The former Scots College house-master and ARU General Manager (Operations) was well-fitted for the position, having toured the United States and its best Ivy League universities for the benefit of our collegiate future. Under his vision, the College Council approved a major plan in 2012 for the development of our infrastructure and modernisation. Four hectares of ground became the fixation for a cracking site, which would revolutionise the educational facilities of Â鶹ԭ´´.

Five years into principal Erickson’s tenure, the college was thriving in a co-residential community that brought an unmatched number of applications for undergraduate spots.

Alas, we could be here for a six-page spread detailing the advancements made by the 12^th principal of Â鶹ԭ´´.

So, instead, let us pay tribute by way of an acoustic poem, to the man many owe their place and passion for this college.

Winning

Wayne loves to win. Look at the numbers and you’ll see Â鶹ԭ´´ has cashed in on its no.1 culture while under his leadership. Since his 2008 inception, the College has taken out the Palladian Cup eight times, the Rawson Cup on 12 occasions and the Rosebowl Cup on a consecutive streak from 2009-2022. Athletes, Artists, Musicians and Orators have relished in countless victory dinners and top gong trophies in stunning style.

Academics

Â鶹ԭ´´ prides itself on educational support and academic ascendancy. As a decision maker on college programs, Wayne has overseen success on a range of initiatives. Most notably, the subject tutorial program and academic skills workshops. These openings have allowed students to thrive in all course offerings and have resulted in a near-distinction average across Andrew’s.

Yeoman

Wayne has been a relentless foot soldier for college. Throughout periods of heavy interviewing and media scrutiny, he has always represented Â鶹ԭ´´ with a level-head and professional manner. Despite the hampering of Covid-19, Wayne sought avenues to keep College productive in communication with student life departments. As a first-year in 2020 amid the lockdown of Covid-19, I remained involved in the student leadership programs, which kept our cohort close-knitted and ensured the survival of our fresher year.

Noble

Charging into a new age of College living, Wayne has helped form a modern community, enriched by students who seek a better world and endeavour to make change. As the face of Â鶹ԭ´´, he has single-handedly shown high moral qualities to maintain the continuance of many traditions in accordance with changing social climates. A trait attributed to his selection as the President of University Colleges Australia, where he became the face of more than 60 colleges across the nation.

Elocutionist

Watching the principal reclaim all intercollegiate cups this year was a remarkable memory. Wayne is a passionate public speaker, who leaves no stone unturned with a microphone in hand. Time and time again, the College has been addressed by the dulcet tones of Wayne across many special events. Victory dinners, valedictories and Father’s Day events will not be the same without the words from our principal who has a fitting knack for setting a scene.

Expansive

The college has grown immensely under Wayne’s way. Students have been blessed with the new Hanks building and Link extension, giving seniors more space and style since its 2007 unveiling. A spotless gymnasium and state-of-the-art student hub followed in 2020, allowing all to pounce on facilities for individual wellbeing and betterment. Further, the catchment of students is at a College-high, home to nearly 400 Androvians.

Rugby

Wayne is a rugby tragic. His love for the sport has facilitated a Rawson reign for the Andrew’s side. The Rosebowl outfit across the years has become a force to be reckoned with, sparking a new intercollegiate competition. Pre-College, Wayne left teaching to join the ranks of ARU where he became World Rugby’s first full-time referee. Wayne was considered one of the world’s best, flying the flag for Australia. He officiated some of the sport’s biggest matchups, including the 1996 Super Rugby final, where the Auckland-based Blues defeated the South African Sharks.

Iconic

Spending 19 years around the walls of Andrew’s, Wayne is a character that mends with all. That is the reason our College boasts such widespread success and inclusiveness. The Student Club has forged a strong relationship with our principal, who has trusted the elect with financial responsibilities and the capacity to run events. Wayne is a huge believer in Androvians taking on the world and challenges all to find their excellence. Â鶹ԭ´´ is one of two colleges in Australia that requires its students to achieve and maintain a credit average. On the rugby field, Wayne officiated some of the game’s biggest moments, infamously red-carding English lock Danny Grewcock for stomping on Dan Carter’s head in 2004.

Charitable

Â鶹ԭ´´ annually awards a $2million kitty for scholarships. Along with the Bursar, Ian, Wayne is the presiding decision-maker on scholar, sporting, merit, indigenous and creative art scholarships. His generosity in handing out these awards to prospective students has enriched the College with a unique diversity of talents and backgrounds across our community. In addition, the bursary system at college has gifted many students with a once unattainable Andrew’s experience. These programs will only continue to grow due to its backing which Wayne barracked so highly for.

Knowledgeable

Our principal is an avid historian. We will miss Wayne’s formal addresses that detail the origins of a specific term related to our Scottish heritage. It is refreshing to see such passion in the Andrew’s story, which we hope will be passed on to future principals. Wayne knows all about the ‘blue and white’ and his formal dinner first grace, which never fails to include the college motto ‘Christo, Ecclesiae, Litteris’ is a testament to his historical allegiance.

‘S°¿±·â€™

The Latin root of the word means ‘sound’, while the old English derives the term from Proto-Germanic ‘Sunus’, referring to a descendant.

Now, the history of words is not my excellence. Yet, I know a thing or two about the commitment our principal has shown to Â鶹ԭ´´ over a stupendous tenure. Sound is not quite the adjective to express Wayne’s performance in a highly decorated role. He has done more than leave Â鶹ԭ´´ in good condition. Wayne will be remembered as the man who successfully guided our College through a transition of time smashed by challenge and opportunity. He has ensured the continuance of a thriving co-educational community and provided the best facilities to support a range of young adults who will go on to achieve great feats.

