Scotch College

It’s History for Bruce Brown!

An era ends, with the retirement of a history, politics and international studies teacher who fully embodies the ‘Scotch spirit’.

Words: Neville Taylor and David Ashton Photography: Kathryn Cairney and Andrew Murdoch

After more than 22 years at Scotch as a teacher, mentor, friend, confidante and sports fanatic, Bruce Brown (’60) is shelving the history books for good and heading off overseas for a well-earned holiday with his wife, Sue.

With Bruce’s retirement at the end of term two, an era came to an end at Scotch. The School will not be the same without Bruce’s wisdom, support, good humour and plain common sense. As Head of History Mark Johnston said at Bruce’s retirement function on 3 July:

‘The number of students who have gained from his philosophy of helping those in need must run into hundreds, if not thousands. He was a head of year who made a point of not only knowing the name of every boy in his group, but also enough about them to ensure he could carry on a conversation with something that mattered to each of them: “How was the concert, James?” or “How many runs on the weekend, Andrew?” were typical questions.

‘He showed some wonderful characteristics: optimism, humour – including a willingness to laugh at his own expense – and a concern with the bigger picture.’

Bruce, an Old Scotch boy of the Class of 1960, came to Scotch in 1985 as a history and politics teacher, after teaching earlier at Northcote, Kew and Nunawading High Schools. (For more details of Bruce’s Scotch career, see ‘Three Senior School staff leave Scotch’, in this edition.)

Valerie Bourke, who taught with Bruce during the 1970s, recalled his ‘hesitant smile’, and remembered him as a ‘caring, enthusiastic and sensitive educator, universally adored by his female colleagues, a reasonably astute political commentator [and a] football tragic’.

OSCA Executive Director Tim Shearer, whose final year as a student was Bruce’s first as a teacher, recalled Bruce’s early days at Scotch:

‘I hit it off instantly with Bruce, and was immediately impressed with his infectious humour, his love of life, his genuine interest in us as students and in our sport, and his caring and enthusiastic classroom demeanour. I shared his love of cricket and football, and we often enjoyed discussions about how his Demons and my Hawks were faring.

‘The reception accorded Bruce by current students at his final assembly clearly showed the respect and great affection the boys had for him.’

Mark Johnston described Bruce as the embodiment of that elusive quality, the ‘Scotch spirit’: ‘He embodies many of the qualities that the School encourages in its students, including compassion, diligence, tolerance, and a willingness to embrace life.’

Mark said Bruce also typified many of the positive features of the Australian character, such as ‘sympathy for the underdog, willingness to give a fair go, enjoyment of the simple pleasures of life, determination not to be a whinger, even when there was plenty to whinge about, [and] willingness to help a mate’.

As Mark pointed out, many of those features are associated with the Anzacs, and Bruce was the enthusiastic organiser of the 2001 School tour, ‘In the Footsteps of the Anzacs’. Among the many places visited was Fromelles in France, where on just one July day in 1916, more than 5,000 Australians were killed or wounded.

‘There’s a monument there [at Fromelles], known as the Cobbers’ Memorial. It shows one Digger carrying another out of battle. This refers to a famous incident where a soldier responded to the call of a wounded comrade in no man’s land: “Don’t forget me, cobber”. Bruce Brown has responded to many a call for help over the years, from teachers and boys. That is one of many reasons that we won’t forget you, cobber.’

Characteristically, Bruce’s retirement will be busy, and he will certainly not be lost to Scotch or Old Scotch. For example, after his extended overseas trip with Sue, during which he will visit relatives in America, Bruce will join the OSCA Council in November. His knowledge of and love for Scotch will ensure he is a valued council member.