Old Boys in the News – April 2020

Our Old Boys have been busy, including:

• Australian Hotels Association Victorian president and Old Collegian David Canny (SPC 1980-85) spoke out recently on the plight of pubs due to COVID-19. David, who runs Ballarat’s Red Lion, said never before had their industry been shutdown in a space of 24 hours. To read more, click here
• Great to see Warrick Davison (SPC 1988-93) helping the community in his role as Uniting Ballarat’s acting senior manager housing and homelessness, to see more, click here
  

  Warrick Davison, right, accepting the donation from Ron Fleming. Photo: Adam Trafford

• Great story with James McDonald (SPC 1989-94) about his time with the GWS Giants after a distinguished career at the Demons. To read more, click here
  

  James McDonald during his playing days. Photo: GWS Giants

• AFL 332-game veteran Drew Petrie (SPC 1995-2000) weighs into the AFL draft age debate and says he believes the time is right for change. To read more, click here
• In local footy news, news of the arrival of the highly credentialled former North Ballarat Rooster Nick Rippon (SPC 2007-12) from North Melbourne’s VFL program to Lake Wendouree this season is being billed as “potentially the recruit of the year in the BFL”. Meanwhile, Ned Nash (SPC 2013-18) is departing for North Ballarat City. To read more, click here
• Sam Short (SPC 2011-16) was in a nervous wait after news of NBL wage cuts were revealed in light of COVID-19. For Sam, it may mean he is cut out of the league all together due to the new agreement between the NBL and the Australian Basketball Players Association for the 2020-21 season. To read more, click here 
• Great to see a couple of Old Boys mentioned in The Courier’s Top 10 Central Highlands FL players of the last decade, including Nick Sullivan (SPC 2001-06) and Andy McKay (SPC 1995-2000). See where they were ranked, click here 
• Bungaree spud farmer and Old Boy Xavier Toohey (SPC 1998-2001, PY2003) forecasted potato yields will not be the same this year due to a cool end to summer in this story, click here

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  Bungaree spud farmer Xavier Toohey. Photo: The Courier

• Josh Pegg (SPC 2015-19, PY2020) is set to take his cricketing talents to Melbourne next season, confirming he is leaving Golden Point to play in the Victorian Cricket Association. To read more, click here
• Congratulations to Tom Mennen (SPC 2002-07) and wife Samantha on their decision to seize the moment and race to wed prior to COVID-19 restrictions tightening even further on planned weddings. The happy couple were wed in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and plan to celebrate their nuptials with family and friends when restrictions ease. To read their story, click here
  

  Happy couple, Tom Mennen and bride Samantha. Photo: Kate Healy

• Young soccer star and Old Boy Brandon Lauton (SPC 2012-17) talks about his crazy star since making his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory in November and enduring everything from injury, overseas travel and coaching changes, before his season derailing by the global pandemic COVID-10. To read more, click here
• Congratulations also to George Helon (SPC 1980-82) who is extremely honoured to be commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by The Honourable Andy Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States of America this year “for noteworthy accomplishments, remarkable deeds, dedication, compassion and outstanding service to improve the lives of others”. The appointment as a Kentucky Colonel is the highest civilian honour the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky can bestow. To find out about George’s work, click here
• Two-time North Ballarat Rebels head coach Gerard FitzGerald (SPC 1973, PY1975) believes country-based youngsters can expect to face a much tougher challenge fulfilling their AFL dream next year for a variety of reasons, to read more, click here
• Waubra senior coach and Old Boy Matt James (SPC 2005-10) has been keeping footy alive during the COVID-19 crisis, creating a Facebook group for young Roo players and posting a series of videos of drills to try at home or in the park. To read more, click here
  

  A screenshot of Matt James providing some footy tips to junior footballers.

• AFL premiership player and new St Kilda recruit Dan Butler (SPC 2009-14) has returned home to Ballarat to wait out the COVID-19 crisis. Dan talks about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted on his football season. To read more, click here
• East Point premiership player Chris Quinlan (SPC 2005-06) is switching footy leagues, moving back to Springbank in the Central Highlands FL, Shaun Finlayson (SPC 2000-02) is moving from Bungaree to Skipton in the Central Highlands FL competition. To read more, click here
  

  Chris Quinlan in action for East Point. Photo: The Courier

  If you have any news on our Old Collegians, please contact the College’s Alumni and Foundation Officer Lorrie Liston on (03) 5322 4442 or by email at lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au