Burgmann College Alumni

The Harriet Nixon Scholarship Appeal will enable unique opportunities for students from Australia's rural heartland to become residents at Burgmann College and access higher education at the ANU.

Honouring the legacy of former rural and proud resident, Harriet Nixon, and in the true Burgmann spirit of giving back, we warmly invite you to join our growing community of supporters by giving today.

GIVE TODAY: https://loom.ly/ZBSv3P8

The College’s nurturing environment and pastoral care provides support to all our residents, a sense of safety and belonging, opportunities for building self-esteem and confidence, and abundant social and academic networks.

'Coming to Canberra from a regional area was a big change, but Burgmann made moving to ANU feel right. The community has been close-knit and supportive, and having a home-away-from-home has made moving to the city more comfortable and has been so welcoming.' Current resident, Georgia Donoghue.

Your gift will make a positive difference.

Learn more: https://loom.ly/x1lTCpE

Image: Burgmann residents and alumni, Tilly Cruikshank, Georgia Donoghue & Sai Campbell enjoying a picnic in the paddock at 'Pretty Pine' Moss Vale; home of the Nixon family.

Do you know someone deserving of recognition within our Alumni Awards program?

Our Alumni Awards are designed to recognise, encourage and reward alumni excellence, for endeavours both inside and outside the College community, at different levels of accomplishment and life stages, and, to recognise our outstanding volunteers and staff for their commitment to the Burgmann community.

Nominate a worthy candidate by June 30.

Online nomination form: https://loom.ly/fjcDKtQ

Nomination guidelines: https://loom.ly/QQD7-k0

Enquiries: [email protected]

By supporting our annual appeal to establish The Harriet Nixon Scholarship, you will be empowering students from rural, regional, and remote areas to attend Burgmann College while they study at the ANU.

By establishing this scholarship we are honouring the legacy of a remarkable rural alumna, Harriet Nixon, and nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators and change-makers who will contribute to building a bright and more equitable future for all.

We're passionate about supporting students from regional Australia to access education, but we need your help.

Every gift makes a difference.

Please give today: https://loom.ly/ZBSv3P8

Read more about Harriet: https://loom.ly/i4vdE4I

Photo: Harriet Nixon, Burgmann College Valete 2016

The Burgmann College community was honoured to launch The Harriet Nixon Scholarship Appeal to Burgmann families at the recent Burgmann Residents’ Association (BRA) Family Weekend Gala Dinner on 4 May 2024. We are grateful to BRA Vice Presidents Joshua Borland and Oscar McAuliffe for including the appeal launch in their Family Weekend program.

With the support of the broader Burgmann community, we are establishing this scholarship for students from rural, regional and remote Australia in honour and memory of a remarkable rural Burgmann alumna, Harriet Nixon (resident 2015–2016).

Harriet’s parents Fiona and Ralph Nixon, and younger sister Alicia (Liss) joined Director of Advancement Amelia Zaraftis on stage to formally launch the appeal to a caring audience of 600 Burgmann family members.

With the generous support of two dedicated donors we announced a matched funding initiative of $6,000 for Family Weekend, together with the treasured contributions of many Burgmann families we reached our matched funding target, raising a total of $12,149.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Burgmann community with our total amount raised reaching $50,000 towards establishing The Harriet Nixon Scholarship.

Establishing a scholarship for rural, regional and remote students in Harriet's name is a truly fitting tribute to her. In doing so, we hope to support future generations of rural, regional and remote students alongside their university studies, so they may go on to make their most valuable contribution to the world.

To donate to the Harriet Nixon Scholarship Appeal, please visit https://loom.ly/ZBSv3P8

For further information about the Appeal, please contact the Advancement Office via [email protected]

Read more about Harriet Nixon: https://loom.ly/i4vdE4I

View photos from 2024 Family Weekend on our website: https://loom.ly/su8A_Kk

Image: Fiona Nixon and her daughter, Alicia, who launched The Harriet Nixon Scholarship Appeal at the Family Weekend Gala Dinner.

Harriet's life was tragically cut short, now her family is helping others The bright 21-year-old had her heart set on changing the world.

📣 NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2024 BURGMANN ALUMNI AWARDS 🏆

Our Alumni Awards are designed to:

🔹 Recognise, encourage and reward alumni excellence, for endeavours both inside and outside the College community, at different levels of accomplishment and life stages, and;
🔹 Recognise our outstanding volunteers and staff for their commitment to the Burgmann community.

