Scotch College

Boarding at Scotch - it's all in the family

During the weekend of the Family Day/house sports in October each year, the parents of Scotch's boarders come to town.

On Saturday they watch the athletics, help out in the boarders' parents 'bush theme' pancake stall, attend a Saturday evening cocktail party, and roll in the aisles at the Boarders' Revue, where nothing is sacred.

On Sunday, they attend a Chapel service led by the boys, followed by an enjoyable barbecue on the Dining Hall lawn. Boarders' brothers and sisters also take part in many of the weekend's activities.

It's a good example of the family involvement that is now so much a part of boarding life at Scotch. Activities involving parents and families, combined with the immediacy and convenience of emails, faxes and mobile phones, all help to break down the tyranny of distance.

The inspiration for family involvement comes from the Boarders' Parents' Association (BPA), in close association with Scotch staff. Formed in 1984, the BPA invites all parents or legal guardians of boarders at Scotch to become members.

Max Jelbart, a dairy farmer from Leongatha South whose three sons have all boarded at Scotch, is the current president. Max says the BPA is a great forum. "Parents can build on the positive points of boarding life, and discuss any issues of concern they may have," Max says.

Parents and families are welcome to join their sons for a meal in the Dining Hall at any time. "I've been known to call in for breakfast and a quick catch-up with my sons en route to a meeting," Max says.

One of the parents opens the school Swap Shop in the afternoon before the BPA meeting at the start of each term.

A percentage of clothing sales to boarders goes to purchasing items for the Boarding House. Recent purchases include a video camera and a drinking fountain.

Other parents' activities include:

• working bees at Gordon Owen Lodge, the boarders' weekend retreat at Mansfield;
• Year 12 parents' and sons' dinners in Term 3 (at the Melbourne Club, organised by Max Jelbart);
• a dinner for parents and sons before the Year 12 speech night; and
• an informal parents' contact group in Singapore for parents of boys from that country.

Max says boarders' parents have also helped greatly in the Boarding House's recent promotional activities. "The enthusiasm of the parents of Scotch boarders is quite incredible," he says. With their help, Scotch is prominent at many rural field days and the school's marquee is a great place for parents and friends to catch up and enjoy a cuppa.

As Max says, the Boarding House offers boys a different perspective of Scotch. "One current parent whose day student son became a boarder this year said to me: 'Boarders get about 70 per cent more out of Scotch than day boys', and I'd have to go along with that."

David Ashton