Newman College (University of Melbourne)

Newman College
Motto	Luceat Lux Vestra
Motto in English	Let Your Light Shine
Established	1918
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic
Academic affiliation	University of Melbourne
Rector	Rev. William Uren
Undergraduates	240
Postgraduates	50
Location	887 Swanston St, Parkville, Victoria
Colours	Blue, Green and White
Website	newman.unimelb.edu.au

Iconic dining room facade, famous Griffin architecture

Newman College Chapel, University of Melbourne

The Mannix wing faces Swanston Street.

Interior of the Dining Room

Newman College is a Roman Catholic, co-educational residential college affiliated with the University of Melbourne. During the university year it houses about 235 undergraduate students and about 55 postgraduate students and tutors. The college was named after Cardinal John Henry Newman, a former Anglican and major figure in the Oxford Movement who became a Roman Catholic in the 19th century. The college continues to commemorate the life of Newman through events such as the Cardinal Newman Dinner and the prominent positioning of his portrait in the dining hall. Although most strongly affiliated with the University of Melbourne, a small number of undergraduate students attend RMIT University, Australian Catholic University or the Melbourne Pharmacy School (part of Monash University) located on Royal Parade.

The collegiate system spawned from the secular nature of the university, as each of the major Christian churches were given land to the north of the main campus to establish institutions in which to teach religion. The college motto is Luceat Lux Vestra, translating from Latin as "Let Your Light Shine".

The original set of buildings were built during 1916 to 1918 and were designed by renowned architect Walter Burley Griffin and are considered to be some of his best work.^{[citation needed]} Burley Griffin also designed furniture for the college, including distinctive chairs, tables and bookshelves for the dining room and the original bedrooms of the college. Much of this furniture remains in day to day use at the college, but some of it has found its way into various art galleries and private collections.^[1] This was recognised by its inclusion on the Australian National Heritage List on 21 September 2005, citing "one of the best examples of Griffin’s architecture in Australia" and "Newman College is significant as an outstanding expression of Griffin’s architectural style".^[2] The stonework is currently receiving substantial renovation to repair over 80 years of damage through exposure and natural degradation of the original stone.

At its opening the administration of the college was entrusted to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) who continue its administration to the present day. As of 2011 the rector of the college is Father Bill Uren SJ, a former chaplain and rector (1987–1990) of Newman. He replaced the Very Reverend Peter L'Estrange SJ, who held the position from 1991, before moving to Campion Hall, Oxford.

Undergraduate Student Life (Junior Common Room)

Newman College Students' Club

Such a structure provides a number of benefits, including giving students the autonomy to plan and run their own functions either in partnership with the administration (should the function be on college grounds) or separate to it, as well as contributing to a sense of tradition and belonging. All undergraduate members of Newman College are accepted into the Newman College Students' Club (NCSC), a self-governing incorporated organisation which runs day-to-day and special events in the college. An executive committee (the General Committee) is elected annually. The President and Treasurer are elected directly to their positions. The President then allocates various portfolios to the elected members of the General Committee. The portfolios include Vice-President, Secretary, Community Service, Culture, Functions and Male and Female Sports.

The members of the 2012 NCSC General Committee are:

• President: Alexander Eastwood
• Vice-president: Milly Harrison
• Treasurer: Patrick Burke
• Secretary: Sophia McQuillan
• Community Service: Paul King
• Culture: Catherine Buckley
• Functions Head: Humphrey Riordan
• Sports: James Lenehan
• Sports: Ben Buckingham

The general committee-elect duly appoints members of the Students' Club to chair the following year's various sub-committees with specific responsibilities. These committees include:

• Adventures
• Assets
• Ball
• Blue Ribbon
• Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture
• Dining Room
• Drama
• International
• Music
• The Niffirg (Student Publication)
• Orientation
• Pool Room
• Public Speaking & Debating
• School Liaisons
• Spiritual
• Sustainability
• Supporters
• The Vestra (Yearbook)

Co-curricular activities:

Apart from a reputation for academic excellence, the college places a strong emphasis on participation in co-curricular activities, with music, sport and the dramatic arts playing a large role in life at Newman. The 2011 college production was A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn. Inter-collegiate soirées are held many times throughout the year, showcasing the many talents of the students, with the Very Reverend Peter L'Estrange SJ Prize, awarded at the end of the year to the best performing artist in college. The Very Reverend Michael Scott SJ Prize is the annual art competition and the college is a strong participant in all inter-college sporting endeavours, especially in football, netball, softball and tennis.

