Scotch College

Farewell to a great eight

Eight Scotch Senior School staff left the school at the end of the year, after excellent service in many spheres of school life. Great Scot wishes six of them every success, wherever their future careers may take them – and to Mr Walter Riedler and Mr Josian Astruc, we wish a long and happy retirement.

WORDS: Mr NEVILLE TAYLOR Photography: Mr Tim Shearer

Josian Astruc

Mr Astruc retired at the end of this year, having taught Mathematics at Scotch for 20 years. An outstanding mathematician, Mr Astruc has taught all courses at all year levels and was responsible for the introduction of the University Mathematics course at Year 12. Since 1992 Mr Astruc has coordinated Year 7 and 8 Mathematics, and has written a number of textbooks for students at these levels as well as for students of Specialist Mathematics.

Mr Astruc has coordinated our APS Junior Athletics team for the past 10 years, and has coached the 7A or 8A Soccer teams over his 20 years of service. As a classroom teacher and as a house tutor, Mr Astruc has always mentored his students with great care. We thank Mr Astruc for his dedicated and outstanding service to the School and his students over so many years.

Dan Belluz

Mr Belluz has been appointed as the head of Physics at Brighton Grammar School, and so is departing Scotch after 10 years. Since his arrival at Scotch in 1999, Mr Belluz has brought great enthusiasm both to his teaching of Physics and his involvement in the co-curricular program of the School. He has coached teams from Year 9 to open age in both basketball and volleyball. Mr Belluz has been involved with the Year 8 Hike program for much of his time at Scotch, and for the past three years has been in charge of that program. Many young students have owed their first experience of the bush to Mr Belluz.

Sue Clements

Ms Clements left Scotch at the end of the year, having joined the School staff this year. A teacher/librarian, Ms Clements participated fully in School life during the short time she was at Scotch, contributing to the Pipes and Drums, badminton, debating, Scotchspell and the Tournament of Minds.

Alister Graham

Mr Graham came to Scotch at the start of this year in his first teaching position, after a period in the accountancy profession. Mr Graham is departing Scotch to marry and to travel and work in the USA.

David Mustafa

Mr Mustafa is leaving Scotch after 14 years to take up the position of principal of Holmes Secondary Colleges in Melbourne and Sydney. This appointment recognises the excellent leadership and administrative skills that have been evident in his work as the Head of Years 9/10 since 2005. Mr Mustafa has been a teacher of Drama and English and responsible for many School productions, as well as excellent results for Year 12 Drama students. His School productions have always challenged student actors and those involved behind the scenes to deliver the highest standards. The time given to rehearsals and the care given to the students involved in his productions has always been a feature of his work.

Ross Patterson

Mr Patterson is leaving Scotch after two years to return to Westbourne Grammar, following his appointment as a head of Flinders House at that school. Mr Patterson is an excellent tennis player, and brought his expertise to his coaching of the 1st Tennis squad. He is an excellent teacher of Biology and we will miss his commitment to the pastoral care of his students.

Kris Paterson

Ms Paterson left Scotch during second term following her appointment as head of the Ivanhoe Grammar Libraries. Ms Paterson was initially appointed as a teacher/librarian in June 2002 through to the end of 2005. In this time, Ms Paterson was also an officer of Cadets and a residential tutor in Arthur Robinson House.

Since her appointment to the permanent teaching staff at in 2005, Ms Paterson has played a major part in the biennial Literature Festivals, coordinated the prizes for the Year 12 Presentation Night and participated in Christie Club rowing. Ms Paterson also displayed a great commitment to the students of the School via outdoor activities. Scotch at Cowes, the Year 10 Activities Program, the Year 9 Expedition, the 24-Hour Hike and snow sports have all benefited from her involvement over the past five and a half years.

Walter Riedler

Mr Walter Riedler is retiring after 17 years of teaching German and Chinese. This valuable but unusual combination of teaching subjects was the product of being well travelled and having a desire for learning. As a classroom teacher and tutor, Mr Riedler presented a wonderfully rich character to his students.

He is a keen sportsman with skills and experience in rugby, soccer, skiing and tennis. He coached the 2nd XV for five years, and for the past 12 years he has coached soccer at many levels. He was also the coach of the 2nd Tennis team for many years. Mr Riedler’s expertise in skiing has been greatly valued in his many School trips to Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Thredbo. His enthusiasm for the outdoors also found him leading mountain bike trips to Dinner Plains, Heathcote and the Wabonga Plateau for 16 years, including his retirement year. GS