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Article Archive
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| | Grand visionary Rene Stella dies | Read full article... | Anthony Rene Stella, the chief architect whose far-sighted aspirations for Parade Bundoora are embodied in the College buildings he designed, has died after a long illness. He was 77.
Rene’s passing came the day after the funeral of another significant figure in the history of both the College and the Old Paradians’ Association, Bill Schofield.
A final year student of Parade College in 1953, Rene pursued his studies in architecture at the University of Melbourne, and architecture became his professional calling. | | | Old Paradians lose a genial servant | Read full article... | Bill Schofield, a man who gave much of his life to Parade College and the Old Paradians’ Association, particularly its athletic club, has died after a long illness. He was 70.
A final year student in 1958, Bill was a member of the College’s inaugural board of 1989, which supported the then newly-appointed Principal Brother Bond and his successor Brother Moore. He assumed the role of Vice-President of the Old Paradians’ Amateur Athletic Club on the eve of the 1970/71 season and was elected President six seasons later.
Old Paradians’ stalwart Bill Dunne remembered his namesake as a gentle soul truly committed to the Parade cause. | | | OP releases his ode to engineers | Read full article... | Nathan Lania, a final year Parade College student of 1996, has just published his first tome. Entitled Edward The Engineer & Co, the book targets 7-12 year-olds and gains its inspiration from Nathan’s life experiences as a qualified civil engineer and, more recently, as a father to daughter Nikita.
“This is a children's book in which I’ve created fictional characters and a fictional engineering firm,” said Nathan, who penned the novel in collaboration with his wife Vanessa.
“The motivation for writing this story was my youngest sister, Simone, who was basically confused about what engineers actually did. She wasn’t on her own either, as even my friends are a bit that way.” | | | Monsignor Murphy, champion of the migrant, dies | Read full article... | Monsignor John Joseph Murphy OAM, an Old Paradian who championed the cause of the migrant, has died at the age of 73.
News of Monsignor Murphy’s passing was conveyed by Old Paradians stalwart Bill Dunne, who was mindful of the College connection. “Monsignor Murphy took over the position of Australian Migrant Refugee Office Director from Monsignor Crennan, who in turn was the brother of WB Crennan, the Principal of Parade College for six years in my time (1942-1947),” Bill said. "TThrough Brother Crennan, I got on pretty well with Monsignor Crennan when I was in immigration, and he and Monsignor Murphy were highly regarded.”
The following tribute to Monsignor Murphy, recently pictured here by the Catholic Leader Brisbane, was penned by Fr Maurizio Pettena CS and is reproduced with the permission of The Catholic Leader, Brisbane. | | | Tickets selling fast for football's night of nights | Read full article... | The October 28 deadline for one of the most-anticipated events in the history of the Old Paradians’ Association is drawing near, in the lead-up to Friday, November 4, 2011, when the greatest Team of VFL/AFL footballers schooled at the College is named at a Gala Event.
On the evening of Friday, November 4, “The Pride of Parade” will be revealed on an history-making night at Preston’s Bell City Ballroom at which the latest Inductee to the OPA’s Hall of Fame will also be declared. Online bookings can now be made at left and please note that this is a male-only event.
To book for The Pride of Parade event, click on the icon at left, or go to http://www.trybooking.com/11170 and follow the prompts. | | | Vale Mrs Vermont . . . artist, librarian, friend | Read full article... | Gizella Vermont, the much-respected and long-serving art teacher and librarian at Parade Preparatory College in Alphington over a 20-year period from the mid-1960s, has been farewelled at a touching funeral service celebrating her 89 years.
A glorious bouquet of roses - the colours of the palette she so lovingly worked - covered Gizella’s coffin, while a self-portrait in oil was also on display during a service for family and friends at the Templestowe Memorial Gardens Chapel.
Touching eulogies were delivered by each of Gizella’s four children – sons Stephen, Paul and George (all Old Paradians) and daughter Claire. Gizella’s grandchildren also offered tributes. Parade College was represented by Gizella’s fellow former teachers Ian Bibby, Geof Carter and Trish Josh, together with the College’s current Library Technician Fiona Powell. | | | Gotye goes global, feet firmly planted | Read full article... | While he’s first to admit his closely-guarded privacy is likely to be sorely tested, Melbourne singer-songwriter Gotye (the moniker of Wouter De Backer) has always been one to keep things in perspective, even given the manic nature of the industry he frequents.
And who could possibly begrudge this most engaging of Old Paradians his 15 minutes of fame and many more besides?
It’s been a big few weeks for Gotye (or “Wally” as he’s affectionately known to the old school tie). As many would have read or heard, he’s ended Adele’s record-breaking run atop the ARIA charts with two impressive number one berths. | | | An old boy returns, and a student ponders the selfless act of one of his own | Read full article... | Making a welcome return to the grounds of Parade College’s Bundoora Campus recently was Michael Kenneth Pratt GC, a former student of Parade through the late 1960s and early ’70s, and a former constable of Victoria Police. Michael is pictured here at the podium by Parade's Tony Teo.
