Geoff Kelly Class of 1959
Tim O’Hehir Class of 1983
Peter Merrigan Class of 1959
Anne Callahan Class of 1972
Dominic Kiernan Class of 1968
David Buckley Class of 1956
Fr. Michael Mullins SM Class of 1958
Gerry Sexton Class of 1950
Brian Hamond Class of 1970
At the end of term two, we bid farewell to Prue O’Shannessy. For more than 11 years, Prue has graced us with her presence, becoming an integral part of the College and Community Engagement Office. Her absence will be keenly felt, particularly amongst our alumni. During her time with us, Prue forged deep connections with our esteemed old collegians and various associations, immersing herself in their stories about their time at the College. We express our heartfelt gratitude to Prue for her unwavering dedication and commitment to Marcellin College.
Prue orchestrated some of our most memorable and well-attended events. She has been the guiding force behind Marcellin Life, meticulously curating its content for more than a decade. Her skilled interviews have captured the stories of our College, ranging from our inaugural cohort to those who have
Prue, the impact you have made on our community is immeasurable. Please join me in thanking Prue for her contributions to the College and to wish the very best in all her future endeavours.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which this school stands, the Wurundjeri-Baluk clan of the Woiwurrung people in the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
I am delighted to introduce the latest issue of Marcellin Life – a tapestry of our shared experiences, a showcase of our collective achievements and a glimpse into the future we are shaping together.
In these pages, you will find stories that remind us of our rich history, anecdotes that celebrate our present achievements, and visions that illuminate the path ahead. Our community, spanning generations of students, educators, parents and friends, is the heart of Marcellin College, and it is through your diverse voices and unique perspectives that this publication truly comes to life.
As we flip through these stories, the accounts of spirit and the snapshots of cherished moments, let us be reminded of the values that bind us – the pursuit of knowledge, the spirit of collaboration, and the commitment to making a positive impact. Through Marcellin Life, we not only celebrate our past but also forge connections that will carry us into the future.
I extend my gratitude to the contributors, the editorial team, and every individual who has played a role in bringing this issue to fruition. Your dedication to preserving the essence of our community is truly commendable.
As we delve into the pages of this publication, may we find inspiration, rekindle memories, and strengthen our resolve to continue creating a legacy that resonates through time.
Welcome to the latest edition of Marcellin Life.
At the heart of every vibrant community are the stories and events that mark its journey. Marcellin Life is not just a publication but a testament to the shared experiences, triumphs and connections that make our community truly special. It is here that we look back at the moments that shaped us and the aspirations that drive us forward.
Our community is a mosaic of diverse backgrounds, talents, and perspectives, all coming together under the banner of Marcellin College. Whether you are a student, an alumni, a staff member, a parent or simply someone who has found a sense of belonging here, your story is an integral thread in the fabric of this great College. Delve into the narratives and anecdotes that highlight the uniqueness of our alumni graduates over the years – their stories that have moulded them and guide them to strive for their highest.
In this edition of Marcellin Life, we also embrace the present and looking toward the future with excitement and determination. From academic achievements to artistic endeavours, from sporting success to community outreach initiatives, each event is a chapter in our ongoing story.
I invite you to engage, share, and connect. Marcellin Life is a place for dialogue, for fostering relationships, and for keeping the Marcellin College spirit alive. Immerse yourself in these stories and to actively participate in the ongoing events that shape our collective narrative. Happy reading!
Richard Liistro
After a couple of years of not being able to run this event our 2023 Champagnat Day was a terrific success. Students began the day with the celebration of a liturgy and acknowledgement of two staff and two students from each year level who were recipients of our inaugural Champagnat Medal for their positive contributions to our College community. The rest of the day involved our staff and students participating in our solidarity walkathon, carnival rides and food stalls which proved very popular. The day concluded with Marcellin’s Got Talent where our students were treated to a range of outstanding musical performances and even a guest appearance from an alumus who now works as a magician and illusionist. The day resulted in lots of fun and most importantly provided our community with an opportunity to come together to raise over $10K for Australian Marist Solidarity who will use these funds to support young people in need across the world.
2023 RECIPIENTS
YEAR 7
YEAR 8
YEAR 9
YEAR 10
YEAR 11
YEAR 12
In
STAFF
encouraged his Marist followers to live their lives “doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
St
the
Medal is bestowed on staff and students who have demonstrated the very qualities of St
OUR 2023 COLLEGE THEME EMBRACES THE COLLEGE MOTTO TO: STRIVE FOR THE HIGHEST.
Over the years we have been honoured to host some very special guest speakers at our whole College assemblies for ANZAC Day, including Major General Gus McLachlan (Class of 1981), Alan O’Connor (Class of 1966), who was involved in the Vietnam War, and many others.
This year was no exception with the slight difference being that due to the age and health of our guest the audience were treated to a pre-recorded interview conducted by our 2023 Faith and Service Captain, Tyler Barton. We were very privileged to have Gerry Sexton, who was 101-year-old, speak to the boys about his time during the Second World War where his role was as a gunner.
Gerry had an amazing memory of his time in the forces and was able to recall dates and details of his experiences.
Gerry Sexton was born in Kensington, in Melbourne’s west, across the railway line from Arden Street Oval. Gerry followed the Kangaroos through thick and thin.
Gerry was proud of his World War II service in Darwin and the NT and after the war served in the Army Reserve. When retirement came after his long career within the Commonwealth Bank, the North Balwyn Bowls Club provided great enjoyment and many friendships. Gerry loved the garden, for the flowers and vegetables that he grew and the space it offered for the family to come together.
Gerry’s sons all came to Marcellin College, making his connection to the College one that will remain for eternity.
For the boys it was humbling to hear of these times and what sacrifices people made then to ensure our country remained free. If you would like to watch Gerry’s interview you can access it on YouTube via the following link:
https://youtu.be/5piQHdFsVmM
The ANZAC Day procession began with a bagpiper leading in the official party and led mainly by the students. We were also lucky to have the orchestra and beautiful singing from Year 12 student Daniel Perera and Natalie Carger, the College’s Music Administrator.
Gerry sadly passed away on 14 June. You can read more about Gerry’s incredible life below.
It was wonderful to welcome our new (and some returning) Year 7 families to the College on Wednesday, 1 February. We had a day of extremes; with the very smallest of Year 7 students meeting the Year 12 cohort, who were also in attendance that day. After saying goodbye to their boys, parents headed to the Functions Room where they mingled over morning tea. Principal Marco Di Cesare welcomed them as did Pamela Frost, current president of the Marcellin College Parents & Friends Group. The enthusiasm, excitement and some nervousness were all evident that day.
The College then provided the Year 7 parents the opportunity to meet in smaller groups over the next few of weeks. Marco, along with many of our Leadership Team, attended each of these mornings. These were organised by House groups and we thank the many House Leaders and Pastoral Leaders who also attended giving the parents the chance to meet them, ask questions, air concerns and generally become more comfortable within the College.
As part of their applied learning course, Year 12 students created a pop-up car wash at the College for staff. Students coordinated everything from the concept to the marketing and promotion of their pop-up to delivering a final product. Well done! There were plenty of happy customers on the day.
Cappuccino, caffe latte, short black, long black, iced coffee and a mocha…take your pick! These Year 11 students have you covered. They spent a day in the CBD undertaking their barista certification and are now work ready. Our Applied Learning programs ensure students graduate with the necessary skills to enter the workforce immediately.
On Sunday, 26 March we welcomed more than 800 people through our front gates as part of our 2023 Open Day. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our great facilities, meet our wonderful staff and more importantly hear from students who led tours throughout the day.
THE CLAIM TO FAME: the family with the most children to ever attend Marcellin College. Their story starts here…
Jack (Simon) Rath: Class of 1989
Nicholas Rath: Class of 1986
Gregory Rath: Class of 1985
Paul Rath: Final year 1982
Damien Rath: Class of 1981
Andrew Rath: Class of 1978
Stephen Rath: Final year 1977
Michael Rath: Class of 1976
Where did the family grow up?
In Braeside, our father built a flat adjacent to his first business, a small factory that welded and cast steel and iron tools and farming equipment - our early years 1956 to 1962 were spent there. They then moved our quickly growing family to Lower Templestowe (1962) - where our grandparents from our mother’s side had settled after living in Kew. Later, around 1986 they moved up to Mount Dandenong.
Do you know why your parents sent you to Marcellin College?
JACK: First and foremost, that it was a Catholic school, and its convenience of location. And given the size of the family, it was affordable.
How did you all get to school? Was there a family bus?
JACK: To the Bulleen campus, usually public transport - and to the junior school in Camberwell - the Ventura bus the school provided. Later, when we lived in Mt. Dandenong, I had a far longer trip involving trains and buses. Perhaps the only student who has ever provided a late slip reasoning, ‘It snowed, and the buses were cancelled’. To the Bulleen campus, it was also possible to bike. And yes, we had to ‘convoy’ the family in two cars usually. At one point in two VW buses. In the late 1970s, the family embarked upon an ambitious road trip holiday to Queensland in an eleven-seater Toyota bus - the 11th seat was a fold down bunk.
PAUL: We carpooled with the Wiggins family for a few years, would catch the bus from senior school to junior school, then the Bulleen bus home, and a 5km walk from the top of Thompson Road.
