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A positive, caring and fun community

This is an edited version of an address to the School Council by Tom Dickson (Year 12), the 2013 Captain of the Boarding House (the 'Hill Captain').

In 2008, 44 new boys arrived at Scotch as boarders. Of these 16 were in Year 7, there were a number starting Year 9, and a few in Year 11. We were joining the 158 boys who already called the hill home.

Mr Chris Braithwaite, with Hill Captain, Tom Dickson.

I had spent my first 12 years living on a relatively remote property in the Riverina, 70 kilometres north-west of Deniliquin in south-west NSW. There were very few children on neighbouring properties, and those that were often learned via the School of the Air. My parents, however, are great believers in a traditional education, and as the school bus did not venture down our dirt road my mother would drive my sisters and me to the local primary school. So when it came to choosing a senior school we looked at a number of schools before touring Scotch, but having seen it, and after speaking with staff and boys, the decision was easily made.

So I was among that group of new boys embarking on what would be a life-changing opportunity. At the time we did not understand this: we were all homesick and a little overwhelmed; our energy was spent trying to fit in, not losing anything and getting to class on time.

We were busy, constantly organised into what I now understand were carefully thought out and planned activities, which meant we weren’t left alone to wallow in thoughts about mum’s home cooking, the dog, and other aspects of our lives at home.

Very quickly we were absorbed into the life and rhythm of the boarding house. The first weekend was the new boys' camp at Cowes. We enjoyed the sun, swimming and numerous activities as we got to meet other new boys, chat, and most importantly to share a laugh. I am pleased to be able to tell you that for this year's new boys' camp the weather was magnificent, there were only a few tears and there was a lot of laughter and energy throughout the camp.

The Scotch boarding community is made up of 146 boys. We have a number of indigenous students as well as boys from Melbourne, rural Victoria, NSW and overseas. Although we never forget where we come from, we are all Scotch boys and we all feel a strong sense of belonging to the boarding community.

I have often considered how we create this sense of community,

Well, we live together, eat together, and share preps and dormitories. We also face the same daunting hurdles – French tests, Year 10 dancing classes and boarder socials.

Each term we have a weekend of inter-house rivalry – the infamous Wedderburn Cup – in which the houses compete in a range of sporting and cultural activities ... everything from the traditional team sports like soccer and tennis to more cultural activities including debating and karaoke.

These are great weekends which are eagerly anticipated by all boarders. Everyone will have something they can offer in Wedderburn, but the true value lies in the sense of camaraderie it creates within each house. Every boy will have the opportunity to be cheered on by his housemates; and no matter how embarrassing the huge belly-whacker off the diving board or how flawed the debate that steak and chips should be offered at every meal, the boys from each house will loudly support their housemates.

During the year events such as the Family Day weekend enable families to become an extension of this tight-knit community. A highlight of this weekend is the boarders’ revue, a night where the audience can witness the variety of impressive and sometimes disturbing talents of the boys.

So as I start my sixth year at Scotch with the huge honour of being the Hill Captain, I have been asking myself (and others) two questions: what is it that I value most as a boarder, and how can I ensure that the boarding house that I leave behind continues to provide a positive experience for future students?

Invariably when I ask the first question of my fellow boarders I am told they have great mates, they are willing to give things a go, they have learned to live with a range of people, and not only to tolerate but appreciate the differences that enrich the boarding community. They have learned to ski and snowboard on our amazing weekend ski trips, and they are fortunate enough to have facilities to mountain bike through the scenic surrounds of Mansfield.

What no one says, yet what I observe, is that there are 146 boys living on the Hill and every boy feels that he belongs, and one day will be proud to say he was a Scotch boarder.

When I look back over my time at Scotch and ask what made the experience so positive, I think much credit must be given to the culture of the boarding house. It is a place where older boys and boarding masters are not only positive role models, but actively engage in mentoring and supporting the younger boys.

I remember meeting Mr Braithwaite [Dean of Boarding] for the first time, amid a mixture of excitement and anticipation and feeling a bit overwhelmed with the scale of everything. As he shook my hand, Mr Braithwaite gave me one of his many pearls of wisdom. He said the boarding house operates on respect and if I remembered that I would be fine.

It is probably not until recently that I have really understood how valuable this simple piece of advice was. To have so many people living in a boarding community requires each person not only to respect the rules and authority figures, but to respect each boy for what he contributes to communal life.

This year we welcomed 38 new boarders to the Hill, and I am sure it will not be long until they too are calling the Hill home, and enjoying having friends from Year 7 to Year 12, and being part of such a positive, caring and fun community.

Updated: Monday 24 June 2013