Scotch College

Dinners

Bellarine dinner at Marcus Oldham

The Bellarine Branch of OSCA held their Annual Dinner at Marcus Oldham College, Geelong on Friday 2 July 1999, with 54 members and partners in attendance.

Welcome was given to OSCA President Richard Nelson, Vice-Principal Ian Savage together with Greg Brinsmead, the Principal of Marcus Oldham College. The venue had been chosen to enable members to visit a local agricultural establishment which has had a significant impact on the lives of many Old Scotch Collegians, and to enjoy again the hospitality of Bellarine President Ken Whitehead who is Catering Manager at Marcus Oldham.

A brief outline of the history of Marcus Oldham, coupled with today's positive employment prospects for graduates was given by the Principal.

The evening was made all the more pleasant with the traditional Haggis ceremony and the enthusiastic attendance of a healthy number of new participants, who added to the enjoyment of another worthwhile gathering.

A healthy donation was presented to the Vice-Principal Ian Savage, for the Students Assistance Fund.

Happy Hamilton dinner

The Biannual Western District Branch Dinner was held in the Hamilton Club on Saturday 17 July and all the usual suspects were rounded up.

The cavalry from Melbourne included the Principal Dr Gordon Donaldson and wife Joyce, President of OSCA Richard Nelson, Doug and Lesley Galbraith, John Ferguson, Andrew Hunter and members of the School Choir, Moderator for the evening Leigh McGregor and wife Ros.

The Moderator called all present to dinner, local President Rod Dyer welcomed those present and noted apologies. Doug Galbraith said grace, soup was served and then came the Haggis ceremony, performed by Leigh McGregor with his usual finesse, as it should have been, for goodness sake he's had enough practice! Haggis, amongst both visitors and locals received a mixed reception with cleared plates, half eaten and not, or barely touched plates.

The entertainment given by the choir was excellent with its mix of classical and modern. Main course next, a beautifully cooked and presented fillet of beef.

The Captain and Vice Captain of Music Nick Buc and John Strainge and Lin Jiang (horn) performed the final movement of a trio and then came the major toast of the evening - to the School.

This onerous task fell to John McMeekin ('43), and it was even more onerous as the advice was given to him two hours before the dinner and seeing his name was printed on the programme, the printers were super swift. The Moderator apologised for this omission, apparently falling between two stools.

John mused on Scotch and how most pupils were of very mixed origins, indicating himself as fourth generation Australian with half English, quarter Scotch and quarter Northern Ireland great grandparents, class sizes before and during the War and the fact that he was a very middle of the road student.

He did his Leaving and some Leaving Honours subjects, did not go to University, but straight into the workforce, in shipping, where he spent his working life in various companies and managerial roles, concluding that it had been fulfilling in the main.

Gordon Donaldson then responded and interestingly the emphasis of his response was on the effort Scotch made to make every student perform to his best at no matter what level, not concentrating only on the high achievers, but on the middle and lower achievers, of which the proposer was a member. There was no collusion in the two speeches, but the theme was the same.

Captain and Vice Captain of Music entertained, then dessert and a final rendition by the Choir with concluding remarks by the Moderator. Mixing followed and concluded a most successful evening.

Richard Nelson had commented that on a previous visit about five years ago he had departed to a crackling white frost, but on the Sunday morning this time (or any rate at Nareen) he would have departed in a shower of rain, of which the whole district was desperately in need.

John McMeekin, President.

Mornington Peninsula Branch Dinner

Ninety Old Boys, their wives and other members of the Scotch Family celebrated the 36th Annual Branch Dinner at the Mornington Golf Club on Friday, 19 March 1999.

Ian Stapleton ('68), our Guest Speaker, held us spellbound with his experiences and stories about the establishment of Mittagundi and Woolangarra.

He provided us with sharp insight into the needs and wishes of today's younger generation.

Special thanks to Ian and Beverley Savage, Richard and Sue Nelson, Leigh and Ros McGregor and Matthew Spargo (School Captain 1998), who made the trip from Melbourne.

As always the dedicated and hard working dinner committee are to be congratulated on a fine dinner. Jim and Mary McCoy, Michael and Judy Caraher and Jim and Barbara Shepherd all worked very hard to ensure a successful dinner was held.

Geoffrey Kidd, President