President's Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OSCA/OLD BOYS President’s report The Old Scotch Collegians’ Association is continuing The Cardinal Club (including the support for the to work as it strives to support the School, its Old Scotch College Boat Club) continues to provide won- Boys and the Scotch Family. derful support for the School’s extensive and suc- cessful rowing program. We are ensuring that we maintain a strong financial base so that we are able to support the extensive The other Clubs in operation include the Old Scotch range of programs and activities that we offer. Athletics Club, the Old Scotch Bowls Club, the Old Scotch Bushwalking Club, the Old Scotch Cricket This year’s annual dinner was another success- Club, the Old Scotch Hockey Club, the Old Scotch ful night when 468 Old Boys and friends were Masonic Lodge No. 459, the Old Scotch Rover Crew, able to put this year’s theme of ‘Inspiring Lasting Bob Welch, OSCA President the Old Scotch Scuba Club, the Old Scotch Soccer Friendships’ to the test at Melbourne Park. The Club, the Old Scotch Music Club, the Old Scotch Principal talked about Scotch College and the ten- Tennis Club and the Old Scotch Wine & Food Club. year friendship that has endured with the Tiwi Alan Gilchrist Islands that has enabled two talented Aboriginal OSCA provides office support and monetary sup- Alan Gilchrist (’38) has been boys to attend our school up until their VCE year. Mr port to our Clubs to ensure that they are strong and awarded the Australian John Landy, Governor of Victoria, spoke with humility vibrant. These Clubs provide much support to the Antarctic Medallion for his ser- about the friendships he has made in life through School and its activities. Support includes coaching, vices to Australia in Antarctica. athletics, business and school days, which he, to this trophies for presentations and additional equip- Besides his medical duties, he day, values very dearly. Many of his friends were in ment. Andrew Wallace-Smith (Councilor in charge of introduced the policy for ANAR the audience on the night. Both Mr John Landy and Clubs), Graham Stanley (Secretary of the Old Scotch Expedition doctors to run a Dr Peter Hollingworth were busy throughout the Clubs) or Tim Shearer (Executive Director) would be biology research program. evening greeting friends. able to help anyone in the Scotch community who Gilchrist (no biologists avail- would like to make contact with any of our Clubs. At the forefront of OSCA. are our valued Old Scotch able) maintained a detailed Clubs, where some 6000 members of the Scotch The OSCA representatives on the School Council log on all biology species Family are actively involved on a regular basis. have been wholeheartedly endorsed again by the encountered by him at Heard council. Those being Michael Robinson (’55) David Island in 1948–49 and pub- The Koomerang Ski Club (including support for the Crawford (’61 ) David Kemp (’59 ) Robert Prowse (’62) lished a research paper on the Scotch College Ski Club) is the biggest privately and John Simpson (’75 ). migration of the snow petrel owned ski club in Australia, with four huts at Buller, in mid-winter, from the pack Thredbo, Hotham and Falls Creek. BOB WELCH ice to Heard Island. President – OSCA The Old Scotch Football Club (formed in 1921 and A rocky beach and a line of competing in the ‘A’ Grade of the Victorian Amateur snow-covered hills at Heard Football Association) is the largest club in the com- Island have both been named petition with six teams. It also has been in A section after him. for the most consecutive years of all the Clubs. GREAT SCOT SEPTEMBER 2005 27 OSCA/OLD BOYS James wins at Indianopolis OSCA Mentoring AFL football has the MCG, cricket has Lords, golf has St Program Andrews and motor racing has the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This world-famous The OSCA pared with notes and researching background circuit often referred to Mentoring information on Sensis would be the best way to get as the Brickyard due to its Program com- a competitive advantage over the other applicants. original surface being made menced in 2003, I began research media coverage of Sensis via the of bricks, witnessed Australian and has a group internet and the press. Roland explained to me that Motorsport history when of volunteer Old the more questions I asked the interviewer, the James Davison (Davidson Boys in fields as more enthusiastic I would appear to the panel of House 2004) won Round 7 of diverse as Law, interviewers. the 2005 Formula BMW USA Accounting, Real Roland Orchard and Adam GS: What was the best thing you took out of the Championship. Estate, Local Routledge (’01) initial meeting? Government, Making the victory even