MICHAEL: The older ones rode a bike to the Bulleen campus, and from there caught the bus to and from the junior
campus in Canterbury. In the later years, our father would sometimes drop us off to the Bulleen campus. We all made our own way home after school either by a long walk, bus/walk or bike. I specifically rode my Malvern Star bike to school, as after school for a couple of years I delivered the evening newspapers for the Skirnik news agency in Thompsons Road Bulleen, with the round taking approximately 90 minutes after school.
Did you all play sport? And if so the same one or all different? How did your parents get you all to games?
JACK: Basketball and stints with the 3rds Football and Swimming club. From my perspective, our parents encouraged sport, but somehow less intensely than other families. Added to this, our parents were busy. There were the domestic chores and ‘existential’ demands that such a large family brought upon itself. Shopping - washing - cooking - aside from other commitments. Our parents were deeply engaged with the Pallotti College community in Kew and Warburton, where they had originally met one another, and soon after married in their Kew chapel. Later this manifested in a lifelong commitment and vocation that involved discussion groups, conferences, and marriage counselling. Our closest family friends were also other large Catholic families, some of whom were Dutch and had arrived in Australia on the same boat as our father.
Returning to sport and weekend activities, alongside home duties our parents would spend weekends
attending Pallotti events, our mother with her closest friends in her Mother’s Group. Our father, who studied marine engineering at the start of WWII in Holland had different professions throughout his life (many stories there) - was working in his own real-estate business with an office in Templestowe in the period when most of us attended Marcellin College (1970s and early 80s) and one central task was to hold weekend ‘house inspections’. He was also very musical - as well as being a member of a Dutch Gregorian choir that performed on weekends, he also played violin in church groups. And in truth, he really did not have much of an affiliation or calling with Australian rules football. Music was more of a focus. Some of us also had music lessons on Saturdays. They would drive us to games sometimes, but due to our proximity to the school, we could find our own way to the campus. Or get a lift to away games on a bus the school provided, or with other kid’s parents. Basketball games were during the week - and here they would drive us.
PAUL: I enjoyed playing a lot of sports football for Bulleen Templestowe Youth Club (BTYC) up until 17 years old and we won several flags. On the weekend I also played basketball for Marcellin College. We had a great team playing from Year 7 and Year 8 coached by Paul Bodney in the local competition for the College.
NICHOLAS: A little football, but primarily basketball from the middle grades to the end of high school.
MICHAEL: I played a little football and cricket in the early years. The middle and younger ones were much more involved with sports over the weekends. Our parents, although not sporting minded, were very supportive of encouraging each one of us to follow and be involved in activities of interest. My father did enjoy watching soccer at a world cup level. Instead of sport, I was involved (with Stephen) for a few years with the scouting movement which involved hiking and overnight camping every couple of months.
What was mealtime like?
JACK: Breakfast was a help yourself affair. During winter often a large pot of porridge would be cooked. We had a large kitchen table and each child had an allocated seat - ‘your spot at the table’ - a clever ‘diffuser’ that our father introduced as the kitchen tables grew larger - though given we were nine children in 13 years, we really only had one large table (that was sent or brought over from Holland at some point).
Dinner was lively and loud - and either began or ended with a prayer. Both of our parents cooked in different phases. Jenny - our only sister and the second eldest, was a constant invaluable help to our parents. She recently recalled how she cooked all the food for their 25th wedding anniversary party - an enormous undertaking, feeding 60 or 80 people.
Everyday chores like peeling potatoes and washing up would be rostered. We did not eat meat on Fridays - instead a slightly Dutch ‘Friday night dinner’with fried potatoes, eggs with beetroot
and salad or alternatively fish and chips. If it were your birthday, apart from a cake, song and presents - you could choose the evening meal - though for some reason it seemed always to be Chinese takeaway?
There was a two-trolley minimum at our usual shop - once to twice a week. In the pantry, Arnott’s Family Assorted Biscuits or the likes had a very short shelf life. After school, an entire tray of biscuits would vanish in handfuls. Incidentally, the pantry cupboard had a lock, and funnily enough so did the wall switch for the TV. Sometimes school lunch sandwiches were produced en masse (in a production line) and then frozen, which was a drawback mid-winter as they would sometimes still be frozen at lunch.
MICHAEL: Jack summed it up well. My mother was forever in the kitchen and enjoyed and loved cooking. That said my father William (known as Bill) got in there often and assisted my mother often with the cooking and sometimes gave my mother a break and prepared meals himself. My father would always scale, clean, and fillet the fish when we sometimes had fish and often prepared the chickens for roasting. Most of us assisted and had cooking and/or table or clean up duties.
JACK: Overall, we lived a wholesome life. Just like the food on the table - so were the values we were brought up with. Our parents were pragmatic people, they would purchase second-hand cars, they only ever bought two new cars. Our father would say, ‘A car gets you from A to B’. No doubt there was pressure on both of our parents in having to clothe, feed and school nine children, while also giving each child enough attention. Over time, older siblings were able to take up tasks and activities that eased certain burdens.
We would all agree that there was much more love than conflict, and that is still the case today. We all remain very close - and want the best for one another and help for each and everyone’s families.
Our ‘family chat’ group runs like a stock-exchange with updates and goings-on. It overcomes distances and time zones, keeping everyone closely in touch. Our father smoked a pipe - which amused many of our childhood friends for some reason, as did his thick ‘European’ accent. His Christian name was William (Willem), and we would jokingly call him ‘puffin billy’. He even claimed to have a ‘worn groove in two of his teeth, like a horse’s bit, that held his pipe or was the result of the smoking apparatus. Upon arriving at church or a social event, he would routinely bend down and clap the pipe on his shoe heel to empty it, and then perch it up on a ledge or door frame outside the building. When we would finally leave (more than often we were the last guests) and be driving home - he had hit the wheel, blaspheme in Dutch “Godverdomme!” - and then we’d turn around and retrieve it.
Read the full story about the Rath family, in their own words, here: https://bit.ly/MARCELLIN_LIFE_PackedToTheRath-ters
John Telfer this year took part in the Toowoomba leg of the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay, flying the flag for the Granite Belt on 14 June.
“For me personally, being selected as a torch bearer in an international relay gave me a huge sense of pride. I also carried the baton in the 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games, but the Legacy Relay meant so much more because its main purpose was to assist the wives and families of those in service and ex-service who never made it home,” says John.
John is a former teacher, RAAF member, historian and Warwick Today & Stanthorpe Today history writer. As a historian, he is in awe of the Anzacs and the contribution they have made to the history of Australia, in particular their mateship, sacrifice, and courage.
“It was such a great experience walking beside service members of the Army, Navy, and Air force Personnel. Their presence brought back the feelings from my time in the Services with the RAAF. What has given me the biggest thrill is the fact that I was told in Toowoomba that I was the highest individual fundraiser in the Southern Downs, and possibly Queensland. I just hope the donations will continue in my name to support my efforts.”
John is a huge supporter of all the amazing work Legacy does. Donations allow Legacy to continue their life changing work and keep their promise to veterans’ families. To learn more about Legacy’s work and to donate, visit www.legacy.com.au/donate/
“For me personally, being selected as a torch bearer in an international relay gave me a huge sense of pride ..."1980 Staff photo 1974 Cross Country Squad
Thank you for this opportunity to reconnect.
My nephew, brothers, cousins, second cousins and uncles all attended the College.
My sister-in -law, Liz Sammut (nee Webb) also attended and completed Year 12 in 1979. She was one of a small cohort of Our Lady of Mercy (OLMC) and Genazzano College students, that are now part of the College alumni.
The maroon and blue, and all the values that come with these colours, are deeply ingrained into the fabric of my family.
My first great piano teacher was Geoff McFerran. In the first piano lesson he observed me in my uniform and said I was lucky to have teachers in the calibre of Al Parkin. He added that he had also taught the piano to Mr Parkin and although I was only 12 years old, and had not yet met Al Parkin, decided I wanted to be a teacher. This embryonic thought has proven correct, and I continue to build on 33 years as a music teacher.
By the time my six years at Marcellin College were over, I was fully equipped to combat and enjoy my music studies at the University at Melbourne and subsequent further study at the Moscow State Conservatorium. A Master of Music ensued, and I’ve always remained
grateful that I was given access to great tertiary and post graduate teachers. However, I am always mindful that the thoroughness of tuition, empathy and kindness granted to me by the staff and Marist Brothers, has never been surpassed.
Teaching appointments at Kilmaire College Hawthorn, Deakin University, MLC and presently at the colossally big Haileybury College have formulated the bulk of my professional life.
My role as a music examiner at the Australian Music Examinations Board is chiefly concerned with objectively assessing musical performances, as measured against a syllabus requirement. Yet the Marcellin College boy within me prevails, and I’ve always found ways to reassure and encourage the nervous candidates along their musical path, as the staff did to me.
It was Mr Peter McKenna that gave me my first professional job as an accompanist and choral conductor, in his visionary organisation, The Australian Youth Choir.
Of course, I am referring to the ‘music maestro’ Peter McKenna, of the Camberwell junior school, as opposed to the ‘footballing legend’, Peter McKenna also of the junior school. Both McKenna’s contributed to my pathway forward as did all the staff.
