Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?
After I left St Pat’s,ÌıI began working on the family farm between Yaapeet and Hopetoun until 1980 when my family and I moved to Bendigo. In Bendigo, among other jobs, I worked at the Bendigo Pottery and worked with cattle at the Bendigo sale yards.

I amÌınow residing at the aged care facility in Hopetoun.

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

At St Pat’s, I kicked the football every moment I had spare.

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

The Brothers I remember were Br Coyne, he was a kindly sort of a bloke.

Br “Brasherâ€� Williams was a senior teacher and he was very fair. Br Bill O’ MalleyÌıused to say, “White you are a bold old larro (larrikin). Not like your cousins the Davis boys.â€�

How has your education shaped your professional life?

The 12 months at St Pat’s was a very valuable experience and most of all I learnt the background of my Catholic religion and it readied me for my future life.
I played 14 seasons of football including grand finals and the only premiership I won was on the Shed oval in 1947 at St Pat’s.

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

My advice to current students would be to get as much education as you can.

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Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

After finishing at SPC in 2006, I attended RMIT University to study Applied Science, having developed a keen interest in biology. Oddly enough, after being required to study chemistry in my first year, I found myself much more interested in it. I hadn’t even studied chemistry in VCE but ended up switching my major to it. I completed my degree and then went on to complete a year of Honours, before being fortunate enough to receive an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scholarship to undertake a PhD. My PhD took four years and was in the area of chemical synthesis, specifically developing analogues of chemicals used in fragrances.

After completing my PhD in 2016, I moved to China, where I spent three years working at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, researching ways to modify polymers. I then spent two years working in France, followed by two years working in Poland, working across both industry and academia on the development of biodegradable polymers. Over the course of my research career, I published 23 scientific publications and a patent.

While living in Poland, my wife and I welcomed our son, Alexander, who is now three years old. After seven years overseas, we decided it was finally time to return home to Australia, so that Alexander could grow up here in the lucky country. We returned home to Australia in 2023, and in 2025 we welcomed our second child, Lucy.

Even before returning home, I had decided that I was ready for a change from research and was looking for greater stability and a better work‑life balance. I therefore decided to pursue a career in teaching. Unfortunately, this meant returning to university for more study. Fortunately, I was able to work and study simultaneously through the Teach Today program while completing my Master’s degree. I now teach Science and Mathematics at a school in Wyndham Vale.

Teaching has been a very rewarding career change, and I genuinely feel that I am making a difference in the lives of my students. That said, I expect it will be many years before I feel as confident and skilled in the classroom as I once did working in a laboratory. There is still a lot to learn, but I am enjoying the challenge.

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Do you have family ties with SPC?

I have a younger brother, Matt Plummer, who was in the class of 2009. He’s doing well, living in Geelong with his young family and working as a primary school teacher.

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

My fondest memories are of the time I spent with my friends. Those friendships have lasted well beyond our school years, which is something I really value. In fact, a few months ago I travelled internationally to attend one of my friends’ weddings. Likewise, several of my old school friends travelled to Taiwan for my own wedding in 2019.

I also have very fond memories of the school camps, particularly the hiking trip in the Grampians, even though we pitched our tent on low-lying ground and woke up to a storm with water pouring in. I think they call those formative experiences.

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

I had many fantastic teachers during my time at SPC, but two in particular made a lasting impact on me.

Year 7 was a rough year for me. During parent-teacher interviews, Mr Tony Prosia took me aside and gave me some words of encouragement that have stayed with me ever since.

The second teacher that had a great impact was Mr Damian Kinnersly. As a teacher myself, I now look back and realise just how lucky we were as 14-year-olds to have him as a role model and guide. At the time, I probably didn’t fully appreciate it, but I certainly do now.

I hope they’re both doing well.

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How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

Going to St Pat’s gave me more than just an education, it also helped shape the values that I try to live by. In particular, the importance of treating others with respect and taking responsibility for my actions has stayed with me throughout my adult life. Those values were also a major part of why we decided to move home after seven years overseas – I want Alexander and Lucy to grow up with the same values and opportunities that I was fortunate enough to have growing up.