Know a Burgie who deserves a shout-out for their contributions? Read more about the awards and nominate here: https://loom.ly/bYbDOw0

⏰ Nominations close at 5pm 30 June 2024.

📷 Pictured: Yasmin Poole (2019–2021), recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Alumni Award.

Burgmann College was honoured to name Phoebe Grosser as our 2023 College Medallist during Commencement Dinner last month. In addition to her outstanding GPA of 7.0, Phoebe is also a model Burgie, continually making contributions to the Burgmann College community.

Read more about Commencement Dinner 2024 on our website: https://loom.ly/iZCZDFU

He continues to amaze! Please donate, if you can! 😀

Last Sunday, former Principal Dr Lew Rushbrook ran the Canberra Times Half Marathon to raise $500 for the UN Refugee Agency (Australia). Dr Rushbrook smashed his fundraising goal and finished the half-marathon in style!

Burgies, if you'd like to support Dr Rushbrook's cause, the page is still accepting donations. Give here! 👉 https://loom.ly/EDEtpvY

"I decided to look at Burgmann College because [a family friend/a relative] said it was amazing, so that's why I'm here now, too!"

Hands down, word-of-mouth referrals are some of our best ways to let new students know about our incredible community at Burgmann College.

If you know an ANU-bound student, why not share your experience living at Burg, and encourage them to check out Burgmann College during ANU OPEN DAY 2024?

Tell them to look for the yellow balloons, and to catch the FREE shuttle to get a taste of life at Burgmann!

Let's get some future Burgmann residents excited! 💛💙

After living four houses apart in Roseville, NSW, then living at Burgmann College at the same time and studying the same Japanese course, Simone Cottom (’87–’87) and Geoff Martin (’86–’89) ran into each other in Japan before flying back on the same plane. This shows that no matter where in the world you are, you can always find a fellow Burgie!

With thanks to a generous gift of $150,000 by alumnus Ian Darling AO (1981-1983), we are thrilled to announce the establishment of The Ian Darling Scholarship at Burgmann College.

Ian Darling AO is well-known for his award-winning documentary films and his documentary film production company, Shark Island Productions, which focusses on crafting stories to drive social change.

Read more: https://burgmann.anu.edu.au/news/announcing-the-ian-darling-scholarship

The December 2023 Newsletter is here!
https://loom.ly/pgxwiEM

We're super excited to share the December edition of our Alumni & Friends Newsletter with you!

Find out about our new Scholarship announcement, read updates from alumni and friends around the globe, celebrate the milestones and achievements of our residents, and more!

Read here: https://loom.ly/pgxwiEM

Burgmann College would like to acknowledge the tragic passing of Peta Murphy MP. Peta was a Burgmann resident from 1992–1994, and as one of our alumni describes, "She was everything Burgmann stands for."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Peta Murphy MP, saying, "Like all of us who served alongside her, the people Peta represented admired her determination, they respected her passion, and they responded—above all—to her authenticity."

“Peta made significant contributions to all the communities she was part of, including Burgmann," said Matthew Lobb, President of the Burgmann College Alumni Association. "Peta faced the challenges of her illness with great bravery, and our thoughts are with her friends and family.”

Vale, Peta Murphy MP, and thank you for your incredible contribution.

Burgmann alumna Kate Roffey AM (1986–1988) was inducted into the Sport Walk of Fame at the University of Canberra on November 21, celebrating her incredible career and tireless dedication to elevating women in sport. Roffey is the first female President of the Melbourne Football Club, and the CEO of Melbourne Sports Centres.

Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition, Kate!
[Photo credit: Kate Roffey]

Burgmann alumna Kate Roffey AM (1986–1988) was inducted into the Sport Walk of Fame at the University of Canberra last Tuesday, celebrating her incredible career and tireless dedication to elevating women in sport. Roffey is the first female President of the Melbourne Football Club, and the CEO of Melbourne Sports Centres.

Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition, Kate!

[Photo credit: Kate Roffey]

How many Burgmann alumni, friends and colleagues are hiding in plain sight? If you haven't heard from us via email lately, it's likely we need your updated contact details.

Please update your details via the QR Code or here: https://loom.ly/6sIMFuI

WIN!! Update your details prize:
Update your details and you could win two free tickets to the 2024 Alumni Awards Dinner. We publish regular Newsletters, celebrate an Annual Alumni Awards Program, and hold annual Alumni & Friends events both interstate and at the College, including our next Annual Alumni Weekend: Saturday 7 September 2024.

