Commencement Gala

27th February 2025

The 2025 Commencement Gala was an unforgettable evening filled with elegance, fun, and celebration, with this special event marking the beginning of another incredible year. The night's memories will be ones that will be cherished for years to come.

3rd Year Farewell Cocktail Evening

22nd November 2024

A few tears were shed as we said our final goodbyes to our 3^rd year students at the Mosaic Room, Ovolo Nishi on Friday 22 November. The farewell speeches highlighted cherished memories and milestones, and while their presence will be deeply missed around the College, we look forward to welcoming them back in the future as part of our ex-ressie community.

Valete Dinner 2024

The final and much anticipated formal event of the year. An evening of celebration, cherished memories, farewell speeches, and awards. We bid a fond farewell to our non-returning students and wished them much success for the future. We were delighted to welcome back ex-ressie Casey White, Archie Grainger, and Samuel Barrett whose presence added a special touch to the night. Our outgoing RSO’s, Charlie Sengupta and Dan McNamarra’s were recognised for their contribution to the Johns community in 2024. They will be missed.

Congratulations to the following awardees:

Zac Chadwick: College Supports of the Year, the John Stanhope Award

Gemma Chittendon: Collegian of the Year, the Spirit of Johns Award

Jasmine Wilks: the Infinity Medal, the White Family Award

Archie Grainger: Ex Ressie Contributor to the College

Spartos

19th November 2024

The annual Sport, Art and Culture Dinner, a celebration of our students’ talent and achievement was held on Tuesday 19 November. Congratulations to all nominees and awardees – their hard work, hours of training and creativity helped to shape and define what our Johns community is all about.

A special mention to the following awardees:

Miles McKeon: Cultural Person of the Year, the Files Pickford Award

Laura Penning: Sports Woman of the Year

Oliver Davey: Sports Man of the Year

Parents Cocktail Evening

2024

The Parents Cocktail Evening was truly a night to remember, held at the stunning Arboretum. With a magical atmosphere, the evening was made even more special by a wonderful speech from RA President Charlotte Versace, who highlighted the year’s successes and the sense of community at the College.

The band, led by the talented Lucy West, kept everyone on their feet, dancing the night away. It was the perfect way to celebrate and mark the end of an incredible year of events at the College.

Men We Admire and Significant Others

10 August 2024

Our inaugural Men We Admire and Significant Others event was an outstanding success. An amazing opportunity to connect, celebrate and be inspired by the remarkable men and mentors to our students. We had the honour of hearing from ex ressie Simon Hunter who shared his experiences of living at Johns, meeting his wife Gaby, and why his son Hamish opted to call Johns his ‘’home away from home’’. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and made this event unforgettable.

Academic Dinner

7 August 2024

A night filled with exceptional achievements and a true sense of community. We are so incredibly proud of all our students. Their dedication, hard work and commitment is truly commendable. To those who secured distinctions and high distinctions, well done on your remarkable achievements. Together, and with the support from your Academic Mentors, you continue to foster an environment where academic excellence thrives at Johns.

Commencement Gala 2024

A night to remember. Commencement Gala 2024. Fun, laughter and dancing – creating memories that will be cherished.

Ladies & Significant Persons, We Love Lunch and Sunday Brunch 

11 – 12 May 2024

A special day filled with laughter, friendship, love and delicious food. Thank you to everyone who came along and made the day so special. We hope that the video brings back fun memories.

Ladies & Significant Persons, We Love Lunch and Sunday Brunch 

11 – 12 May 2024

We were joined by the phenomenal mothers and significant persons in the lives of our students on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May for lunch and brunch. It is always a very delightful, special, glamorous, and enjoyable occasion. Seeing our students alongside their mums and significant persons reminds us of the collective effort in nurturing and raising a child to adulthood. 

We were honoured to have Melinda Versace, mother to RA President Charlotte Versace, as our guest speaker. Her message struck a chord with everyone present. 

Academic Dinner

6 April 2024

A night to honour the remarkable academic achievements of our College. A heartfelt congratulations to our outstanding students who achieved High Distinction and Distinction averages. It was an honour to welcome Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Professor Grady Venville as our esteemed speaker, who shared her remarkable insights in achieving success in life, and to find passion in the things that drive us to succeed.

