Scotch College

From the Principal

The Old Scotch Square is a symbol of service

I vividly recall my first visit to the Scotch campus. It was in July 1982, when Mr Ron Bond, then Acting Principal, conducted a tour of Scotch, prior to a series of meetings and interviews regarding the vacant position of Principal. We drove down Callantina Road, admired the Junior School’s attractive building and entered Morrison Street.

I found it hard to believe that a school of Scotch’s eminence and fame had, as its main operating entrance, a pair of rather dilapidated chain-link gates, held shut by a padlock and chain. Of course, once the gate had been entered, the Memorial Hall and Chapel viewed and the quadrangle penetrated, the traditional heritage elements of Scotch took over, and that unfortunate first impression was transformed.

How things have changed since then, especially in terms of the sense of entry to the Senior School Campus that the Old Scotch Square now provides. This area, beautifully landscaped between the Senior School and the James Forbes Academy, has symbolic and physical importance, connecting the academic area with the cultural activities of music and drama. It also acts as an avenue to the Main Oval and a route to the Littlejohn Chapel.

Centrally located is a wonderful bronze sculpture, a gift to the school by the Classes of 2002 and 2003. This represents the Burning Bush, so prominent in the School’s coat of arms and symbolizing the enduring presence of Almighty God. Now at Scotch there resides this beautiful reminder of God’s spirit, so appropriate in this school, whose essence is one of service as expressed in our motto, Deo, Patriae, Litteris – for God, for Country, for Learning. It is our constant endeavour to encourage boys to experience for themselves the satisfaction that comes from serving God through being of service to others.

The Square also contains reminders of Scotch’s physical development over 150 years and tributes to the remarkable record of military service, in many areas of combat, that so many of this School’s former students have given so admirably.

The Scotch community, of course, consists of numerous individuals and it is fitting that the pavers at the centre of the Square provide the opportunity for individuals within the Scotch family to be remembered.

The name of Old Scotch has been assigned to this area in recognition of remarkable support by generations of former students. As well as providing outstanding leadership of and contribution to the work of the Scotch College Council, members of OSCA have given very practical encouragement, for example the donation of $1 Million towards the James Forbes Academy.

This edition of Great Scot includes an article that outlines our impressive and important Social Services Program, where each week around 200 students from Years 11 and 12 provide assistance to many in the wider community who are in need of care and aid.

Great Scot also tells the tale of quite remarkable achievements by an impressively large number of Scotch students of mathematics, who have produced results of outstanding quality in competitions at local, national and international levels. They demonstrate what can be achieved when the hard work of talented students and teachers come together and show the ‘litteris’ element of our motto in operation in one aspect of our curriculum.

As they go about their daily business, today’s students pass through the Old Scotch Square with its tributes to generations of former students. There is an unmistakable sense of continuity of the Spirit of Scotch, now emphasized by the symbolism of the Burning Bush. The message of that symbol will surely endure to encourage present and future generations to aspire to maintain Scotch’s traditions of endeavour, of excellence and of service.

Dr F.G. Donaldson AM,
Principal