Scotch College

President's and Past Presidents' dinner honours OSCA service

The OSCA President’s and Past Presidents’ Dinner on 9 November was held for the first time in the spacious surroundings of the James Forbes Centre’s foyer. More than 70 guests enjoyed haggis, bacon-wrapped turkey breast and summer berry tarts while paying tribute to the outgoing and incoming OSCA Presidents, the winners of the new OSCA Merit Awards and recently elected OSCA Honorary Life Member Rob Logie-Smith.

A new portrait of illustrious Old Boy Sir Arthur Robinson was unveiled by Sir Arthur’s grandson – retiring Scotch College Council Chairman Michael Robinson.

Many of the guests enjoyed the haggis ceremony for the first time (not to mention the haggis itself!), and were intrigued by former OSCA Executive Director Leigh McGregor’s (’55) energetic rendition of ‘slanchy va’, in which he was accompanied by outgoing OSCA President Andrew Wallace-Smith and incoming President Richard Beveridge.

Coodabeen Champions personality Greg Champion next had the audience in stitches as he sang some of his ‘anti-Barmy Army’ cricket songs, as well as a selection of clever football songs.

OSCA Merit Awards

The first-ever OSCA Merit Awards were presented after the main course. The award winners were:

David Ashton

David’s contribution to OSCA includes:

• creating the Old Scotch Bushwalking Club 12 years ago
• becoming the club’s inaugural president
• guiding the infant club through its development stages
• spending countless hours editing the club’s newsletter, Tracknotes
• working as Assistant Secretary of the Old Scotch Football Club
• goal umpiring OSFC Reserves matches for many years, and
• making a valued contribution to the production of Great Scot.

Away from Scotch, David is also a committed member of St Mary’s Anglican Church in Camberwell and has held a number of church leadership positions.

Max Law

Max’s OSCA service includes:

• Presidency of the OSCA Perth Branch for 24 years from 1970–1994
• Trebling attendances at Perth Annual Dinners
• Creating opportunities for spouses and partners to attend dinners as guests, and
• Nurturing future presidents in his time as branch President

Max has also made a strong contribution to the community, with involvement in the Boating Industry Association of WA, various WA fishing groups and the Business Brokers’ Association.

Colin Melville

Colin’s service includes:

• Involvement with the Old Scotch Football club for over 50 years, playing 130 games and coaching the Under 19s
• Serving as the club’s honorary doctor for an amazing 46 consecutive years, attending to player injuries, ranging from a few stitches to serious knee and back injuries
• Attending training nights to help injured players and advise when and if they can play again, and
• Regularly donating sterilised surgical boxes as well as a special neck and back brace for use by all club doctors.

The OSFC highly values Colin’s knowledge of the hospital system and his ability to secure quick attention for players. Colin is a Life Member of the club.

Russell McNaughton

Russell’s service includes:

• Founding the OSCA Hobart Branch in 1961
• Becoming the branch’s first treasurer, and later serving as President for two years
• Becoming treasurer again in 1987, a position he still holds after 19 years, and
• Maintaining an active participation in the branch.

Russell brought the branch into existence, and has been the glue that has held it together ever since.

David and Colin were on hand to accept their awards, with Max and Russell unfortunately unable to be present.

Portrait of Sir Arthur Robinson

Andrew Wallace-Smith spoke about Sir Arthur Robinson’s great contribution to Scotch life, before inviting Michael Robinson to unveil the portrait. Andrew said (in part):

‘Sir Arthur Robinson’s love of Scotch College and commitment to its development is unparalleled. He was Chairman of the Scotch College Council from 1934 to 1945, President of OSCA from 1923 to 1943, and very active in the School’s move from East Melbourne to Hawthorn.

‘He was also a key figure in fundraising for building the Memorial Hall and later the Chapel. One of the Scotch boarding houses is named in his honour, and a window in the Chapel is dedicated to his memory.

‘Arthur Robinson was educated at Scotch and the University of Melbourne, and was admitted to practice as a solicitor in 1896. Together with George Forrest Davies, he formed Arthur Robinson and Company in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War I.

‘Robinson was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly at 28, and later represented Wannon in the House of Representatives, before retuning to the Victorian Parliament, this time in the Upper House. He was knighted in 1923.

‘Scotch was Arthur Robinson’s deep and abiding passion. He was hard-hitting in speech and in the written word and skilful in debate – qualities that he often used to Scotch’s enduring benefit.’

Michael Robinson unveiled the portrait, speaking eloquently about his illustrious antecedent. The portrait is to hang in the Memorial Hall.

Life Membership to Rob Logie-Smith

Andrew Wallace-Smith presented a well-deserved Honorary Life Membership to Rob Logie-Smith for his great service to OSCA, including three terms as President.

Rob attended Scotch for just two years, but his impact was considerable. In his second and final year, he was a Prefect, House Captain of Morrison, Vice-Captain of Boats, Vice-Captain of Music and a sergeant in the military band. He rowed in the second crew and represented the school in the First Athletics team.

Accepting the Life Membership, Rob said it was ‘a great honour and humbling experience’. He said that he had sought advice from a number of key Scotch Family people before taking on the presidential role, and among the suggestions had been to build a forward-thinking, relevant organisation, get younger members onto the Council, build a coaching and mentoring program, continue to focus on Scotch values, build OSCAnet, and take a practical approach. He said OSCA acted on this sound advice during his three presidential terms.

Rob said he had been fortunate during this time to have a great team of excellent Councillors, and first-class relationships with the School Council, the Foundation and the Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson.

Addresses by Andrew Wallace-Smith and incoming President Richard Beveridge were the last items on the agenda of a most enjoyable evening, for which John Jeffreys was a most professional MC.

Tim Shearer
Executive Director, OSCA