Scotch College

Supply truck for Tiwi Islands

Ongoing Scotch Family support for the Tiwi Islands includes a recent contribution towards keeping an essential supply truck on Melville Island.

WORDS: MRS ASTRIDA COOPER – ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

The successful relationship between Scotch College and the Tiwi Islands people began more than a decade ago, and has grown into a strong and fruitful program. In 2006 the Tiwi Education Board developed a promising initiative to create Tiwi College, providing residential secondary education through a curriculum designed to equip students for a full participation in the future of the islands. The federal government provided generous seeding finance.

Our former Principal, Dr Gordon Donaldson AM, assured Tiwi College of our willingness to help build on the existing relationship, and Scotch has gone on to assist where possible, with guidance from Aboriginal communities.

The first visit in 2008 to the Tiwi Islands by current Principal, Mr Tom Batty, cemented the commitment by Scotch to support remote communities through the promotion of cultural and sporting exchanges. Tiwi College was completed earlier this year, and its principal, Mr Peter McNamara, approached Tom Batty seeking Scotch Family support to purchase one of the construction crew’s trucks. Tiwi College required a truck to transport school supplies from a barge which delivers supplies to the island.

The school is situated some distance from the seashore, in the middle of Melville Island, and is accessible only by dirt tracks. The construction crew had been assisting Tiwi College by providing its own trucks for transportation and, upon completion of the building, some equipment was given to the school and one of the trucks was made available for purchase.

Funding for this project has come from current families, Scotch Auxiliaries, Old Boys, and various segments of the Melbourne Football Club.

Dr Syd Boydell, the Director of Educational Research and Development at Scotch, visited Melville Island recently and was able to present a certificate indicating financial support necessary to keep the truck on the island.

Sincere thanks are due to the donors for their support of Tiwi College, and strengthening the partnership that Scotch College has developed with our northern family. It is a genuine privilege to have the support of our wider community. GS