Scotch College

Scotch unites in compassion and hope

The tragic Victorian bushfires have stirred many emotions in Scotch boys at all levels – including the way the boys value their lives.

Words: Nathan Su – School Captain

The recent Victorian bushfires have demonstrated the overwhelming destructive powers of flame. In minutes it can raze buildings to the ground, take lives, and obscure positive memory in a blanket of ash. But out of the ashes spring hope, new growth, and a new perspective.

Over the last couple of months, Scotch has experienced an outbreak of compassion and hope, as the fires renew the way the boys value their lives. On the Monday after Black Saturday, the senior staff held an urgent meeting to discuss how the school could make its contribution. That day in assembly, the boys were informed and assured that there would be plenty of opportunities for them to make donations, and the school certainly wasted no time. Collection boxes were made available outside the tuckshop the very next day, the events office was flooded with requests for barbecue fundraisers, and that week, it seemed that nothing else was talked about.

After the initial week of somewhat chaotic fundraising, it became clear to the student leaders and the staff that there was no shortage of generosity and strong emotion circulating within the year levels. The Class of ’09 committee, the prefects and the house leaders decided that this was a project that needed to be coordinated as a single project, to maximise donations and to encourage the school to embrace the values of community, companionship, and dedication, which are so important in such times of crisis.

Friday 20 February was chosen as the day for a major fundraising event, pooling the entire school’s efforts. An important balance had to be maintained between the serious nature of the cause and the need to provide activities to encourage donations.

On 20 February the boys arrived in casual clothes for a gold coin donation. As the collection tins were passed around in period one, it was not uncommon for boys to drop in sums of $10 or $20. In assembly, they were told to imagine that the clothes that they wore were all they had left. The Year 8s were asked to stand, and the school was told that this was the number of Australians who had perished in the fires.

During period four, a group of nearly 20 students gathered at the Main Oval to set up. There was to be a barbecue, which had kindly been set up and organised by the school’s catering staff, music, activities on the oval, and a raffle. The school crowded around the oval to watch boys ferry jerry cans full of water down a track, and to run blindfolded or carrying one another. While providing some light-hearted entertainment to keep a positive feeling of community, the activities were designed to remind us all of the cause we were supporting.

By the end of the day, the raffle had raised more than $2,600, the casual clothes day more than $1,600, the barbecue more than $1,500, and more than $1,000 had been donated in the various collection tins. Overall, we had raised more than $6,500 in one day. The day was a success.

On reflection, what was most special about that day was the way every part of the school united. The general student and staff population were all there, giving their donations and embracing the community event. The grounds staff set up the oval, the caterers donated the barbecue, OSCA donated drinks and icy poles, the music school set up an amplification system, the sports teachers coordinated and commentated on the activities, the events office guided the students through the organisation process, and the student leaders made themselves useful in almost every sector.

To date the total amount raised by the School stands at more than $60,000. Some of that money has gone directly to the Red Cross, but much of it will be given to specific communities in need, such as Alexandra Secondary College, Marysville and District Kindergarten, Middle Kinglake Primary School and the Yarck Emergency Fire Department.

The events of February have now started to lose weight in our minds, although they will never leave our memories. However, the tone of empathy has now been set, and it has been shown that great things can come out of our united hearts. Our task now is to keep that spirit of community and compassion going, and continue spreading our good fortune to the world. GS