Our Inheritance: Honouring Elders, Empowering Youth
Dr Areti (Ari) Metuamate
At Ormond, we know that every step forward rests on the shoulders of those who came before us. In a world obsessed with the “self-made” story, it’s easy to forget that our paths have been paved by generations of elders whose vision, generosity, and quiet service built the institutions and communities we now inherit.
Monday 14 July 2025 • 8 minute read
In a world increasingly fixated on individual achievement and the notion of the “self-made” person, we too often forget a simple truth: none of us got to where we are by ourselves. In support of this point, I have often thought of a speech by former US President Barack Obama, where he said: “If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own … somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life… somebody invested in roads and bridges.”Indeed! The schools we went to, the public libraries we visit, the sports fields we play on, the institutions we belong to, were built by our forebears. Our elders, and their elders before them, fought for these things, funded them, protected them, and dreamt them into being. This includes Ormond College. The buildings, traditions, heritage, and reputation that define our community were created by generations before us. They were formed, shaped, tested, and carefully stewarded over time. Today, we are custodians of that inheritance, and we carry a responsibility to strengthen and build upon it for those who come next.We live in a society that often feels like a race. Towards the next promotion, the latest car, and all while trying to remain as youthful as ever. In this race, it is easy to forget that the old man riding a mobility scooter slowly along the paved footpath as you grumble impatiently because you are running late for work, is actually the same man who laid the pavement. Our ambition can often see us so obsessed with progress that we don’t take the time to consider how we got to where we are now. I regularly encourage students to slow down and enjoy the moment, to stop and reflect on the present before rushing into the future. But lately, I have come to realise that message on its own is incomplete. We also need to talk more about appreciating and understanding the past. We owe it to those who came before us to acknowledge their contributions, to remember their stories, and to learn from them. Today, elders are too often sidelined, thought of as ‘past their prime’, and many who are placed in aged care homes are left disconnected from the society they helped to build, barely receiving a visit even from their own family members. A recent lunch with two of Ormond’s generous supporters, John and Jenny Leaper, brought this home to me. For many years the Leapers have dedicated their lives to providing quality services through their aged care business. As Jenny put it, “We want our facilities to be connected to the community, where the community comes in, rather than have our elderly hidden away or pushed to the side.” That vision is one we should all embrace. When older people are visible and appreciated, rightfully seen as an important part of the community, this benefits us all. Our elders bring perspective, patience, and lived experience, and their presence reminds us that we have not arrived where we are by chance. Every one of us descends from people who shaped the world around them, in big ways and small. Those grey haired, wrinkled, and aging frames we see around us were once young, ambitious people wanting to make something of themselves. They deserve, after all they’ve done, to enjoy their later years being valued and remembered. For me, this is personal. I grew up very close to my grandparents. I visited them often, and the things I learned from them have shaped who I am and how I do things today. How I am as a father, how I lead, how I relate to others, and even how I grow herbs and vegetables! I feel blessed to have had the time I had with my grandparents, and while I miss them deeply, through cherished memories they remain ever-present in my life.A colleague recently pointed out to me that many young people feel angry at older generations. They look at the world they are inheriting, with things like climate chaos and unaffordable housing, and ask, “How could they let this happen?”. But I don’t think that is a fair question or approach. I doubt our elders set out to cause these problems. In fact, many of the things that make our lives better today like electricity, public education, the internet, and global travel, exist because of them. If we are serious about solving today’s problems, the focus needs to be firmly on learning, not blaming. At Ormond, we are extremely grateful for the generous support of many, especially our elders, who have given time, money, service, and wisdom over the years. People like our founding benefactor Francis Ormond, former masters such as Davis McCaughey, and alumni like Elizabeth Lewis. Today, we continue to benefit from the generosity of our alumni elders, some I’ve had the privilege to witness giving so selflessly. Trailblazers like paediatrician Merrilyn Murnane-Griffiths, company director Charles Goode, and businessman and philanthropist Neville Bertalli, and his wife Di. And then there are two people who are tireless advocates for Indigenous health and for Ormond’s Indigenous program: Jane Freemantle and esteemed ophthalmologist Hugh Taylor. Their commitment has been over many years, and students often speak gratefully of them to me. In my time as Master, and Vice Master before that, I have also seen the generosity of Penelope and John McBain, and other medical leaders like Graeme Robson, Roger McLennan, and Geoff Clarke. The giving of these elders, and many others, has opened doors for students from diverse backgrounds, helping them access a world-class education and inspire them to think more boldly about their future and the role they can play in the world. Their quiet generosity, like that of so many others, is part of what sustains Ormond today, not just through gifts of money, but through a spirit of service and stewardship.It’s a spirit I am reminded of at the beginning of each Ormond College Council meeting where our deputy chair of more than 20 years, Rev Dr Robert Johnson, offers a prayer and reflection. While anyone can lead a prayer, there is a depth to Robert’s words that always comforts me. He speaks with the calm wisdom of an elder, and his approach brings a quiet peace to the room. In the busy and noisy world of Melbourne and Ormond College, moments like this are special. That same spirit of generosity came to mind when a mother recently shared with me that she and her late husband had hoped to support their daughter to attend the University of Melbourne, to achieve her dream to be the first in their family to go to university. But this mother had no means to make it happen as she was now solo at home caring for an elderly parent and raising three children all under the same roof. She told me: “without the support of the Ormond donors, my daughter would not be able to live her dream”. A moving example of the legacy of our elders, which lives on in the footsteps of many young people now walking the corridors of Ormond. Strikingly, when I thanked one of our donors, Tony Bothroyd, for all he has given Ormond, he replied without a second of thought, “but Ormond has given so much to me”. A beautiful reminder that this legacy flows in both directions. As Master, it is a privilege to work with our students who are filled with ambition, talent, and endless energy. However, on top of that, I want them to be grounded and confident in who they are. To know where they come from, to understand the value of those who came before them, and to carry that understanding into how they live and lead. I want our students to know their elders; to sit with their grandparents, to ask them questions and to listen. I want them to spend time with those who carry experience, insight, and hard-won wisdom. And I want them to see the value in these interactions. As we start to build new programs and strengthen current ones here at Ormond, in partnership with our student leaders, this will be front of mind for me.These intergenerational connections are enriching and, in my view, essential for the growth and development of young people. The stories, advice, and quiet strength of older generations cannot be fully captured in textbooks, documentaries, or social media. There is no better way to learn from elders than being with them in person, sharing moments together face to face. This is also part of every student’s inheritance: human, relational, and deeply personal experiences to be treasured. I would argue that few things in life matter more.It’s something we experience firsthand at Ormond. My family and I are fortunate to live near another elder of our community. Just downstairs from us is Stephen McIntyre, one of Australia’s most eminent pianists and a fellow of the College who has been mentoring and supporting students for just over fifty years. We often hear Stephen playing the piano and the music drifts through the building almost as if it is a gift being offered to us by one of the greats. To my son Iluka, he is ‘Koro Stephen’. Koro is the Māori word for grandfather or male elder, a name that carries with it reverence. Iluka gave him that name on his own, sensing instinctively that Stephen was someone to be honoured. One of our core values at Ormond is heritage, and so we hold that to educate is not just to prepare someone for what lies ahead, but to help them understand the depth of what came before, and to carry that knowledge forward in their lives. Our future will only be as strong as our memory is long. Institutions and communities like ours need to be places where those who paved the way are known by the next generation, because only then will our future leaders be best prepared to meaningfully impact the lives of those around them, and build a future better than the one they inherited.