, and willingly performed any tasks asked of her, including plastic covering and reshelving books.

In October 1994, Beth wrote: “I commenced volunteer work in the College Library early in 1993 for 4 hours a week. I volunteered because I wanted to maintain a connection with the College in memory of Jon, and because I like books.”

On Beth’s “retirement” from her volunteer work in the Library due to declining health, Pirjo Rayner recorded that “because of her great love of books the Library was a natural fit for her”.

“She worked here for 19 years and has given roughly 3,500 hours to the College in that time. She has done a wonderful job assisting me. Beth and her daughter Jane have also donated hundreds of books to the Library over the years, of which 190 are currently part of our collection.”

Pirjo has recently recalled: “During her time as a volunteer in the St Mark’s College Library, Beth and I became friends and I really enjoyed her company. She was a feisty and down-to-earth woman in her quiet way, and we got on very well.”

In acknowledgement of Beth Lee’s longstanding service and generosity to the College, two commemorative brick pavers were produced and laid near the Pond around the time of her “retirement”: one in the name of her late son, Jonathan Lee, and the other in the names Beth and Chin Lee.

Jonathan Lee is also remembered at the College with a photograph which hangs in the College Library, and a tree near the College Green planted in his memory. His name is also recorded on the honour board in the Junior Common Room for the Collegians’ Prize, which he was awarded posthumously for 1991.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the Lee family on Beth’s passing. We remain deeply grateful for her exceptional contribution to the College.

There is a tribute to Beth Lee on the St Ann’s College website here.

Main photograph: Beth Lee in her retirement.

Photographs below: Chin and Beth Lee with Ian Wall at the 1950 St Mark’s Collegians’ reunion in 2000; Beth and Chin Lee in 1953.

Our thanks to Jane Lee and the College Archives for these photographs.

 

We deeply mourn the passing of Jeremy Pascoe, Honorary Fellow

It is with great sadness that we report that Jeremy Pascoe, Honorary Fellow of the College and Old Collegian (1955-59), passed away yesterday after a long illness. Jeremy died peacefully with his children at his side.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Jeremy’s family and friends.

The College’s flags fly at half-mast in his honour, and in honour of his brother Dr Timothy Pascoe AM (St Mark’s 1957-61, Honorary Fellow), who passed away last week.

Amongst many other contributions to St Mark’s over many years, Jeremy Pascoe created the Jeremy & Timothy Pascoe Scholarship jointly with Timothy in 2011. Together they have provided annual funding for it each year since its creation, and in the last two years have jointly endowed it as one of the College’s largest scholarship endowments, able to provide an annual scholarship in perpetuity. It is a significant scholarship for later-year student leaders.

Jeremy deeply valued many special friendships that arose from his years at St Mark’s, as well as the foundations it gave for his later life. He and Timothy wished to pass on similar opportunities to future students.

Jeremy Lawrence Pascoe was born in Adelaide on 8 May 1936. After education at St Peter’s College, he was a resident student at St Mark’s for five years, from 1955 to 1959, while studying engineering at the University of Adelaide, graduating in civil engineering.

Jeremy Pascoe was very active in College and University life throughout his five years at St Mark’s. There are many friendly references to him in The Lion (the College’s annual record) of those years, from his being the “slickest stage manager” for Variety Evening to his “enthusiastic support” for athletics and scoring his third goal in a football match “on the bell”.

Jeremy represented the College in athletics, squash, hockey, football, and table tennis. He was awarded colours for hockey and athletics. In 1959, he served on the College Club Committee, and was Secretary of Golf and Victualling Officer (the year before, he had served as Buttery Officer).

In the University of Adelaide, he represented the University in intervarsity golf, was President of the Footlights Club in 1957 and 1958, and Assistant Secretary of the Hockey Club. He also undertook service in the Royal Australian Navy in those years.

When he left College in 1959, Jeremy Pascoe wrote to the Master (Bob Lewis): “May I take this opportunity of thanking you for making the college what it is. I think that I will always look on these last five years as the best years of my life, and this to a considerable extent, I feel, is due to your efforts.”

The Master replied: “We have very much enjoyed having you in College and I should like to take this opportunity of thanking you for what you have done here.”

On the creation of the Jeremy & Timothy Pascoe Scholarship in 2011, Jeremy Pascoe wrote: “St Mark’s gave me access to tutorials and close associations with other students studying the same courses, both of which helped my studies. It also gave me the opportunity to mix with students studying other courses. The camaraderie and friendships engendered by college activities such as meals, sport, theatrical productions, etc. meant these years were some of the most enjoyable in my life. Hence my desire to help others have a similar experience.” He did so with great generosity.

