Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online | Page 59

MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED MONTGOMERY FAMILY AT THE REOPENING OF THE NEWLY RESURFACED MONTGOMERY FIELD ON SATURDAY 21 APRIL 2018 MONTGOMERY SPORTS FIELD TRANSFORMED On the crisp autumn morning of 21 April, the Montgomery Sports Field was reopened for the 2018 winter hockey season. Opened in 1985, the Sports Field was the result of an exceedingly generous gift to the School by Old Boy Bob Montgomery, who attended Scotch from 1920 to 1922, and who died in 1996. Bob came to Scotch as a boarder at East Melbourne. In 1922 he was a Prefect and later Vice Captain of the East Melbourne boarding house, a Probationer, and later a School Prefect. Bob’s 1985 gift was transformational, and Scotch was delighted to welcome members of the extended Montgomery family to witness the reopening. SCHOOL CAPTAIN CHARLIE SCHILLING, OSCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SCOTT MONTGOMERY ('85), JOHN MONTGOMERY ('60), CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL DAVID KEMP ('59) AND PRINCIPAL TOM BATTY AT THE CEREMONY Principal Tom Batty spoke first, and OSCA Executive Director Scott Montgomery (’85), grandson of Bob Montgomery, responded on behalf of the family. Montgomery Club President, Lisa Galbraith, concluded proceedings by thanking the School for providing the renovation for the benefit of the Scotch hockey fraternity. (The Montgomery Club supports Scotch hockey.) These are the key components of the renovation: • The surface has been rebuilt on a new concrete base with appropriate drainage, replacing the asphalt on crushed rock that supported the previous field. The new substrate should last a minimum of 30 years. • The surface incorporates the latest developments in sports surface technology, and is approved by the International Tennis and Hockey Federations. • Markings have been reorganised to make the differentiation clearer between tennis and hockey lines. • Recessed areas off the main court have been provided for competing teams. • A new blue boundary area has been added to meet international hockey standards. • A new three-quarter basketball court, incorporating an outdoor volleyball court, has been constructed. • The pavilion has been repainted. BILL SCIARRETTA — PROPERTY MANAGER www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot 59