Official Opening of Somerville House Foundation Building

Thank you, Miss Kelly, for your kind introduction. I too acknowledge the Deputy Premier, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Good morning and thank you for the warm welcome you have extended to Kaye and me on this special day in the life of Somerville House.

As the parents of two Somerville House Old Girls and long-term supporters of the Foundation, we were particularly pleased to be invited to join you here today for the official opening and naming of this newest addition to the School campus.

It is especially pleasing for us that The Foundation Building is the place where one very excited Pre-Prep student, our grand-daughter Lily, recently had her first experience of formal schooling. (Kaye had the added pleasure of picking Lily up after her first day, so you can be assured that we have both received a very comprehensive first-hand report.)

We know this building will become an indelible part of Lily’s memory, as it will for the other girls and boys in the twenty-fifteen cohort.

As the youngest members of the School community, they may not yet appreciate how exceptional this new Early Learning facility is — but parents and extended families certainly do.

We know that a School is more than steel and glass, rooms and equipment; it’s an active learning environment. Here, each Pre-Prep student is welcomed into the Somerville House community and thoroughly prepared for the transition (for the ‘LEAP’) to Prep and, thereafter, to Junior and Senior school.

That ‘LEAP’ acronym (Learn, Engage, Achieve, and Play) succinctly expresses the philosophy of individualism, creativity and unlimited potential that underpins everything that happens here.

From the sense of order that comes from carefully planned daily routines to the Positive Behavior approach of the staff; from the specialist lessons in music, physical education, visual arts and foreign languages, to the encouragement given to children to begin to explore their beliefs — everything is focused on producing (to quote the School’s curriculum) “confident, competent, persistent and resilient lifelong learners” through play-based, hands-on learning.

It is a splendid vision and I commend the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, the School Council of Somerville House, and the Principal, Mrs Kearney on taking the decision to establish the Pre-Prep program, and to commission this magnificent new purpose-built centre as part of the School’s Master Plan.

In particular today I congratulate and commend the Foundation in whose honour this building will soon be officially named.

First, the Foundation’s exceptional support has enabled the School to undertake no fewer than seven major building projects since nineteen ninety-two, as well as to support a program of student scholarships, bequests and bursaries. Then, last year, in its thirtieth year, the Foundation took the major step of transforming its legal structure from a Trust to a Company Limited by Guarantee.

This far-sighted step gives the Foundation the flexibility to expand its fundraising in ways not previously possible and thereby extend its support for the School even further.

The Foundation’s bold vision, commitment, and extraordinary record of support have seen it acknowledged as a leading organisation of its type in schools throughout Australia, and it certainly deserves the recognition that comes with today’s naming ceremony. It is therefore my very great pleasure to name this centre The Foundation Building and to declare it officially open.

Kaye and I look forward to joining you all to celebrate this special occasion. And, importantly, and appropropriately on such a celebratory day, in keeping with Somerville House policy, we have brought with us to share, complete with Crown-shaped icing, the required twenty-two cup cakes – although I trust Mrs Kearney will excuse my not consulting the school staff before bringing food from home!

Thank you.