Great Scot - The Scotch Family Magazine - Issue 151 September 2017 GreatScot_Internal_Sept_2017_FA | Page 66

OSCA
OSCA President – Assoc. Prof. Doug Lording ('64)
ASSOC. PROF. DOUG
LORDING ('64)
OSCA PRESIDENT
What is OSCA about?
The value OSCA delivers to our
alumni is clearly determined by what
Scotch College means to each Old
Boy. This of course varies widely from
individual to individual, and for many Old
Boys it is unknown to OSCA. What we
do know is that many Old Boys harbour
a deep affection for their old school, and
that activities aligned with OSCA form a
significant part of their lives.
Belonging to a community is
important for everyone’s wellbeing, and
OSCA activities offer that opportunity
for many in the Scotch Family. Perhaps
it’s striving for a win on the sporting
field, getting out in the fresh air on an
Old Scotch bushwalk, enjoying an
Old Scotch Music and Drama Club
production or an Old Scotch Symphony
Orchestra concert, catching up with old
mates at a country branch or reunion,
mentoring or coaching boys at school,
or simply taking advantage of excellent
means of keeping in touch through
Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
OSCA provides many opportunities
like these for Old Boys to keep in contact
with each other, and keeping in contact
is a fundamental role of OSCA. We are
64
continuing to explore various platforms to
broaden our reach. We have also been
working with specific segments of our
community to determine whether new
initiatives can enhance their engagement
with our alumni. For example, we see
past Scotch parents as an important
part of the Scotch community, and we
are endeavouring to provide means for
them to stay in contact with each other
and with other members of the OSCA
community.
Another important OSCA role is
to offer opportunities for leadership
development. The OSCA Council, our
clubs and societies and our branches
all have a structure which offers Old
Boys leadership opportunities, and
this enables OSCA to identify talented
individuals for leadership roles in the
school environment.
It is often not appreciated that OSCA
plays a vital governance role for the
school. Five members of the School
Council are OSCA nominees (Group
B) and many Group C councillors
(nominated by School Council itself)
are iden tified through OSCA. This is a
significant contribution to the governance
of the school. In addition, many OSCA
members serve on the Scotch College
Foundation board.
There is a lot happening in OSCA and
considerable potential exists to embrace
new initiatives. This reinforces the
imperative for OSCA to use its resources
wisely; to make sure that we use the time
of our dedicated staff efficiently, and that
we direct our limited discretionary funds
appropriately.
We often hear of the activities of other
school alumni groups, many of which
focus strongly on only one segment of
their alumni. We think the strength of
OSCA is the breadth of opportunities
provided for communication and
participation right across the OSCA
spectrum, and we are committed to
continue in that direction.
THE 2017 OSCA COUNCIL
BACK: JACK AULD (’87), ANDREW WILSON (’78), JAMES
DOUGLAS (’84) JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT
MIDDLE: JAMES GALLACHER (’90), JONATHAN LONG (’89),
NICK STONE (’92) TREASURER, CHRIS KARAGOUNIS (’92),
SCOTT MONTGOMERY (’85) OSCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FRONT: MICHEL NEHME - SCHOOL CAPTAIN 2017, ANDREW
CRAWFORD (’89) SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DOUG LORDING
(’64) PRESIDENT, TOM BATTY, BRUCE BROWN (’60),
STEPHEN WEBSTER (’73)
ABSENT: HAMISH TADGELL (’85), JONATHAN BUCKLEY (’83)
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Great Scot Number 151 – September 2017