Foundation Chair

2022 has been a year of reconnection for the Geelong Grammar Foundation. It has provided us with the opportunity to return with enthusiasm to our regular schedule of community events, including successful Biddlecombe Society lunches in Barwon Heads, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, our Geelong Grammar School & Geelong Grammar Foundation Black Tie Dinner, celebrating with donors at Leavers’ Day and our Volunteer Recognition Reception.

These events are especially important opportunities for us to recognise the support of our community of donors and to share the impact of these contributions on the life of our School. I have continued to be inspired by the generosity of our community as this year has gone on. As we come to the end of 2022, we celebrate gifts to the Foundation in excess of $3.9million. This has included donations of all sizes to support a wide range of initiatives.

provided 110 students access to a GGS education through scholarships. I am proud of the generosity of our community to enable these life-changing opportunities. We have also seen the continuation of important initiatives in Creative Education and Positive Education, enabled through the support of our donors.

Most recently, the story of Jodene Gartsone (EM’16), shared on Giving Tuesday, provided a reminder of the incredible impact gifts can have on the lives of students, both in their time at the School and beyond (charidy.com/ ggstogether).

We remain grateful to all those who have given to support the School across 2022. I would like to particularly acknowledge the generosity of the late Jeff Peck (Ge’42) and Silver Harris, Gordon Moffatt (M’48), Tony Poolman (FB’60), Anne and Mark Robertson OAM, the Handbury Foundation, Min and Ian Darling AO (P’79), and Tim Fairfax (M’64). Thank you for your leadership and munificent support.

I am pleased to confirm the appointment of six new Eminent Members of the Geelong Grammar Foundation in 2022. Eminent membership recognises members of our community for their honourable service to the Geelong Grammar Foundation. It is a category of membership not defined by the value of giving but by a commitment to the purposes of the Geelong Grammar Foundation, that is, to advance the School.

The Geelong Grammar Foundation now recognises 24 Eminent Members through this significant tier of membership, acknowledged in perpetuity. Our new Eminent Members are:

Silver Harris

Gordon Moffatt AM KSJ (M’48)

Andrew Muir

Emma Muir

The late Jeff Peck (Ge’42)

Tony Poolman (FB’60)

I thank our donors for their continued optimism and enduring commitment to supporting our School through the Geelong Grammar Foundation. We look forward with excitement to the possibilities ahead in 2023, particularly the opportunities to come through the Corio and Timbertop Masterplans, and for the chance to continue to connect and engage as a community.

Penny McBain Chair, Geelong Grammar Foundation