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

That your past doesn’t define you. That you can turn it all around on a single day if you want to.

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Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

I’m a comedian now, but when I was starting out, I actually returned to St Pat’s as a substitute teacher to pay the bills. Apologies to any parents of students I taught, because I mostly spent classes telling jokes to the boys. I then left teaching to take a chance on comedy, and my first gig was doing breakfast radio up in Bundaberg, Queensland. But I just got sick of perfect weather so I moved back home to Ballarat, to do stand-up full-time. To this day I could be doing a gig in Brunswick, and people from the audience will call out “Hey! Mr Baxter!” It’s cool catching up with former students after gigs and seeing what they’re up to. Especially because teaching’s like being a paramedic or prison guard: you do your job and then usually never hear from that person again.

Do you have family ties with SPC?

Sure do, my dad Kieran Baxter taught here for 20-plus years.ÌıSo if anyone remembers a history teacher named Mr Baxter who actually did teach them, that’s Dad. As a kid growing up, I can’t tell you how many grown men in every store he went into would still refer to him as “Mr Baxter”.

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

Honestly there are so many, I loved being a student here (I feel like I’m doing an ad now).

One thing I will say is that the teachers were very supportive. I was always filming little sketches with my mates, and the deputy walked in on us watching one. When he saw it was us lip-syncing ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, he played it at the school assembly. The teachers would always go with stuff like that, it was great. When my mate and I hosted St Pat’s Has Talent, we said to Mr Fisher (in the AV department), “Hey when you’re judging can you just say “thoroughly enjoyed it” every five seconds? And he just did it. Amazing.

On our last day of Year 12, one of the boys got up and read a poem he’d written about us all going our separate ways. That same deputy afterwards said how nice it was to see the support in the room as it was read out. You don’t think about it while you’re there because you’re a kid, but it’s a pretty special time really.

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

Well Dad did teach me in Year 12 (yes it is weird putting your hand up and saying “Dad!”), so we’ll take that one as a given. Aside from Dad, two stand out. The first is a man who is infinitely funnier than I’ll ever be, Mr Geoff Brodie. He and Dad were both funny guys at a time when I was starting to find the world funny. Geoff would just walk into a classroom, do a duck noise, and never explain it. It was honestly like being taught by John Cleese, it was amazing. Our homeroom with him had its own theme song, complete with actions, that we’d lean out the windows and sing to passing classes. He also gave us the best definition for love I’ve ever heard: 1+1=1. He knows his stuff.

The second would be the great man himself, Mr Howard Clark. It’s honestly hard to explain the impact he’s had. He’s one of those people who just leads through his example and presence, makes you want to be the best version of yourself. When I was a teenager and he’d enter the classroom I felt like my posture instantly improved.ÌıEven these days when I see him, he still has that effect.

How has your education shaped your professional life?

As a student, it was a time when I was around funny people and collecting funny stories. And whenever my mates and I would ask to film a sketch in the drama room after school, the teachers just let us go for it. All that stuff adds up.

How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

Well I’m marrying into a footy-mad family, so it does help from time to time to say “I went to school with him”. The school was also doing a lot of great social justice work when I was there, which definitely had an impact on me today. I’m not going to go on record and say I’m better than Mother Teresa, but if you say it, I won’t disagree.

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

Take your headphones out.ÌıHonestly though, we all go out into the world after school and find our place in it, sometimes with new friends, sometimes old. But for me, my best mates to this day are still the mates I made at St Pat’s. Just last month a went to a wedding for a schoolmate, and some of the boys there I hadn’t seen for like 10 years, but I might as well have been 17 again.

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Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

Life’s journey has tracked not as I envisaged, but I have achieved more than I expected. From university to bookmaking and form analyst, international airline operations, and for the past two decades I have been working as a Protective Security Adviser and Program Security Manager for major Australian Defence Programs including the Future Submarine Program stationed in France, and now with the SEA 5000 Hunter Class Frigate program.

I married a Swiss-French girl (should have kept up French at school) and have two children and now one granddaughter.

Do you have family ties with SPC?

