Great Scot - The Scotch Family Magazine - Issue 151 September 2017 GreatScot_Internal_Sept_2017_FA | Page 63

The generosity of
Beth Brewster
Mabel McBeth (Beth) Brewster was the
long-term partner of John David (called David)
Powell (’45). David was born on 25 August 1928,
and attended Scotch from 1935 to 1945 through
the generosity of the RSL, as his father, Harry
Fowler Powell, was a totally and permanently
incapacitated returned soldier. David was eternally
grateful for Scotch’s generosity in enabling him to
attend the school. As a good hurdler, David was a
member of the 1942 and 1943 Athletics teams. He
left Scotch with fond memories.
At Melbourne University David obtained
first class honours in metallurgy and became a
metallurgical engineer. He won an audition to join
the Westminster Abbey choir as a bass singer,
and sang in it at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in
1953. David later sang in the Glyndebourne Opera
House for several years. He died on 29 July 2007.
Beth Brewster was born on 23 September
1923, and was educated at several primary
schools as her parents moved among their
extended family, supporting them through difficult
years on the land. The family finally settled at Avon
Plains in the eastern Wimmera, and Beth and her
sister became boarders at Morongo Girls’ College,
BETH BREWSTER AND DAVID POWELL (’45)
near Geelong. Beth was a capable student and
also excelled in athletics and tennis.
She trained for nursing at the Royal Melbourne
and Bethesda Hospitals; then in 1954, Beth sailed
to London. She was first employed as a nurse/
companion to elderly ladies, and later worked in
the immigration office at Australia House. She
retired and returned to Melbourne in 1974. In later
years, Beth enjoyed the companionship of her
friend, David Powell.
David and Beth were both members of the
Alexander Morrison Circle, Scotch’s bequest
society. Beth died on 8 January 2015 and left a
third of her estate to Scotch to establish the Beth
Brewster Boarding Scholarship and a laboratory
in the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science, to be
named in memory of David.
Honouring Michael Robinson’s
lifelong Scotch connection
Scotch College is proud to launch the
Michael Robinson Boarding Scholarship.
In announcing the impending retirement
of Michael Robinson AO (’55) as President
of the Scotch College Foundation, the
Foundation has decided to honour Michael’s
lifelong connection with the school, and his
exceptional service to Scotch, by creating this
scholarship.
A boarder from the age of seven for the
remainder of his schooling, first in McMeckan
and then in Arthur Robinson House, Michael’s
understanding of the challenges facing ‘boys
from the bush’ who board is a very personal
one.
‘The mind and heart were very much
on the farm,’ he said. ‘Boarders always
felt they were the backbone of the school.
They learned to cope in a more challenging
environment; they learned to be resilient and
live with other people.’
In creating this scholarship in Michael’s
name, not only do we seek above all to
maintain Scotch’s enduring link to the
bush, but there is also a larger purpose in
recognising and appreciating the very real
difficulties associated with life on the land in
Australia.
Please join with us in recognising
Michael’s exceptional record of achievement
at Scotch by making a contribution to the
Michael Robinson Boarding Scholarship.
All donations are tax deductible. A donation
form accompanies this edition of Great Scot.
Alternatively, gifts can be made at
www.scotch.vic.edu.au
TIM SHEARER – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
SCOTCH COLLEGE FOUNDATION
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
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