Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 60

Foundation
ASSOC. PROF. DOUG
LORDING ('64)
PRESIDENT OF THE
SCOTCH COLLEGE
FOUNDATION
NEW RECOGNITION
FOR OUR HIGH LEVEL
CONTRIBUTORS
At the Scotch College Foundation’s annual general
meeting on 30 April, we adopted a revised set of rules
which we had worked on during the previous 12 months.
The rules do not alter the purposes of the Foundation,
or its relationship with Scotch College; rather they have
addressed some issues relating to how the Foundation
functions, and how we recognise our major contributors.
The School and the Foundation are fortunate to have
so many members of the Scotch Family who are willing
and able to financially support Scotch’s building and
scholarship programs. With the passing of time, and the
excellent response from our community over the past five
or so years, we felt there was a need to introduce some
new membership levels, in recognition of the increased
number of high level contributors. To that end, those who
have contributed $250,000 or more are recognised as
Senior Trustees; Senior Trustees who have contributed
$500,000 or more are offered membership of the Forbes
Society; and those whose donations exceed $1 million are
offered the additional recognition of
Foundation Patron.
In our accounts for 2018, presented
at the annual general meeting, I was
pleased to note that we contributed
$1.9 million to the School, of which
$1.3 million was directed to support
the School’s scholarship program (an
increase of approximately $325,000
over the previous year), and another
$340,000 from the Foundation’s
Endowment Fund was provided to
be used at the School’s discretion.
The balance was directed to support
prizes, the library, arts and staff.
After the business of the meeting
was completed, John McLeod from
JB Were Philanthropic Services
provided an insightful overview of
philanthropy both here and overseas,
and stimulated a vibrant discussion
which left those of us at the meeting
with much to think about.
The Foundation President’s
Dinner was held on 7 August, and
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Great Scot Number 157 – September 2019
we combined our usual format with the launch of a
24-hour campaign to fund the General Sir John Monash
Scholarship. Dr Mark Johnston, Scotch’s Head of History,
gave a fascinating account of the life and achievements of
General Monash, and other Old Boys who served in the
Great War. For those wanting to read more about Monash,
one of my classmates, Roland Perry (’64) wrote Monash:
The Outsider Who Won a War; and the late Tim Fischer,
who campaigned vigorously for Monash to be elevated to
the rank of Field Marshall, wrote Maestro John Monash:
Australia’s Greatest Citizen General. Both are good reads.
The generosity of our community came to the fore
once again in the campaign, with 718 donors contributing
a total of $1,319,000, including a contribution from the
Foundation of $75,000. This was a truly marvellous result,
and a tribute to the reputation Monash has within our
community, so long after his peerless achievements on
the battlefields and at home. It was a great effort by all
involved and we look forward to the awarding of the first
Monash scholarship.
Things are moving on well with
the redevelopment of the second
Quadrangle, as the Keon-Cohen Dining
Hall takes shape and the potential
positive impact of the precinct becomes
more obvious. It is also heartening to
see the Archives Museum and OSCA
House project well underway, which will
include a school retail space.
With great sadness we noted the
passing of Astrida Cooper on 25 July
after a long illness. Astrida worked in the
Development Office as a Development
Officer from July 2004, supporting the
then Director of Development, Alan
Watkinson. After Alan resigned in 2007,
Astrida seamlessly took on his role in an
acting capacity until leaving Scotch in
early 2010. She is fondly remembered
by all who worked with her. Astrida and
husband Craig (‘74) have always been
enthusiastic contributors to the School.
Our thoughts are with Craig, Peter (’07),
Axi and the extended Cooper family.