FOUNDATION
MR MIKE SIM (' 78 ) PRESIDENT OF THE SCOTCH COLLEGE FOUNDATION
ANOTHER BUSY YEAR OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR MANY DONORS
A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOL WE LOVE
EVONNE GOOLAGONG WITH
SCOTCH FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS AND THE PRINCIPAL ,
DR SCOTT MARSH
As 2024 draws to a close , I am pleased to report that the Scotch Foundation has had another very busy year engaging with our very generous donors and many members of the Scotch Family .
Earlier this year our focus was on the Goolagong- Cawley First Nations Scholarship fundraising , which was the cornerstone of the 2024 President ’ s Dinner held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in May . Our guests of honour , Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and Roger Cawley , attended the dinner , along with 250 Scotch Family members .
We often talk generally about the First Nations Scholarships that Scotch provides , but nothing beats hearing stories from the boys themselves . Director of the Scotch Indigenous Program , Dr Rob Smith , engaged and entertained us by interviewing Year 11 boys Kobe Williams and Max Phelps , and then two Young Old Boys , Jy Simpkin (’ 16 ) and Joel Garner (’ 17 ) who have kicked on since leaving school . Hearing about their Scotch journeys and what they have been doing in the outside world certainly had all the attendees shifting from teary eyes to tears of joy , as they passionately told their stories of good and hard times .
Many of us grew up watching Evonne Goolagong play tennis , so we were all aware of what a wonderful role model Evonne has been to us all , through her sportsmanship , hard work and giving back ; but it was her speech which was the highlight of the night . We heard about her amazing and very successful journey from her early days growing up , and then conquering the world on the tennis court with her seven singles Grand Slam victories . This led to her marriage to Roger Cawley and the influence he has had on her life after tennis , as the couple raised their two children and embarked on a selfless life to improve outcomes for Indigenous people around Australia .
A huge vote of thanks goes to the Foundation Office team for putting this very happy and successful Foundation event together , and particularly to Tim Shearer who as MC directed the evening in his usual thoughtful and humorous manner .
Following on from the President ’ s Dinner , in August the Foundation held its Art Show , which raises funds for the Foundation ’ s First Nations Program Support Fund . This fund allows Tiwi College students to visit Melbourne annually , and also provides funding for First Nations Scholarship recipients to participate in interstate and international school tours .
Apart from the amazing art that was presented to be sold , with a significant portion of the sale proceeds going to the fund , we also heard from Hugh Reynolds , a Year 10 Scotch boy who had attended the Tiwi College excursion in the July holidays . Hugh was interviewed by Scotch teacher and Foundation Board member , Diana McNamara , who had also participated in the Tiwi College visit . Once again guests were treated to a passionate discussion between Diana