Old Boys in the News – July 2017

Our Old Boys have been busy boys in all sectors, including:

• Well done to Liam Hanrahan (SPC 2009-14), pictured above,– who has been awarded an Albert Coates Scholarship at Federation University. Liam is currently in his second year studying Biomedical Science, but hopes to eventually pursue Medicine. The Albert Coates Scholarship is awarded to students who are able to achieve academic excellence under challenging circumstances. Well done Liam!

• Great to see Matt James (SPC 2005-10) is set to take on the Waubra coaching role next season, potentially making him the youngest outright senior coach in the Central Highlands Football League. To read more, go to this link

• Best wishes to James McKinnon (SPC 2010-15) who is the musical director of Newman College’s forthcoming production of “Godspell” in August. Good luck James!

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• Bad news for Nick Rippon (SPC 2007-12), whose season with the North Ballarat Roosters looks to be over, after suffering knee trouble, which could sideline him for four to six weeks. To read more, go to this link

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• The Ballarat Miners are set to be bolstered by the return of star Sam Short (SPC 2011-16) for this weekend’s clash against Bendigo. To read more, go to this link

• Have a look at what Bradley DeVries (SPC 2009-14) is up to at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale at this link

• We recently heard from Kai Morganti (SPC 1998-2003) who is now working in Saudi Arabia as an engine combustion specialist. We are hoping to find out more about Kai’s life overseas!

• Great to hear from Old Collegian Desmond Healy (SPC 1968-70), who shared the exciting news that his son Xavier has been chosen to represent Australia at the 2017 World Merit 360 Conference to be held in the UK, at the University of Chester in late August. Xavier will be among 360 young people from across the globe working with the United Nations to create an action plan for the world’s most pressing issues involving quality education and equal opportunity for all people. Desmond and his family have set up a Go Fund Me page to enable Xavier to make the trip and donations can be made to this link

• Anthony Pearce (SPC 1988-93) speaks in his role as Ballarat City CFA station officer in charge about the State’s CFA bill to Upper House committee hearings and their resolution to push ahead with the proposed split. To read more, go to this link

• Great work by Simon Dwyer (SPC 1976-81), who has recently been appointed as the general manager for FW Barnes and Son in Ballarat, to help reunite the cremated remains to their families. Read one of the heart-warming stories at this link

• The College would like to recognise the achievements of Andrew Hartwig (SPC 2004, PY09), who sadly passed away on December 15, 2016. Andrew was posthumously awarded several honours at Federation University’s Faculty of Science and Technology -“ School of Engineering and Information/School of Applied and Biomedical Science student awards presentation at the Mt Helen campus recently. Andrew was awarded the Engineers Australia -“ A.E. Stohr Medal for the most outstanding academic achievement for a final year Engineering student, Award for Academic Excellence for the top graduating student in an Engineering program, as well as the Pitman Benjamin Prize for Engineering Sustainability. This prize is awarded to the civil engineering student whose thesis best promotes sustainable engineering. Andrew’s thesis promoted sustainable practices in engineering through an investigation of the allowable separation gaps in high rise building construction to prevent structural pounding during seismic motion.

• Springbank defender Shannon Donegan (SPC 2007-11, PY2012) is in a race to be fit for the Central Highlands finals series after suffering a fractured skull from a head clash in the Tigers’ win over Daylesford. Shannon is set to have surgery and likely to miss between six and eight weeks. To read more, go to this link

• Matthew Short (SPC 2008-13) and Blake Thomson (SPC 2011-15) have spoken openly at their frustration over the Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers Association pay dispute. While Blake is among the lucky ones, having a signed contract for next season, Short is one of about 230 players without a contract, effectively unemployed. To read more, go to this link

• Look out for former Melbourne speedster Dom Barry (SPC 2009-12) who is back on the AFL radar after a great first season with Glenelg. Find out more at this link

• Congratulations to Corey Haase (SPC 2011-16) who has been offered a golfing scholarship with the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California and will be moving to the USA in August to pursue his dream of a professional golfing career. Well done Corey!

