St Patrick’s College has celebrated another successful rowing season with students, families and coaches gathering in the Performing Arts Centre for the 2026 Rowing Presentation Evening.
The night provided an opportunity to reflect on a season defined by commitment, resilience and strong crew culture, while recognising the achievements of students across all year levels.
A highlight of the evening was the address from Old Collegian Tom Foley (SPC 2017-22), who shared an honest and engaging account of his rowing journey – from early struggles in a single scull to competing on the national and international stage.
Reflecting on the disappointment of missing Nationals in 2020 and the work that followed, Tom spoke about the value of consistency and self-belief.
“I remember counting down the days until we could get back and just thinking, what can I do to get better?” he said.
“Even if it didn’t feel like much at the time, it was doing something every day – backing it up again and again – that made the difference. If you can control what you can control and put the work in, it gives you a lot of confidence when it matters.
He also encouraged students to back themselves, highlighting confidence as a key ingredient in both sport and life.
“Have confidence in your ability. If you believe in what you’re doing and the work you’ve put in, that gives you an edge before you even get to the start line,” he said.
The presentation of awards recognised both performance and character, with Coaches Awards highlighting dedication, improvement and contribution across each division.
Coaches Awards
Year 9
Division 4 – Matt Zuidland
Division 3 – Jake Crack
Division 2 – Matteo Spurgo
Division 1 – Oliver New
Year 10
Division 5 – Jake Mahar
Division 4 – Tyson Meek
Division 3 – Ujjwal Gambhir
Division 2 – Kade McKay
Division 1 – Noah Connell
Open
Division 7 – Tom Stevens
Division 6 – Blake Roberts
Division 5 – Patrick Buttler
Division 4 – Taj Bobrowski (Absent)
Division 3 – Tom Cosgriff
Division 2 – Hamish Quigley
Division 1 – Charlie Geddes (Absent)
Major year-level awards were also presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and contribution to the program:
Year Level Awards
Year 9 Paul Myers Award – Joseph Knobel
Year 10 James Marburg Award – Zach Galvin
Year 11 Christian Ryan Award – Lachlan Cameron
Year 12 Brian Vear Award – George Charles
Year 12 Anthony Edwards Award for Leadership – Cameron Belleville
The College extends its sincere thanks to the rowing coaching staff for their dedication and expertise throughout the season, as well as to the many families whose ongoing support underpins the success of the program.
The evening was a fitting celebration of a season that showcased not only strong performances on the water, but also the values of teamwork, perseverance and pride that define rowing at St Patrick’s College.
