St Mark's | College Life | College Events and Traditions

College Events

A past Dean of St Mark's often said that "You go to University to get a qualification; you go to St Mark's to get an education". Certainly we take academic achievement seriously here, and St Mark's students consistently get high results in uni exams. The 2008 academic results for St Mark's Students again showed above average performances. Apart from a pass rate of over 94% in all subjects attempted, it is gratifying to note that over 50% of subjects passed were graded as credits or higher. And of students taking the exams, 90% gained a credit or better in at least one subject. Since opening in 1925, St. Mark's has produced 30 Rhodes Scholars.

But there is a lot more to life at St Mark's than study; this is a fun and vibrant community, which encourages students to participate in a plethora of activities. Whatever your background interest, there'll be plenty of opportunities to get involved in College life - be it on the stage or sports field, in the spheres of music, drama, or journalism, through outreach to the community, or just by coming along to any or all of the College events. Below is a list of some of the events organised by the student club - and we always welcome new ideas.

O'Week

This is where the year begins. It's a fantastically frantic and frenzied week, jam-packed with stacks of events all with one aim: to ensure you get to meet as many other students as possible. It's a great bonding exercise for the whole college. At its end you may be exhausted, but you'll sure feel at home here. And it happens all over again at the start of second semester.

Sporting Competitions

The College Club organises teams in a variety of sports each year to compete in the inter-College competition.  Competition for the High Table Cup is very spirited.  A large number of students become involved both as players and spectators.  Competitions are held in swimming, tennis, cricket, debating, netball, volleyball, table tennis, basketball, soccer, hockey, Australian Rules football and athletics.  In some categories there is a separate men's and women's event. 

College Ball

Acclaimed by many as the highlight of the year: students get decked out in their formal gear, and dance the night away in a lavishly decorated and barely recognisable college dining hall.

Garden Party

If you happen to be taking a stroll down Pennington Terrace one sunny afternoon in late March, you just may see a gregarious group of elegant Marksmen and women milling around the rose garden, garbed in a variety of creative costumes, engaged in civilized conversation, and downing copious amount of ale, champagne, cucumber sandwiches and, of course, mountains of fairy floss. Lots of photo opportunities here!

 

 College Play

Whether you've acted before or not, here's your chance to strut your stuff. One of our past productions was Oscar Wilde's best known play "The Importance of Being Earnest". David Williamson's "Don's Party" will be performed in the Ballroom of Downer House on 25th and 26th May this year. Come along and be entertained by our students. Tickets will be available at the door.

Variety Evening

The V.E. is a light-hearted series of songs and skits about life here at St Mark's - and it's another opportunity for budding thespians to find their fifteen minutes of fame.

Alpine Day

An event quite unique to St Mark's - and one that's top secret too. If you want to be one of those in the know, you'll have to come along and hunt yetis for yourself.

Port 'n' Talks

Fairly self-explanatory: we invite a guest speaker, who talks while we drink port. Previous speakers included the Honourable Gough Whitlam, Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, Mr Robert Champion de Crespigny, the Chief Justice John Doyle, and Mr. Peter Goers on Gallipoli.

Marksenfest

A Mark's style Oktoberfest. It's a chance to sample various exotic imported brews; there's also an oompah-band, home brew-competition, dunking machine, tug-o-war contests, and an all manner of other cool and froody forms of entertainment.

 

 

Footy Show

When we beat the other Colleges in the Footy tournament (which we tend to do with delightful frequency) we like to celebrate in style, with bonfire, beer, jukebox, and excessive quantities of hot and greasy chips - and, of course, the re-enactment of every point, every goal, and every hanger. Apparently.

Douglas Irving Cup (High Table Cup) Show

Whether or not you think you possess the skill and talent to play a sport with any degree of prowess, you're encouraged to try out at training - or, if you genuinely believe you're utterly incapable of participating in any form of physical activity, you can come along and support the College from the sidelines. St Mark's College won the Cup in 2002; 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, a record seven years in succession. Sports played are tennis, swimming, cricket, basketball, soccer, netball, volley ball, table tennis, football, debating, hockey and athletics, And when we win, we throw a party. It's like the Footy Show, the only real difference being that it's held in October, not May.

Arts Evenings

These happen once a semester in the Ballroom in Downer House. The less artistically - inclined of us sit back, to be serenaded by our talented musos and entertained by our aspiring actors.