Last Friday evening, our community gathered in Memorial Hall to celebrate 40 years of the St Peter’s College Foundation.
This anniversary holds special significance. Forty years ago, soon after the Foundation was formed, Memorial Hall suffered a devastating fire. The fledgling Foundation played a vital role in rallying the community to support its restoration, igniting a tradition of philanthropy that has strengthened our School ever since.
A highlight of the evening was the launch of the Memorial Hall Fund – a perpetual fund dedicated to preserving Memorial Hall as a place of remembrance, learning and community for generations to come. Memorial Hall stands at the heart of our campus and story. The new fund ensures its ongoing conservation so future generations of boys can continue to learn, gather and reflect within its walls.
Dr Matthew Hutchinson (YNG 1997) also presented a cheque to Foundation President Dr Richard Sawers AM (ATH 1966), following his remarkable effort hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. His fundraising is helping to establish a new scholarship for a future student from a disadvantaged background.
Former Headmaster Dr Tony Shinkfield AO joined Tim Browning to reflect on the night of the Memorial Hall fire and the early days of the Foundation. Dr Shinkfield then cut a replica Memorial Hall cake – a light-hearted nod to history and his role in the School’s renewal.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. Together, we continue to build a culture of generosity that enriches every boy’s experience and safeguards the treasured places that define St Peter’s College. Guests departed with a commemorative Memorial Hall publication and specially designed bookmark – a meaningful keepsake marking this milestone in the Foundation’s history.
Charlotte Dowling
Donor Administration Officer