From the Fresher year of 2020 and those before us, we wish you and Debra the best of fortune and health heading into a well-deserved retirement. You have been a marvellous caretaker of Â鶹ԭ´´ history and future.

You’ve navigated the helm of a spectacular ship.

Stirling Taylor, Drew’s News – Editorial Team

Drew’s News is our student blog. You can read other articles written by our students .

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Meet Nina Friars (Fr 2020), one of Drew’s News Editors. Nina grew up in Poland and then moved to Perth for high school in 2012, before settling at Â鶹ԭ´´ College.

What made you choose Â鶹ԭ´´?

Leaving behind my family and friends in Perth was harder than I’d like to admit. Moving inter-state, I chose Â鶹ԭ´´ as I felt that its supportive community would ease me into university life away from home, as well as provide me with the opportunity to make meaningful connections.

What attracted you to the role of Drew’s News Editor?

My love for writing. I have always been passionate about reading, writing, and investigating new perspectives. I wanted to be a part of the Drew’s News editorial team to further hone e in on these passions.

What is your favourite part of being a Drew’s News Editor?

As a Drew’s News Editor, I am constantly reminded of the diversity within our college community, that everyone is in possession of a distinct voice. Being able to learn about and appreciate the different worldviews that make up Â鶹ԭ´´ and, more broadly, our society, has been invaluable to me.

What have you learnt by being an editor for Drew’s News?

The power of sharing knowledge. Being an editor for Drew’s News, I can see first-hand the ways in which sharing experiences and perspectives opens up important societal, communal, and internal dialogue, enabling both our readers and writers to discover new ideas and ascertain a more globalised understanding.

What other extra-curricular activities have you taken part in at College?

There is so much to offer here at St. Andrews but, personally, I have been involved in Jam Night, We Need To Talk (a discussion forum that promotes discourse over a number of controversial and topical issues), Newtown Mission, as well as have participated in various writing competitions.

How has Â鶹ԭ´´ helped you toward achieving your goals?

Â鶹ԭ´´ has enabled me to achieve my academic goals through their distinguished academic program and the various workshops they endorse. Drew’s has also laid the foundation for my own personal growth in its provision of opportunities that have encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone.

What’s the best thing about College?

The life-long friends I have made.

Do you have advice for anyone considering applying to Â鶹ԭ´´?

Attending Â鶹ԭ´´ is a decision you won’t regret. The incredible people you meet, the doors that open for you, the skills you acquire – these experiences are priceless. Whether your passion is sports, music, or drama, Â鶹ԭ´´ will push you to be the best version of yourself, in whatever way that means to you. It’s the experience of a lifetime.

Meet the other Drew’s News Editors: Stirling Taylor, Maya Smith, Gemma Hudson, Kiran Gupta.

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Meet Gemma Hudson (Fr 2021), one of Drew’s News Editors. Gemma grew up in Canberra and attended Canberra Girls Grammar School before settling at Â鶹ԭ´´ College, and she is now studying at the University of Sydney.

What made you choose Â鶹ԭ´´?

I was drawn to the variety of opportunities Drew’s provides. Being at Drew’s would allow me to continue with many of the activities I loved in high school, and would allow me to meet people who excelled at these activities.

I also appreciated the culture of excellence that was conveyed to me, and the people I knew who attended college told me great things about Drew’s as well.

What drew you to the role of Drew’s News Editor?

During my first year at college, I adored not only writing for Drew’s News, but reading the articles as well. My fellow students had perspectives on issues I had never even considered, and I felt that reading their work taught me a lot.

I also appreciated the way people supported each other’s work. Whenever I published an article I would receive messages from my peers saying they enjoyed the piece, and I would also tell others when I liked their articles. This drew me to the idea of working with individuals more closely to support their writing and ideas, so naturally, the idea of being an editor was appealing to me.

What is your favourite part of being a Drew’s News Editor?

I really enjoy the collaborative behind-the-scenes work with each writer for their articles. Being able to see an article go from first draft to publishable is really exciting to me, and I love to give feedback to assist the writers to produce their best possible work. I’m also always impressed by the ideas of my peers, some of which don’t tend to come up in casual discussion, and by editing and reading the work of others, I think I gain a greater appreciation for those around me. 

What have you learnt by being an editor for Drew’s News?

I have learned lots about the way different people communicate. When editing someone’s writing, sometimes I’ll make stylistic edits, and the writer can choose to accept or decline those, because not only is editing about spelling and grammar, it’s about the writer’s intentions. I think where the writer and editor disagree is where I’ve learned the most, seeing the specific choices others make to communicate certain ideas, especially where they’re different from the ones I would have made. 

What other extra-curricular activities have you taken part in at College?

During my time at College, I’ve been a part of the Choir and represented college in Palladian Group Vocal, I’ve been in Jazz Band, been a part of the team for Palladian Debating, done the lighting for last year’s Dramsoc play, and been on the team that organised this year’s Mother’s Day dinner.

How has Â鶹ԭ´´ helped you toward achieving your goals?

Being around such ambitious and talented people inspires and motivates me to achieve my own goals. The people around me teach me so much, which I will carry with me even after College to make my goals reality. 

What’s the best thing about College?

It’s a tie for two things that are the best about College. One, the amazing people I’ve met, many of whom I think I’d never have had the opportunity to get to know otherwise, and two, the ability to continue with activities that have given me joy my whole life, like choir and debating. 

Do you have advice for anyone considering applying to Â鶹ԭ´´?

My biggest piece of advice is that you should just go for it.

I think for some people applying for opportunities can be stressful, but there is nothing to lose and so much to gain. Remember what’s unique and valuable about you, and just back yourself.

Meet the other Drew’s News Editors: Stirling Taylor, Maya Smith.

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