Green, White and Blue - Issue 70

Welcome to our Green, White and Blue newsletter

Welcome to our first edition of the "Green, White and Blue" e-newsletter for St Patrick's College Old Collegians for 2025. We welcome any new Old Collegians to our e-newsletter. The "Green, White and Blue" is produced twice a school term and is full of news for and about our Old Collegians. We hope you enjoy!

First SPC OCA Class Reunion kicks off for 2025!

The Old Collegians’ Association has kicked off its first Class Reunion of the year with the Class of 1985 40-Year Reunion.

We welcomed back nearly 50 classmates and partners to the College's Old Collegians’ Pavilion, overlooking the Main Oval, on 22 February for an evening of catching up and reminiscing about old times, with some members bringing along original class memorabilia and beloved remnants of their school uniform!

Plenty of passion on display at Head of the Lake

What a great day of racing at Lake Wendouree for this year's Head of the Lake Rowing Carnival! 

Our rowers showed incredible determination, teamwork and skill on the water - despite the fact that the event was postponed from the Sunday to last Tuesday due to high winds - and we couldn't be prouder of the effort and passion on display. 

In the First V, our crew of SPC boys coached by David O’Doherty (SPC 2011-16) and comprising of James Clark, Oscar Farrington, Henry Reinehr, Lachlan Belleville and Charlie Geddes gave their all but ultimately fell just short of a high-quality BCC team. The boys can now begin their preparation for the Nationals Rowing Competition to be held in Tasmania from 24-30 March. 

SPC Head of the Lake winners included: Year 9 Div 5; Year 9 Div 2; Year 10 Div 5; Year 10 Div 4; Year 10 Div 2; Year 10 Div.

Head of the Lake memories flooding back

The Head of the Lake Rowing Carnival always conjures up plenty of memories from years gone by, as did this year's "throwback photos" from the 2017 & 2018 HOTL on our OCA Facebook page in the lead-up to 2025's big race. 

It was great to hear from Old Collegian Pat Bruty (SPC 2001-06) who sent us these photos of his own flag, lovingly crafted by Pat's mum complete with a shamrock, back in 2006. Pat and classmate Brad McBride (SPC 2001-06) are pictured above, in their spit crew outfits with the flag, which has continued to inspire SPC spit crews in future years to passionately cheer on the green, white and blue.

"Every time I see the flag in photos, I remember Mum sewed it for us that year," Pat says. "I reckon I'd still have my spit crew shirt too." 

Pat's brother Steve (SPC 1998-2003) coxed in the SPC Firsts Crew and Pat also coxed and rowed in 2004. Thanks to Pat for sharing his SPC memories with us.

Get in spirit of St Patrick's Day at SPC on 17 March

Calling our Old Boys and partners to come along and share in the St Patrick's Day spirit with us at our 2025 St Patrick's Day Lunch on Monday 17 March 2025 in the OCA Pavilion, overlooking the Main Oval.

Guest speaker this year is internationally-acclaimed artist and Old Collegian Wayne Elliott (SPC 1973-75). Co-inciding with the lunch, the Old Collegians' Association will also be hosting two Class Reunions, the Class of 1975 50-Year Reunion and the Class of 1965 60-Year Reunion. If you are a member of either 1975 or 1965, or were meant to finish your schooling in these years, we warmly invite you to catch up with your classmates.

Seventy years for 1955 Intermediate A Class

It's the 70-year anniversary for the 1955 Intermediate A Class this year and that's worth a celebration!

Past students, pictured in the photograph above, are warmly invited to our St Patrick's Day Lunch on Monday 17 March 2025.

We would love to bring you together for an afternoon of catching up and reminiscing.

Best of all, we have several members of this class who have already confirmed they will be in attendance and we would like to thank Old Collegian Leon Gleeson (SPC 1950-55, PY1957) for the idea.

Please share the details with any family members who may not see this information. 

For more information contact the College's Alumni and Foundation Officer Lorrie Liston on (03) 5322 4442 or email lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au 

Come along to our Flanagan Art Prize gala opening

Ninety-eight artworks have been shortlisted for the highly anticipated Flanagan Art Prize! Their incredible works will be on display at St Patrick’s College from 21-23 March, with the winners announced at our gala opening on Friday, 21 March. Join us to celebrate outstanding artistic talent and experience this stunning exhibition. All works will be available for purchase. Click on the button below to purchase tickets for the gala opening. 

New date for Class of 2020 Five-Year Reunion

Members of the Class of 2020 - don't forget to update your calendars to note the new date of Saturday 28 June 2025 for the Five-Year Reunion this year. 

Lock these dates in your diary for 2025

Make sure you pop these dates in your diary if you have a Class Reunion coming up this year!

Hosted by our Old Collegians' Association, we look forward to seeing as many Old Collegians back for their Class Reunion to renew friendships and reminisce about your school days at St Patrick's College.

We warmly welcome all Old Boys, including those who may have only been at SPC for a short time and may not have had the opportunity to finish your senior years.

We also encourage you to forward these dates onto any Old Boys who may be interested, and to ensure your contact details are up-to-date before we send out invitations via email. 

It is crucial we have your up-to-date contact details to keep you updated with our reunion communications, so we urge you to update your contact details please by simply clicking on the button below.

