Scotch College

H I Cohen and the trophy

The trophy is named in honour of a great Old Scotch Collegian, Henry Isaac Cohen, who attended Scotch from 1885 to 1889. He was a keen cricketer at School, and also played for Melbourne University. A fine student, he was dux of Scotch in mathematics and classics, and at university he won exhibitions each year before graduating in arts and law. He built up a very successful legal practice, and was appointed a King’s Counsel in 1920.

In the early 1920s, Cohen stood successfully for the Melbourne Province in the Victorian Legislative Council, and held several ministerial portfolios.

Cohen was a loyal and energetic supporter of Scotch all his life. He was a great supporter of the purchase of the Hawthorn site, and one of the larger donors to the fund to purchase the site. He was a foundation member of OSCA, its president in 1921 and 1922 and a senior patron and strong supporter of the Old Scotch Football Club. Cohen’s sons, Russell, Bryan and Colin, all attended Scotch.

Henry Cohen presented the ‘trophy’ in 1921. It is a book in which the winner’s name is inscribed each year, and which each winner signs in the presence of his team-mates. The trophy goes to the ‘best all-rounder’ in the team, and is based on batting, bowling and fielding performances. Among those who have signed the book are three who have gone on to represent Australia – Ben Barnett (1925 winner), Colin McDonald (1946) and Bob Cowper (1958).