FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION ’ S FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY PARTY LAUNCHES A BOOK AND A CAMPAIGN
DRIZZLY WEATHER AND HIGH WINDS DIDN ’ T SPOIL THE PARTY
PIPER HUGH HASKER ( YEAR 11 2023 )
Scotch ’ s Head of Advancement and Foundation Executive Director , Tim Shearer (’ 85 ) has a good record of ‘ organising ’ great weather on days of significant openings at Scotch . Examples are the unseasonably warm , balmy October evening in 2016 when the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science was officially opened , and the bright sunny day in February 2018 for the official opening of the Spencer Centre for Design and Technology .
But Tim was unable to repeat the fine weather ‘ arrangement ’ on Wednesday 29 November , for the Scotch College Foundation ’ s 50th anniversary birthday party and Main Oval Pavilion capital campaign launch . Melbourne ’ s weather was at its most capricious , with drizzly rain falling nearly all day , and squally winds adding to the generally unseasonal conditions .
A twenty20 cricket match which had been planned for what was hoped to be a sunny late spring day had been cancelled two days before the event , and drinks and canapés were served under the cloisters of the Quadrangle , instead of out in the open , although a few hardy souls braved the drizzle and chilly breezes in the open air . Despite the adverse weather , more than 400
Scotch Family members were there to enjoy the festivities .
Poor though the weather may have been , there was still a real air of celebration as the Foundation ’ s half-century was very well celebrated , the Foundation history book was launched , the name of the new Main Oval pavilion was announced , and the capital campaign for the pavilion was initiated .
The formal part of the evening took place in the Memorial Hall , into which guests were summoned by the tolling of the school bell at 7.45pm .
Master of ceremonies , Tim Shearer welcomed all present , particularly welcoming Scotch ’ s oldest known living Old Boy , Bill Morgan (’ 34 ), after which School Captain , Dion Whitfield expertly delivered the
Acknowledgement of Country . Foundation President , Michael Sim (’ 78 ) said the Scotch Family was very well represented on a night to celebrate the Foundation ’ s anniversary . He said there are now 1943 Foundation members , and the goal is still to reach 2000 by year ’ s end . He welcomed former Foundation Presidents Peter Joyce (’ 55 ) and Doug Lording (’ 64 ) and commended the work of all the other former Presidents in setting up and then progressing the Foundation ’ s work .
Thanking the Development Office for their work , he also praised those working behind the scenes while so much construction took place , such as Property Manager , Bill Sciarretta . Michael proposed three cheers for the Foundation , which echoed heartily round the hall . Tim Shearer welcomed his former Principal , Dr Gordon Donaldson AM . Gordon said a feature of the Foundation history book , Where They Towers Thou Proudly Rearest , was a chapter in which major donors told why they chose to donate to Scotch – all of them had the best interests of the school at heart , and it was telling that more than 500 boys have been able to attend Scotch because of the philanthropy of so many Foundation members .
62 Great Scot Issue 171 – Edition 1 2024