President, The Old Melburnians
The Old Melburnians Society is important, not merely useful. And so is being an Old Melburnian.
That insight really belongs to others. It comes to me from the many hundreds of Old Melburnians I have met and corresponded with here and overseas over the last two years. At reunions, branch events here and overseas and by chance encounter. All sorts of people in all sorts of situations.
But why is it important? My answer is that the School is our legacy and the School’s legacy is us. And that speaks to something much greater than self-interest. Something that will outlast us all.
At this year’s 145th Annual Dinner I posed a question. How would you explain what we are about?
You would point out our common ground, not any points of difference.
You would point out how we as Old Melburnians conduct ourselves, towards each other and towards others. Personal integrity and mutual loyalty are our hallmarks.
You would point to the gift of The Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall and what it represents.
That is the legacy that has come down to us to preserve and enhance. Both the fact of it and the manner of it. It is as secure in the hands of the newest generation of Old Melburnians as it has been in the hands of our most senior Old Melburnians.
It strikes me that the sense of humour and esprit de corps was much the same for the 2020 Leavers at their reunion this year as it was for the 1955 Leavers at theirs. And when a 1955 Leaver meets a 2020 Leaver, they converse as brothers even if they have never met before.
I have seen it many times over from Melbourne to London. It applies as equally to Old Melburnians who can trace across generations back to the School’s earliest days as it does to those who are the very first in their family to walk the Quad. It applies equally to the 1,000 women who feel deeply connected to Grimwade House, some of whom are fourth generation Old Melburnians. And of course, among our number are Old Melburnians whose ancestors walked the land before recorded time.
And for me, that is the essence of it all. Our legacy as Old Melburnians was passed down to us by those who came before us.
And they themselves received it from those who came before them. And it will go on in the same way. I am certain of that. That testifies to something much more profound than simply going to school with someone.
Serving as President of the Old Melburnians has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am confident that the Old Melburnians Society will continue to thrive and prosper.
All we have to do is remember that it is important, not merely useful.
Martin Scott KC (OM 1980)
President, The Old Melburnians