As the letters accompanying his surname suggest, Michael is a recipient of the George Cross Medal, the only living Australian recipient. The GC is the civilian counterpart of the Victoria Cross and the highest gallantry award for civilians as well as military personnel in actions which are not in the face of the enemy or for which purely military honours would not normally be granted.
The George Cross was awarded to Michael in 1978, for his supreme act of heroism some two years previous. On the morning of June 4, 1976, Michael intervened in a robbery of an ANZ Bank branch in Clifton Hill, and was shot in the back as a result. He was off duty on the day and therefore unarmed at the time. | | | OPAFC targets 1000 in urgent call to arms for Saturday’s match | Read full article... | The Old Paradians’ Amateur Football Club, in a desperate bid to stave of relegation to Division 1 Reserve, has called on the Parade community to turn out in their droves for Saturday’s crucial home match against Peninsula at the Garvey Oval.
As a result of last weekend’s three-point loss to Old Mentonians, the OPs now find themselves in ninth position, sandwiched between OMs and the bottom-placed Bulleen Templestowe.
The OPs are just two points adrift of OMs but with a superior percentage. Regardless, the team must win at least one of its remaining three matches for the season to have any hope of avoiding relegation. Desperate times call for desperate measures – hence, the club’s urgent bid for supporters of the purple, green and blue come matchday, including the current students of Parade College. | | | From Parade to Paris . . . how Matt made the call | Read full article... | Anyone within recent eyeshot of a TV or earshot of a radio would have familiarised themselves with the enlightening observations of Matthew Keenan, whose calling of Le Tour de France for SBS and regular updates for SEN bring even greater colour to the world’s pre-eminent cycling race as it’s played out over 21 epic stages and almost 3500 gruelling kilometres.
In a rare moment’s respite during the 10th stage from Aurillac to Carmaux recently, Matt, who completed his final year of schooling at Parade in 1989, very kindly took the liberty to explain his own road trip of life, which has taken him to the much-envied role of commentator of the 98th Tour - his fifth Tour in that capacity.
“On the Tour I don’t work directly for SBS but for the race organiser, which is a French company called ASO, as part of the international commentary team,” Matt explained. “As the lead in to Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen my commentary goes into New Zealand, Great Britain, Africa, the Middle East and Australia, among others, and I hand it over to Phil and Paul when it goes live into the US.” | | | A message from the President | Read full article... | Creating opportunities for Old Boys is one of the key challenges for the Old Paradians’ Association – and one such opportunity came at the recent OPA Business Breakfast at Visy Park when former students gathered to hear from the guest speaker, Patrick Prendergast.
Patrick spoke frankly and informatively about the business of security within the music industry - an industry about which he is so obviously passionate. Sadly, Patrick’s comments about the dangers of alcohol and drug use within the industry were only reinforced with the death of Amy Winehouse.
Thanks sincerely to Patrick and to all those attendees at the Breakfast - some of whom were in the house for the first time - and well done to our CEO, Tony De Bolfo for his tremendous efforts in organising the event and to the OPA Committeemen who leant their support. | | | “Your football club needs you!” - Joan’s plea to OPs | Read full article... | Joan De Vond reckons football’s in her DNA. Her great uncle, after all, was Bill Proudfoot, the Collingwood Football Club’s first Victorian representative and a member of the Magpies’ premiership outfits of 1896, 1902 and ’03.
And yet, despite the renowned lineage, Joan is finding the going somewhat difficult in her capacity as Administration Manager for the Old Paradians’ Amateur Football Club.
So she’s calling on Parade and indeed the Old Paradians’ community to come the aid of the 82 year-old institution that was Lou Arthur’s vision. | | | All roads lead to Bundoora for "Big Marty" | Read full article... | On the corner of Plenty Road and Enterprise Drive in Bundoora, a couple of hefty punt kicks north of the Garvey Oval, stands the glass-walled environs of the newly-built motor vehicle dealership Northway Honda.
Venture into the swanky showroom and it’s more than likely you’ll be greeted with a friendly handshake and a cheesey grin from Martin Luby - the Director/General Manager of Northway and a member of a well-known Parade family whose links with the College have spanned seven decades.
Martin’s grandfather Bill attended the Old Bluestone Pile in 1920s and ’30s, while his father Barney and brothers Bill jun. and Brian followed him in the late 1940s /early ’50s. Martin, together with his brothers Mark, Anthony and Paul, maintained the family ties through the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s as students at Parade College. | | | Old Paradians’ Association salutes its Ist XVIII captains | Read full article... | Twenty-seven former captains of Parade’s Ist XVIII teams – representing seven decades of post-war College football – have gathered in Parkville for an historic reunion.
The captains, who posed for this rare team photograph, were guests of the Old Paradians’ Association, which last year convened the first gathering of former College captains as far back as 1942. A number of them were interviewed on film, which can now be viewed by clicking on Old Paradians' Cinema to the right of this homepage.
