Scotch College

Thank you for Thinking Back and Giving Back

This year's Annual Giving Program has been a very successful one and it has been very pleasing from the School's point of view to see the renewed commitment to the School through this vital part of the Development Office's activities. The excellent work and co-operation between the various elements of the Development Office, and especially the tireless efforts of Rowan Crosbie-Goold, translated into a compelling case for the Program in 2003. In opening the Program up to all Old Boys, including recent leavers, we took a gamble, but the response has been favourable. When every dollar raised goes towards the cause itself, and not to the running of the campaign, then all those smaller contributions from younger Old Boys (the YOBs of Scotch College!) are genuinely appreciated. It was also very pleasing to see growing support from our current parent body towards the Program. The number of parent donors doubled this year, and we hope that this will set a trend for the future.

The greatest success of the Program for 2003 was the focus on the Old Boys of the Gilray Era. Spearheaded by Scotty Macleish and Bill Philip, an attempt was made to focus the charitable intentions of these Old Boys on providing enough money to commemorate a space in the James Forbes Academy after Princpal Colin Gilray (1934-53). Just under $50,000 was raised for this purpose, and as a result, it has been recommended to the School Council that the Music Staff Room in the Academy should be named the Colin Gilray Gallery. This is a wonderful result for all those who gave so generously, and a very special way in which to remember Scotch's fourth Principal.

While there are still occasional contributions to the Program arriving at the Development Office, we are almost at the end of this year's efforts. The Think Back; Give Back focus for 2003 has raised more than $146,000, considerably up on the total for 2002, and a terrific support for the School. The Development Office thanks all who participated as donors, Year Level Leaders, signers and envelope stuffers. There is a special thank you to the OSCA Council Committee for Annual Giving under the leadership of Michael Sim, and to Tim Shearer, the OSCA Executive Director,

for their special input. A full report on the Annual Giving Program for 2003 will appear in the Annual Report of the Scotch College Foundation.

Alan Watkinson - Director of Development