Recently I have come to see the School from a refreshed perspective.
I left school many years ago now. But I have come to realise through reconnecting myself with OMs and the School how powerful and enduring that sense of a common bond is. However different we may be as people, it is a simple truth.
As President of the Old Melburnians, I have the real privilege of attending all our reunions. It is striking how similar the atmosphere and emotion in the room is across generations. Whether it is a 1 or 70 Year reunion or anything in between, the sense of engagement and welcome is patent. I have never met anyone who fails to feel elevated by the experience.
Reunions are not just nostalgia. They are very much about being in the present. The conversations I hear are not just about memories, they are as much about today and tomorrow.
One thing I notice is how diverse the Old Melburnians who attend truly are. Inside the reunion, we are who we are and everyone is pleased to see you. I often notice that old friendships are rekindled and new common ground is found. There is no stereotype I can discern, except to say there is evidently a genuine pride in our School, in being an OM and the values we stand for.
These values create powerful throughlines in our lives. When the Old Melburnians Council recently wrote down our values and objectives, the results aligned with the School’s values closely. Even though I left school 43 years and three Headmasters ago, there is no doubt my values and yours remain relevant and recognisable in the School of today. The best test of that is the calibre of young person the School produces. They remain outstanding. The School makes a difference.
Of course, there is a lot more to the Old Melburnians than reunions. There are many ways to engage with each other and the School, wherever you are. The Old Melburnians’ clubs, our OM Journeys series, business breakfasts, career mentoring and other opportunities are outlined on the OMs’ website.
The Old Melburnians Council is ultimately about enabling Old Melburnians to connect and reconnect within and across generations. I encourage OMs to tell us what they want. No matter when you left school or where you are in the world today, you belong.
Martin Scott KC (OM 1980)
President, The Old Melburnians
