Old Boys in the News – September 2018

Our Old Boys have been busy including:

• Congratulations to Callum Linnane (SPC 2008, PY2013), pictured above, who has just finished playing the lead role of Albrecht in The Australian Ballet’s production of Giselle, one of the world’s most famous ballets. Callum is now concentrating on his next role, rehearsing for the next production, Spartacus, which opens on September 18 at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. Read about Callum’s amazing journey at- this link– and watch this great interview with Callum at this link

• Great to see Melbourne defender Oscar McDonald (SPC 2011-13) has re-signed with the club until the end of 2020. To read more about the deal for the 22-year-old, go to this link– We wish Oscar and his brother and Demons’ teammate Tom McDonald (SPC 2010) all the best as well as our numerous other Old Boys playing in the AFL finals series, including Jacob Hopper (SPC 2014-15) with the Giants, Liam Duggan (SPC 2009-14) at West Coast, and of course, Shaun Grigg (SPC 2001-06), Dan Butler (SPC 2009-14) and Daniel Rioli (SPC 2012-15) vying for double premiership glory!

• Congratulations to Hepburn’s Jordan Grant (SPC 2012-17) who won the Central Highlands Football League rookie of the year award. Jordan was up against fellow Old Collegians Lachlan Conlan (SPC 2012-17) and Flynn Donegan (SPC 2012-16, PY2017). Jordan was unfortunately unable to attend the Sportsmen’s Association Australia Ballarat branch dinner to receive the award after breaking a leg in a trail bike riding accident late last week. We wish Jordan all the best in his recovery. To read more, go to this link– and- this link

• Well done to Matt Short (SPC 2008-13) who has been named in the Victorian one-day squad and will play Queensland in Townsville on Sunday. To find out more, go to this link

• Good luck to Lachlan Conlan (SPC 2012-17), Jordan Grant (SPC 2012-17) and Flynn Donegan (SPC 2012-16, PY2017) who were vying for the Central Highlands Football League rookie award to be announced during the- week. To read more, go to this link

• Good luck to Old Collegian Jarrod King (SPC 2000-05) who is currently supporting a great cause by riding his bike with two mates from Uluru to Ballarat in a 2000km-plus challenge over a two week period for Ride to Remember. Jarrod is helping good mate Nick Locandro raise awareness and funds for the national Fight Dementia campaign and Ballarat’s Eyres House, which had played an important role in Nick’s father’s care of early onset dementia.Jarrod and the team left Uluru last Monday and are currently on the road towards Ballarat. To read more about their inspirational trip, go to this link– and this link– and this link

• Congratulations to Old Collegians Jesse Palmer (SPC 2013-14), Brett Bewley (SPC 2008-13) and Lucas Cook (SPC 2010) who were this week named in the Victorian Football League team of the year. Lucas was named at full back after a great year with Port Melbourne, Brett was named on a half back flank after starring throughout the year with Williamstown while Jesse filled the key centre half forward position after dominating there throughout the year with the Northern Blues. Well done to all three men!

• It’s nearly cricket season with Mt Clear captain Darcy Thomson (SPC 2011, PY2012) setting his sights on what he hopes will be first grade final success this season, read more in this story at this link

• Old Collegians Ben Simpson (SPC 2010-15) and Harry Loader (SPC 2011-16) were not enough to get North Ballarat City over the line in the first semi final at the weekend against Darley and the defensive likes of Old Boy Jackson Carrick (SPC 2012-15). Tough defender Ryan Luke (SPC 2001-06) also returned in the forward for North Ballarat City alongside Will Young (SPC 2003-04, PY2008) while Luke Delahey (SPC 2009-14) was another Old Boy lining up for Darley. To read more, go to this link– and this link

• Check out this great story on the Beaston family of Ballarat and their Eureka Concrete business, co-founded by Graeme Beaston, father of Old Collegians Jason (SPC 1980-84, PY1985), Luke and Troy (SPC 1983-88) and Dominic (SPC 1993-98). To read more, go to this link

• Dylan Phasey (SPC 2012-13) is definitely a knight in shining armour, competing at the weekend in the third annual Keith Ryall Memorial Jousting Tournament in Ballarat, and hoping to be crowned champion in the popular jousting tournament.- To read more, go to this link

• Beaufort recalled key defender Brendan Howard (PY2006) for their grand final showdown against Buninyong with the Crows taking the CHFL senior footy flag. It was Crows’ teammate and fellow Old Boy Nick Sullivan’s (SPC 2001-06) third taste of premiership success. To read more, go to this link– and this link

• We were delighted to chat with Old Collegian Michael Segrave (SPC 1960-65) recently, who volunteers tirelessly with St Vincent de Paul in Ballarat. Michael shared an update on his sons, Cameron (SPC 1990-95) and Brett (SPC 1994-99) who also attended SPC. Since leaving St Patrick’s, Cameron- studied at Victorian University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Osteopathy and has owned and operated his Osteopathy practice in Wollongong for the past 15 years. He is married to Jenny and has four children and they currently live in Bulli NSW. Brett trained as a commercial pilot and currently flies for Qantas Domestic, after flying international for them for five years. Prior to Qantas he worked as a pilot in the private aviation field doing charter, aerial photography, mapping etc. He is married to Kim and they have two children. They currently live in Wanoona NSW. Thanks to Michael for sharing the update!

