College Dux Ricky Ivelja

Although many successes may seem individual, there are always many people that have guided and helped behind the scenes. I am most grateful for all these people as they have put in time, effort and made sacrifices for me, especially my family, teachers and mates. I cannot begin to thank my parents enough, making sacrifices to send me to such a great school, to give me the best opportunity to be happy and to succeed. My teachers were not only excellent in teaching me the required content but also were role models and sharers of life lessons beyond school. As a student you really find this as you progress through senior school.

I think the greatest memories you form from school happen when teachers and students are just able to be themselves and step out of any façade. In the classroom my greatest memory will be that of my Year 10 maths class. It was just an awesome group of kids with a great teacher that had such a good environment. I also especially cherish the memories of ‘Adventure Race’ in Year 9. It was just a time where students and teachers, regardless of how close friends you were, would just enjoy the outdoors together.

During Year 12, there were times where I felt like just taking a step back and doing less work, however I found motivation in having a ‘no regrets’ mindset. I would think to the future of how I would come to regret doing less. I would think of how I would regret potentially jeopardising five years of high school work. Secondly, you hear a lot of people in all aspects of life saying how different things would be “if they had done this” or “if they had done that”, and I didn’t want that to be me.

I found that the most important part of life, in and out of school is balance. Most people understand the importance of balance, however fail to realise that it is subjective for an individual. Rather than seeking what is best for them, people often seek a fixed, optimal amount of time studying, or training etc. I found this for myself at the start of the Year 12. I would go to the library every lunchtime to study, spending little time with my mates. However, I was already putting in enough time, and ultimately realised whilst having a good score holds importance for a year, having mates to support you and share happiness holds importance throughout a lifetime. And I believe my decision to spend lunchtimes with my mates and finding a balance benefitted me so much more than study could have. However, this is not a ticket to do less work, some people may need to spend more time studying, hence the subjective nature. At Joey’s we’re all so privileged, so just try to make the most of all facets of school life, to have a balanced, happy lifestyle.

Ricky Ivelja

Where are they now?

Alex Cochrane (SJOC 2015)

What a privilege it is to be able to write about my son, Alex Cochrane’s time at St Joseph’s College for the Ad Alta Virtute. Alex is a great young man who loves his family, friends, his dog and his work. He is a hard worker and respectful and will do anything for those he cares about.

After graduating from St Joseph’s, Alex completed a Work Education Course at the Gordon, which gave him a chance to experience many facets of trade. He always loved gardening with his family here and in the UK and after work experience with Shaun McDonald in landscaping, realised this was the path for him. In the next two years, Alex completed a Certificate II in Horticulture and then Landscaping at the Gordon. However, it is St Joseph’s that had such a positive impact on the man Alex is today and as a mum, I am truly grateful.

From a young age, Alex had needed a significant amount of support with life and learning. We moved from the UK to Geelong when Alex was ten years old. He began schooling at St Patrick’s Primary where he was very well supported. As Grade Six was nearing its end, the move to St Joseph’s was daunting. We met Mark Turner, Special Needs Coordinator at Joeys, who immediately initiated transition programs to help with the move.

Damian Harrington, was Alex’s Year 7 Homeroom teacher, who was brilliant for him in his first year at St Joseph’s. Alex was fortunate to be also paired with Education Support Officer, Ange Wilson. This was an invaluable friendship that lasted his whole journey at Joeys. He was very well supported by many of the fantastic Learning Aides over the years including, Raelene, Kim and Lisa. Alex also knew he could hang out in the Special Ed area room anytime he needed at recess or lunch and from all accounts, would often pop in for a chat!

Mark coordinated Alex’s schooling for six years. He was Alex’s friend and mentor who supported him in every way and motivated him to work hard. Mark together with Year Level Leaders such as Andrew Scaddan, ensured that adjustments were made so that Alex could engage in his learning and feel success. The Special Education Unit helped Alex in all areas of his life, both socially and academically.

During Alex’s time at Joey’s, he had many fantastic teachers and although it is a big school, he felt comfortable knowing he had teachers he could trust and go to if he needed. There are too many to mention, but to Alex’s teachers that supported him with friendship and guidance, please know that your kindness, compassion and good teaching, is remembered and appreciated.

Alex is now 22 and along with mowing and landscaping labouring jobs, now works at Barwon Valley Golf Club on grounds maintenance. He works with Colin Foster and another ex-Joey’s boy, Ben Casanelia, Manager of the club. He is very lucky to be part of such a great team and is loving his new endeavours.

