FOUNDATION
ERRINGTON RETREAT – THE ‘ HEART OF THE HILL ’ – NAMED AND LAUNCHED
A GREAT PLACE FOR BOARDERS OF THREE HOUSES TO CHAT , STUDY , OR WORK OUT
On the perfect summer evening of 31 January , a wonderful new boarding facility was officially opened and took its place in the heart of Scotch ’ s boarding precinct .
The superb Errington Retreat , which incorporates what was once the laundry of Glen House , now provides an excellent means for boys from the three Scotch boarding houses to come together , to chat , study or to work out in the gym . The retreat features an outdoor patio area with barbecue , a living room area , a dining hall , a gym ( specifically for boarders ) and toilet and change room facilities for parents .
In the warmth of the evening , more than 300 Scotch Family members gathered on the patio outside the main entrance to the retreat , including the boarders who joined the event in good numbers after their evening meal .
Beginning the opening ceremony , the MC , Scotch ’ s Head of Advancement , Tim Shearer (’ 85 ), introduced the Principal , Dr Scott Marsh . Dr Marsh welcomed all guests , in particular thanking Max (’ 56 ) and Fay Errington , through whose wonderful generosity the retreat has been created , and all other donors to the project .
He said Scotch ’ s boarders are the school ’ s oldest sub-culture . In Scotch ’ s sesquicentenary history , A Deepening Roar , a boarder of more than 100 years ago had described his attitude towards day boys . To him , ‘ a day boy ’ s life was home , and the school was just where he got his education . For us ( the boarders ), Scotch was home , and it was our life altogether ’.
But Dr Marsh acknowledged that many years ago , boarders ’ times could be tough . Food was often cold and insufficient . A Deepening Roar tells of boarders who in 1949 caught pigeons on window ledges and cooked them for supper on tiny spirit stoves ; and yet the history also shows that for many boarders , life on the Hill was the happiest time of their lives .
Dr Marsh said that with the opening of the Errington Retreat , two projects remained to complete the Boarding Project . The central road between the Boarders ’ Dining Hall and the Errington Retreat is being removed , to be replaced by a ‘ village green ’ space at the heart of the Hill . The project ’ s final stage is the installation of heritage gates on the corner of Glenferrie and Callantina Roads .
The Principal acknowledged the contribution of Mike Sim (’ 78 ) and the School Council ’ s Property Committee to the project , and thanked the Boarding staff , led by Dean of Boarding , Tim Byrnes , and all the Hill staff for their care and perseverance – and also the boys : ‘ Thank you for making life on the Hill so special ,’ he said . ‘ You are a great group of young men .’
68 Great Scot Issue 171 – Edition 1 2024