Melbourne Grammar opens leadership opportunities to larger group of boys

It takes bravery to shake up a tradition that has been in place for more than a century.

Captain Harry: Boarder Harry Chester, from Castlemaine, is Melboure Grammar’s captain of schools, one of more than 40 leadership roles at the senior school.

IT TAKES bravery to shake up a tradition that has been in place for more than a century.

In the case of Melbourne Grammar School headmaster Roy Kelley, bravery plus expertise and the solid support of colleagues.

In 2014, Mr Kelley replaced the senior school’s long-standing prefect system — an institution on the St Kilda Rd campus for more than 160 years — with a new leadership model to open opportunities to more boys, and put in action recommendations from the school’s executive committee.

“I wanted to modernise and create a more inclusive structure and a flatter model,” Mr Kelley said. “Instead of rewarding about 15 students in leadership positions, now there are about 40. That is a big change for us. “If our mantra is all people can be leaders through service, then we select just a handful of students and say you are the only leaders, then the remainders put the cue back in the rack. Sometimes leadership on a flat, more horizontal level, is more in tune with what is happening in business.” Now, dozens of young men broaden their leadership experience, aligning with the school’s mission: to encourage all students to make a difference. This year’s captain of schools, Year 12 boarder Harry Chester, from Castlemaine, is one of them.

A boarder since Year 9, Harry’s role includes working with students, staff and outside groups to organise events and programs on and off campus. He said his friends were all excited about the prospect of filling a leadership role.

“Here, the culture with all the boys is around academics, leadership and taking initiative,” Harry said. “The school supports it and that is one of the reasons I love being here.”

He said the role has taught him that leading is about managing established practices as well as spearheading change. He has carried on a mental health initiative, started by a previous year level, and done charity work, including a Year 10 trip to Cape York. Mr Kelley said Harry was leading by example.

“He is caring, empathetic and a young man who wants to make a difference,” Mr Kelley said. “Through his role modelling, he continues to have the effect on all students I hoped he would have.”