MAC_Logo_Future-02_Blue-TransMAC_Logo_Future-02_Blue-TransMAC_Logo_Future-02_Blue-TransMAC_Logo_Future-02_Blue-Trans
  • About
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Vision & Values
    • Handbook & Policies
    • Respectful Relationships
    • News
    • Careers
  • Future Students
    • Apply
    • Campus Living
    • Open Days & Tours
    • Indigenous Students
    • Fees & Scholarships
    • Moving In
  • Alumni & Friends
    • Support Mannix
    • Reunions & Events
    • Alumni Awards
    • Update Details
    • Lost Alumni
    • Old Collegians Association
  • Guests
    • Conferences & Events
    • Short-Term Accomodation
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Apply
✕

Formal Dinners of 2022

December 31, 2022
Categories
  • All
Tags

Every second Wednesday, Mannix College holds various types of Formal Dinners in the Dining Hall providing residents with meaningful experiences ranging from guest speeches, performances, and more. See below all the Formal Dinners held at Mannix College during 2022.

Commencement Celebration Formal Dinner

The Commencement Celebration Formal Dinner invited all members and friends of the Mannix community to gather and mark the beginning of their year together. 

We were fortunate enough to be joined by friends and supporters of Mannix, including Archbishop Peter Comensoli, Professor Susan Elliott, Bishop Tony Ireland, Father Robert Krishna, Professor Bryan Horrigan, James Fitzpatrick, and Jamil Tye.

Principal Swan spoke about our College motto, ‘Omnia Omnibus,’ which means “all things to all people.” The personal motto of our namesake, Archbishop Daniel Mannix, whose life was one of service in pursuit of a better world. Therefore, this formal dinner encouraged everyone to bring Omnia Omnibus to life in their daily endeavours.

Service and Leadership Formal Dinner

h

The Service and Leadership Formal Dinner provided a chance for residents to gain an understanding of what leadership at Mannix means – a College where everyone can have a go. 

They discovered the opportunities that are available to them at Mannix and the ways they can contribute. Through the provision of allocated seating, students were encouraged to meet new people and network while also gaining an understanding of what the Sub-Committee is.

.

.

Student Spotlight Formal Dinner

h

The Student Spotlight Formal Dinner was an inspiring night for all. It was a night to acknowledge and celebrate the everyday achievements of our residents, the things that make them unique. Mannix recognises the success of all its residents no matter how big or small, including achievements made outside of academics. 

Spectacular students in the Mannix College community were showcased. Cailin Green spoke about her experiences as a female in a male-dominated sport while Chloe Curwen spoke about her experience starting a clothing brand.

.

Formal Dinner with Old Collegian Geoffrey Pascoe and the Monash Student Association

On May 11, we welcomed back Mannix alumnus and Rhodes Scholar Geoffrey Pascoe, and his wife Christie. Geoff shared his journey from Mildura to Mannix, Facebook to Oxford, and the opportunities of his current work in med-tech. 

For the first time, we hosted a ‘Campus Community Conversation’ at a Formal Dinner with representatives from the Monash Student Association (MSA) in attendance. The dinner was designed to build connections between Mannix and the various clubs and communities at the Monash Clayton campus. Matthew Chipman, President of MSA Clubs and Societies about the Monash campus community and the value of the extracurricular life of the university. 

Shout-out to our incredible performers, Allegra Colin-Thorne and Izac Grantham who performed ‘Skyfall’ and Asvini Allada who performed the Hindi song ‘Kabira’.

Thank you to the following representatives from the MSA for joining us:

  • Andrew McGaw – 2022 Vice President, Society of Arts Students
  • Ashleigh Butcher – 2022 President, Monash Vegan Society
  • Elisa Salvador – 2022 President, Atmospheric, Geosciences Environmental Society
  • Ishka De Silva – 2022 President, Monash Student Association
  • Joshua Strauss – 2022 Secretary, Monash Student Association / Mannix Old Collegian 
  • Maya Hammam – 2022 President, Society of Arts Students
  • Rachel Berger – 2022 President, Music and Theatre Society
  • Sam Robinson – 2022 President, TeamMED / Mannix Old Collegian
  • Sophie Palmer – 2022 Treasurer, Atmospheric, Geosciences Environmental Society
  • Tess Kent –  2022 President, MONSU Peninsula

Campus Community Connections Formal Dinner

h

The Campus Community Connections Formal Dinner held on May 25 focused on connecting our students with interesting people, big ideas and opportunities to develop the requisite skills and character to succeed at university and beyond. 