The Ist XVIII football captains pictured are as follows;
back row, left to right: Daniel Sage (1999), Pat Smallwood (2000), Brendan Joyce (1988), Craig Caracella (1996), David Aiello (1995), Mark Aiello (1990), James McInerney (2008) and Ryan Ewing (2005);
middle row: Scott La Ferlita (1993), Jason McBean (1992), Marcus Yeo (2001), Warren Richards (1982), Russell Dickson (1981), David Partridge (1985), Patrick Moore (1986), Peter Cosgriff (1985) and Tim Watson (1998);
front row: Michael McInerney (1966), Martin Kyne (1968), Brian Beers (1957), Patrick Whitehouse (1961), Peter Venier (1949), Kevin Rickard (1953), Henry Donald (1958), Greg Cain (1973), Shane Bond (1971) and Geoff Carter (1965). | | | Chance discovery casts light on the short life of a brave POW | Read full article... | Flick the fading pages of the 1946 edition of The Paradian, and you’ll find a Roll of Honour of brave young men who served their country through the dark days of the Second World War.
The Roll of Honour lists more than 320 former students of the College - amongst them a young man named Thompson, who perished in the sinking of HMAS Sydney - and it carries the following rider;
“This is a full list, as far as we know, of all Parade Old Boys who served in the War. We will be very grateful if omissions are pointed out”.
In the years since, many of those omissions have been corrected, by way of information received by Parade College’s archivist.
Today, another lost soldier has been found. A young man by the name of Ronald Andrew Bennett.
| | | "The Colonel" remembered for community spirit | Read full article... | The identity of the first Parade College student to complete his matriculation has been revealed, more than 130 years after the event.
The Old Paradian in question is Lieutenant Colonel Henry William Dunkley, best remembered for his selfless contributions to sporting and charitable institutions for more than half his life in the old western Victorian gold mining town of St Arnaud.
Born in Richmond on September 11, 1861, Lieut Col Dunkley was schooled at the Old Bluestone Pile in East Melbourne, presumably through the late 1860s-mid-1870s. | | | Old Paradian inks three-year recording contract | Read full article... | Singer songwriter Michael Butera, who completed his final schooling at Parade College back in 2002, has signed a three-year recording contract with a record label in Montreal.
Michael, who pursued music studies upon leaving Parade, has signed with Dance Plant Records on the advice of his management company Mylo Management. His first single "Not Over Yet" is to be launched on June 6, with an album due for release in the second half of the year.
Though the twenty-six year-old has been based in Montreal for the past 12 months, and appreciates that Montreal is a long way from his home town of Mill Park, he hasn’t forgotten his roots, nor for that matter the days of yore at Bundoora. As he said: “The first time someone apart from my parents showed real interest and gave me the confidence to pursue my music was Mr. Martin Macaulay at Parade. He encouraged me to participate in the Parade musical productions and gave me that boost of confidence that a year 9 solo singer might need”. | | | Corey finds a place for new-found crest | Read full article... | Year 8 Parade student Corey Mirabelli quite literally wears the famed College crest like a badge.
Taking pride of place in the lapel of his dark navy winter blazer is a metallic ornament thought to be as much as 50 years old – a badge discovered by his parents Angelo and Miki Mirabella on a family outing to the Gippsland coastline during the recent term holidays.
Corey became the welcome recipient of the badge he’s pictured holding after his parents recently ventured into an antique shop in the idyllic coastal locale of Inverloch. As his mother explained: “Inside the shop we saw a cushion with a heap of different badges resting on it, and my husband spotted the Parade badge amongst them. It really stood out”. | | | Addio Alberto . . . Old Paradian Albert Carrazzo farewelled | Read full article... | Family, friends and acquaintances have gathered at Ivanhoe’s Mary Immaculate Church to pay their last respects to a man whose sheer love for life permeated the lives of those whose rare fortune it was to have known “Big Al”.
Albert Pasquale Carrazzo, a final year student of Parade College in 1951, and a father to four sons - each of them Old Paradians - died peacefully on April 21 at the age of 75.
He’d packed a lot into his three quarters of a century, did Albert, and those nearest and dearest – his beloved wife Patricia, daughter Christina, and sons Albert junior, Paul, Mark and Andrew – shared their touching reminiscences of a man who refused to let the insidious Parkinson’s Disease put paid to “la dolce vita”. | | | Remembering Stawell - Old Paradians’ Gift winners tell | Read full article... | Of the 126 men to have won the Stawell Gift since 1878, three of them – Jack Carr in 1957, Allen Pollock (1976) and John Dinan (1980) – are Old Paradians.
Pollock, now living in Christchurch New Zealand, was only too happy to turn back the clock some 35 years, to his Stawell Gift triumph of 1976.
And Carr (pictured here in the green chesting the tape more than 50 years ago) and Dinan, happily pondered their moment with destiny, at the time of the 130th running of the great race. | | | OPs afforded rare insight into the AFL and the life of Brian | Read full article... | Brian Walsh is the AFL’s Corporate Affairs & Communications General Manager for the AFL. His not insubstantial brief involves actively promoting the interests of the League, whilst at the same time dealing with the many and varied issues which invariably surface.
