Scotch College

15 Months to go ...

Marking Aussie Rules' first recorded game

Though some historians have expressed doubts that it was THE first Australian Rules game, all agree that it was the first RECORDED game - that famous, and very lengthy match between Scotch and Melbourne Grammar in 1858. It began on 7 August, and continued two Saturdays later, and then two Saturdays after that. The match was finally declared a draw - one goal apiece - when neither side could register a further score.

To commemorate the match, Scotch has commissioned a sculpture, which on completion will be given to the State of Victoria and the City of Melbourne. We're delighted that Melbourne Grammar has embraced the idea and is joining us in this venture.

Plans are for the statue or sculpture to be located in the vicinity of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and efforts are currently directed at working out the details, obtaining approval from the relevant authorities and then engaging a sculptor.

In the founder's name

A new rose has been bred for the sesquicentenary. Appropriately, it will be named the "James Forbes rose", in honour of the school's founder. As the breeder says: "The James Forbes rose is blessed with vigorous growth. The rose is dark red in bud, opening to blood-red blooms, which are borne on stems which are up to 60 cm in length. This makes it an excellent picking or garden rose." Planting a James Forbes rose in your garden, or presenting one to a friend or relation (whether or not that person is a member of the Scotch Family) will be a most appropriate way to celebrate this significant milestone - the rose will be available in July 2001.

Our biggest-yet Foundation Day Concert - 2001

Foundation Day Concert tickets are always hard to come by - but that won't be the case in 2001. To celebrate the school's 150th anniversary, a very special Foundation Day Concert is planned in 2001. In anticipation of great support for this event, the National Tennis Centre has been booked so that everyone wanting to be a part of this memorable evening can be accommodated.

Competition to write a new school song

Calling all composers - Scotch is planning to adopt a new school song - not to replace the traditional "We are Scotch Collegians all", but to add an appropriate song to the repertoire at a very historic time for the school. A competition will be run - information about the competition will be available early in 2000 - but it's not too early for interested composers to start collecting their ideas!

Monash Lecture - a dual celebration

One of the Celebration 150 events will be a high-profile lecture at Monash University, which will also mark the university's 40th anniversary. The lecture is to be named after Sir John Monash, in recognition of his significance to both institutions.

Scotch's peripatetic past

With Scotch having been at Hawthorn for the best part of eight decades, it's a little hard to realise that in its early days, it was a very movable school indeed. Back in 1851, Scotch's first site was in Spring Street, Melbourne, between Lonsdale Street and LaTrobe Street. In 1852 the school moved further up Spring Street to near the corner of Little Collins Street. Then, from 1854 to 1925 the school was located on the corner of Lansdowne Street and Cathedral Place, East Melbourne.

In 1951, commemorative tablets were placed in the pavements outside these three sites, in recognition of the school's first 100 years. The tablet from outside the first site was retrieved when it was threatened with destruction during the construction of the current Casselden Place building on the corner of Spring and Lonsdale Streets. The other two tablets are still in place.

The school's 150th anniversary is an appropriate time to return the tablet to the first Spring Street site - and permission has been obtained for this. We are also considering installing memorial plaques at the other early locations, and are making enquiries with building owners.

Ties that bind us

No major celebration would be complete without a special tie, and in 2001, it's proposed that Scotch students will wear 150th birthday ties throughout the year. As a Celebration 150 link, the tie will be available for purchase by all members of the Scotch Family, and everyone will be encouraged to wear the tie on Foundation Day 2001 - and at least on every Foundation Day in the years that follow.

Gathering of the clans

In 2001 Scotch will be hosting a Highland Gathering, and invitations have already been extended to schools throughout Australia and overseas. Details will be published in the December issue of Great Scot.