I was one of seven brothers with two sisters. Six of us attended SPC.

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

I definitely enjoyed the sport as well as being a member of such a large community where I was guaranteed to find friends and appreciate the diverse range of interests of others.

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

I can’t single out one teacher because it took six years and multiple teachers who were instrumental in my education and experiences. If I had to call out a few it would be:

• Br Peter Noonan for his common sense and sincerity
• Vicki Richards for her professionalism and strength
• Br “RAâ€� – well he was an institution, as large and solid as the “ooga-doogaâ€� tree.
• Br Trevor Parton for his unique style, humility and humour.

How has your education shaped your professional life?

Although I didn’t recognise it at the time, our education was not just schoolwork, it included developing teamwork and creating community. St Pat’s opened my eyes to the power of teamwork that we developed whether it was in class with fellow students, at recess with friends, or on the field with teammates. The experience, situational awareness and resulting skills have often been – in principle – the foundation for sustained personal and career success or in some cases, survival. I learned a lot observing the boarders noting their solidarity and commitment to work and live as a team; success followed them.

How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

Again, I reflect back on the broad community and the eclectic nature of successful individuals and groups. The most important team in anyone’s life is family, whatever I takes! My son is an engineer – pray for me!

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

Define a vision, establish a plan, and when events do not go your way – Reset, Adapt and Go again.

Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

I went to Ballarat University for a while before getting a job at IBM. I have been in IT as solution Architect (designer) for Cloud Computing for most of the last 20 years, now based in Melbourne at another IT Company (Datacom). I live in the outer suburbs of Melbourne but still have strong ties to Ballarat and am often back in the Ballarat at a poker night with friends or visiting my brother.

I have travelled overseas multiple times to Canada, US, NZ and Asia. And now I am married with two young children and am a bit settled. I don’t travel much now outside of Victoria but I love exploring parts of our state.

Do you have family ties with SPC?

Yes, my brother Shane (SPC 1992-97) is a teacher at SPC currently and his children (my nephews both attend).

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

One hundred per cent my favourite memory of the school is the Jerk (Handball) Courts. I was sad when I learned that were no longer there but for most of my first few years I was there EVERY recess and lunch.

Beyond that I think my fondest memories were people. Two of my favourites were Mr (Peter) Farley and Mr (Michael) Brady who were always willing to say a nice hi to me when I see them (even though they were never actually my teacher).

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

I think it would have to be Mr (Fred) Spittle. I had some issues growing up with behaviour and it was probably when I started art in his class that he sort of took me under his wing to help me get my behaviour on the right track. He was always available for a chat or otherwise as I needed.

How has your education shaped your professional life?

I think there has been a significant amount of my time at SPC that has helped in that regard. I built my career without a university degree (in IT, I have one in Accounting) but my first real access to computers and programming was in the 90s in SPC and that Computing program (I remember the time that they got those new Macs when I was in Year 9 or 10 and it was where I think learnt the basics of computing and led to what I do now).

How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

I think my values were shaped immensely by my time at SPC. The mentors I had there such as above mentioned teachers as well as Football and sports coaches instilled community and caring into my values. I like to think a lot of the way I am now in my late 40s was from that time.

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

Value the bonds and relationships you build and the words of those mentors. It is as important to be able to walk through the world with reason and kindness as it is to know the facts and figures you might encounter.

The world is not an easy place to live but having those friendships and bonds will help make it a better one.

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Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

It has been a journey, one where I never settled on what I really wanted to do with my life since leaving school. At the time IT was moving rapidly so I thought I’d chase a career with that. I did several IT courses in the next two to four years. I was in and out of different part-time jobs and my career was never going anywhere!

Still being young and partying and having a good time was high on my agenda. My life settled once I met my partner Renee in 2005. She is from a farm east of Hamilton, Victoria.

I landed a good job at VicRoads in 2007. At VicRoads I worked on the front counter in the Customer Service Centre (CSC) Wendouree where I conducted licence testing andÌıregistering vehicles. I probably served many ex St Pat’s boys! I loved that job apart from the work politics.

