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.

Welcome Dr Don Markwell, Head of St Mark’s College

Welcome Head of St Mark's College, Dr Don Markwell

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dr Don Markwell as the new Head of St Mark’s College, Adelaide.

An internationally recognised educational leader, Dr Markwell has a strong commitment to collegiate education, and we are delighted that he will lead St Mark’s College in the next stage of its growth. Dr Markwell was previously the Warden of St Paul’s College at the University of Sydney and, amongst other roles of educational and public policy leadership in Australia and Britain, has also served as the global head of the Rhodes Scholarships as Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford.

Having devoted over 30 years of his life to university education, Dr Markwell is passionate about the benefits to students of an all-round collegiate education.

Speaking at a reception for students, staff, and the College Board to welcome him as the new Head of St Mark’s College, Dr Markwell said that “the College exists, as a residential academic community, to be the best environment we can be in which to be a university student”.

“We aim to offer every student the best all-round educational experience we can – including academic, more broadly intellectual, sporting, cultural, social, spiritual, community service and other dimensions.

This includes being a community of fun and of friendships, which promotes the growth and the wellbeing of every student, and which is a community based on respect, inclusion, and safety for all.”

Dr Markwell said that he looked forward to getting to know all members of the College, and to working with the students, staff, Board, alumni and friends of St Mark’s College to advance the broadening and life-changing collegiate educational experience that St Mark’s College offers.

For further information about Dr Markwell’s background and experience please click here.

The staff and students of St Mark’s College are committed to upholding a respectful, inclusive and safe residential academic community.  For further information about the St Mark’s College Vision and Values click here.