INTERVIEW :
PAUL MISHURA
ARCHIVIST
Let ’ s start with your background prior to working at Scotch .
I was born , raised and educated in Geelong and support the Cats . My life was saved and changed by attending Geelong College ( 1990-92 ), which I love and can never thank enough . At Geelong College I rowed and played footy . My greatest life lessons came from rowing . At Monash University I did Arts , majoring in History and Politics , with Honours in History , then studied Law . In 1996 I began working on a history of the Head of the River – I ’ ll hopefully finish it in retirement ! From 2001 to 2008 I was a solicitor , starting with Articles at Finley , joining the Finley Football Club in Tom Hawkins ’ last season there . My practice was mostly insurance litigation , and I made appearances before all courts but for the Court of Appeal and the High Court .
In 2003 I joined the Old Geelong Collegians ’ Association ’ s committee , becoming Secretary ( 2005-11 ) and 2012 and 2013 President . In the 2005-06 pre-season I joined the Old Melburnians ’ Football Club , played a few games , became Secretary ( 2011-17 ), and have written match reports since 2006 .
Could you tell us about your role and the activities you have previously or currently been involved with at Scotch ?
My association with Scotch began in Year 12 when I saw old Scotch photographs in a Geelong shop and contacted inaugural Archivist , Geoff Tolson (’ 41 ). The next Archivist , Dick Briggs (’ 57 ), invited me to visit Scotch on 16 December 1994 . It was my first visit , and it blew me away . In 1995 I did research in the Archives and , noticing gaps in Scotch ’ s history , began to volunteer in Archives . Scotch felt to me like Geelong College , with the same ethos , atmosphere and people : both were concurrently moulded by three Morrison Principals ( 1861-1904 ). I joined the Old Scotch Rover Crew ( 1996-2000 ; assistant crew leader 1996-97 ) and in 1997 became the Scotch College Foundation ’ s youngest member .
In 1996 I helped catalogue the Ramsay Collection , then did enormous amounts of work for Scotch ’ s 2001 sesquicentenary , especially Archivist Jim Mitchell ’ s (’ 64 ) history A Deepening Roar . I co-coached crews ( 1999-2000 ) and in 2002 I was employed as a casual Assistant Archivist ( in the evenings after my day ’ s legal work ). From 2003-15 I wrote every Great Scot obituary . Since 2016 I have either edited or written all Great Scot obituaries . As I have an extremely good memory for facts and figures , Scotch often called me with questions about its own history .
On 14 June 2008 I became Scotch ’ s inaugural Assistant Archivist . In December 2012 I got my dream job when I became the Archivist . I oversee several staff and many volunteers . We are kept very busy with visitors , donations , questions ( in person , by phone and email ), special projects and filing . I give presentations on Scotch ’ s history to students , Old Boys and parents , and offsite to others interested in Scotch .
From February to April 2021 , I had an intense period of research , writing and choosing Museum exhibits for the renovated and expanded Archives and Museum . It was a huge relief , satisfaction and triumph to see it opened on 6 May 2021 , between COVID lockdowns .
What generally constitutes some of the highlights of your week and keeps on motivating you ?
No two days are the same . An email , a call or a visitor can change the whole day – or week . Overseas visitors arrive unannounced . Old Boys visit Scotch for the first time in 80 years . Visiting schools ’ staff seek inspiration from Scotch ’ s Archives and Museum . Proud parents call after a son is born to learn about Scotch ancestors for noting on admission applications . An Old Boy calls and 50 minutes later we both know more about his family . A research breakthrough can turn a single-line 19th century Register entry into a Scotch boy ’ s life story – some died at war or did something great . Learning what Old Boys achieve is fascinating . Helping relatives or researchers with photos or information satisfies everyone : it ’ s rare there ’ s not a two-way exchange of knowledge . Teaching boys Scotch ’ s history or helping classes with subject-relevant information is fulfilling . Assisting OSCA functions and fundraising means I help Scotch in almost every way . There is nothing else I would rather be doing .
On a personal note , would you mind sharing some of your passions and hobbies ?
Living in Finley , I fired a rifle for the first time . I returned the next year to go hunting . I now regularly hunt with mates to help on Scotch and Melbourne Grammar School families ’ properties . At a recent professional shooting course , I was one of a handful given ‘ Top Gun ’ accreditation . Every night I hunt , I look at the silent , majestic black star-filled sky , sometimes more than 100km from any town , and thank God .
I enjoy going firewood cutting in the bush with mates and manually splitting a few tons of wood . Since 1984 I ’ ve done genealogy and love its mental challenge . Intuition , lateral thinking and interpretation are essential . I love old cars . My 1959 Buick Electra coupe will never have a stereo as I like hearing its rumbling 401 cubic inch V8 . I ' m no fan of summer ; the USA , England , Germany and Austria are my most-visited countries over Christmas , but highlights include Venice , snow falling on me in a Swiss thermal pool at night , and a brass band materialising on a quiet Sunday afternoon as snow fell in Lichtenstein .
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