Scotch College

OSCA Team for 2003

Rob Wilson ('66) is the new OSCA Council President for 2003. He takes over at an exciting and challenging time for OSCA.

"Over the past few years we have been reviewing the role of OSCA. We have researched the varying needs of Old Boys as they progress through life. Our task is to understand these varying needs and to develop a range of functions and services that meet them. All our activities have been put under the microscope. This review has led to many initiatives. We will, for example, be re-launching our approach to Affiliated Societies and Annual Giving this year. Each of our 44 events is also receiving a major effort. OSCAnet, our web-site, has been set-up to facilitate networking and communication. Career Mentoring is now operational through OSCAnet. This will be particularly valuable for younger Old Boys. We have a strong plan and an active and hard working Council and OSCA Office - so watch this space."

Back row L to R: Rob Wilson (President), Alex Sloan, Rob Logie-Smith, John Batchelor, Richard Beveridge and Sam Webb.
Front row L to R: Michael Sim, Andrew Wallace-Smith, John Jeffreys, Bob Welch. Absent: Andrew Logie-Smith, Andrew Macmillan, Dr Bordon Donaldson and Tim Shearer.

Rob's family has a long history of involvement with both Scotch and OSCA. His father Mac ('27), was President of OSCA as was his Uncle, Keith ('26). His grandfather was at Scotch in the 1890s and a distant uncle, Henry McKinley, was at Scotch in the 1860s. Needless to say, his two sons, David ('97) and Peter ('01) both attended Scotch.

Rob has a Bachelor of Engineering from University of Melbourne and an MBA from Manchester Business School in the UK. He spent a number of years in sales and marketing roles with consumer marketing companies such as Cadbury Schweppes and Cussons.

He is fond of saying he was a soap salesman prior to purchasing his own manufacturing business. He now supplies small plastic parts, largely to the automotive industry, as well as manufacturing and marketing his own range of consumer products. He still runs with Old Scotch Athletics in the winter, and is a keen yachtsman and snow skier.

To make it happen, the 14-member Council is structured into six hard working sub-committees, each with two or three other councillors plus support from the OSCA office. We also call on non-council members to assist at times of peak workload.

Alex Sloan ('71) and Andrew Macmillan ('79) are responsible for the Finance and Sponsorship Sub-Committee, with assistance from Rob Logie-Smith ('60). This year for the first time, we are seeking sponsorship to enable us to make our functions more affordable and expand our program.

Michael Sim ('78) heads up Annual Giving, and together with John Jeffreys ('69), Richard Beveridge and Andrew Logie-Smith ('72) is working hard on a new approach to Annual Giving. As the cost of education rises in real terms, this area will be increasingly important to keep fees affordable.

Andrew Wallace-Smith ('72) and his team comprising John Field ('68), Andrew Macmillan, John Jeffreys and Sam Webb ('02) is responsible for assisting our 15 Affiliated Societies. This year we will be re-launching a major new support and promotion package made possible through sponsorship.

Bob Welch ('66) is in charge of Events. Together with John Jeffreys (Annual Dinner), John Batchelor (Monthly Luncheons),

Sam Webb (Young Old Boys) and Monika Matlik in the OSCA Office, Bob's team will run 44 events this year, including 18 Branch Dinners. They are constantly trying to make each event more attractive and have implemented an on-going review process. If you have any suggestions, please make contact.

Richard Beveridge ('62) heads up the Marketing and Membership Sub-Committee with assistance from Alex Sloan.

And finally John Craven ('69) is responsible for OSCAnet with John Field ('68) and Andrew Logie-Smith. Rob Logie-Smith is overseeing the important new Mentoring initiative. OSCAnet was launched last October and is being continuously developed. It will no doubt become increasingly important as its usage and function improves.

The Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson, is an Ex-Officio Member of Council.

The OSCA Council and the hard working team in the OSCA Office under Tim Shearer ('85) are looking forward to a year of progress. We hope to see you at one of our many events. Please log on to the OSCAnet site at www.oscanet.com.au to find out what is happening at OSCA, and register.