Great Scot May 2020 Great Scot 159_MAY 2020_ONLINE_V3 | Page 27

NEWS
ABOVE: HEADING OUT ALONG THE TAN AFTER LEAVING MELBOURNE GRAMMAR
SCHOOL. RIGHT: THE SCOTCH WALKING CONTINGENT
FOCUSING
ON EQUALITY
Melbourne students combine to
contribute to a worthy global cause
On Friday 28 March, 45 Scotch senior
boys and several staff members headed to
Melbourne Grammar School for the annual
Walk for Women.
In the grounds of Melbourne Grammar’s
city campus, we found ourselves in the
company of hundreds of students from other
schools. Everyone had gathered there for a
single purpose: to advocate for equal rights
for women across the world.
The ticket entry cost of $10 for each
student was to be donated to UN Women
– the United Nations entity dedicated to
gender equality and the empowerment
of women – for two specific purposes:
‘ending violence against women and girls’
and ‘encouraging women’s leadership and
political participation’. Discussions with
students from other schools focused on
these goals.
Paul Ronalds, CEO of Save the Children
Australia, narrated a touching story of a
woman he had met, and the hardships she
endured caring for her elderly parents and
her two young children.
While the principal focus of the Walk for
Women related to women and children who
suffer violence and abuse, this narrative
made us all aware of the range and
long-lasting effects on women who suffer
disproportionately, compared with their male
counterparts in many parts of our world.
After Mr Ronalds’ stirring speech, the
students began the formal walk around the
‘Tan’. Making our way through the lush green
gardens, basking in the rays of the afternoon
sun reflecting on the high rises of the CBD,
we found ourselves contemplating the
fortunate position in which we find ourselves,
blessed with excellent educational facilities;
and how as a consequence, it was more
imperative for us to use our privileged
position to not only seek, but to enforce,
change.
The event was a unique and uplifting
experience, and an opportunity for
Melbourne students to contribute to a
highly worthy global cause. It was inspiring
to be in the company of large numbers of
like-minded, passionate students from
many schools.
DARREN TAN – SCHOOL VICE CAPTAIN
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
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