Medley Hall newsletter March 2024

1. Welcome from the Head, Helen Lamb
2. 2024 Welcome week
3. Remembering Makalie Watt-Owens
4. New Indigenous garden
5. Join the Medley Hall Advisory Board
6. Vale Ms Joan Mongomery
7. Virtual tours of Medley Hall

It’s lovely to have Medley Hall buzzing again with students as we embark on another year! In this issue, you’ll learn about Welcome Week activities, our new native garden, Advisory Board opportunities and we honour past residents and staff who have made a deep and lasting impact on Medley Hall.

University began with the excitement of Welcome Week otherwise affectionately known as O-week. We welcomed 32 new students and 39 returners from around Australia and overseas. There were plenty of smiles, a few tears and lots of chatter as parents said their goodbyes and residents settled in.

The Medley Hall student committee organised an immersive program of activities, including the traditional bush dance and a smoking ceremony delivered by Auntie Di Kerr, a Wurundjeri elder.

What are your memories of O-week at Medley Hall? We would love to hear from you!

We are saddened at the recent passing of alumna, Makalie Watts-Owens. A proud Tagalaka, Kukatja and Worimi woman, she was studying a Bachelor of Arts and had ambitions of going to the Melbourne Law School.

Living at Medley Hall between 2018 and 2022, Makalie stayed at Cydelia House in the last few years. She was always keen to get involved with the College, appearing in promotional videos and photos with her friends, and was a regular member of the coffee run crew at Assembly café. She will be fondly remembered for her big smile, kind heart, and her wide circle of friends.

The building restoration completed last year provided an opportunity to renovate our front gardens and work with the University of Melbourne gardening team to create an Indigenous garden that complements the building’s Victorian facade.

Focusing on edible native flora, some of the plants include coastal banksia Eucalyptus caesia, blueberry ash Prostanthera rotundifolia (native oregano), native citrus lime, midgen berry, flax lily, Australian violet, tussock grass, and warragul greens, some of which has already been used in student meals!

The garden is equipped with an intelligent watering system controlled centrally by the University gardening team that senses when water is needed. We are now creating a seating area so that this beautiful garden can be enjoyed by residents and visitors.

The Medley Hall Advisory Board (formally the Medley Hall Council) plays an important role in advising the Head and advocating for the College. Our current members are:

Brooke Young (Chair) has held senior executive roles at the University of Melbourne, Victoria University and at Monash College. Brooke is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and a Certified Practicing Marketer. LinkedIn profile

Craig Parker (MH 1981-82) is a Senior Director at S&P Global Ratings and the APAC Leader for Recovery ratings and Jurisdiction rankings.

Emily James (MH 2013-15) is a Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara woman and Trauma Informed Social worker and Team Leader in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) in Melbourne's north.

Nicole McEvoy (MH 2006-8) has worked for the Department of Transport in a number of areas including major projects, road safety and project management.

There are also two student representatives, Elly Van-Pragg (President) and Serena Dury (Vice president).

We are currently seeking two new members with expertise in either of the following areas: supporting young people with wellbeing and mental health; and an international alumni with experience of the challenges that international students face when studying in Australia.

Joan Montgomery was the Chair of the Council of Medley Hall in the 1980s.

_{Joan Montgomery (pictured left)}

As noted by fellow Council member and former Associate Registrar of the University, Paul Morgan, “Ms Montgomery acquitted herself of her responsibilities in this respect with awesome competence, attracting the wholehearted support of every other member of the member of the Council, the Principal and students of Medley Hall and the University Council and its senior officers”.

This article provides more information on her life and accomplishments.

Enjoy a tour of Medley Hall without leaving your home! See our upgraded facilities or take trip down memory lane with our virtual tours. Just go to our website and click on any of the room names that are in bold. You can then move around the spaces and even measure how big the rooms are! Happy exploring!