Community and Service
The Naturalist Club Event
From time to time the College is approached to support various charities and community groups and often this results in a partnership through fundraising of direct action by boys. One such approach was made by the Naturalist Club in WA - one of the oldest conservation groups in Australia. The Club is holding its annual Serventy Memorial Lecture on Wednesday March 25 at the Social Science Lecture Theatre, UWA, at 7.30pm. The guest speaker is a well known natural history educator - the 'Birdman' - Eric McCrum OAM.
Round Square World Conference
Year 11 boys are invited to apply to attend the 2015 Round Square International Conference. This will be hosted by the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore in October. As a Regional Member of Round Square we can bring four Scotch boys to join the over 1000 delegates who are expected to attend from Round Square schools around the world. The theme of the conference is 'Act Today, Change Tomorrow'. Boys who are interested should complete the Application Form.
Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
Work has begun on the planning of the inaugural Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF) to be held on the Middle School Campus on June 28. This event is in partnership with the Melbourne HRAFF organization. Short and feature length films on Human Rights issues will be screened in three sessions in MacKellar Hall in the afternoon. One of the viewings will be followed by a Q&A discussion with a panel of experts in the area of Human Rights. In other venues within the Middle School campus displays and stalls will be set up highlighting human rights issues and the work of various agencies.
While this HRAFF is intended for Year 11 and 12 students from Scotch and other invited schools, the displays will be available to other students and the wider community in the week following the event. If you would like to contribute in any to this event, please contact Bill Cordner. jwcordner@scotch.wa.edu.au.
The Matipwili Trade Training Centre
Work has continued on the construction of the Trade Training Centre (TTC) in Matipwili Village in Tanzania. Once completed, and staffed by teachers guaranteed by the government of Tanzania, this facility will provide more learning opportunities for the community in this remote rural village. Scotch College and Presbyterian Ladies College have been partnered with the community since 2004 with successive service trips working to renovate classroom in the primary school and construct various additional facilities including a Library and Resource Centre housing over 30 solar-powered computers. The TTC was designed by architects from Perth and Adelaide in collaboration with the village community during a visit the Matipwili in 2013.
The Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided a grant of Aus$30,000 towards the construction of the TTC. Students and parents on the last Tanzania Expedition also contributed to the construction costs through fundraising and donations. More funds are needed and there will be ongoing fundraising efforts as successive groups prepare for the trip across to Tanzania.
In July this year another delegation of architects and teachers will journey to Matipwili to provide further support to the community as the construction continues. This self-funded group representing Scotch, PLC and CEFPI - the Council of Educational Facility Planners International - will work on some of the more technical aspects of the build as well as continue to deepen our friendship with the people of Matipwili.
The recently completed TTC slab with underground water tank beneath.
Mr Bill Cordner
Director of Community and Service
