Quick bites from our Old Scholar community

CASSIE TWEMLOW | Communications & Marketing Officer

THE PENFOLD SISTERS

Bonnie (2015), Molly (2017), Jemima (2019) and Matilda Penfold (2021), have been recognised for their resilience and innovative approach to diversifying their family’s beef business taking out the Inaugural Youth Shine Award.

Together with their parents, Karen (also an Old Scholar, 1988) and Daniel, they run a 150-day, grain fed Angus beef operation on Queensland’s Western Down, with their own brand, Four Daughters.

Originally launched to supply beef to Wuhan, the business lost its export market overnight when China banned Australian abattoirs last year. The girls drummed up domestic demand for their premium beef, delivering meat boxes directly to consumers.

Four Daughters has become a thriving business, driven by their passion to deliver high-quality beef to the plates of loyal customers. Their determination, passion and efforts bridging the gap between Australian city and country life have made them the winner of the Shine Youth Award category (The Australian, 24 November 2021).

Well done ladies!

BRUCE CLARK

Retired former St Peters Senior English teacher, Bruce Clark (2006 – 2020), was awarded third prize, from over 700 entrants, in the 2021 Australian Catholic University’s prestigious National Poetry Prize competition.

The chosen theme was Resilience. Bruce’s poem 'Mister Micawber' drew on references to the literary character of that name (from Charles Dickens), and on a background of devastating Australian bushfires, where resilience is the vital ingredient for recovery.

Bruce has been an aspiring writer all his life. When he came to St Peters, Bruce had already written over 25 school musicals, earning two Australia Day Community Medals, a Queensland Theatre Regional Musicals Award, one publication, and Third Place in an International Libretto Competition. At St Peters, he contributed to the first five Year 8 Productions, being there from their inception, prior to the PAC, directing four of them, and, in the era when each production was an original work commissioned by St Peters, wrote the libretto to two of them, being lucky enough to work with now internationally-known composer Joe Twist.

Congratulations Bruce!

DANIEL DUNN

Earlier this year, Daniel Dunn (2017), was awarded with a New Colombo Plan scholarship. These scholarships allow students to study and undertake internships in the Indo-Pacific region and is an initiative of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Dan has been studying a Bachelor of Business (Hons) and Diploma of Languages (Chinese) at UQ and will study at National Chengchi University in Taiwan this year to continue to develop his Chinese language skills while also interning with a global equities firm, LST Capital Partners.

"I plan on extending my language studies...learning traditional Chinese so I can engage with a wider range of people and aspects of culture," Daniel said.

Daniel plans on using his learned skills to, "practically grow his business capabilities, connections and competencies" to run his of business in the Australia/China space producing great products and services that benefit the community.

Congratulations Daniel!

GUY EDMONDS

Guy Edmonds (2000) has barely stopped to take a breath since graduation. With numerous television and stage acting credits, and an Emmywinning comedy series to his name, he could be forgiven for wanting to take some ‘me time’.

Instead, he has recently co-written some children’s books and has a new television series in the works. We caught up with Guy to find out more about his work and how he came to be writing for kids.

EVE THOMAS

St Peters Western swimmer and Old Scholar, Eve Thomas (2018), has qualified to represent New Zealand at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 800m Freestyle event.

Eve, the daughter of Britain Olympic medallist Sarah Hardcastle, trains with Australia’s Ariarne Titmus here at St Peters Western under the guidance of mentor and World Swimming Coach of the Year Dean Boxall and his team of coaches.

Eve had a best time of 8:31.86, clocked earlier this year in Sydney. That placed her third best on the Kiwi all-time ranks over 800m free long-course. She had already qualified for the World Championships in Budapest in June but the Commonwealth ticket had a tougher time than the FINA ‘A’ standard tagged to it, at 8:29.

Now, Eve will get two shots in international waters at mum’s 1986 soaring best on the clock.

Well done Eve and everyone at St Peters wishes you the best of luck for the upcoming major events this year.