Old Boys in the News – October 2024

Our Old Boys have been in the spotlight, including:

Team Gilwell at last year’s Peach’s Run. Photo Lachlan Bence

• Join us on Saturday 9 November for Peach’s Run around Lake Wendouree, honouring the memory of our beloved Old Collegian, James Petrie (SPC 2001-06).
  James was not only a talented athlete, captaining the First XI BAS Champions in 2006 and leading SPC’s first soccer team to victory over St Kevin’s College, but also a cherished teacher and mentor in our community. This charity run aims to raise funds for mental health initiatives, reflecting James’s enduring impact on those around him. Whether you choose to run or walk, your participation will help support vital mental health programs in Ballarat.
  The event starts at 9am, with an exciting atmosphere at the event village at St Patrick’s Point. Together, let’s celebrate James’s legacy and continue his commitment to community and well-being. Old Collegian and Australian cricketer Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) has been named ambassador of this year’s Peach’s Run. For more details and to register, visit this link here. Let’s make this event a memorable tribute to a truly special person!
• An extra shout-out to Matt Short, mentioned above, who represented Australia in the one-day internationals in England recently, helping Australia to end their UK tour with a 3-2 ODI series victory. Well done Matt!
  

  Nigel Rendell, who is battling a rare form of cancer, is promoting this year’s Run4Geelong.

• We urge you to also get behind and support Old Collegian Nigel Rendell (SPC 1994-96) who is promoting this year’s Run4Geelong event on Sunday 10 November, raising vital funds in support of Barwon Health cancer services. Nigel was diagnosed with rare Mantle Cell cancer in 2023 and is one of the youngest Australians to be diagnosed with the disease. Nigel is keen to give back to the Barwon in Geelong, where he receives his world-class cancer treatment. You can walk or run alongside Nigel’s Team Rendell on Sunday 10 November or donate to Nigel’s efforts by heading to run4geelong.com.au and searching ‘Team Rendell’.
• Well done to 2020 SPC Vice Captain Finn Lappin (SPC 2015-20) is having a tremendous year playing College Football for the McNeese Cowboys in Louisiana. It was recently announced that he is one of only 30 players across the USA to be named in the in-season watch list for the Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award, which honours the NCAA Division 1 FCS Freshman of the Year. Finn is the only player on the list to represent his conference (Southland) and the only punter and Special Teams player included. Through eight games, he currently leads the league and is ranked No. 3 in the FCS in with a 47.8 punting average. The 2024 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced in December and honoured in January in Texas. Good luck Finn! To read more, click here
• 

  Charlie Perks. Photo: The Courier

  Great to see North Ballarat’s Josh Sparkman (SPC 2017-22) heading to VFL club port Melbourne next season, joining teammate Riley Polkinghorne (SPC 2014-19) on their list, in this story here

• Former Rooster Charlie Perks (SPC 2013-18) is on his way back to the region, making the switch from the Bellarine league to Learmonth next season, read more here in the Central Highlands FL, while Mitch Walsh (SPC 2009-14) has been appointed the new coach at Skipton and secured fellow Old Boy Sam Willian (SPC 2008-13), read more here
  Jake Dunne (SPC 2005-10) is also on his way back to Buninyong, read more here
• In other footy news, VFL veteran Jacob Lohmann (SPC 2016-18) is a welcome return to Lake Wendouree from Queensland, read more here while his family tell of their joy at younger brother Kai Lohmann’s (SPC 2018-21) premiership win with the Brisbane Lions in the 2024 AFL Grand Final against the Sydney Swans, in this story here
• Rhys Perry (SPC 2019-2020) is moving from Ballarat to Sebastopol in the BFNL, read more here while Jacob Brown (SPC 2011-16) is also featured in this great catch-up here about being one of the older brigade at East Point.
• Good luck to Josh Morris (SPC 1995-2000) who is running for local council once again. Josh, who was previously elected to council in 2012, served as mayor between 2013-14. He then represented Ballarat as a Liberal MP for Western Victoria from 2014 to 2018. To read more on Josh’s campaign plans this time around, click here
  

  Matt Johnson. Photo Adam Trafford

   

• East Point’s Matt Johnston (SPC 2009-14) chats about his love of football after winning the Ballarat FNL Henderson Medal best and fairest crown by six votes to fellow Old Boy Darley’s Brett Bewley (SPC 2008-13) in this story here Former classmates Kyle Borg (SPC 2014-19) and Riley Polkinghorne (SPC 2014-19) finished equal fifth, while Paddy Simpson (SPC 2016-21) came seventh.
• Congratulations to Richmond premiership player Daniel Rioli (SPC 2012-15) on winning the Tigers’ 2024 Jack Dyer best & fairest medallist. Daniel is now heading north to the Gold Coast following the recent AFL Trade Period.
  
• Well done also to Cooper Craig-Peters (SPC 2014-19) who took out the Footscray (VFL) Best & Fairest.
  

  Chris O’Brien.

• Huge congratulations to Old Collegian Chris O’Brien (SPC 1980-85) on his appointment as Head Coach of Rowing Australia’s National Training Centre! Chris will lead the Rowsellas into an exciting new era of training and racing at the Reinhold Batschi National Training Centre in Canberra, as they prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic cycles. Chris was inducted as a Legend of St Patrick’s College in 2008. With a remarkable coaching career that spans decades, including serving as Australian Rowing team crew coach from 1996 to 2016, we are incredibly proud of Chris and wish him all the best in this prestigious role.
  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