BOARDING
THE SCOTCH FLAME BURNS BRIGHTLY ON THE HILL
A comforting home for Scotch boys from near and far
Writing for Great Scot usually comes easily to me , as I welcome the opportunity to give those beyond the Hill a glimpse into the boarding experience . This time , I must admit , I have found motivation hard to come by , as the Hill , like so much of what we treasure at Scotch , has been wounded by the pandemic and associated restrictions .
As I type , the Hill has been reduced from over 160 boys to 55 , with School House effectively closed and boarders dispersed far and wide . Each time we are forced into a lockdown we are able to adapt our procedures , as we learn from our previous experiences . This version has seen the Hill adopt a ‘ bubble ’ approach , limiting contact with the outside world and only allowing essential visitors .
Boarding staff are doubling up duties , supervising boys in their online learning during the day and then switching to boarding mode once classes finish . There is no street leave or off site activities , no Saturday sport or socials , no visiting friends or family for the weekend . Yet , for those who remain , the Hill continues to provide a welcoming , caring and supportive environment .
One of the key highlights this term was the conclusion to the Wedderburn Cup competition . Despite the lockdown being announced prior to the closed weekend , many boys stayed on the Hill and the final round of competition was completed . Boys strove for victory in events ranging from billycart races to e-sports , across
the entire weekend . Handball , AFL and basketball provided some wonderful team and individual highlights and the competition was fierce across all sports .
McMeckan House went into the weekend with a slight lead , with Arthur Robinson House threatening strongly . It was touch and go all weekend , with the final match of AFL , held on the Main Oval under glorious winter sunshine , proving to be the decider . McMeckan needed to defeat School House to win the cup , and despite the valiant efforts of the School House boys , McMeckan House took the title this year , by one point from Arthur Robinson House . It was a well-deserved victory for the boys of McMeckan , led by Hamish Cameron , Will MacKenzie and Austin Mauger .
Diminished in number , but not in spirit , boarders continue to keep the Scotch flame burning on the campus . If you were able to visit the Hill , you would see boys playing chess in prep rooms and croquet on the dining hall lawn , impromptu games of basketball and soccer happening on the Junior School courts , boys enjoying movie nights on weekends and boarding staff running trips to the local shops for comfort food . You would see laughter , the occasional tear , some anxiety and a good dose of optimism . You would see the Hill continuing to do what it does best ; providing a home for Scotch boys near and far .
TIM BYRNES – DEAN OF BOARDING
54 Great Scot Issue 163 – September 2021