Marcellin College helped me to find my place and role in life. Music teaching and performance has yielded many pleasures and watching my own former students pursue careers as professional musicians both within Australia and internationally, is deeply humbling and this is Marcellin’s true legacy to myself. I’ve progressed to the sacred rank of ‘bald eagle’! Hair styles change, but the mantra of Virtute ad Altissima remains the same. Saint Marcellin Champagnat blesses our community as we strive for the highest
What did you do immediately after finishing at Marcellin College?
Gap years weren’t as much of a thing back then, so I went straight to university, commencing a law / science degree at the University of Melbourne. While I was there, I joined various clubs, including the Newman Society (a Catholic social club) through which I ended up helping run school retreats and lead the inaugural Remar program at Marcellin College. I was a director of the VCE summer school program which provided tuition for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. I was involved in student politics and ended up an elected office bearer on a different side to Michael O’Brien (who had been in my friendship group at the College!)
Where did this lead?
It eventually led to teaching. After university, I helped set up an ecotourist company called Last Chance Tours. We brought tourists in Lorne and Apollo Bay to beautiful waterfalls, stunning tall trees and stark logged clearings as part of the campaign to end clearfell logging in the Otways. That campaign was ultimately successful, and I became a different sort of educator – a secondary science / maths teacher. Since then I have taught in Ballarat, Auckland, Geelong and Alice Springs but most often at Sacred Heart College Geelong.
What have been your career highlights? I have taught in many schools and worked in a range of coordination roles. But my highlights have been simple things like immersing students who have never been camping before in the outdoors; inspiring students to try something new, or just to try to stay at school; and to have taught at the same school as (but not taught!) my two daughters.
What have been your life highlights?
The highlights of my life have been meeting my partner Ceridwyn and bringing up our two girls together. I am also proud to be a long-standing supporter of environmental action and co-founder of Geelong Sustainability which advocates on climate change action and provides renewable solutions for Geelong residents. On the fitness side, I completed the Great Ocean Road Marathon in 2012, and the Three Peaks Alphine Challenge (for road bikes) in 2021. And I was lucky enough to be at the ‘G for the Richmond premierships of 2017 and 2019!
Do you maintain your friendships with any of your cohort?
I moved away from Melbourne before Facebook got going! I still catch up with some friends every Christmas and we had a joint get together in 2021 to celebrate all the 50th birthdays we missed due to the pandemic! We have had reunions for the 10th, 20th and 25th anniversary – basically when someone remembers to organise it!
Any legacy from Marcellin College?
I am still in the Catholic teaching system, at a school that values fairness and social justice. I was inspired to start teaching in Mr Box’s Year 10 maths class. He could not get round to everyone, so he was happy for me to move across the room and answer people’s questions!
Any other recollections you would like to share, including any stories from your time here?
I was lucky enough to be taught by some of the “legends” of the College (Mr Chamberlain, Mr Hoysted, Br Crispin) not long before they died. I loved my time at Marcellin College, and I threw myself into every activity I could find – music, debating, maths, SRC. I am grateful to my parents for allowing me to take those opportunities, and I hope that any student today would do the same.
In November 2017, my Year 12 group met to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our HSC year. Among the attendees was Thierry Le Blanc. The following is a story from John Toomey (Class of 1977).
Thierry was a popular fella at school, always good for a bit of a laugh and a genuine practical joker. He was a master of the “dead pan” straight face. When he left school, he went to work for the then Bank of New South Wales. Not long after, he was to meet Roxanne, best friend of his amazing sister Caroline.
Thierry was born in Madagascar and came to Australia in 1963. His mum and dad, of French and Mauritian descent lived their lives in Madagascar and decided to emigrate to Australia when their children were young.
In 2011, Thierry and Roxanne made the trip of a lifetime to Madagascar. On arrival, they drove two and a half days deep into the interior of Madagascar. At that point, vehicles could go no further so they walked another day and a half to a river destination. From there, they paddled kayaks downstream for four days where they were to again meet 4WD vehicles. Arriving in a remote village they were mobbed by kids, and for a fleeting moment, Thierry and Roxanne caught sight of a little boy, trailing the others, dragging himself along with a couple of poles, with grotesquely deformed legs. As they got back into the vehicle to leave the village, they both knew that they would have to do something to help him, because the chance of other tourists ever getting to this village were as remote as the village itself.
When they arrived back in Melbourne, they inquired with the Children First Foundation to see what could be done. The first thing the Foundation asked for was a photo so that they could show doctors and get an idea of what might be needed. No photo existed, so not to be outdone, the Le Blanc’s contacted the tour guide, who re-visited the village and went door-to-door till he found the little boy and got a photo.
Most doctors who were shown the case simply said that amputation was the only answer. But eventually the case was shown to Associate Professor Leo Donnan who had treated many cases in the past and who thought he could repair the lad’s legs. Encouraged by this the Le Blancs, through their connection with the tour operator, went to work to get the lad to Australia. He needed a passport, but first needed a birth certificate. Of course, that did not exist, so some details needed to be manufactured
At the time, due to the flooding of the wet season, the village was completely cut off from November to May. So young Thiery had to live for three months with the tour operator who did all the leg work in organising the passport and visas.
Because young Thiery spoke no English, the tour operator made the journey with him to Australia and stayed for four weeks. Thiery arrived in Melbourne on 24 January 2013, some 20 months after the Le Blanc’s first saw him.
The travel and all associated expenses were funded by the community. Thierry and Roxanne recruited friends and volunteers to raise the funds needed to fund the venture. As Doctors would later realise, this young lad had been subjected to profound abuse. He was bullied mercilessly in his village and was operating on survival instinct.
When he arrived in Melbourne, he was taken to the Children First Foundation Farm in Kilmore where many kids reside and receive around the clock supervision and care. But after just a few weeks, it was clear that he could not stay there. He had no concept of “accidental”. If somebody accidentally bumped him, in his world it was deliberate, and he would get his revenge. His wildness was unmanageable, and the only solution was to move in and live with the Le Blancs.
Young Thiery slowly started to learn some English, and after the tour operator left to return home, he was on his own. Then one day, a man read a brief story about Thiery’s plight in the newspaper. His wife was Madagascan and so the next day she contacted the doctors offering to help with translation. She became part of the team.
Young Thiery was thriving, putting on weight and getting stronger. His English improved daily, watching TV and connecting with his host family and their friends. He would live with the Le Blanc’s for 15 months.
On 15 June 2013, the surgery finally arrived. Professor Donnan went to work performing major reconstructive and corrective
surgery which ended with young Thiery having titanium rods inserted down the shafts of his tibia, and steel external braces that were screwed into the same bones. These were essential to the bone being kept still and stable so that healing could be given the best chance to progress. The external braces remained in place for four months.
Physiotherapists had young Thiery on his feet for brief periods two days after the surgery. Following the removal of the steel splints, he was placed in plaster for another four weeks. He had physiotherapy every week and once the plaster was removed, he commenced physiotherapy twice per week with Paul Gilling, in the pool.
As all this progressed, the community continued to support. Paul Gilling donated his time and often paid young Thiery’s entry into the pool. The family held a huge gathering for all the members of their community who had worked to support the initiative. This gave young Thiery the chance to experience the incredible collective effort that went into this mission to get him walking again and living a normal life.
Young Thiery became a part of the family and attended Yarra Road Primary School in North Croydon.
he would not be treated well. They spent two days giving the dwelling a significant makeover and bought him furniture and other necessities. The tour guide’s sister-in-law was two doors away and was able to watch over him and prepare his meals. Whilst they were there, young Thiery saw a man in the street who was lame and kindly gave him his crutches.
Over the following months, they spoke to young Thiery every 2-3 weeks. In July 2015, he complained that his legs were a bit sore, and after some organising, an x-ray revealed in October that the titanium rod in his left leg had snapped. This meant a trip back to Australia.
This time there were challenges as the passport formats for Madagascar had changed and after six months and many false starts, young Thiery finally had a new passport. In May 2016, Thierry LeBlanc flew over to get him and bring him back to Melbourne. Both of his legs looked bent, and once back here, x-rays revealed that both legs and both titanium rods were broken. This was partly due to limitations imposed on the original surgery because he was still growing.
Finally, new and much stronger rods were inserted into his legs. He stayed in Melbourne for nine months for rehabilitation and Thierry took him back home in February 2017. Whilst he was here, he completed a bike mechanics course.
A bike was donated to young Thiery by Recycled Cycles in Moorabbin, and he became a feature of life at Point Leo beach on the families xmas holiday, charging up and down, loving every moment of his new-found freedom.
In April 2014, the time was approaching for young Thiery to return to Madagascar. He became somewhat combative and refused to be in family photographs because he did not want to go home.
On 11 May, the time came, and Thierry and Roxanne travelled with him back to Madagascar and found him a home in a village where the tour guide’s sister-in-law lived. They were reticent to take him back to his own village as they feared that
Each fortnight, Thierry and Roxanne, along with three other couples, combine their resources to send young Thiery money, originally via a local nun and then via the tour-guide’s sister. Thierry LeBlanc has seen so many rewards along the way. First, there is the joy of seeing young Thiery fully recover and get his life back. But beyond that, there are the extraordinary people he met: the surgeon professor Donnan; the psychologist; the physiotherapist, Paul Gilling; the nurses; the lady from Dandenong who volunteered to translate; Thierry’s uncle in Brisbane who did the translating for visas; the families from the primary school who took Thiery into their homes once per week to give the Le Blancs some respite break and the many open hearted people in the community who gave of their time and energy to raise much needed funds to make it all happen.
