Scotch College

Our OSCA heritage

‘Heritage is what we value from the past and want to give to the future’

Scotch has played an important role in Australian history. In 1901 by the time Victoria was declared a state (rather than a colony) Scotch was already 50 years old. From its earliest days Old Boys of the School have been an integral part in the ongoing growth and success of the School.

Although Old Scotch Collegians have been getting together with their old school friends since the 1850s it was not until 1913 that the Old Scotch Collegians’ Association (OSCA) was more formally established. In 2013 OSCA will be 100 years old and plans are already being developed to recognise the centenary.

The Heritage Centre: Archive and Museum

One of the grand visions of current OSCA councillors is that the centenary of OSCA in 2013 should also be the launch date for a Heritage Centre, incorporating both archives and museum displays.

For a number of years members of the now formally established OSCA Heritage Club have already been extremely busy assisting the School Archivist, Dr Jim Mitchell, sorting, collating and helping preserve the thousands of records and memorabilia currently contained in the School archive.

The Lost Old Boys project

OSCA is primarily a ‘friend raising’ organisation – nurturing and enhancing long-standing friendships and setting up an environment where the common bond between former Scotch students can be further explored. For some Old Boys this involves continuing the spirit of sporting camaraderie. For others the OSCA role is more related to the regular and expanding calendar of social functions and events.

Today there are around 17,000 living Old Scotch Collegians. For all but about 3,000 we have contact addresses.

The Lost Old Boys Project team has been working hard, searching archives and records and even Googling in an attempt to update and locate those with whom we’ve lost touch. So far the team has managed to find an additional 4,000 Old Boys who now happily receive Great Scot and other event information from OSCA.

Annual Dinner … another great success

Leonda was filled to capacity on 25 May for the 2007 Annual Dinner. This was indeed a momentous gathering – and a night of endings and new beginnings.

It was the last for Dr Gordon Donaldson in his capacity as Principal and therefore the launch of a new phase of his life. It was the first for Michael Robinson in his capacity as Past Chairman of School Council. It was the first address to Old Scotch Collegians for current School Captain Ed Whitelaw. For many it was an annual opportunity to become engaged in the spirit of their old School, to sing the songs, to relive memories and to catch up with old friends.

Les MisÉrables

It may be some time away – October 2008 – but interest in the Old Scotch Music Club production of Les Misérables is mounting at an incredible and exhilarating pace.

Scotch has a well-deserved reputation for turning out fine musicians, and drama productions are always professionally performed. The Les Misérables production, now in the planning stages, will bring together talent from within the Scotch family but also from other interested performers in the wider community.

We have, in the James Forbes Academy, a professional standard performance space with the latest in theatrical equipment. We have a reservoir of well-trained talented musicians. We have a list of performers eager to storm the barricades in the streets of Paris. It is indeed an exciting venture. So, stay tuned.

Gordon Donaldson Scholarship Fund

Gordon Donaldson has been a wonderful leader and example to us all over the past 25 years, and a loyal supporter of the Old Boy network at events all over the country.

The Gordon Donaldson Scholarship Fund presents us with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate his contribution to the School. The fund is to focus on one of the Principal’s driving passions – the education of young people and the creation of access and equity for Scotch Collegians.

Visions of Boyhood

A pictorial history of Scotch Visions of Boyhood: Scotch College in Pictures, has just been released. The more than 200 pages of carefully selected photographs covering 156 years of Scotch history have been assembled in a most impressive production. It is a worthy volume to sit proudly on the best of bookshelves. Please see page 73 for more information.

If you have any contributions and thoughts about the operation of OSCA please get in touch – rbevo@bigpond.net.au GS