Scotch College

An early morning at Scotch

While much attention has been deservedly focussed on the splendid new staff facilities and the spacious and busily efficient atmosphere of the atrium, little is known about the expanded nether regions of the Staff Centre.

An early morning journey with one of the many staff cyclists - currently about 16 during the fine weather - who pedal their way to work each day brings both surprise and delight as she prepares for the long day ahead.

Picture this! It is a beautiful late summer Melbourne morning with the sun lifting its head over the trees in Gardiner Creek and dusting the Chapel and Memorial Hill with a golden haze. Amid the chattering burrs of the cars on the roads, all of which seem to lead to Scotch, a cyclist weaves her way, dodging the potholes in Callantina Road, swerving away from the Junior School early morning drop-off traffic, and whirring down to Morrison Street. As she passes a couple of late droopy-eyed rowers on their way to the sheds, she sees the tennis players, already at practice on the Main Courts, and notices the row of staff cars already paraded alongside the Main Oval.

It is Tuesday, and it is 7.25 am. There are already signs of activity on the ground and first floors of the Staff Centre, and the Library is gearing up for a brand new day, but as the cyclist steers down the ramp past the Saturday Tuckshop, she is greeted by two staff emerging from the changing rooms ready to join the Morning Jogging Group. It is now 7.30 am.

With the bicycle safely elevated and secured behind padlocked bars, the cyclist enters the basement area of the Staff Centre, greets more staff who begin to trickle in from rowing, swimming and tennis activities, and more on their way to the upper world of the school. In the spacious and well-appointed changing rooms, bike helmets and lycra give way to the appropriate teaching attire, and a long warm shower soothes the early morning ache from the muscles. A final adjustment or two and it's out through the gates with no need to lull any Cerberus to sleep, and up to the Staff Dining Room. It is Tuesday, and it is now 7.50 am.

Several staff are already seated at their first (or second) breakfast, or mulling

over the papers with the first of many coffees or teas for the day. The sporting table is discussing the latest cricket news, and the disasters from the Winter Olympics; other groups provide critiques of the latest news items from the Republican Convention to the Oscars. It is Tuesday, it is 8.00 am and the staff are beginning to fire up for the lessons to come.

The Vice-Principal appears on the 'bridge' of the Staff Centre, and the great ship that is Scotch hums into another gear. The cyclist-teacher makes her way up to the first floor of the Centre, checks the notices for the absentee roster, the excursions, the daily notices and her pigeon hole. The fountain in the atrium twirls into action, the Reception Centre lights up and is ready for business.

It is 8.15 am.

The cyclist reaches her desk, larger and better fitted out than in the Longmore Building, with all high-tech mod cons. She plugs in her Laptop, logs on and checks the latest Emails; more things which need to be done today. She switches on her new pager, ready to be summoned by the steadily increasing hordes of boys milling around this new heart of the school. She checks her timetable, organises her books and chats to the surrounding staff who constitute part of her department.

It is 8.30 am. Loaded with Tutor Group notices, plans for the Summer Sports Day, information about the House BBQ, and her necessaries for the first two periods, she abandons the Staff Centre Bridge, descends to the Dining Room for another cup of coffee and catch-up chat with her colleagues, and as the first bell sounds, she moves off to her tutor room. It is 8.40 am, and another day has just begun at Scotch!

Alan Watkinson