As a much-anticipated, biennial event the Evening of Inspiration is one that requires a long lead time in planning and preparation. The decision was made to plan for the event and hope for the best. As it happened, luck was not on our side and a lockdown was called just prior. This made it impossible to complete performance rehearsals, technical rehearsals or to accommodate the audience in the Lighthouse Theatre when the lockdown was lifted with only a few days to spare. It was with great disappointment that we moved to cancel the evening. The event is in the process of being reshaped and rescheduled for early in 2022.
The Evening of Inspiration is an important event for our College. It encapsulates in one evening everything we aspire to achieve as a learning community. It is a celebration of excellence, service and citizenship. Inductee Br Frank O’Shea best summed up the spirit of the Inspiring Alumni when he said that, “The ideal of awards such as this is to inspire, like a fire that ignites other fires, this generation of Emmanuel students.”
Telling these stories to current and future generations of Emmanuel College is the reason for the introduction of the Inspiring Alumni in 2009. As past Principal Philip Morison said, “If we can help our students to dream, give them the tools to achieve their dreams and inspire them with examples of success, then we are going a long way towards fulfilling our role as educators.”
Since 2009 the College has inducted fifty-one St Ann’s, CBC and Emmanuel Alumni into the Inspiring Alumni from a broad range of endeavours - people who have fulfilled one of Emmanuel’s guiding principles of ”serving and acting with compassion and justice as members of Church, local and global communities.”
As we approach 2022 and the celebration of 150 years of education on this site, it will be even more important to reflect on the stories and people who have made this community and some of the amazing things our students have gone on to achieve. During times of great change for the College it is important to take time to reflect on where we have come from, how we have changed and developed and where we are going.
In 2022, our sesquicentennial year, we will again be calling on our community to make nominations for the next intake of Inspiring Alumni and Young Alumni Achievers - the fires that will ignite other fires.
Photo courtesy of Warrnambool's Lighthouse Theatre
Amidst the bushfire crisis of 2020, Garry’s work managing Warrnambool’s Telstra Store saw him dealing face to face with those in our community who had been directly impacted. On sharing these experiences with his friend and classmate, Tom, the pair came up with an idea over lunch in the hope of making a difference.
Motivated by the fear of it being just another idea that got “left at the table” they decided to act at once. Within 19 days, the boys had organised and staged a huge community music event - Coast Aid.
While the boys had never organised anything of this scale before, they quickly learned that asking questions leads to answers. Momentum built quickly, and before long they had all the permits, musicians, sponsors, and food vans in order. The community of Warrnambool turned up in droves on the day and raised an incredible $16,512.85 for the bushfire relief appeal.
The event was recognised on Australia Day by the Warrnambool City Council for Community Event of the Year.
Meleita is the Senior Prosthetist and Orthotist at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. She has a degree in Biomedical Science from Melbourne University and a Masters in Prosthetics & Orthotics from LaTrobe University. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Health Administration.
Meleita has held various volunteer roles in the profession including a Board member of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics Australian National Member Society and the Australian Orthotic & Prosthetic Association’s Congress Committee.
More recently Meleita’s expertise has found her on many occasions a guest lecturer and assessor for LaTrobe University’s Prosthetic & Orthotic course. She is also collaborating with Melbourne University on various 3D printing/manufacturing projects. Most notably she is working on a project set to improve outcomes for patients with facial burns; and another working on the development of a myoelectric prosthetic hand for children.
Meleita thrives on the relationships she builds with her patients and families, and enabling children to reach their potential through prosthetics.
Soon after finishing school Daniel was following his dreams when drafted to the Sydney Swans AFL Football Club. However after three years with the club, he was delisted due to numerous injuries. This led him back to Victoria in the hope of making the list at Geelong, but sadly injuries led him to retire at the age of 22.