As I sat and listened to this story, I had mixed feelings of deep reverence and profound awe for the courageous and bighearted man sitting in front of me who willingly put his life on hold for the benefit of someone less fortunate. Who knew he had the capacity for such extraordinary leadership when we were at school?
In my junior years, I always looked up to the senior leaders and what they were able to accomplish. So, I applied so that I could be a role model for junior students; I also applied so that I was able to be in a position where I could make positive changes around the school. I hope that in my role, I was able to make a positive impact on the school and inspire others.
The role of being College Vice Captain has met my expectations in more ways than I imagined. So far, this role has taught me lots about being organised with my time, responsibility, as well as creativity in planning ideas. It has also greatly challenged me. A lot of time and effort is required for the role and being in Year 12, this has been a great challenge for me to take on in terms of prioritising activities and balance activities.
At the start of the year, we aimed to run activities that would embody our Marist charism of Family Spirit. In keeping with this, the other leaders and I helped to run and organise multiple activities, including – but not limited to – Champagnat Day, the Year 12 Formal, and the Winter Sleepout; have organised lots of assemblies; and have worked quite closely with Year 12 students about memorabilia and the common room. Ultimately, the other leaders and I have worked this year to create positive activities and change around the College.
At the end of Term 3, we held the World’s Greatest Shave, which raised money for the Leukemia Foundation, as well as bring the Marcellin College community together. Another big focus has been planning the final week of school for Year 12 students - a fun and exciting privilege being able to help organise.
A personal highlight has been getting up on stage to speak to the school at assemblies. It is thrilling to be in a position which I dreamed of being in when I was in younger year levels, and now that I can do so and be a leader for other students is something I will treasure.
I have loved the comradery that I have felt this year; this was prevalent in some personal highlights such as wearing our Year 12 memorabilia jumpers, using the common room and the Year 12 formal. This year, everyone seems to be really connected and together, which is something I will never forget.
In 2024, I hope to do further studies at university. I am particularly interested in science so am looking to continue my education in that area. However, I am also interested with more creative subjects of study, such as art, writing and music, so these are disciplines which I would also like to pursue.
Bill O’Shea AM has been awarded life membership of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV). Life membership is the highest award the LIV can confer on a member. It was awarded in recognition of his service to the LIV and the legal profession and the community over many years.
Bill was president of the LIV in 2003 and a member of the LIV Council for seven years. He is currently chair of the LIV Elder Law Committee and a member of the LIV Health Law Committee. He also chairs College of Law Victoria which provides on line practical legal training for law graduates prior to their admission to practise. He is the inaugural chair and has held that position since 2005.
Bill still holds a full practising certificate as a solicitor.
He was conferred with his award at a ceremony held at the LIV on Thursday, 4 May 2023 attended by many past LIV presidents as well as current LIV president Tania Wolff and CEO Adam Awty. In her introductory speech about Bill, Coroner Katherine Lorenz referred to Bill’s many years as a legal commentator on ABC Statewide Drive and ABC Melbourne. She also noted his 13 years as the first General Counsel for Alfred Health, one of the first lawyers appointed to a Victorian health service. She recalled Bill’s April Fool’s Day prank of sending all the medical staff notice of a “new law” in Victoria (the Above the Law Act) which stated that from that day, all doctors were regarded as above the law and they were therefore not bound by any laws! The notice also stated that the law was to be repealed at midnight that day! A number of doctors thanked Bill for letting them knowwhich proved they never read his notices anyway!
One more perceptive doctor asked him if it was related to the new Pigs Might Fly Act….
Prior to studying law in the 1980s, Bill was a secondary teacher of mathematics (inspired by Br Romulus in Year 12!) and taught mathematics in the UK and at Scotch College Hawthorn where his Year 12 Physics teacher Phil Anthony was a colleague. He then had three years as a ministerial adviser to then Victorian Premier the Hon John Cain before commencing legal practice.
Bill is a regular attendee at the Annual Past Collegians lunches and in fact was the guest speaker at one of them where he had the audience both enthralled and in stitches with his stories.
In what can only be described as another positive year for Marcellin College, the school’s sporting prowess had once again taken centre stage throughout the summer season. We embraced triumph after triumph across multiple sports. From basketball to volleyball, cricket to tennis, the Marcellin College teams demonstrated their sheer dedication, skill, and unwavering teamwork, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in the AGSV.
The basketball court at Marcellin College has long been equal with dominance, and this year was no exception. The Basketball team secured their 12th premiership in the past 13 years, continuing their reign as the team to beat. Coached by the esteemed Brett Atley, the team showcased a remarkable display of strategic play, seamless coordination, and exceptional individual talent.
The rise of volleyball continues under the guidance of Ms Jacobs. The 1st team were runners up in the AGSV competition this year after a tough fought match. The boys continued their endeavours with a fourth placing in the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup on the Gold Coast post season.
Our 1st XI Cricket team also had a great season working hard to make the final. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful in taking out the premiership, but the future looks very promising with some stars emerging from there recent Singapore and UK tour.
AGSV representation is a great achievement and recognises the dedication and accomplishment over the season, with many boys from our school being represented. Congratulations to those selected.
The winter season was also a success for Marcellin College, seeing the College’s 1st Soccer team claiming their 12th AGSV final win, with a 1-0 score against Trinity Grammar. The excellent coaching of Jeremy Doolan and the star players on the field set up a great season.
Another triumphant Cross Country season saw the boys win a staggering 23rd competition win, in a row! A big congratulations to Trent Carlson and Johnny Magher who led the boys throughout all year levels to another great year.
The 1st XVIII Football team didn’t quite have the year they wanted, finishing fourth throughout the home and away season coming up against ladder leaders Yarra Valley in a semi-final. It was a well fought out game seeing Yarra Valley win by eight points.
To our talented students who have donned the school colours with pride and embraced the challenges of competition – your relentless spirit has set an example for us all. Your camaraderie, hard work, and willingness to push your limits have resulted in achievements that make us incredibly proud.
William Lorenz 2023 SPORT CAPTAIN
We were pleased to launch the reinvigorated Business and Community Network this year with stalwarts of the group Mark Cooper (Class of 1981) and Brett Guest (current parent) leading the way.
These two men have spent countless hours working on the goals and direction of the Network and the group is very fortunate to have had their input. They both presented to the attendees and discussed the way forward emphasising the group’s ability to provide connections within the wider community network before handing over to special guest Ben Kingsley.
Ben is a property specialist and provided some great insights into where property and investments are heading in this climate.
He very generously gave his time and copies of his book The Armchair Guide to Property Investing to attendees.
We also wish Brett Guest who has volunteered with the Business Network for many years a huge thank you for his input and enthusiasm. Brett has just taken the huge step of starting his own business and is stepping back from this role whilst he focuses on making Infinity Commercial Furniture a huge success. We thank Brett for the many hours and insights he has put in and will miss his engaging personality.
To learn more and connect with the Business and Community Network email businessandcommunity@marcellin.vic.edu.au
A lovely annual tradition in the College is the Mums’ Movie Night held in March every year.
It is an opportunity for current and past mums to come along and relax, chat, eat some delicious food … and watch a movie! This year we saw Empire of Light which starred Olivia Colman and Colin Firth…both playing very different types of roles. We welcomed new Year 7 mums along with some of our mums whose boys have left the College. On this night our mums can bring along family, so we get to meet grandmothers and aunts as well.
In a departure from the past, this year’s Friends of Football event was held on a Saturday as a brunch prior to the 1st XVIII match played between Marcellin College and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar.
We had a great turn out of guests including parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers and other family members, past collegians and members from the Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club (MOCFC) as well as the two principals Marco Di Cesare and Kate Dullard.
After a welcome from Marco, proceedings were kicked off by the 1 st coach Ryan Edwards who brought along the two captains: Lachlan Hall from PEGS and Will Lorenz from Marcellin College. Ryan interviewed the boys who both spoke well and enthusiastically about their football before heading off to warm up in the rain and mud whilst the guests enjoyed an extensive buffet breakfast in the warmth.
We were very fortunate to again welcome a fantastic panel of AFL football identities including Stephen Silvagni (Class of 1985) who played with Carlton, Leo Barry (current parent) who played with the Sydney Swans, Paul Broderick (current parent) who played with both Fitzroy and Richmond and Callum Brown (Class of 2017) Collingwood. A huge thank you to these four men who entertained us with stories and inside information on their playing days.
The panel was hosted by current parent Shaun La Motte who did a fantastic job of firstly providing a highlights package of each guest and then getting some interesting stories from each one. We thank him for his time spent preparing for this day and for doing such a great job.
Our guests headed out to watch the two teams play before coming back into the room for a half time pie and sausage roll before watching the final two quarters where the Marcellin College crowd were more than happy that our boys came away with the win.
We thank our very generous raffle donors The Westin Hotel, Tesoro Restaurant, Scott Pickett Group, Mitchelton Wines and MDC Building for sponsoring the day. And to the MOCFC for sponsoring the half time food and supporting the day.
