The Ties That Bind Us

For more than a century, the school tie has been a symbol of belonging.

From its origins in the distinctive cravats worn by Croatian soldiers in the seventeenth century, the tie evolved into a powerful expression of identity, pride and connection. At Mentone Grammar, it has played that role since the School’s earliest days, becoming a recognisable symbol of the Mentone Grammar experience.

When the School opened in 1923, students wore a simple navy tie with narrow white stripes. While uniforms evolved over the decades, the tie remained a constant, worn by generations of students who carried with them a shared sense of pride in being part of the School community. In 1970, a dedicated Sixth Form tie was introduced to recognise senior students, reinforcing the idea that a tie could represent not only membership, but achievement, leadership and responsibility.

The story did not end at graduation. In 1927, the Old Mentonians’ Society (as the Association was first called) introduced its own alumni tie which had several iterations over the years, giving former students a visible connection to the School long after they had left the classroom. For decades, Mentonians have worn an Association tie at reunions, milestone celebrations and School events, a reminder that being part of Mentone Grammar is a lifelong relationship rather than a chapter that ends with graduation.

Now, that story enters a new era.

When the manufacturer of the current Mentonians tie ceased production, the School and The Mentonians Association saw an opportunity not simply to replace it, but to strengthen its meaning.

The result is a new tie that brings together two important stages of the Mentone Grammar journey. Based on the current ‘gold’ VCE tie, which was introduced in the School’s Centenary year, the evolved design now incorporates The Mentonians Association crest, creating a powerful connection between a student’s final years at school and their future as a Mentonian.

Each year, the tie will be presented to all Year 11 students as a gift from The Mentonians Association. In doing so, it becomes something unique, the last tie a student receives as a student and the first tie they wear as a member of the alumni community.

This is more than a design change. It is a tangible symbol of transition, recognising that while students eventually leave the classroom, they never leave the Mentone Grammar community. The same tie worn during the final years of school will accompany graduates into reunions, professional milestones, celebrations and future connections with fellow Mentonians.

For alumni, the new tie represents an invitation to embrace this next chapter. It honours the tradition of the Mentonians tie while creating a stronger link between past, present and future generations.

More than 100 years after the first navy-and-white tie was worn at Mentone Grammar, its purpose remains unchanged. It is a symbol of belonging, a connection across generations and a reminder that once a Mentonian… always a Mentonian.