Essentially, his task is to assist his nine-person staff in trumpeting the good, and blanketing the bad, the sad and the mad.
It’s an often challenging but ultimately rewarding role for the former Paradian - the guest speaker at the Old Paradians Association’s recently-convened Business Breakfast, conducted within the salubrious surrounds of the George Harris Function Room at Visy Park.
| | | Walsh to discuss AFL’s media strategies at OPA Business Breakfast | Read full article... | The coverage of the game of AFL football and every aspect of the lives of the players continues to grow at a rapid pace with hundreds of newspaper pages, hundreds of hours or radio talk time and dozens of hours of TV coverage devoted to the game. So how does the League deal with the media and with the constant issues that arise?
Brian Walsh, the AFL’s Corporate Affairs & Communications General Manager, has the answers.
And Brian, himself an old boy of Parade College, has graciously accepted an invitation to put the League’s case, as guest speaker for the first Old Paradians Association Business Breakfast of the year - Thursday, April 7 – appropriately enough in the George Harris Function Room at the Carlton Football Club’s Visy Park redevelopment on Royal Parade. | | | “The sixth Nicholls” – a story of Parade’s student exchange | Read full article... | Sachiko Fujii is forever grateful that Parade College and Takada High School saw fit to implement an exchange student program all those years ago.
For the program not only allowed the then Year 9 Japanese schoolgirl to experience the customs and cultures of a new country, but led to her forging an extraordinary friendship with a family of Old Paradians – the Nicholls’ - who welcomed her into the fold on what was only ever meant to be a two-week exchange back in 1998.
“The first time I came to Australia, everything was so different and so interesting for me,” Sachiko explained, on what was yet another whirlwind visit to Melbourne before jetting home to Suzuki City recently.
“I was very nervous, because I didn’t understand the culture or the language. But Gay and Michael [Nicholls] looked after me, and so too their three boys. They’ve all been so very kind and I love them all.”
| | | Coach Gaut ponders way forward for the purple, green and blue | Read full article... | Phil Gaut can remember the powerhouse that was Parade College’s Ist XVIII of 1976 – a star-studded ACC Premiership outfit that boasted names like Wigney, Considine, Natoli and Hyde.
For Gaut, a final year student in ’76, representation in that much-feted football ensemble was but a pipe dream.
Fast forward 35 years, and Gaut - Parade College’s Director of High Performance Sport and Old Paradians Amateur Football Club Senior Coach - is very much front and centre of the auld alma mater’s on-field operations. | | | After forty-six years, an Old Paradian finds his father | Read full article... | On January 20 this year, Craig Mahon got a birthday card from the father he had not seen for 46 years.
A student at Parade’s Bundoora campus through 1979 and early 1980, Craig was but a two year-old toddler when his father Nelson and mother parted company in 1965.
“It’s been 46 years since we’d seen each other and me being only two at the time it’s understandable that I had no recollection of him,” said Craig, recently pictured here with Nelson. “I have been looking for my Dad for the past 12 months and on my birthday he contacted me. Not long after, my wife and I flew to Melbourne for the reunion. It was amazing. I had no idea I’d be so emotional over it.” | | | 50 years on, Old Boys of ’61 gather to reminisce | Read full article... | Their ranks may have somewhat thinned, but for those of the class of 1961 in attendance for the 50th anniversary reunion of their final year at Parade, this was truly a night to remember.
With the Treacy Centre in Parkville providing the intimate backdrop, 18 old boys of the College - amongst them a surgeon, journalist, dentist, pharmacist, wool buyer and university professor - stood at their tables, one after the other, to recount the twists and turns of their professional and family lives in the 50 years since leaving Parade.
In attendance were Brendan Bergin, Denis Blaney, Des Cahill OAM, Jack Chiodo, John Dunlop, Trevor Kretchmar, John Lannen, Jim Main, Brian Morton, Des Mowat, Geoffrey Reed, Tony Stella, Dominic Vellar and Patrick Whitehouse, together with Anthony Morgan, Barry Culhane, Michael Butler and John McCormack pictured here. Apologies were accepted from James Bellew, Peter Costello, Bill Davis, Terence Gannon, Mick Gibson, Roger Gillespie, Gary Lynch and John Puls. Earlier, those present had heard from their College captain of 1961 Len Breen, now living in London, whose following letter of happy reminiscence was read out on the night. | | | How Parade was Ted Egan's ticket to the Top End
| Read full article... | He might have spent more than three quarters of his life at the Top End, but Ted Egan – musician, television presenter, Northern Territory Administrator and Order of Australia recipient – is very much an Old Paradian.
As a fresh-faced 14 year-old, Ted once wore the colours of the College to classes at the Old Bluestone Pile. It was 1947 - the year Ted completed his intermediate – and a pivotal moment for the kid as luck would have it.
(image reproduced with permission of the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra) | | | College Captain reflects on those who came before
| Read full article... | In November last year, a captive audience of more than 150 people gathered within the art deco surrounds of The Centre in Ivanhoe, for what was the inaugural induction of members into the Old Paradians Association’s esteemed Hall of Fame.
