Football
THE YEAR THAT WASN ’ T LEADS INTO A YEAR OF CELEBRATION
LEFT : THE OSFC 2021 COMMITTEE . ABOVE : SCOTT MONTGOMERY (' 85 , LEFT ) WAS ELECTED TO OSFC HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP
AT THE CLUB ' S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON 9 DECEMBER . HE IS SHOWN WITH CLUB PRESIDENT , TIM SHEARER (' 85 ).
Special events to celebrate the Old Scotch Football Club ’ s centenary in 2021
This year will be remembered for all the wrong reasons . The 2020 VAFA football season was not immune to the debilitating pandemic that wreaked havoc on communities worldwide , so the Old Scotch Football Club ’ s 99th year was the year that wasn ’ t .
What did the cancellation of the football season mean for us ? The loss of football was a huge blow for our 300 players , our coaching staff and our members and supporters . Football is what we do ; it is the core of our being and it drives our thinking and planning .
It was a huge loss in terms of the routine and structure that it provides for the young people in our care , and it was a huge loss in terms of the physical and mental wellbeing that it provides for them . It was a huge loss in terms of the social fabric that the club gives to us all . And it was a huge loss to the hopes and expectations of our past players and parents who thrive on the ups and downs of Saturday competition . Simply , it was a huge loss .
Once the COVID-19 pandemic became a reality , we were quick to realign our priorities for the season accordingly , focusing on :
• the health , safety and wellbeing of our players , coaches , staff and volunteers ;
• open communications with club members ; and
• the financial viability of the club . The creation of a special executive helped to ensure that these three aspects were front of mind in all our thinking and decision-making . I thank Angus McQueen
(’ 91 ), Jeff Halsall , Graeme Lavelle , Peter Simpson and Donald McDonald for their expertise and guile as we navigated the choppy waters of 2020 . I believe we achieved all three outcomes to the best of our collective abilities .
Our players , coaches , staff and volunteers were all meaningfully engaged throughout the lockdown period . We regularly communicated with the various sections of the club , and Drumsheet continued to keep the broader club community connected with the club . I am delighted to share that the club has recorded a modest $ 22,500 surplus for the year , in no small part due to the number of government grants received . I take opportunity to thank the federal , state and local governments for their empathetic financial assistance during 2020 .
Our attention now turns to 2021 – the centenary of the club . While 2020 wasn ’ t what we hoped for , we do have another 99 years to celebrate , and celebrate we will ! A number of special events have been planned ( see box , at right ). Of course , these events will be held subject to COVID-19 restrictions at the time , and dates and times are subject to change . There is no question that the club would not be in a position to enter into its centenary year with so much hope and optimism without the outstanding support of the Scotch Family . For this I am extremely grateful .
TIM SHEARER – OSFC PRESIDENT
SAVE THE DATES :
Centenary Golf Day ( and Dinner ) at Kew Golf Club : Monday 22 February Centenary Season Launch Breakfast ( incorporating centenary book launch ) at River ’ s Edge : Thursday 26 March OSFC v Old Melburnians Super Saturday @ Scotch College : Saturday 19 June Pre-game luncheon in Boykett Room , Cardinal Pavilion , and post-match drinks in the JFA Foyer Centenary Dinner at Crown Palladium : Saturday 31 July Centenary Presentation Night Dinner at The Park : Friday 1 October
PRE-MATCH LUNCHEONS :
Anzac Day Pre-game Luncheon at McQueen Park : Saturday 24 April Past Players ’ Pre-game Centenary Luncheon at McQueen Park : Saturday 8 May Club Partners ’ Pre-Game Luncheon at McQueen Park : Saturday 24 July Graduates ’ Pre-Game Luncheon at McQueen Park : Saturday 14 August
www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 79