Scotch College

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1930s

The Rev Bill Morgan (’35), School Captain and Captain of Boats recently celebrated 60 years since he was ordained in 1944. Now living at Wheelers Hill, Bill still enjoys his golf. He attended Scotch from prep, and was the first School Captain appointed by incoming Principal, Colin Gilray. After leaving Scotch, Bill played rugby at national level. During his long career in the ministry, Bill served in parishes at Tongala, Dreeite, Clare, Malvern, Trafalgar, Shepparton, Scotch (Launceston) and Ormond. He was Moderator in 1971-72.

Archie Crow (Retired Staff) has not been well recently, and at the time of writing was undergoing treatment at St George’s Hospital in Kew. His many Old Scotch friends wish Archie a speedy recovery.

1940s

It’s definitely in the genes. Our photo shows (left to right) James Adams, Bruce Adams (’43), John Booth (’43) and Simon Booth. Bruce and John were members of the 1st VIII in 1943, while James and Simon rowed in this year’s winning Head of the River crew.

The Lake Boga Lions’ Club holds a biannual fly in (or “splash in”) to commemorate its wartime activities, when it was the major flying boat repair depot, and Dick Peel (’49) is a prominent member of the club. In April, some 14 seaplanes and flying boats “splashed in” for the weekend. Aboard a Cessna Caravan was renowned adventurer Dick Smith (pilot) and his wife Pip, and his crew included Brigadier-General Chuck Yeagher and his wife Victoria. In 1947, Chuck was the first American to break the sound barrier and reach supersonic flight, in the Bell X-1 rocket plane, known as “Glamorous Glennis”. The plane is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.

1950s

Surfers Paradise in midwinter is a magnet for Melburnians, and it was just that for a group of Old Scotch boys and their wives during June. Some were from Melbourne, and others came from parts north to make it a memorable 10 days. Robin and Darby Munro (’58) drove up from Port Macquarie to join Rhonda and Ian McMurtrie (’58) and Ros and Peter Turnley (’58) from Melbourne, while Judy and Tony Pickering (’57) flew down from Darwin to join the party. The reunion also included locals Ray Williams (‘59) and Rod Olsson (‘60). A hastily convened barbecue took place at Rod’s house when it was announced during the reunion that Tony Pickering had been awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for his services to real estate and charity in Darwin (see story in this issue). It was a great reason to celebrate during a most convivial 10 days in the sun.

Peter Sloane (’55) has dedicated an individual bluestone paver in Old Scotch Square at Scotch to the memory of his father-in-law, Dudley Southby (’21). Writing to OSCA, Peter said his father-in-law had been Vice-Captain of the School in 1921, when it was still at East Melbourne. Dudley was a member of the 1st XVIII from 1919 to 1921, and Captain of Football in 1921. He went on to a degree in dentistry at Melbourne University, where he also won a Blue for Australian football. After a short stint in private practice, Dudley joined the navy as a dental officer. He saw active service during World War II, rising to the rank of Surgeon Captain, and was head of the Royal Australian Naval Dental Corps. Dudley died in 1964.

Bill (’55) and Margaret Tingate have continued their interest in venturing to distant and off-beat places, spending eight weeks on an extended Russian-Scandinavian tour during June and July. The initial 3 week stage was the 10,000km Trans-Siberian Railway from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg, with 2 or 3 day stop-overs along the way, at Vladivostok, Lake Baikal, Ekaterinburg, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Two or three nights on the train between stop-overs was a bit of a challenge: effectively “camping” in the 4 bunk cabin, they brought most of their own food from home, with shared hand basin and toilet for each carriage. Most of the Siberian countryside along the way (being mid-summer) was lush, green silver birch forest – warm and pleasant, not bare and barren as had been expected! The locals were friendly – incredulous of visitors from Australia! – communications being via the children, now learning a little English in Russian schools.

Then a short train ride from St. Petersburg to Helsinki for the second stage of the trip – a grand circuit of Scandinavia. North for 5 days, still by train, through Finland and Lapland to the North Cape (most northerly point of Europe), then 5 days by coastal steamer (the Hurtigruten) south down the Norwegian west coast to Bergen and finally, 2 weeks back onto a series of trains (using a Scanrail Pass) to Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. The trip wound up with 2 or 3 day stop-overs along the way, including Roveniemi on the Arctic Circle and the boundary of Lapland, with a visit to the delightful Father Christmas Land, Inari, The Hurtigruten cruise around North Cape (71 degrees north). It was then back on the train at Bergen, with a stop-over at Voss and a side trip on the spectacular Flam Railway, which drops precariously down through the mountain to a tranquil cruise on the fjord below and finally, enjoying the delights and relative luxuries of Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm, before flying home via a few days in Paris and Seoul. A most successful and enjoyable trip, with many highlights, contrasts, and challenges.