Most of the guests were themselves Old Paradians . . . but not all. Amongst them was Daniel Fahey, the then year 11 student who, with a healthy smattering of Parade classmates in tow, graciously gave of their time and energy to assist with the set-up, in the countdown to the pivotal event
What then transpired clearly had a profound impact on Daniel, who in his capacity as Parade College’s captain of 2011 felt compelled to pen the following speech which he recently delivered to almost 1900 fellow students who had gathered for Term One Assembly.
With the kind permission of the author, Daniel’s address is reproduced as follows.
(Image courtesy Tony Teo, Parade College) | | | From Parade to Politics - Andrew Robb tells | Read full article... | Andrew Robb AO was a student of Parade College East Melbourne from 1964 through to the landmark Bundoora relocation year of 1968. An Australian politician and former federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, Andrew was elected to the House of Representatives as Liberal Party member for the Division of Goldstein, Victoria, at the 2004 federal election.
Born in August 1951, Andrew was one of nine children, whose early years was spent on a dairy farm in Epping. On completion of his schooling at Parade, he furthered his studies at Dookie Agricultural College and La Trobe University, and has qualifications in economics and agricultural science.
The following interview, beneath the headline “Go with your strengths”, was published in the latest edition of The Ricean, and appears here with the kind permission of Edmund Rice Education Australia. | | | Former Parade College Principal Brother Naughtin dies, aged 93 | Read full article... | Brother Patrick Chanel Naughtin, the last surviving Principal of Parade College East Melbourne, and author of the extensive historical tome “The Parade Story”, has died at an aged care facility in Prahran at the age of 93.
The son of Patrick sen. and Catherine, and a brother to Peter, Nora, Terence and Margaret, Brother Naughtin was born in Victoria in 1917. Nineteen years later he joined the Christian Brothers.
Brother Naughtin spent the first seventeen years of his teaching career in Western Australia and South Australia. He graduated Master of Arts at the University of Adelaide, and thereafter served as Principal at the Old Bluestone Pile in East Melbourne from 1956-’61 and St. Kevin’s College Toorak from 1962-’66. | | | Jolley assumes football club presidency | Read full article... | Mike Jolley has assumed the presidency of the Old Paradians Amateur Football Club for 2011-12, following Sean Simpson’s decision to stand down after five years at the helm.
The role of treasurer, now vacated by Jolley, is expected to be filled shortly.
Jolley’s nomination was accepted by members of the committee at the recent annual general meeting of the OPAFC in the Frank Mount Room at the Garvey Oval. | | | Man of iron casts mind back to ’74 | Read full article... | Ray Gannon’s time at Parade College only took in the one solitary year – 1974 – and yet he looks back with great fondness on this all-too-brief phase of his early life.
“I learnt so fast,” says the 48 year-old, who thesedays spends his working hours behind the wheel of 150-ton truck at Orebody 18 – a BHP-owned iron ore minesite operated by Macmahon Holdings located near Newman - some 500 kilometres inland from Port Headland.
Newman is a long way from anything, not the least Whittlesea, where Ray spent five years with his parents, the publicans Neil and Elvie Gannon . . . “and that’s why Mum and Dad put me into Parade”. | | | OP named national apprentice of the year | Read full article... | Back in 2005, the then Parade College student Thomas Bennett secured a week's work experience with local Epping firm Strike Shopfitting.
It would prove a landmark moment in the young life of Strike's 4th year apprentice shopfitter/joiner, recently adjudged Australia's National Aprrentice of the Year 2009/10 by the Australian Shop & Office Fitting Industry Association, during ASOFIA's 16th National Conference in Queenstown New Zealand.
The Thomas Brown Shop Fitting Industry Apprentice of the Year Award, sponsored by Asset
Flooring Group, recognises the next generation of industry professionals and celebrates the high standards evident in the sector.
"Not bad for a young fellow," chirped Bennett, who was on a footy trip to the Gold Coast when the news came through. | | | Old Paradians gather for Snowsports celebration
| Read full article... | On the night of Friday, November 5 this year, 57 people gathered at Thornbury’s Furlan Club in celebration of Parade’s Snowsports 21st year. They included Old Paradians from almost every team to have represented the College in the Interschools Competition at Mt. Buller.
In attendance were Mark and Lorenz Grollo, who together with Phil Ashworth were the driving forces behind Parade’s inaugural team, in establishing what has proved to be the longest-running sport at Parade outside of the ACC sporting competition. Most recently, some 6500 students competed in the Interschools – the largest of its kind in the Southern hemisphere.
Also in attendance was Rino Grollo, a graduate of Parade East Melbourne in 1965, and pictured here flanked by Craig Seckold and Jim Seymour. Old Paradians Association President Lewis Derrico was guest speaker on the night. Lew highlighted the aims and goals of the reinvigorated organisation and the importance of connecting with the Old Boys network, which he invited those present to utilize to its full potential. | | | The story of Olly's trollies, and how one man makes a difference | Read full article... | It’s more than 50 years since Thomas Pickett trod the weather beaten steps from the Old Bluestone Pile for the last time. Though he wasn’t to know it then, the man who came to be affectionately known as “Olly” was within months of a life-changing occurrence.
