Great Scot Archive
Issues from 1998
Issues from 1998
 
 
 
 

Publications

Where we’ve come from is important, but where we're heading matters more

52a

Mr Michael Robinson AO
President of the Scotch College Foundation

I often hear how lucky boys are to attend Scotch and, I suppose to a degree, they are. On my morning walks, as I admire the magnificent campus, I often reflect that as a community we are indeed fortunate – and not lucky – as everything hasn't simply landed in our lap. We are fortunate that the School continues to thrive with a committed staff and engaged boys. We are fortunate that the School’s leadership has shown great vision and foresight in its planning. And we are fortunate that this vision has been facilitated by many members of our community whose generous philanthropy has supported the School.

It has been said that the difference between Scotch and other schools is the people who love it. Many people devote countless hours of their time or portions of their wealth to ensure that the Scotch of tomorrow is even better than the Scotch of today.

Brian Randall (’52), who retired from the Foundation Board in May after 41 years of exemplary service, epitomises this. Brian, with Laurie Muir (’42), Bruce Lithgow (’46) and Bib Stillwell (’44) was one of the founding fathers of the Foundation, and has sat on the Board since the Foundation was established in 1973.

The capital campaign for the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science continues to dominate proceedings for the Scotch College Foundation, and I have been delighted with the Scotch Family's response to date. This is the most ambitious project ever undertaken by the School since the move from East Melbourne to Hawthorn some 100 years ago.

TOP LEFT: TOM O’BRIEN, ANDREW WADDELL, KIM WADDELL, MANDY ANDRIANAKOS, KATE O’BRIEN.

ABOVE: PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE FOUNDATION AGM AND PRESIDENT’S DINNER ON 15 MAY. (ALL PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT.) TOP RIGHT: WILL HAMILTON (’80), ROB HAND, PATTY WALLACE-SMITH, FIONA PEARSE, ABIGAIL HAND,

BOTTOM RIGHT: MANDY ANDRIANAKOS, CHARISSA HO, JAMES HO (’88), ANDREW WILSON (’78), NICK BERNARDO, AILSA WILSON.

TAFF HAMILTON. BOTTOM LEFT: KIRSTEN MACLEOD, JAMES ORLOFF, LOUISE MURDOCH, SALLY CAPP.

Not only has Brian been a generous donor, he has been generous with his time. It is not surprising that Brian is finishing as he started: by making a significant contribution to the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science appeal.

We farewelled a number of other outstanding Board members at the Foundation annual general meeting and President’s Dinner, held on 15 May at the Australian Club.

Amanda Derham, Gordon Donaldson, Liz Lawrence, Graham Menzies ('47) and Colin Youren ('57) all received grateful thanks for the contributions they had made.

We welcomed Rob Hand, Doug Lording ('64), James Ho ('88), Kirsten MacLeod, Paul Aberdeen ('86) and Louise Murdoch to the Board. We look forward to their continuing contribution to the work of the Board.

We were delighted that Professor Adrienne Clarke AC was our guest of honour at the President's Dinner. Her address relating to the importance of a science-based education was enlightening, and reinforced the importance of the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science – not just for Scotch, but for the broader community.To those of you who have supported the project to date, I thank you. To those of you who have yet to commit, I urge you to consider making a gift of which you are proud. This campaign requires a total community effort and there is much still to be done.

Updated: 23 October 2014