STAFF FAREWELLS
leadership for teachers . He also provided valuable coordination for Specialist Mathematics from 2014 until 2023 . He was a highly respected and admired teacher of Mathematics . His knowledge , talent and collegiality will be missed within the Mathematics Department .
Early in his career Geoff spent two years ( 1978 and 1979 ) working in Arthur Robinson House as a Resident Tutor . As the director of the Boarders ’ Revue from 1978 to 1980 , Geoff worked with the boys to put on a show for boarding parents as part of the Family Day weekend .
Geoff is a keen sportsman and has spent many hours coaching cricket and football . He enjoyed the involvement and was always keen to take an active part in the training sessions . He coached the 1st XI cricket team ( 1987-89 ) and in other years was Teacher-in-Charge of Cricket and coached the 10As . In football Geoff coached the 3rds , under 15 and for the past six years the 2nd XVIII . He accompanied teams overseas and interstate to compete against other schools .
The outdoors has always been an interest for Geoff , and he led a Venturer unit from 1977 to 1979 which involved facilitating a variety of outdoor experiences for the boys in his care . He was an officer of the Cadet Unit in 1983 and 1984 .
With the introduction of the Adventure Program in 1985 , now referred to as the Year 10 Activities Program , Geoff took on the responsibility of running the whitewater kayaking activity and camp . For many years he introduced many boys to the joys of kayaking . He was also a great supporter of the Scotch-at-Cowes summer camps and spent many a summer , often for three weeks , assisting with a number of camps between 1977 and 1996 .
The care and interest displayed by Geoff in the many aspects of his school involvement led to him being appointed as Head of Year 10 in 1992 , and with a change in school structure he became Head of Field House from 2011-17 . In both of these pastoral roles Geoff always looked to guide boys and parents , with the aim of achieving the best outcome for the boys in his care .
Geoff was a tireless and faithful servant of Scotch College , giving many years of hard work and dedication to the task
of educating boys . He will be missed , but certainly deserves a well-earned retirement and the ability to spend more time with his family . Brian Woolacott
GREG MCMAHON
After 23 years of dedicated service to Scotch College , Greg McMahon indicated in December 2022 that the time was now right for him to ‘ down tools ’ and move on to the next stage of life . After arriving at Scotch in 1999 , Greg assumed a number of roles in the Maintenance and Grounds team , starting in Grounds in gardening , then bin clearing and progressing to turf management , before joining the Maintenance team . Within a few short years , Greg ’ s skills and acumen saw him progress to Maintenance Manager , a role he held ever since , and executed with pride and professionalism .
Greg ’ s building industry background provided him with an ideal knowledge base for the role . He was able to tackle all manner of building maintenance issues as well as the many mechanical and digital systems that operate in buildings across the Hawthorn campus , as well the as Cowes and Healesville campsites .
In addition to managing the Scotch Maintenance team , Greg involved himself in broader aspects of Scotch life . In fact , almost no one wore a high-vis vest better or more often ! He was hard to miss at sport on Saturdays , or when controlling car parks around the school on big occasions .
Add to that the countless set-ups for school functions and exam rooms , the logistics for special visits and major events , as well as the after-hours emergencies when he was back at Scotch late at night fixing an unexpected system failure or a fire truck on a false alarm ! Of course , one of Greg ’ s most visible responsibilities was his role as Chief Warden in campus emergencies . At such times of stress , Greg was a level-headed pillar of strength and calm reason . Everyone looked to Greg .
The visible change that greets us at the start of each term , and more so , at the start
of each year , is the result of the countless small and mid-size projects conducted by the School ’ s Maintenance and Grounds team and trusted contractors . Greg ’ s hard work in the management and execution of these projects was undeniable , and his team ensured we came to work and learned in a fresh , clean and purposeful environment .
Beyond all of this , Greg was also willingly involved in the School ’ s co-curricular program for boys , coaching swimming and sea kayaking . Many boys benefited from Greg ’ s expertise in these sports , and travelled across Australia and internationally with him . Like many of us , the boys who were lucky enough to benefit from his good company came to call him ‘ Macca ’.
Greg was also of huge support to the Director of Property Services , Bill Sciarretta , during the recent school building program . Greg brought his knowledge and practical insight to the meeting table with architects and designers , chiding unnecessary aesthetics and focusing amended design on the practicalities and sturdiness required for a boys ’ school . His knowledge of the needs of our school environment was deep and wide , and there was much his colleagues learned before he departed .
We wish Greg and Anne a very happy retirement as they plan their travels together . Ross Congleton
WILMA KURVINK
Wilma Kurvink began her tenure as Head of Scotch Senior Library in 2016 , determined to provide an exemplary library service , with the needs and interests of the students always paramount . Over the next seven years Wilma enhanced the Centre for Learning aesthetics , coordinated the creation of a new library website and curated new Indigenous Australia literature and philosophy collections .
In 2019 she oversaw The Truth is in the Telling Literature Festival , an event which encouraged students to look past the
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