and Hugh , as they talked about their experiences at Tiwi and their firsthand knowledge now of the hardships which the Tiwi children live through each day . Another highlight of the evening was the MC , current School Captain , Matt Callaghan , who held the night together exceptionally well and then introduced last year ’ s Captain , Dion Whitfield , to the podium . It was wonderful at a Foundation event to have these two leaders of Scotch participating , and also Hugh Reynolds , as it reinforces our mission to support the school in educating fine young men of character .
Abi Hand and a supporting committee convened the Art Show . They are to be commended for the planning and execution of an exceptional Scotch Foundation Art Show that ran for four days and achieved its goal of supporting the Indigenous program .
While the School Council determines the order of our next major projects , the Foundation continues to chip away at smaller and specific purpose projects . In July we were pleased to host the opening of the Kaminsky Family High Performance Gymnasium , for which the Foundation raised the funds to enable the gym to be built . I was thrilled that we achieved this aim , and delighted to hear that there has been a significant increase in boys wanting to attend this supervised gym to develop their health and fitness . Anything we can do to enhance the welfare of our boys , needs our total commitment . It was wonderful to name the gym after Martin Kaminsky , an Old Boy of the Class of 2014 and a powerlifter at state and national championship level , and to have his parents also contribute to the gym . It ’ s been a big Scotch year for the Kaminsky family , with Martin ’ s mum , Jill , joining the Foundation Board this year .
We have held many events through the year , including Forbes and Alexander Morrison Circle functions , a Sydney gathering and many other luncheons and breakfasts , which have all been well attended and are special events , predominantly organised and led by Tim Shearer and Sandra Dick . Tim and Sandra recently received recognition of their work by both presenting at the Educate Plus Conference in Perth .
The East Melbourne Glen Chapter ( EMG ) is a group of Scotch Family members aged over 75 , led by the ever-energetic Ken Jasper (’ 55 ). The EMG luncheons are always well attended , and Ken is a wonderful host of each event . He is an amazing Old Boy who never stops helping us to help the school .
During 2024 we were very grateful to Gwen Head who donated a new perpetual scholarship to Scotch in the name of her husband , Dr Alan Head AO , FRS FAA (’ 42 ) who died in 2010 . Himself a scholarship boy who entered Scotch in 1941 , Alan was a world-renowned theoretical physicist and chief research scientist at the CSIRO . He joined its Tribophysical Division and was renowned for his research into the structure of solids and their application to industry , having begun with research into fatigue cracks in aeroplanes . Alan was a member of the Royal Society , and his name is well represented in our Science Building on the Royal Society Honour Board , with his plaque alongside other Old Scotch Collegians who have worked in science to make the world a better place .
All of these engagements don ’ t just happen without a lot of work in preparation and delivery . The Foundation is fortunate to have a very dedicated staff who all support our members with care and compassion . We are led by the best Executive Director of a Foundation in Australia , Tim Shearer , whom the Scotch Family knows well . Tim ’ s energy and passion to improve Scotch are always on his mind and when he gets the chance – on yours ! Tim is ably supported in the office by Rebecca Mortimer , who works behind the scenes and ensures all our operations go smoothly . Sandra Dick is a vital member of our team , as she interacts with many members of the Foundation through organising and hosting many of our functions , and goes beyond the call of duty by ensuring that many of our more senior members can attend functions with a minimum of fuss .
We have staff such as David Ashton (’ 65 ) who looks after our publications and is a great support to me to ensure my correspondence and articles are well constructed and on time , as he does with Great Scot . Hugh Wilson is another person on whom I lean to remodel our financial data so that we can see trends and make sense of them , ensuring that better decisions can be made .
Lisa Sheard and Cindy Huang continue to support the Foundation Office team , and I am equally grateful for their care and attention to detail .
And of course , the school ’ s Archivist , Paul Mishura , provides a wealth of information about all things Scotch . I think Paul has a hand in everything we do in the Foundation , and his contribution should not be underestimated . Furthermore , we greatly appreciate his support and attendance at almost all our functions .
The Foundation Board has rolled up its sleeves in 2024 and has made a significant contribution to the school we love , and I thank each board member for their contributions to our successful year .
So to our members , our board , our office and all our Scotch Foundation supporters , thank you for your work for the Foundation in 2024 . I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year .