Share broking, Personnel Management and many AR: Roland advised me to break the interview down sweeter, James became the more. A number of applicants have successfully into three phases, similar to an English essay: second Australian to ever win undertaken the Mentoring Programs so far. Great at Indy, the first being his Introduction Outline previous history, be relaxed Scot spoke to Adam Routledge (’01), who is a current cousin Alex in 2002, keeping and just be myself. member of the Old Scotch Football Club, about his the Davison name at the fore- Body Explain how I would add value to experience with the Mentoring Program. front of international competi- the business. tion. GS: Adam, how did you find out about the Conclusion Summarise my skills, i.e. why they Mentoring Program? should pick me. James said, ‘I made a great start, and I am delighted with AR: Through the OSCANET website (http://www. GS: There were 140 people applying for the posi- my drive. To be the second oscanet.com.au). Students completing Year 12 are tion and only five chosen. How did you rate your Australian and Davison to win inexperienced in understanding the steps required chances? here is something I am still to conduct a thorough job search and undertake an AR: It looked daunting at the beginning. I adopted a trying to get my head around. interview program. ‘nothing to lose’ approach and threw myself into it It was fantastic to hear the GS: Describe the process of the Mentoring Program. knowing that, whatever the outcome, much experi- Australian national anthem ence would be gained in the process. on the podium particularly AR: The first phase was to register online. My after kissing the yard of bricks details were logged onto the OSCANET website (e.g. There were two initial interviews which lasted one which marks the finishing line university studies, personal interests, leadership hour each. I advised Roland that I had been short- in front of the huge grand- experience). The completed database form was then listed down to seven applicants. This was clearly stands.’ submitted electronically. good progress; however, two people were still to be cut. After watching the race GS: What happened next? with Mark Webber, BMW At this stage, I promoted Roland to number 2 on the AR: An email arrived a week later outlining the Motorsport Director Dr Mario speed dial on my mobile phone as communication details of an appropriate mentor with contacts rel- Theissen stated, ‘We saw an between us was vital. We met again and discussed evant to my qualifications. This was Roland ‘Barney’ exciting race with lots of over- final interview techniques and possible ways that I Orchard. We then met for coffee. taking. It was a clear victory could achieve my goal of making the position. I left for James Davison who per- GS: What did you discuss with Roland? him full of confidence once again and went in for formed superbly.’ my final interview. We talked about my previous experiences and James’ program for 2005 com- where I was situated. The environment was very It is very unlikely that I would have got past the menced three days after com- relaxed and it felt comfortable being completely initial interview phases if not for ‘Barney’ and the pleting his VCE in November open. After gaining an Electronic Commerce degree, OSCAnet Mentoring Program. last year, when he flew to the general direction was clear but the process of Adam was offered the graduate position at Sensis Italy to see his cousin Will getting there was the big challenge. Applications and began an 18-month Graduate Program, which Davison test for the Minardi had been lodged, interviews arranged and I needed commenced on 1 August. All Old Boys regardless of Formula One Team. James some tips on how to perform to the best of my abil- age are encouraged to register their details onto then proceeded onto the Adria ity. the OSCAnet Mentoring Program in order to receive Circuit south of Venice and to GS: What advice did Roland give you? advice regarding job searching, interview techniques Valencia in Spain where he and career pathways. undertook extensive AR: We discussed interview preparation and what was required. Roland pointed out that being pre- Continued on page 38 28 GREAT SCOT SEPTEMBER 2005 OSCA/OLD BOYS Lest we Forget: a tribute to Hugh Randall Syme clearance, he was subjected to many painful electric Cars of the shocks while working in knee-deep mud. At one stage, our hero was hanging upside down in a hole world next to the mine rendering himself helpless had the Scotch is hosting the start of fuse of the mine become active. the 2005 Cars of the World On returning to Australia, he established an Charity weekend on Saturday, Australian Mine Clearance Section at HMAS Cerberus 1 October.