Newman students also have a strong sporting culture, having won more than half of the intercollegiate football premierships ever played. In 2011 the college won the men's hockey, football and basketball inter-collegiate premierships.

Newman students also organise "fresher" initiations for first-years, a College tradition for many years.

Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture:

The Archbishop Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture started in 1977 and is a highlight of both the university and college academic calendar. It was named in honour of the third Archbishop of Melbounrne, who was a driving force behind the formation of the college and for improving the opportunities of Catholic students. It has been delivered in the past by such prominent people as the Rt Hon. Malcolm Fraser, the Hon. Kim Beazley, the Hon. Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Patrick Dodson, Ita Buttrose, Sir Gustav Nossal, the Hon. Alexander Downer, Professor Manning Clark and the Hon. Justice Alastair Nicholson. In 2011 it was delivered by Christine Nixon APM.

Formal dinners:

Formal dinners are held at 6.30 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the academic year. Attendance is not mandatory, however, all members of the college must wear an academic gown and international standard business attire. There are ample occasions during the academic year with a black tie or morning dress code, including the Students' Club, Valete and Commencement dinners. At formal dinners, traditional formalities are observed. Students enter the hall and stand in place prior to the arrival of the members of high table - the rector, members of the senior common room and other invited guests - who process in and after the bell has been sounded, grace is then said. It is considered discourteous to leave the hall before the final grace. Formal dinner are followed by students' club meetings in the coffee lounge adjacent to the dining room.

Postgraduate Student Life (Senior Common Room)

All members of the College Administration, as well as tutors, academics in residence and postgraduate students (and some older Undergraduate students), comprise the Senior Common Room (SCR). Like the Junior Common Room, the SCR annually elect a President, Secretary and treasurer, among other portfolios, to organise several events throughout the year. The SCR is responsible for the organisation of the Michael Scott Art Prize an the Newman Tracts Publication.

Rectors

The Dome of Newman College

• The Very Very Rev. James O'Dwyer SJ (1918–1919)
• The Very Very Rev. Albert Power SJ (1919–1923)
• The Very Very Rev. Jeremiah Murphy SJ (1923–1954)
• The Very Very Rev. Philip Gleeson SJ (1954–1961)
• The Very Very Rev. Michael Scott SJ (1961–1968)
• The Very Very Rev. Gerald Daly SJ (1968–1977)
• The Very Very Rev. Brian Fleming SJ (1977–1986)
• The Very Rev. William Uren SJ (1987–1990)
• The Very Very Rev. Peter L'Estrange SJ (1991–2005)
• The Very Rev. William Uren SJ (2006–present)

Current administration

The current administration is headed by the Very Reverend William Uren SJ and comprises the rector, deputy rector, dean of studies and the chaplain.

Notable alumni

The college's notable alumni include:

• Kevin Andrews - Current Federal Liberal frontbencher and former Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
• James P. Gorman - Current CEO and President of Morgan Stanley
• Jack Hibberd - Australian playwright
• Sir James Gobbo - 25th Governor of Victoria and former Victorian Supreme Court Judge
• Justice Charles Augustine Sweeney QC - Federal Court of Australia Judge ^[3]
• Justice Richard Tracey - Federal Court of Australia Judge
• Allan Myers QC - Prominent Australian barrister and member of the BRW's top 200 wealthiest Australians

References

1. ^ Burley Griffin chair from Newman in the Art Gallery of South Australia
2. ^ "Newman College (entry AHD105739)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105739. 
3. ^ A brilliant career interrupted by war - Obituaries - smh.com.au

External links

• Newman College official website
• Australian National Heritage listing for Newman College
• Newman College (University of Melbourne) is at coordinates 37°47′42″S 144°57′49″E / 37.7950°S 144.9636°E / -37.7950; 144.9636Coordinates: 37°47′42″S 144°57′49″E / 37.7950°S 144.9636°E / -37.7950; 144.9636