Scotch College

Three messages from Monash

Professor Richard Larkins urges Scotch boys to learn from the thoughts of our most illustrious Old Boy.

In an address at Speech Night on 25 October, the Vice-Chancellor of Monash University, Professor Richard Larkins, encouraged Scotch boys to learn much from the wisdom of illustrious Old Scotch Boy Sir John Monash.

Describing Monash as the man he considers to be the greatest-ever Australian, Professor Larkins encouraged Scotch boys to draw inspiration from three messages from Monash: ‘Make the most of your abilities, not just for yourself but for the whole community. Stay true to the values you have learned at Scotch, and respect these values in the democratic process. And finally, have the courage and flexibility to seize opportunities to follow your passion throughout your life.’

Professsor Larkins focused on two quotations from Sir John Monash. The first was: ‘Adopt as your fundamental creed that you will equip yourself for life, not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole community’.

Monash was exhorting his listeners to make the most of their potential by acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes that would allow them to thrive in life, Professor Larkins said. ‘You have been given an opportunity to make a start on that path by your education at Scotch College,’ he said. This means much more than acquiring enough knowledge to get a job and earn money. It means being able to participate fully in life, and most important, making a contribution to the community.

Professor Larkins said the second Monash quotation was: ‘Depend upon it, the only hope for Australia is the ballot box and an educated electorate’. He said this quote should be considered in the context in which it was spoken. It was around 1930, when Australia was in the midst of the Great Depression. ‘An armed militia, largely comprised of the soldiers who had fought in the Great War with Monash, was being formed and a military coup contemplated. The militia heads approached Monash to lead them and to be installed as the leader of Australia, replacing the elected government which the militia felt had failed them.

‘By rejecting this invitation, Monash resisted the temptation to succumb to hubris and to forget the core values that he and his men had defended during the war. He recognised that even in those dire times, democracy was the best system of governance but interestingly and to my mind appropriately he coupled this with the need for education.

‘My messages to you from this quotation and its context are first that you should stand true to your values even when your ego is tempted, and second that you should take advantage of the wonderful educational opportunities you have had at Scotch College, to ensure that you follow political and social discourse sufficiently to make full use of your privilege to vote for your government. Ensure that you take into account when you cast your vote the extent to which politicians and parties respect the Scotch College principles of mutual respect, fairness, social justice and human rights and do not think selfishly only of the party that can deliver the best personal outcomes to you.

Professor Larkins said there was a further message from the example of Sir John Monash. He said that although Monash had been a consummate planner in engineering, warfare and in the develoment of the State Electricity Commission, the course of his life was almost totally unplanned. ‘He was able to seize opportunities when they presented by taking new directions and devoting himself wholeheartedly to the task.’

Professor Larkins encouraged boys who were unsure what they wished to do in life not to be dismayed. ‘Opportunities will present themselves, and you must be prepared as Monash was to seize them. Be prepared to take some risks to follow your passion.’

Closing his address, Professor Larkins acknowledged the contribution to Scotch and to the community of retiring Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson. ‘He has added another distinguished chapter to the illustrious history of Scotch College.’ GS