A new initiative in 2022, this dinner encouraged stronger relationships between Mannix, Monash Residential Services (MRS) and the broader campus community. We were glad to be joined by guests like Pro Vice-Chancellor (Major Campuses and Student Engagement) at Monash University, Professor David Copolov AO, Old Collegian Charlee Hawkes, and representatives from MRS.

Christmas in July Formal Dinner

h

Ho ho ho! On July 27 we welcomed the arrival of Semester 2 with a Christmas in July-themed Formal Dinner featuring our very own Santa (AKA MCSS President Aidan Hanrahan), carols and delicious pudding. Eager to share our spirit with those less fortunate, our community placed hundreds of items under our Christmas tree which were donated to the St Vincent de Paul Society charity drive. 

Thank you to Ross Macmull and Mark Shannon from the St Vincent de Paul Society for joining us and speaking to our community about the importance of volunteering, the spirit of giving and ways we can support others in need.

Formal Dinner with Sara James

On August 10, residents were given the opportunity to hear from Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Sara James. 

Sara is a featured commentator on Australia’s ABC News Breakfast and previously guest-anchored on the news desk of the NBC Today Show. She reported on the Taliban, modern-day slavery in Sudan, the Bosnian War Crimes Tribunal, Australia’s Stolen Generation and 9/11. Sara is also a Director of the American Australian Association Limited, a Director of the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, and a founding member of GETA – Genetic Epilepsy Team Australia

Sara shared stories from her incredible life, including her experiences of 9/11 in NYC and visiting the Titanic wreck (read more about Sara below). As thanks for all that Sara gave to us, Mannix students together donated 50 hours of volunteer time to support the KCNQ2 Foundation which Sara co-leads.

We were also joined by Renee Heckman, Senior Trainer, Respectful Communities at Monash University who spoke about the important work Respectful Communities does to foster an inclusive and equitable Monash community. Renee’s speech reflect on the Mannix commitment and progress made to being a safe and respectful community for young people to develop toward the best version of themselves.

Special thanks to our MCs, Emily Fryett and Lloyd Butcher, and our performers, Madeline Jeffrey-Moore and Izaac Grantham.

Floor Performance Formal Dinner

Held on September 14, Floor Performance Formal Dinner celebrated the creativity and diversity of floor culture across the College. Congratulations to all our residents who tried their hardest and put in the effort to rehearse and put together such a fun and enjoyable floor performance event.

Performances included:

                              • Bot-East: A story of forbidden romance, where Bot-East meets Taylor Swift
                              • Bot-West: A loose rendition of the beloved Snow White and the seven dwarfs titled, “Single dad and the 42 dwarfs” featuring Bruno Mars and DMX
  • Mid-East: A chilly performance of Frozen
  • Mid-West: A performance of Shrek from far far away
  • Top-East: The princess and the frog – Melbourne 2022.
  • Top-West: Under the sea

Congratulations to Top-West for their victorious performance taking first place in the 2022 Floor Performance Formal Dinner!

Valete Formal Dinner

The Valete Formal Dinner was the second last formal dinner of the year. Valete showed gratitude to each floor and as a community, we celebrated the winner of the College Super Floor Competition. Students dressed up in their floor colours to show pride while each floor leader shared some of their favourite moments from the year.

Congratulations to Mid-East Floor for winning the College Super Floor Competition for 2022 and to all residents for being active contributors to Mannix’s life and culture. Our College is special because of you! It doesn’t take long until your floor at Mannix becomes your family and these very diverse families create many memories together. 

