OGCA President’s Report KYLIE MACKEY, OGCA PRESIDENT
This year, we have seen a renewed sense among our alumni to connect – reestablishing ties in a variety of ways that offer purpose and value. We have experienced an increased energy to act, optimism for the future and a desire to find new ways to reconnect with the College. Given the transformations happening at the Senior Campus, with the development of the Bellerin Project on the western boundary, we have taken delight in creating opportunities to welcome alumni back to the College. A couple of highlights for me were welcoming my own Class of 1993 cohort back to the College and being able to represent the College and connect outside of Geelong. In brief Our actions are guided by our strategic framework – with the vision ‘That all alumni of The Geelong College should have the opportunity to be engaged with the school community’. Our hybrid Committee structure is working – with members based in Geelong, Melbourne, Ballarat and New South Wales. We farewelled Morongo Old Collegian representative Georgie Fidge. We thank Georgie for her contribution and involvement in MOC activities. We welcomed John O’Brien (OGC 2002) and are exploring some new
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ideas to include representation from our youngest alumni. Jim Brown (OGC 1978) resigned as a committee member on November 17. We have been thrilled to host a number of reunion events. These have included the 5 Year Reunion (Class of 2018), the 20 Year Reunion (Class of 2003), the 30 Year Reunion (Class of 1993) as well as the OGCA staff function. We also hosted the Sic Itur Luncheon and welcomed a fabulous group from pre-1973 to the Dining Hall for a luncheon, with many also watching our 1st XVIII football team defeat Scotch College. We were pleased to see the return of events further afield too – most recently with a fabulous reunion held in Canberra. Events have also been held in Hamilton, Deniliquin and Albury. I was pleased to be given the opportunity to address the Year 12 cohort on their final day at the Chapel Service and present them with gifts from the OGCA.
We have instigated an honour board review and look forward to sharing insights regarding this soon. We are also in the preliminary stages of organising some new events for 2024 including an Old Collegians vs current students event and a social event. Our Vice President represented us at the Old Carey Grammarians Association Networking Event. We continue to recognise and celebrate the achievements of longserving College staff with 26 staff achieving 5 years of service and five staff achieving a notable 25 years of service. Join the OGCA’s Blood donor team! We have an Australian Red Cross Lifeblood team. Give life and donate blood. Over 8.3 million Australians will need blood in their lifetime. To book, call 13 14 95 or visit. We initiated this team in support of Jason Nelson (OGC 1988) who was battling an aggressive and rare form of leukemia - Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Sadly, Jason lost his battle on 17 September 2023.