Students and partners walked the ‘red carpet’ in style dressed to impress for the 2023 Year 12 formal held at Leonda by the Yarra on Thursday, 1 June. From the first song of the night, the dance floor was jam-packed, only clearing when the ice-cream parlour was wheeled out. This gave opening to our Principal, Marco Di Cesare to tear up the dance floor with some other members of staff.
It was a most enjoyable evening for all in attendance and a wonderful opportunity for our Year 12 students to take some time out and have some fun together.
“To our old friend William J. We have something we wish to say, Congratulations and we wish you, A very happy 80th birthday.
I’ve valued your friendship, for 75 years, Particularly in times of uncertainties and fears. You’ve always been there for us to consult, Invariably, you came out with an excellent result.
We started school in Feb, ‘46, At OLV Camberwell, not exactly the sticks, Our year was smart, and John Murphy was fast, But you held your position at the top of the class.
Names I recall from that dim distant past
Include our first migrant John Paphazy
There was Bourke, Millar and Pat Harvey, Not to forget Ryan, Taitem and the late Tom Magee.
At Marcellin you became a great all-rounder, When you moved “up the line” you became even sounder, You matured, grew wise they made you a prefect The brothers concluded you possessed not a defect, You studied medicine, at Melbourne Uni Then to Chadstone, you worked as a G.P. After some years you began to hanker
You liked radiology- and so did your banker.
You married Eileen the best of wives, And five gorgeous children came into your lives, Your sporting interests brings you great cheer Be it golf or the races or the Tigers last year.
Also dear friend we must mention your skills, When you sing “Cool Water” it gives such a thrill. Your boozy priest act, oh what a lark! But nothing can beat your “Man from lronbark”.
— Catherine andAnd as the old song goes “Thanks for the memories”.
Bill Clancy
Westarted school at Our Lady of Victories (OLV) Camberwell on 5 February 1946 and were taken by having the same Christian names. We clicked, being rather shy boys, at a time when fathers of other students in the school were coming home from the war. Classes were large and there were several composite classes. There were about 350 in the school and four teachers, all nuns. We had a few interschool football matches with other local primary schools.
About 12 students from OLV are in the photograph of first year students at Marcellin College.
Bill’s (Rogers) family moved to Mitcham and although I visited out there several times our friendship faded a little. As he was better than me in sport we too were further separated, but there always remained an enduring friendship and respect.
me his lawyer and as by then he was a specialist he became our very wise family medical adviser.
After graduating Bill disappeared into medical school and then St Vincent’s Hospital, as was the usual practice in those years, whilst I became involved in student politics. After my admission to practice in 1968 I joined an established city legal firm and remained living in Kew. Bill went into medical practice in Mount Waverley and again we were somewhat separated by time and distance. It was our wives who brought us together again by slotting us into their social lives and again our friendship resumed, this time for good. By then we each had five children and not much spare time, but we were part of a group playing tennis. Bill appointed
We joined Kew Golf Club and for years he came to my home on Saturday mornings to collect me and have breakfast with my family, we would go off to play golf. Together with our wives, we had wonderful holidays in Northern Australia and Europe. Socially we had about six other couples who were all mutual friends and we had dinners, picnics, tennis evenings, etc. At the same time, we each had other circles of friends but somehow, they all seemed to overlap. Bill was attracted to the stage and I well remember him playing the part of the whisky parish priest in Dimboola. He was hilarious.
Life went on and we attended the weddings of our children and then suddenly our homes were empty. It was time for us to spend more time together. These were great years. Very recently Bill’s wife Eileen has become unwell and has moved into care. My wife is six years younger than me and powers on. Bill and I are adapting comfortably to the pace of octogenarians. Bill continues to organise a quarterly lunch of our mutual mates of many years at Il Duca in East Melbourne. The only other lawyer in that group now has dementia and one of the others, a medico, has gone to God. We are gradually being prepared for those big changes too. Bill and I have resumed golf recently after the COVID-19 intrusion, so we haven’t given that away yet.
Bill Rogers and Bill Clancy
I remember starting at Marcellin College in Third Grade with Br Nilus being the Principal. I had a smooth start to my education and am proud to say I was Dux of the class for most terms. However, things did fall apart a little in my teenage years with Elvis and rock ‘n’ roll taking priority in life. I went from Dux to the suggestion that I leave from the new Principal Br Ludovic as I was now coming 51st out of a class of 54. I still thank Marcellin College for a good education and in fact when I married my wife Ann I took her up to Macedon to meet Br Nilus before the wedding. Bill, Bill and I enjoy catching up and it is lovely to see them at the Past Collegians Luncheon every year. We support each other through regular telephone conversations, occasional visits and our games of golf. We all remain happy and optimistic individuals and agree that without the firm grounding we were given at Marcellin College life may never have been as good as it has been for each of us.
Geoff Smale
When did you start at Marcellin College?
I commenced at Marcellin College on 25 January 2023.
What is your role here?
My role at the College is careers practitioner. I'm part of the Careers and Pathways Department.
What were you doing before starting here at Marcellin College?
Prior to starting here at Marcellin College, I worked at AFL SportsReady (AFLSR) as a Field Officer for almost 10 years. I managed trainees and apprentices that were based in schools, government organisations, local council, creative industries, and sports turf management throughout the Eastern and Gippsland areas.
Prior to that, I worked at Jesuit Social Services for five years as a case manager where I was involved with the Youth Justice, Child Protection and Adult Justice programs.
What are your biggest challenges and biggest highlights in your work here?
Biggest challenges: This is the first time I have been based in a school, so trying to gain an understanding of the logistical expectations and requirements of the school has been quite challenging.
Meeting students and staff for the first time while trying to navigate VCE, VCE VM and tertiary pathways and all the different options that are available to the students and their families. Organising Career Week and work experience for Year 10 students.
Biggest highlights: Slowly getting to know the staff and students and starting to feel a little more comfortable in my role. How did you come to be in this role?
I returned to university to complete my Graduate Certificate in Careers Education and Further Development in 2021-2022. When I resigned from AFLSR, I began applying for roles at many different schools. As I had always enjoyed my time working with and alongside Marcellin College while at AFLSR, it was in my top three schools/choices. I feel very fortunate to have secured a role here as I feel it is a great opportunity for me both professionally and personally.
What interests do you have outside of the College?
I currently play in an acoustic trio with a couple of friends which I really enjoy. Prior to that I had played in a number of original bands and other acoustic acts.
I used to play cricket and football (AFL) and I am still involved with AFL where I do the team statistics and at times video editing for the coaches.
When did you start at Marcellin College?
I began teaching at Marcellin College in Term 4 of 2019. I was covering John Di Natale whilst he was on long service leave. What do you teach?
I am a highly enthusiastic Italian teacher, but also teach Year 8 Drama and Year 8 Religion. I have a university major in history also.
Do you hold any other roles here?
I’m fortunate to wear a few hats here at Marcellin College. I am the Student Wellbeing Activities Coordinator, which means I guide Pastoral Leaders through the key events of the Pastoral Calendar by creating materials, sharing weekly posts and working with many other staff and students at the College to try to animate some very important days of recognition, such as International Women’s Day and National Sorry Day. I also work in the Learning Diversity department. Recently you were awarded the St Marcellin Champagnat Medal. What was this for and how did you feel being the inaugural recipient?
I feel absolutely honoured to have been the recipient of this award, as I was voted in by the students. I absolutely love being an educator and am so touched that the students acknowledged me for how they perceive me to align with the five Marist characteristics. We all work very hard and the objective is always to offer the best learning experiences to our students. I am so humbled to have been recognised in this way.
What are your biggest highlights and biggest challenges here at Marcellin College?
There are two highlights that come to mind. One would of course be the students and being a part of this beautiful community of people who care so much for the journeys of our young students. The second would be the many opportunities that I have been fortunate enough to have received. For example, the opportunity to work in different learning areas and to be upskilled as an educator through a variety of experiences and professional learning days has
been wonderful. I wake up excited to come to work and am so grateful for what I’ve achieved in my short time here.
The challenges would be those that present with being an educator anywhere I can imagine – in any vocation where you are very involved with what you do, it can be difficult to step away and spend some time focussing on rest, recovery and socialising. I suppose the positive is that both staff and students have the school holidays to recharge.
Where is your favourite corner of the College?
The Languages Office, as I very much enjoy sharing a morning coffee with Alfio Camarda, who always imparts his valuable wisdom. I am a passionate linguist and so any opportunity to share in this love of language with my colleagues is always welcomed.
What are your interests outside the College?
The boys know that I compete as a Latin-American ballroom dancer with my dear friend of ten years. We train most evenings, developing our technique and athletic ability in order to prepare ourselves for events in Victoria and interstate. Prior to commencing at the College, I had moved to Kuala Lumpur to dance in the professional division, where my dance partner at the time and I were the highest ranked couple representing Malaysia at the Penang Open in 2017. I also adore Spanish Flamenco and am training under an incredible Flamenca, who is training me to be of standard to perform on stage. I’m a terrible sports person, but can relate to the boys who speak of the rigour that is required to train and prepare for big events.
When you’ve left, what will be your favourite memories?
