EDITORIAL
CHRISTOPHE TAYLOR
EDITOR GREAT SCOT
In Shakespeare ’ s A Midsummer Night ’ s Dream , a scene from which adorns the cover of this edition , despite the many misunderstandings and conflicts , the fairy king , Oberon , played with great flair by Henry Rogers , with the help of his servant Puck , energetically performed by Tom Handbury , eventually do decide to reconcile everyone and restore order , to enable all to enjoy a peaceful future .
In these days of uncertainty concerning the rapid development of artificial intelligence ( AI ), it would be easy to give in to the many doomsday scenarios , as in Shakespeare , that seem to be so widespread , from computers reminiscent of Kubrick ’ s 2001 : A Space Odyssey HAL trying to outsmart humans to a more subtle gradual takeover of the human workforce . Even though , as with any scientific progress , it is important to remain vigilant and informed on these inevitable transformations , in this edition of Great Scot , we wanted to focus clearly on the many positives that occur from embracing a bright future .
As you will read from our Acting Director of Research , Learning and Teaching , Daniel Wightman , and our E-learning coordinator , Olivier Marquet ,
as well as our Year 11 students , there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the benefits AI can offer in areas such as the medical field .
Our Principal , Dr Scott Marsh , reminds us also that our collective destiny will only be blissful as long as we continue to give back to the community . This important aspect of Scotch College is inscribed within the many philanthropic actions to which our students commit themselves , such as our ongoing support for Tiwi College or raising funds for causes such as the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria , as mentioned by our School Captain , Dion Whitfield , in the new Captains ’ Corner section of Great Scot ( a student initiative ).
Our School Council Chairman , Mr Alex Sloan (’ 71 ), shares within these pages the outline of the school ’ s new Strategic Plan , written in consultation with all branches of the Scotch community , with a clear objective : the shaping of a radiant future for every Scotch student .
Bill Morgan (’ 34 ) kindly visited his school 100 years to the day after his first day at Scotch on 5 June 1923 , which provided us with the opportunity to reflect on , as our Head of Junior School , Mr Tom Savill so clearly phrased , Chat GPT or Chat O . S . C .? It is indeed in the wisdom and connection with our experienced members of the community that our young students will be able to find the inspiration , reassurance and confidence to build brighter days ahead .
The Reconciliation Vision Statement for the Junior School and the commissioning of the Indigenous Guernsey by Indigenous award-winning artist Sherry Johnstone are just two examples of Scotch ’ s strong focus on reconciliation with our First
Nations people and the vital role our school can play in helping to shape a more equal and fair society for all .
The Advancement model , as explained by our Head of Advancement , Mr Tim Shearer (’ 85 ), that the school has adopted , is ‘ about harnessing the goodwill , expertise and generosity of the Scotch Family to drive positive outcomes for Scotch ’. Hand in hand with the Foundation ’ s goals outlined by the Scotch Foundation ’ s new President , Mike Sim (’ 78 ), the future of our school is indeed looking more radiant than ever .
The OSCA Annual Dinner was a joyous event with Guest of Honour , the Lord Mayor of Melbourne , Sally Capp and our Principal ’ s special rendition of George Gershwin ’ s Summertime . I think the photos of the event speak for themselves in acknowledging that some good humour also does wonders to help stimulate the human spirit in the face of future adversities .
In the Obituaries section you will find more examples of Old Scotch Collegians having contributed to improving the lives of others , such as Wayne Jackson PSM (’ 69 ) or John Riches OAM (’ 47 ), whose legacies in turn help to inspire and shape our current students ’ ethical considerations and improve the future of many by giving back .
Yes , at times , especially for our younger students , the future might seem bleak with the challenges offered by technology , global warming or world poverty . However , with all the endeavours shared with you in the pages of this edition of Great Scot , I am sure you would agree that our Scotch students are well placed to embrace a bright future .
74 80
FOUNDATION — The President ’ s Dinner celebrated the Foundation ’ s 50th anniversary
OSCA — Share in the joy and good humour displayed during OSCA ’ s Annual Dinner
96
ARCHIVES — The Scotch Family ’ s role in Carey Baptist Grammar School ’ s creation and development
www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 1