Where are they now – Julian Prendergast (SPC 1979-84)
October 30, 2019
The College recently reconnected with former day student Julian Prendergast (SPC 1979-84) who has carved out a successful career in the financial services and agriculture industry, and is now Area Manager of Western Victoria for Elders.
Julian is pictured with his Dad, Pat Prendergast, at the Ballarat Saleyards in Latrobe Street, at the last sale before the new saleyards opened at Miners Rest.
Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?
I haven’t strayed too far from Ballarat, having worked and lived in the area all this time. I worked in financial services (banking and financial planning) from 1986 to 2013 and then joined the ag industry with Elders in 2013. Since then I’ve worked my way up to Area Manager Western Victoria, with 10 branches now under my supervision. In 2020 (on St Patrick’s Day believe it or not) my wife Michelle and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We have two adult children, Michaela, aged 25 and Ryan, 22, who went to Loreto and St Patrick’s, of course.
What are your fondest memories of your time at St Patrick’s College?
My fondest memory would be my HSC (Year 12) in 1984. We had a great bunch of fellas in that year and had a lot of fun with balls, socials, sport and a general ‘esprit de corps’.
Which teacher from your time at SPC had the greatest impact on you? Why?
Probably Br Breach. I really enjoyed languages, French and Latin, and am word perfect on Le Marseillaise (the French National Anthem) as we sang it in every class. Michelle and I had a week in Paris in 2017 and it was fantastic to see in person all those places we learned about way back when.
How has your education shaped your professional life?
Particularly in recent years I have found the leadership and integrity I developed at St Patrick’s have been very valuable. I have also found that having an inquisitive mind, wanting to know the why, not just the how, has also been beneficial.
How has your time at SPC shaped your personal values and your family life?
I am a naturally loyal person, which is a trait nurtured at St Patrick’s, and one that I believe has held me in good stead in many aspects of my life.
If you could pass on one message to the students of today, what would it be?
Grab every opportunity that passes your way. Have a crack at everything and soon enough you’ll find something that suits.