Great Scot December 2019 Great Scot 158_December_ONLINE | Page 55

FOUNDATION ASSOC. PROF. DOUG LORDING ('64) PRESIDENT OF THE SCOTCH COLLEGE FOUNDATION THE CHANGING FACE OF DEVELOPMENT AT SCOTCH When the first stage of the James Forbes Academy opened in 2002, we recognised that an enormous challenge had been met, and that a massive investment had been made by the School in helping to fulfil its educational vision. The Music School – only the first part of the JFA (as it was soon to be known) project – provided desperately needed facilities for our burgeoning music program, with the magnificent Ian Roach Hall, the Keith Humble Auditorium and more than 30 practice rooms, as well as gallery spaces and a much-needed administration centre. This project also identified Scotch as having the largest fundraising target of any school in Australia at the time: $10 million. It was another two years before the second section of the JFA was completed, and the superb drama facilities were opened with the Geoffrey McComas Theatre as its crowning glory. No other school had such a complete performing arts centre, and we were understandably the envy of our peers around the country with many tours and visits from colleagues booked in over the next year or so. The formal opening of the James Forbes Academy was in February 2006, and it was both a magnificent occasion while also a sad one. One of the key driving forces behind our fundraising target – which was exceeded by this time – was Campbell McComas (‘69), President of the Foundation from 2001-04. His commitment to the performing arts was passionate, and his networks and connections provided a strong basis from which to energise the Scotch Family, under the leadership of Directors of Development Peter Crook (1979-2001) and Alan Watkinson (2001-2007). Unfortunately, Cam died in early 2005 and was never able to see his vision brought to life, though his father, Geoff, was proudly present to witness the occasion. Scotch drew a deep breath in 2006 and felt it needed a bit of a rest from major building works after some six years of very major construction works and considerable disruption to the everyday working of the School. This did not mean the end of fundraising, however, and a number of activities were undertaken to create a stronger culture of giving across the School, to build on the success of the JFA campaign. Greater attention was given to introducing Junior School parents to the work of the Foundation, through lunches with both the Principal and the Head of the Junior School. The Director of the Foundation was invited to attend the start-of-year cocktail parties in the Junior School, and to speak about the Foundation and the culture of giving. There was also, for a short time, the creation of the Junior School Foundation group called the Kite Club (named after one of the most popular activities of Junior School boys when Scotch first moved to Hawthorn in 1919), which raised funds to improve the playground areas with soft-landing material and shade sails. At the same time a great deal of effort was put into building the scholarship program for Scotch, and strategies were devised for enhancing the Scotch College Endowment. This work has continued ever since, and more than 30 named perpetual scholarships have been created over these years. Scotch has never stood still, of course, and while there was a lull in actual building works for a few years, and during the changeover of Principals from Gordon Donaldson AM to our current Principal, Tom Batty, fundraising and planning continued quietly in the background, including the introduction of the Principal’s Breakfasts with current parents. There had been discussions for a long time about the need to improve our Science teaching facilities, and various suggestions had been considered and workshopped during 2006-07; but much would depend upon the next Masterplan for the School, which was to be far reaching and quite visionary. A key development in our approach to fundraising took place when Tim Shearer was appointed Director of Development in 2012. His vital connection with Scotch as an Old Boy (’85), parent to two sons (one in his first year at Scotch with a younger one to follow in 2014), son of a staff member, Executive Director of OSCA, and President of the Old Scotch Football Club placed Tim in a unique position. Working closely with the Principal, Council, OSCA and the Foundation, Tim has helped create a sustainable culture of giving which had been envisioned years before. The strength of this culture is dependent on the strength of relationships developed over time, and cemented through a common sense of purpose – supporting the needs of the School and the Scotch Family in its widest sense into the foreseeable future. For many people, fundraising used to be seen as a somewhat transactional activity, but now we see it as www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot 55