St Joseph’s helps boys to become good people, not just good students. Respect for individuality and inclusivity were always paramount. We are forever grateful that Alex was able to go to such a fantastic school where he was given the support he needed to reach his full potential. He was able to venture into the world with life skills, confidence and friends. I guess that’s all a mum wants for their son.

Ange Loftus

Where are they now?

Simon Bryant (SJOC 1994)

Its hard to believe that this year represents 25 years since I have graduated from St Joeys. Upon reflection and having lived a considerable portion of my life, travelling, working and experiencing a great many things, there is or was ever, no better place to go to school than St Joeys. It kind of sounds a bit cliché when you read these reflective articles about past students that only ever get asked to write them because they were highly decorated College Captains that have been titans of industry that would burst into flames before they ever said a bad word about Joeys, but it’s true… St Joeys is a special place that shaped who I am today. As a 25th year graduate, father of three (Maggie, Albie & Duke) and husband to Carly (a Sacred Heart graduate) – it couldn’t ring truer that St Joeys school is still a part of my life and will be for ever.

As was a path commonly travelled amongst my peers, I graduated in 1994 and successfully enrolled at Deakin Commerce where I studied for 5 years to receive my degree and work for my father at his accounting firm in Geelong. I think deep down I knew that sitting behind a desk would drive me mad, but I was savvy enough to know that tertiary education and professional experience would serve me well in my future. That job certainly didn’t set my world on fire but upon reflection I will be eternally grateful to my Dad for providing some structure and experience that would hold me in good stead for life.

So off to London it was, packed my bags and decided a working holiday was the way to go for the next couple of years anyway. I landed a semi-useless gig in the U.K. to pay the bills and travelled around Europe experiencing life with friends the way only an adventurous 25 year old could. Getting a bit tired of the long London winters I found myself drawn to the sandy beaches and highly lucrative, rich and famous lifestyle of private motor yachting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Running private mega yachts was something of a learning curve for myself an accounting graduate, but it was a rare time in my journey where life was lived to the fullest and, boy oh boy, if those walls could talk… but those files are sealed. Needless to say, I burned the candle at both ends but upon reflection it was surrounding myself with some pretty astoundingly successful people (mega yacht owners) that gained me some valuable life knowledge and experience.

Finally getting all the above out of my system it was time to finally come home and get serious about my life and future. It was not long after returning I was fortunate enough to discover the love of my life Carly – a former Sacred Heart student – the irony of travelling the globe and marrying someone from your sister school was both blinding and a blessing. It was then when we decided to embark on our hospitality journey where an opportunity to open a café arose in an extremely high-profile building that my father Greg was building in central Geelong. Realising that I need a footing in the industry that I was surely destined to conquer, I bought a little-known florist coffee shop in Highton and thus created my business 63 Degrees. The name was all about the perfect coffee temperature and it was a hit. Being super busy and ambitious, we decided to acquire another site in Pakington Street which in time, as the largest site, would act as head quarters for our entire operation. Soon then the Harrison Place building was opened and the third 63 Degrees was launched. During this time, we had three children so just to make things a little more hectic we launched a fourth venture at Cotton On HQ – Fuel Café that is still in operation but we are no longer associated with, but again some corporate association with a global company – invaluable. We now cater some high-profile events like ‘Bells – Pro Surfing’ at which Joeys had a Year 10 competing against a legend Kelly Slater.

With all this happening, kids, work and life it became apparent that there was a gap in the market of catering for private function, weddings, birthdays and special events that was not being fulfilled; cocktails. So, we (my wife Carly) then developed a mobile boutique cocktail bar ‘Sip Sip’ which we now take with us to major catering events, set up and serve customised cocktails for fun. Its fair to say it’s a been wildly popular concept and lucrative addition to the business.

Since then as a local business owner I have learned a few lessons that have served me well. The most important is you can work yourself into the ground, but nothing can replace time with family. Having a family and its trials and tribulations has allowed me to pair back my professional ambition and narrowed my focus on what matters. Having a special needs son Albie with autism has allowed me to realign my priorities and focus on his and our other children’s futures. Its difficult to express the level of commitment and responsibility required to parent our beautiful son Albie through his life so far. Having a child with autism changes your life forever immeasurably and it turned our world as we knew it upside down, but we believe he is a blessing every day. I think as a Dad, St Joeys has prepared me for the challenges that life has presented so far and I can’t express the feeling of security I get from knowing that Albie will one day attend the same school I did, and will thrive as I did as a Joeys boy.

So, my advice is this, if you want to be rich – work your butt off. If you want to be happy – do something you love every day. The greatest commodity in life is time –you can never get it back, so spend it doing something meaningful with it and your life – with the people you love.