Campbell Garry, Head Boy 2011
Good evening and welcome to Campbell live. I would like to thank special guests, parents, pupils, staff, and of course, the viewers at home for watching.
Tonight I have a packed programme for you and I could go on all night, but I’m going to keep this short, because Mr Scott advised me that the longer I talk, the colder the savouries will get.
There are some big days in your life, and one right up there is your final day of school forever. The past few weeks have been a time for reminiscing – we’ve had some interesting times, some good, some bad and some just plain embarrassing. But most of our school days can be compared to a ride on the Magic School Bus….. But without the bus… (And, without some of the magic).
It was seven years ago now that I arrived here at McGlashan for my first day. The buildings were big, the books were incomprehensible, and the seniors of 2003 were MASSIVE. It seemed to me that at least half their body mass was facial hair. I lived in hope that one day, I too, would be a senior, with facial hair. Sadly, only one of those two things happened.
In my first week as a squeaky clean, nervous little red headed year 7, proud of my pressed and pristine uniform, I had an altercation with one of those hairy 7th formers that I just mentioned. He met me in the canteen; he put his hand in my shirt pocket, and with a big pull, tore it off my puny chest. I probably would never have used that pocket, but it still hurt my feelings.
Year 9 Science was a wondrous educational experience and opened up a whole new world to us: the opportunity to take part in practical experiments. This quickly resulted in explosions, oil fires and freak gas-tap ignitions! It was all fun and games until we discovered that burns were actually painful, not to mention the trauma involved the day I lost my eyebrows.
Year 11 quickly rolled around and well, we had four GLORIOUS snow days that year. Nothing else happened of equal importance. It’s hard to beat four snow days.
Year 12 and we soon realised that we were working our way up in the school. The opening of the ELC was a big part of 2008 and what a fantastic asset it is to the school. But I do have one small issue, and that is the slipperiness of the floor in the foyer. As you know, the prefects at McGlashan are well respected for the mature and dignified way in which they behave. But, on a very wet day, when we were being particularly mature and dignified, I went running into the foyer with James Skeggs in hot pursuit. In the foyer of the ELC that fateful day I slipped and did a spectacular dive through the air and fell flat on my face! I received the most heartfelt round of applause I’ve had in all my time at McGlashan. Thanks guys.
And finally year 13: At the start of the year, I stood, very nervously, at this lectern in the first formal assembly as head boy, and with crazy optimism I pronounced things like… “This year is going to be the best year in the history of the College…. we will break records, set new standards, win, and exceed all expectations. The sky is the limit.” Well, I was wrong. It was not the best year. It wasn’t even a good year. We had a magnificent year.
The strong and proud Ross House has finally been beaten by the almighty Gilray. Congratulations boys. They say good things take time - it only took you 90 years. Good one, Skeggsy. A well deserved win after all of your hard work.
2009 hasn’t been all about house rivalry, other very important things have actually happened too.
The Leavers table would have to be a highlight. The table itself is pretty impressive, but we were more amazed by the fact that two teenagers were allowed to hire a two-ton digger for a weekend which we operated, unsupervised, in the quad. The only landscaping I achieved was redesigning the shape of Calum McDonald’s forehead with the digger bucket. I would like to take this opportunity to say “Sorry Calum”, and thanks for all your hard work.
Next year it will be hard adjusting to life beyond McGlashan, beyond the security of school, beyond the prying eyes of the deputy principal and the librarian.
For the students returning in 2010, the only thing year 13 has over you is good judgement. Good judgement comes with experience and experience comes from making bad judgements. I know you will get all the experience you need in 2010; just remember that you are part of something bigger. Others will remember you for what you leave behind - you leave a legacy. Make sure it’s a good one.
Here at McGlashan we share a common purpose. We make the most of every opportunity and have the courage to stick with it. It’s about getting things done, and in the immortal words of some of the teachers here “JUST DO IT.”
There’s no big secret to success – you can speak to any of the guys who have collected prizes tonight and they will all tell you – I just worked at it. It’s not just luck or talent, they’ve all worked their butts off. So take some risks, go out ,work hard and make things happen.
Finally, on behalf of the boys, I want to thank the staff. Thanks for sticking with us and for putting in the hard yards to make sure we achieve to the very best of our abilities. We are very grateful.
I would also like to thank everybody who has supported me this year. You know who you are and without knowing it, you have made anything possible.
For the departing year 13’s, as we walk off into the different directions of our lives, I’d like to say now, class of 2009, my friends … we made it. We can all feel proud of what we have done together because we made a difference and made the most of our amazing opportunities. We have made McGlashan a better place. We have made it stronger, more spirit-filled and now we are ready to leave it in capable hands for 2010.
Everything you have learned and experienced at McGlashan has shaped the character you are today. Whereever you walk, whatever you do; work, study or travel, McGlashan will be with you whether you like it or not. It will be a connection you will never shake.
And now, there is nothing more to say, other than I am proud to be part of McGlashan’s history. And privileged to have been one of you. I will always be here with you at McGlashan head and heart. And that concludes Campbell live for tonight. Congratulations on a successful year, good luck with your exams and enjoy life to its fullest. Thank you. Ka kite ano and a very good evening indeed.