Principal Swan said, “Valete is our opportunity to share and celebrate many things that have brought us together this year. Our community has done amazing things with all residents playing their part in making Mannix a safe and inclusive ‘home away from home’ this year. The student leaders led with passion this year and this shone brightly at Valete. As they always do, our wonderful catering team led by Peter served an incredible feast for us to enjoy and so we are very thankful to them”

Share
2

Categories

  • All
  • News
  • Publications

Search

✕

Recent News

  • Celebrating Academic Excellence September 3, 2025
  • A Recipe for Success: Mannix Wins Education Caterer Award September 2, 2025
  • Vice-Chancellor Inspires at Christmas in July August 28, 2025

Instagram


Sep 29



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18023528567735959


What if wellbeing could be served on a plate?

At Mannix, food is more than fuel—it’s connection, comfort, and community. From menus designed with a nutritionist to meals made with passion, every plate is crafted to nourish body and soul. Each day in our dining hall is a chance to reset, recharge, and share stories. The glow of conversation, the clatter of plates, the joy of belonging—this is where wellbeing is baked into daily life.

No wonder our dining hall and food are winning awards—they nourish both body and spirit.

Awards & Recognition
🏆 2025 Education Caterer of the Year Award VIC & TAS
🏆 2025 Gold Melbourne Design Awards (Dining Hall Redevelopment)
🏆 2025 2025 APSAA Excellence Award in Facility Development (Dining Hall Redevelopment)
🏆 2024 APSAA Excellence Award for Sustainability
🏆 2024 Green Gown Awards for Sustainability Finalist

So… when are you coming over for dinner? 🍽️😉

#MannixCollege #MonashUniversity #MonashUni #StudentAccommodation #ResidentialCollege #CollegeLife #CampusLiving #StudentWellbeing





140




2


Sep 24



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18220959535306475


Gowns, friends, and memories. 

Tonight was our final Formal Dinner of 2025 — the last time this year our whole College gathered together, shoulder to shoulder, gowns on.

At the end, in a new tradition, our gowns were draped across chairs, then gathered into a single pile — a quiet, powerful symbol that something precious has drawn to a close, and something new is about to begin.

We shared the tale of a stranger who made soup from a rock: a story about how ordinary things become extraordinary when a community contributes. That’s Mannix. This year, together, we created something more nourishing and unforgettable than any one of us could alone.

Here’s to endings that make way for beginnings, and to a community that keeps giving. 💙

But before we say goodbye, we still have lots more fun to have with our friends. 

#MannixCollege #FormalDinner #Community #Tradition #CollegeLife





163




1


Sep 21



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18078392303070772


Life @ Mannix 💛💚💙

⭐️ Wellbeing at Mannix ⭐️
Wellbeing is always a focus at Mannix, but it’s been a real focal point lately as our community hits the midpoint of Semester 2. From R U OK? Day to Hidden Disabilities Awareness and Wellbeing Week, we’ve taken time to pause, connect, and recharge during a busy study stretch. 🔋✨

We learned more about hidden disabilities — and had them recognised and celebrated in our community. 🌻

Whether you made slime, cuddled a chick at the petting zoo 🐥, or wore your hidden disabilities sunflower with pride, thank you for bringing our community spirit to life!

📸 Content by student socials team, Belle Tambyln and Laura Thompson 🙌

#CollegeLife #MelbourneColleges #Community #Monash #Wellbeing #StudentAccommodation #LifeAtMonash #MonashUni #MonashUniversity #MonashStudents #MonashCommunity #MonashPride





171




0


Sep 17



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18095935303645672


🌱 Small actions, big impact. Mannix residents recently helped the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation to plant 900 native trees. These trees will grow to provide koala habitat and remove an estimated 396 tonnes of carbon over the next 20 years. 🌏💚

Huge thanks to our Sustainability Committee for driving real, hands-on change.

with @monash_uni 

#MannixCollege #MonashUniversity #MonashAccommodation #CollegeLife #Sustainability #ClimateAction #TreePlanting

 #MonashUniversity #MonashAccommodation #CollegeLife #Sustainability #ClimateAction #TreePlanting





113




1


Sep 12



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18049032014308962


🕷️⚰️ STEP INTO THE SPOOKY! 🪦🌙🎟️

Tickets to The Addams Family Musical are flying out the door — don’t be left in the graveyard of regret!

