Dear Students, Families, and Alumni of Emmanuel College,
As Semester 1 of 2025 draws to a close, I write to you with great pride and gratitude for the energy, spirit, and achievements that have defined life at Emmanuel College so far this year. It has been a semester rich with activity, community, and celebration—hallmarks of the Emmanuel experience.
Our residents have once again demonstrated their extraordinary talents and commitment across a wide range of pursuits. In the Inter-College Council (ICC) competitions, our men’s team claimed 1st place in the Swimming Carnival, a testament to their dedication and teamwork. Both our men’s and women’s teams delivered outstanding performances in the historic UQ Great Court Race, each securing 2nd place—a remarkable achievement in one of UQ’s most iconic events. We also celebrated 1st place in chess, 2nd in Women’s AFL, 2nd in Men’s Tennis, and a shared 2nd place for the men’s crew in the Rowing Regatta. Our creative spirit shone through as well, with a 3rd place finish in Bandfest, and a spectacular and hilarious production of “Firebringer” by our Theatre Review team, which lit up the Chapel space with laughter and applause over two unforgettable nights.
This semester also marked the opening of our new Student Wellbeing Space, a dedicated area designed to support the mental health and holistic wellbeing of our residents. It has already become a valued part of daily life at Emmanuel, offering a quiet, welcoming environment for reflection, connection, and care. Our Wellbeing Wednesday programme continues to be an active part of college life with information sessions on understanding neurodiversity, fostering positive body image, sexual identity and inclusion, study/learning styles, and of course, animal therapy.
As we celebrate 50 years of women at Emmanuel College in 2025, we were especially proud to host the inaugural Me & Mine women’s event, a moving celebration of the influential women in our female residents’ lives. The afternoon was filled with stories, gratitude, and inspiration, and we look forward to making this a cherished tradition in years to come.
To further commemorate this milestone year, I warmly invite you to join us for the 50 Years of Her Story cocktail event on Saturday 26 July at Customs House, Brisbane. This special evening will bring together alumni, students, staff, parents and friends of the College and promises to be a memorable evening honouring the women who have shaped Emmanuel College over the past five decades. While this event celebrates this historic milestone for our Emmanuel women, all are welcome to attend and take part in the festivities. To purchase a ticket please click here. I hope to see you there!
During Semester 1, our community’s commitment to service and social impact has also been on full display. Residents participated in Laps for Life and Conor’s Erg Challenge, with a Push Up Challenge underway right now, raising awareness and funds for mental health and cancer research. Through an introduction by the Uniting Church, we started to explore a new relationship with the Kluthuthu Christian College in Napranum (Cape York) on a preliminary visit with two of our residents (thanks Emmanuel Kelly & Jack Wilde) and two staff. We observed National Reconciliation Week with activities around campus and a luncheon with our colleagues at St John’s College, reflecting optimistically on the challenges facing us all in reconciliation with First Nations people.
Our social convenors had a busy semester, organising a number of wonderful events on and off campus. This included the annual Emmanuel College Ball, Hottest 50, and the celebration of our Scottish heritage in true Emmanuel style with the Highland Games in the Quad – a joyful, tartan-filled afternoon of tradition and fun.
Our four Careers Dinners this semester gave our residents a chance to meet and network with professionals from their fields of study, and our outstanding Academic performances from 2024 were also celebrated at our annual Academic Awards Dinner in March this year; this dinner is always a fantastic way to start the year and serves as a great reminder as to the primary purpose of our residents – to aspire and achieve at their best in their studies. As always, we also get to celebrate the awarding of a number of our scholarships and bursaries, designed to financially assist residents during their studies. We sincerely appreciate the gifts from donors who contribute to our scholarship endowment fund – if you’d like to join in that important support, please see our website here .
Beyond the campus, we’ve had the pleasure of reconnecting with our alumni community at events in Brisbane, Cairns, Rockhampton, and at the end of June, in London. These gatherings have been a wonderful reminder of the enduring bonds formed at Emmanuel, and the shared stories and friendships that span generations and continents.
As always, I am deeply grateful for the support of our families and alumni, whose encouragement and engagement continue to enrich the Emmanuel experience for all. Whether you’ve cheered from the sidelines, attended an event, or simply kept us in your thoughts, thank you.
On behalf of the entire team at Emmanuel College, I wish you a restful and rewarding winter break. We look forward to welcoming our residents back to Semester 2, and to continuing this fantastic year’s journey together.
Warm regards,
Stephen Peake
Principal/CEOÂ
Emmanuel CollegeÂ
