Scotch College

Memories at Boarders’ homecoming

Relive fond memories at the inaugural Boarders’ Homecoming on Saturday 28 July 2007 at Leonda.

Words: Dugald McWilliams Photography: Cloud 9

Memories of boarding at Scotch vary from student to student. Perhaps the memory of lemon meringue pie served in the dining hall, which bore a strange resemblance to dishwashing powder in both texture and taste, is foremost in your mind. Or it may be copping the rough end of the late Don Macmillan’s cane for transgressing that most cardinal of rules – ‘no talking after lights-out’.

Whatever the reason, past Scotch boarders will have an opportunity to relive all those fond memories at the inaugural Boarders’ Homecoming on Saturday 28 July 2007 at Leonda.

The face of boarding at Scotch has changed considerably over recent decades. Diminishing numbers in the boarding houses were combated with some effective marketing work to increase numbers. Scotch also now offers weekly boarding, to cater better for the needs of students and their parents. As a result, boarding house numbers are back to capacity.

Not only has the face of boarding itself changed, but so also have the locations and activities of former boarders of the school. In years gone by, many boarders were from the land and returned there to manage the family property after School. This ensured there was a significant number of Old Boys in the bush, which guaranteed robust numbers at Old Boys’ functions in regional Australia. Nowadays, fewer Old Boy boarders are returning home: more and more of our former boarders are remaining in and around Melbourne.

After an extensive review of the OSCA branches in 2005 and 2006, the OSCA Council resolved to hold the inaugural Boarders’ Homecoming in 2007 in lieu of its officially sanctioned Victorian regional branch dinners and reunions. It is intended to hold a Boarders’ Homecoming approximately every three years, and in the intervening years the individual Victorian branches will hold their own branch reunions. This means that each branch in regional Victoria will hold a formal reunion at least every three years. The frequency with which the Melbourne metropolitan, interstate and overseas branches hold their dinners and reunions should remain unchanged.

The organisation of this event is being coordinated by OSCA Council members Peter Findlay (’90) and Dugald McWilliams (’91), with OSCA Events Coordinator Monika Matlik. All queries should be directed to Monika either by email on monika.matlik@scotch.vic.edu.au or on 9810 4302.

Boarders of all age groups and their partners are invited to attend this function. Dinner will begin at around 7pm, and for those who are interested in a little further reminiscing, there will be a tour of the boarding houses commencing at 1pm on Saturday 28 July, followed by a tour of the School. If, after that, you are still motivated for some more reminiscing, you can stay to watch the 1st XVIII play St Kevin’s on the Main Oval, commencing at 2pm.

This is an opportunity not to be missed for all former boarders, wherever you may be now.