Burgmann College

Every year, at an hour no reasonable person would call acceptable, Burgmann wakes up and holds a wonderfully strange celebration: Burg Day. The morning kicks off with a confession to patron saint St Beryl (bricks, apparently, will fall otherwise), before descending into a triathlon involving foundational bricks and a dip in Sullivan's Creek. Add foam, coloured chalk, a college DJ, and one very capable organiser in Charlotte Grant, and you have a morning nobody will forget!

Read 'Something wonderfully strange' the full 2026 Burg Day article by Celia Watson, 1st Year Resident & Communications Intern: https://loom.ly/G2wBFm0

🏈 🏸 🏆 Semester 1 was one to remember for Burgmann sports, with the college finishing 4th overall in Inter Hall Sport and flashing some genuine brilliance along the way. The standout moment came at the Road Relay Gala Day, where Burgmann crossed the line in first place - sweet redemption after missing the top spot in 2025. The Women's+ Touch Footy side made a thrilling run to the Grand Final, while Badminton and Oz Tag both claimed solid 3rd place finishes. Disc brought intensity and unexpected devotion from the first-year cohort. And with the Homer v Barassi rivalry perfectly poised at one win apiece, we are excited to see how Semester 2 unfolds!

👏 ⭐ 💛 Read the full Semester 1 Sports Update by our 2026 Sports Reps Ava Hoy, Emily Hay, Caspar Bosscher and Monty Wraith: https://loom.ly/aJU1FjU

📣 Burgmann Alumni and Friends... Canberra is calling!

🐦 Early bird tickets for Back-to-Burg Weekend are closing soon.

🎟️ Full program and registration: https://loom.ly/GC986a4

Most events are free; Gala Dinner tickets start at $75pp.

Celebrate 55 Years of Burgmann College this September 19-20.
Register today! We'd love to see you!



Photo credit: Green Liu, Canberra ACT

Our ❄Winter❄ Alumni & Friends Newsletter should have arrived in your inbox yesterday...

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You can also find it on our website: https://loom.ly/7Oz8_2I

Vale Robin Bell
It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Robin Alexander Ian Bell, who died peacefully on 12 June 2026, aged 86. Robin holds a special place in Burgmann's history as the College's first Vice Master, and those who were residents in the early years remember him fondly. Robin is survived by his wife Margot, his children Stephanie, James, Daniel and Nicholas, and his grandchildren Phoebe, Maeve and Audrey.

Our thoughts are with his family and all who knew him.

Read more: https://loom.ly/Jo9TBz4

Vale Robin Bell | Burgmann College 16.07.26 Vale Robin BellIt is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Robin Alexander Ian Bell, who died peacefully on 12 June 2026, aged 86.Robin holds a special place in Burgmann's history as the College's first Vice Master, and those who were residents in the early years remember....

Around two long tables at Melbourne's Lyceum Club, alumni, friends and families gathered recently for a dinner that bridged more than fifty years of Burgmann College history, with attendees ranging from the Class of 1971 through to recent graduates and the families of current residents.

The evening's guest of honour was alum Kate Roffey AM (1986 –1988). In conversation with alum Clara Conheady (2019–2021), Roffey reflected on how her Burgmann years shaped the person and leader she would become.

Read more and see photos: https://loom.ly/sGO9Vms

Recapping our recent Melbourne Dinner | Burgmann College 15.07.26 A sense of place, fifty years in the making Around two long tables at Melbourne's Lyceum Club, alumni, friends and families gathered recently for a dinner that bridged more than fifty years of Burgmann College history, with attendees ranging from the Class of 1971 through to recent graduate...

Alum Peter Graves (1972–1974) arrived at college a few years older than most, carrying a rejection slip from another university and with a triple degree still ahead of him. What he found at Burgmann was stability: a dining hall, a community, and the conditions to focus on study rather than survival.

By 1978, he had become a Founder Fellow, naming Room 232 in recognition of what the College had given him. Peter's reflection on giving back is a simple one: "We all need support. Burgmann gave it to me. It still gives it to students now."

Read more about Peter's story and our Endowment Fund: https://loom.ly/PTGj3Yc

In June, London Burgies gathered for a joyous reunion at the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery in picturesque Fitzroy Square. The evening was a celebration of community, culture, and the enduring bonds formed by Burgmann residents across decades and the globe.

Read more and see photos: https://loom.ly/X75SxCg

Pictured: Kieran, Will and Lucy within the Gabriella Possum Nungurray exhibition.

Late last Semester, we were honoured host Shannan Dodson (Yawuru), Chief Executive Officer of The Healing Foundation, to deliver our 2026 Annual Reconciliation Lecture.

Shannan’s lecture brought into sharp focus one of Australia's most painful chapters: the Stolen Generations, explaining the work The Healing Foundation does to support Stolen Generations survivors, amplify their voices in public and political life, and drive meaningful reform in services, policies, and healing programs.

Read more and watch the lecture on our Youtube channel via: https://loom.ly/kiESQfU



Picture: Shannan Dodson with Noah Smith, 2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advocate.