Four Old Collegians are set to be inducted as College Legends in a gala event in August.
The Most Reverend Shane Mackinlay (SPC 1977-82), Archbishop of Brisbane, Brigadier Eamon Lenaghan AM (SPC 1985-90), the late Paul Pardoel (SPC 1982-87), and the late John Sheehan (SPC 1925-32) will be bestowed with the College’s highest honours at the 2026 Celebration Dinner, to be held on Saturday 22 August.
Old Collegians’ Association president Dr Charlie Flynn said the OCA was delighted to bestow ‘Legend’ status on four more alumni.
“This year’s inductees are all very worthy additions to the Honour Board,” he said.
He encouraged members of the community to consider nominating high-achieving Old Collegians for consideration and recognition as future Legends or Young Achievers.
All members of the SPC community are warmly invited to attend this gala event, showcasing the talents and achievements of our current students and Old Collegians.
The 2026 Celebration Dinner will be held in the Old Collegians’ Association Pavilion, overlooking the Main Oval. Tickets are $70 per person and can be purchased via this link at https://www.trybooking.com/DEWSW
In the meantime, learn more about our 2026 College Legend inductees –
Archbishop Shane Mackinlay (SPC 1977-82)
The Most Reverend Shane Mackinlay, Archbishop of Brisbane, will be honoured for his services to the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Mackinlay as the Archbishop of Brisbane on 18 June 2025.
He was a day student at St Patrick’s College from 1977 to 1982, where he was crowned dux of the College.
He studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, in Clayton, completing theology studies at Catholic Theological College and a degree in physics at Monash University.
As a deacon, he served in the parish of Warrnambool before being ordained as priest for the Ballarat Diocese in 1991.
He later undertook graduate studies in Belgium and returned, serving at various parishes, taught at Australian Catholic University, Ballarat, and served in various roles with the Ballarat Diocese.
In 2019, he was appointed as the eighth Bishop of Sandhurst (Bendigo). He was also elected as vice-president of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia and later appointed as Co-Chair of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, before his appointment as Archbishop of Brisbane last year.
Brigadier Eamon Lenaghan AM (SPC 1985-90)
Brigadier Lenaghan and the late Paul Pardoel will be recognised for their services to the nation.
Brigadier Lenaghan, a day student from Tourello, near Creswick, has multiple family ties with SPC from the past and to this day.
He was awarded a Member (AM) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in 2025 for exceptional performance of duty as the Chief of Staff of the Headquarters Forces Command and as the Deputy Head of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Taskforce.
Brigadier Lenaghan played a key role in setting the conditions that ensured Force Command generation for domestic and overseas operations during COVID, while also sustaining the resources for the Army Training Continuum Army Training Division.
He was key in planning for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide and delivering a unique and blended workforce to support Defence’s contribution to the Royal Commission process.
Brigadier Lenaghan’s focus on wellbeing has enabled the taskforce to support the important work of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
He will be presented with his award in Ballarat in August after returning from a two-year deployment as Deputy Commander of the UN Disengagement Force on the Golan Heights, between Israel and Syria. He is the first Australian Officer to hold this position.
Paul Pardoel (SPC 1982-87)
Paul Pardoel will receive a posthumous award after paying the ultimate sacrifice for his service as a victim of the war in Iraq.
Paul was a member of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and later, the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the UK. He was a navigator of a British C-130 transport plane and was killed in 2005 when his plane was shot down over Baghdad.
Paul was an excellent student at SPC, involving himself in all aspects of school life.
After completing his school studies, Paul enlisted in the RAAF and enrolled at the Defence Force Academy in Canberra, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science.
After missing out on the pilots course, Paul began a navigators course, where he excelled and carved out a reputation as a highly-skilled navigator.
He was posted to the RAAF’s No. 36 and 37 strategic transport squadrons as part of a Hercules Transport Crew and led a most distinguished career, serving in various operations around the world.
Paul returned to Australia and was posted to Sale, in Victoria, where he became an exceptional instructor with the School of Navigation, before retiring from the RAAF after 14 years of service.
Due to his duel British/Australian citizenship, Paul joined the RAF and was part of the No. 47 squadron, based at RAF Lyneham, in the UK.
He continued his role as a navigator in the Hercules transport crew and spent the next three years flying many dangerous missions in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
On 30 January, 2005, Paul’s plane was shot down approximately 30km from Baghdad International Airport after taking off only minutes beforehand. All nine crew members died in the crash.
John Sheehan (SPC 1925-32)
The late John James Sheehan will also be inducted posthumously as a Legend of the College in recognition of his service to the Ballarat community, education, politics and the Catholic faith.
John was a great orator whose qualities emerged during his schooling at St Patrick’s College as a day student when he debated and joined the Literary Society with a continued passion after leaving school.
Many praised his exceptional oratory skills, which proved helpful against opposing political leaders during the tumultuous political landscape of the 1950s.
Initially becoming a schoolteacher, John enlisted in the AIF, serving during World II in New Guinea and Bougainville. On his return, he joined the Old Collegians Association to raise funds for the Memorial Chapel. He also became a senior master at Ballarat High School, before politics beckoned. In 1952, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Ballarat.
He was briefly appointed Housing Minister but lost the election in 1955 on preferences following a no-confidence vote, which spectacularly brought down the Labor government.
John returned to his position at Ballarat High, later becoming deputy principal between 1968-72 and principal between 1972-76. Upon retirement, John continued working in education and was appointed a consultant in the Regional Office of the Education Department until 1981. He sadly passed away in 1984.
