OSCA WHAT THEY ' RE DOING NOW continued
LEFT TO RIGHT : PAUL MASON (’ 99 ); SHAHAN CHEONG (’ 05 ); WILLIAM LI (’ 06 ) WITH HIS WIFE , VIVIAN AND CHILDREN , EVELYN AND MARCUS
1990s
SAMUEL TAIT (’ 94 ) travelled to the USA in 2001 on the John Boyer Memorial Scholarship , which enabled him to serve with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard ( the equivalent of Australia ’ s Army Reserve ) and complete his business degree at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania . He was recently invited to become a Trustee of the 70-year-old scholarship .
Sam encourages young Old Boys to consider following in his footsteps . He told Great Scot : ‘ It ’ s a one-year approximately US $ 40,000 scholarship to study in Philadelphia and train with a unique unit within the Pennsylvania Army National Guard .
‘ The 2024 study year will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the unit ( which predates the USA , having been formed in 1774 in support of the American Revolution ), and the 2026 study year will be the 250th anniversary of the United States of America . These are interesting times to consider being stateside and studying .’
Candidates need to be under 28 years of age , and interested in participating in the military and social obligations of the troop ( including cavalry / horse riding ) while completing their undergraduate or graduate studies in Philadelphia . ‘ Many awardees of the scholarship have been full time , or reservists , in their home countries ,' Sam said .
After completing his PhD in anthropology in 2012 , PAUL MASON (' 99 ) moved into global health research . He embarked on fieldwork alongside
tuberculosis screening programs with the Woolcock Institute in Vietnam and the Burnet Institute in Papua New Guinea . His award-winning educational children ' s book about tuberculosis has been translated into 30 languages and has gone into free distribution in Tanzania , Vietnam and the Marshall Islands .
Moving from global health to planetary health , Paul headed up the Masters of Conservation Education at the Taronga Conservation Society Australia ( 2019- 2022 ) where he developed and taught postgraduate units on conservation leadership , education , and science , until the course was discontinued . Paul continues to teach workshops at the zoo , lectures anthropology at Macquarie University , and runs an online interview series called Idioms of Normality .
2000s
After leaving Scotch , SHAHAN CHEONG (’ 05 ) attained two university degrees – Bachelor of Arts in writing , majoring in history , and a Master of Arts , also in writing . Shahan started a blog in 2009 , dedicated to history , collecting , and antiques , and has been working on that regularly , ever since .
Shahan said : ‘ To occupy my time meaningfully between searching for , and applying for jobs , I also started a sideline as an antiques dealer . Since I began this venture back in September of 2015 , it has grown to the extent that I decided to move selling-platforms in 2020 , and I currently maintain a seller ' s profile on eBay ( a link for which may be found at my blog – www . throughouthistory . com ). It ’ s where you can find all of the antiques and collectibles which I have bought , repaired , or restored , and have listed up for sale online .’
Shahan says his eBay profile covers a wide range of objects from a variety of different eras , but his focus tends to be on silverware , fountain pens , watches , bric-abrac , and general antiques and collectibles .
After graduating MB BS at Melbourne University in 2012 , WILLIAM LI (’ 06 ) predominantly worked as a doctor in Melbourne ’ s eastern suburbs hospitals for several years . Opting for a tree change of sorts , he has worked as a general practitioner in Warragul over the past two years . He told Great Scot : ‘ While there have been challenges in adapting to the pandemic , seeing patients through masks and protective gear , I have found it rewarding to connect with people through my work during a difficult and often isolating period .’
William met his future wife , Vivian , via a chance encounter when catching up with a mutual Old Scotch Collegian friend . William and Vivian are now the proud parents of Marcus ( three ) and Evelyn ( one ). Marcus is enrolled to begin at Scotch in Prep in 2025 . To prepare for this , William recently moved his general practice from Warragul to Hawthorn .
William said : ‘ In my spare time , I enjoy playing card and board games with a group of friends , much like we did at school , when we used to play in an alcove near the stairs of the library in the Lithgow Centre .’
94 Great Scot Issue 169 – September 2023