As an Old Col herself, and Wesley's current Master, Lisa Sutherland is also a past and present Wesley parent - with her daughter Madeline having graduated from Wesley in 2020, and her son Alexander currently in his third and final year at the College.
Sitting down together, the Sutherlands reflect on the privilege of being a multi-generational Wesley family, plus the ups and downs of their slightly unconventional living arrangements.
Lisa Sutherland (née Kelley) arrived at Wesley College from Newcastle High in 1985. Studying Arts and then a Diploma of Education at USYD, Lisa enjoyed three years at the College, which she credits with giving her a solid grounding to life in the big city and enduring friendships - opening up a world of possibilities for life ahead.
Following a career start in secondary education, teaching English and Drama, Lisa moved into leadership roles in university residential colleges, and she has been in her current leadership role at Wesley since 2009. So, it was little wonder, with such a deep commitment to the College, that Lisa’s two children would choose to follow in her footsteps in seeking a residential Wesley experience at USYD.
Lisa’s oldest child Madeline arrived as a fresher in 2018 to study a Bachelor of Commerce after completing a gap year at a boarding school in England. For Maddy, the decision to attend Wesley came after visiting interstate Universities’ Open Days and subsequent College Open Days with Lisa, where she quickly realised that no other college was like Wes. “In my year away, I missed family and Sydney more than I expected, and the pull of the Wesley tradition made any other college feel almost unthinkable”.
Having grown up hearing her mother's fond stories of 1980’s college life, Wesley had always felt less like an institution to Maddy, and more like an extended family. Walking through the atrium and past corridors on the way to school on a Thursday morning, seeing all the remnants from the Courtyard party the night before, only encouraged her to seek that experience for herself. As Maddy described, “when you witness a family like Wesley and see the incredible culture and community for 6 years of high school - sitting at the high table for dinners and hearing the students’ music before a Wednesday night out, you want to dive right in and have that for yourself.”
Madeline commented that it never felt ‘weird’ to have her Mum as Master, but like any young adult in their early 20’s trying to find their way and figure out who they are, having her mother at the college did have its downside. “Formal dinner attendance was mandatory for the Sutherland family” Maddy mused, “so my absence was definitely noticed by Mum if I wasn’t there.” There were also many perks to life at Wesley, notably Lisa’s incredible Sunday night family dinners to draw her daughter home. A tradition that continues to this day. And when she need edit, Maddy’s family was always close, and a hug was never far.
Four years later, Lisa’s son Alexander joined the Wesley family, embarking on a degree in Project Management and throwing himself into college life from day one. Unlike his sister, Wesley was all Alex had ever known. Arriving at the front doorstep of the Master’s residence at just three years old, he was immersed in college life from the outset, growing up surrounded by a vibrant community of university students. So, when the time came to leave school, there was never any question about where Alex would go or which path he would take - so long as it was at Wesley College.
Having seen Wesley evolve and change - the atrium being built, the renovation and naming of Sutherland wing and the famous ‘Raising the Roof’ of Top Purser, Alex was keen to experience life as a College student. “I had always seen it from the outside; Sitting in on formal and Community Dinners, attending Black Ball, even playing the drums in a Courtyard in 2011. Being able to experience Wesley firsthand as as tudent had been a dream of mine my whole life”.
Now in his third year, Alex has made many meaningful contributions to the college. Most prominently as Charity Secretary, running numerous charity events and fundraising activities for Wesley and its community, where Alex’s impact has been hard to miss. “I love how much more involvement I’ve had in Third year”, Alex reflects. “From House Committee, being able to welcome all the freshers as an O-week leader, to running one of our highly anticipated Palladian events as Group Instrumental Captain, I could not be more proud of the impact I’ve been able to make, and the trust I have gained from the community. To be able to give back to Wesley –which has given me so much in my life - has been a privilege.”
For the Sutherlands, Wesley has been much more than a place to live during university. Across two generations, it has formed the foundations of friendship, belonging, opportunity and shared memories — a community that has shaped each of them in different and profound ways. As Alex prepares to graduate and the family’s story enters its next chapter, it is a comfort to know that the Sutherland family will remain at the heart of Wesley - just as Wesley will always remain a cornerstone of the Sutherland family.