Our cast has been working hard in rehearsals, and the show is shaping up to be creepy, kooky, and absolutely unmissable.

🎭 Show times:
🕸️ Sat 20 Sept — 7:30pm
🕸️ Sun 21 Sept — 1:00pm
🕸️ Sun 21 Sept — 7:30pm

👉 Book via link in bio





93




0


Sep 12



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18110081872533208


When women lead, communities thrive. ✨

This week we hosted our first Women in Leadership Lunch — bringing together trailblazing alumnae and current student leaders to celebrate 50 years of coeducation at Mannix. 💙💛

From the first female MCSS President in 1979 to today’s leaders, their stories showed how Mannix women have always been at the heart of our culture.

The Women in Leadership Scholarship is already opening doors — and with ongoing support, its impact will last for generations. 🌟

#MannixCollege #WomenInLeadership #StudentLeadership #Empowerment #CelebratingWomen





184




1


Sep 11



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18041076674679216


Our favourite way to spend an afternoon? Volunteering with the residents at VMCH Corpus Christi for an Arts in Action afternoon — sharing creativity, stories, and community spirit. ❤️

#Volunteering #ArtsInAction #VMCH #MannixYoungHearts #MannixCollege #MonashUniversity #StudentAccommodation #ResidentialCollege





77




0


Sep 11



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18121703623496163


After last night’s Wellbeing & Hidden Disabilities Formal Dinner, today our community has come together again for R U OK? Day.

Across both events, one message rings clear: at Mannix, we want every student to feel seen and heard.

It’s in the conversations at the table, the check-ins in the corridor, and the courage to ask—and answer—“Are you OK?”

#RUOKDay #MannixCollege #MonashUni #StudentWellbeing #SeenAndHeard #StudentAccommodation #ResidentialLife #CollegeLife #MonashCommunity #ResiLife #MonashStudents #UniversityLife





107




0


Sep 10



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 17863922883461759


Final touches… Wellbeing Formal Dinner tonight! 🌿✨





79




0


Sep 9



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18076243874499661


Keeping our community safe starts with being prepared. 🔥🚒

Today our staff took part in fire safety training — learning, practicing, and building confidence so we can protect the people and place we all call home.

A safe college community doesn’t happen by chance — it’s something we work on together, every day. 💪🏽🏠 

#MannixCollege #SafeCommunity #ResidentialColleges #StudentAccommodationMonash #MonashUni





102




2


Sep 8



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18104694130515419


🐾 Bowie’s Diary. Monday.
Saw camera. Ran. Main character energy.





140




1


Sep 7



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18072740893892223


Formal Dinners are our favourite — especially the musical performances. 🎶 

Our last one was no exception: Boriss and Jezza set the room alight with Great Balls of Fire. 🔥 Absolute magic.

Safe to say the piano survived… barely.

📸 Content: Grace Burns

#CollegeLife #MannixCollege #MonashUni #StudentExperience #ResidentialColleges #StudentAccommodationMonash





186




2


Sep 5



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18080937509500235


Life @ Mannix series 💛💚💙

Haven’t had a chance to come visit Mannix yet? Well this week we’re back with Laura and Belle to take a look round Mannix!⭐️

We’re so exited to share our favourite parts of our home away from home with you! Our college spaces are design with community and connection in mind. With lots of communal spaces, amazing study spots and places to have a great chat with friends! 👥

If you want to know more, book a tour with us via link in bio and check out our website! 

📣 Don’t miss out, apply today! 📣

📸 Content by student socials team, Belle Tamblyn and Laura Thompson 🙌

#Collegelife #MelbourneColleges #Community #monashuniversity





132




8


Sep 3



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 17914196919189173


📚✨ New tradition alert! ✨📚

We’ve celebrated our Semester 1 academics in style:

🏆 58 residents recognised
🥇 9 Knox Scholars
🌟 49 High Distinction achievers
📈 Average grade @ Mannix = Distinction — above Monash’s average!

And for the first time, we captured it all with the Academic Award Winners’ Portrait — posed in the library, a creative Mannix twist on the traditional group photo.

💛💚 Excellence. Community. Mannix.

