Scotch College

OSCA’s 83rd Annual Dinner–a night of fun and fellowship

Words: David Ashton Photography: Andrew Murdoch

For more than 450 Old Boys and guests, the 2008 OSCA Annual Dinner had everything – fellowship, fabulous food, emotion, and lots of fun and laughter.

Oldest Old Boy present was much-loved former master, Alec ‘Tiger’ Lyne (’28), hale and hearty at 98.

School Captain Daniel Wolfe ably proposed the toast to the school, and new Principal Tom Batty responded with feeling and humour. Mr Batty spoke of his initiation into Australian Rules football, and of sending a letter congratulating Melbourne Grammar Headmaster Paul Sheahan on Grammar’s cricket and football premiership victories – on a Scotch rowing card!

Proposing the toast to the guests, Dr Peter Hollingworth AC (’52) spoke passionately of Scotch’s successful ‘blending of tradition and innovation’, and of the values Scotch shares with kindred schools.

Professor Geoffrey Blainey gave an intensely moving response to a riveted audience, speaking of a Scotch hero of World War I, Sir John Monash, and a lesser-known Scotch hero of World War II, Neil Fairlie, who pioneered major breakthroughs in tropical medicine.

The dinner was a huge success – thanks to the efforts of OSCA President John Jeffreys and Executive Director Tim Shearer, Events Coordinator Robbie Gustke, Dinner Convenor Dugald McWilliams (’90) and dinner MC Bob Welch. GS