As a former Melbourne Grammar student and parent, I am keenly aware of the many ways our community contributes to the success of our School. I believe those who decided I had the potential to succeed at Melbourne Grammar made an investment in my future, and it’s this attitude of investing in others that I seek to encourage, and to continue.
For our parent community, choosing to enrol a child in Melbourne Grammar represents a tangible investment in their education. Of course, this goes beyond the payment of school fees and other educational costs.
Parents’ time, attention, and ongoing support underpin the daily activities of our School, as well as the co-curricular activities that make up a holistic Melbourne Grammar education. All this is to say nothing of the contribution of organisations such as Friends of Grammar, which are also essential to the life of our School.
Students themselves invest in their own education each day through their commitment to excellence in their studies, their enthusiasm in taking up the wide range of opportunities on offer outside the classroom, and in their care and respect for one another.
I know that in my own case, it was coming to Melbourne Grammar that sparked an interest in rowing, allowed me to study chemical engineering, and led to my ability to live and work overseas. In many ways, my career success has been built on the opportunities I encountered as part of this School.
The young people who come to our School understand that achievement most often comes through collaborating with and listening to one another. They know that true leadership calls for a strong connection with those we lead, and that participation is key to the success of the community as a whole.
Melbourne Grammar students are part of a vast network of alumni that continues to invest in our School by sharing knowledge, experience, and support. Many of the Old Melburnians I speak to emphasise how important it has been to remain connected to the community that shaped their values and opportunities. These connections take many forms, from mentoring current students to sharing stories via Grammar News and attending Old Melburnian gatherings in Australia and overseas.
Every day, our staff invest in our students’ education, and indeed the future of our School, in a direct, concrete way. This is as true of our professional staff as it is our teaching staff. By engaging skilled people across all these roles, we create an environment where staff can create opportunities for others, and for themselves. Investing in our staff members’ skills, capabilities, resources, and wellbeing means we can continue to strengthen the culture of excellence our School enjoys.
As a School Council, it is our role to honour the choice of every member of our community to invest in Melbourne Grammar. Our governance decisions are carefully considered to achieve the best, most sustainable outcomes today, and in future years. These decisions represent our investment in Melbourne Grammar School’s continued success.
Andrew Michelmore AO
Chair of Council
