Scotch College

A focus on friendships: East Melbourne Glen Chapter Christmas Luncheon

WORDS and Photography: Ms Sue Faulkhead

Above left (left to right): Geoff Wicks (’42), Bill Turner (’41), Robert Ness (’50)

Above: Geoff Bowden (’46) and Hugh Melville (’42)

Left: (Left from front to back): Carolyn McCarthy, Bob Simonson (’41), Maya Hume, David Hume (’40), Bas White (’41). (Right from front to back): Geoff Tolson (’39), Barbara Tolson, Ken Fraser (’41), Grace Fraser, Rosie White

More than 140 Old Boys – members of the East Melbourne Glen Chapter and their guests – gathered together in the boarders’ dining hall on a beautiful December day for great fellowship, delicious fare and plenty of Christmas carols.

Time-forged friendships were honoured – in particular those of a group of Old Boys who began at Scotch in 1930 under Miss Miller’s tutelage: Ken Fraser (’41), David Hume (’40), Bob Simonson (’41), Geoff Tolson (’39) and Bas White (’41). The group meets every 10 years to celebrate their friendship, and chose the EMG Christmas lunch as a most appropriate occasion for their celebration.

In the lunch program Geoff Tolson reflected on his schooldays:

‘Eighty years ago a group of six-year-old boys began at Scotch College in Form 1C – “the Bubs”. Five of these boys have met regularly for decades past, but today we few, we lucky few, celebrate 80 years of glorious friendship and comradeship.

‘Our beginnings were under the guidance of the Headmaster of the Junior School, Mr Arthur J Waller BA Dip Ed, and in particular our form teacher, Miss Marion Miller.

‘Miss Miller was a lady of small stature with a large and loving heart, which she shared with all her brood. Each day her boys would attend class in an atmosphere which would pervade their very souls; indeed the guidance and principles she espoused were to provide the foundation for mutual respect, trust and love between many of these boys for the rest of their lives.

‘Upon her retirement in 1949, after 31 years’ service, she was awarded the honour of Emeritus Teacher, the only such award in the school’s history.

‘The same love and attention was shown them in their second year by Miss Dorothy Goodenough, as tall as Miss Miller was short, and who retired after 38 years’ service. Asked why, she replied: “I was always fearful of calling the boys by their grandfather’s names!” HOW SCOTCH!

‘We five, insignificant as we are in the context of the school, owe a debt of great gratitude to all those who directed and nurtured us during our most formative years.’ GS