How buildings create school culture

Thank you for your support

Philanthropy is critical to Melbourne Grammar School’s success. Since the School’s earliest days, generous donors have underpinned the School’s commitment to providing a strong, values-based education. This investment has been repaid many times over, as our students have become leaders in their professions, valued contributors to their communities and role models within their homes.

The School’s recently published strategy – Towards 2030 – honours that heritage and provides guidance on how students will continue to receive an exceptional education in coming years. The School recognises the importance of various factors in building a strong and supportive community, including excellent teaching, strong ethics and values, and facilities that best enable our students to reach their potential. Like many of you, I was shaped by the lessons learnt at Melbourne Grammar. This included the entreaty to act for the greater overall good, with service and contribution to the community being central to that ethos. The Melbourne Grammar School Foundation has exemplified these values for nearly 50 years and continues its passionate advocacy for an outstanding School education. More than 1,150 donors have joined the Foundation since 1974, while we know of 283 people who have declared that they will leave a gift in their Will to the School. This is a phenomenal commitment to the School.

I wish to thank the outgoing Foundation President, Philip Solomon KC (OM 1986), for his outstanding service and generosity over the previous five years. I am honoured to be following in his footsteps at a time when the School is looking to expand its philanthropic horizons. In the years ahead, the School will replace the Rhoden and Neill buildings with a new centre that will be at the vanguard of humanities education in Australia, will provide greater access to outstanding young leaders and will further refine the

School’s commitment to Indigenous students. These aspirations will build on a major philanthropic tradition encompassing such transformational gifts as the Witherby Tower and

Harleston at Grimwade House. The post-pandemic return to campus life has been extraordinary and epitomises the leadership provided by the School’s executive, teachers and students. Our next challenge is to translate the strength arising from successfully coping with adversity into a wonderful ongoing school culture that benefits current and future families.

I love Melbourne Grammar School. It has provided me and members of my family with a fantastic education and, crucially, a love of lifelong learning. I have benefitted from the focus on extracurricular activities and the relationships that the School builds between students of different ages and backgrounds. The following pages provide a glimpse of that environment – one deserving of its reputation as a great school.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Melbourne Grammar School.

Professor Julian Smith Professor Julian Smith (OM 1975) President of the Melbourne Grammar School Foundation

Areas of priority

01

Scholarships and Bursaries

Providing talented and deserving students from all walks of life with access to our exceptional educational experience.

02

Indigenous Scholarships and Bursaries

Supporting young Indigenous students’ potential for the future.

03

Buildings and Grounds

Developing contemporary, purpose-built learning environments which ignite curiosity.

04

The Endowment Fund

Ensuring the School’s current and emerging priorities are met now and into the future.

This report lists donors to Melbourne Grammar School from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If an error has occurred, please accept our apologies and contact the Development Office on +61 3 9865 7633 or foundation@mgs.vic.edu.au so that we can amend our records.

Melbourne Grammar School Foundation Board

Our Foundation Board is made up of members of the School community who actively encourage philanthropy. Board members are informed advocates of, and ambassadors for, Melbourne Grammar School and the importance of philanthropy in supporting and creating the School’s future. Members of the Board host events organised by the Community Relations Office in support of fundraising priorities and stewardship programs. They possess an awareness of Melbourne Grammar School and its activities, future directions, programs and community. Members work with the Head of Development to build strong and lasting relationships with benefactors, and to actively thank and recognise current and past donors. They provide visible leadership and set an example to others by making Melbourne Grammar School their philanthropic priority.

Membership

Chair

Professor Julian Smith

Members

Mr Andrew Brookes Mr Michael Cotton Dr Amanda Day Mr Damian Ferguson Mr Jamie Gray Mr Philip Grutzner Mr Andrew Guy OAM Ms Fiona Hindmarsh Dr Shirley Hsieh Mr Andrew Michelmore AO Mrs Alex Scanlon Professor Geoffrey Taylor