Scotch College

The Importance of Ernest

On January 31 this year two new boys were carrying more than their lunch and pencil case in their backpack as they walked through the School gates. Oliver Paterson (Prep J) and Lachlan Shepherd (7H) carried with them the fourth generation of their family's fellowship with Scotch College - an affiliation which commenced with the School's Great War Scholarship scheme of 1918.

Pictured clockwise from Centre Back: Michael Paterson ('79) (son of Peter Paterson ('54)); Andrew Paterson ('87) and James Paterson ('82) (Ian's sons); Ian Paterson ('52); Oliver Paterson (prep J) (James' son); Lachlan Shepherd (7H) (son of Michael Shepherd ('71)); Andrew Keast ('87) and Sam Keast ('89) (sons of Peter Keast ('58)).

Oliver and Lachlan's great grandfather, James Paterson ('Jim')('23) was awarded a Great War scholarship and commenced at Scotch College, East Melbourne, in 1919. Jim's father, Lieutenant Ernest Ellerman Paterson, M.C. (22nd Battalion, AIF) had been shot and killed near St.Quentin, France, in October 1918 only two days before his battalion was pulled back from the front as World War I drew to a close.

Jim matriculated in 1923 and went on to study medicine at the University of Melbourne. Following his graduation in 1928 he commenced work as a medical practitioner at the Alfred Hospital. Jim's life in medicine proved enormously varied - he practised on Ocean Island in the Central Pacific during the 1930s before moving to Garfield in Gippsland and then finally to Canterbury where he continued to practise until his death in 1982.

Jim's association with Scotch continued through the education of his two sons, Ian ('52) and Peter ('54). Both Ian and Peter followed in Jim's footsteps through the University of Melbourne School of Medicine and then to residencies at the Alfred Hospital. Ian continues his medical practice in Camberwell which includes his role as the immunising doctor for the City of Boroondara. Ian is also a keen farmer at his property at Benambra near Omeo which narrowly escaped being burnt by last summer's bushfires. Peter's career in Obs. & Gynae. included pioneering work in techniques of keyhole surgery and fertility treatment. Peter also enjoyed farming at his property at Redesdale until his untimely death in 2002.

The family's affiliation with Scotch continued through the 1970s and 80s with the attendance of all five of Jim's grandsons - James Paterson ('82), Andrew Paterson ('87), Michael Paterson ('79), Andrew Keast ('87) and Sam Keast ('89).

This year saw the commencement at Scotch of the fourth generation. Jim's great grandsons, Oliver and Lachlan, now enjoy the benefits and opportunities of their family's continuing fellowship with Scotch. This association, spanning the best part of a century, can be directly traced to a decision of the Scotch College School Council made on 12 April 1918: '…to establish a fund to provide in deserving cases tuition at Scotch College for the sons of soldiers who have been killed in the Great War'.

James Paterson