The one sad note was the death of Bill’s long time friend Peter Matthews (’54), advice received while in Copenhagen. Bill and Peter started at Scotch together in Ron Bond’s Remove A in the Centenary Year, 1951. They also shared a special trip to Scandinavia in 1961 with their new wives, so Peter’s sad passing at this time was especially poignant.

1960s

Although the exploits of the Australian lighthorsemen and their wonderful horses are part of Australia’s folklore, apart from a memorial in Albany (WA) there is very little to commemorate their brave deeds. David Evans (’60) plans to rectify that. He is heading up a project to create a bronze memorial at Tamworth (NSW) to the "Waler" – the horse from New South Wales – which will capture the poignant moment when an Australian trooper was forced to leave his mount in the deserts of the Middle East at the end of the Great War. Many horses were shot by the trooper’s mate, rather than fall into the locals’ hands to become beasts of burden, so just one horse came back to Australia after the end of World War I. David reports that the $150,000 need to fund the memorial has been raised, and it will take about a year for sculptor Tanya Bartlett to create the trooper and Waler.

Colin Norman (’65) has put forward to NASA a replacement plan for the Hubble Telescope, New Scientist reported on 4 August. NASA cancelled a manned mission to the Hubble Telescope following the break up of the space shuttle Columbia.

“The mission is worth considering because these instruments are worth getting up there,” Norman told New Scientist. “It will keep hammering away at the last 80 per cent of the history of the Universe, where Hubble has been so successful – [studying] star formation, black hole growth, and galaxy formation.”

1970s

James Simpson (’72), brother of Rob, Bruce and John, has recently taken up an appointment as Professor of English and American Literature at Harvard University. He moves from Cambridge University, where he held the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English. An Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, the title of James’ latest book is Reform and Cultural Revolution, 1350-1550, which is volume 2 of the Oxford English Literary History. James is indebted to the teaching he received at Scotch, particularly that of “Gunner” Owen and David Paul.

Greg Thompson (’73) has taught at Geelong Grammar, Brighton Grammar, The Scots School Albury, Dragon School Oxford UK (one year exchange), West Moreton Anglican College Qld, where I was the foundation Head of Senior Primary and grew my section of the school from 70 students to 280 students in nearly six years. He is currently the Headmaster of Huntley School in New Zealand, a boys' boarding and day prep school on the North Island, where I have been for four years. Greg’s new position which commences in September is at Suzhou EtonHouse International School in Suzhou, which is about 85km west of Shanghai. Suzhou industrial park is a joint Singapore-Sino venture with an emphasis on electronics and the school caters for the large expatriate community there, both westerners and Asian. The school is also a joint venture between Singapore EtonHouse Schools (there are several) and a Chinese partner. He married Caroline (nee Kemp) in 1978. Her grandfather Reginald Kemp attended Scotch, as did her great grandfather Harry Huntington Peck, son of John Murray Peck, one of the four founding partners of Cobb and Co. (Freeman Cobb, JMP and two others). Harry was the author of Memoirs of a Stockman and he was Sir Sidney Kidman's cattle agent. Greg and Caroline have a daughter Jeanne (B.Sc.) from Melbourne University and son Andrew (B.Bus.) from the University of Queensland.

Greg would love to catch up with any Old Boys, especially from my years if they are in Suzhou or Shanghai. Contact can be made care of the School.

Greg’s brother Brett Thompson(‘75) lives in Chicago and works for BP, has been there for about three years and was in Capetown for about four years prior to that. A great traveller, he is in the Amazon basin at present with wife Jan and children Myles and Phoebe. Recent trips have included Patagonia, Argentine, Puerto Rico and Alaska. Craig (81?) has just returned from the UK after six weeks holiday. He lives at Rutherglen with Helen and children Suzannah and Archie, where he works as a computer consultant.

Jonathan Rodwell (’79) is the National Director of Operation Mobilisation (OM), an international, interdenominational Christian mission organisation which operates in more than 110 countries with 3800 workers worldwide.

The main work of OM is the land-based teams that help plan churches and deliver aid and development in the Middle East, South and Central Asia and Europe. For nearly 50 years OM has focused on taking the good news of the gospel to the least reached in the world.

For 34 of those years, an integral part of OM’s strategy has been the use of ships to effectively and efficiently fulfill this purpose. With a strong emphasis on literature and hundreds of young people involved in the onboard training programme, OM’s Ships Ministry has been an incredible means of impacting millions of people’s lives.