#MannixCollege #AcademicExcellence #studentaccommodation #StudentSuccess #monashuni @monashuniversity





199




0


Sep 2



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18061041968601455


🍴 Excellent food = strong community.

That’s why we’re so proud that Mannix and our food partner, Chartwells, have won the Education Caterer Award at the 2025 Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence (Victoria & Tasmania).

This award celebrates the whole dining experience — flavour, service, professionalism, dietary care, hygiene, value and the atmosphere of our dining hall. Above all, it celebrates the amazing people who make it happen every day.

👏 Congratulations to Peter, Mercedes, Jono, and the whole dining hall team for making Mannix dining such a highlight of College life.

Next stop ➡️ the National Awards in Sydney!

#MannixCollege #AwardWinningDining #RCAAwards #Chartwells #FoodWithHeart #CollegeCommunity #studentaccommodation #monashuni #monashuniversity





168




7


Sep 1



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18354452089089752


🐾 Bowie’s Diary – Tuesday
Woke up. Ate breakfast in 3.2 seconds.
Took that Principal fella for a walk around the College. Met 47 trees. All of them smelled amazing. Found a stick. Lost a stick. Found a better stick. Big nap incoming. College life is good. 

#collegedogs #BowieMannix





151




1


Sep 1



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 17843279874568310


☕️ Mannix x Red Frogs Coffee Crawl ☕️

This weekend, Mannix residents enjoyed a well earned break from studies and took to the cafes of South Melbourne for some delicious treats. 

Cohosted by MCSS Wellbeing Rep, Remus Brasier, and the Red Frogs Team, the morning was full of coffee, great chats, and exploring South Melbourne. 

With @redfrogsau 

📸 Content by Belle Tamblyn 🙌





155




6


Aug 29



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18071684942472587


✨💜 Wear it Purple Day 💜✨

Wear it Purple Day is a time to celebrate and stand with the LGBTIQA+ community, promoting safety, inclusion and pride for young people everywhere.

At Mannix, our Catholic values call us to respect the dignity of every person. Today we show that by proudly wearing purple and affirming that everyone belongs.

Our Dining Hall was beautifully decorated thanks to our MCSS Queer Sub-Committee rep and staff — a small but powerful sign of the community spirit that makes Mannix feel like home. 🙌

#MannixCollege #monashuniversity  #studentaccommodation





94




0


Aug 28



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18521283562031318


✨ The Magic of Formal Dinner ✨

Every two weeks, the entire Mannix community comes together for a tradition that has been cherished for generations: Formal Dinner! It’s a time where everyone comes together — students, staff, and special guests — to share a meal, celebrate milestones, and feel part of something bigger.

This one was extra special — Christmas in July, filled with festive cheer and the honour of welcoming Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Sharon Pickering. She reminded us that:

“Leadership is about courage, service, and lifting others up.”

Her inspiring speech was followed by a campfire conversation with our student leaders — a rare and memorable chance to learn from a remarkable leader.





81




1


Aug 28



Open post by mannix.monashuni with ID 18049957277265627


Life @ Mannix series 💛💚💙

A throwback from our amazing open day! 📣

Welcome to our new series, ⭐️Life @ Mannix ⭐️ by our amazing student media team! 

In this series we will be exploring Mannix from the student perspective to give you the inside scoop! Our college has so much to share and experience, so some along with us for the ride! 

Stay tuned each week for the ⭐️Life @ Mannix ⭐️ series!! 

#Collegelife #MelbourneColleges #monashuniversity #studentaccommodation





132




4



Follow on Instagram


MAC_Logo_Future-02_White-Trans

Mannix College is a Catholic residential College affiliated with Monash University.

RES_Award_Gold (email signature)
CONTACT US
+61 3 9905 0990
mannix@monash.edu
22A Wellington Rd Clayton,
VIC Australia
SOCIALS
FUTURE STUDENTS

Apply

Campus Living

Fees & Scholarships

QUICK LINKS

Donate

Handbooks & Policies

Acknowledgment of Country

We wish to acknowledge the people of the Kulin Nations, on whose land the Mannix College community lives, learns and leads. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Footer artwork by Simone Thomson

Copyright © 2025 Mannix College