Valete 2023

We bid a sad but fond farewell to our 3^rd year and 2^nd year students who are leaving the College at the end of the year. We celebrated our outgoing President, Josie Bates, and we welcomed in our 2024 President Charlotte Versace.

Ex Ressie Damon Reynolds was recognised for his contribution to the College, and he was accompanied by partner and former President (2021) Zoe Reeve.

IB23

Twenty-six Johns students and two ex Ressies participated in IB 2023 over 7 – 8 October 2023. After months of training and preparation the tenacity, spirit and sportsmanship of Johns culminated in an amazing race to the finish line. We congratulate all who participated and thank the support teams who so willingly helped to ensure that our participants were trained and ready and welcomed back at end point.

Parents Cocktail Evening 2023

A perfect venue. A stunning evening. Over 600 parents and students of John XXIII College joined us at the National Arboretum on Saturday 23 September for the annual Parents Cocktail Evening. RA President Josie Bates gave an inspiring and heartfelt speech about her time at the College, and then the Johns Band, led by Louis Sturm and DJ’s Kai and Robbie kept us entertained. The musical talents of both the band and DJ’s certainly got us dancing the night away. Parents Weekend is a highlight on the Johns calendar, and it was lovely to see so many of our parents and students attend.

Rumors Play Production

An incredible interpretation of Neil Simon’s RUMORS play production at Merici College - produced by students Bailey McConaghy and Jasper MacNevin and showcasing the theatrical talents of our Johns students. The cast had us captivated, enthralled, and laughing all at the same time. Massive congratulations to cast, crew and producers.

Parents Weekend

From start to finish, a highlight on the Johns calendar. We started the day with the memorial Wes Bonny Soccer Match, followed by the production of Neil Simon’s RUMORS at Merici College and we ended the night at the National Arboretum. We are thankful and grateful to all our parents, students and invited guests who joined us for the annual Parents Weekend in Canberra on 23 September 2023.

John XXIII Academic Dinner, Semester 1 2023

On 23 August we celebrated our students’ academic achievements from Semester 1, 2023. The academic dinner held at the College was an opportunity to congratulate all our students on their successes. A special mention to Anna Miller on being awarded the Infinity Medal, donated by Casey White on behalf of his family. 

Our guest speaker, alumnus and board member, Michael Lee gave a speech which was earthly if not humbling and the overarching message and was truly inspiring.

Ladies we Love Lunch

Ahead of mother’s day 2023, the amazing and phenomenal mothers and significant women in our students lives joined us at the College for a cocktail lunch. We were excited to welcome close on 400 attendees to what is fast becoming an annual event. Our Heads of Charity, Claudia Petrie and Tom Perissinotto held a charity raffle and the monies raised will go to support Mackillop House, a home and safe haven for vulnerable women and their children.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Johns 23 band (lead by Louis Sturm) for their musical performance, as well as all the heartfelt speakers. And as always, the Johns Catering team for the delicious food.

John XXIII Academic Dinner, Semester 2 2022

We celebrated the wonderful academic achievements from Semester 2 2022 at our bi-annual Academic Dinner at the College on Wednesday 17 May 2023. We are grateful to our Johns Alumni, Damon Reynolds, Lauran Clifton and Liv McKay who joined us and participated in an engaging Q&A panel led by Head Academic Mentors Anna Miller and Kai Saalmann.

Congratulations to the 34 students who received distinctions and 9 students who achieved high distinctions.

John XXIII Grand Re-Opening 2023

After many years of planning, design and construction. Of months of dust and noise and staff working in demountable offices, the College commemorated the official re-opening of the main building on Thursday 13 April. We were joined by a number of guests, current and former Johns staff and students and special speakers to mark the occasion. We were grateful that Board Chairman, Mr John Harris, the Very Revered Father Dominic Murphy Prior Provincial Dominican Order and Professor Grady Venville Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) from ANU were able to join us at this special event.

Annual Gala 2023

Please use the link below to view all the photos from the 2023 Annual Gala.

John XXIII Academic Dinner 2022

Please use the link below to view all the photos from the John XXIII Academic Dinner.

Parents Ball Parliament House 2022

Please use the link below to view all the photos from the Parents Ball.