I also had the great opportunityÌıto undertakeÌısecondments in different departments in VicRoads of which one such role was being a Surveillance Officer of which I enjoyed and was fascinated with road construction.

As time grew with VicRoads at the height (also lows) of 2020, I was burning out at the CSC and my next big career break came in 2022 when an email from another VicRoads Department expressed interest in a Surveillance Role with External works. So I respondedÌıto the email and got the job. I haven’t looked back since, I have my own work car which is my mobile office and get to see the best ofÌıwestern Victoria from Geelong to the SA border.

I work in conjunction with developers and their contractors that build private infrastructure that connects to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) (Ex-VicRoads) assets. My role is to make sure they build as per DTP has allowed them to construct. Pretty exciting stuff.

Renee and I have a daughter Tabitha who is 14. I played footy for the Ballarat Swans (reserves) up until 2004 and still play cricket for VRI-Delacombe since 2001. I have taken over 400 wickets. I still open the bowling although in the lowest grade we have as the mind is willing but the body is shot.

I enjoy fishing, the weather (storms), cars (I have a Mark 2 Escort panel van) and I have a Youtube channel –

We still live in Ballarat in Mitchell Park and I have a man cave!

Do you have family ties with SPC?

There have been a few Baxters who attended SPC. My younger brother Tristan (SPC 1994-99) and my cousinsÌıPaul (SPC 1994-97, PY1999) & Joseph (SPC 2006-11) went to SPC. My uncle Kieran Baxter taught at SPC.

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

Honestly, I can’t remember many memories! I got up to no good. But most of the time I was a quiet reserved student.

I enjoyed both cricket and footy. I used to love playing jerks (handball). I enjoyed maths, woodwork and metalwork classes. I was never driven to school, I either rode my bike or walked, rain, hail or shine from Alfredton.

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

I can’t remember them as such. Although Br Zoch’s maths classes were brilliant, Sin, Cos, Tan. And the fact we reckon he had a tunnel network under the school. I did have some good teachers such as: Michael Brady, Malcom Barnes, Peter Farley (well I was never on his bad side; I was his unofficial secretary in Year 10?), Harry Gibcus, Peter Gutteridge.

In Year 9 we were terrible; I blame hormones.

How has your education shaped your professional life?

Can’t complain. Such is life!ÌıIf I had my time again, I would’ve pursued a trade; plenty of money to be made and lots of work.

How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

Being a Christian it instilled good Catholic values of treating people with respect. My motto is to treat others the way I’d like to be treated. Also life is too short to hold grudges. Yeah you get cross at times but 99 per cent it is a waste of energy and where does it get you?

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

Enjoy school, you are only young once, have fun! It isn’t the end of the world if your plans and dreams don’t go as expected. The world is in a perilous place at the moment and it has gotten so small; thanks to the internet which wasn’t really around in my days at SPC.

Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

I graduated from SPC in 1963 and completed a Valuations degree at RMIT University in Melbourne.

I attended the Australian School of Pacific Administration (ASOPA) Sydney in 1971, where training was undertaken for Patrol Officers (Kiaps).

I then became a Patrol Officer of the Papua New Guinea Constabulary. As the officer-in-charge of the Komo Patrol Post in the Southern Highlands, I was responsible for maintaining law and order, council, roads, schools, bridges and health centres, along with building community engagement and agriculture, capacity building and carrying out extensive jungle patrols and settling disputes.

I later returned to Victoria and worked as a ranger in charge for the National Parks Service at Werribee Gorge.

I then shifted to Cobourg Sanctuary in 1977 (now named Gurig) in the NT as a fisheries and wildlife officer.Ìı Other postings in the NT included Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin, which involved wildlife management, enforcement research and feral animal control.

I was in charge of the Northern Territory Feral Animal Committee and managed their program and projects, involving integrated feral animal control exercises with landholders, state and federal agencies, pursue co-operative research gaps with universities and other agencies; and co-ordinate refinement of their aerial survey techniques.

It’s worth noting the Northern Territory of Australia has an area of 1.4 million square kilometres.

