Scotch College

Principal announces his retirement

Dr Gordon Donaldson retires from Scotch College after 25 years’ service.

Words: David Ashton Photography: Andrew Murdoch

‘I write to inform you that, after much consideration, I will be retiring from the role of Principal of Scotch College at the end of this year.’

In a letter to members of the Scotch Family on 15 February, the Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson, announced the end of an era – a 25-year period during which time Scotch has cemented its position as one of the leading schools in Australia.

As the Chairman of the Scotch College Council, Mr David Crawford, said in a letter sent together with Dr Donaldson’s letter to the Scotch Family, Scotch is enjoying a period of great strength, ‘due in no small measure to the remarkable leadership of Dr Donaldson.’ Mr Crawford cited the outstanding achievements of Scotch students, the high calibre of the teaching staff, and the excellence of the campus facilities as examples of the many positives of the Donaldson era.

Scotch chose Gordon Donaldson as its eighth Principal after it had ‘looked the whole world over’. He had previously been Vice-Principal of Wallace High School in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Dr Donaldson announced from the outset that ‘the priorities of the School are to educate boys to the highest level they are capable of, to develop spiritual awareness, physical development, and provide a framework of morality within which boys develop’.

There is little doubt that he has followed these aims through with energy, vigour and thoroughness. The School has developed and prospered in every respect, not least in terms of building, exemplified by the magnificent James Forbes Academy. As the School Council Chairman said in his letter to the Scotch Family: ‘The campus facilities are widely acknowledged for their excellence, and Council is able to view proposed future developments with confidence’.

As the Donaldson era draws to a close, future issues of Great Scot will pay tribute to a man who has guided the School with wisdom, compassion and strength through an unparalleled phase of growth and development.