Scotch College

Honorary Life Membership for Leigh McGregor

OSCA President Rob Wilson (l) presents Leigh McGregor with his OSCA Honorary Life Membership

Leigh McGregor ('56) was awarded Honorary Life membership of the Old Scotch Collegians' Association at the recent Annual general meeting. This is an outstanding achievement by an outstanding Old Scotch Collegian. Leigh joins the select ranks of 24 who are OSCA Honorary Life Members.

Leigh's association with Scotch began in 1945 when he commenced in the junior School. His last year at the school as a scholar was in 1956. In 1955 and 1956 he was a member of the 1st XVIII. In 1956 he was a member of both the cricket premiership team as well as the football premiership team. He was a CUO in the cadets and a Probationer in his final year. This is an outstanding school record but it is probably not his school day record that Leigh will be most remembered by. Since leaving Scotch Leigh has made a huge impact in a number of different areas.

One of the most notable achievements possibly occurred in the Littlejohn Chapel when he married Ros in 1966! At this time Leigh was very involved in the Old Scotch Football and Cricket Clubs. In fact he was President of these two clubs simultaneously. When the Old Scotch Football Club fell in numbers and faced relegation to C Grade, Leigh had its constitution altered in 1975 so as to be able to field non-Old Boys.

2003 OSCA President Rob Wilson

On the professional side of things, Leigh was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1963 and set up practice at Hughesdale. He was elected President of OSCA in 1988 and ended up being appointed as the Executive Director of OSCA in 1988, a position which he held with distinction until 2002. He oversaw the expansion of OSCA during a critical decade and a half and energised the branches and affiliated societies (now called Old Scotch Clubs). He helped build the OSCA Annual Dinner to the largest annual alumni function in Australia. He developed the parting gift to the School from each year 12 group and oversaw the impressive 2001 celebrations. And of course, he is famous for his grand 'Ode to the Haggis'.

The 2002 Collegian probably best summed Leigh's contribution up: 'Few, if any, members of the Scotch community would ever be able to match the grasp of Scotch life and its people which Leigh was able to achieve during his career as student, alumnus, sporting coach and leader of OSCA.”

Tim Shearer - OSCA Executive Director