Scotch College

From the Principal December2001

From the Principal

Above all, thank you!

What a wonderful year Scotch College has just completed!

Our sesquicentenary has been celebrated in fine fashion, embracing every student and teacher along with several thousands of parents - present and past - former students and friends of the school.

A glance through the program of events triggers a kaleidoscope of images and memories:

• the kindling of the anniversary torch in Aberdeenshire;
• the sight of thousands on the Main Oval for the Heritage Walk and Torch Relay;
• 1850 guests at Dinner on the Main - a triumph of planning and belief that Scotch would support the event;
• the dramatic impact of 'Visions through time' and at the wonderful Foundation Day Concert, in front of 6,000 at the Rod Laver Arena;
• the football communities of Scotch and Melbourne Grammar commissioning of the MCG's sculpture;
• the Literature Festival, inspiring boys to give a higher priority to writing;
• honouring Sir John Monash at Sir Gustav Nossal's lecture and through the history tour;
• the magnificent Highland Gathering, with school bands from Australia and New Zealand;
• the generosity of OSCA providing special ties for all students and of St Kevin's College who presented an anniversary gift;
• the full family gathering, with Junior and Senior schools combining on Family Day - a formula that will be repeated next year;
• the expressions of appreciation from General Peter Cosgrove, Reviewing Officer at the 'Anniversary Tattoo' and the honour for the Cadet Unit, receiving a 'Chief of Army' plaque;
• 1,200 Old Scotch Collegians gathered for their Annual Dinner at Melbourne's Exhibition Building.

These are a few of the highlights of this remarkable year. We have been Celebrating the Vision in the spirit of the year's motto.

We have appreciated the vision that created and moulded Scotch during our 150 years. And at the end of 2001 we are looking ahead with a vision of Scotch in the short and longer term future.

Many expressions have been attached to this remarkable year but one must now be heard above all: 'thank you!'

Thank you to the boys of Scotch for their cheerful and admirable participation.

Thank you to everyone who enabled the year to be so effective. To the teaching staff who kept the school on track, encouraging every boy to develop to his potential. To the grounds and maintenance staff for their never flagging efforts preparing for and repairing after so many events.

Thanks also to the huge band of workers who planned and helped implement each occasion. Their contributions enabled the school to achieve so many additional events. Thanks to the auxiliaries, who suspended their usual programs to support the celebrations.

2001 will long be remembered in a more global sense, of course, and at home a number of Scotch families have had to cope with personal tragedies, reminding us that life continues with its full palette of joys and pains, and challenging us to reconsider our values in making sense of life and its vagaries.

We conclude this year grateful for so many memorable celebrations and looking forward to 2002, when the process of educating young men at Scotch will continue to absorb our creative energies.

Dr F.G. Donaldson