Scotch College

Dr F G Donaldson AM, Principal

A concert for the ages

Graeme Bell’s ‘Farewell to Melbourne’ concert was a remarkable event. A large audience, predominantly made up of those who had enjoyed his playing in his heyday, packed the Ian Roach Hall. Everyone present marvelled at this accomplished performer, in his 92nd year, as he overcame arthritic fingers to play a substantial program of Bell compositions, from the 1950s and onwards, and other jazz classics. The sense of energy and joy in the music was inescapable.

Graeme played alongside Michael McQuaid and the Red Hot Rhythmakers – a group of eight talented musicians, all in their 20s, who have specialised in the jazz of earlier decades.

Along with the highest quality performances, there was a wonderful demonstration of the cross-generational nature of music: a legendary master in his farewell concert who was almost 70 years older than the band members who have found great joy in the same art form. As well as being a fitting tribute to a great musician, we saw demonstrated that fundamental principle of education where skills and ideas are passed on to following generations.

Cross-age activities have a great value within a school and at Scotch we seek to optimise their effectiveness. The Peer Support Program allows Year 11 boys to assist boys in Year 7, new to the Senior School, to settle in and to learn quickly Scotch’s procedures and expectations. The Ambassador Program in Year 9 sends boys into the Junior School, and similar programs within the Junior School allow older boys to assist those in Prep classes. These activities are of observable mutual benefit.

The idea is also seen at work in numerous co-curricular activities such as the Services, where older boys have leadership responsibilities, ensuring a more enjoyable and effective experience for all involved. It is found in music and drama where those with experience guide others towards excellence in performance through a committed approach to practice and rehearsal.

Leadership by position, such as Prefect, School Officer, House or Sports Captain and many other roles, also provides effective promulgation of Scotch’s standards and expectations, in addition to allowing new opportunities to be identified and developed. The wonderful and exciting Kapumfi project, where Scotch is committed to funding the building of a new school complex in poverty-stricken Zambia, resulted from student-generated initiatives.

It is most encouraging to receive from Zambia reports and photographs demonstrating progress in phase one, which should see the first classroom block, with furniture, two residences for teachers and some sanitation installations operational by mid-2006. Several Scotch families have decided to sponsor individual children in Kapumfi, further demonstrating the huge potential for long-term support and influence in this truly needy area.

Leadership by example is always apparent. The excellent VCE results earned by the class of 2005 are a credit to those boys who have striven so hard, with the support and encouragement of their parents, and to their teachers who have inspired and guided their students towards these impressive outcomes.

We extend our congratulations and best wishes to the class of 2005 and thank them for the example they have given, which inspires the present generation of Scotch students and teachers to strive to maintain and extend expectations and achievements in all our activities.

Graeme Bell concluded his concert by playing the first few bars of our College anthem, paying tribute to his feelings for his old School. We are left with his inspiring example of what can be achieved through dedicated exercise and development of talent, reflecting an essential element of Scotch in 2006 and auguring well for future success.

Dr F G Donaldson AM
Principal