C.A.S. Hawker Scholars
July 2024
Ms Katherine Radoslovich
Hawker Scholar: 2008 - 2010
Throughout my life, I have been driven by three key things: a passion for learning and exploring the world around be, a determination to do my best, and a deep commitment to helping others. These values have paved a world of opportunities and experiences for me, and I have been privileged to help extend these experiences to those who come after me.
When I first applied for the C.A.S Hawker Scholarship as a young 17-year-old, I had no idea the doors this Scholarship would open for me, nor how truly the values that define a Hawker Scholar would hold true for me throughout the years to come.
I entered St Mark’s College as a Hawker Scholar in 2008, fresh off the plane from an 11-month student exchange in Hungary. Joining St Mark’s was an enriching experience, in the way that university residential colleges have been for so many generations of young people. Living in a college helped deepen my passion for learning, while also exposing me to people with some many different areas of passion and experiences.
I loved university life, with the opportunity to explore the worlds of history, politics, anthropology, Asian studies, and social research, and to participate in fabulous activities like Model United Nations Conferences. In my studies I took a particular interest in East and South East Asian history, especially modern China and Indonesia, completing my Honours thesis on the Indonesian occupation of Timor Leste. I graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of International Studies with First Class Honours in History, and a Bachelor of Development Studies, winning several University of Adelaide and St Mark’s College scholarships and prizes along the way. Having been blessed with fantastic academic mentors, I found a passion for supporting others, serving as an academic tutor at St Mark’s for many years after graduating, and eventually working as an academic tutor and mentor with Wirltu Yarlu Indigenous Education at the University of Adelaide.
Shortly after leaving St Mark’s, I had the opportunity to complete an aid project in Timor Leste through AusAID’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program, spending seven months working with the East Timorese Scout Movement. This experience was equally challenging and rewarding, in the way such projects are, and had a profound impact on my understanding of effective leadership and service.
In the years that followed, my career has had a strong focus on supporting my community, particularly in youth development and public service. Building off many years of service to Scouting and in support of exchange student programs, I spent six years as a Youth Working with the Wiltja Residential Program, supporting Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara-speaking high school students from remote areas.
I also worked as an Analyst with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, as a Research Assistant with Helping Hand Aged Care, and in various roles with South Australia Police.
In 2018 I was privileged to rejoin St Mark’s College, this time as a staff member. It has been a pleasure to be a part of a thriving residential academic community with a deep commitment to providing the best possible all-round university experience to young people. It has also been a delight to support incoming Hawker Scholars, as they set out on their own journeys. Initially appointed as Director of Learning (2018-20), where I was responsible for running the College’s academic and career development programs, I have worked in several roles, including as Registrar (2020-23), and since July 2023 as Research and Scholarships Manager.
Looking to the future, I am excited to start a new phase of my life. In September 2024, I will arrive at King’s College at the University of Cambridge to begin an MPhil in Medieval History at Cambridge, one of the strongest universities in this field in the world. I’m looking forward to strengthening my skills as a historian, to testing my linguistic skills as I tackle the new challenges of Latin and palaeography, and to experiencing college life in one of the world’s oldest universities.
The opportunities offered by being awarded a Ramsay and an Ivan Shearer scholarship, wouldn't have happened without the foundation I gained at St Mark's as a C.A.S. Hawker Scholar.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that the Hawker, the Ramsay and the Shearer Scholarships have already provided, and will continue to provide me in the future, and I look forward to passing these opportunities on to future generations of scholars.
May 2012
It has been a year and a half since I left the beautiful campus of St Mark's College in Adelaide, where I stayed for three years during my time as a Hawker Scholar, and I thought now was a good time to update you on my life since then.
After leaving St Mark's at the end of 2010, I was accepted into the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) program, and from July 2011 until February 2012 I was lucky enough to volunteer in beautiful Timor Leste.
During my 7 months as an AYAD, I was based in Dili, Timor-Leste, working with Uniao Nacional dos Escuteiros de Timor Leste (UNE-TL, the Timorese National Scout Movement). UNE-TL is a fascinating organisation. Scouting has a long history in Timor-Leste. For 30 years, two Scout movements existed side-by-side in Timor, and the Scouts played an important role in the Resistance and Clandestine movements during the Indonesian Occupation.
After independence, the two movements came together to form a national Scouting organisation. My placement came at a very important time in their history. My project was to help UNE-TL establish its National Office, train their office staff, and design and conduct their first national census. In addition to this, I worked closely with their National Council, participating in their Second General Assembly, helping coordinate an advanced leader training course run by a training team from Australia, went on consultation visits to Scout groups across the country, and was present for the Induction of President Jose Ramos Horta as the Patron of UNE-TL.
My experience as an AYAD was both rewarding and challenging. Timor-Leste is a challenging place to live and work. However, drawing on resources and Experience from my study, time at college and co-curricular activities, I threw myself into life in Dili. In addition to my work with the National Council of UNE-TL, I developed good relations with several local Scout groups, and attended a number of events with them.
Highlights included participating with in the Santa Cruz Massacre memorial parade with the Motael Church Scout Group and attending the Ba Rai Concert and Earth Expo run by the Permascout Group in Dili. I also got involved with the expatriate community, joining the Dili Community Choir and the UN Women's Soccer Team. This brought with it many exciting moments, such as performing at an American Embassy Christmas party and making the Grand Final in the International Stabilisation Force's soccer competition. I also made many friends, and travelled to many stunningly beautiful parts of the country.
Leaving Timor, I am satisfied that my work has greatly strengthened the bond between Scouting in Australia and Timor-Leste. I hope that this bond will last for many years to come. I have learnt another language and had insights into a culture very different from my own. Your body may leave the shores of Timor, but part of your heart will always remain.
I arrived back in Adelaide in February this year, and have since recommenced my studies. I graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of International Studies and a High Distinction average in April, and am currently undertaking Honours in History. In April I was awarded a University of Adelaide Honours Scholarship. I have continued to be involved in Scouting, I am tutoring at St Mark's College, I play Netball for a mixed social team and I'm studying Belly Dancing and Bollywood dancing several nights a week.
My time as a Hawker Scholar was an invaluable help in preparing me for the challenges I faced last year. Without a Hawker Scholarship I would not have attended St Mark's College, and would not have gained the life skills and interpersonal communication development that helped me cope with the challenges of living and working in Timor. For this I send my deepest thanks to the Trustees, and hope that I can continue to use and develop these skills for many years to come.
Kathy Radoslovich with members of UNE-TL National Council
With Scouting Friends at the Ba Rai Concert Dili, September 2011