The 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Geelong Grammar Foundation was held on Wednesday 20 May in the surrounds of the Austin Library, within the Bostock Centre at the new Corio Junior School. It provided an opportunity to reflect on governance, stewardship, and responsibility; but the night was about much more as Directors of Foundation and Council, School leaders and Foundation members gathered to celebrate, to give thanks, and to look forward with ambition and purpose.
Click here to view the photo gallery from the evening.
Fifty years ago, the Foundation was established with a clear and enduring vision: to support Geelong Grammar School in ways that would strengthen its educational offering and extend its impact across generations. What has been achieved over those five decades is nothing short of remarkable.
At the heart of the Foundation’s work has always been the belief that opportunity changes lives. Through the generosity of the GGS community, the Foundation has enabled access to a Geelong Grammar education for students who might otherwise never have had that chance. Beyond scholarships, the community’s generosity has transformed the very fabric of our campuses.
The Chair of Foundation, Vanessa Mahon, reminded those in attendance that anniversaries are not only about looking back—they are also about setting our sights forward.
A key priority for the Foundation is to continue to grow the Scholarship Endowment in meaningful and significant ways, with the launch of the Foundation 50th Anniversary Scholarship. The Chair confirmed that the first leading gift for this scholarship has been made collectively by the Directors of the Foundation—a demonstration of their personal commitment.
2026 also represents a renewed commitment to the most important of foundations—quite literally—of long-term sustainability: the Foundation’s general endowment. Building the endowment remains a critical focus for the Foundation, providing stability, resilience, and the ability to navigate uncertainty with confidence. The bequest program and the Biddlecombe Society is a powerful part of this effort.
This year, the Foundation aims to welcome a further 50 Biddlecombe Society Members, with each new member strengthening the foundation upon which the School’s future is secured.
The 50th anniversary celebration included a birthday cake cutting and the unveiling of a very special honour board to recognise Eminent Members of the Foundation. These members have been recognised not only for their level of philanthropic investment but for their honourable service and commitment to the purposes of the Geelong Grammar Foundation, that is, to advance the School. The board was unveiled by past Chairs of Foundation, Bill Ranken (M’72) and Penelope McBain.
It was fitting for the evening to be held in the new Junior School, a facility enabled through a $10million gift from the Geelong Grammar Foundation. That gift is the result of 50 years of corpus building in the Endowment Fund through gifts from individuals and organisations connected to our School, from Estates of OGGs and past parents and from investment returns achieved through the thoughtful management of funds by the Allocations and Investments Committee.
The Chair of the Foundation shared an expression of genuine gratitude, “to everyone in this room and beyond who is part of this journey—thank you. Your support ensures that Geelong Grammar continues to nurture young people who will lead with purpose, compassion, and courage.”
Happy 50th Anniversary to the Geelong Grammar Foundation.