FEATURES
PRESENTATION AFTERNOON
As was the case in 2020 , COVID-19 restrictions resulted in the presentation ceremony being held as an afternoon event , staged in Memorial Hall at 4pm on 18 October , attended by just the Year 12 boys , some senior teachers , the Chaplain and the Chairman of the School Council , Mr Alex Sloan . The event was broadcast live on YouTube to enable staff and parents to tune in .
Introduced by their Head of House , each Year 12 boy received a Bible and book of poetry from the Principal . Prize winners and boys awarded Triple Colours received their prizes . There were speeches by the Chairman of the School Council , the Principal , Mr Tom Batty and the School Captain , Nick Tsourvakas . This is edited version of the School Captain ’ s address .
THE CLASS OF 2021 : PERSISTENT , STRONG AND STOIC
It goes without saying that this year and last year have been difficult . However , as Mr Batty has put it to me , ‘ it is during the testing times that our true colours are shown ’, and undoubtedly the Class of 2021 members were persistent , strong and stoic .
Famous Old Boy Sir John Monash implored his peers to ‘ adopt as your fundamental creed that you will equip yourself for life , not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole community ’. The way in which the Class of 2021 has adapted to the challenges they faced has not only benefited themselves , but it has also allowed our staff and teachers to experience a more seamless year teaching us .
I would like to think that this has extended beyond the walls ( or computer screens ) of Scotch , and that we have helped the wider community – I am certainly proud of what we have raised through our fundraising efforts , whether to help those with mental health challenges , cystic fibrosis , literacy in Indigenous communities , or providing transportation for medical treatment in Sierra Leone .
Indeed , this adversity has also been an opportunity . The way the Class of 2021 carried themselves was testament to their character , but more importantly , I would argue , it has taught them a lot about the world . We have learned to overcome and learn from the hardships we face – hardships that will certainly arise in the future . It has taught us to accept the uncontrollable , and instead of despairing , to simply do the best with what is within our power . In addition , during periods when we were not able to see our friends and family as frequently , it has taught us the value of healthy relationships .
Part of my role as School Captain , and a part I thoroughly enjoy , is getting to meet and converse with the many Old Boys of the School , and they almost always have a story about their time at Scotch .
There is one common thread to every story – they speak of the friends , teachers or coaches that they were surrounded by , and not necessarily the subject or activity itself . There will of course be things that we miss at Scotch . It might be the Saturday morning sports , the chanting in the Green Grandstand or the chicken strip rolls at the tuckshop . However , what we will miss most and remember best , will be the people we got to experience it with .
In light of this I would like to thank some members of the Scotch Family who have made our experiences at Scotch so positive .
Firstly , Mr Batty : thank you for your advice and assistance throughout this year . Every time I leave your office , I have something new and interesting to ponder . Thank you also for your unwavering support of myself , as well as the Year 12 cohort – the confidence and faith you have in the boys is truly empowering .
To Mr McLaren , Mr Rayner , Mr Miller , Ms Stalker , Mr Prior and Mr Glover : thank you for your leadership throughout our time at the School , and for always being role models who we can look to for guidance . To Mr Brown : you have always been there to guide and encourage me , and I will always look up to you as an inspirational mentor .
To our teachers , thank you for all your hard work during these challenging times . It has no doubt been difficult , yet you have stood by us and supported us every step of the way .
To Mr Sloan and the School Council , to Mr Montgomery and OSCA , to Mr Shearer and the Foundation , to the Grounds staff and those in the Accounts office , and many other members of Scotch ' s non-teaching staff : thank you for all the work and time you put in to continuously improving this School .
To our families : thank you for supporting us throughout these years – we seriously could not have done it without you .
To Alex Meggitt : thank you for always staying staunchly by my side and for being a great Vice Captain ; but more importantly thank you for being someone I admire and will always appreciate as a friend .
Finally , to the Class of 2021 : thank you for embracing me with open arms . I have truly loved spending this year with you and I am incredibly lucky to have met you all . Congratulations on a great six years , and enjoy your last couple of days at school . I have seen how well prepared you all are , so I have no doubt that you will succeed in your exams .
Life will most definitely be harder without all these wonderful people by our side every day , and a new set of challenges awaits us in our post-school lives . What vocation do we want to pursue ? Do we want to move out of home ? With whom will we forge relationships , and what do we want these relationships to look like ?
These are all questions that will soon require answers , and there is a vast world beyond Morrison Street where we will eventually find our individual solutions . With the support , care , and friendships we take with us as we leave this School , I am certain that our futures will be fulfilling , founded on the morals and values that Scotch has instilled in us .
16 Great Scot Issue 164 – December 2021