Even as recently as last week, after the death of his brother Timothy, Jeremy spoke again with the Head of College, Professor Markwell, about his and Timothy’s gratitude for what St Mark’s had done for them, and Professor Markwell reiterated the College’s deep gratitude for all that Jeremy and Timothy had done for St Mark’s.

As well as for the Jeremy & Timothy Pascoe Scholarship, Jeremy made many donations to the College for other purposes over many years, going back several decades. He took an active and thoughtful interest in College affairs, including corresponding with recipients of the Pascoe Scholarship.

Jeremy Pascoe was recognised as a Governor of the St Mark’s College Foundation, and appointed an Honorary Fellow of the College earlier this year. Reflecting his contributions in another of his areas of keen interest, in 2015, he and his wife Lyndal were both recognised with Awards of Merit by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.

May he rest in peace.

For the announcement of Honorary Fellows earlier this year, click here.

For the College’s tribute to Dr Timothy Pascoe AM, click here.

Ivan Shearer Scholarship for study in Oxford or Cambridge – call for applications for 2024-25

A generous bequest by the late Professor Ivan Shearer AM RFD has enabled the creation of the Ivan Shearer Scholarship to support St Mark’s Collegians to study at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.

An international law academic and practitioner who developed a high global reputation, Ivan Shearer (1938-2019) was Dean of St Mark’s College from 1968 to 1971, and an Honorary Fellow of the College from 2005.

The first Ivan Shearer Scholarship was awarded in 2022 to Rebecca Keeley (St Mark’s 2012-14) for study in the 2022-23 academic year in Oxford.

The College now invites applications for the Ivan Shearer Scholarship from members of the College who meet the eligibility criteria and who will be, or expect to be, studying at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge in the 2024-25 academic year (including from members of the College currently studying at Oxford or Cambridge).

Eligibility: Under the terms of Professor Shearer’s will, the Ivan Shearer Scholarship is open to current and Old Collegians of St Mark’s College, Adelaide, who have resided at St Mark’s for at least one academic year.

Purpose and value: The Scholarship will be paid towards the travel, accommodation, tuition, and/or general living expenses of the Scholar/s to support them to study at either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge. Any part of the Scholarship used for payment of fees will be paid directly by St Mark’s College to the relevant college in the University of Oxford or Cambridge, or to the relevant university, and any part to be used for travel, accommodation, and general living expenses will be paid to the Scholar/s by St Mark’s College.

The award for the 2024-25 academic year will comprise a single Scholarship with a value of up to $35,000 (AUD), or a number of Scholarships totalling not more than $35,000 (this figure may be revised, probably upwards, in February-March 2024). In the case of more than one award, the selection committee will allocate funds to Scholars according to assessed merit and need. As tuition and living costs in Oxford or Cambridge will exceed $35,000 per annum, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for other scholarships and sources of financial support.

At the absolute discretion of the College, a Scholarship may be renewed for up to two further academic years subject to satisfactory performance by the Scholar and the Scholar demonstrating need for the renewal of the Scholarship. In exceptional circumstances, the College may give consideration to a further award to enable a doctoral student to complete their doctorate at Oxford or Cambridge; no Scholar should assume that such further funding will be possible.

Criteria for award: The award will be based on:

  • excellence in intellect, character, leadership, and service; and
  • demonstrated need for financial support to study at Oxford or Cambridge.

Candidates must have applied to, or been admitted to study at, or be studying at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge at the time of application. (If a candidate is already studying at Oxford or Cambridge, the Scholarship could support them either to move to a new course, or to complete a course for which they are currently enrolled; in either case, financial need would need to be demonstrated.)

The academic standards for admission to Oxford and Cambridge are very high, and the selection committee will offer the Scholarship only to a candidate or candidates who, in its judgement, is/are likely to be admitted to Oxford or Cambridge, and to achieve at a satisfactory standard there.

The Scholarship will only be confirmed upon successful admission to the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge, and will not be paid if the Scholar does not take up their place at Oxford or Cambridge. The College may apply other terms if judged appropriate.

Preference will be given to candidates undertaking or intending to undertake a graduate degree.

The Scholarship will not be offered if there is not a sufficiently qualified candidate who is also in need of financial support.

The names of Ivan Shearer Scholars are recorded on an honour board in the Junior Common Room at St Mark’s.

