Scotch College

2006 Perelberg Award to a 'great role model'

The Principal Dr Gordon Donaldson with 2005's Perelberg recipient Andrew Pyman

The Perelberg Award is named in honour of Ashley Perelberg, a member of the Class of 1992, who died suddenly and tragically while exercising during his first year at university. Ashley had been one of those boys who threw himself into Scotch opportunities with remarkable zeal and to great effect. Among his special interests was Scotch at Cowes where he had been a key committee member.

To commemorate his life Ashley’s family endowed this award, to be presented annually to a member of the Scotch community who demonstrates exemplary Scotch spirit and who brings honour to the school and service to the community. The perpetual award is a magnificent silver sculpture inspired by the penguins of Phillip Island, and displayed in the Lithgow Centre. The winner receives a silver replica. The award is given to a student of Scotch in alternate years or to an Old Boy and we have had some very distinguished winners. This year it goes to a current member of Scotch or one who left at the end of last year.

We received an impressive number of nominations, each of which has been worthy of serious consideration, and I thank all members of the Scotch community who have been involved in the nomination process.

The recipient of the Perelberg Award for 2005 is Andrew Pyman. Andrew is a typically busy Scotch boy, involved in seconds football and cricket, in APS athletics, as CUO of ‘A’ Company, as Prefect in Charge of Fundraising, as House Captain of Morrison house and as an outstanding leader of the Christian Movement.

One of his nominators states: ‘Andrew is the embodiment of all that one hopes for in a Scotch Collegian’ – high praise indeed. He describes Andrew as conscientious, courteous and committed, with an extraordinary capacity for compassion and care for his fellow human beings. His self-sacrificial nature and his heart for service has seen him inspire his peers to rally behind sick and fearful ones among them – and to provide thoughtful and generous practical support. Another nominator describes in detail the wonderful role Andrew played in helping a critically ill schoolmate through drastic surgical procedures that have led to his recovery.

Andrew has extended his personal Christian commitment beyond Scotch, as an instigator and leader of ‘Crossing Melbourne’, a conference attracting over 250 Christian high school students. As one of the Prefects responsible for the fundraising portfolio, Andrew was vigorously instrumental in encouraging Scotch to accept the challenge that has led to the Kapumfi project that will change the lives of many Zambian children.

At Scotch we rejoice in the concept of the Scotch Spirit – and we further rejoice when that Spirit is extended beyond the school.

Andrew’s leadership in identifying those in need of help – within and beyond Scotch, and in mobilising others to generate the means to meet those needs – is a great example of the Scotch Spirit at work. We can only agree with a fellow student who wrote that ‘Andrew acts as a great role model to others in the school – he is easy-going and easy to approach’.

Dr Gordon Donaldson
Principal

Previous recipients of the prestigious Perelberg Award have been: