DIRTY RIVER – A SONG WHICH TELLS A MELBOURNE STORY
Michael Waugh ’ s latest single was inspired by a boy ’ s chance remark .
A casual remark by a Year 12 boy at a lunch in the Longmore Room at Scotch in 2019 was the inspiration for the first single from Michael Waugh ’ s fourth album , released on 12 March .
At the lunch , for Lawson House boys , Michael Waugh ( Head of Lawson House ) heard the boy make a passing remark about rowing on the Yarra , and that was the inspiration for Michael ’ s song , Dirty River .
The singer / songwriter ’ s song is about Melbourne , and acknowledges traditional land ownership . After it was shared with Scotch ’ s Indigenous Partnership Program students , the students asked Michael for permission to use Dirty River as Lawson ’ s House Chorals song in 2022 .
There is a further Scotch connection with Dirty River . Ethan Wischer from the Class of 2020 was the production assistant for the song , and Michael arranged for Ethan ( who is studying filmmaking at university ) to have some paid work experience with the filmmakers who shot the video of Dirty River . The video can be accessed at : https :// www . youtube . com / watch ? v = 01xX6pFFL5E
Michael ’ s album , The Weir , received two Golden Guitar nominations in 2020 – male artist of the year and alt country album of the year – as well as a nomination at the 2020 Victorian Music Awards .
Fellow singer / songwriter Eric Bogle says : ‘ Michael takes all these elements of the human condition and lyrically moulds them into something that is very special indeed , the mark of a compassionate and insightful human being and a gifted songwriter .’
FUN AND FUNDRAISING
Scotch and Lauriston runners supported cystic fibrosis research
SCOTCH AND LAURISTON FUN-RUNNERS GATHER NEAR THE MCKENDRICK OVAL
Years 11 and 12 boys and girls from Scotch and Lauriston Girls ’ School came together at Scotch on 25 March for a fun run in support of cystic fibrosis research . Cystic fibrosis primarily affects lungs and prohibits carriers from partaking in exercise activities , like running .
The students wound their way around the campus on a course set up by the Scotch Prefects . The run began on the McKendrick Oval and continued along the levee bank and around various ovals , before concluding back at the McKendrick Oval . Students each covered just over 2km . After what was an otherwise stormy autumn day , the sun came out just in time for the students to hit the course , creating a cheerful atmosphere .
The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves , and best of all , $ 350 was raised to aid research into this life-threatening disorder . www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 37