‘Change’ in a College context

DR PETER MILLER, PRINCIPAL

As we celebrate 50 years of co-education, I would like to take a moment to consider ‘change’ in the context of the College’s identity and purpose.

For over 160 years now, The Geelong College has been firmly established as more than simply ‘a school in Geelong’. The strong place we hold within the Geelong community, and the abundance of connections we have created beyond the bounds of our city mean we are more accurately described as ‘a Geelong school’ or a ‘school from Geelong’.

A small distinction, but an important one. It conveys the importance of the place we hold in our city, and the responsibility we have as a result - something not necessarily expected of other schools located in Geelong. We are not solely an academic institution.

The footing for the College’s direction was laid at the time of our foundation in 1861. The original ambitions were clear: The Geelong College was to be a place to educate young boys of Geelong so they might be aspirational in their goals, good citizens and productive in their endeavours. These ambitions guided the school’s direction in its early days and have remained throughout our evolution.

This only serves to demonstrate the robust resilience of our founding principles - we have a cornerstone so strong that we can adapt and grow without losing our direction. At the heart of our Stories of Change, the core elements of College embedded in our organisational DNA have prevailed.

We have continued the same steadfast commitment to educating our students that we started with 160 years ago, fostering a love of learning, a sense of social responsibility and aspiration. In speaking with our current students, it is clear that we are succeeding. Their strong sense of collective aspiration and engagement are clear - both of which are products of these values.

However, this is not to say that The Geelong College is the same place it was over 160 years ago. The ways in which our relevance and presentation are enacted have changed and evolved greatly since 1861, as they will continue to do into the future.

As you turn (or scroll) the pages of Ad Astra, you will see many examples of the extraordinary opportunities we are able to offer today: in creative and performing arts, curriculum, sport and social groups within College. Experiences, both academic and co-curricular, that shape a student’s development. The breadth of options on offer, while still informed by our core elements, has expanded greatly over time - a further reflection of our commitment to our students.

The founding ambitions of the College have been expanded upon and inform our published values: Integrity with Compassion, Community with Diversity, Aspiration with Humility, Respect with Grace and Endeavour with Courage.

At each step, our evolution has been influenced by wider societal changes; it is also a reflection of these changes. An accurate example of our fifth value (Endeavour with Courage) was the move to co-education in 1974.

A bold step by the College Council, it was a decision made with a clear view to the future. It ensured the ongoing relevance of College to our community and also facilitated further opportunities for evolution.

The Geelong College was not alone, with a number of other singlegendered schools also exploring the possibility of co-education in the mid-1970s. However, the College was among the first in Australia to bring

“As a College, we have greatly enjoyed exploring our more recent history in preparation for these celebrations. So numerous were the stories we unearthed that it was not possible to give a voice to them all. However, I hope you enjoy the ‘snapshot’ of College life over the past 50 years that we offer in this edition of Ad Astra.”

- Dr Peter Miller, Principal the change into action. Once again, leading the way with courage and conviction.

The Geelong College we know today is a result of this decision 50 years ago, and many other developments that have followed. Our College is a place where our young people can thrive as they live, learn and grow together. It is a more diverse and very rich place, full of life and energy. It is, in fact, a sunny place.

As you read through this edition of Ad Astra I hope you enjoy exploring the Stories of Change from the most recent 50 years of our history. I hope, too, that you can get a sense of the enduring essence that guides us. I think we have struck a wonderful balance - a school able to grow and evolve with time, able to remain relevant and serve our community, whilst being guided by the original founding values that prevail at our heart.