Old Boys in the News – December 2021

Old Collegian John Nicholls in front of the W John Nicholls Pavillion, named in his honour.

Our Old Boys have been busy, including:

• Congratulations to Old Collegian John Nicholls (SPC 1971-73) who can now say he has a building named after himself! The W. John Nicholls Pavillion, which overlooks Parade’s Preston Campus’ Ambrose Treacy Field was officially opened recently in honour of the long-serving Parade teacher, who will complete 43 years this year at Parade, and has been recognised as one of the longest teaching stings of a lay person in College history. To read this fabulous story, click here

Kevin Elliott, second from left, and Andrew Jirik, fourth from left, helping those in need this Christmas. Photo: Adam Trafford

• Fantastic to see our Old Boys helping those in need this Christmas, including Andrew Jirik (SPC 1980-85) and Kevin Elliott (SPC 1965-70), following the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Foundation’s $50,000 donation to the 3BA Christmas Appeal, which supports St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army and Anglicare. To read more, click here
• Great to see Blake Thomson (SPC 2011-15) has been selected in the Victorian 2nd XI cricket team, read more in this story here
  This follows Blake being named the new captain of the Melbourne side in the Victorian men’s Premier Cricket competition this season after an outstanding last season while Northcote will be looking to unleash talented current student Daniel Lalor. To read more, click here
• Congratulations to our new AFL draftees, Sam Butler (SPC 2016-21), who is heading to the Hawks and talks about the exciting move in this story here, while Kai Lohmann (SPC 2018-21) talks about his excitement at joining SPC teammate Harry Sharp at Brisbane in this story here and Josh Gibcus (SPC 2017-21) who as picked up at number 9 to Richmond in this story here
  

  Charlie Molan. Photo: The Courier

• And in a rough twist, read these stories on one of our other Old Boys Charlie Molan (SPC 2015-2020), who was unlucky to miss out on securing an AFL spot, read here and here and here
  and here
• Great to see some Old Boys becoming Grasshoppers in the 2022 Central Highlands FL season including Jack Kelly (SPC 2010-11), Ryan Aikman (SPC 2015-19, PY2020) and Max Riding (SPC 2015-19, PY2020), to read more, click here
  

  Tom Sullivan. Photo: The Courier

• Wonderful to see Old Collegian Tom Sullivan (SPC 1965-68, PY1970) has been re-elected as mayor for a second consecutive term at the Moorabool Shire Council, to read more, click here
• Great to see Jon Kanoa’s (SPC 1995-2000) involvement in a new Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative program which could change the future trajectory for dozens of Aboriginal families, as well as BADAC’s new website. Read more in these stories here and here
• Old Collegian and Greater Western Victoria Rebels coach David Loader (SPC 1982-85, PY1987) talks about this year’s potential AFL Draft crop as the best ever to come from the club in this story here
• Springbank champion Billy Driscoll (SPC 2000-03, PY2005) is departing for Navarre as the new footy co-coach for 2022 after a successful run in Ballarat country footy. To read what Billy has to say, read this and this
• Ballarat police Inspector Bob Heaney (SPC 1987-89) was allaying concerns in the community following recent violent attacks, read more in this story here
  

  Jack Madigan.

• Congratulations to another of our newest Old Collegians, Jack Madigan (SPC 2016-21) who has been offered a spot next year in the diploma of musical theatre course at NIDA. The National Institute of Dramatic Art is Australia’s leading centre for education and training in the performing arts and is based in Sydney. Jack is our outgoing Drama Captain and has had many memorable performances across his time at the College, most recently starring as Tommo in the College play Private Peaceful. You are a star Jack, and we wish you all the best for the future.
• Great to see Jack Lalor (SPC 2012-17) starring with the bat and ball with the Northcote allrounder firmly on state selectors’ watchlist as well as Jack talking about his new mindset in these stories here and here
• Well done to Shaun McArthur (SPC 1997-2000, PY2002) on his recent innings of 111 not out for Haddon in this story here
• Old Collegian Damien Milloy (SPC 1988-94), lieutenant at Werribee Fire Brigade, was one of the firefighters on the tragic scene, where four children lost their lives in a house fire on November 21. Read more in this story here (please note Damien’s name has been misspelled in the story as Damian Molloy)
• Great to see Old Collegian Paul Huggett (SPC 1988-93) at the helm of the Lifeline Ballarat, which recently celebrated 50 years of great work in offering a reassuring voice on the end of the line for thousands of people in the city. To read more, click here
  

  Dan Cronin. Picture: Luke Hemer

• Great to see Dan Cronin (SPC 1986-90) on the bike to raise funds for PukaUp, which focusses on suicide awareness and prevention. To read more, click here
• Great to hear from former boarder Sam Hobbs (SPC 2019-2020) who is working in customer service, Matthew Butterworth (SPC 2015-2020) and Harry Johns (SPC 2015-2020) who are both at uni, apprentice signwriter Toby Jennings (SPC 2019-2020) and Bill Thornton (SPC 2015-2020 ) who is working as an electrician. Also Felix McGurk (SPC 2015-2020) who is now working as a new car sales consultant and Liam Van der Voort (SPC 2015-2020) who is working as a grain handler.
• Former Fremantle player Brett Bewley (SPC 2008-13) is returning to his home club of Darley for the 2022 season after being delisted by the AFL side at the end of this season. To read more, click here
• Patrick Payne (SPC 1988-89, PY1993) had high hopes with two runners in the recent Ballarat Cup in this story preview here
• There was also sadness and Ballarat Cup Day emptiness after the loss of racing identity and Old Collegian Barry James (SPC 1947-48, PY1950). Barry died at the age of 89 and was a Ballarat Turf Club life member and former committee member and the Ballarat businessman spent most of his life breeding, training and racing horses with his family under the Sylvan Lodge banner. To read more, click here https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7517091/cup-day-emptiness-after-loss-of-racing-idenity-barry-james/?cs=63
• Diocese of Sandhurst Bishop Shane Mackinlay (SPC 1977-82) has asked a priest in his diocese to take leave over his COVID views in this story here
• Good luck to Old Boy Sean Callanan (SPC 1987-90) who is currently a candidate vying for a spot on the Collingwood Football Club’s board of directors. Vote for Sean and find out more at sean@seancallanan.com
• Great to see Grasshoppers midfielder Matt Aikman (SPC 2013-18) named as the Central Highlands Football League player of the year for 2021. Read more in this story here
• Well done to Springbank’s Ryan Maher (SPC 2017-2020, PY2022) who finished second in the Central Highlands Football League under-18 best and fairest award, read more here
• Fantastic to see Old Collegian and Ballarat champion distance runner Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-80) honoured with an induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, recognised for his contribution to sport through administration. To read more, click here
• Watch out for opening fast bowler Oli Hayes – (SPC 2007-12) who has joined Caulfield this season in the Sub-District cricket for 2021-22. Read more here
• Great to see Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) making 90 to help Victoria to a dominant win in its Sheffield Shield clash against NSW in this story here
• Jacob Coxall (SPC 2010-15) has been named as one of the three key recruits for Napoleons-Sebastopol this season in this story here
• Great to see Old Collegian Warrick Davison (SPC 1988-93) helping in his role at UnitingCare to help the homeless in this story here
  

  Kieran Prendergast.

• Great to see Hepburn Lagoon Trial Rides owner Kieran Prendergast (SPC 197-82, PY1983) busy in business as the COVID restrictions eased in this story here as well as motel operator Tim Canny (SPC 1995-2000) 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