Old Boys in the News – April 2026

Our Old Boys have been in the spotlight, including:

• LeRoy Hand (SPC 1993-98) who has been announced as one of the fabulous Stars in Ballarat’s Dancing with Our Stars competition, raising funds for Ballarat Foundation.
• Get behind Ollie Nash (SPC 2011-16) who will be running the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromso, Norway, raising money for Guy’s Cancer Charity in memory of his Aussie mate Chris Ramsey. Chris died of colorectal cancer late last year after a four-year battle with the disease. Ollie, who is currently working and living in the UK, has already raised over $A11,000, to donate, click here
  
• Congratulations to Nathan Sobey (SPC 2008), pictured above, who was named in the All-NBL First Team at this year’s NBL awards. The South East Melbourne Phoenix co-captain was also crowned Most Valuable Player for the Phoenix, and finished fourth in the overall MVP race for the NBL26. Watch this great video of Nathan here and check out this great video with Nathan here
• Great to see Liam Canny (SPC 2015-20) taking on the captain role at East Point FC in this story here
• Congratulations to another Canny, this time Sovereign Park Motor Inn owner Tim Canny (SPC 1995-2000) and his team on their success at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards recently, winning silver in the 4-4.5 Star Deluxe Accommodation category.
• Three-hundred AFL great Drew Petrie (SPC 1995-2000) has completed a local homecoming with his appointment as Ballarat Football Netball League interleague boss, read more here

  

  Congratulations to Darcy Williams (SPC 2016-21) who raced in the Oceania Sprint Championships Elite Men in Napier, New Zealand, finishing third for Australia on the U23 podium.

• Keep an eye out for Old Boy Steve Allen (SPC 1997-2002) who is competing in the Ballarat Marathon on Sunday 26 April – his first marathon – in support of the incredible work of Raven Collective Services who support women who are victims of domestic violence. You can support Steve’s run by donating here

  

• It was great to catch up with some of our Old Boys at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days, including Shan Taylor (SPC 2023-25).
• Look out for Ballarat runner Cooper Sherman (SPC 2017-22). Cooper is now the seventh fastest Australian of all time!
  Cooper reached his first season goal of setting a qualifying time for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after winning the 400m at the Perth Track Classic in a time of 44.85 seconds, which happens to be the exact time he needed to secure his position on the Australian team. He’s also set his sights on breaking the long-held Australian 400m record, and he is confident he has energy in the tank to do it. In other great news, Cooper was awarded the Hollioake Trophy at the Ballarat Sportsperson of the Year at the award gala in February. The trophy is awarded to an individual athlete competing in a team event of discipline, and was awarded for his effort in the Australian Relay team in multiple events throughout 2025. Go Cooper! Read more here and here and watch this great video here showing Cooper’s commitment to be the best.
• Jack Riding (SPC 2013-18) trained with AFL club Hawthorn during the preseason after a stellar season last year with Werribee and was also named in the VFL Team of the Year squad.
• Ballarat Swans announced the signing of former AFL Crow and Saint Brad Crouch (SPC 2006-11) in a landmark acquisition in mid-February following Crouch’s 12-year stint in the top flight which yielded 56 goals across 161 senior games, read more here

  

  After a stint at Port Adelaide, Lachie “Chuck” Charleson (SPC 2018-23) is playing with Werribee, but will call East Point FC home this season. Good to see Lachie’s a fan of the movie classics, Forrest Gump!

  

• Great to see our current boarders also catching with former SPC boarder and Tigers midfielder Jacob Hopper (SPC 2014-15) recently!

  

• Well done to Brodie Wells (SPC 2019-2024) who managed to shear 207 sheep in a day’s work at Nerrin Nerrin, in the western district recently. A mighty effort Brodie!
• You’ll see a familiar face at Torquay’s Doc Hughes restaurant with Old Collegian Tim Kearney (SPC 1989-94), pictured below, taking over as owner of the popular surf coast restaurant.
  

• Congratulations to Sam Cashin (SPC 2012-17) who was Waubra Bowls’ Men’s Club Champion for the 2025/26 season after a tight contest with brother Matthew (SPC 2008-13). Well done to the Cashin bros!

  

• Taj Bowman (SPC 2019-25) has opted to call the Roosters home full-time with the 2025 GWV Rebels players restricted to cameo BFNL appearances during his top-age year, read more here
• It was great to have Sam Short (SPC 2011-16 ) back in Ballarat in late January to present fellow Old Boy Brock Healy (SPC 2019-25) and Year 12 SPC student Levi Munyard with their Victorian singlets before hitting the courts for the national championships. Sam is currently set to play again with the Eltham Wildcats in the NBL1 South competition this season after signing a three-year deal back in 2023.
• Old Boys Mick Nolan (SPC 2006-11) and Matt Aikman (SPC 2013-18) were in the spotlight for their sporting talents across cricket and footy in this story here

• Well done to Damien Irvin (SPC 2018-23) who made 1000 club runs for Ballarat-Redan over the 2026 cricket season, while Siddharth Rajesh (SPC 2015-20) made his fifth club century and highest club score of 114 no. Lukas Pegg (SPC 2018-21, PY2023) also made his first club century in the 1^st XI game against Brown Hill (108 off 75 balls, 100 off 68 balls). The innings included four big sixes all off the same over.
• You can now find out about the very interesting life of jazz musician and diplomat Gregory Edmund Campion Gibson (SPC 1942-47), who is now featured in the Australian Dictionary of Biography here
• We also found a SPC connection with Victorian Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson. It turns out her proud dad is Ron Wilson (SPC 1971-72, PY1976).
• Peter “Pistol” McFarlane (SPC 1984-87) was recognised after taking 600 club wickets for Ballarat-Redan with these impressive stats (600 club wickets @19.35, best bowling 8 for 30, 21 five fors, 4078 overs, 886 maidens.
• Patrick Ryan (SPC 1983-88) is remembered as “a man of integrity” in this story here. Patrick is also remembered in our tributes here

• Hudson Palmer (SPC 2021-23) was a last-minute addition to the Ballarat squad for the Melbourne Country Week Championships alongside fellow Old Boys Matt Aikman (SPC 2013-18), and brothers Josh (SPC 2015-19, PY2020) and Lukas Pegg. Read more here
• Liberal Member for Western Victoria Joe McCracken (SPC 2003-05) is trading parliament for a classroom after deciding not to contest the state election in November. Find out why here
  

• Redan’s Rory Gunnser (SPC 2018-23), pictured above, has been offered a VFL contract this season with Geelong. Rory was named in Redan’s best players nearly a dozen times next season, read more here
• Old Boys Shaun O’Loughlin (SPC 1990-95) and Mat Begbie (SPC 2006-11) came together for a rare day-night contest for the now-annual O’Loughlin Shield, named to honour the O’Loughlin family which has seen generations of contributions across both clubs. Read more here

• 2025 Henderson Medallist Matt Johnson (SPC 1998-2003) caused a stir at the beginning of the year with his surprise signing to CHFL premiership champions Skipton for the season ahead, read more here
• Look out for Nedd Bennett (SPC 2019-24) this season as the emerging star carves out his path at Newlyn after excelling in a senior debut year, read more here

• Great to see Steven de Natris (SPC 1999-2004) was recently named in the Barrons List top 150 financial advisers in Australia. Steve was listed number number 127 on the list, to read more, click here
  If you have any Old Boy news, please contact the College’s Alumni and Foundation Officer Lorrie Liston on (03) 5322 4442 or via email at lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au