Reunions

Reunions provide an opportunity for our diverse and supportive Old Michaelian community to revisit their St Michael’s years together.

On 17 March we were delighted to see over 60 Old Michaelians and past staff from the Class of 2013 return for their 10 Year Reunion. The 2012 Kosi to Coast Group 1, were particularly excited to read the ‘notes to their future selves’ that they had written on their Year 11 trip, which was then stored in a time capsule for their reunion.

On 31 March we enjoyed another joyful evening of laughs and stories as the Class of 1993, many of whom are current, past and future St Michael’s parents, reminisced about their school days at their 30 Year Reunion. The sense of belonging and togetherness on nights like these demonstrate the deep connection that is felt amongst our former students.

Connect

The Old Michaelians Facebook group is a lively community where past staff, students and parents can keep in touch and stay up-to-date with Old Michaelian news and events. Additionally, SMGS Generation is a networking platform exclusively for the St Michael’s community. The platform enables Old Michaelians to connect with each other professionally, for mentoring, and for opportunities to connect to School activity such as careers nights.

St Michael’s Old Michaelians

SMGS Generation

Upcoming Reunions In 2023

We will host a number of reunions over the remainder of the year and we invite Old Michaelians from the following peer years to join us as we renew old friendships, develop community networks, learn about the changes that have taken place at St Michael’s, reminisce about days gone by and share in life experiences.

25 Year Reunion Class of 1998 Fri 18 Aug 2023

35 Year Reunion Class of 1988 Fri 06 Oct 2023

Boarders Reunion Sat 18 Nov 2023

Old Michaelians will be sent an invitation by email, and are encouraged to update their details to ensure they receive these: stmichaels.vic.edu.au/update-your-details/ Please check www.stmichaels.vic.edu.au/community/events/ for booking details. We also ask that Old Michaelians share the details with past classmates to ensure we reach those who are not currently connected with the School.

We value all ideas, input and assistance from Old Michaelians to help create special and memorable reunions. If you have social media skills, a flare for events or would just like to be involved, then we would love to hear from you.

Email: engagement@stmichaels.vic.edu.au

Phone: +61 3 8350 3298

Andrew Scrimgeour: brewing a successful career in beer

Co-founder of one of Australia’s largest independent breweries – Brick Lane Breweries, Andrew Scrimgeour (OM 1993) has achieved a great deal of success within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry since graduating St Michael’s.

After finishing Year 12 in 1993, Andrew went on to study a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations before completing a Master’s degree in Foreign Affairs at Monash University. Andrew subsequently worked for multiple global FMCG companies including CUB, Coca-Cola and Adidas which saw him work in France, Germany and Australia.

When reflecting on his career to date, Andrew speaks of the four years spent living and working in Paris. For Andrew, making the decision to move to France post studying his Master’s degree, without any French language skills, was an incredible experience. Andrew became fluent in French and was given the opportunity to work in the brewing industry, which ultimately paved the way for him to start his own business.

From the conception of an idea through to seeing the business commence, Andrew has always enjoyed the excitement and pace of start-up companies. A big part of this for Andrew is the pleasure of meeting new people and how diverse skillsets can come together to achieve success.

Starting Brick Lane Breweries has been a rewarding journey for Andrew, enabling him to work with some incredible shareholders and a talented team. He feels a great sense of satisfaction when he sees the products that he helped create on shelves around Australia and is optimistic about future growth. Proudly independent and B-Corp certified, Brick Lane Breweries is a pioneer in craft brewing, with sustainability and best-in-class efficiency at its very core.

“Each project component incorporates a technological or engineering approach, new to the Australian beer market and helps us to significantly reduce primary energy and water requirements: to the tune of 1.5 million litres per annum,” said Andrew.

Thinking about how School prepared him for his career, Andrew feels St Michael’s equipped him with the fundamental life skills that laid the foundation for a successful career.

“When you leave school and enter the world, you are often challenged on many different levels and I believe it’s how you handle these challenges such as further education, employment, travel and family that ultimately prepares you for your career. Never underestimate the importance of surrounding yourself with family and good people, and how this will lead to success.”

For students who are interested in starting their own business or following a similar career path, Andrew has some words of wisdom and encouragement to offer.

“If you have the desire to start your own business and build that business into something special, don’t ever give up. Just because someone says it won’t or can't work, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Be resilient and dream big.”

We thank Andrew for his time and advice and look forward to continuing to follow his journey beyond the School gates.

Molly Daniels: from St Michael’s to the big screen

Since graduating in 2013, Molly Daniels (OM 2013) has written for a Netflix series, starred in TV shows, including Tomorrow When the War Began (2016), hosted the Short and Curly podcast for the ABC, and produced and directed her own short-form programs. A director, writer and actor, Molly has a passion for comedy and currently works in the television and online space.

