1959: The President reports

R. J. Seddon

This is an edited version of a report published in Satadal in 1959.

At the official opening of International House on 24th May, 1958, the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Menzies, said, ‘The answer to the problems of the world is personal friendship between the people of all nations’; and this is what has been happening at International House ever since the first students moved into residence three years ago. International House is a common meeting ground for students from all parts of the world, and by living, learning and playing together, the 76 students of many nationalities are beginning to understand and appreciate each others’ cultural differences with the result that valuable personal friendships are being formed.

The formation of discussion groups, such as the Waste Paper Basket Society, and the meetings of the Sunday Night Club and the Common Room Dances are illustrations of the way in which students from the 16 countries represented in the House are meeting and exchanging their views on cultural, intellectual and social levels.

The fostering of international contacts is not restricted solely to the members of the House, but extends to the many visitors we receive in the House. During the past three years, we have received visits from educationalists, jurists, trade unionists, business men, politicians and journalists from all parts of the world. The following list is a cross section of some of our more eminent visitors. The President of the Vietnamese National Assembly; Admiral Takleo of Thailand; Sir Keith Murray, Chairman of the Murray Report; Mr Justice Dean, Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, who was the first Australian visitor to the House; Mr Adu, Permanent Secretary of external affairs in Ghana; the Prime Minister of Australia, Rt Hon. R. G. Menzies; Mr. Phillip Asiodu, connected with the Nigerian proposed department of External Affairs; Dr Helmi, the Indonesian Ambassador; Sir Fredrick Thomas, Lord Mayor of Melbourne; Mrs Menon, High Commissioner for India; The Chief Justice of Australia, Sir Owen Dixon; and a delegation of Indonesian students.

In reviewing the student activities this year, I would like to mention first the 3rd Annual Ball, which was a great success. It was held at the Stanmark, and ran gaily with the usual sparkle until the early hours of the morning. Mr Josevata Kamikamica kindly sang two Fijian songs to us during the evening, and most progressive music was supplied by a university group.

The weekly functions of the Sunday Night Club have proved to be most entertaining and educational, and their evenings include such things as Indian Films, Dylan Thomas’ play for voices, Under Milk Wood, slides on Southeast Asia, early Charlie Chaplin films, a jazz night, and slides on architecture of countries including Japan, Mexico, Germany, Sweden and Scandinavia.

Another attempt this year to make use of the opportunities for cultural exchange that we have here was the formation of the ‘Waste Paper Basket Society’. This is more intellectually formal than the Sunday Night Club, and the centre of its activities is a discussion group that has met several times, arguing on topics as varied as Hinduism and decimal currency. Discussion also follows its general meetings, to which all members of the House, and occasional outside people, are invited. At the first of these meetings. Dr Leonard Cox, honorary curator of Oriental Art at the National Gallery, showed some most beautiful slides of Chinese Art (he intended to cover 4,000 years of it, but after 3,000 time ran out and discussion started). Another dealt with modern music, where Professor Loughlin played some fascinating, grotesque and exciting records, and proved a most informal and friendly answerer of questions. We hope this group will continue more vigorously in future years.

An art club has also come into existence under the leadership of Tay Soo Lay; it has had a painting-excursion to Gisborne and an exhibition of members’ work.

Although lacking adequate facilities, the sporting activities are gradually being organized. Our table tennis team has been the most successful, and has participated in keen and enjoyable competition with teams from Trinity College, the Rootes Group, Queen’s College, Medley Hall and Newman College. We also have an Australian Rules football team, which although not being conspicuous for its ability, has not been lacking in enthusiasm and determination. Among the other matches played this year were contests with Queen’s Road Teachers College (basketball), University Soccer Club, the Rootes Group (badminton), and a Bridge match was played against the University Bridge Club.

The Common Room Dances rate a special mention, and are very memorable occasions. They usually occur once a term, and at the last one the Ladies’ Auxiliaries kindly assisted the Club by organizing the refreshments.

Last year, after the official opening of the House, the students organized a dinner dance and invited members of the community to attend. The organization involved practically every student in the House, as the students cooked and served the dinner as well as providing the floor show. The evening was a great success, and plans are being made for a similar function next year.

Other functions held at the House this year included the Colombo Plan Association’s Welcome to newcomers; the Indonesian Students’ Association and Australian/Asian Students’ Association’s Social evening; a dinner and a meeting were held by the Borneo Students’ Association; a social organized by the External Affairs Department to welcome new overseas students; a showing of the film ‘Antarctic Crossing’ by the Ladies’ Auxiliaries; a Thai evening, and a very enjoyable impromptu end-of-term concert organized by Allen Tan and Colin McLeod.

During the last three years, members of the House have taken advantage of the opportunities to visit the country districts of Victoria through the invitation of such organizations as Rotary, Apex and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. We wish to express our appreciation to these organizations for their warm hospitality.

This year, a small party of students from the House attended the Town Hall at the invitation of the Lord Mayor, Sir Fredrick Thomas. (This also occurred last year.) The Lord Mayor welcomed the new overseas students to the City of Melbourne, and after a tour of the Council Chambers, chatted leisurely and informally to the students while refreshments were being taken. Students from the House also received invitations to the Lord Mayor’s Ball.

As can be seen, the activities of the House have been many and varied, but none of this could have been possible without the assistance of many people who have worked, and are still working for the House, in particular, the Ladies’ Auxiliaries, who have worked unremittingly and have shown tremendous interest and support.

We would like to welcome Sir Samuel Wadham to the International House Council. Sir Samuel was recently appointed Chairman, as the successor to the late Sir Ian Clunies Ross. Congratulations also go to Mrs Stahl, who was awarded an M.B.E. for her services for International House, and I would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the work the IH Council has done.

…

International House at the moment provides accommodation for 76 students, but two extra wings must be built to complete the original plan. It is intended that women students will occupy one of these new wings. International House is beyond the development stage but cannot, at this moment, fulfill its complete promise. The late Sir Ian Clunies Ross said: ‘We must go on and finish the plan’, and it is the duty of us all to raise the necessary money required to build the two extra wings, and thus insure that Sir Ian’s vision becomes a reality.

Finally, however inadequately, we feel we must express our deep regret for the loss of Sir Ian Clunies Ross, so much the moving force of the House, and without whom we well know the House might never have come into existence. His death is a very great loss, but International House will always remain as a fitting memorial to one aspect of his great work.