Old Boys in the News – October 2019

Our Old Boys have been busy including:

• Old Collegian Jesse Farquhar (SPC 2007-10, PY2012) sharing his tips on what to do if you see a snake in this story here.   Jesse and his twin brother
  

  Jesse Farquhar.

  Jules (SPC 2007-11, PY2012) have become known as snake catching experts, catching snakes in the Ballarat region for a number of years and are now regularly called upon to remove snakes from district properties.

• Old Collegian Tom Molan (SPC 1982-87) must be a proud dad with daughter Sophie to play with Richmond in the AFLW next season. Sophie was picked number seven in the national draft and has been the captain of the Greater Western Victoria Rebels side this season. To read more click here
• Well done to Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) who made a half century in his first appearance for Victoria in this season’s Sheffield Shield, while younger brother Sam (SPC 2011-16) has appeared briefly for Melbourne United in its two exhibition games against NBA teams the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings. For more, click here  and here  and here
• Look out for Joe Mason (SPC 2008-13) who will be wearing the Lakers colours in 2020 after signing with Lake Wendouree after a stint with Beaufort. To read more, click here
• Great to see Dan Butler (SPC 2009-14) will continue in the AFL with the Richmond premiership player now becoming a Saint with St Kilda during the trade period. He didn’t enjoy the process though, to read more, click here and here and here.  The switch follows a tense wait to see if he would make the Tigers’ side for the AFL grand final after playing in the Tiges’ VFL premiership win. To read more, click here
• Read about Old Collegian Paul Ballinger’s (SPC 1977-83) fight to protect his business and trademark in this story here
• Jake Dunne (SPC 2005-10) is also moving from the Central Highlands FL club Buninyong to the Ballarat Swans’ call in the Ballarat FL. To read more, click here
• Well done to Old Collegian Sam Payne (SPC 2005-07, PY2010) on his Avoca Cup win aboard Montauk in the $25,000 feature. Sam also partnered with Valhalla Princess to win a BM58 handicap over 1860m. To read more, click here
  

  Sam Payne.

