Bernie's Bulletin

2026 Event Calendar  Bold = updated events

This week’s featured old collegian is quite accustomed to the spotlight, having performed on stage all over the world! 

Mark Phillips (Class of 2005) is an accomplished classical and jazz musician, specializing in the saxophone and clarinet. Mark’s talent for music was on show at St Bernard’s, where he was a member of the Senior Band and the orchestra for three school musicals. Even while at school, Mark was sowing the seeds for a professional career, as he worked as a music teacher and played saxophone at local events and festivals (all before finishing Year 12).

His journey took him from the music rooms at the College to the thriving jazz scene in New York City, undertaking classical training at the University of Melbourne along the way. Mark now resides in NYC, honing his jazz skills by studying with the best of the best. 

He is best known as a founding member of The Queen’s Cartoonists, an ensemble performing virtuosic (and often comedic) jazz arrangements synchronized to classic cartoons and animation. The band have performed in over 40 US states, opened for the NY Philharmonic Orchestra, featured in over 50 publications and played at famous venues in the US, Scotland and Germany.

From the school’s auditorium to sold out shows in New York City—well done Mark, and we can’t wait to see what you do next!

If you know any old collegians who have been successful lately, let us know at development@sbc.vic.edu.au - we'd love to celebrate them!

St Bernard’s College warmly invites parents and alumni working in the Construction, Property and Trade sectors to an exclusive free networking evening.

This event also offers a valuable opportunity for our Young Alumni who are studying or aspiring to careers in these fields to learn and engage with experienced industry professionals, fostering mentorship and career insights. Join us for drinks, canapés, and meaningful conversation with like-minded professionals in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

This is a complimentary event, featuring an amazing panel of local industry leaders - come along and gain some valuable insights!

Book Now: https://www.trybooking.com/DMGQH

Panelists:

Fonda Zahopoulos
Director - Connect PM

A seasoned professional with a proven track record in delivering high-quality construction projects.

Loris Rebeschini
Associate- Chandler Architecture

An architectural leader recognised for his communication, technical capability, and expertise in educational design.

Fiona Grogan
Regional Asset Manager - IMF

With 30+ years in investment and asset management roles, Fiona has extensive experience in delivering strong returns and long-term value across the Australian and international property sectors.

Teo Torrelli
Director & Senior Mortgage Broker - MKS Lending

A Mortgage Broker since 1985, Teo has assisted over 3,000 clients by arranging the right loan to suit their purposes.

Michael Stavrou
Director and Co-Owner at ZELO Group

Zelo Group is an accredited and award-winning industry leader with over 20 years of experience in creating Smart homes, Smart spaces, and popular venues, founded by an old collegian of St Bernard's.

We invite all our old collegians to join Alumnly, our social platform helping our old collegians to connect and grow.

Whether you're browsing through photos from cherished moments, exploring or posting job opportunities, staying updated on upcoming events, or curious to know where your old classmates are now, our platform is here to cater to your needs. You can also share your own achievements and stories, fostering deeper connections within our vibrant community.

It has been great to see lots of sign-ups already and Old Boys have begun networking, updating their profiles and reminiscing with photos from back in the day.

Congratulations to old collegian and past teacher Hayden Kennedy (Class of 1983) who was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame this week!

Debuting in 1988, Hayden quickly became one of the AFL’s most respected umpires. He was trusted to umpire 5 grand finals and a further 34 finals over the journey, and retired in 2011 after 495 AFL games, a record not broken until 2019. He went on to become the AFL’s umpires coach from 2013 to 2021, training the next generation of elite umpires.

For much of his career Hayden also held a long-serving teaching role at St Bernard’s, and worked with the EDFL to lead an umpiring academy program at the school. He has been a supportive and empowering mentor and coach for many in our community.

A prestigious and deserved recognition—well done Hayden!

This may come as a shock, but in 2002, St Bernard's was breached by a hated enemy—the Collingwood Football Club!

This extract from the Moonee Valley newspaper details how some of the Pies players visited our Year 8 students, speaking to them about issues such as peer pressure and high-risk behaviour, and together discussing strategies to cope and thrive. Thankfully they were promoting such a good cause, otherwise it's doubtful they would even be let in!

Pictured left is current Carlton interim coach Josh Fraser, and to the right is James Podsiadly, who went on to be a premiership player at Geelong.

Honouring our esteemed old collegians is deeply important to the College. If you wish to submit Vale notices for inclusion in The Strand magazine, please send them via email to development@sbc.vic.edu.au. Your contributions allow us to respectfully remember and celebrate the remarkable individuals who have been part of our community and have sadly passed away since our last publication.

We are now in the publishing process of the June 2026 edition of The Strand - thank you to all who have submitted a Vale notice. From now on, Vale notices submitted will be acknowledged in the next edition of the Strand in Term 4 of 2026.

We greatly appreciate your support in helping us honour their memories.