I was then appointed as the chief wildlife ranger for the Northern Territory, overseeing training and wildlife enforcement, researching data collection, monitoring and undertaking aerial survey work. I represented NT at national conventions and implemented the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) C.Porosus Management Plan.

As chief Wildlife Ranger I was responsible for undertaking crocodile management in the NT and the removal of saltwater crocodiles from Darwin Harbour and relocated to crocodile farms.

As part of the role, I organised ranger training in 1080 baiting, range and aerial marksmanship and led national simulated exotic (Foot and Mouth Disease) disease exercise and developed training for crocodile capture and handling for rangers.

I was also involved with the implementation of satellite (training) tracking collars on camels in the Simpson Desert, for research and potential harvesting.

I moved on and became the Arnhemland Area Manager for Parks and Wildlife. As part of this role, there were many highlights including collaborating on wildlife management with Aborigines, island feral animal control, research on Crown of Thorns starfish, establishing a crocodile farm, coordinating Aboriginal Ranger training, funding from Nabalco and Gemco mining companies and Cape Arnhem (Wanuwuy) (Nhulunbuy) becoming part of formally protected area.

I later became the regional director of Parks and Wildlife in Katherine, managing a multi-disciplined team of 65 staff.

As part of this role, I was responsible for developing strategies and priorities for the region, chairing heads of government (including recovery and reconstruciton post Katherine floods in 1998), representing the region on boards and at various conferences, negotiating new parks for the National Reserve System, capacity building and the indigenous joint management of Parks.

While working in Natural Resource Management as director, I established a new division in the DPI&F (Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and also developed strategic direction, policy and legislation, identified knowledge gaps and collaborated on research and funding and represented NT at a state and federal level. This included rangeland management, feral animals and weed control.

I oversaw the NT Weeds Act and arranged enforcement training and was involved in the development of great partnerships with the Aborigines.

I have also written and co-authored a number of publications on wide-ranging subjects, from the breeding habits of Peregrine Falcon, crocodile capturing techniques in the Northern Territory and aestivation in the Australian freshwater crocodile, to the homing instincts of C. Porosus, exotic disease in buffalo and pigs in Arnhem land and the field evaluation of 1080 baits for dingo control.

During my working life, I held a number of national appointments, including the Australia New Zealand Environment & Conservation Council as well as a member of the working party. I was also the NT representative on the Australian Weeds Committee.

I also held numerous local appointments, ranging from a board member on the Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge), Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Parks & Wildlife and regional assessment panel for the National Heritage Trust.

In 2006, I interviewed with Conservation International in Washington DC for the position of country director in Cambodia, which I won. The focus was mainly on the protection of endangered species under the IUCN red list (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in the Cardamon mountains.

My last consultancy work involved the recording of “Biodiversity along the Stock Routes of Western Queensland”.

I am still a volunteer life member of the Noosa Parks Association, involved in the re-introduction of oysters into the Noosa River. I have been a member for the last 15 years.

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Do you have family ties with SPC?

My son Sean attended SPC in 1990 & 1991.

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

My fondest memories are of the lifelong mates I made andÌıthe sporting events. This included Brother Williams (Chinny), who had a good rapport with all of us and visited me in the NT in his retirement.

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How has your education shaped your professional life?

Determination and prioritisation were helpful tools through my pursuit of an outdoor occupation and a career.

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

I would advise any student to pursue what you really want to do, rather than what is expected of you.

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Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

In my new role, I have the immense privilege of travelling the country and leading staff formation programs with colleagues and leaders from our 59 Colleges, Flexis, and Associate schools. I’m also looking forward to supporting EREA’s new Strategic Directions, specifically in the Justice and Solidarity space which has been a passion of mine for many years.

I have been part of the Edmund Rice education network as a teacher and leader for the past eight years at Edmund Rice Flexible School and Rostrevor College. I was also Leader of Learning – Senior School at ERFS Davoren Park. My work in both school communities contributed to the deepening of understanding and living out of the EREA Charter, including contributing to national initiatives in sustainability, global engagement, justice and advocacy.

