OSCA
A SUPERB OSCA ANNUAL DINNER
The 2023 OSCA Annual Dinner had everything – interesting speakers , great food and fine wines , a wonderful atmosphere of fellowship and fun , enthusiastic singing of the school songs – and to top it all off , a song and a trumpet solo masterly performed by the Principal , Dr Scott Marsh .
Held at the Annual Dinner ’ s ‘ home ground ’ of Leonda by the Yarra on Friday 26 May , the dinner attracted an attendance of almost 400 on a damp , cool , autumn evening . As usual , diners were piped in melodically at Leonda ’ s entrance by the Old Scotch Pipes and Drums .
After Master of Ceremonies Matt Douglas (’ 11 ) welcomed all present to the dinner , the official party was piped in , and the National Anthem and the College Song were sung with much gusto .
School Captain , Dion Whitfield (’ 22 ) made the Acknowledgement of Country , paying respect to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation as the traditional owners of the land on which Leonda and Scotch are situated , and also welcoming guests in the Gamilaraay language of the Kamilaroi nation , of which Dion is a proud member . Dion ’ s home is in Armidale , northern NSW . Dion mentioned that Scotch is in good shape , continues to encourage boys to find interests that they can be passionate about and helps them to pursue those passions .
Welcoming all guests , OSCA President Stephen Webster (’ 73 ), spoke of the Cardinal Thread , which tangibly links and values equally all members of the Scotch Family ; and extended a special welcome to two of the Scotch Family ’ s recent inductees , the school ’ s 10th Principal , Dr Scott Marsh and his wife , Anna , who were attending their first OSCA Annual Dinner . Stephen then proposed the toast to the school .
At the Head Table , joining Stephen Webster (’ 73 ), Dr Scott Marsh , School Captain Dion Whitfield (’ 22 ), Scotch Foundation President Michael Sim (’ 78 ), School Council Chairman Alex Sloan (’ 71 ) and School Council Vice Chairman , Rev Dr John Wilson , were
80 Great Scot Issue 169 – September 2023