Building on strong foundations

Mr Tim Wiese, Chair of Council

A new year is a time for reflection, perhaps celebration and is often a time to pause and plan. It can be a time of renewal and change and optimism.

For Council, there has been significant change in its composition, with the retirement of long standing and much respected Chair of Council, Mr Mark Paganin. Mark served on Council for ten years, six of those as the Chair. His tenure oversaw significant developments in the Masterplan, with the construction of the Maths and Commerce building, and significant refurbishments to a number of heritage buildings including the Memorial Hall, Chapel, the Gooch Pavilion and the Boat Shed. He also had the unenviable challenge of leading through the COVID pandemic, which raised complexities on a daily basis during a period of great uncertainty for the school. I thank Mark for his diligent service for the school and Carissa and family for the support Mark received in the role.

We also farewelled Greg Ledger, Sachelle Blake, Terry Bowen and John Flecker, each a long serving member of Council. John remains in his role as Chair of Foundation. While these retirements represent a significant loss of expertise and corporate knowledge, a succession plan has been in place well in advance. Recent appointments ensure that a broad range of expertise has been retained on the board, providing seamless financial oversight and governance of the school.

I am pleased to welcome two new appointments to Council as announced at the Senior School Presentation Ceremony last year. Ben Bartholomaeus brings financial and legal acumen to the board from his career in Family Offices. Aaron Hood is stepping across from Foundation to Council. His corporate background ensures a wealth of financial knowledge and strategic ability. Both Ben and Aaron are Old Scotch Collegians and also current parents, so are well embedded in the greater Scotch community.

For me, it is a great privilege to be appointed as Chair of Council at Scotch. While the list of past Chairs includes many pillars of the Western Australian community, it is not the first time Council has chosen a farmer to serve in the position. I think this is a reflection of the inclusiveness and diversity that Scotch values and strives for, and also an indication of the College’s commitment to boarding and to providing a quality education for young men from regional and remote areas. Maintaining connections between city and country and an exchange of culture and knowledge between the metro and country lads are small but important elements of life at Scotch.

My awareness of Scotch started as a 10 year old, when my elder brother began as a Year 8 Keys House boarder. An empty room in the house and a smart kid not boosting the local High School. There can be some tough decisions made as a boarding parent. I followed two years later and my younger brother behind me. While a lot has changed in boarding, the close knit friendships that the boys forge remain a constant, and I value mine still.

My wife, Sarah, and I later re-engaged with the College, as parents putting two boys through boarding at Scotch, and a daughter through St Mary’s. I’m very aware of the financial commitment that parents make in sending their sons to Scotch, and thank them for it. As parents, we were able to appreciate the quality and dedication of the staff at Scotch; academic, extra-curricular, boarding, grounds and facilities, and catering, to name a few, in a way that I suspect I missed as a student. Now, with 6 years on Council, a broader picture emerges of the round the clock business that is Scotch. It’s busy, and complex, and it is staffed by some pretty extraordinary individuals. Traditions are valued and change is constant, fine tuning our offering to prepare our young men for a changing world.

Some significant changes for Council in 2023. What remains unchanged, is Council continuing to base its deliberations around the question of what is best for the boys. I wish staff and students all the best for 2023.