Speeches
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
St Mark’s College
It is a pleasure to join you with Rod to launch Vision and Hope: A History of St Mark’s College,1925-2025.
2025 has been a year of centenary celebration for St Mark’s College, including the Gala Dinner on March 15, which Rod and I were pleased to attend.
With guests jetting in from around the world, the dinner was a true show of St Mark’s global reach, and the deep and enduring ties with and between its alumni.
I congratulate St Mark's College and historians Carolyn Collins and Paul Sendziuk on this thoroughly researched and engaging history.
Having been one of the subjects of Carolyn and her husband, Roy Eccelston’s book, Trailblazers, I know first-hand how you combine thorough research, attention to detail and articulate writing.
In Vision and Hope, Carolyn and Paul chart St Mark’s evolution with clarity and sensitivity, weaving together milestones, daily life and personal stories in a compelling narrative.
History is more than milestones – it is people, and how they shape and are shaped by events.
Carolyn and Paul have captured the people and events and shown how they fit into the broader global context.
A word of warning, though. It is a weighty tome and best not read in bed.
It is, however, a wonderful book and reading it evoked many happy memories of people, places and times in this reader.
From before its foundation in 1925, St Mark’s College has been shaped by the vision of its founders and the generosity of its supporters.
My predecessor, Governor Sir Tom Bridges, hailed the College’s establishment as 'an epoch in the cultural life of South Australia'[1].
He declared that from ‘its portals would go forth men not only of strong intellect but of broad view and character’[2].
That vision has endured through the leadership of successive leaders of the College, including those with the leadership and vision to ensure that women too went forth from these portals.
Each has put their own stamp on the role while maintaining an emphasis on developing student leadership and living the College's values.
The College has produced citizens equipped to think deeply, serve respectfully and lead wisely…
… among them: two premiers, Supreme Court judges, Rhodes Scholars, politicians, poets, actors, doctors, journalists; leaders who have made their mark locally, nationally and globally.
To quote one former Marksman, the late Dr Ian Wall: ‘I enjoyed my time at St Mark’s … I had good preparation for the things I needed to do in my adult life.’[3]
As we know, these ‘things’ included co-founding the hugely successful electronics company, Codan.
Ian also met his future wife Pamela while living at St Mark’s, and she was nearby in nurse’s quarters.
Philanthropy from alumni like the Walls has enabled expansions, new facilities, scholarships and bursaries, which have allowed many more students to share in the St Mark’s experience.
At the beginning, scholarships were an important way for the College, in the words of founding council member Harold Fisher, to ‘attract the best brains in South Australia’[4].
While that aim remains, scholarships are increasingly about equality of opportunity and diversity, and removing barriers to college life such as finance, geography, gender and culture.
To my mind, what Vision and Hope underlines is St Mark’s role in supporting students to develop as whole people.
The College experience has been an important part of my family’s life.
Rod began his time at Oxford University living in at Balliol College and three of our four children have had college experiences during their university studies in Canberra and Adelaide.
As a University of Adelaide student, I had many peers who lived in residential colleges, including St Mark’s.
I have seen first-hand how residential college life supports students’ academic, intellectual, personal and social growth.
… The deeper understanding nurtured during tutorials;
… The broadening of career opportunities that comes with the development of life-long friendships and networks;
… And the respect and tolerance that comes with living, studying, socialising and interacting with people with different backgrounds, religions and beliefs.
To that list of attributes, I would also add “a sense of humour”.
Part and parcel of St Mark’s life is the tradition of undergraduate humour and mischief: the pranks, Prosh intercollegiate raids, and the ancient vehicles in which to undertake rural adventures.
How wonderful to see ‘Old Gassie’[5] polished up, and front and centre at the Gala dinner in March.
I have been privy to St Mark’s Port ‘n Talks sessions which blend intellectual discussion with ‘fortified wine and cheese’ and which have attracted many political and industry luminaries as guest speakers over the years.
Ideas have been hotly contested, beliefs interrogated and discussion vigorous, as students have learnt to debate in ‘fearless and adult ways’[6].
A sense of community and collegiality has flourished through variety evenings, college balls, musicals, the High Table Cup, and, as alumnus Bruce Debelle noted, ‘simply by being fellow members of the College’[7].
With Remembrance Day just past, we also reflect on the St Mark's students who served in the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts, some never to return home.
From Marksmen to servicemen, they exemplified St Mark’s values of service, respect and leadership.
Friends
What strikes me most powerfully is that Vision and Hope is unvarnished in its exploration of difficult times in St Mark's history.
That is testament to the College's willingness to know and learn from its past.
As Governor, I have found a strong correlation between organisations and communities which recognise and celebrate their history and organisational resilience and wellbeing.
By staying true to the founders' vision while recognising that change is essential to growth, St Mark's has survived and thrived.
That is clearly evident in the decision to admit women which has allowed the college to flourish.
It seems to me that throughout its history, St Mark's has been at its best when it has lived its values of respect, academic excellence and service.
I encourage current residents to live those values fully, giving full play to the diversity of the student body, maintaining the fine balance of extracurricular and academic activities, and engaging critically with the College's history while remaining modern, relevant and forward looking.
It is with great pleasure that I announce this excellent record of the history and contribution of St Mark's College officially launched.
[1] Vision and Hope Prologue xi
[2] Vision and Hope Prologue xi
[3] Vision and Hope Pg. 126
[4] Vision and Hope pg. 21
[5] Vision and Hope pg.244
[6] Ibid pg. 164