Scotch College

The great strength of Scotch

During the term three holidays many at Scotch College held their breath when news arrived that Mr Graham Nowacki, our Junior School Headmaster, had suffered a serious brain haemorrhage.

In Cairns for the Australian College of Education Conference, he was taken by air ambulance to Townsville Base Hospital to undergo surgery, and almost three weeks later returned to Melbourne to recuperate. A second, less threatening, haemorrhage required further surgery, but, since then, there have been sighs of relief as his recovery has been little short of miraculous.

Throughout his time in hospital the affairs of the Junior School were uppermost in Mr Nowacki's mind, and he has kept close contact with all aspects of the school, including staff arrangements for 1998. It has been very encouraging in recent weeks to see him in action in his office for a few hours most days and to observe his steady improvement as a result of his continuing programme of physiotherapy.

Mr and Mrs Nowacki are especially appreciative of the many assurances of prayer and expressions of concern they received from the Scotch Family. That strength of support has played its part in assisting Mr Nowacki during his recovery and will certainly buoy him when he returns to lead the Junior School from the beginning of next year.

1998 will be particularly important to Mr Nowacki, since he will retire from Scotch at the end of term two. The quest for his successor attracted a large field of highly qualified and experienced applicants from around Australia and has concluded with the appointment of Mr Guy Mason, BEd, DipT, MACE, JP.

Mr Mason, who is 37 years of age, has been Master of the Junior School of Somerset College on the Gold Coast of Queensland since 1996. He took up his first headship in 1994 at the Whitsunday Anglican Junior School in Mackay, Queensland. Both schools speak in glowing terms of Mr Mason's contribution and leadership. His teaching career commenced in 1982 in the Junior School of Trinity Grammar, Kew, where he was a Housemaster and Sportsmaster. He moved to Scotch in 1991 and became Deputy Head in 1992. Mr Mason brings, then, sixteen years experience that includes being Head of two interstate schools along with a personal knowledge of Scotch. He and his wife Joanne have two children, Caitlin (5) and Bradley (3). We look forward with enthusiasm to welcoming them on their return to Melbourne and with anticipation to Guy Mason leading the Junior School as it maintains and develops its reputation of leadership and quality.

As 1997 moves inexorably towards its conclusion, a number of major events mark its passage. The success of the enormously complex academic and co-curricular programme depends to a significant degree upon the leadership, commitment and contribution of our most senior students. It was appropriate, then, that each Year 12 boy received individual recognition at Speech Night which was admirably addressed by Mr Brian Loton, AC. The following day saw the Torch Ceremony, where the spirit of Scotch was symbolically passed from the leaving generation to those following.

The class of '97 presented over $11,000 as a gift to Scotch. This money will allow the installation of a splendid fountain in the soon to be opened Staff Centre. The quadrangle has been enhanced by some seating around the central tree - a gift from the class of '96. These annual gifts from leaving classes have, over recent years, provided Scotch with many valued features.

The greatest strength of Scotch, however, is not its impressive facilities. Rather, it is the personal commitment of all involved - Council, teachers, administrators, students, parents, old-boys, benefactors and others. It is truly reassuring to see that today this strength is as visible and vigorous as ever.

Dr F G Donaldson