Application process: Applications should comprise a letter of application, addressed to the Head of St Mark’s College, and enclosing:

  • a full curriculum vitae (of up to three pages);
  • a complete transcript or transcripts of all your university study to date;
  • a statement (of up to two pages) outlining:
    • details of the course of study proposed to be (or being) undertaken at Oxford or Cambridge, and the status of your application for admission to that University and any of its colleges (including, if relevant, second preference for a course);
    • your reasons for undertaking this course; and
    • your likely or intended further study (if any) and career after undertaking this course;
  • a personal statement (of up to three pages) outlining your interests, priorities, and motivation, which reflects how you fulfil the criteria of excellence in intellect, character, leadership, and service;
  • a statement (of up to two pages) setting out your need for financial support to study at Oxford or Cambridge, including details of other scholarships or sources of financial support applied for or likely to be applied for, and the status of those applications; and
  • the names and contact details (including email addresses and telephone numbers) of three referees, at least one of whom must have formally taught you in a university course.

The font size of the CV and statements should be no smaller than 11 point.

Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 15 April 2024.

Selection process: Selection will be by a committee appointed by the College, comprising individuals of high academic and/or professional standing.

The committee will interview only short-listed candidates, and references will ordinarily only be sought for short-listed candidates.

It is likely that interviews will be in May or June 2024.

The award of the Scholarship is at the absolute discretion of the College.

For further information: please consult the Head of College, Professor Don Markwell AM.

November 2023

A PDF of the call for applications is available here.

Remembering Dr Timothy Pascoe AM with deep gratitude

We have learnt with great sadness of the death of Dr Timothy Pascoe AM, Honorary Fellow of the College and Old Collegian (St Mark’s 1957-61).

Our deepest sympathy to Timothy’s family and friends.

As a mark of deep respect, the flags at St Mark’s are at half-mast in his honour.

Amongst many other contributions to the College, Timothy Pascoe has for many years co-funded with his brother Jeremy (St Mark’s 1955-59, Honorary Fellow) a significant scholarship for later-year student leaders. Both brothers have expressed deep gratitude for all that St Mark’s contributed in their lives.

Over the last two years, they have together generously endowed the Jeremy and Timothy Pascoe Scholarship as one of the College’s largest scholarship endowments, enabling the funding of an annual scholarship in perpetuity.

Timothy Lawrence Pascoe was born in Adelaide on 7 October 1939. After education at St Peter’s College, he was a resident student at St Mark’s from 1957 to 1961 while studying civil engineering and economics at the University of Adelaide. Amongst other College activities (including College colours for debating, rowing, and hockey), he was President of the College Club in 1961. He was also active in University activities, including as a member of the Student Representative Council.

Awarded a Shell Postgraduate Scholarship, he gained a doctorate in engineering at the University of Cambridge in 1965. In 1965-67, he earned an MBA at Harvard Business School, where he received the top awards for scholastic achievement and contribution to student life.

After becoming a management consultant with McKinsey in 1967, his career over subsequent decades has principally included consultancy and strategic advice to businesses, with some significant other roles at various times: as Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia (1974-75) and Victorian State Director of the Liberal Party (1975-76), as Founder and National Director of ARTS (artist, research, training and support) Foundation (1977-81), and Executive Chairman of the Australia Council for the Arts (1981-84).

In January 2004, Timothy Pascoe was made a Member of the Order of Australia “for service to arts and community organisations and to the development of business strategies for advancing the arts in Australia”.

His active interest in supporting arts organisations continued over subsequent years, as did his active and generous support for the College.

The Jeremy & Timothy Pascoe Scholarship has been awarded since 2011 to a senior student and takes into account academic performance and contribution to the College. The Pascoe Scholarship has been and is very valuable in enabling later-year students to have the same collegiate experience that Jeremy and Timothy Pascoe have valued so much.

As Timothy wrote to the Head of College earlier this year, their giving was “clear evidence of how much St Mark’s did for us … and how much we wanted to say thank-you”.

In addition to donations for the Jeremy & Timothy Pascoe Scholarship, Timothy Pascoe has made many donations to the College for other purposes over many years, including various building projects, and for IT and for the Library.

Timothy and Jeremy Pascoe’s outstanding contributions to the College were recognised earlier this year when both were appointed as Honorary Fellows of the College. Both have also been recognised as Governors of the St Mark’s College Foundation.

Timothy’s wife, Ewa Bozenna Pascoe, also a Governor of the College Foundation, passed away in January 2023.

May Ewa and Timothy both Rest in Peace.

For the announcement of Honorary Fellows earlier this year, click here.

