Scotch College

When firm friendships are formed

‘When Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.’ We all remember this famous line from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, but do we all remember when Wesley came to Scotch? Within three months of Japan entering World War II, they had occupied most of South-East Asia and landed in New Guinea. With the extreme concern about an invasion of Australia, the headquarters of both the Australian and American forces were established in Melbourne, and the Australian Army Ordinance Corps acquired the use of Wesley College in St Kilda Road.

Under arrangement, the Senior School of Wesley moved to Scotch on 19 March 1942. With the expert leadership of the two Principals, Colin Gilray (Scotch) and N H Macneil (Wesley), together with the two Vice-Principals and School Captains, the students and staff adjusted their routines, with Scotch boys attending classes in the morning and sport in the afternoon, with Wesley vice versa. The Australian Army organised the construction of two long and narrow joined wooden buildings between Morrison Street and the School; these were to house Wesley’s administration and teaching staff. Around the Main Oval, between the pavilion and the scoreboard, a further wooden structure provided the Wesley boys with dressing room, showers and lockers (beneath) and a grandstand (above). Painted green, this has affectionately become known as the ‘Green Grandstand’.

The fact that it still exists is intriguing in itself. After World War II, the Commonwealth Government offered Scotch the opportunity to purchase it for 3,000 pounds. Scotch’s Principal, an experienced and wise leader, advised the Commonwealth that this offer was of no interest, and if they wished they could ‘take it away’. It was no surprise that the grandstand remained, at no cost to the School! The wooden ‘sheds’ also remained and have been used by the School for numerous purposes, including cadets, hobbies, offices for OSCA and the Foundation and the original Scotch Archives.

To commemorate sharing our campus, some years later Wesley provided Scotch with a new and much needed drinking fountain next to the Main Oval. This was made possible through the influence of an Old Wesley Collegian in providing galvanised water pipe, a product which was in very short supply in Australia.

Although the joint occupancy was for just two years – a short time in the life of each school – friendships were formed between teachers and students alike. Scotch Captains and Vice-Captains, Laurie Muir and Hugh Melville (’42) and Tom Hogg and Bob Wilson (’43) remember with great affection and respect the Wesley boys they met, including Ken ‘Bunny’ Newton, John Bartram, John Ball, Bob Loder, Ian Parkin, Ron Purdue and many others. It was a time when friendships were indeed truly formed.

Geoffrey Tolson (’39)

4. Dr Hugh Melville

5. Dr Helen Drenen presents the plaque to Scotch College 6. Marjorie and Hilton Nicholas with Bill Cockram

7. John Ball, Ian Parkin, Hugh Melville, Laurie Muir and Tom Hogg 8. Laurie Muir with Bill Thomson

9. Michael Gray (Õ88), Robert Gray and Peter Gray with the cross commemorating RobertÕs father. Robert Gray (Õ12) who was killed in 1942 aboard HMAS Perth in the battle of Sundra Strait against the Japanese.