Cultural Identity

In Week 2 at our NAIDOC Week Assembly, we heard about the importance of culture. We heard about traditions that were built over thousands of years, about the importance of belonging, of connection to those who came before us and about understanding and honouring those people. I thank those individuals who shared with us their experiences, Daniel O'Meara (Year 12, Ferguson), Neville Collard and Alicia Janz.

There are so many aspects of the stories that we're told that are important to us as a country, state and community, and that message of respect, understanding and acknowledgement is one for us all to focus on. Reflecting back, I would like to comment on some aspects of our culture here at Scotch College.

We have built a strong culture over 123 years, shaped by those who first founded the College and those who have followed.

Taking pride in our traditions

Part of that culture includes taking pride in our uniform, one that has evolved over the life of the College. The first blazer, designed in 1907, was maroon with gold pinstripes, followed by the dull grey jacket that most year groups wore for decades before updating to the full maroon jacket, which had previously been worn by the Year 12 cohort. Most recently, our current Year 12 blazer was introduced in our centenary year of 1997.

The uniform is part of our culture and, like all cultures, it has evolved with the times but, importantly, it has remained a core component of our fabric. What hasn't changed, is the expectation of how the uniform is worn and all students in the school community are currently the custodians of this responsibility, which is to wear the uniform properly and with pride.

Success and respect

Another important part of our culture is the manner in which we celebrate success and demonstrate respect. This was highlighted for me during a Saturday morning sporting fixture a number of weeks ago where an enthusiastic crowd of students, families and friends had gathered following their own games, to watch the First fixtures. In watching the end of the Rugby and Football games a number of points stood out, relating to both the players and the students supporting them.

Both matches were pivotal in very close seasons. The Rugby was very tight and Scotch College came away with a gritty win which was a fantastic result, but not the most critical observation. Likewise, the Football side experienced a sound win, which was important in their season but, again, it was not what I want to focus on.

The most telling thing for me that morning was how our students behaved after those games. The players from all sides demonstrated respect for the opposing teams in the manner in which they congratulated each other and in the words the Captains shared after the matches.

And the conduct of our spectators, those students who had completed their own matches, or who had come down on a Saturday morning to support their peers and school, was outstanding.

It was great to see the support for our teams and, just as importantly, the respect shown to our opposition. I have spoken about parts of our culture, and respect and humility are central to that.

Both players and supporters are important and we need to maintain our own high standards in that regard. While it is okay to celebrate appropriately with teammates, it is not acceptable to gloat or overtly revel after a win in front of the opponents.

I commend our students for the manner in which they handled themselves, the respect they demonstrated for their opponents and their pride in their performance. It is an expectation that humility is part of who we are as a College.

Like our uniform, it helps identify us and connect us.