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
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