DEVELOPMENT
ABOVE : EXTERNAL RENDER OF THE BOARDING CENTRE . TOP RIGHT : GLEN HOUSE , DEMOLISHED IN 1942 – THE GLEN HOUSE LAUNDRY WILL BE TRANSITIONED INTO THE BOARDERS ’ CENTRE . ABOVE RIGHT : INTERNAL RENDER OF SENIOR ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES FOR MCMECKAN AND SCHOOL HOUSES .
At the most recent meeting of the School Council it was resolved to deliver an exciting array of projects to improve life on the Hill for our boarding community .
Boarding has been an integral part of Scotch College since the School ’ s foundation . From the first opening of our doors in 1851 , to the annual welcoming of boys onto the Hill , a belief in boarding has been a key pillar in the School ’ s operations and plans .
For more than 167 years , boys have put paid to the tyranny of distance and journeyed from rural properties , regional towns and international cities to access a Scotch education , and make the School a home away from home . In so doing , fresh opportunities have been grasped and lifelong friendships struck for boys and parents .
Throughout its history , Scotch has been enriched by the presence of boarders and their families . Generations of boys who would otherwise have been unable to attend the School have embraced the Scotch experience , made their mark , and contributed much to the School ’ s story . In so doing , they have kept Scotch ’ s name and voice alive throughout rural and regional Australia . Today the Scotch name has a global reach .
Boarding brings people together , demands care and adaptability , and nurtures the tenets that underpin the very best traditions of liberal independent schooling . Boys share in each other ’ s joys , successes and disappointments . They learn to appreciate each other ’ s strengths and foibles , as they establish values and aspirations for a life beyond school .
Scotch boarding is characterised by enduring friendships and the opportunities and challenges implicit
in life away from family . The intimacy inherent in life on the Hill establishes the primacy of relationships that are the mark of good schooling , helping teachers focus on each boy and the person he could become .
Perhaps most importantly , in the traditions of our foundation , by treading on each other ’ s toes and celebrating each other ’ s talents and quirks , Scotch boarders come to respect the inherent dignity of each person . It is with such conviction that the School has committed to this next phase of development for Scotch boarding . Works include :
• extensive connection , refurbishment and extension of the boarding wings behind McMeckan and School Houses ;
• the addition of on-site staff accommodation ;
• the transitioning of the old laundry into a Boarding Centre for use by current boys and parents ;
• the creation of a new laundry adjacent to the Boarders ' Dining Hall ; and
• significant landscaping and roadworks , creating a village green on top of the Hill .
The School seeks the support of its community to bring these important initiatives to life . To learn more about , or to support , the Boarding Project , contact the Director of Development , Tim Shearer , via email : tim . shearer @ scotch . vic . edu . au , or mobile : + 61 418 107 541 .
62 Great Scot Issue 163 – September 2021