Scotch College

Luncheons and reunions

Robert Doyle, former Master and now Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, gave an amusing and controversial summation of recent history in his introduction at the May Luncheon.

Held at the Australian Club, a very representative group of Old Boys were reminded of happenings relevant to today's quick moving world.

He gave a sketch of his own background and his arrival at Scotch in a teaching capacity. He, with some conviction, indicated the facilities of Scotch were among the best ever, even if to his eyes the external appearance of the buildings were a little modest.

Politically he touched on the proposed Constitutional 'preamble' and the implications that such wordings may have in years to come. It may well cloud the interpretation of words within a new Constitution. He felt that a preamble would tend to 'date' the Constitution, with future generations endeavouring to define what was intended at the time of its adoption.

To omit any preamble would be a safer and less divisive approach in the formulation of any new Republican Constitution, should we have one.

He concluded a most fascinating talk with anecdotes of his Scotch days.

'39 Leavers and Andrew Muller

The Year of 1939 School Leavers, with their Ladies, joined the June Monthly Luncheon, following a '60 Year Reunion Service' in the Memorial Hall conducted by the School Chaplain. They were fortunate to be present to hear the address by Mr. Andrew Müller, the Master who led the recent trip to Nepal by a group of current Scotch boys.

He told of the enormous cultural shock which the boys experienced when stepping off the plane at Kathmandu. The lack of roads, subsistence farming and the general disrepair of such an impoverished country had a big impact. The boys experienced a lack of creature comforts, which were readily offset by the spectacular and picturesque views of Mt. Everest and the Himalayas, as they trekked along the mountainous tracks. Nothing being flat presented a physical challenge as they traversed bridges and valleys so often separated by steep mountains that had to be climbed. Camping in tents was an additional test as the temperature at night was sometimes as low as -8°.

The boys' development and maturity by these experiences became evident even as the trip unfolded. Their better understanding and appreciation of their guides was but a simple example of the value of such trips. However, great credit must be given to the boys' mothers who not only worked to make the trip possible but were able to raise monies and have since knitted socks, which have been forwarded to Kathmandu and hospitals in Nepal.

The '39ers continued recounting sixty years of memories for some time following the closure of the luncheon.

Many later participated in a tour of the School which has changed so dramatically in the intervening years. It was great to see the continued enthusiasm for School being shared by so many Senior Old Boys.

Sir Arvi Parbo

Sir Arvi Parbo, AC was our Guest Speaker at the Australian Club at the July Luncheon being introduced by Chairman of the Day, Peter Addison. Sir Arvi told of his early education, and his arriving in Australia in November 1949 and his experiences as a migrant of that era. He related the story of his rather unorthodox application for employment with Western Mining Corporation, which led to his 43 years with that Company.

From his early days underground at Broken Hill, he has seen great changes in the mining industry. From picks and shovels, horses, carbide lamps and poor ventilation, to the modern practices of mechanical loaders, electric lamps and automated procedures.

The improved communications and housing at mining camps to the 'fly in-fly out' format used in remote areas today are all for the better.

Many of these changes have brought about a considerable decrease in the costs of mining with the subsequent advent of economy of scale. He has never overlooked the importance and the contribution of people, in what is both a hazardous, hard working and difficult industry.

He stated that his 43 years in the industry have never offered 'a dull moment' and he enjoyed the enormous expansion of the 1960s and 1970s as the most exciting time. He is afraid we may never see the like again, as governmental decisions and environmental restrictions create delays in exploration and planning.

He described these issues as an 'overburden' on projects that are envisaged. It has always taken time to assess and survey the start up of any mine. However, today the process is weighed so heavily against the beneficial outcome.