• Old Collegian and senior criminal lawyer Andrew Madden (SPC 1985-86) talks on how the new bail laws have displaced the primacy of the right to liberty in this story at this link

• Fantastic work by Old Collegian Andrew Loader (SPC 1985-90), general manager of Mars Wrigley Confectionery and -boss- of Ballarat’s Mars Factory, which was recently named the top manufacturer in the nation as a -great place to work-. The Ballarat factory came out on top in a comprehensive Australia-wide listing of the best workplaces in the country, to read more go to this link and read more about Andrew’s stellar rise in the company at this link

• James Donovan (SPC 2007-12), band booker for The Eastern, expresses concerns about Ballarat’s live music scene and the need for venues to work together to remain sustainable into the future at this story at this link

• James Herbertson (SPC 2013-17, PY2018) has reinforced his standing as one of Victoria’s rising stars in harness racing driving ranks, set to finish in the top four in the state concession drivers’ premiership. To read more, go to this link

• A good news story of the best kind for Old Collegian Brad Hoye (SPC 1984-86) who was reunited with his beloved pet dog Ned, who had vanished during a walk at a national park near Ballarat in late August. It turns out the 11-month-old Doberman had fallen down an 8m mine shaft and was trapped for more than 24 hours before his dramatic rescue by dozens of CFA firefighters, including a firey who abseiled down the narrow mineshaft and plucked a very excited Ned to safety. To read more, go to this link

• Mick Nolan (SPC 2006-11) helped Gordon to a blistering win in the Central Highlands FL against Newlyn, while brothers Mark (SPC 2003-08) and Luke Gunnell (SPC 2003-08) were rock solid along with old classmate Brad Hallam (SPC 2003-08) in the defence, while Steve Clifton (SPC 1999-2004) pushed back as hard as he could for the Cats. To read more, go to this link– while- Gerard Clifford (SPC 2008-13) found form against the Bombers at this link

• Former Victorian Premier and Old Collegian Steve Bracks (SPC 1968-71) weighed into the recent federal political spill which saw Malcolm Turnbull dramatically dropped as PM, describing the leadership spill as a -shambles-. To read more about the senior political statesman’s views, go to this link

• Well done to Matt James (SPC 2005-10) who has been rewarded with coach of the year honours. Matt was named the Central Highlands Football League’s standout coach, a great effort give it is his first season at the helm of Waubra. To read more, go to this link

• Great to see qualified electrician Blake Dridan (SPC 2004-09) in the news as an up and coming shearer. To read more, go to this link

• Tim Gilbert (SPC 2009-14) shares the incredible experience of a four-week teaching placement in the Solomon Islands. Tim was one of 20 third year primary education students at ACU, who were given the opportunity and says he learned as much from them as he taught. To read more, go to this link

• We welcome Stephen Coghlan (SPC 1999-2004) back to beautiful Ballarat. Stephen has relocated with his wife and kids back to our great regional city. Hope to see you around Stephen!

• Well done to Beaufort footballer Tom Stapleton (SPC 2006-11) who came a close second in the Central Highlands Football League’s senior Geoff Taylor Medal count, behind Bungaree’s Joel Mahar. To read more go to this link

• Take a look at this amazing video shot by Luke Keys (SPC 1988-93) and his team from his multimedia firm Mass Motion spruiking the breadth of Ballarat’s arts community at this link

• Well done to George Helon (SPC 1980-82, PY1983) who has made Toowoomba’s POWER 100 List. The Chronicle’s inaugural Power 100 is described as a -comprehensive, yet subjective, list of men and women – and families -“ who have influenced the lives and earned your respect and recognition-. George was nominated for his dedication to the community. Born with a multiple-anomaly Pallister-hall syndrome -“ one of only 300 known cases worldwide -“ George has developed an emergency medical data card that helps allied, specialist and emergency services to respond to his needs.

• Congratulations also to Jarrett Giampaolo (current staff) who is stepping into the role of senior coach for the first time in 2019 with his long-time football home Redan. To read more, go to this link