The Mothers’ and Fathers’ Dinners continue to generate huge excitement and interest from our students and parents. The first round of tickets was exhausted within minutes. There was another significant increase in the number of attendees for the event from last year’s dinner, which is extremely pleasing.

Once again, to accommodate the overflow occasioned by such exceptional demand, both the Vaughan Room and the Sir Cyril Walsh KBE Law Library were dressed and utilised for our guests, including an audio-visual link to the proceedings in the Dining Hall. The Chair of Council, John Coorey, along with Council Member, Matt Gordon, and myself, visited the Vaughan Room and Walsh Law Library throughout the evening to welcome all present.

The evening started with drinks and canapes in the Quadrangle amidst the warmth of our festoon lighting which generated a delightful ambience on an unseasonably warm winter’s night. This was then followed by service of our main course and dessert. 

Undoubtedly, the stirring father-son speeches given by Mr Angus Crowe and his son, Co-House President, Oscar Crowe were a highlight of the evening.

Mr Crowe addressed the children of all those fathers present, highlighting the many sacrifices made and effort put into raising their children along with the importance of the ethos of the College to fostering their children’s futures.

In his reply, Oscar said:

Beyond just being someone to look up to, their actions and words keep us on track when we sometimes get caught up in the chaos of life, as can happen so easily at College. Over the last three years I’ve heard the same reminders and questions time and time again, “Coming home anytime soon?”, “Have you spoken to your sister recently?”, “Would be nice to have a call”, and most commonly – “Call your mother”.

After just over two and a half years, I think I’m starting to get the hang of it. Shame I’ve only got 3 months left here…

I think this says a lot about how much these old blokes really love us, and how hard they’re cheering us on. But unfortunately, when it comes to dads, I think we can all agree that this doesn’t get acknowledged enough - so I want all the students to take tonight as an opportunity to make sure you tell them just how much you love them and how much you appreciate everything they do, even if it takes a couple rumbos to get you there.

During my speech after dessert, I congratulated the fathers present on their efforts in raising their children to be outstanding young women and men who are making such stellar contributions to the College either academically, through their sporting prowess, through community works and faith, and their enthusiastic development of a vibrant culture reflecting the ethos of the College. I also reflected on the difference between what constitutes a good father and a bad father through an illustrative crossover of etymology and pop culture. Noting that the English word “father” finds its origins in the Dutch equivalent “varder”, I observed the striking similarity between this word and the name of an iconic on-screen father, Darth Vader. I went on later to say:

I can set the tone and the environment in College, perhaps suggest a vision – but nothing can compensate for the determination, focus, or self-discipline that our students have shown this year. Like any external set of morals or practical set of rules – these do help students, but the life choices must ultimately come from within.  As a father of 4, I’m immensely proud of my children. Their participation awards are Olympic medals to me! Every postmodern artwork on my fridge is unequivocally an undervalued Picasso! Their teachers write polite encouragements about great and unrealised potential – and I completely agree that they don’t do their assignments on time!

While we may not have much control over the external world our children now face, we do have control over one thing. Ourselves. Our best approach to our daughters’ and sons’ challenges won’t come with magic cures. Most human problems in life can at best be managed, not eliminated. When faced with pain, suffering and adversity… we are never alone. We have our mates, our College, our faith in God, and our families who brought us here and who will be with us throughout it all. 

The formal proceedings of the evening were then brought to a close with a rollicking rendition of Billy Joel’s Piano Man performed by first-year student and Palladian Solo Drama winner, Eddie McHugh (accompanied by College Director of Music Richard Perrignon on piano), which drew great participation from all those in attendance. 

On behalf of all the students and staff here at St John’s College, I would like to wish all our fathers a happy Father’s Day.

Dr Mark Schembri
Rector

Please use this link (Password: 8091) to access all photographs taken on the night.