What have our Old Boys been up to lately...

New Richmond midfielder Sam Lalor (SPC 2019-22, PY2024), pictured above, is the latest in a long line of Tigers who have hailed from SPC, dating back to Maurie Sheahan, the club’s star full-back in the 1930. Click on the button below to read this great story along with more stories about some of other Old Boys, who have made the news recently.

From Archives - History of SPC Football guernsey 

The College Archives welcomed the donation of a 1st XVIII jumper which is now on display in the emerging College’s History and Heritage Centre.

College Archivist Halina Sztynda takes a look down memory lane at how our prized football guernsey design has changed over the years.

Congratulations to 2024 College Captain Noah Quick (SPC 2019-24), pictured above, who was awarded Young Citizen of the Year in the City of Ballarat Australia Day Community Awards this year. Well done Noah!! 

Where are they - Steven Trotter (SPC 1996-2001)

The College recently reconnected with Steven Trotter (SPC 1996-2001) who, after years in education leadership, has shifted his focus to helping other leaders to learn how to embrace challenge and enjoy the journey of leading improvement. Steven has recently written a book which is a culmination of his 15 years in senior leadership positions in education.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK - To keep fully up to date with all happenings in and around the College and the OCA we strongly encourage you to like our Facebook page and join the thousands of members of our community already receiving regular updates into their daily news feed, simply click on this link - https://www.facebook.com/spcoca/

Where are they - Jamie McPherson (SPC 1993-96)

We were delighted to reconnect recently with former day student Jamie McPherson (SPC 1993-96, PY1998). Check out what Jamie is doing now by clicking on the button below.

Obituaries

St Patrick's College honours those Old Boys who have sadly left us and recognises their contribution to the life of the College and to broader society in general. The College received news in recent times that these Old Collegians have passed away, including:

• Chris Wallis (SPC 1969-70), pictured above
• Fr Chris Baker (SPC 1942-43, PY1944)
• Peter Kerwan (former staff)
• Brothers Michael O’Beirne (SPC 1947-52, PY1953) and James (Jim) O’Beirne (SPC 1950-54, PY1955)
• Eddie Sirianni (SPC 1974, PY1975)
• Mark O’Toole (SPC 1970-75)
• Jim McCulloch (SPC 1953-59, PY1960)
• Gerard Watson (SPC 1957-1964, PY1966)
• John Hogan (SPC 1940-42, PY1944)
• Frank Riches (SPC 1943-44, PY1946)
• Barry McGenniss (SPC 1945-52)
• Denis Halliburton (SPC 1957-1969)

• Tony Rintoul (SPC 1954-56, PY1957) 

   

  Please click on the button below to read more about these much-missed members of our community. 

Where are they now – Mark McKay (SPC 1991-94)

The College recently reconnected with Mark McKay (SPC 1991-94, PY1996) who remembers Br Zoch’s ingenious mathematics homework which helps him in his training principles today.

Birthday wishes to our dearest Old Collegian

We wished our dearest Old Collegian Fr Dan Arundell (SPC 1945-48) a very happy 95th birthday on Christmas Eve! We captured Dan, who we believe may well be our oldest living Old Boy, blowing out some early birthday candles with friends at the Lake View Hotel in Ballarat before Christmas. Happy birthday Dan!

Where are they - Paul McCulloch (SPC 1954-57)

The College recently reconnected with Paul McCulloch (SPC 1954-57), pictured above meeting Australian tennis champ Rex Hartwig during a special visit to SPC back in the 1950s.Paul had his own taste of tennis fame and was crowned the College's McNeil Cup champion over consecutive years in 1956 & 1957. He continued to play competitively in veterans tennis, and still plays socially these days. Click on the button below as Paul tells his life, crediting an early failure for changing the course of his life for the best. 

Brian checks out his picket on Main Oval fence

Old Collegian and past parent Brian Costigan (SPC 1952-55) was delighted to visit and inspect his personalised plaque, which is proudly displayed on the College's Main Oval  picket fence recently. The Costigan family have been long-standing members of the green, white and blue.  Brian's picket records his own happy years as a student at SPC, his late wife Maureen's loyal contribution as a member of the SPC Ladies Auxiliary as well as the couple's four sons' student years.

You can purchase your own picket and record your own lasting memory by clicking on the button below.

Where are they – Stephen Bigarelli (SPC 1970-75)

The College recently reconnected with Stephen Bigarelli (SPC 1970-75) who is happily retired after a career in health, education and local government, however it is family and his volunteer work which gives him the most joy and meaning.

New rowing boat set to make waves

Our newest boat was proudly christened recently, marking an exciting moment for SPC rowing. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Friends of Rowing and Old Collegians’ Association for their generous support of our rowing program.

Camaraderie on show in Terry Blizzard Cup

It was wonderful to play for the Terry Blizzard Cup once again and a fantastic achievement by our boys on the Apple Isle just before the 2025 school year began. Thanks to St Virgil's College for their camaraderie and sportsmanship, and congratulations to all players for their outstanding efforts, especially Linc Koliba, Jimmy Duxson, and Lochy McPhan for their impressive contributions with the bat, and Lochy McPhan once again for his superb bowling performance of 5/32. We look forward to many more encounters in the future!