Old Boys in the News – August 2023

Our Old Boys have been busy of late, including:

Old Collegian Stewart Hynes. Photo Adam Trafford

• Great to see Old Collegian Stewart Hynes (SPC 1976-81) recognised as a Ballarat born and bred business owner for the past 25 years, firstly in the finance industry and currently in the printing industry. Stewart is the Ballarat centre owner of Kwik Kopy, taking over the business three months after COVID-19 was declared a worldwide pandemic. Stewart shares how he does good business in this story here
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  Aaron Cadman.

  It was great to have Old Collegian Aaron Cadman (SPC 2016-20, PY2021) back in Ballarat recently as the AFL Draft pick ran out onto Mars Stadium as a GWS Giant in front of family, friends and former Rebels and Darley teammates. To read more, click here and here

• Good to see Gordon veteran ruckman Luke Gunnell (SPC 2003-08) set to line up for his first senior appearance in the Central Highlands FL for the season this weekend, read more in this story here
• Congratulations to Old Boy Kevin Cummins (SPC 1990-95) who was inducted into the Ballarat Football Netball League Hall of Fame recently for his work with East Ballarat/East Point. To read more, click here
  

  Geoff McArthur. Photo Kate Healy

• Great to see we have another author in our midst with Old Collegian Geoff McArthur (SPC 1969-74) also recently releasing a novel, Look for the Red Umbrella. The retired primary school teacher wrote during the COVID lockdown and the novel is based on personal tragedy, family scandal and an enterprising woman determined to stand her ground in an emerging city dominated by men on the goldfields. To find out more, click here
• It is heartwarming to see the sons of our much-loved former staff member Mark Waddington raising funds for Dry July in memory of their late father, who sadly passed away in 2022. Declan and Tadhg remember their dad as “a beacon of resilience and hope, showing all that one can weather the harshest of storms with love” and the brothers are fundraising for the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC). To support Declan and Tadhg, click here
• Fantastic to hear Old Collegian Aaron Noonan (SPC 1994-99) was back in Ballarat for a V8 event recently at the Regent Cinemas. With more than 20 years in the Australian motorsport industry, Aaron is well known as the head of the popular website, V8 Sleuth. Find out more about what Aaron is doing here
  

  An elated Nathan Sobey celebrates his win with wife CC and son Oakley. Photo Rob Bibby & The Courier

• Old Boy Nathan Sobey (SPC 2008) has starred to help Ipswich Force win its first NBL1 title recently, defeating Gold Coast Rollers – the association’s first state title in its 60-year existence. Nathan was named finals most valuable player. Read more in this story here
• Hepburn footballer Andy McKay (SPC 1995-2000) faces missing the opening week of the Central Highlands FL finals after leg surgery, read more in this story here
  

  Shaun O’Loughlin. Photo Adam Trafford

• Old Collegian Shaun O’Loughlin (SPC 1990-95) will stay on as Buninyong’s senior footy coach, his sixth year in charge, read more here
• Old Collegian Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-80), a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Commonwealth Games Australia board member, expressed his disappointment following the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria in 2026 in this story here and here 
  

  Lachie’s Legacy in memory of Lachie Poulter.

• Fantastic to see the great support around this year’s fifth Lachie’s Legacy round in the Central Highlands FL, held in memory of 25-year-old Old Collegian and Dunnstown footballer Lachlan Poulter (SPC 2006-09, PY2010) who died after collapsing during a Dunnstown and Learmonth reserves match in 2018. The movement’s aims include helping meet the needs of children in communities where they do not always have access to football equipment and apparel, or programs which promote the development of the game at an individual or team level. To read more, click here
• Great to see two young Old Boys, Lachlan O’Keefe (SPC 2018-23) and Cooper Sherman (SPC 2017-22) touted as potential contenders for next year’s Paris Olympics in their respective sports of high jump and sprint. To read more, click here
  

  Cooper Sherman. Photo The Courier

  

  Lachlan O’Keefe. Photo The Courier

• Great to see Old Collegian Simon Laffey (SPC 1983-88) has been providing members of his local community with a wonderful gift in the form of paintings of their homes. To read more, click here
• Great to see old Boy James Doherty (SPC 2015-20) among the top performers in the Darwin Strike League in this story here
  

  James Doherty.

• Great to see fellow classmate Ryan Aikman (SPC 2016-19, PY2020) also making a mark over in the UK with Tonbridge Cricket Club, helping his team to the semi-finals of the Twenty20 competition. To read more, click here

• Old Collegian and new MP Joe McCracken (SPC 2003-05) appears to be having difficulties finding office space with a lack of suitable offices in western Victoria for parliamentary representatives, to read more, click here
  

  Jack Peeters. Photo Adam Trafford

• Skipton tall forward Jack Peeters (SPC 2008-13) was hopeful to play his first game for the season in recent weeks – almost a year to the day since he suffered knee injury. Jack damaged an anterior cruciate ligament in the corresponding game last season, requiring a knee reconstruction and has been preparing himself for a much-anticipated return with three reserves games. To read more, click here
  

  Nick O’Brien. Photo Adam Trafford

• Meanwhile, Nick O’Brien (SPC 2006-11) was facing the possibility of missing the rest of the Central Highlands FL home and away season with a fractured hand injury not healing as well as had been hoped. To read more, click here
  

  Dan Cronin, centre. Photo Adam Trafford

• Great to see Old Collegian Dan Cronin (SPC 1986-90, PY1991) from Ballarat Western Hotel supporting cancer research by allowing parma lovers to indulge in their favourite meal in this story here
  If you have any news on our Old Collegians, please contact Alumni and Foundation Officer Lorrie Liston via email at lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au