The maiden voyage to India in 1971 was the genesis of OM’s ship ministry, and the ships continue to visit the ports of the world with the good news of Jesus Christ, educational books and Bibles, and an example of an international Christian community at work. Since then several thousand people have served on not one, but three ships: Logos, the original OM ship, Doulos, the world’s oldest, active ocean-going passenger ship (built in 1914) and Logos II (see pic below), a converted car ferry, which eventually replaced the Logos. For 45 years, the international workers of OM have trained more than 100,000 people and indeed, children of the original OM staff are now following their parents on board as workers! From the outset OM has been a faith based mission where all workers are required to raise their own support. Through the decades this not changed and remains the same for all people with OM today.

The ships, Logos, Logos II and Doulos have welcomed 33 million people in 443 cities and 140 nations. They have distributed more than 17 million Christian and educational books and more than 2 million Bibles and new Testaments, and taken part in numerous aid and relief projects along the way.

Jonathan, his wife Kate and their three boys Andrew, Peter and Nicholas were on board the Logos ll for three years. They lived with 200 people from 40 different nations, and one day counted 27 different languages being spoken around the ship! A school on board educated the children, while Jonathan was in charge of the public ministry of the ship. Highlights of their time on board included visiting Liberia where the crew were involved in repairing some of the many orphanages and playing with the children, St Petersburg where the church is rebuilding after the demise of the communist regime, and working with street children in Argentina. The three years on board have left the family with a plethora of experiences.

The Rodwells left the ship at the end of 2001, so that Andrew – their oldest – could complete his VCE at Scotch – a third generation Scotch student! Nicholas is currently in Year 8. Jonathan took up the role as National Director at that time.

Currently OM is in the process of replacing the Logos II with a new ship to meet the ever increasing needs that are encountered around the world. In March, the Logos Hope was purchased and extensive renovations are underway to make her suitable for OM’s unique ministry.

Further information about the Logos Hope project or any other aspect of OM’s work can be obtained by contacting Jonathan at jonathan@au.om.org.

1980s

Philip Purkiss (’88) is working in the AFP Protective Service in a counter terrorist, first response role based at Sydney airport. Philip is engaged to Anna Scanlon and will be married on March 12 in 2005.

To Jonathon Long (’89) and wife Nicky a son, Henry Jonathan, born 22 June 2004.

To Charles Johnstone ('89) and his wife Paula, twin sons, James Bernard and William Charles, born 23 July 2004.

To Anthony Luth ('84) and Anthea a son Nicholas Anthony, born 23 August 2004.

Alistair Davey (’85) is the Branch Manager of Budget Analysis in the Department of Finance and Administration in Canberra.

Rod Macneil (’87) Rod attended Scotch until the year 1987 and finished his Ph.D in Fine Arts at Melbourne University in 1996.

Rod headed to Los Angeles for a six-month internship with The J.Paul Getty Museum.

He stayed working with the museum's Public Information department after the internship ended, then in September 1997 started as publicist for the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

In January 2001, Rod was promoted to Deputy Director of Audience Development, responsible for marketing and public relations for the museum and archive. He has tried to keep up the academic work and last year contributed essays to two books on Australian art. In July 2001 he was invited to present a paper at the conference ‘Art and the British Empire’ presented by the Tate Britain in London. “I have vague aspirations to publish my thesis but in reality I'm not sure how easy that will be while I'm still living in San Francisco” Rod said.

Rod has been living in the U.S. for almost seven years now and feeling very much like this is home – for now at least. For recreation, he swims competitively and last year competed in the U.S. Masters National Championships in Santa Clara, CA.

Adam Smith (’85) On leaving Scotch at the end of his year 12 in 1985, Adam Smith studied for his Bachelor of Applied Science in Computing and his Bachelor of Business in Accounting. Following graduation, he travelled around Australia for a year.

Adam experienced one of the great trips that I’m sure most of us dream of – he jumped in the car, and accompanied by backpackers (to share fuel costs etc), headed North. He worked in various places on his trip for pocket money, spending a little time in Cairns, then further north into the Daintree Rainforest to Cape Tribulation (an absolute paradise), then to Alice Springs, Darwin, and a long haul down the north-west coast to Perth. Adam says this was the highlight of the trip (despite about 400 kms of unmade road led to 100kms out of Broome). After spending some time in Perth, Adam then drove back to Broken Hill and finally back to Melbourne. Shortly after his return, Adam joined Ernst & Young Consulting. Now a Director with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, he has managed complex IT projects for clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and New Zealand. He specialises in the financial services sector.

Until recently, Adam was vice-chairman of the Australian Computer Society's Victorian Branch.

He played cricket for 10 years for the Camberwell Magpies Cricket Club, and is now Treasurer of the club. Adam is married to Karen and they have 2 children - Chloe (6) and Joshua (3).

1990s

John Batchelor (’92) is engaged to Georgina Woods.

Michael Davasher (’93) has announced his engagement to Emily Durham.

Stuart Spiden (’94) has announced his engagement to Cath Hiney.