Prior to that, I was a member of the Christian Brothers Oceania Province Regional Mission Team coordinating and facilitating formation for school and ministry staff, holding governance roles in Edmund Rice Camps SA and developing and delivering outreach programs focused on inter-faith and intercultural engagement, justice and inclusion. Through management roles with World Youth International and World Vision I developed strategic and operational leadership skills, particularly focused on projects and communities in Kenya and Nepal.

Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

Following my year in 1987 I moved with my family to Gippsland. Fast forward to now – I’m happily married with two beautiful children. I am living in Melbourne and I am a partner of a successful digital marketing agency.

Do you have family ties with SPC?

Yes, two of my cousins also went to SPC, Shane (SPC 1985-87) and Kevin Pritchard (SPC 1986-91).

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

It was a long time ago, however I had some great friends from my primary school (St Patrick’s – Drummond St) that also went to SPC, along with the various sporting events and of course playing Jerks at recess and any opportunity to beat Mr Kelvin Porter on that court!

I also really enjoyed cheering on SPC at the regatta…”who are, who are, who are we? We are, we are SPC.â€�

Which teacher from your time at SPC had the greatest impact on you? Why?
I only really remember Mr (Kelvin) Porter. He was my Homeroom teacher and helped me settle in to secondary school and again I have great memories of many Jerks competitions that he would coordinate.

How has your education shaped your professional life?

It was later in life that I realised my Catholic upbringing made the person I am – along with the discipline and direction I think that was necessary at the time.

How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

Times were different back then and the discipline, support and direction it provided me helped me become a stronger person with values, compassion and respect for my fellow person.

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

Enjoy your younger years at school, take it all in and know it will help shape the rest of your life.

Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

After leaving St Patrick’s in 1976, I did teacher training at Aquinas College. After graduating in 1979 I started my teaching career at Holy Spirit PS in Casuarina Darwin.

I taught there for two years until the sudden death of my father to cancer. ÌıI returned to Victoria to teach in three different primary schools, Our Lady of the Pines, Donvale, Holy Spirit North, Ringwood and Holy Trinity ,Wantirna South.

At Teachers’ College I became interested in art and design, especially ceramics. In 1986 I started further studies at Chisholm College Frankston. In 1989 I completed an Associate Diploma in ceramic design. This allowed me to teach secondary art and design. I taught at St Joseph’s College Ferntree Gully in the Art and Design department for seven years. I gained much from these years from a number of great mentors.

In 1996 I started a 23-year career at Scotch College in their Art Department, 10 of those years as Head of department. In 2000 I completed a Degree in Applied Arts majoring in Ceramics. At Scotch I introduced Visual Communication and Design to VCE students.

Many of my students went on to become architects, product designers and graphic designers. It is very rewarding to me that I still hear from many of them and continue to monitor their careers.

I was a State reviewer for Visual Communications and Design and worked on the review of the study design.

In 1997 I completed an Associate Diploma in graphic communication. While at Scotch, I was involved in the boarding house and coached rowing, rugby, football, basketball and volleyball. I was an officer of cadets for 10 years and also designed the scenic art for the senior school plays.

I was a leader of three overseas tours, one to Nepal and two art tours to Italy. I also led four outback trips to northern Australia.

After a very rewarding teaching career, l retired in 2018 to Castlemaine. I have built my own studio and enjoy my time now creating my ceramics. I sell my work in galleries and continue to hold exhibitions, under Mark Mason Ceramic Design.

During this busy time, I was supported by my wife Imelda. We were married in 1985 and have three wonderful children. My wife is an excellent special education teacher. We have three children, Laura is an architect, Lucy, a teacher of speech and drama and Lachlan is a graphic designer.

Do you have family ties with SPC?

The only family connection is my two younger brothers, David (SPC 1975-81) and Simon (SPC 1976-80, PY1981) both went to St Pat’s.

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

I was a bus boy and travelled from Ballan each day. Which could often be a challenge. It also limited my ability to be involved in sport. I did manage to do swimming and rugby. I was born on St Pat’s Day (17 March) and remember that the school always celebrated that day, so it was extra special for me.

