Scavenger Hunt

This Scavenger Hunt was carried out on the 12th of March 2006 with a dual purpose; to orientate new Cosdu members to the locations of various churches in Melbourne, and for everyone to get to know each other better as we pitted our wits against each other while racing against the clock.

Like in most Orientation-ish activities, the groups were required to perform interesting tasks in order to obtain our clues.

It happened to be a scorching hot summer day with temperatures soaring up to 36 degree celcius. Nonetheless we all had a great time and were sufficiently rewarded with a sizzling barbie waiting for us at the picturesque final destination.

COSDU Committees

2010-2011
President Jonathan Au
Vice President Renee Siu
Secretary Kershia Tan
Treasurer Theodore Wuisan
Social Justice Coordinator Jessica Tan
Sessions Coordinator Kimberley Ngu
Liturgy Coordinator Anastasia Agusto
Music Coordinator Alphonsus Tan
Publicity Coordinator Florence Santana
Social Activities Coordinator Felicia Tang

2009-2010
President Jessica Tan
Vice President Gracie Ng
Secretary Sara Kang
Treasurer Yanuar Kurniawan
Social Justice Coordinator Ooi Jian Sheng
Sessions Coordinator Donna Yeo
Liturgy Coordinator Matthew Kwok
Music Coordinator Jonathan Au
Publicity Coordinator Audrey Teh
Social Activities Coordinator Giovanni Rinaldi

2008-2009
President Amanda Johan
Vice President Jessica Tan
Secretary Donna Yeo
Treasurer William Lim
Social Justice Coordinator Anastasia Agusto
Sessions Coordinator Angela Liew
Liturgy Coordinator Janan Lee
Music Coordinator Bernice Lim
Publicity Coordinator Audrey Teh
Social Activities Coordinator Hilary Heah

Sister Theresa Ryan steps down. Sister Delma Lamb becomes International Students' Chaplain.

2007-2008
President Ramesh Richards
Vice President Anastasia Agusto
Secretary Amanda Johan
Treasurer Jessica Tan
Sessions Coordinator Janan Lee
Liturgy Coordinator Celina Ma
Music Coordinator Annette Lee
Social Activities Coordinator Ooi Jian Sheng
Publicity Coordinator Nicole Tan
Social Justice Coordinator Lim E Wei

2006-2007
President Jean Cheng
Vice President Bryant Ting
Secretary Wynnie Kwok
Treasurer Maria Choong
Sessions Lin Ming Yin
Liturgy Ramesh Richards
Social Justice Celine Yong
Music Denning Rajt
Public Relations Ross Steward
Social Activities Jonathan Khoo

2005-2006
President Felicia Lin
Vice President Jason Kang
Secretary Sean Gomes
Treasurer Diane Bong
Sessions Christine Yong
Liturgy Nicholas Pang
Social Justice Celeste
Music Melissa Yeo
Public Relations Hobart Kho
Social Activities Yeo Wi Lian

2004-2005
President Sarah Lam
Vice President Noel Hidalgo Tan
Secretary Sean Gomes Lee
Treasurer Austin Leong
Sessions Thai Hong
Liturgy Eric Liew
Social Justice Romila Kulenthran
Music Christine Yong
Publicity Diane Bong
Food Madeleine Hii

2003-2004
President Maria Lydia Prasetio
Vice President Lin Ming Yin
Secretary Sarah Lam
Treasurer Diana Ayu Prasetio
Sessions Jason Kang
Liturgy Sin Su Li
Social Justice Felicia Lin
Music Christine Yong
Publicity Keith Tan Hung
Food Florence Tee

2002-2003
President Alison Lee
Vice President Adrian Fann
Secretary Maria Lydia Prasetio
Treasurer Michelle Poh
Sessions Kenneth Pinto
Liturgy Lin Ming Yin
Social Justice Jason Kang
Music Mariska Gunario
Publicity Ricky Kurniawan
Food Goh Sue Lyn

Sister Carol Hogan steps down. Sister Theresa Ryan becomes International Students' Chaplain.

2001-2002
President Justin Wong
Vice President Maria Suyanto
Secretary Pamela Khoo
Treasurer Deanna Yong
Sessions Terence Kesavan
Liturgy Adrian Fann
Social Justice Pauline
Music Belinda Sun
Publicity and Liasion (1) Pauline Lai
Publicity and Liasion (2) Alfred
Food Teresa Leung

2000-2001
President Lui Wen Kit
Vice President Jennifer Husin
Secretary Ng Sok Mian
Treasurer Joyce Shia
Sessions Maria Suyanto
Liturgy Pamela Khoo
Music Hayde Galvez
Publicity and Liasion (1) Colin Yong
Publicity and Liasion (2) Anthony Lazarus
Food Amy Yong

1999/2000
President Colin Yong
Vice President Jason Rajit
Secretary Andre Ridzwan
Treasurer Adeline Ngoh
General Committee:TBC

1998/1999
President Joshua Choong
Vice President Adeline Tay
Secretary Lynda Suryadi
Treasurer Indrawati Tio
General Committee:Kevin Suryadi
Joana Linggo
Clint Patrick
Michelle Yik
Teresa Leung
Justin Wong

1997/1998
TBC

1996/1997
President Brian Yeung
Vice President Gloria Daysor
Secretary Clare Wee
Treasurer Sharon Yong
General Committee:Phillis Wong
Chang Mei Lian
Pannie Tang
Dominic Wong
Sheila Poh
Gladys Ong

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COSDU's History

Taken from COSDU's old website.

