Old Boys in the News – February 2018

Our Old Boys have been in the news, including:

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Good luck to Laurence Heenan (SPC 2004-09), pictured above centre,- who is starring as Jesus in the Ballarat Lyric Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Wendouree Performing Arts Centre between March 1-11.– Daniel Sully (2012-17)– and– Emerson Tolliday (2012-17)– are also part of the ensemble along with current SPC student Jacob Nolan in the role of Simon and Glenn Fisher (current staff) is the show’s audio visual director. This is not the first time that Laurence has played the role of Jesus, having played it in the 2009 St Patrick’s/Loreto production of Godspell, which Glenn- directed and choreographed.– Tickets for the Ballarat Lyric Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar are available at www.wcpa.com.au– or by phoning 5338 0980.

Old Collegians Ryan Knowles (SPC 1996-2001), Harli Givvens (SPC 2010-13, PY2015), Jason Knowles (SPC 2001-06) and Jayden Hayes (SPC 2007-12) are giving it their all in this year’s Melbourne Country Week, with a three-wicket win over Murray Valley after losing to Geelong. To read more, go to this link and this link

Read about Darcy Thomson (SPC 2011, PY 2012) and Sam Giblett’s (SPC 1994-99) ripping performances to help guide their Mt Clear team to glory and win the Regional Twenty20 Regional Big Bash title this week at this link

Mark McOwan (SPC 2008-13) is joining growing numbers of student doctors choosing Ballarat for their clinical training. Mark is training with the University of Melbourne’s Rural Clinical School, combining lectures and clinical work at Ballarat Base Hospital. Read more about Mark’s career plans in regional medicine at this link

Respected coach Shaun O’Loughlin (SPC 1986-91) is set to help Buninyong senior coach Jarrod Morgan this season in an off-field role with the Bombers once his commitments with the BFL are complete, sometime after May. To read more, go to this link

Great opportunity for Liam Duggan (SPC 2009-14) who was chosen to captain the Eagles’ young squad in the team’s inaugural AFLX round robin meet. To read more, go to this link

Former AFL footballer Josh Cowan (2008-09) is set to play with St Mary’s in the Geelong Football League this year. Joel spent eight seasons with Geelong and was delisted last year. To read more, go to this link

Newlyn’s big pre-season recruiting campaign has netted decorated onballer Steve Clifton (SPC 1999-2004) for 2018. Steve is a former GWS Giants player and two-time JJ Liston Medal winner in the VFL and arrives from Lake Wendouree. To read more, go to this link

Great to see young Old Collegian Ollie Nash (SPC 2012-17) following his dreams of becoming a sports journalist, studying sports journalism at Latrobe and starting a new sports blog, which you can check out at this link

Great to see Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) named as one of five finalists in the 2017 Ballarat Sportsperson of the Year Award, eventually won by world championship rower Katrina Werry, for more, go to this link

Great to see one of our Old Collegians, young rapper Mitchell Burgess (SPC 2009-14) flying high in the music stakes after earning a spot in the Freeza Push Start statewide grand final at St Kilda Festival recently. Mitchell won both Ballarat and regional finals to progress in the statewide youth music competition. To read more, go to this link– and this link

Rev Justin Driscoll’s (SPC 1981-82) five-year term as Vicar General is coming to an end this year, but he will remain as Administrator of the Ballarat Cathedral, Beaufort and Linton parishes.

Well done to Nick Rippon (SPC 2007-12) who has been named in North Melbourne’s Victorian Football League leadership group. To read more, go to this link

We recently heard from Bernhard Heeman (SPC 1996-2001) who is working as the IT Operations Manager at the Ballarat Health Services.

Luke Taylor (1995-99, PY2000) talks candidly about feeling let down by the judicial system after sustaining horrific lifelong injuries after he was hit by a motorist while cycling on the outskirts of Ballarat. To read more, go to this link

We recently heard from Alastair Lee (SPC 1989-90 and 1992-93) who is now the Director of Community Relations, Development and Marketing at Sacre Coeur School in Glen Iris. Alastair was previously the- Associate Director for Alumni Relations at the University of Tasmania. Good to have you back on Victorian soil!

We recently heard from former boarder Clinton Young (SPC 2003) who is working as a Mentor and Skills Coach with the Simon Black Australian Rules Academy.

Congratulations to Nathan Sobey (SPC 2008) who has qualified for the Australian Boomers’ 24-man squad to play against the Philippines and Chinese in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in late February. To find out more, go to this link

Fantastic to see former Surrey cricket captain Adam Hollioake (SPC 1983-84, PY1988), who is working with the ECB across a number of different teams, presenting a player with a ceremonial cap at the second One Day International at the GABBA in mid-January. Watch our Old Boy in action on the video at this link

Fingers crossed we will see a bit of Northern Blues VFL-listed Jesse Palmer (SPC 2013-14) in town this year after he nominated East Point as his home club. Jesse was delisted by Port Adelaide at the end of last season and is recovering from surgery, for more go to this link

Good luck to Jacob Brown (2011-16) and Jake McQueen (2015-16) who are extending their footy development this year. Jacob has moved from Hepburn in the CHFL to East Point in the BFL, while Jake is training with Essendon in the hope of extending his VFL career. For more, go to this link

More footy news with Aiden Domic (2012-17) who has been signed to Geelong in the VFL competition this year, for more, go to this link

Great to see Blake Thomson (2011-15) making an appearance in the Boxing Day Test, even if it’s at the expense of his sick teammate Pat Cummins, who was forced off the field with a stomach bug. Blake replaced Cummins as the substitute fielder, good work Blake! To read more, go to this link

Great to see Brad Simpson (SPC 2011-15, PY2016) back working with the aim of returning to his electrical apprenticeship after being seriously injured in a freak wood chopping accident last year. To read how Brad is going, go to this link

With an obvious passion for the land, it’s great to see Tim FitzGerald (SPC 2004-07) getting back to his farming roots. See what Tim’s up to at this link

Well done to Daniel Taylor (SPC 2008-2013) who finished 109^th for Ballarat-Sebastopol -“ the second Ballarat rider home -“ in the gruelling Australian National Championships Road Race for Elite Men in Ballarat in early January.