OPPOSITE PAGE : LASER LIGHT SHOW AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE SIR ZELMAN COWEN CENTRE FOR SCIENCE , 6 OCTOBER 2016 . THIS PAGE , CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : BOYS AT WORK IN A CENTRE FOR SCIENCE PHYSICS LABORATORY ; FAÇADE OF THE SPENCER CENTRE FOR DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY ; FOUNDATION PRESIDENT , ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DOUG LORDING AM (' 64 ); FORMER FOUNDATION PRESIDENT , MICHAEL ROBINSON AO (' 55 )
stronger and more dynamic relationship between the two arms of the Development Office , broadening the outreach to the OSCA community and school parents , and starting to strengthen the culture of philanthropy which is now underpinning so much of what Scotch is achieving .
During the first years of Tom Batty ’ s principalship , the Council worked to develop a strategic plan based on a strong educational philosophy , which in itself revolved around conversations about the changes in teaching and learning around the globe .
The result , articulated in 2013 , was a series of transformational projects on the Senior School campus , which would reflect a new paradigm of learning and provide a vision of education for the next 20 years , supported by purpose-built facilities .
The first of the projects was the long-awaited Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science . Although this project had been discussed and workshopped in 2006 and 2007 , the hiatus following the retirement of Gordon Donaldson prevented any firm commitment to the much-needed project . On 20 March 2014 , however , a plan to raise $ 20 million for the Centre for Science was launched and led by Michael Robinson , with the support of Tim Shearer and the Development Office staff .
This was an incredibly ambitious program , but one suited to an ambitious vision for Science teaching and learning , which was realised by the end of 2016 . The Scotch community was ready for such a challenge after a pause of more than 10 years in major capital fundraising , and did indeed rally to the call .
This campaign has become an example of true community and grassroots fundraising success .
Conventional wisdom would state that about 95 per cent of the $ 20 million total should have been raised by about 5 per cent of the total number of donors . In fact , 6.4 per cent of the 1255 donors provided 65 per cent of the $ 20 million total ; and it was 37 per cent of the total number of donors who provided just under 95 per cent of the total .
This extraordinary result was highlighted also by the fact that the largest gift to the project was $ 1 million . ( There were , in fact , three such transformational gifts .) This shows the incredible generosity of the Scotch Family when it is motivated by a visionary cause resonating with its own values , as well as providing substantial benefits for current and future students .
A key difference in the approach of the Development Office to fundraising was immediately highlighted while the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science was being completed , and formally opened on 6 October 2016 by Hon Dr David Kemp AC (’ 59 ), in the presence of Lady Anna Cowen and Australia ’ s Chief Scientist , Dr Alan Finkel AO .
The School ’ s strategic plan demanded further capital developments , and so , informed by the clear educational philosophy , the next step in the fundraising program was launched – this time to build the Spencer Centre for Design and Technology .
The creation of this exciting and dynamic space required an $ 8 million campaign , and once again the Scotch Family responded with enormous generosity , with more than 350 families making a commitment to this project . The Centre for Design and Technology is named after Lionel ( SC 1908-15 ) and Yvonne Spencer , whose remarkably generous bequest became the cornerstone of this campaign . In just two years the fundraising target
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