Alastair McIntosh (‘95) is engaged to Jennifer King.

Marc Allison (95) is engaged to Malvina Lezana from Argentina. They plan to reside in NSW in the near future, where Marc is employed in the family funeral business.

To Alistair Troedel (‘90) and his wife Miranda, a son, Rupert Scarff Troedel, born 26 July 2004.

Cam McKenzie McHarg (1998) was a member of the coxed four that finished sixth in the final at the World Rowing Championships at Lake Banyoles in Spain.

Ian Allison (’98) has been rated the best defender in beach volleyball men’s AA in 2004 in Victoria. He is part of a Victorian high performance beach volleyball squad, and represented Australia recently at an international tournament in Croatia.

Steve Bailey (’98) has led a busy and full life since finishing school at Scotch in 1998. He is one of the lucky ones who have found a way to combine his passions with his professions.

Vocationally, Steve works as a fully qualified personal trainer and tennis coach. In the late 90s, he focused on his tennis coaching, as a natural adjunct to his interest in playing Grade 1 pennant at Grace Park Tennis Club.

More recently, Steve has developed a greater involvement in health and fitness. He worked in a gym as a personal trainer for a year and decided to take the plunge and start up his own personal training business under the name of Blue Personal Training.

The business operates out of Grace Park gymnasium in Hawthorn (see the advertisement in the OSCAnet Business Directory).

In 2002 Steve also renewed his interest in playing football. This season he has played with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.

Steve says he is very happy with the variety of his sporting and fitness interests, and feels he has found a great balance between playing football, personal training and tennis coaching. Somehow he manages also to find the time to study Exercise and Sport Science at Deakin University.

Dane Horsfall (’94) studied Medicine at Monash Uni. He took a year off to travel and graduated in 2001. Since then he has been working as a doctor at Monash Medical Centre during the last two years. He is interested in a career in Emergency Medicine.

Since leaving school he has travelled to Europe, UK, Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, North America, SE Asia and Samoa.

Dane played football for the Monash Blues for 3 years while at uni. He played guitar and bass in a band "Bungalow" for 6 years after school. He is single and lives with friends in Kew. Dane plans to take next year off full time work and locum and travel to South America/UK and Africa.

Luke Spencer (’94) commenced Medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1995 and completed his degree in 2000. he completed his clinical studies at St. Vincent’s Hospital with Sam Hume.

He completed his internship in 2001 at the Geelong Hospital, and lived down at Jan Juc for a year where he enjoyed the great lifestyle there with many opportunities to catch a few waves.

In 2002 Luke went to Ballarat to pursue a career in Critical Care Medicine, but changed to Pathology after half a year. He held the position of Pathology Registrar at Ballarat Base Hospital for one year before deciding that he would prefer a clinical career.

In August of 2002 he became engaged and on 14 December 2002 married Tonya Roberts.

Since August of 2003 Tonya and Luke have been travelling around Scandinavia, the Baltic Countries and Eastern Europe. He has been registered as a doctor in the UK and will seek work there, hopefully in December.

Adam Sher (’99) has been awarded a Distinction in his Bachelor of Civil Law, the Oxford unique post-graduate degree that he has now added to his First Class Honours Law Degree last year.

Ian Coker (’99) is in the last year of a Aeronautical Engineering Degree at the Defence Academy with the R.A.A.F.

Peter Lam (’99 ) is a consultant at Pheonix Consulting.

2000s

Tim Smith (’01) won a bronze medal as a member of the Australian lightweight VIII at the World Rowing Championships at Lake Banyoles in Spain.

Sam Bethune, Hugh Gurney, Scott McMurtrie and Ravi Sharma (’03). Four Scotch Boys from Year 12, 2003 who found an interesting way to deal with the stresses of VCE. Their story appears below.

The search for a creative outlet to relieve the stresses of VCE led to the formation of “Collusion” in 2002, a four-piece indie/rock band. The band comprises Hugh Gurney (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Ravi Sharma (Bass), Scott McMurtrie (Drums) and Sam Bethune (Lead Guitar, Vocals), all from the class of ’03.

Early days started with one acoustic guitar, a drum pad and a bass guitar, and as they amassed more gear, their music diversified.

From humble beginnings playing to friends in Scott’s backyard to their recent large gigs at the Barleycorn Hotel in Collingwood, Collusion have gone from strength to strength. Some of the band’s highlights so far have been recording an 8-track demo CD courtesy of Lach Hall (’03), playing live to the class of ’03 during the final weeks of school, and making a guest appearance (as well as performing one live track) on channel 31’s Syn TV, simulcast on 90.7 FM.

2004 promises to be another great year for Collusion. While all members are studying full time at university, the band continues to thrive and the boys are currently working on a number of new original tracks to go along with their older originals and ever growing covers list.