Following a brief stint as a PGA Professional Golf Trainee a new passion and pathway opened for Daniel - a career in coaching. This newfound drive saw Daniel take on any opportunity to coach he could find, and his first serious coaching position as Senior Coach at West Geelong FC. This then led to a role with the Geelong Falcons, and in his first year saw the team win the premiership, breaking a 17-year drought.
From the Falcons Daniel has gone on to be the VFL Assistant Coach with the Geelong Cats, the Development Coach with the Carlton Blues FC, and most recently the Head Coach of the Carlton Reserves. As Carlton separated from its alignment with the Northern Bullants, Daniel’s role involved establishing a VFL program for the team from scratch. Now comprising a strong playing list of 28, and over 20 staff, Carlton has a great reserves program that is already filtering ready-made players into the AFL.
Stephanie is a commercial fashion photographer based in Paris - one of the world’s major fashion centres. Using her experience and connections, Stephanie has created a platform to bring up-and-coming Australian and New Zealand designers into the highly competitive fashion scene in France - via a publication called Peachy Keen Magazine. Printed in French and English, the magazine aspires to promote the geographically distant designers with strong ethical and sustainability values.
Prior to publishing Peachy Keen, Stephanie attained her Professional Photography Diploma through Parisian photography institute, Speos. From there she has worked in both Paris and Montreal as a freelance photographer for European and North American designers and magazines, including cosmetics giant L’Oreal.
Stephanie always returns to Emmanuel College during her trips to Warrnambool and shares her experiences and technical knowledge with our studio arts students. On her last visit in 2019, she gave a masterclass to aspiring senior photography students.
Stephanie is currently studying for her Bachelor in Early Childhood Development through Deakin University.
James is a videographer whose passion for film has jettisoned into a business now attracting national clients. James’ degree in Commerce majoring in Marketing & Management from ACU, has unintentionally supported the transformation of his hobby into a business with national reach.
His big break came with an opportunity to work for Aerial Vision Services (AVS) in Melbourne. With AVS he shot drone footage for big clients, such as Racing Victoria, long running television series Neighbours, and Australian soccer A-league team Melbourne United. This work led him to an internship with global firm, TLA Worldwide.
At only 24 years of age, James is now working for himself from his home base in Warrnambool, completing work for key local clients, like South West TAFE, and Emmanuel College. However his portfolio extends to a national level, working with major clients, such as Woolworths and Music Victoria (a project initiated by Mushroom and Michael Gudinski).
James is also an active volunteer on the Board of the Warrnambool Surf Life- Saving Club, directing their marketing and communication needs.
Dylan has built a multi-million-dollar business from the ground up, with nothing more than a can-do attitude. At age 24 Dylan decided to change paths away from the sports marketing industry, with the goal of being his own boss.
Starting with a little research to identify a gap in the market he could break into with limited funds and experience, Dylan began Clarke Clean. It was named after his Nan, as a homage to her unwavering support.
Establishing the business with only a website, vacuum and mop, he put his hand up for any job he came across - all while still working full time. In some cases, he would be teaching himself how to complete the task via YouTube videos on his way to the job. This dedication saw Clarke Clean become self-sustaining within six months. Now one of the biggest in Ballarat, it is contracted to clean Council venues and events, independent stadiums and sporting grounds, local businesses, and festivals throughout Victoria. Today the expansion continues.
The Leadership Ballarat Western Region program awarded Dylan a scholarship in 2017. This 12-month community leadership program involved working with local government, including focus group time in Canberra with then Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten.
In 2019 Dylan was an ambassador for the Ballarat Foundation’s highly successful Dancing with Our Stars fundraiser. This involved 12 weeks of full-time dance training, with the initiative collectively raising over $112,000.
More recently, Dylan’s early passion for the fitness industry has reignited, driving him to open his second business, a gym – The Underground.
Dylan Lesock - Class of 2008
Meleita Crimmin (Finnigan) - Class of 2004
Daniel O'Keefe - Class of 2006
James Kol - Class of 2016
Stephanie Thiberge (Reid) - Class of 2008
Tom O'Connor & Garry Roberts - Class of 2012