Old Collegians connect in Sydney and Canberra

At recent reunions in Canberra and Sydney, the Head of College, Professor Don Markwell AM, was thrilled to meet with Old Collegians from many different decades. It is always a pleasure to meet our alumni who are interstate or overseas, and for them to have the opportunity to reconnect with their colleagues and contemporaries, as well as the College. Thank you to Andrew Ettridge for providing such a spectacular reunion venue with a panoramic view over Sydney Harbour!

St Mark’s abroad – reunions in Hong Kong, London and Oxford, and Singapore

St Mark’s Collegians from the 1950s through to the 2020s met with the Head of College, Professor Don Markwell AM, at recent College reunion drinks in Hong Kong, London, and Singapore.

As well as exchanging reminiscences and reflections on their time at St Mark’s and hearing news of the College today, many Collegians expressed their excitement to return to Adelaide for the gala dinner to mark the Centenary of the College on Saturday 15 March 2025, the 100th anniversary to the day of the opening of the College in 1925. Other events are also being planned for that weekend in 2025, and for later in the Centenary year.

Professor Markwell hosted drinks for Collegians at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, The Clachan pub near Oxford Circus in London, and Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

He also met in Oxford with our Oxford-based Honorary Fellow, Professor John Finnis AC KC CBE (St Mark’s 1958-62). Professor Finnis is an eminent legal philosopher who was awarded a CBE in the United Kingdom’s New Year honours list this year. He is one of 29 St Mark’s students to have been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study in Oxford.

Thanks to a generous bequest of Professor Ivan Shearer AM, St Mark’s Collegians now also have the opportunity to go to Oxford or Cambridge as Ivan Shearer Scholars. Professor Markwell was delighted to catch up with the inaugural Ivan Shearer Scholar, Rebecca Keeley (St Mark’s 2012-14), who has spent the 2022-23 academic year in Oxford studying for a Masters of Business Administration.

Rebecca and her partner, Paddy Richards (St Mark’s 2011-13), were amongst the several Old Collegians and guests who took part in the enthusiastic London reunion.

Like John Finnis and former Masters Peter Edwards and Robin Ashwin, Professor Markwell first went to study in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He was later the first Rhodes Scholar to be Warden of Rhodes House – the global CEO of the Rhodes Scholarships – and was back in Oxford for events marking the 120th anniversary of the Rhodes Scholarships, during which his contribution to the current vitality and evolution of the Rhodes Scholarships was warmly acknowledged.

Professor Markwell took the opportunity to meet with several academic and political leaders and others in Oxford and London, including former US President Bill Clinton and former British Prime Minister Liz Truss (one of his former Oxford students).

Further St Mark’s reunions interstate and overseas are being planned for the next 18 months, leading into the Centenary events of 2025 in Adelaide – at which all members of the St Mark’s community will be warmly welcome!

Here are some photos from the College reunions; from top to bottom, Hong Kong, Singapore and London.

Congratulations on recent Australian and British Honours

Many congratulations to members of the St Mark’s community recognised in the recent Australian honours list

  • Gayle Cowan OAM (Governor of the St Mark’s College Foundation) on her Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to the community of Mount Gambier”. Read more.
  • Robert (Bob) Cowan OAM (Governor of the St Mark’s College Foundation) on his Medal of the Order of Australia, also “for service to the community of Mount Gambier”. Read more.

For some 25 years, Gayle and Bob Cowan helped hundreds of students from regional areas to come to St Mark’s through generous Cowan Grants. The photo above shows Gayle and Bob with some of the many Cowan Grant recipients. We could not be more grateful. Read more here.

  • John Hodgson OAM (resident member of the Senior Common Room, 2007-08) on his Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to the visual arts, particularly to photography”. Read more.
  • Professor Don Markwell AM (Head of College, 2019- ) on appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia “for significant service to education in a range of roles”. Read more.
  • James Porter OAM (St Mark’s 1968-72) on his Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to the Parliament of Australia”. James served in the House of Representatives as Member for Barker from 1975 to 1990, for much of that time as a Shadow Minister. Read more.

Please let us know if we have missed anyone.


Law Professor John Finnis. Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame

CBE for John Finnis

Many congratulations also to our Honorary Fellow, Professor John Finnis AC KC FBA (St Mark’s 1958-62), a distinguished legal philosopher, on his CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the UK New Year honours list!

Read more.

In memoriam: Dr Antony Harding (27 September 1962 – 14 June 2020)

A tribute by Jane Downer

Tony Harding grew up in Launceston, Tasmania and I met him during mutual years of residence at St Mark’s College in the 1980s when he was a Dentistry student and enthusiastic sportsman. In 1988 Tony underwent surgery for a liver transplant, a critical operation performed whilst he was in a coma. Following a long recovery, Tony was intent on skydiving despite contact sports being vetoed by his doctors. He maintained that it wasn’t a contact sport until you landed(!) Similarly, he determined that by playing goalkeeper he could continue with his love of hockey. Such was Tony’s resolve to carry on with life’s enjoyable pursuits, and it pleased him to convince medical staff with the photographs of his parachuting exploits. This was just the beginning of his commitment to highlight the benefits of sporting activities for donor recipients.

