FOUNDATION
ASSOC . PROF . DOUG LORDING AM (' 64 ) PRESIDENT OF THE SCOTCH COLLEGE FOUNDATION
A MOST PRODUCTIVE DECADE – AND MORE MAJOR PROJECTS TO COME
PROJECTS WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM THE
Our Executive Director , Tim Shearer (’ 85 ) recently conducted a school tour for the 2010 , 2011 and 2012 Scotch graduates as part of their 10-year reunion ( delayed for some ). He told me they were astounded by the changes in the built environment of the School in such a brief period . He showed them the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science , the Keon-Cohen Dining Hall and St Andrew ’ s Square , the Tolson Centre and the Home Rooms , none of which were there when they were at school . He didn ’ t get around to the Spencer Centre for Design and Technology .
It was a productive decade to say the least , not only transforming the way the campus looks and interacts , but how important elements of the School function . The pastoral care within the 12-House system has been significantly enhanced by the Home Rooms , and the spaces created within the Science Centre , Design and Technology Centre and the refurbished English Department play into the themes of conversation and relational learning , of which our Principal has been a strong advocate .
The Foundation hosted a Forbes Society Luncheon on 9 March , and I related this story . I also pointed out that when the boys of 2022 come back for their 10-year reunion , they will also note major changes . The boarding house precinct modifications are already underway , and will result in much improved accommodation for the Year 12 boys in School and McMeckan Houses , as well as a Boarding Centre for all boys on the Hill to use .
Although not yet approved by the School Council , preliminary works have begun scoping the Robinson Centre for Mathematics and a new Main Oval pavilion ; major projects which will further transform our teaching and learning spaces , and provide a much needed boost to our sports program .
Members of the Forbes Society are our most generous donors , and many of them have made defining contributions to these past and future projects . So much that has happened at the School has been based around the generous contributions of Old Boys and the extended Scotch Family , and this trend has continued despite all the setbacks of the last two years . Remarkably , we have 1868 members of the Scotch College Foundation .
I did note the reference to the generosity of the Misses Mure in Dr Jim Mitchell ’ s A Deepening Roar . On further scrutiny I ’ m not sure if there was one ( or two ) Miss Mure ( or Muir ) but whatever , a sizable donation of £ 200 plus an outfit was sent from Scotland in 1851 to pay the salary of our first Principal , Robert Lawson . On reflection , Miss Mure was probably our first donor and should be listed as a trustee of the Foundation .
I ’ m not sure if the reunion attendees noted the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander flags atop their masts by the Main Oval . They are also a recent addition , and support our Indigenous endeavours at Scotch . Our scholarship program is the centrepiece of this , and during the past 16 years , 26 Indigenous students have successfully completed Year 12 . The aim is to have 10 Indigenous boys here at any one time , all on scholarships endowed in perpetuity , and funding this is a high priority for the Foundation in 2022 .
Old Boy and retired AFL champion Cyril Rioli (‘ 07 ) and other members of the Rioli family have generously
60 Great Scot Issue 165 – April 2022