Old Boys in the News – November 2020

Old Boys Chris Jones, left, and John Bourke with Elizabeth van Beek from the Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society and families who are ready for the drive-in experience. Picture: Kate Healy

Our Old Boys have been busy, including:

• Great to see Chris Jones (SPC 1988-93) from Showbiz Cinemas will be bringing the drive-in cinema idea back to Ballarat from November 13 at the Ballarat Showgrounds for at least six months. Fellow Old Boy John Bourke (SPC 1967-69, PY1972), who used to work both of Ballarat’s previous drive-ins in the 1970s and 80s is also assisting with the operation. Great work guys, we cannot wait! To read more, click here
• Great to see David Loader (SPC SPC 1982-85, PY1987) returning as the new coach for the boys’ and girls’ restructured GWV Rebels programs for next season. David was part of the Rebels program for nine years up to 2015 and returns after a five-year stint at North Melbourne where he was a development coach and coached the club’s VFL side.
• Old Boy Tom Lamb (SPC 2005-09, PY2010) is set to return to Redan in the Ballarat Football League next season, after last playing with Redan in 2017. Tom has been back and forth between the Lions and Central Murray league club Koondrook-Barham throughout his senior career. To read more, click here
  

  Brad Crouch. Photo: The Courier

• In more footy news, Brad Crouch (SPC 2006-11) is now able to join St Kilda as his preferred destination as an AFL restricted free agent after Adelaide decided not to match the Saints’ offer. The Ballarat export had been linked with several clubs since late in the home and away season, to read more, click here and here
• Old Collegian and jockey Ben Melham (SPC 2000-03) finished 15^th aboard Irish horse Master of Reality in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, which was run in a new-first, with the colourful and huge crowds banned due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• Fantastic effort by Old Boy Harry Sharp (SPC 2016-19, 2021) last weekend, setting a new time trial record at the Victorian NAB AFL Draft Combine. To read more, click here
• Ballarat Real Estate director Allister Morrison (SPC 1990-95) expects a surge of homebuyers from Melbourne coming to Ballarat to inspect properties as soon as they are allowed as COVID-19 restrictions ease in this story here
  

  Former AFL footballer Nick O’Brien. Photo Lachlan Cunningham/AFL Media

• Nick O’Brien (SPC 2006-11) opens up about his time at Essendon during the club’s highly-publicised supplements saga, booting a goal with his first kick in the AFL and many other footy memories in The Courier’s Off The Record podcast here
• Great to see Brady Mulheron (SPC 2012-17) sharing his knowledge in a Fed Uni webinar recently, talking about combining IT or business courses with an IBM scholarship.
• Great to see Old Boy Chris Thornton (SPC 2003-08) taking on the role of the U14 coach for the Ballarat Miners in this story here
• After a premiership in yellow and black in 2017, Shaun Grigg (SPC 2001-06) talked about his role in the lead-up to the 2020 AFL Grand Final as match-day bench coach for Geelong in this story here
• Find out why Old Collegian Steve Moneghetti (SPC 1975-80) is helping raise awareness of Parkinson’s Disease in this story here
• Ballarat-Sebastopol Cycling Club president Tim Canny (SPC 1995-2000) was celebrating after the announcement that a new major cycling event, the UCI Gran Fondo world qualifier, may be held in Ballarat in January. Fingers crossed! To read more, go here
  

  Blake and Darcy Thomson. Photo: Kate Healy

• Great to see Old Boy Jack Riding (SPC 2013-18) fire up on the opening day of the Ballarat Cricket Association season recently, scoring a century to lead Ballarat-Redan to a memorable opening round victory. He was backed up by fellow Old Boy Jayden Hayes (SPC 2007-12), while high profile recruit Blake Thomson (SPC 2011-15) also impressed for East Ballarat, while brother Darcy Thomson (SPC 2011) was on the bowling attack.
  

  Jacob Pawlowicz. Photo: Adam Trafford.

  Several Old Boys, including Josh Pegg (SPC 2015-19, PY2020), Jack Lalor (SPC 2012-17), Jacob Pawlowicz (SPC 2014-19) and Taeje Baker (SPC 2014-19) along with current students Daniel Lalor and James Doherty are playing locally with premier cricket only just announcing start dates for the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions. To read more, click here , here , here , here , here and here

• Meanwhile, Jonah Healey (SPC 2011-16) and Dylan Achison (SPC 2007-12) were readying to make their debut for North Ballarat in the BCA, against Napoleons-Sebastopol, which also boasts Old Boy Dylan York (SPC 2014-19).
• Ballarat Football Umpires Association chair Justin Davey (SPC 1990-05) talks about a new change in the association’s structure and challenges of bouncing back after 12 months of no football in this story here
  

  Chris Tudor attending the information session. Photo: Kate Healy

• Old Collegian Chris Tudor (SPC 1961-62, PY1965) was one of numerous Gordon residents to attend a community session at Gordon recently to find out more about AusNet’s Western Victoria Transmission Network Project, see here
  