We’d love to see you and hear your news!
Contact us!

Email: [email protected]
Tel: 02 6125 2254
Web: burgmann.anu.edu.au

"Arriving in Canberra in February 2005 to pursue a Master’s degree in International Relations at the ANU was a life-changing experience. Having never been to the nation’s capital city, seeing Canberra’s bushland below the clouds surrounding a picturesque lake made me feel at ease despite many unknowns about the studies, city or accommodation options. Burgmann College provided me with a new home and an opportunity to pursue my dreams and be one step closer to serving Australia and its people in the public and parliamentary service where I worked upon graduating.

Reflecting back, it is clear that Burgmann College gives you wings to fly in whatever direction you choose with the right support mechanisms and infrastructure that all students need. This includes the Burgmann Alumni & Friends Mentoring Program (BAM), which I have proudly been a part of for many years.

My message to all alumni would be: Cherish your Burgmann College residential experiences and help others advance and reach for the stars. You never know what impact you will make by supporting others achieve the unthinkable. That is the true spirit of Burgmann College."

Learn more about alumna Dr Nina Marković Khaze here 👉 https://loom.ly/NeJ0qos

👀 Check out more stories like this in our recent newsletter! https://loom.ly/eU7qZLg

"I believe in the transformative effect of education for people’s lives and that contributing to the ability of people to continue their education, particularly for those who are less well off, is money extremely well spent."

Therese Cochrane and Fred Woollard are parents of alumnus Nicholas (Nick) Woollard (2018-2022). While Therese and Fred began to donate to the Burgmann Hardship Fund during Nick’s time as a resident, they have continued their donations since Nick graduated.

It is only through the generousity and thoughtfulness of donors like Therese and Fred that we are able to provide residents with the support they need when hardship arises. Read more: https://loom.ly/qZ63Ze0




About the Resident Hardship Fund:
While scholarships and bursaries reduce fees, if a resident cannot afford the trip home to visit their family, this may also be a disincentive to attend university during a vulnerable time. This could be as little as a $30 bus fare or as much as $1500-$2000 for a round trip of flights—as for some of our residents coming from rural or remote areas, who are only able to afford seeing family once a year. Your contributions to the Hardship Fund help provide vital discretionary support for residents who are in critical need above and beyond their fees.

Support Burgmann Residents: https://loom.ly/ZDLrZIU

Image: Therese and Fred with their son Nick at his ANU graduation (photo supplied)

The Alumni & Friends Dinner on Saturday 19 August was the highlight event of the 2023 Back-to-Burg Weekend, and included a Welcome to Country from close Burgmann friend Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams, a trip down memory line with Rev. Dr Lewis Rushbrook, the announcement of the 2023 Alumni Award recipients, and a fantastic performance by the Head of the ANU School of Music, Professor Kim Cunio, with his equally talented wife Heather Lee.

And, of course, who could forget the incredible after-dinner performance by the Burg band, who had both staff and alumni singing and dancing along.

Save-the-Date:
Mark your diaries! The 2024 Back-to-Burg will be held on Saturday 7 September, and we’d love to see you there!

If you have a fun event and don't share pics of it on social media, did it even happen? We didn't want to find out! So check out our album of alumni, current residents and other members of the Burg community enjoying a Friday evening of trivia, snacks and general merriment.

A big thank you to resident Lily Delves for taking these snaps, to our unfairly talented performers for wowing us with your tunes and, of course, to mega hosts Jez & Jimmy for such a great evening all-round.

In exciting news, Burgmann College alumnus Justice Robert Beech-Jones (1984–1986) has been appointed as a Justice of the High Court of Australia and will commence on 6 November 2023. This appointment was made by the Government after extensive consultation with a variety of stakeholders.

Justice Beech-Jones has served on the Supreme Court of New South Wales since 2012 and, in 2021, was appointed Chief Judge of the Common Law Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Justice Beech-Jones is not only the first Tasmanian to serve on the High Court, but also the first Burgie! We would like to offer our congratulations on behalf of the Burgmann community to Justice Beech-Jones for this remarkable achievement! 👏

Photo credit: Australian Financial Review

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Burgmann College Alumni Awards! Please join us in celebrating them 🎉

See videos: https://loom.ly/brHLv80
Read more: https://loom.ly/y0VvYyI