Everyday brings a moment that as teachers, we store in our mental vault of happy memories. From the first day for Year 7 students, to the larger-than-life Italian classes, the reflective retreats and the emotional valedictory events, we are always so proud. Frankly, most of these heart warming experiences leave me starry eyed!
We have heard about the ‘two John Keatings’ and how they are forever confused for each other, as well as receive each other’s mail, among many other anecdotes. It’s now time to find out their back story!
Westart with added confusion as both worked in the same company which they purchased together. Luckily, they do have different middle initials with John F Keating (Class of 1956) and the other John being John M Keating (Class of 1970).
Let’s hear the recollections of their respective times at Marcellin College and how they finally met and have become workmates.
I can’t remember a lot of my first day at Marcellin College, but I do remember being nervous. I also attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School (OLGC) in Deepdene along with the famous publican Patrick Reardon and school captain in 1969 Michael Wilson. Yes, the brothers were very strict and that’s probably why I much preferred the ladies, and we had some lovely ones.
We played football at Stradbroke Park which was on the side of a hill - a horrible place to play footy. After I broke my wrist, I decided athletics was the way to go.
Bulleen campus was better and Marcellin College was in the AGSV competition. I was still in the athletics squad and one of the other guys was Herbie Grammelsberger. We trained together long jumping, Herbie shot putting and myself still high jumping. Unknown to me John and Herbie became mates years later.
Brother Austin, ‘Buddy’ to us, provided the best and most memorable moment I can remember. He was standing below the statue of St Marcellin Champagnat lecturing the entire school about poor behaviour. Unbeknown to him St Marcellin was bearing a bra!!! 54 years later I still get a laugh. Yes, Marcellin College is a great school, so good I sent my son Robert there. He finished in 2000 and started with the company in 2001 striking out on his own a year later.
Early 1970s the Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club (MOCFC) was taking off and had great support from many in my year. Great social nights after a home game and wine and cheese fund raisers on a Sunday morning.
My first job was a bank teller, which did not last long. I started working for John in 1973 driving trucks, then graduating to dishwasher servicing. I went to Perth for five years before returning to Melbourne and worked for John again for a while. I got back in the appliance industry with a shop in Deepdene and by then my wife Elizabeth and I were involved with the MOCFC. Elizabeth has the honour of being the first female on the Honour Board.
Then Qasair came along and together with two kids and a shop, we had to step back from the footy club. Around this time the economy was in deep recession, interest rates were at record levels and we were struggling to stay afloat but we survived.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our former Prime Minister Mr Paul Keating (no relation to either of us) for sending all our competitors broke and gone. Last men standing! And hopefully our sons will carry on.
I am sure Marcellin College instilled in us a don’t give up attitude whether through sport, the classroom or both and always be prepared to have a crack. It’s been a very interesting 50 years.
I lived in Deepdene and it was a local school and there were a few of us from the primary school that attended Marcellin College. Ray Walsh, Peter Collins and Michael Duffy to name a few so we approached the opening day without fear or trepidation, and it was quite exciting. My first meeting was with Richard Hastings whose family had come from South America somewhere so meeting new faces was part of the experience.
My class was grade 6 and our teacher was Brother Austin and I say he was very good in explaining things but mainly his coaching us in football which I think was his passion. He did have us execute a plan on the field by using different codes, so we won many games and we beat Assumption College in 1955 at their home base in the U15s.
One thing I think I should be recognised for is when Brother Ludovic became headmaster, he called me out and proceeded to give me the strap 24 times with six on each hand. At the end of Year 11, I decided to leave school, and this was with Brother Ludovic’s suggestion. I must point out he did not like me, and the feeling was mutual, so I packed my bag and went home. One memorable moment was that he kept me in every day of term two until 5pm and I was not to leave until he came and dismissed me. Consequently, I did not participate in any sporting activities that term.
I personally had no problems at Marcellin College and made many friends and still see Ray Walsh who coached the amateurs to a grand final but there have been a few who have passed on. At a couple of lunches, I have been to age is creeping up on us all.
You may think I was a troublemaker, but punishments were handed out daily and there was a new brother in our class who obviously was going to take control and got a few of us out for the strap. One of us was Graeme Kelly who had a bent middle finger from birth and when he got the strap held his finger up and said, “Look what you have done.”
The brother threw the strap up in the air and ran out of the class. We thought that was good karma.
On leaving I did land surveying and besides being involved in subdivisions in Melbourne did work all over the Northern Territory and the north of Western Australia. But somewhere along the line with another friend we decided to import dishwashing machines and I believe we were the first to do so in Australia.
Told we would fail. It developed into a very large business and at some stage we employed some from Marcellin College including John M Keating (JMK) and although I knew he lived close by we had never met until he joined the company. JMK makes the point that when he was at home many girls rang up expecting to contact me, but he never told them to ring the other number. I don’t believe that.
Jumping ahead we were still in the appliance industry but each in our own companies when we both decided to look for something made in Australia, and we found this company manufacturing kitchen rangehoods and thought this is it, so we bought the company. (Modestly neither John has mentioned the name of their company so for those who are interested, it is Qasair, who I can personally vouch for as making and supplying top of the range rangehoods).
We employed 65 people all over the country with our factory in Ringwood and sell through all the major retailers in the industry.
At some point we did sponsor the Marcellin College hockey and the football team.
In the operation if someone rings to order I help if someone rings to complain I put it straight through to JMK.
Just for interest we export to Singapore, Jakarta and New Zealand.
Overall, I had few complaints and just accepted what we were handed out but at the end of the day I think we all passed our exams and ended up in reasonable jobs.
My name is Michael Power. I would like to share with you what I consider to be a very diverse and interesting work career. I have attempted to highlight those aspects of my work journey which may be considered unique and where I have had the privilege to meet some extraordinary people along the way.
Myjourney at Marcellin College commenced in 1960 in Grade 5 under Mrs. O’Callaghan at Canterbury Road. I am the last of five children born to Maurice and Jean Power on 11 November 1949. The eldest, my brother, Terry (a ‘first-dayer’ at Marcellin College) was followed by three sisters. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Marcellin and was a sports nut representing the school in football, athletics and tennis. I matriculated in 1967 and enrolled in civil engineering at Melbourne University. I was fortunate to secure a Commonwealth Scholarship however gave that up when I won a Country Roads Board (now VicRoads) cadetship.
I spent four years at Melbourne University majoring in a good time, football with Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club (MOCFC) and just barely enough study. I subsequently spent five years at the CRB Group where I completed post-graduate studies in geotechnical engineering. In 1977, I decided to make a career change when the Melbourne Metropolitan Boards of Works (MMBW) disbanded their freeway construction division and transferred their staff to the CRB after significantly promoting all their engineers. Consequence: too many engineers at the CRB with virtually zero promotion opportunities.
Scouring of the vacant positions sections of the weekend newspapers took place during 1977. I was fortunate to secure a geotechnical engineer / resident engineer position on the World Bank funded Highland Highway Project, linking Goroka and Mt Hagen in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This was the commencement of a decade of working on major infrastructure projects throughout South and South-East Asia.
I had married my childhood sweetheart, Beverley Fetherston, in 1970 and by 1977 we had three daughters under the age of five. With six weeks’ notice, we sold the family car, rented our house, packed up the family and flew off into the unknown. My late wife was an amazing woman and mother with a great spirit of adventure. We had never been abroad and here we were, six weeks later, flying into Kundiawa, in the highlands of PNG.
Sadly, at 27 years of age, I had played my last game for the mighty Eagles (MOCFC) at Melbourne University Oval against University Blues at the end of our first year in A Grade of the “Amo’s”. I had the great honour of playing in our 1st game in 1968 in C Grade YCW and completed the journey in 1977 in A Grade
with three premierships along the way, 20+ finals appearances and many lifelong friends throughout the Amateur community.
FIRST STOP: PAPUA NEW GUINEA
1977 TO EARLY 1980
PNG is a beautiful place which is very geologically unstable with minor and not-so-minor earthquakes / tremors occurring almost daily. Landslides occur in virgin country and my task was to design and supervise construction techniques which minimised stability problems along the highway. This work also took me all over PNG where similar problems were being experienced. This included the Port Mine Access Road in Bougainville where the residents (with due reason) rebelled and succeeded in closing one of the richest copper mines in the world. Some anecdotes from PNG
I remember standing among a throng of spectators at Kundiawa Airport (elevation 5,000 feet / 1,550m) as an RAAF Caribou landed and taxied up the 8% gradient runway to the terminal, stopped in front of the crowd, opened the rear ramp and a mini-bulldozer appeared and was driven down the ramp. A local Chimbu warrior in full tribal dress (feathered headdress, grass skirt, pig’s tusk through his nose and red warpaint) casually turned to his similarly attired “wontalk”/ companion and said in Pidgin English – “pickaninny bilong balus” which translates to baby of aeroplane!
