Scotch College

Launch of APS Foundation

Nathan Su, Scotch College, School Captain’s speech

Honourable Justice Lex Lasry, Principals, Parents, Staff, and Students,

On the 17th of March, we held the annual meeting for the APS Captains at Brighton Grammar. 11 schools; 11 distinctive uniforms; an assortment of blazers so unique and colourful passers by had to shout to be heard.

It was about midday – while we were discussing the fundraising efforts of the various schools when it was suggested that some sort of co-operative project should be attempted. And thus, the concept for the APS Foundation was formed.

Let me read to you now a section from the initial proposal we put forward for the formation of this organisation:

• The creation of such a foundation would unite the APS schools under a common banner, giving them reason to see themselves as a co-operative group, and not purely a competitive one.
• An APS organisation focused around charity would help improve the image of each of the respective schools (and the APS organisation as a whole) as important and generous bodies within the community, hopefully removing some of the elitist/exclusive attitudes associated with private schools.
• With the combined resources of all the schools working together, fundraising events can be considered on a far larger scale, vastly increasing the potential for influential action for deserving causes.

Tonight, we are delighted to see the beginnings of a new facet of the APS take root. Over tonight’s launch, we will outline the aims and ethos of the Foundation, as well as encourage a spirit of progress under a common cause.

The Foundation will have 3 guiding principles:

1. To foster individual talent, leadership, team spirit and ethical behaviour in all students.
2. To provide charity/community service in good spirit and faith.
3. To foster and develop interschool relations within the APS.

The Foundation plans to operate as follows: At the beginning of each year, the student representatives for the Foundation would meet and decide on a charity to support. Then, the foundation committee would have the opportunity to design, organise and run an annual fundraiser involving all 11 APS schools.

This year, we have laid out some initial ideas including an interschool charity concert with guest artists, and a charity dinner. It is our hope that the APS Foundation Committees of the coming years will take up some of these concepts and add to them with their own initiatives. Over what remains of the year, we will (together with teams of year 11s from each school who will take over next year), plan the fundraiser for 2010.

The foundation’s first guiding principle is its most important one. That is, to prepare and encourage all students to be active and compassionate contributors to the world. This would guide all foundation initiatives. The foundation aims to encourage co-operation between the schools, unifying them, and working closely alongside APS sport to ensure that the two attitudes of co-operation and competition are both present, but in their respective categories.

We live in an exciting world, with technology creating a global village, where artistic, scientific and social endeavours seem to grow at an ever increasing rate. We live in a beautiful country – rich with resources, with a stable system of government and a well functioning society. Within this, we have the vibrant city of Melbourne to call home; full of flavour, friends and footy. We the students are all graced with the opportunity for education which challenges, inspires and provokes our thought. We truly are fortunate people; and in such stability, it is no wonder that we sometimes forget just how insecure and difficult life can be for all those around our nation and our world who never glimpse the lifestyle that we enjoy. With the rest of the world so accessible, we have a responsibility to try to share some of our good fortune, and we hope that the APS Foundation can become a stepping stone in this direction.

The APS is host to many special events for all 11 schools over the year. We hope that in years to come, the APS Foundation Fundraiser will join the Athletics, the Swimming, and the Head of the River as a memorable and worthwhile interschool event.

Tonight, we hope you enjoy the occasion, and take the opportunity to mix with the students, staff and parents from other schools. On behalf of the APS Captains for 2009, I’d like to sincerely thank you for showing so much initial support for our cause, and for joining us here tonight. Please feel free to direct questions to any of the Captains as the night progresses.

Thank you.

Nathan Su