I remember in Year 7 having to wear a cap and suit coat which spent most of its time in my bag. I remember singing in the mass choir. It wasn’t until Year 9 that I formed a strong friendship group, mostly from cadets. I was in cadets for three years and went to two promotions courses at Puckapunyal. I was promoted to a CUO and led a company.

My time in cadets is where I have my fondest memories, made great friends and where I gained the insight to become a teacher.

I remember in Year 12 Brother Nangle asked me to do a reading at mass. I wasn’t a very good student and found reading difficult and this was a huge challenge for me. I couldn’t stop shaking from nerves but managed to get through it.

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

I remember two teachers fondly. Mr Shelly Bond taught me in Year 8 and 9. I got on really well with him and enjoyed his sense of humour and his relationships with his students. He left and I always wondered where he went. I always tried to form strong relationships with my students and always tried to have a sense of humour.

The best teacher I had was in Year 12 was Br Noonan. He taught me Australian History, which was my best grade. He had a great knowledge of his subject and gave us many great insights. He was on the study board and could predict the areas that we would be tested on. He was the only teacher that was explicit in his teaching and developed each student’s strengths and weaknesses. He was the only teacher that actually taught me how to write an essay. He gave us many practice essays and always returned our work promptly with notes on how to improve. I tried to model my own teaching on his style.

How has your education shaped your professional life?

I knew I wanted to be a teacher from my time in cadets and from some of the teachers I had.

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

Follow your dreams! Find something that you are good at and pursue it. Make lots of friends and try and keep as many as you can. Family is important. Work to live not live to work. Relationships are important.

Check out Mark’s ceramic work on Instagram and via his website – Mark Mason Ceramic Design – Ìı

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Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

Following Year 12 in 2006, I went on to study economics and finance at the University of Ballarat, graduating in 2010.

Work-wise, I went on to work for Kempe Engineering in a commercial graduate role, which led to some travel opportunities and eventually a move to Melbourne 2012 to work for Macquarie Bank in their new bulk grain export business doing cargos of Australian wheat and barley into Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

This led to a lot of focus on maritime and trade, where I went onto spend five years with a BHP/Rio Tinto JV – RightShip, in various strategy roles focusing on providing bulk exporters of mining and agricultural commodities with supply chain and vessel analytics and risk management solutions, while also completing an MBA at RMIT University.

For the last five years I have been working with PwC Australia as a Director in their management consulting business, using my experience help solve a range of problems out in industry across mining, energy and FMCG.

Life is very different these days as a dad to two girls. I married my wife Zoe in 2016 in Melbourne, where we have settled in the Northern suburbs.

Do you have family ties with SPC?

Unfortunately not. Just myself.

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

Twenty-plus years on, I look back at things like the Year 9 program, where we had four camps for the year across the beach, city, snow and bush, along with a lot of different immersion-style learning modules, which was very different at the time and memorable.

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

Geoff Brodie was an important figure in my journey. I was an average student across most areas, where Mr Brodie was able to challenge me in a positive way with more abstract concepts applied to the content that helped me look at things differently and accelerate, along with being more prepared for uni life. His ‘structure of knowing’ still rings true today – shout out to Mr Brodie.

How has your education shaped your professional life?

It’s enabled me to work as part of a team and lead with integrity, along with continuing to learn and evolve professionally which is important in my current work.

How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?

It has made me want to ensure my daughters get to experience similar things in their journey, where it’s a really important part of development and life in general.

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

Working hard and being good to people goes a long way, and almost always results in good things.

Peter came from Horsham and was boarding captain of Treacy House. Peter was on the senior council and immersed himself fully into the sporting life of SPC during his two years at the College, completing Form 5 & 6.

He played in the SPC First XVIII Football team across both years, and was captain of the co-premiership-winning BPS football side in 1972.

Peter was also vice captain of the First Cricket XI side, representing the BPS senior side.

He excelled in athletics and cross country, and was named the senior athletics champion alongside David Smith.

Peter enjoyed the opportunity to reminisce some of these memories while coming across photographs in the College canteen area.

We thank Peter for reconnecting with the College and coming to visit!