In 1960, Olly Pickett (pictured here courtesy The Record, Perth) resolved to join the Christian Brothers and admirably pursue a career in teaching. Fate would take him far and wide, to postings in remote regional areas of Western Australia, putting to the test the well-worn theory that one man can make a difference.
Today, Olly is front and centre for what is one of the most incredibly benevolent and spectacularly successful initiatives of its kind, Wheelchairs For Kids, which involves the generous support of the Rotary Club of Scarborough, the Christian Brothers, more than 190 schools, members of the business community, hundreds of personal benefactors and 100 workshop volunteers. | | | OPTC to stage Little Shop of Horrors | Read full article... | Old Paradians Theatre Group (OPTC) is to stage its most ambitious project in its challenging three-year history to date - its presentation of Allan Menken’s classic musical, Little Shop of Horrors.
Six shows have been pencilled in for a not-to-be-missed two-week season at the Bundoora Campus’ Rivergum Theatre – Friday, November 12 and Saturday, November 13 (8pm starts) and Sunday, November 14 (5pm twilight show), together with Thursday, November 18, Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20 (8pm). Calling the shots for Shop is Director and Choreographer Luis Rivera (pictured) - the first Old Paradian to direct one of the group’s shows.
Little Shop of Horrors is the story of a down-and out skid row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination! | | | Dr Keith Vincent Garzoli, PhD, ME, BE (Mech.) - 1934 - 2010 | Read full article... | Prior to a recent monthly luncheon convened by the Old Paradians Association at Melbourne’s RACV Club, Bill Dunne acknowledged the passing of fellow Old Paradian, Dr Keith Garzoli, who completed his schooling at East Melbourne in 1951.
Earlier, Dr. Garzoli’s obituary appeared in the November 9 edition of the Herald Sun.
Born in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, to Joseph and Catherine Garzoli, Keith Garzoli was educated at Christian Brothers College in East Melbourne and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated BE (Mech) in 1956.
His paternal great-grandfather, Luigi Garzoli, was born in 1831 in Canton Ticino in Switzerland, the same Italian-speaking canton as Ron Barassi’s great-grandfather. He arrived in Victoria in 1867, settling in the Central Victorian goldfields, and marrying two years later. | | | McHale one of six inducted into Old Paradians Hall of Fame | Read full article... | The legendary Collingwood player and coach James Francis “Jock” McHale is amongst six former students of Parade College to have been inducted into the Old Paradians Association’s newly-established Hall of Fame.
The six eminent Old Paradians were inducted before an audience of more than 160 present and former students, teachers and principals of Parade College, who recently gathered for the Association’s Gala dinner at The Centre Ivanhoe.
Together with Lou Arthur, Sir Bernard Callinan, Vice Admiral Sir John Collins, The Most Reverend Arthur Francis Fox and Mr. Justice Sir Norman O’Bryan, McHale was acknowledged by the Association. | | | 2005 reunion confirmed for Frank Mount Room | Read full article... | To mark the fifth anniversary of what was or would have been the completion of your final year of schooling at Parade, the College would like to extend a warm welcome to you to attend a Reunion of your 2005 fellow students. The Reunion will undoubtedly present a great opportunity to renew old friendships and reminisce about the ‘old days’.
Drinks and nibbles will be served in the Old Paradians Football Club’s Frank Mount Room at the Garvey Oval, on the Parade College grounds, Bundoora, from 6.00pm, on Friday, November 12. Cost is $30.00 plus drinks at bar prices, and on this occasion the invitation does not include your partner.
Those wishing to pay on the night may do so. Those who prefer to pay in advance by EFT or credit card can do so will be advised how to do so by way of written correspondence. Early confirmation of your attendance would be appreciated by calling Tony De Bolfo on 9468 3301 or emailing tdebolfo@parade.vic.edu.au. | | | “Sometimes the truth isn’t funny, it’s hilarious” - Callinan tells | Read full article... | Damian Callinan pulls up a pew at the funky Thornbury espresso Pearl Oyster at the Paris end of rough and tumble Miller Street. Between sips of his latte and over the sugary strains of the Ray Conniff Singers, the not-so-old Paradian and resident Melbourne comic candidly reflects on the story so far.
A familiar face to viewers of Skithouse, Before The Game, Spicks & Specks and The Wedge, and a regular talking head on 774ABC, Damian has just negotiated the merciless Miller Street tramline grooves on his trusty Malvern Star to meet this much-anticipated chinwag. And nothing is off limits either – from the family links with the Eureka Stockade, the origins of his comedic creativity and the days of the old schoolyard, through to the tragic death of his dear mother in the cruellest of circumstances, the stark realisation that he was infertile and the subject of his soon-to-be-released tome.
