Community, Development and Alumni Recipient now patron of Davis Bursary The Phillip Davis Mathematics Bursary is supported by a generous Old Boy Ambassador and named in honour of Mr Phil Davis OAM. This year, Newington welcomes the third Phillip Davis OAM Mathematics Bursary recipient Jonathan Lee. Jonathan will join Kenny Chen as a Davis recipient. The inaugural recipient of the Phillip Davis OAM Mathematics Bursary, Richard Zhang (ON 2017), who completed his schooling in 2017, was honoured to be invited by the College to be the Patron of this Bursary. We sat down with Richard as he reflected on his time at Newington and looks to a bright future. Congratulations on achieving 44/45 in the IB Diploma Programme (ATAR of 99.85), top of the College in IB Physics and equal top in Latin. Where are you now, and what are your plans for the future? I’m very lucky to have received my result, and it’s allowed me to gain entry into Medicine at UNSW for 2018. People are often a little surprised to hear I want to enter the Navy full-time as a doctor or Mr Phillip Davis OAM with the inaugural recipient of the Phillip Davis OAM Mathematics some kind of medical officer. Entering Bursary, Richard Zhang (ON 2017) ‘It’s pretty safe to say the school were even more moving. supporting the Endowment Fund and I’ll be reflecting on These numerous acts of altruism made its individual Bursaries? the Bursary a possibility, and inspired If you want to make a positive Newington school life me to try to emulate that generosity as difference, donating to the Endowment positively for a long best as I could. I intend to bring to the Fund is one of the best things you can Bursary the same thing I brought to the do. Every bursary grants a deserving time to come’ rest of my Newington life—a willingness boy the opportunity to pass through one to be involved and a continuous of the best character-building schools in the armed forces (I wanted to join the commitment to doing all I can to the state, perhaps even the world. They Army first, but I’ve since realised I love support it. are offered the same incredible boats and the sea) is a dream I’ve had How do you reflect on your time at opportunities and facilities I had the since I was five, and hopefully, six years Newington? good fortune to experience, while from now, I’ll be able to realise that I’m very grateful for the resources and introducing their own personality, ideas, dream. opportunities Newington had to offer—it and talents to a school community that As the inaugural recipient of the Phillip is because of these that I was able to prides itself on its diversity. I am certain Davis OAM Mathematics Bursary, you do what I wanted to do, and become this is what Mr Davis had in mind had the opportunity to meet Mr Davis. who I wanted to become. The incredible starting the Mathematics Bursary. I can You are now one of the major donors to facilities and teachers allowed me to attest to the importance and success of the Bursary and accepted the position gain entry into the course I wanted to the bursaries not only in my Newington of Patron. How do you see your get into, the co-curriculars allowed me to life, but also in the lives of every other relationship with the Bursary in the find my passions for debating and bursary boy—and it is because of this future? weight-lifting, and cadets allowed me to that I intend to donate as much as I am I had the privilege of meeting Mr Davis discover my love for the outdoors. It’s capable of to the Endowment Fund into and several of his close friends, pretty safe to say I’ll be reflecting on the future. including the anonymous donor who was Newington school life positively for a Please go to selfless enough to allow the Bursary to long time to come. https://www.newington.nsw.edu.au/ start early. My meetings with Mr Davis As a Newington College Bursary online-payments or go to the tear off were incredibly humbling, and the recipient, what message do you have section of the back cover of stories of his earlier involvement with for others about the importance of the magazine to see how to donate. OPPORTUNITY| NEWS AUTUMN 2018| 51