Tony lived each day full of gratitude to his donor, and through a lifelong participation in Transplant Games was an endorsement for organ donation and the positive outcomes for recipients. He represented Tasmania in the Australian Transplant Games from 1990 onwards, and he co-ordinated the country’s team parade in front of the Sydney Opera House for the 1997 World Transplant Games. Over the years he competed in athletics, squash, cricket, swimming, kayaking, badminton, petanque, darts, tenpin bowling and eight-ball, captained a volleyball team and won a multitude of medals (bronze, silver and gold). Tony was chosen as Australia’s flag-bearer for the World Games in 2005, and he chaired the national event in 2012.

Tony worked in neuropathology for the MS Research Australia Brain Bank at the University of Sydney, and for the Prince of Wales Medical Research Centre, contributing to the study of diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntingdon’s. He was unflaggingly committed to being on standby for the swift retrieval of donors’ brains and getting them ready for diagnostic examination. Tony inspired trainees in the field, and was an empathetic ear to the families of donors. The anniversary of his transplant held great importance for Tony and he used to take cakes to work in remembrance of his donor, and in celebration of his own life.

Tony was an active supporter and Life Member of Transplant Australia. He was keen for his donor’s family to know about the quality of life which the organ transplant afforded him – he was able to travel the world, work, play sport, and get to know a number of nieces and nephews.

I was lucky to catch up with Tony on a very hot day in London in August 2019 after he had taken part in the World Transplant Games in Newcastle. Despite the heat he was on good form and we enjoyed lunch by the Tower Bridge with a view of boats on the river Thames.

Tony is remembered by his family, friends and colleagues as a gentle, stoical, good-natured and exceptionally generous person. The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is to name new a autopsy suite after Dr Antony Harding. Friends of Tony from St Mark’s will plant a rosebush in his memory in 2023.

You can find out more about Transplant Australia here. There is a fundraiser for Transplant Australia here.

Written by Jane Downer

A rose bush in memory of Tony Harding will be planted near Walkley Cottage on Saturday 15 April 2023 at 10:30am, followed by a morning tea at the Grenfell Price Lodge. All welcome. RSVP to 08 8334 5600.

Tony Harding skydiving after his transplant, c.1989


Tony Harding visiting Oxfordshire with St Mark’s alumni Ruth Paterson and Jane Downer, 1991

Tony Harding as flag bearer for the Transplant Games

Happy return of 50+ year reunion lunch

The annual reunion lunch for those in the College 50 or more years ago and their partners has returned after a break due to the pandemic – with a large number of Collegians and partners recently enjoying a superb lunch and sharing many happy memories.

In an amusing and inspiring speech proposing the toast to the College, the Hon. Bruce Debelle AO KC (St Mark’s 1957-60) highlighted the centenary of landmark events leading up to the opening of the College in March 1925, and some of the great traditions that have developed since, including traditions of tolerance, of academic excellence, and of winning the High Table Cup.

In responding to the toast, the Head of College, Professor Don Markwell, assured everyone that these traditions remained very much alive. In providing a lively report on the College today, he said that he believed the College today did live up to the vision and values of the founders, such as Sir Archibald Grenfell Price, of whom Bruce Debelle had spoken.

Bruce expressed to Dr Pamela Wall OAM the sympathy of all on the recent passing of her husband, Dr Ian Wall AM (St Mark’s 1950-54), saying that Ian “was so dearly loved by all at St Mark’s”. He also paid tribute to the great generosity of Mr Antony Simpson (St Mark’s 1958-62), whose endowment of a major new scholarship had recently been announced.

Professor Markwell thanked Bruce Debelle for his splendid speech, his service to the College, and his service to the wider community – an embodiment, Professor Markwell said, of the founders’ emphasis on service, which Sir Archibald Grenfell Price had spoken of as the application of “the trained academic mind” to the service of others.

Professor Markwell presented the many Old Collegians who were attending their first 50+ year reunion lunch with a College pin, and warmly welcomed them and their partners, along with the partners of several Old Collegians who have passed away, and many other Old Collegians and partners.

All agreed it was a very happy and memorable occasion, and we look forward enthusiastically to next year’s 50+ year reunion lunch!

Photos by Kathy Radoslovich