Scotch College
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Club 150 launch - celebrates the vision!In an event which invoked both the distant past and the immediate future of Scotch College, Club 150 has been launched as part of detailed plans for celebrating the School's 150th anniversary in 2001. Within minutes of the Club's launch by School Council Chairman, Michael Robinson ('55), more than 110 people had signed up to join Club 150. The club has been formed with a very specific purpose. Club 150 aims to attract no fewer than 2001 members, the contributions from whom will go, in part, to planning for the celebrations and to the creation of a special 'Endowment 150' fund to seed The Scotch College Anniversary Scholarship.
Club 150 Chairman, David Fowles set the scene for the launch in the Boykett Room on Tuesday, 6 October by describing the purpose of the Club 150 and by outlining the benefits available to members taking the wise decision to join. In line with the already meticulous planning underway for 'Celebrating the Vision' during the 150th anniversary year, even the selection of the date for the Club 150 launch was part of a grander scheme. 'It was of course on 6 October, 1851 - a mere 147 years ago - that Victoria's first settled Minister of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria, the Rev James Forbes founded the school that was to become Scotch College. Then it was known as The Melbourne Academy and occupied a small house in Spring Street, Melbourne, just up from the corner of Flinders Street,' said Michael Robinson. 'In 1853, substantial new buildings were erected on a site in Eastern Hill, where St. Andrews Hospital stood. Under the second headmaster, Alexander Morrison the school grew and prospered for the forty-six years of his leadership. Scotch College had well and truly been established,' he commented. Michael went on to say that, 'Despite the outstanding contribution to the school by both Alexander Morrison and W S Littlejohn after him, the name of James Forbes is not to be lost to history.' Michael announced at the launch of Club 150 that the proposed Music, Drama and Communications Centre for which construction is due to start next year will be known as the James Forbes Academy. 'James Forbes may not have known the scope of the project upon which he had embarked and nor was he to know that Scotch College would become one of the nation's leading public schools, but he would certainly have approved of the notion of Celebrating the Vision as Club 150 seeks to do,' said Michael. Upon launching Club 150, Michael Robinson invited the person whose idea the Club had been in the first instance, Campbell McComas ('69) to become the Club's Number One member. Cam could barely be restrained from leaping to the podium to sign up to Club 150 using the Club Chairman's back as a handy support. 'I thoroughly endorse Club 150's aspirations,' said Cam while being himself for a rare moment in front of an audience. 'This Club has something for everyone, whether you are likely to be a student at the school in 2001, a past student wanting to do something immediate and useful for the school, a parent, a grandparent of a student or a member of the Scotch Family in another capacity,' he said: 'I have even decided to join my father,' said Cam. Before he left the Cardinal Pavilion he had done just that!!
David Fowles, as Chairman, asked guests at the launch to consider how, as key supporters or Club 150 Ambassadors, they could encourage others to become members. David said the success of Club 150 will be judged on the number of members it attracts in the next year. 'We are confident we can certainly attract 2001 members - but reaching this target will require a great deal of support from a lot of people.' 'Joining is easy,' he said. 'Just contact any of the people listed in the next Great Scot and they will be happy to advise you how to join and what benefits you can expect in 2001 - the year of the school's 150th anniversary,' David said. David thanked all those who had helped to make the launch of Club 150 a great success.
Scotch College: ABN 86 852 826 445 ACN 005 650 395 CRIOCS 00624A (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students)  Updated: Tuesday 12 August 2008 © Scotch College 2008 |