For Molly, it is the ultimate privilege and a joy to work in a field that allows her to write and create full-time. When speaking about what she enjoys the most, Molly reflects on the deep fulfillment that comes with directing a show that she has written. Bringing together a cast and crew who all work really hard to achieve the same common goal, or seeing the magic of a wild idea come to life is what Molly finds most satisfying. Molly is well versed on the challenges and rewards that come with pursuing an artistic career in the performing arts space. She offers some excellent advice to those students who wish to follow a similar career path, which put simply is to believe in yourself and work hard.

“You are going to get rejected a million times over - there are going to be six thousand nos for every yes. There is no stability or job security and on multiple occasions, you’ll be broke and depend on a hospitality or retail job to get you by. It’s really tough, so you have to absolutely and completely believe in yourself and the things you have to say. Let this belief keep you motivated and passionate to try your hardest every single day.”

When contemplating the impact that St Michael’s has had on her career and achievements, Molly speaks of the many opportunities she had to discover and explore her passion. Further, in a career that demands excellent time management and defining priorities, St Michael’s taught Molly how to balance extra-curricular activities with study and leadership responsibilities.

“St Michael’s awakened and encouraged the creator in me through things like student-run theatre initiatives, play-writing electives, and of course, passionate and inspiring English teachers. Writing and directing a House Drama play alongside a friend was particularly insightful, as I watched an audience full of people laugh at jokes I’d written and had a consuming urge to chase that feeling forever.”

With the recent opening of our new Performing Arts Centre, St George’s, Molly is excited for the students who will now benefit from this wonderful facility that will inspire students for generations to come.

“This school shaped my relationship with creativity and the arts, and I truly believe this new space is going to do the same for so many students to come. I can see it igniting passions for everything from jazz dance to lighting design.”

We congratulate Molly on all her achievements and look forward to following her journey beyond the School gates.

Jacqui Walker

Jacqui Walker, commenced as President of the Parent Community Association (PCA) in November 2022 after holding the role of PCA Treasurer for two years. Being new to St Michael’s during the first year of COVID, Jacqui felt disconnected and wanted to gain a greater insight into the School and its

Andrew Kantor

community. Jacqui was particularly interested in making a positive contribution to the St Michael’s community, while also leveraging her experience in the PCA Treasurer role to give back in a meaningful way. While it can sometimes be challenging for Jacqui to balance work, volunteering and family time, it is rewarding to see the impact of her work within the St Michael’s community. Specifically, Jacqui enjoys creating opportunities for St Michael’s community members to connect, nurturing a sense of belonging, raising funds to support PCA grants that in turn benefit the St Michael’s community, and collaborating with a committed group of parent volunteers and St Michael’s staff.

Outside of volunteering, Jacqui is the Chief Operating and Innovation Officer at Ormond College, which is a residential college for students of The University of Melbourne. Beyond this, Jacqui enjoys spending time with family, including their 4-year-old very spoilt cavoodle, and enjoying the arts.

To other parents who are thinking about volunteering with the PCA, Jacqui’s advice is to get involved, no matter what role, big or small. For Jacqui, volunteering is very rewarding, and as a parent, it enriches the relationship she has with her daughter, through understanding and connection. To volunteer, Jacqui believes you need a sense of enthusiasm, a desire to work with other committed volunteers, and to be open to the many roles you can play.

We are thrilled to have Jacqui as part of the PCA and are grateful for her ongoing contributions to the St Michael’s community.

Andrew Kantor was appointed the St Michael’s PCA Leader of Sports in March 2022, and has since been involved in organising events and making significant contributions to Sport at St Michael’s.

With a long career in physiotherapy, Andrew has held positions at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Darwin and Royal London Hospitals, all of which allowed him to develop a broad knowledge base and an appreciation of collaborative teamwork. Andrew has a passion for musculoskeletal physiotherapy and sports medicine, and is currently Director and Principal Physio at South Melbourne Physio, where he has been since 2005.

As the PCA Leader of Sports, Andrew has given his time and support at netball matches and the Geoffrey Ryan Cup, helping students with their warm-up, cool-down, strapping and injury management. Andrew was also involved in organising the 2022 Father’s Day celebration, an evening at the Porsche Centre Brighton, which was a huge hit among the St Michael’s parent community.

When Andrew’s daughter Eve started at St Michael’s last year in Year 7, he wanted to be involved with her learning journey and better understand school life. Andrew feels that as students move into Senior School, their focus often shifts more towards friends and teachers, therefore, by volunteering for the PCA, he has a common language and understanding with Eve.

Andrew's support network has played a critical role in enabling his volunteer work. He noted his wife has helped immensely in encouraging and supporting him to balance work, life and volunteer commitments. He is passionate about volunteering and believes it is a meaningful way to give back, while fostering and strengthening relationships.

For other parents looking to volunteer with the PCA, Andrew recommends reaching out to the committee to discuss how you can get involved. For Andrew, volunteering with the PCA is a valuable experience and a great way to be a present parent in your child’s education journey. People who are open-minded, ideas-driven, flexible, organised and passionate are what Andrew believes are the prerequisites for creating a strong community spirit.

We thank Andrew for his contributions to the PCA and the Sports program at St Michael’s.