My parents came up to visit and as a family we flew down to Madang on the north coast for the Easter holidays and stayed at the Smugglers’ Inn Resort. My mother who loved talking to anyone and everyone, struck up a conversation with a “lovely native man” during one of her walks. That lovely man came over to our table during the evening meal. He was Sir Michael Somare, father of the country and then Prime Minister. Late one afternoon I was driving, alone, home to Kundiawa from Goroka and rounded a bend and drove into the middle of a very serious tribal fight. I wound up my windows and inched my way through the battling warriors, honking my horn and waving my arms to clear a path. One warrior, eyes rolling with blood lust, leapt onto my bonnet brandishing his axe at me. I did not stop but continued my slow journey. Fortunately, he leapt down and back in to the fray. Suddenly I was clear, drove around the next bend and pulled to the side of the road and
shook uncontrollably from delayed shock. On Radio Australia news the next morning it was reported that twelve people had died in a tribal fight with many more injured. I was glad that I did not stop.
I was in a Talair Cessna 210, twin-engine, 12-seater passenger plane which crash landed at Weewak Airport in 1979. I was sitting up front with the pilot when he said upon landing at approximately 120 knots, "blow out" as a tyre did just that. The plane skewed off the runway and ended up in a ditch. I woke some minutes later with the plane covered in foam. My number was not up!
NEXT STOP: SANGGAU, WEST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA. (KALIMANTAN AKA BORNEO)
1980 – 1982
I joined Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) on an Australian Aid funded project building a road and bridge network for one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia. The project went for over a decade and constructed sealed, all-weather farm-to-market roads with permanent concrete bridges with concrete products manufactured at the project’s centrally located pre-stressed concrete factory. Several hundred kilometres of roads and 50+ bridges were constructed. One highlight was the construction of Indonesia’s first international highway linking Pontianak in West Kalimantan with Kuching in Malaysian Borneo. The road followed the Confrontasi Trail of the 1960s uprising. The Indonesian Confrontation ran from 1963 to 1966. The gap in the highway link was a major multi-span bridge constructed on the border. There was some reluctance from Malaysia to close the missing link however it was finally achieved.
The Kapuas River is the 13th longest in the world. It flows through the project and is used for transportation for the whole province. On our weekend off which was once per month, we sometimes water skied on the river. Floating logs which turned out to be crocodiles certainly discouraged that pastime.
I caught typhoid from polluted drinking water over the Christmas break. The Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) did not monitor their radios over the religious break, so a medivac was not possible. The Project Nurse sought help from the local witch doctor who provided an extremely strong brew of tea and other local herbs (tannic acid), which provided temporary relief until it was possible to be medivaced.
In this posting with SMEC, I was the Senior Resident Engineer for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Khulna-Mongla Road Project as well as Manager South Asia for projects mainly in Pakistan and Nepal as well as Bangladesh and the emerging market of India.
It is noted that SMEC, at this time, was the second largest Engineering consultancy in the world based on cost of projects and billings. It was Australian Government owned (subsequently privatised) and precluded from working in Australia since it was considered that SMEC would provide unfair competition to the engineering industry in Australia, utilising expertise gained from building the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Give me a break! What nonsense in hindsight!
The Khulna Mongla Road Project linked the 3rd largest city in Bangladesh, Khulna, (population approx. 2 million) with the Ganges River Port of Mongla, which was being constructed under European Aid. The port was on the edge of the Sundarbans National Park, which is the home of the Bengal tiger.
The project was essentially a 42km long causeway with 26 bridges across the flood-prone Ganges delta. ADB wanted
the project highway constructed to international standards utilising labour intensive construction techniques wherever possible. It was also mandated to use local Bangladeshi contractors and to train them in construction to international standards.
The project was floundering when I became involved and ended up being very successful. It won a special ADB award for being one of its most successful projects and was used as a model for other projects in the country.
Bangladesh’s Vice President, Rear Admiral A M Khan, was also the Minister responsible for the project and, having a naval base in Khulna, he often visited the project. We struck up a friendship during that time. Sadly, on 6 August 1984 he died, at the age of 49, as he supervised the rescue operations of a Bangladesh Biman Fokker Friendship which crashed short of the runway at Bangladesh International Airport, in adverse weather conditions. I was booked on that flight from Jessore (serving Khulna) to Dhaka and decided to take the flight the next morning due to the bad weather! I had made that flight on over 50 occasions and it was most unpleasant flying in the late afternoon during monsoon season. Again, my number was not up!
On two occasions I had the honour of meeting Princess Anne in Khulna. As Patron of Care International she worked with the poor and with abandoned Bangladeshi women. She would visit her Projects in Khulna in a very low-key and humble manner. Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip visited Dhaka on their way to CHOGM in New Delhi, hosted by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in November 1984. My wife and I attended a garden reception for the Royal couple at the British High Commission. It came to pass that Prince Philip wandered over and started chatting with a group of Australians including myself. Meanwhile, the Queen was being pursued around the garden by the British wives dressed in their Sunday finery including hats and long gloves. The Queen was also being followed by a waiter carrying a tray with what appeared to be identical drinks. Prince Philip quipped that the drink on the left was a G&T whilst the one on the right was iced water. He predicted that, due to the circus that was happening in front of us, the Queen would select the drink on the left. Sure enough, moments later, the Queen stopped, turned around and selected the G&T. Prince Philip stayed with us for 10-15 minutes, was very personable, knowledgeable, and very relaxed company.
I was promoted to Manager, Asia for SMEC based in Bangkok. Bangkok was and had been the regional office for many years. Whilst there, I was also the Senior Resident Engineer for the Defect Liability Period of the Khao Laem Hydro-Electric Dam and Power Station on the River Kwai close to the Thai-Burma border, as well all projects from Pakistan in the West through to and including Laos and Vietnam in the East.
One of the projects was a river port on the banks of the Mekong River, in Sayaboury Province, Laos, near Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos. It was funded by the UN organisation called the Interim Mekong Secretariat, which comprised all the countries bordering the Mekong River. These included China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma. This organisation operated continuously throughout the Vietnam War.
Bearing in mind that Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam were still closed to the West during this period, I accompanied a delegation of UN and ADB officials to the site and stayed at the very basic Government Guest House in the town of Sayaboury. At the formal dinner that evening, the generators were run for two hours instead of the usual one hour. To our delegation’s great surprise, also in attendance was a group of approximately 20 Cuban doctors and nurses who were staffing the local hospital as aid to their socialist comrades.
I also had the privilege of working with the Thai-Australian Chamber of Commerce on building a memorial in Thailand for Australia’s Bi-Centennial in 1988. The memorial was at Hellfire Pass on the Burma Railway. My task was to design and contract the building of access to the Konyu Cutting and the staircase down into Hellfire Pass. During early 1987, the Chamber of Commerce hosted the then Governor General, Bill Hayden and his wife, Dallas, along with approximately 10 survivors of the Burma Railway including Weary Dunlop and former Federal Government Minister, Tom Uren.
It was an amazing experience to be in the presence of such Australian heroes and as they explored the remnants of the old railway seeking out locations of camps and walking through Hellfire Pass. As the day ended, dinner and a few drinks were shared in a traditional Thai restaurant overlooking the bridge over the River Kwai as they reminisced about events which occurred during the war. Sadly, my time in Asia was ending. My parents were ageing, two of our now four daughters were in boarding school in Melbourne and none of them really knew Australia.
We headed back to Melbourne at the age of thirty-nine to commence a new life and career. I was not present at the opening of the memorial to Hellfire Pass on Anzac Day 1988 by Weary Dunlop. My brother-in-law, Dr Cal Miller, a journalist, had arranged for the filming of this historic event. Sadly, ‘our ABC’ has lost all copies of the film!
Following 10 years abroad, we arrived in Melbourne with 26 suitcases and 500 kilos of excess baggage. A container of furniture was to follow.
I had secured a senior position with a management consultancy firm called McLachlan Consultants which specialised in the management of the delivery of capital works throughout Australia. McLachlan Consultants considered itself to be Australia’s version of McKinsey & Company, was the leader in its field and employed approximately 100 professionals around Australia. I was based in the Melbourne office which employed 30 professional staff with the head office in Sydney. I was to be project director for the construction of AMP’s Bourke Place office tower. There had been a hiatus in the commercial construction industry during the early 1980s due to a high level of industrial unrest. With the IR unrest diminishing, several major construction projects were about to commence. The Bourke Place project was very successful. It raced several competing office towers to completion and set several records along the way. It was the first project to pump high strength concrete to a height of 50+ storeys and a storey per week was achieved. BHP and Corrs Chambers Westgarth Lawyers were the anchor tenants with 100% occupancy achieved at completion.
I was subsequently involved in a wide variety of projects not only in Melbourne but also in New Zealand, Samoa and across Australia.
Career highlights included:
Managing the commercial real estate and facilities management of the ANZ Bank property portfolio across Australia and New Zealand on an outsource contract for four years, spanning Y2K. Remember that!? Armageddon was forecast with the advent of the new millennium. ANZ had a branch in the Stewart Islands, New Zealand, which was the closest place in the world, to the International Dateline and, as such, was the first place to experience the ticking over of the new millennium. I was on the phone to the branch when this happened. The strongrooms did not burst open; planes did not fall from the sky and the internet did not disappear. I immediately phoned ANZ’s Managing Director with the news and life, as we knew it, continued.
Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix 1996
I was one of the first staff to join the Australian Grand Prix Corporation as a consultant in 1994, whilst managing McLachlan’s Melbourne office. I was engaged to assist the CEO, Judith Griggs, in setting up an organisation to construct a circuit at Albert Park and build associated temporary and permanent infrastructure to host the first Melbourne F1 Grand Prix in March 1996. Albert Park was very neglected and even derelict at that time with three master plans never implemented. There was no sewer in the Park. All changing rooms had septic tanks, high voltage transmission lines ran along Aughtie Drive (now pit straight) and the low-level planting along the light rail line was notorious for drug dealing and prostitution. A protest movement called Save Albert Park (SAP) was very active and disruptive during construction in 1995 and is still operative to this day. The GP has had bipartisan support throughout. Premier Joan Kirner applied to stage the event at Albert Park and appointed Ron Walker as the Chairman of the Melbourne Major Events Company and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC). Premier Jeff Kennett funded and staged the 1996 event. I worked closely with Jeff Kennett, his Chief of Staff and AGPC, strategising and overviewing the construction of the first event which had over 400,000 attendees over the four days and over 200,000 on the race day itself.
Anecdotes from the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix
Ron Walker and Bernie Ecclestone (F1 supremo) toured the circuit, which was under intense construction activities, in a golf cart. I concluded that the event would proceed despite the protests and potential industrial disruption, when all the workers downed tools and applauded Ron and Bernie as they did their lap of the circuit.
From 2003 to 2007 I was appointed as director of operations for the staging of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne with some events staged in the regional cities of Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Traralgon. As such, I was responsible for the capital works program, traffic, public transport, Games transport (movement of Games family, athletes and officials), security, the look of the city and the public spaces (Games viewing screens and venues for the cultural program). The capital works included government overview of the northern stand at the MCG, installation of the track and necessary modifications at the MCG, Games Village at Parkville, MCG competition pool plus several minor venues across the State. The event was a resounding success with more people attending the event than the 2004 Athens Olympic Games despite staging half the number of events.
Some facts about the Games: $50m was returned to government from the unspent capital works budget. Occasionally some projects are completed on time and under budget!
As many people attended the cultural program associated with Games, as the number of spectators at the sporting events! The cultural program cost $18m to stage and attendance was free.
I was officer in command at the control room during the opening and closing ceremonies. Representatives of the police, security personnel, armed forces, public transport, road transport, power companies, telecommunications, etc. made up the 50+ operating personnel in the control room. The closing ceremony was in full swing when we received a bomb alert from Southern Cross Station. We had rehearsed extensively for such situations and everything swung into action. The bomb squad attended to an unattended package, fresh bomb dogs brought in, all trains stopped and the area cleared. We had 400,00 to 500,000 people in the city and about to descend on public transport to head home in about 30 minutes time and the trains weren’t moving! I was communicating with Ron Walker through his earpiece as he was on the stage at the MCG, informing him of the situation and asking him to extend the ceremony. The hosts of the next Games, New Delhi and the Indian performers extended their performance. The package was found to be a false alarm and the trains moved into place as the patrons started their journey home, unaware of the alert. There was one column inch in The Age on page 10 the following day reporting on the bomb scare!
Following the Commonwealth Games, I continued on with government for a further three years with the public transport department, attempting to change the way capital works were delivered in the heavy rail sector as well as working on the Public Transport Plan being developed by Premier Brumby. I retired in 2009 due to some health problems. However, when I had recovered, I established a one-person consultancy providing strategic advice to many organisations in a wide variety of areas including expert witness work, acting as an independent director on a wind farm project, security advice to an Asian Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) conference and reviewing business cases for projects in the arts and sport areas. More recently I had been providing advice to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, the Regional Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
I have been very fortunate to have had a very challenging, exciting and rewarding career. I have found that to succeed in what can be difficult situations, one should always treat your fellow workers with respect, never compromise your principles, surround yourself with very good work colleagues, delegate responsibility, have humour and pay great attention to detail.
Marcellin College has played a very important part in my life and I am very proud of the achievements of its alumni.
Faith in Action has grown significantly through the course of its redevelopment in 2022 and 2023. It is a program that not only seeks to teach our students about the importance of helping others, but ways in which every member of our community can do so. For many students, this journey starts with one of our Game Changer programs, the spiritual successor to the Remar program.
Game Changers is an inter-school program that connects our students with their peers across the nation, linking Marists of all backgrounds under a common program. Our young men work with expert facilitators who ensure that students have opportunities through fortnightly meetings to engage with leadership, service, and faith-based activities. These skills are then put to the test in different fundraising and solidarity activities. One example is our longstanding relationship with Marist Solidarity Australia. This wonderful initiative provides educational opportunities across much of the world, but especially the Pacific regions around Australia where it is most needed. These Game Changer students raise thousands of dollars across the year in their work, in addition to helping those in the local community.
The three legacy programs our students are regularly engaged in consist of Buna Gardens, Exodus Bread Run and St Pius X Primary School Homework Club. Each of these services exposes our students to new and wonderful people, living all kinds of lives, that subsequently helps to open the eyes of our young men to how much change they can create through small actions. The services help develop a broad
variety of skills in our young men, such as learning to have conversations from people of all walks of life, how to care for a community garden, and how to work with young people who look up to them as mentors. It also teaches them patience, kindness, and most importantly, empathy for those less fortunate than them. The key part of our program, however, is that this empathy does not breed an “I can fix this” mentality. As many of our young men have learned through conversations with those they have helped, people want to be supported, listened to, and understood more than they want a solution. Our hope is that these opportunities will develop this approach to life and strengthen the good our alumni can do in the world after graduating.
Our school is also taking the first steps to becoming a Fire Carrier School, pledging to support and enhance Indigenous awareness and presence within our daily school lives. This amazing program is only in the fledgeling stages but is set to become a strong presence in years to come.
These incredible opportunities are only as amazing as the people that make them happen. To paraphrase Pope Francis, to do the most good and bring about change to the marginalised, leaders must not lead the flock, but be amongst them to. And that is where our young men of Marcellin College truly shine brightly, living their faith through action.
The College acknowledges that most parents and carers make sacrifices to provide their sons with a Marist education. We are very conscious that families do not encounter financial distress to meet the cost of sending their sons to Marcellin College.
To support those families who may be impacted by financial distress, a number of years ago a bursary program was established and based upon meeting qualifying criteria the College has made an annual budget allowance to assist a number of families in meeting the cost of tuition fees. The program and assessment are confidential between the family and the College finance department.
The Marcellin College Foundation and the St Marcellin Champagnat Bursary Fund was subsequently established to accept tax deductible donations to provide funding for the bursary program.
More recently the Marcellin College Carnie Award was also established as a more comprehensive bursary to a limited number of students to overcome barriers to achievement created by social and economic advantage with a nominal contribution from the family. These recipients must be endorsed by their primary school principal, parish priest or through various Marist networks as part of their enrolment application process. The first recipient of the Carnie Award was in 2023. The disbursement and governance of these funds is overseen by the Foundation Board and its Directors who assess the need and feasibility of each applicant. We are so pleased to be able to contribute to and support these very worthwhile individuals to either continue or begin their time at Marcellin College.
The College is proud of these vitally important bursary programs to ensure that no child is left behind in having a Catholic education at Marcellin College. We welcome both donations from our College community to the bursary fund and importantly applications from families who may qualify for assistance.
Further information about how you can support a family visit marcellin.vic.edu.au
YourIMPACT
To date over $150,000 has been generously donated and annual distributions of these funds has commenced to support the program to provide invaluable assistance. Our recipient families have been most appreciative of this financial support. Whilst College funded bursaries date back many years, since 2021 some 42 families have been supported with a successful bursary application and obtaining a concession to reduce their tuition fees.
$150,000 FAMILIES
42
We thank the following people and groups for their donations to the St Marcellin Champagnat Bursary Fund. Some of the following are regular donors and some are one-off. We thank everyone for their contribution and encourage others to donate (no matter how small) to allow us to continue to support those who need it most.
Franz Tursi
Chris Molan
Gerry Sexton (deceased)
MOCFC
Baldies
Michael Derum
Bill Clancy
Robert Doyle
Bill Rogers
Anthony Naughton
Vince Vencendi
Adrian Kennedy
Chris Pattison
Lynne Rice
https://marcellinfoundation.org.au/donate
Yes! I would like to support the St Marcellin Champagnat Bursary Fund (ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
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CHEQUE Return this slip with cheque payable to Marcellin College Foundation Ltd.
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IN PERSON Call (03) 9851 1589 to make a donation over the phone or to discuss bequests.
n OPTION A One-off gift of $
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We love hearing for our graduates and what they have been up to since leaving the College. Share your memories and photos from your time at Marcellin College and your journey to the present day.
Email community@marcellin.vic.edu.au to submit your story and photos to be feature in the Where are they now? section.
We love to hear your feedback on this edition of Marcellin Life, celebrating our past, present and future. Thanks to your help we can make this publication even better. Email us your thoughts at community@marcellin.vic.edu.au
Enrolments for Year 7 2026 open on 28 January 2024. Limited places available for Year 7 2024 and 2025. Visit marcellin.vic.edu.au to learn more and apply.
Email us at community@marcellin.vic.edu.au stating your full name and leaving year and year level (e.g., left Year 11 in 1972).
Our publications will continue to be available online via marcellin.vic.edu.au
If you would like a physical copy, you can request one by emailing community@marcellin.vic.edu.au with your full name, postal address and graduating year.