Tonight I have a packed programme for you and I could go on all night, but I’m going to keep this short, because Mr Scott advised me that the longer I talk, the colder the savouries will get.
There are some big days in your life, and one right up there is your final day of school forever. The past few weeks have been a time for reminiscing – we’ve had some interesting times, some good, some bad and some just plain embarrassing. But most of our school days can be compared to a ride on the Magic School Bus….. But without the bus… (And, without some of the magic).
It was seven years ago now that I arrived here at McGlashan for my first day. The buildings were big, the books were incomprehensible, and the seniors of 2003 were MASSIVE. It seemed to me that at least half their body mass was facial hair. I lived in hope that one day, I too, would be a senior, with facial hair. Sadly, only one of those two things happened.
In my first week as a squeaky clean, nervous little red headed year 7, proud of my pressed and pristine uniform, I had an altercation with one of those hairy 7th formers that I just mentioned. He met me in the canteen; he put his hand in my shirt pocket, and with a big pull, tore it off my puny chest. I probably would never have used that pocket, but it still hurt my feelings.
Year 9 Science was a wondrous educational experience and opened up a whole new world to us: the opportunity to take part in practical experiments. This quickly resulted in explosions, oil fires and freak gas-tap ignitions! It was all fun and games until we discovered that burns were actually painful, not to mention the trauma involved the day I lost my eyebrows.
Year 11 quickly rolled around and well, we had four GLORIOUS snow days that year. Nothing else happened of equal importance. It’s hard to beat four snow days.
Year 12 and we soon realised that we were working our way up in the school. The opening of the ELC was a big part of 2008 and what a fantastic asset it is to the school. But I do have one small issue, and that is the slipperiness of the floor in the foyer. As you know, the prefects at McGlashan are well respected for the mature and dignified way in which they behave. But, on a very wet day, when we were being particularly mature and dignified, I went running into the foyer with James Skeggs in hot pursuit. In the foyer of the ELC that fateful day I slipped and did a spectacular dive through the air and fell flat on my face! I received the most heartfelt round of applause I’ve had in all my time at McGlashan. Thanks guys.
And finally year 13: At the start of the year, I stood, very nervously, at this lectern in the first formal assembly as head boy, and with crazy optimism I pronounced things like… “This year is going to be the best year in the history of the College…. we will break records, set new standards, win, and exceed all expectations. The sky is the limit.” Well, I was wrong. It was not the best year. It wasn’t even a good year. We had a magnificent year.
The strong and proud Ross House has finally been beaten by the almighty Gilray. Congratulations boys. They say good things take time - it only took you 90 years. Good one, Skeggsy. A well deserved win after all of your hard work.
2009 hasn’t been all about house rivalry, other very important things have actually happened too.
The Leavers table would have to be a highlight. The table itself is pretty impressive, but we were more amazed by the fact that two teenagers were allowed to hire a two-ton digger for a weekend which we operated, unsupervised, in the quad. The only landscaping I achieved was redesigning the shape of Calum McDonald’s forehead with the digger bucket. I would like to take this opportunity to say “Sorry Calum”, and thanks for all your hard work.
Next year it will be hard adjusting to life beyond McGlashan, beyond the security of school, beyond the prying eyes of the deputy principal and the librarian.
For the students returning in 2010, the only thing year 13 has over you is good judgement. Good judgement comes with experience and experience comes from making bad judgements. I know you will get all the experience you need in 2010; just remember that you are part of something bigger. Others will remember you for what you leave behind - you leave a legacy. Make sure it’s a good one.
Here at McGlashan we share a common purpose. We make the most of every opportunity and have the courage to stick with it. It’s about getting things done, and in the immortal words of some of the teachers here “JUST DO IT.”
There’s no big secret to success – you can speak to any of the guys who have collected prizes tonight and they will all tell you – I just worked at it. It’s not just luck or talent, they’ve all worked their butts off. So take some risks, go out ,work hard and make things happen.
Finally, on behalf of the boys, I want to thank the staff. Thanks for sticking with us and for putting in the hard yards to make sure we achieve to the very best of our abilities. We are very grateful.
I would also like to thank everybody who has supported me this year. You know who you are and without knowing it, you have made anything possible.
For the departing year 13’s, as we walk off into the different directions of our lives, I’d like to say now, class of 2009, my friends … we made it. We can all feel proud of what we have done together because we made a difference and made the most of our amazing opportunities. We have made McGlashan a better place. We have made it stronger, more spirit-filled and now we are ready to leave it in capable hands for 2010.
Everything you have learned and experienced at McGlashan has shaped the character you are today. Whereever you walk, whatever you do; work, study or travel, McGlashan will be with you whether you like it or not. It will be a connection you will never shake.
And now, there is nothing more to say, other than I am proud to be part of McGlashan’s history. And privileged to have been one of you. I will always be here with you at McGlashan head and heart. And that concludes Campbell live for tonight. Congratulations on a successful year, good luck with your exams and enjoy life to its fullest. Thank you. Ka kite ano and a very good evening indeed.