The Cardinal Thread
OSCA plays a crucial role in strengthening this invisible connection
There is an invisible connection that draws the Scotch Family together . It ’ s an idea , a feeling , a relationship and , occasionally , an obligation .
Though intangible , the connection can be incredibly strong and valuable . At Scotch we call this connection ‘ The Cardinal Thread ’ – and even those who have become disenchanted with the School occasionally feel its tug .
For most Old Boys , their lives became bound to The Cardinal Thread when they attended the School . There they experienced Scotch ’ s effectiveness at engendering ‘ School Spirit ’ through the classroom , sport , music and a myriad of extracurricular activities .
Beyond the School gates , however , what sustains The Cardinal Thread is the strength of the relationships that the boys develop with each other during their time at Scotch , and afterwards . Anecdotally , it is when the boys – now Old Boys – lose touch with each other that they disconnect from the School . The Cardinal Thread may fray or even break .
Strengthening The Cardinal Thread after boys leave Scotch is a crucial role for OSCA . This process starts immediately as the boys progress from the School to university and / or the workplace , and it continues throughout Old Boys ’ working years and beyond . Much can be said about how OSCA delivers that role , but for now we simply share reflections from three Scotch leaders about what The Cardinal Thread evokes for them .
For Tom Batty , Scotch ’ s Principal , The Cardinal Thread appeals to his sense of poetry : ‘ The many strands of the Scotch tartan draw tight the rich tapestry of our community – our past , our traditions and our aspirations . Illuminating the shimmering hue of the complex weave is a Cardinal Thread , as uniquely entwined as each Scotch boy .’
For Hon Dr David Kemp AC (’ 59 ), former Chairman of the School Council , The Cardinal Thread is ‘ a vivid idea , one that reminds me of a similar concept used by Henry Parkes when speaking of the reasons for Australian Federation .’
David continues : ‘ Parkes referred to the “ crimson thread of kinship ” joining the potential citizens of the new nation together . Later , Alfred Deakin , at the Constitutional Convention , returned to Parkes ' metaphor and , like Parkes , seeking to articulate the reasons why one Australian nation should exist , made the following comment to the delegates :
The “ crimson thread of kinship ”, as Sir Henry Parkes so happily and poetically termed it , running as it does through all the colonies , has not merely the strength of a thread , but is stronger than links of steel .
‘ When one reflects on Monash ' s remarks on working with Old Scotch Collegians during the First World War , and the many stories of mutual enjoyment and support that have come down to us about relationships between former Collegians over the years , it is a happy thought that Alfred Deakin ' s words may well apply to us .’
However , as noted earlier , the strength of The Cardinal Thread may vary : the thread may be strengthened or indeed it may fray or break . These ideas are well illustrated in an account from a surprising source , that of Associate Professor Doug Lording AM (’ 64 ).
Doug is well known to Scotch through his current involvement as a member of School Council and President of the Scotch Foundation , and from his recent role as President of OSCA . In his early days as an Old Boy he had been President of the Old Scotch Cricket Club and the Old Scotch Basketball Club , and later he had enrolled his sons at Scotch and become prominent on OSCA Council . One might assume , wrongly as it turns out , that The Cardinal Thread was always strong .
‘ Years ago a circumstance arose such that my wife Liz and I sort of ‘ divorced ’ Scotch . I might have thought the thread which had been very strong for so long wasn ’ t frayed , but it was in fact severed . We stayed away for around 15 years and thought that chapter of our lives was thoroughly past .
‘ However , the thread either wasn ’ t completely severed , or it regenerated like a cut nerve can do . As it turned out another circumstance conspired to reel me back . I say circumstance , but when I look more deeply I see I must attribute it mostly to several close friends from Scotch , and to my son-in-law Brendan Herron (' 96 ), each of whom knew that the breakages weren ’ t right .
' Being reeled back in has been very rewarding , and I ’ m eternally grateful to those for whom The Cardinal Thread stayed strong and who eventually were able to facilitate Liz and me to reconnect . We now look forward to the next chapter , seeing our five grandsons at Scotch . In our case our threads had been well woven into the Scotch College tartan !’
As we can see , The Cardinal Thread is a natural focus for OSCA , and the language has already proved evocative . In subsequent editions of Great Scot we hope to continue the theme by including reflections from other members of the Scotch Family .'
MATT GUTHRIDGE (' 91 ) and ANDREW WILSON (' 78 )
www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 75