Honorary Life Membership for three notable Old Boys
OSCA welcomed its 40th, 41st and 42nd Honorary Life Members— Ken Bethell(' 37), Peter Joyce(' 56) and Bill Philip(' 46)— at last November’ s OSCA Presidents’ Dinner, held in the Cardinal Pavilion’ s Boykett Room. Ken, Peter and Bill were inducted into this exclusive club in recognition of their great long-term service to Scotch and to OSCA. Just 42 OSCA Honorary Life Memberships have been awarded in OSCA’ s 104-year history.
Also at the Presidents’ Dinner, which followed the 2016 OSCA annual general meeting, OSCA Merit Awards went to Gary Bennett(' 88), Don Larkin(' 62) and Richard Snape(' 81), recognising their dedicated service to Old Scotch clubs and branches.
Congratulations to all the awardees for their fine records of selfless service.
2016 OSCA Honorary Life Members
Kenneth Charles Beswicke Bethell(’ 37) attended Scotch from 1929 to 1937. Ken has made an outstanding contribution to OSCA and to the school. He was a member of OSCA Council from 1964 to 1979, and became OSCA’ s 38th President in 1978, steering the Council steadily during an uneasy period for the school.
After his presidential term, Ken was as an ex officio member of the Council for several more years. During this period he continued to serve as Chairman of OSCA’ s Care committee, a group which he had initiated, and which was a precursor
in many ways of the Association’ s current Life Transitions program.
Ken is a highly respected and much-loved Old Boy, who regularly attends OSCA Annual Dinners and many other OSCA events, including the Easter Breakfast. Because of his continuing interest in Scotch College Scouting, Ken has retained a keen interest in the school’ s Elliott Lodge property at Healesville. Outside Scotch, Ken has been an enthusiastic worker for the National Trust( Victoria), and this year he was also made an Honorary Life Member of that organisation.
Peter Charles Joyce(’ 56) was at Scotch from 1948 to 1956. Among his many contributions to the welfare of Scotch College, Peter was a Group C member of the School Council and President of the Scotch College Foundation from 1996 to 2001. While on the School Council, Peter was a Finance sub-committee member, actively participating in fundraising for the James Forbes Academy.
During his Foundation presidency, Peter chaired the James Forbes Academy capital fundraising campaign, established Foundationfunded study tours by Scotch staff, set up the James Forbes Society for very large donors, and formed closer ties between the Foundation, the School Council, the Principal, OSCA and the Scotch Family Association.
While a member of the OSCA Council from 2010-2013, he established the Coterie Group to help finance the 2013 OSCA centenary. As a follow-up, he formed the OSCA Collegians( club) in 2015, and is now its Vice President.
Peter has been an Annual Giving year group leader, a mentor for Scotch staff, a participant in careers days for senior boys, and an adviser to Scotch when it re-focused the marketing of its boarding facilities. Peter has brought much wisdom, energy and good humour to every task.
William Graeme( Bill) Philip(’ 46) attended Scotch from 1935 to 1947, one of four generations of Philips to attend Scotch. He was Captain of the School in 1947. Bill served with distinction on the OSCA Council from 1952 to 1974, becoming the 34th President of OSCA in 1974. In that era, OSCA was run from a private office, and Council took on the entire task of organising the Annual Dinner, including liaison with the venue, receiving payments and organising table settings: a very large undertaking.
Among Bill’ s many contributions to the school, he was a member of the School Council from 1967 to 1983, during a time of major upheaval for the school community. While on School Council, Bill represented Scotch on the Combined Schools Superannuation Fund, which he chaired.
Bill became Chairman of the East Melbourne Glen Chapter in 2012, membership of which is granted to Old Boys aged 75 and over. Continuing his fine record of service to his fellow Old Scotch Collegians, Bill leads the EMG group in maintaining friendships and organising activities for Old Boys and their partners in this age group.
60 Great Scot Number 150 – April 2017