FOUNDATION
ASSOC . PROF . DOUG LORDING AM (' 64 ) PRESIDENT OF THE SCOTCH COLLEGE FOUNDATION
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AFTER A YEAR OF ZOOM MEETINGS
The value of direct interaction cannot be overestimated
Our March Foundation Board meeting was face-to-face , and that was good . We all appreciated getting together again after a year of Zoom meetings . In reality , the Foundation functioned as normal during the lockdowns , but the value of the direct interaction with each other cannot be overestimated . It is hoped that 2021 will be more ‘ business as usual ’, but events in February indicated we can ’ t take this for granted . Our best chance is that we continue to be vigilant and take whatever measures are required to protect our own health and that of the community .
Another highlight of the March meeting was that it was held in the Donaldson Meeting Room , situated in the new Tolson Centre . This will be an excellent facility for meetings of the various groups that make up our School community , and is already coming to the fore in offering a venue off the main school campus , thereby helping to limit the number of visitors to that site . Who would have thought that was going to be one of the main virtues of this facility ?
Meeting here does demonstrate the progress that was made in 2020 : the Tolson Centre ( containing the Archives , OSCA House and the Scotch Shop ), the Keon- Cohen Dining Hall and St Andrew ’ s Square , the English Department and further work on the Home Rooms . As well as concluding those projects , the Development Office receipted $ 3.8M , about 60 per cent of which is in the building fund for future projects . The generosity of our community and its commitment to the boys of the School never wanes .
At this meeting our Executive Director , Tim Shearer (’ 85 ), outlined the strategy for the next five years , and while in part this will depend on the School Council determining the future building strategy , clearly a major focus for 2021 will be support for our Indigenous students , with a focus on the Indigenous Scholarship Fund .
Sam Hunt chairs a Foundation sub-committee which is working towards raising funds to endow in perpetuity 10 scholarships by 2025 . This is a really important project which contributes significantly to the diversity of the School community . To do this , and to fund the boys until that target is reached , requires $ 8.5M , of which $ 5.1M
has already been raised , in part through the 24-hour fundraising event in Tony Briggs ’ (‘ 85 ) name in 2017 .
Old Boy and retired AFL champion Cyril Rioli (‘ 07 ) has generously agreed to add his support to this program , and it is planned to hold another 24-hour fundraising event on 8 June , aiming to raise $ 1.5M . The School community will receive more information about that as we get closer to the event .
On 11 March the Foundation hosted a get-together with the School Council and OSCA ( the Three Councils Cocktail Party ), an event which was sadly missed last year . The 41 highly committed members representing these three bodies work together to support the School and our broader Scotch community , and it was good to have this opportunity to meet , and to share the occasion with the Principal Tom Batty , and the School Executive . The event was held in the Keon-Cohen Dining Hall , and provided an opportunity for all to see firsthand the benefits of the hard work that went into the planning and funding of this magnificent facility .
At this function we had an opportunity to thank the Hon Dr David Kemp AC (’ 59 ) who , in December , stepped down as Chairman of the School Council after eight years , and formally concluded his Council service in January , after serving as a Council member since 2004 . David was Minister for Schools , Vocational Education and Training from 1996 to 1997 , and Minister for Employment , Education , Training and Youth Affairs from 1997 to 1998 – not a bad starting point for a school chair .
David gave much to this position , taking a keen interest in all aspects of the School . We are all grateful for David ’ s generous commitment of his time , and for his calm , steady and consultative approach . Another prominent Old Boy , Alex Sloan (’ 71 ), is now in the chair , and the Foundation looks forward to working with Alex as the School turns to the next planning phase .
48 Great Scot Issue 162 – April 2021