Scotch College

Music, music, music

St Peter's Music Tour

One of the highlights of the musical year is the exchange programme that between Scotch College Junior School and St. Peter's College in Adelaide. In 1997, approximately ninety Scotch College Years Four, Five and Six music students toured Adelaide and since then, the two schools have alternated visits. In 2000, it was Saints turn to receive hospitality from Scotch and seventy-one boys and eight staff arrived at the College on Monday, 23 October. Boys met their host families in the Junior School Assembly Hall and many were pleased to see familiar faces and renew acquaintances.

On Tuesday, St. Peter's College presented concerts at Strathcona Girls' Baptist Grammar and at Camberwell Boys' Grammar School. Apparently the boys were most impressed with the different sound quality of the girls' voices at Strathcona. On Wednesday, the group played a concert at Williamstown and Westbourne Grammar and then spent a great afternoon at Scienceworks.

On Thursday, the Saints spent the morning in rehearsals with the Scotch College Junior School String Orchestra, Concert Band and Choir. Before recess, there were students involved in sectionals eleven different areas around the College. After a sausage sizzle for lunch, a combined concert was held in the Memorial Hall. All the combined ensembles performed as well as the St. Peter's String Ensembles, Choir, Brass Ensemble. Concert Band, Rock Band and Scotch College's Awesome Foursome Quartet. It certainly was amazing to hear almost eighty musicians playing 'La Vida Loca' in the Combined Band finale.

We farewelled St. Peter's early on Friday morning and are greatly looking forward to our tour to Adelaide in 2001. Thank you so much to all those families who billeted St. Peter's boys and kindly welcomed them into their homes. I know that they were very happy. Thanks must go the Junior School and music staff who were involved in making the tour such a success.

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Social Service

Throughout the year, the boys of the Junior School have participated in a variety of Social Service activities. Opportunities presented to boys have demonstrated that their generosity and willingness to help people in need, has again been outstanding. These activities are included in the normal part of school life not only as fund raisers, but to help instil a sense of concern and consideration towards those who may be in less fortunate circumstances.

Whilst nearly $6,000.00 has been raised for a variety of charities, we were especially pleased to learn that the efforts of the boys during their 'Red Day', resulted in earning the most money for the SIDS organisation, by any Victorian Primary School. In recognition of this achievement, the boys have won a television set and video recorder, which, as an ongoing part of our service to the community will be received and then presented to the Principal and children of 'Very Special Kids' in Malvern, for whom this will be a tremendous asset to their school programmes.

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A Sydney 2000 Adventure

It is all over and we really did put on the best games ever for the world! This was especially evident to the thousands of volunteers and to those people who attended some of the events in Sydney.

After my application to be an interpreter was sent, there followed an eighteen month roller coaster ride of waiting, making dozens of calls to Sydney, the constant 'no need to worry just wait for the call for an interview' Then suddenly no job at all, (application lost). Then a desperate attempt to salvage at least something by having an interview for the soccer in Melbourne. Finally on the next day, a sudden job offer for the Media Village, which at least meant, 'I was in.' My return flight and finally accommodation, staying with a fellow volunteer in Epping. Everything had finally fallen into place and it was time for action.

Mr Ian Clark