• Great story about family with Old Collegian Ash McLachlan (SPC 1985-89, PY1990), who works with his sister Sally and daughter Tia at Ballarat’s Mars factory. To read more, click here
• Old Collegian Ben Melham (SPC 2000-03, PY2005) is clear to ride Mirage Dancer in the Melbourne Cup despite a suspension at Moonee Valley. Ben was hopeful of Caulfield Cup glory after landing a ride on Mirage Dancer in the $5m handicap, but finished third, coming agonisingly close over the last three seasons. To read more, click here and here
•  The sister of Old Collegian Cam Milne (SPC 2010-15) has bravely featured in a story to raise the awareness of the impact of suicide after losing their father to suicide in August. Grace described her dad, Mark, as “the happiest person I knew”, but hopes to raise awareness that even seemingly happy people may be struggling with their own mental health. To read this story, click here
•  The College was proud to support the 4EK Foundation’s “4kms for 4EK” Walk, which was hosted by the College and aimed to raise awareness about meningococcal disease. 4EK was formed in memory of Emma-Kate McGrath, daughter of Old Collegian Justin McGrath (SPC 1983-88) and wife Abby and sister of Jack (SPC 2008-13) and Mitchell (SPC 2013-18). To read more about the work of 4EK, click here
• Congratulations to the new Bishop of Sandhurst Fr Shane Mackinlay (SPC 1977-82)  who was officially ordained in a special ceremony recently. To read more about the ceremony, click here
•   Danny Frawley’s wife Anita shares why their family decided it was more important for a new advertisement featuring her late husband to go to air in September to coincide with World Mental Health Awareness Day, only a month after his passing. Danny (SPC 1976-79, PY1981), aged 56, died after his car crashed into a tree at Millbrook near Gordon. To read the story and watch the video, click here
•  Great to see former Geelong AFL footballer and Old Boy Josh Cowan (SPC 2008-09) is returning home to play footy at Daylesford next season. To read more, click here
•  Congratulations to young boxing prodigy Jack Denahy (SPC 2011-14, PY2016) who was honoured at the Sports Hall of Fame Australia recently by becoming part of its 2020 mentoring program. The current Aussie champ was one of five promising athletes to receive a scholarship at a special gala dinner at The Crown Palladium. To read more, click here   This follows Jack’s bout in the 2019 AIBA world boxing championships in Russia, where Jack suffered an early exit after losing his opening bout to a fighter from Denmark. To read more, click here
• Brandon Lauton (SPC 2012-17) embarked on his first professional season with Melbourne Victory recently and was in the mix for an A-League debut as well – an astonishing rise for the Ballarat junior who signed a two-year scholarship with the club earlier this year. Brandon has also been named on Victory’s list of full-time youth players for the 2019/20 season. Well done Brandon! To read more, click here
•  Congratulations to Ola Tauelangi (SPC 2016-17) who made his debut for Melbourne Rising recently. To read more, click here
•  East Point premiership pair Billy Jones (SPC 2009-14) and Clay Bilney (SPC 2011-15, PY2016) have avoided the need for off-season knee surgery after emerging from the BFL grand final with medial ligament injuries. Teammate Dallas Martin (SPC 2011-16) was the other major casualty, suffering a broken collarbone and nose. In other news, East Point’s Joel Ottavi (SPC 2008-12, PY2013) has been named Williamstown’s most promising player after his first season with the VFL club. For more, click here and here
•  Well done to AFL footballer Brad Crouch (SPC 2006-11) who won Adelaide’s best and fairest, while younger brother Matt Crouch (SPC 2008-13) finished fourth. Fellow Old Collegian Jacob Hopper (SPC 2014-15) also polled well for the Giants, coming in third in their end-of-year vote count. Daniel Rioli (SPC 2012-15) finished 10^th on the leaderboard for Richmond. To read more, click here and here
•  Congratulations also to Shaun Grigg (SPC 2001-06) who has been appointed as an AFL development coach at Geelong. Well done Shaun! To read more, click here
•  Congratulations to Gerard Ryan (SPC 1974-79 and former staff) who has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the AFL Goldfields. Gerard has been working for over 15 years in the Victorian Country Football League and within the AFL Victoria organisation in numerous roles, most recently as the community football operations manager. Gerard was also a member of the 1^st XVIII Football Team when he was a student at SPC. To read more, click here
•  Former Bacchus Marsh co-captain and premiership player Liam Mullen (SPC 2006-11) is on the move to the South Warrnambool Roosters for next season. To read more, click here
•  Chris Banwell (SPC 1999-2004) is set to take on the senior coaching reins at Newlyn next season, fresh off back-to-back premierships with East Point in the BFL. To read more and watch a video with Chris about his plans for next season, click here
•  Congratulations to Ballarat junior footy coach Scott Petrie (SPC 1994-99) who was awarded the AFL Goldfields Coach of the Year Award.
• Well done to Old Collegian Daniel Rioli (SPC 2012-15) after playing in his second premiership win with Richmond in the 2019 AFL grand final. It was pure elation for Daniel in this story here but an equally crushing day for fellow classmate and Old Collegian, rival Giants’ player Jacob Hopper (SPC 2014-15). To read more about the Old Boy’s emotions leading up to the big day, click here and here  and here
•  Shaun Grigg (SPC 2001-06) also talks about his elation that his mid-season retirement meant for Tigers hero Marlion Pickett in this story here
•  Old Collegian Ryan Waight (SPC 1998-2003) talks about his big plans as the new senior coach for Bungaree next season in this story here
•  Well done to Ryan McKew (SPC 2011-16) who was one of three Ballarat Basketball coaches to be selected to represent the organisation at the Australian Junior Championships in 2020. Ryan is the newly appointed Miners Youth co-coach, and assisted his side to a Youth League One Men’s championship this season. To read more, click here
• Congratulations to BFL’s East Point senior grand final winners, which included Drew Murphy (2004-09), Matthew Johnston (2009-14), Billy Jones (2009-14), Clay Bilney (2011-15, py 2016), Brad Whittaker (2004-09), Jordan Johnston (2012-17), Jake McQueen (2015-16), Mitchell Tuddenham (2012-17), Dallas Martin (2011-16), Jacob Brown (2011-16), Mickitja Rotumah-Onus (2013-15), Chris Carson (2006-11), Aden Nestor (2008-13) and Mitchell Walsh (2009-14). Bad luck to Sebastopol players, Ben Trew (2009-10), Toby Hutt (2009-14), Matt Austin (2005-06), Simon Butler (2010-15) and Ben Hutt (2012-17). In the lead-up to the grand final, Sebastopol FC brothers Ben (SPC 2012-17) and Toby Hutt (SPC 2009-14) and dad Mick (SPC 1982-85) spoke about the special part that the Sebastopol footy club has played in their lives in this story here