In a rare break between sessions of his latest show - an energized tribute to dance called The Cave to the Rave - Damian tells it as he feels it for the following q and a . . . and he even throws in a gag for good measure. | | | 428 . . . and that's final for Peter Brabender | Read full article... | Peter Brabender was never one for fanfare . . . and so it was at Craigieburn recently, as the final siren called time on his extraordinary 428-game career as an Old Paradians footballer.
“Plugger” and his teammates had just fought the good fight, going down to Banyule by 22 points in the D Section 2 Grand Final - in what also doubled as the former’s final appearance after almost a quarter of a century in the famed purple green and blue guernsey.
The many and varied Old Paradians romantics at Craigieburn, amongst them the club’s former games record holder John Tudor, longed to see the old timer hoisted off Highgate Reserve. Not “Plugger”. He instead made a beeline for the boundary line and promptly lit a cigarette, reflecting on more than half a lifetime as an Amateur footballer as he quietly puffed away. | | | OPAFC Inc Annual General Meeting | Read full article... | Notice is hereby given that the annual general meeting of the Club will be held at the Frank Mount Rooms, Garvey Oval on Wednesday November 17th at 7:45pm for the following purposes:
| | | Old Paradians go down fighting in VAFA Grand Final | Read full article... | The Old Paradians’ bold finals campaign of 2010 ended at Craigieburn on Sunday, with the football team unfortunately falling 22 points short of Banyule in the VAFA D section 2 Grand Final - 5.10 (40) to 9.12 (62) - in blustery conditions at Highgate Recreation Reserve.
Though the OPs’ opening quarter of 1.4 with the wind hardly helped their cause, the players had come off two successive finals matches in sodden conditions, and were brave in taking the contest up to their opponents to the end.
After the match, Old Paradians Senior Coach Phil Gaut commended his players for the manner in which they had conducted themselves throughout the course of the season. The co-captain, Daniel Spitty, also addressed his players in the rooms afterwards, reiterating the fact that while the loss was a bitter disappointment, the entire club had taken a step forward, in advancing to D Section 1.
| | | Old Paradians Gala Event - Friday, October 8 | Read full article... | The Centre Ivanhoe (formerly the Heidelberg Town Hall) is the stunning backdrop for one of the most anticipated evenings on the Old Paradians' social events calendar - the Gala Dinner and inaugural Induction of members into the Old Paradians Hall of Fame.
The evening, involving former students of the past eight decades of Parade College life, culminates with the elevation to Legend status of one of the true greats of Parade.
Daniel Harford has graciously agreed to MC the gentlemen-only event, with former Australian Test fast bowler Rodney Hogg confirmed as guest speaker. The Aria Award-winning Walter De Backer (the College Captain of 1998) and his ensemble will provide the musical entertainment. Tickets for the $100-a-head ($1000 table of ten) all-inclusive 3-course dinner are available on a first come first saved basis. The RSVP date has been extended to Monday, October 4, so don't miss out on this much-anticipated occasion. | | | Parade set for major oval refurbishments | Read full article... | More than 1800 students of Parade College, together with members of the Old Paradians’ many and varied sporting associations, are to be the major beneficiaries of replenished and refurbished playing fields at the Bundoora Campus over the next 12 months.
With the College’s completion of its substantial water retention program, and in the wake of the former Old Paradians Cricket Club’s decision to relocate to AK Line Reserve in Watsonia, Parade is now in a position to upgrade and improve all of its major sporting locales – the Garvey, Naughtin and Collins Ovals.
The major upgrades are expected to commence prior to Christmas, when outside contractors are commissioned to relay both the Collins and Naughtin Ovals with Australia’s hard-wearing, drought tolerant legend couch grass, as part of the College’s extensive grounds strategy. | | | From Nightingale to Magpie – McKenna reflects on the journey | Read full article... | At the peak of his sporting powers, Peter McKenna could justifiably lay claim to being the most popular footballer in the country. Acknowledged as one of the VFL’s greatest full-forwards, Peter originally perfected his craft on the ovals of Alphington (Flowerdale), as a Parade College primary school student of the late 1950s.
Not so long ago, Peter took time out from driving duties to reflect on his Parade years, taking part in the following Q and A from the tranquil confines of the old Spargo’s Hotel in Bridge Road, Richmond.
| | | Vale Kevin Johnston | Read full article... | Kevin Johnston, a former President of the Old Paradians Association from 1973-75, and a lifelong supporter of Parade
College, has died after suffering a recent stroke. He was 76.
Kevin, who up until recently was a regular at the monthly Old Paradians luncheons, maintained a lifelong commitment to both the association and college, having completed his schooling at Victoria Parade East Melbourne back in 1951.
| | | Parade tanking for all the right reasons | Read full article... | When the historians reflect on the first 15 decades of College life in a little under ten years from now, they will look back on 2010 as, quite literally, a watershed year in the long and illustrious history of Parade.
For history will record 2010 as the year Parade “put up” for the blue planet, by way of its significant investment in the long-term accumulation and storage of the earth’s most precious commodity. Water.
| | | Boundy commits to OPs cause | Read full article... | David Boundy is Old Paradians through and through . . . which is all the more remarkable considering he never attended Parade College. “I never had a time at the school,” David said recently. I couldn’t make it in, but because I played footy for Old Paradians perhaps it helped my younger brother find a pathway to Parade.”
