The Hartley Mitchell Scholarship

Farewell Hartley Mitchell – welcome The Hartley Mitchell Scholarship!

In a typical act of modesty, the retiring Hartley Mitchell has asked that Geelong Grammar School let him go quietly. And in an exceptional act of benevolence, Hartley has pledged his entire estate to The Geelong Grammar Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Commencing at Geelong Grammar School as the Head of Perry in 1990; becoming Head of Corio in 1994; Deputy Principal in 1995 and Head of Manifold House in 1997, Hartley will retire in December after 13 years as the Head of Manifold House and 20 years at GGS.

As a gesture of gratitude the School was planning a ceremonial farewell to match both his tenure and his achievements, while providing an opportunity for the extended Manifold family to celebrate his exceptional commitment to so many individual students and families.

But Hartley’s response to our farewell proposal was short, and clear:

“I, with all due humility would like to make another suggestion –

It would mean far, far more to me if it were possible for someone to write to past and present Manifold parents and students informing them of my departure and letting them know that it is my wish that if any mark of appreciation is to be made for my time in Manifold that it should not be done via a dinner and, or gift to me but via a donation to the GGS Scholarship Fund. A list of those who gave could then be given to me and that would be something I would treasure more than anything else I can possibly imagine. If the reply to this suggestion from someone is that both dinners and donations for scholarships should take place, my response is that anyone who thinks that should simply give more to the Scholarship Fund!”

Hartley’s extraordinary pledge has been undertaken to create a perpetual fund to award a Scholarship, or Scholarships, for students to be able to attend GGS. In accordance with Hartley’s will, the Scholarship is to be primarily for academic merit. If appropriate, the selected recipients may also be Manifold House members.

So as we celebrate both Hartley’s GGS career and his founding of a Scholarship – The Hartley Mitchell Scholarship, we must now raise a minimum of $250,000 in donations and pledges to get this started now.  We ask for your help to establish the Scholarship in his name immediately rather than upon his death. In this way we can mark his retirement according to his request.  One member of our community has already indicated support of a $25,000 gift pledged over five years.  This is a wonderful start, and we are confident there will be many more generous donations received to ensure that The Hartley Mitchell Scholarship is awarded during Hartley’s lifetime.

You can donate online or for further information about supporting The Hartley Mitchell Scholarship, please contact Elizabeth Pont, Executive Director of the Foundation and Director of Community Relations, tel: +61 3 5273 9254.