Where are they now – John Tudor (SPC 1954-58)

We recently reconnected with John Tudor (SPC 1954-57, PY1958) who enjoyed the teachings of Brs O’Malley and Kelty and attributes their approach to learning to his own successful career as a certified practicing accountant.

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Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

I have eight siblings (including older brother Bryan (SPC 1953-54, PY1956), now deceased, who also went to St Patrick’s College) and was brought up on a potato/dairy farm in Gordon.

I was a “bus boy” with my Gordon mates, John Corbett (SPC 1954-58) and Vince O’Connor (SPC 1955-57, PY1960), and started in Second Year in 1954.

After leaving St Patrick’s, I become a certified practicing accountant, joining the Australian Tax Office in 1958 and remained in the ATO until my retirement in 2000.

I married Claire Hannebery, and we had three children and three grandchildren. Claire passed away in 2004 and, more recently,- John married Julie White, a friend of many years.

I lived in Forest Hill and have been involved in parish affairs at St Timothy’s Parish, and I am now living in Rye.

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

I didn’t kick a football at St Patrick’s (being a bus boy) but played over 300 games with Old Paradians in the VAFA. I joined OP’s in 1961, a year or two before St Patrick’s Old Collegians’ reformed, so I didn’t get to play with St Patrick’s. Two Old Boys, Tom Cleary (SPC 1953-58, PY1959) and Tony Borrack (SPC 1954, PY1957) were spirited opponents (Commonwealth Bank) in the Ammos.

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

I enjoyed my four years at St Patrick’s and appreciated in particular, teachers Brothers O’Malley and Kelty, Brother Bill for his dedication and emphasis on Christian and family values and Brother Kelty for his ability to challenge your approach to learning.

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How has your education shaped your professional life?

I believe those qualities contributed towards a useful and productive career in the ATO.

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

I encourage present day students to accept and be challenged by the continuing growth and change in technology, to maintain strong Christian values and to work hard with their teachers to achieve academic success and so provide a solid grounding for life after the College.

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