Scotch College

Music, drama, design, art, and our boarders do it all!

The 21st century Scotch boarder is as likely to be as fascinated by a French horn or a session of Design and Technology as he is with rowing, footy, soccer or cricket.

In Design and Technology, boys design, produce and evaluate projects using a variety of materials. For example, a group of Year 9 students recently built models of different bridges in wood and tested their strengths to destruction.

A Year 7 boarder designed an alarm for the door of his dormitory, 'so I can hear visitors coming'. No one would question his ingenuity, although his motives might come under scrutiny.

Work by Scotch boys has featured prominently in the Victorian Top Design Awards, and Guy Batters from the VCE class of 2000 (a boarder from St Arnaud) was a recipient of one of the top awards in the 2001 competition.

Boarders interested in music can use the Music School after hours and each boarding house has a music room. They can also use the annexe to practice drums and electric guitars, without disturbing other boys' study.

Boarders have always been keen participants in Scotch drama productions, as well as providing strong backstage support with lighting, set design and front of house staffing.

Examples of boarders participating in Scotch cultural activities include:

• Nicholas Chong (Year 12, from Singapore) - School Prefect, studying VCE music; lead tenor in the College Choir; sings in the Cardinals and Senior Chamber Choir,
• lead role in the Scotch/PLC production of Guys and Dolls.
• Simon Wark( Year 12, Hamilton) - has a lead role in the senior play The Madness of George III.
• Tharatorn Supasiti ( Year 12 , Bangkok) has been Mr McWhinney's right hand man since Year 9, helping to construct sets for school plays.
• Stephen Dower, (Year 11, Foster) - percussionist in the Symphony Orchestra, Show Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Military Band.
• Jack Coxon (Year 10, Maryborough) - plays the French horn in the Military Band.
• Daniel Johns (Year 9, Horsham) and Charles Bell (Year 9, Shepparton) - saxophonists in the George Dreyfuss Wind Ensemble.
• Julian Hua (Year 10) and his brother Alex (Year 7), from Sale - outstanding violinists and pianists. Julian is a violinist in the Victorian Youth Orchestra.
• James Nunn (Year 12, from Noorat near Camperdown) - a leading piper in the Pipes and Drums. James recently won his Grade in a piping competition, held at Scotch.
• He is one of the best pipers in the State for his age group.
• Iain Wiebenga (Year 9, Mt Beauty) and Michael Sinclair (Year 8, Canada) are also learning the bagpipes.
• Joe Jittivuthikarn (Year 12, Thailand) was Dux of Art in Years 10 and 11, and is an outstanding painter.

A leaning towards culture in its many forms is very much part of the Hill way of life, providing our boarders with a wide variety of opportunities to display their artistic talents.

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Boarders collect for Red Shield and Red Cross

For many years boarders have assisted with charities in their local area. It has been an important part of their education and experience at Scotch in learning to give back to their local communities and helping those less fortunate than themselves.

Scotch boarders have had an association with the Red Cross Doorknock for over forty years. Frank McGrath from the East Malvern RSL and his helpers from Malvern Rotary have always been guaranteed a very willing and dependable group of boys who go out on a Sunday morning doorknocking in the Malvern area. This year was no exception.

The doorknock took place on Sunday March 17, at 9.00 am. Boys were dropped off in pairs and walked the local Malvern streets, often getting some interesting responses as they doorknock the houses. Forty boys were involved and they raised $3600. Frank McGrath was most appreciative of their assistance and complimented their exemplary manners and behaviour.

On Sunday May 26, a group of thirty eight boys helped to collect money for the Red Shield Appeal. Bert Healey (grandfather of Joe) is a long time organiser for the Malvern area. He also has had a long association with Scotch boarders and was again full of praise for the boys' efforts. One Sunday morning eight boys also assisted Vision Australia at Kooyong with their annual River Run.

We have also helped with the Hawthorn Community Chest later in the year and senior boys are encouraged to give blood at the Red Cross Blood Bank in South Melbourne.