Where are they now – Adrian Fitzpatrick (SPC 1969-73)

The College recently reconnected with former boarder Adrian Fitzpatrick (SPC 1969-73) who recently celebrated his 50-year milestone since finishing school at St Patrick’s College. Since then, Adrian has enjoyed a successful career in chartered accounting and his great loves of family and the AFL Western Bulldogs.

 

Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

I completed a Melbourne Uni Commerce degree in 1974-76 and in 1977, started a career in Chartered Accounting, at Hungerfords then to KPMG, followed by Pitcher Partners in 1991 as one of the 14 founding partners.

I retired from practice in 2016 to take on some company board directorships, and today I am a Director of two ASX-listed companies, ARB Corporation Limited (manufacturer and distributor of 4 x 4 vehicle accessories) and Aussie Broadband Limited, non-executive chair.

I am married to Julie and we have three children, our eldest son Andrew is an investment banker in NYC with Barclays, daughter Hannah is a lawyer currently working in London and our youngest son Michael recently graduated with a Bachelor of Ag Science from Melbourne Uni.

Julie and I spend most of our time at Point Lonsdale these days with commuting/staying in Melbourne for business and to visit family, friends and attend Western Bulldogs matches. (I was a Board member of WBFC from 1989-1996 and a Board member of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation from 2016-2023. I was made a Life Member of the Football Club in December 2019).

 

Do you have family ties with SPC?

I’ve had four nephews attend SPC.

What are your fondest memories of your time at St Patrick’s College?

I have many fond memories, playing representative cricket all through school including playing First XI cricket with Gerard Fitzgerald (we opened the batting together, he scored most of the runs – I just gave him the strike!), Brian Brown, Mick Cleary, the Sargent boys, Reidy, Steve Marriner etc.

The School Band with Br Ring including cadets, camps etc.

In Year 12, I studied in the evenings in Room 13 with the Boarders which was entertaining!

The list goes on, organist at school masses in the Chapel etc.

Which teacher from your time at SPC had the greatest impact on you? Why?

So many teachers had a positive impact. Morrie Murphy was probably instrumental in me going into a career in Chartered Accounting, Peter Cole and politics, Peter Farley’s introduction to Shakespeare, Luke Guthrie was huge, always kept out of the way.

 

 

If you could pass on one message to the students of today, what would it be?

My message to the boys is to get involved in as many activities that school provides as you can as the time goes incredibly quickly!