  Ryan McKew. Photo: The Ballarat Times

• Fantastic to see our Old Boys supporting various good causes, including Youth Miners head co-coach Ryan McKew (SPC 2011-16), who nailed it for a good cause, supporting Polished Man 2020, which takes the stand to support the end of violence against children.
• Great to see Old Boy Damien Sheehan (SPC 1976-81)’s involvement in a new online shopping experience highlighting the winemakers from the Grampians region. Damien is chairman of the Grampians Winemakers Inc as well as general manager and viticulturist at Mount Langi Ghiran Winery, near Ararat. To read more about this great venture called “Made the Grampians Way”, click here    Damien also speaks out about the impact uncertain trade relations with China will have on regional vineyards in this story here
• Watch Old Boy Liam Brady (SPC 1997-2002) talk about the long-awaited return of the Ballarat Cricket Association season in this video here.  Liam chats about the preparation that’s gone in to his club’s COVID-plagued preseason and shares his thoughts from around the league.
• Former Lakers senior footballer Ambrose Gillett (SPC 2010-15) is moving to Bungaree in the Central Highlands FL next year under the charge of fellow Old Boy Ryan Waight (SPC 1998-2003), who will be coaching the side. To read more, go here
• David Canny (SPC 1980-85) continues to lobby for the immediate easing of rules in regional Victoria in his role as state president of the Australian Hotels Association and publican of Ballarat’s Red Lion Hotel. David and other local business leaders say many Ballarat businesses were hanging by a thread. To read more, click here , here and here
• Great to see Brendan McCartney appointed as the senior coach of the North Ballarat FC for the next three years. Brendan is the son of Old Collegian Graeme McCartney (SPC 1947-48, PY1950) and was involved in the AFL system for two decades, including three years as Western Bulldogs head coach and most recently, as coach of the Geelong Falcons in the NAB League U18 competition this year. To read more about Brendan, click here   Former Roosters great and Old Collegian Gerard FitzGerald (SPC 1973, PY1975) praised the appointment and said recent job losses in the AFL will benefit local footy in this story here
  

  Gavin James and daughter Jayde. Photo: Kate Healy

• Old Collegian Gavin James (SPC 1970-75), who owns Lake Wendouree Luxury Apartments with his daughter Jayde, was in the news recently, calling for greater protection for businesses who can be slugged huge fines if they are caught out by people staying at the accommodation from locked down areas. To read more, click here
• Great to see expert media lawyer Justin Quill (SPC 1989-91) has joined Thomson Geer as a partner in their Melbourne office. To read more, click here
• Golden Plains Shire Council councillor Des Phelan (SPC 1956-63, PY1967) has announced he is retiring and will not stand for council in the forthcoming council elections. To read more, click here
  

  Matthew Catterson hard at work. Photo: Adam Trafford

• Great to see Old Boy Matthew Catterson (SPC 2014-19) volunteering his time to deliver meals to elderly residents in the Creswick area as part of the Ballarat Meals on Wheels program. Fantastic job Matthew! To read more, click here
  

  Shane Darroch with his coins. Photo: Lachlan Bence

• Great effort by Shane Darroch (SPC 1985-90) to help Ballarat’s cancer wellness programs with his bid for a world record in a line of coins. The bid, which hit hurdle after hurdle, including the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, saw many of the planned charity events cancelled, however he still managed to raise a “substantial” pile of gold coins to help cancer wellness programs. To read more, click here
• We wish Michael Pierce (SPC 1983-88) all the very best with his recovery after a particularly nasty bike accident recently saw him fracture his leg in four places. We know Michael will be doing everything he can to be back out on the bike and full recovered and his skillset as a sports physiotherapist and director of Lake Health Group will certainly help. Michael shares his experience and writes about his accident here
• Congratulations to Paul Tatchell (SPC 1974, PY1979), who has been re-elected for his third term in the Moorabool Shire Council in the central ward. To read more, click here
  

  Phil Nagle. Photo: Adam Trafford

• Abuse survivor Phil Nagle (SPC 1976-80, PY1981) was back in the news recently after gaining a court order to use his real name in the media after recent new laws stopped victims from using their real names in any case where offenders had been found guilty. Phil has also urged the government to overturn the law in this story here  and spoke about his relentless fight for justice in this powerful piece here
  

  Tom Williamson.

• Congratulations to Old Collegian Tom Williamson (SPC 2012-16) who has signed a new two-year contract extension with the Carlton Football Club. Tom has been rewarded for his 2020 injury fightback, cementing a spot in the Blues’ back six. Well done Tommy! To read more, click here
• Great to reconnect with former boarder Terry Delahunty (SPC 1968-71) who is working in the field of geology mining and mineral exploration.
• Great to see Brandon Lauton (SPC 2012-17) has commenced training in readiness for the 2021 A-League season with Melbourne Victory in this story, click here
• Great to hear from Clem Clarke (SPC 1967-69), who reconnected with the College recently.

• Great news for Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) who is heading to Adelaide for the Sheffield Shield, which will be held in South Australia through October and November. To read more, click here
• Great to see Billy Driscoll (SPC 2000-03, PY2005) committing to another season with Springbank in the Central Highlands FL in 2021, even though he will be flying back and forth for games from his home in Wollongong. To read more, click here
• Dan Butler (SPC 2009-14) reflects on the reignition of his AFL career with the Saints this year and being named in the All Australian squad of 40 in this story, click here. Despite missing selection in the final team, Dan still rates 2020 as the best year of his AFL career.
• Fantastic stuff from Joe Carmody (SPC 1992-97 and current staff) who talks about the unlikely encounter which helped him recruit three-time AFL premiership player Josh Gibson to the Ballarat Swans, where Joe is senior football coach. To read more, click here
• In other footy news, congratulations are in order for Old Collegian Jason Barnett (SPC 2000-05) who pocketed $50,000 for winning the 2020 Herald Sun Supercoach competition! Jason claimed Super Coach victory in front of 170,000 other teams recently. Well done Jason! Listen to Jason as he talks about his win in this radio interview here
  

  Chris Henderson spreading his message about MS.

• Great to see Old Collegian and 1991 College Captain Chris Henderson (SPC 1986-91) featuring in this video with AFL champ Luke Hodge, telling his inspirational story of how a diagnosis of MS spurred him on to greater achievements. Well done Chris! To watch the video, click here
• Five-time Olympian Anthony Edwards (SPC 1985-90) talks about his long career in the water, his drive to win gold, the disappointment and how it continues to shape his outlook on tough moments in life in this fantastic story here
  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