Scotch College

Editorial

Words: Tim Shearer • Editor, Great Scot

This is very much a year of transition at Scotch, as we expectantly await the arrival of our ninth Principal, Mr Tom Batty.

While change is often confronting and challenging, I can confidently report that it is very much ‘business as usual’ at Scotch in 2008. The academic program continues to stretch and enrich our 1,850 boys, the prep students have that same look of wonder and excitement, the rowers keep rowing with the same passion, the footballers are tackling with the same conviction, and our musicians continue to amaze with their prowess.

You can see this for yourself throughout the first half of this edition of Great Scot. That this transition is occurring in such a seamless manner is due in no small part to the solid foundations laid by past Principal Dr Gordon Donaldson, the leadership of our School Council and of our Acting Principal, Mr Ian Savage, and the ongoing support of our committed staff.

It is also very much a year of tradition. This year Scotch and Melbourne Grammar School will be justifiably saluting our outstanding contribution to sport and society, with celebrations around the 150th anniversary of the first recorded and continuing match of Australian Rules football. In August 1858, Scotch and Melbourne Grammar played a 40-a-side match at Yarra Park in Jolimont, near the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After three weekends the match concluded in a draw, one goal apiece. One hundred and fifty years on, and the national game ‘of the people, for the people’ is flourishing. This is clearly evident at Scotch, where Aussie Rules continues to evolve. In April, 30 of our boys toured Darwin and the Tiwi Islands. For 12 years now, Scotch students have been able to connect with these communities through Australian Rules football – and vice-versa.

On the Tiwi Islands they see the diverse culture on offer, as well as witnessing the starkly contrasting – and confronting – living conditions. They experience the difficulties some of their fellow Australians must contend with, as well as seeing hope in the eye of a child. They get to develop understanding, tolerance and humility. This can only be good.

Together with the AFL and the Melbourne Football Club, Scotch and Melbourne Grammar have been working together to deliver a series of events that will appropriately mark this milestone. All former footballers from both schools will be invited to a gala dinner at the Crown Palladium on Thursday 7 August, the actual anniversary of the first kick in the first game.

The following day, the two schools’ 1st XVIIIs will compete for the Cordner–Eggleston Cup at the MCG as a curtain raiser to an AFL match between Melbourne and Geelong, Australian Rules’ two oldest teams. All members of the Scotch Family are invited to attend both the match and the pre-match luncheon in the Olympic Room at the MCG. Further details appear elsewhere in this edition of Great Scot.

I hope that you enjoy this edition of Great Scot.