From the bush to becoming a benefactor
Jack Goodacre grew up in a regional town, hours away from the bustling city."I came from the bush, so staying at home to attend university just wasn’t an option," he recalls. When he earned his place at the University of Sydney, St John’s College became his new home. The transition was dramatic. “I’d never really used public transport, never really been to the beach or worn formal dinner suits to balls, but I think when you're 17 it’s all new and you just adapt.”
Jack quickly found a home within the University and especially the College. “It turned out that university was a great place for someone like me, and College was a fantastic place to start,” he says.
St John’s College, with its rich traditions and tight-knit community, provided Jack with more than just accommodation; it became the centre of his personal and academic development. Surrounded by peers from diverse backgrounds and supported by a collegiate environment that encouraged growth, Jack began to find his feet.
“I spent two years in college, and then a total of five years at university,” he says. “I did reasonably well, and it wasn't a hard living because of the arrangements we had in those days with free university education and assistance for students like myself to pay for accommodation.”
Surrounded by peers from diverse backgrounds and supported by a collegiate environment that encouraged growth, Jack began to find his feet.
“Surrounded by peers from diverse backgrounds and supported by a collegiate environment that encouraged growth, Jack began to find his feet.”
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical with Honours from the University of Sydney.
“Free education got me to university, and then I got a good job. One thing led to another, but it's about getting that start and then being able to capitalise on it that matters.”
Jack’s journey to university instilled in him a deep belief in the power of giving others that same start. It’s what inspired his decision to contribute to a scholarship at St John’s College. “My view is that someone else paid for my education, and it's time to return the favour.”
Supported access to accommodation can be life-changing for regional students
Monique Crowhurst is a second-year Bachelor of Arts/Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) student and like Jack, also comes from regional NSW. Being so far from home it was vital for Monique to arrange accommodation so she could attend university. “I had always dreamed of going to Sydney Uni and experiencing a flourishing community,” she says. Thanks to a scholarship, Monique’s dream became a reality.
Monique’s time at St John’s has allowed her to embrace the social, pastoral, and sporting opportunities that come with college life. She is an active participant in Rosebowl Soccer and enjoys watching and supporting her peers in various sporting and cultural activities at St John’s.
“It has given me so many new opportunities and experiences that I would not be able to do otherwise,” she says.
For Jack, the value of the scholarship goes beyond tuition fees. He reflects on the formative experience of living in college, where lifelong friendships were forged.
“There’s a group of us who still catch up,” he says, sharing fond memories of college balls, touch football games, and Friday night pub visits. “The networks we built weren’t necessarily about careers, but about life. We went to each other’s weddings, we knew each other’s kids—it’s those friendships that have stayed with me.”
The impact Jack hopes to have through his scholarship is multi-faceted. It’s not just about levelling the playing field for students who might struggle to afford university, but also about enriching their overall experience. “The benefits of scholarships aren’t just about the money,” Jack notes. “It’s about all the extra opportunities that come with being around people and the experiences you gain from that.”
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Jack’s advice to fellow alumni and potential philanthropists is simple but compelling: “Just do it. And do it now, while you can see the benefits.” He believes that giving back should not be something reserved for after your lifetime. While he and his wife have included a bequest to the College in their will, he emphasises the importance of contributing while you can still witness the impact of your generosity. “You never know what serendipitous things might happen,” he adds, sharing stories of matching donations and other unexpected opportunities that magnify the impact of philanthropy.
Reflecting on what philanthropy means to him, Jack describes it as a way to give back to the society that has supported him over the years. “I hope what my donation does is help someone, or a few, become as good as they can be. Everyone needs a leg-up at least once in their life. College and uni were mine.”
I hope what my donation does is help someone, or a few, become as good as they can be. Everyone needs a leg-up at least once in their life. College and uni were mine.
Jack Goodacre (B.Sc. '77, BE(Chem) '79)
Donor
“I hope what my donation does is help someone, or a few, become as good as they can be. Everyone needs a leg-up at least once in their life. College and uni were mine.”Jack Goodacre (B.Sc. '77, BE(Chem) '79)
Donor