• We wish Ricky Proelss (SPC 2007-12) all the best with his recovery after sustaining serious burns to more than 50 per cent of his body when he stumbled into a bonfire while camping in outback Queensland in early July. A go fund me page has been set up to support the family to help the 23-year-old who was working on a cattle farm in the remote township of Alpha. Ricky has been in an induced coma since the accident and is recovering at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Meanwhile his family is also struggling to support his mother Katrina who is suffering a rare form of cancer. To read more and see how you can help the Proelss family, go to this link– and- this link

• Nathan Sobey (SPC 2008) has made his highly-anticipated NBA Summer League debut -“ see how he went at this link

• – Young gun Dan Butler (SPC 2009-14) opens up on life as an AFL footballer and also talks candidly about the impact that St Patrick’s College has had in his life. To read more, go to this link

• The eyes are on Jacob Hopper (SPC 2014-15) and what the young midfielder will do as his contract with the Giants ends at the end of this season. Find out more at this link and this link

• Great news in the Richmond camp with Daniel Rioli (SPC 2012-15) resigning with the Tigers until the end of 2019. To read more, go to this link– as well as an interesting read on how Daniel is coping under the scrutiny of the Rioli name at this link

• Jacob Cooke-Harrison (SPC 2009-10,PY2011) talks about his regret at the decisions he had as a youth that impinged on his AFL inspirations in this read at this link

• Well done to Paul Younis (SPC 1975-78), who- has left as the Brimbank CEO and has taken up a role with Transport for Victoria, a state government agency that manages all public transit, including trains, trams and buses, and VicRoads. Paul- has been appointed the agency’s deputy secretary for asset and network development. To read more, go to this link

• Bacchus Marsh young gun Hamish Coulton (SPC 2015) has been selected in the Energy Safe Victoria Country under 19 squad. Vic Country will be taking on the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) in the Under 19 Challenge Cup. Coulton has been in solid form for the reigning premiers this year, to read more, go to this link

• A great effort by Tim Bigarelli (SPC 1994-99) who recently completed the Port Macquarie Ironman, finishing a touch over 12 hours. Well done Tim!

• Former Ballarat City star Michael Trigger (SPC 2006-11) has won his first piece of silverware since joining National Premier League club Heidelberg United. Trigger played a central role in the Warriors dramatic penalty shootout win over Bentleigh Greens in the Dockerty Cup Final. To read more, go to this link

• Jordan Baker (SPC 2002-07) made his long-awaited senior debut in early July at the age of 28 and after playing 234 games for the Lions. Read more about Jordan’s playing history at this link

• Thank you to Tom Downie (SPC 2010-11) for providing this gripping insight into how his mental illness brought a premature end to his football career. It is through personal stories such as this that we can all stand to learn a lot more about the effects of mental illness. Well done Tom! To read more, go to this link

• Isaac Ellis (SPC 2010-11) was a hero for the Sebastopol Vikings, scoring the only game in their match against Golden Plains at Bannockburn in early July. To read more, go to this link

• We’d like to offer a belated congratulations to Colonel Eamon Lenaghan (SPC 1985-90) who was recognised in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List as a recipient of the Commendation for Distinguished Service for his “distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as the Chief of Plans for Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, Iraq”. Eamon was previously a recipient of the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours list For outstanding achievement as the Staff Officer Grade One, The Army Plan in Army Headquarters. Well done Eamon! One of our Old Collegians even remembers an army helicopter landing on the SPC Oval in 1990 and offers presenting scholarships to Eamon and fellow student Jason Tann (SPC 1985-90) to Duntroon.

• Great to see Detective Sergeant Kevin Carson (SPC 1970-73) honoured in such a fitting way by Victoria Police for his many years of work with victims and survivors through the Ballarat Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton joined Ballarat artist Mr Milivoj Micich and Kevin for the recent unveiling of -‘Detective Sergeant Carson’s Big Picture’ at the Victoria Police Museum. Milivoj Micich asked to paint Detective Carson after hearing about his work for the Ballarat Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team. The portrait is intended to honour each and every survivor and their families who trusted him with their stories. The portrait will be submitted in the Archibald Portrait Prize 2017. To read more about Kevin’s great endeavours, go to this link

• Congratulations to Old Collegian and former staff member David Loader (SPC 1982-85) who has been appointed as the inaugural coach of the North Melbourne Football Club’s new stand-alone VFL team which will join the competition in 2018. Well done Deeks! For more go to this link