In The Beginning (1986 - 1991)

The year was 1986. Sister Carol Hogan, a Blessed Sacrament Sister, set out on a journey that will change and enrich hundreds of international students' academic life in Melbourne. During that period of time, there were a very small number of overseas students who studied in Australia. They studied in high schools located across Victoria so were unaware of other overseas students. Sister Carol saw this as an unfortunate matter and she decided to form a support group that will bring them together every year. The group was called Overseas Students Down Under (O.S.D.U.). This was a perfect opportunity for the young people to meet and make friends. Many activities were organised such as annual camps, B.B.Qs, trips and outings.

Soon these young people graduated from high school and continued into tertiary educations. Many went to the University of Melbourne where Sister Carol worked as one of the University's chaplains. And they have maintained the friendship that was developed from the earlier times. Sister Carol became not only their friend and chaplain but she gave spiritual guide for these Catholic students. At that time, the Newman Society was the only Catholic organisation. In the hope of fulfilling their needs from an "overseas" perspective, they decided to form a separate group to further explore and improve their faith.

Catholic Overseas Students Down Under (C.O.S.D.U.) was born on 13th March 1987, the first official meeting took place in St.Mary's College West Hall. Starting with only 20 people coming from a common background proved to be a working formula. Everything was kept informal as students received instructions and learnt the many great facets of the Catholic faith every Friday evening. Eucharistic celebrations (mass), Rosary prayers, speaker talks, retreats were among the many activities organised under the guidance of Sister Carol. One of the earliest highlights was the end-of-year mass where we prepared mass for the public at St.Carthage's Church conducted by Fr. Michael Elligate and followed by dinner in St.Mary's West Hall. This event still continues until today where we marked the end-of-the-year mass as farewell to the graduating students.im grew with members mainly from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Phillipines and Indonesia gathered as one Community of Faith. However, this caused the first major crisis COSDU faced. Informality has evolved into lack of organisation and direction. The need to have a rigid structure then resulted in the formation of a committee, that was led by James Chin and Jennifer King as President and Vice President respectively.


The Wonder Years (1992 - 2000)

As COSDU entered the 1990s, many of the founding members graduated and some returned to their homeland. However, that did not stop the orientation recruitments and events publicity . More students from other parts of the world such as Africa and China became part of the multicultural COSDU. By this time, the students were able to take more responsibilities in organising activities and managing the group. Since then Sister Carol became the spiritual director for COSDU.

Besides offering students with religious guidance, forming friendships became part of the weekly activities. This was celebrated by food provided after the sessions. Since the group received their finances from students' donations, they were unable to cope as the group grew larger. Therefore, COSDU was enlisted into the Melbourne University Student Union Clubs & Society where the group received funds for the activities.

As time passed, there was an increasing number of overseas students in Melbourne. People from other countries such as Singapore, Japan, Korea, Mauritius and other univeristies like Monash and RMIT participated in the activities. New ideas emerged and there were more variety of activities such as Praise & Worship, Prayer sessions, Bible sharing, Group Discussions, Personal explorations.

Social gatherings such as Sports Day and BBQs were organised to maintain contact with other members. One of the main events in COSDU history had to be the collaboration between RMIT and Melbourne University students. They were led by Dominic Wong (RMIT) to put on a musical called "Witness: The Night After The Day Before" It was performed at Prince Philip Theatre, Melbourne University on 27th September 1997.

In September 1998, COSDU was to learn a worthwhile lesson. Sister Carol, inspired by a Marist Brother, Mick Sexton, started "Being There Program" to increase international students awareness of social justice. Brother Mick coordinated the program with Australian students. Lynda Suryadi organised the first "Being There". Students were given choices of places to visit and volunteer in old folks home, community centers, soup kitchens, religious communities and others for one day. Some COSDU members even continued their generosity by becoming a regular volunteer after the day was over.


The New Generation (2001 - Now)

The main highlight of a COSDU year had to be and still is The Annual Easter Retreat. Sister Carol started this as a way of bringing the students together for 3 days where they are able to relax and learn more about the importance of faith in life. The retreat was always successful in helping students with their troubles or just to unwind from the daily student life. These are the venues where COSDU members had been privileged in : Mercy Convent , Mornington, Silver Creek, Marist Brothers, Drusilla Mount Macedon, Passionist Fathers Retreat Centre, Templestowe, ‘Greyfriars’, Mornington, Christian Brothers, “Amberley” Lower Plenty.

Ever since COSDU started, we had been using and moving through many venues located on campus. Some venues became too small for the consistently increasing group and the availability of these venues varied from week to week. This was a crisis for COSDU as there are not many venues on university campus to accomodate a big group. Besides that, COSDU wanted to choose one venue that can be used for all sessions throughout the year.

Through the kindness and help from Sister Carol and Newman College, COSDU has found a new home. Since July 2001, Kenny Lounge became the new venue for COSDU sessions and St.Mary's Chapel for the monthly mass. More new ideas were included in the sessions too such as Stations of the Cross, weekly Church Tour, Meditations, Biblical Quiz, Nature Walks.

Sadly after 16 fruitful years, Sister Carol decided to retire. On 27th July 2002, COSDU celebrated for one last time the commitment, generosity, kindness and chaplain life of Sister Carol Hogan. In August 2002, Sister Theresa Ryan, a Franciscan Sister, was personally chosen by Sister Carol to continue her work with international students in Melbourne. At the same year, another history making event was marked in COSDU calendar ; Alison Lee was elected as COSDU President after the absence of women presidents in many years.

Today, COSDU has attracted many new incoming students in Melbourne. Our members come from different institutions (Melbourne Uni, RMIT, Trinity, MUFY, Swinburne) and different countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and more). As we continue to serve students, working adults, Catholic or non-Catholics, COSDU will always be remembered simply as a 'FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME GROWING TOGETHER IN CHRIST'.

About COSDU

We are the Catholic Overseas Students Down Under. In short, COSDU!

COSDU is a student group based in the University of Melbourne.

We meet every Friday at 6.30 p.m.