A local boy, David completed his schooling at neighboring Mill Park and, in the early days, chased the leather for Bundoora – combining his football commitments with those of baseball and gridiron. And it was through gridiron that links with the purple, green and blue were first forged.
| | | Parade Captains gather for the first time | Read full article... | Thirty-seven Captains, representing the past eight decades of Parade College life, recently came together for what was an history-making event at the Treacy Centre in Parkville.
| | | Inaugural Old Paradians Business Breakfast | Read full article... | “Pink batts and school halls: funny way to stimulate an economy.”
- Tony Canavan (1980)
The Federal and State Governments’ stimulus plans have been both criticised and praised. How and why were they done, and what do our governments need to be investing in now for the future?
The speaker is Tony Canavan (1980), Victorian Coordinator-General and Head of Partnerships Victoria
| | | Victorious netballers building the OPs brand | Read full article... | Julia Gillard's elevation to the Prime Ministership was a watershed moment in Australian political history, as Kira Fitzpatrick and her colleagues would no doubt attest.
Earlier this year Kira, together with a core group of like-minded women, banded together to form two local netball teams - the Blue and the Green outfits - under the Old Paradians banner in the Thomastown Netball Association.
The upshot of it all was the both teams recently played off for their respective pennants, with Kira's Blues (pictured) going all the way. Down by 14 goals at half-time in the section 3 final at RMIT, the Blues stormed home to take the title by two goals and have earned promotion to section 2 of the ever-expanding local comp.
| | | Remembering the Professor – a tribute to Tom O’Donnell | Read full article... | With the recent death of Professor Thomas Aloysius O’Donnell, a link has been severed between the Old Paradians Athletic Club and the St Kevin’s Old Boys Athletic Club.
Tom O’Donnell was an Old Boy of St Kevin’s. Keen on athletics in the 1940s, he ended up joining the Old Paradians Athletic Club upon leaving school. Although not an Old Paradian, he, like many St. Kevin’s Old Boys, had a close affinity with other Paradians through St. Colman’s scholarship class in Fitzroy.
| | | Loyalty runs ocean-deep for Valls boys | Read full article... | Nathan and Josh Valls don’t need any reminding of the motto Tenete Traditiones. In work, as in school, the brothers continue to build on the legacy left by those who came before.
| | | 30 years young – the class of 1980 reunites | Read full article... | The class of 1980 reconvened at Bundoora recently, some 30 years after students ended their associations with the College as Parade students.
More than 40 former students of 1980 turned out for the gathering, which commenced in the Hickey Foyer of the college and progressed to the Frank Mount Room flanking the Garvey Oval, home of the Old Paradians Amateur Football Club.
| | | OPs abroad - Dr Frank Bongiorno | Read full article... | Dr Frank Bongiorno (1986) is a Senior Lecturer at the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies and Department of History at King's College London, University of London.
A distinguished Old Paradian, who completed his schooling at the college in 1986, Frank was College Vice-Captain and won the Kelty Cup for Leadership at the end of his years at Parade. Frank graduated with a BA with Honours in History with Politics at the University of Melbourne, then completed a PhD at the Australian National University (ANU). He has previously lectured at the ANU; Griffith University, Brisbane; and the University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales (NSW). He has also been an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the ANU, and a Smuts Visiting Fellow in Commonwealth Studies at the University of Cambridge.
Frank is currently on the editorial boards of the Journal of Australian Studies and History Australia, is International Adviser to Labour History, and a member of the management committee of Australian Policy and History online. He served for five years on the NSW Ministry for the Arts Literature and History Committee, with three as chair, as well as the Arts Advisory Council. He has also served on the Executive of the Australian Historical Association and the Management Committee of the History Council of NSW. Frank has been an Australian Research Council assessor since 2005. | | | My life after school - James Belcher, Parade captain 2009 | Read full article... | “It has been about five months now since I graduated from Parade College and life has changed dramatically since. I have turned 18, travelled to Italy, and settled into the university lifestyle, but most importantly have kept my ties with Parade by joining the Old Paradians Amateur Football Club. Being a part of the Old Paradians has helped me keep the values and beliefs I was taught as a student while playing the great Australian game with a bunch of amazing blokes.
| | | Brendan McClements addresses OPs luncheon | Read full article... | In February, Brendan McClements accepted an invitation from Bill Dunne to address the Old Paradians luncheon on the 2nd level of the RACV Club in Bourke Street, Melbourne. The following is an edited extract of his speech.
| | | Fr. Michael McEntee recounts PNG experiences | Read full article... | A captive audience of Old Paradians, including three fellow former College Captains and the current Captain Daniel Kuppe, heard Father Michael McEntee deliver the following address, which centered on his time in Papua New Guinea.
| | | In Memoriam | Read full article... | Old Paradians farewell a leviathan of the College, Br. Frank McCarthy.
| | | Reunions | Read full article... | Classes 1960 and '70 reunite under the College banner
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