Bernie's Bulletin

2026 Event Calendar

Bold = updated events

This week we're highlighting another of our 2026 Hall of Fame inductees: Associate Professor Alf Nastri.

Alf is a highly respected oral and maxillofacial surgeon whose career is marked by continued excellence and a passion for guiding the next generation. 

Graduating first in both Dentistry and Medicine from the University of Melbourne, Alf completed four years of specialist training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He further refined his expertise through prestigious international fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University and in Southampton, England, specialising in craniofacial, corrective jaw and skull base surgery.

Since 1999, Alf has been in private specialist practice in Melbourne and currently serves as Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. As a professor at the University of Melbourne, he is highly regarded for his commitment to teaching and mentoring future surgeons.

An amazingly accomplished Old Collegian who continues to impress!

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!

You are cordially invited to the St Bernard's College Foundation Hall of Fame Gala Dinner, an evening of fine dining, celebration, and reminiscing in the Atrium at Hyatt Place Essendon Fields.

This year we have the pleasure of inducting two exceptional nominees into our Hall of Fame who have achieved excellence in their chosen fields:

Pat McCluskey (Class of 1964) (co-founder of ANCA) - Honouring a distinguished career in engineering, and global leadership in innovation and advanced manufacturing in CNC grinding technology.

Associate Professor Alf Nastri (Class of 1985) (Royal Melbourne Hospital) - For excellence in Dentistry and Medicine (Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon) and commitment to teaching future generations.

The Rising Star Award is recognising exceptional talent and leadership potential for those between the age of 25 to 35.

The 2026 Rising Star Award recipient is Michael Valastro (Class of 2020) (Elite N Titled and Valvero) for entrepreneurial excellence in Activewear, Fashion Design and Jewellery Design.

Friday, 1 May, 2026

6:30 pm arrival

Hyatt Place, 1 English St, Essendon Fields

$170 per person, $300 for couples

(Current Hall of Fame members may book a complimentary ticket)

2-course meal and drinks included

Exclusive discounts for attendees to book a stay at Hyatt Place - use event codes BQST (room only) or BQTB (bed & breakfast) when booking.

Book your tickets now: https://www.trybooking.com/DKSXB

Don't miss this premier event celebrating the best of our school community! Proceeds from the evening help the Foundation assist the College with various scholarships. 

We're pleased to launch a new Instagram page especially for old boys: @stbernardsoldcollegians.

As with our Facebook page, we will feature news and updates, events and stories from across the generations — all showcasing our amazing alumni community.

Whether you finished at Bernard’s recently or many years ago, this new page is a great way to stay connected and see how our community continues to grow.

Follow Us

The College was honoured to welcome several of our 'Golden Years' alumni group and their families to our whole school Easter Liturgy on Thursday 2 April. 

Afterwards, the guests of honour enjoyed a morning tea in the Peter Hogan Boardroom, chatting with Dr Michael Davies and looking back on old photos from our archives.

Thank you to all who attended and we look forward to our next Golden Years reunion on Friday 21 August!

Congratulations to the St Bernard's ACC golf team for winning the Division 1 Championship at the ACC Open Golf Tournament in Term 1!🏆⛳

After three years of hard work behind the scenes developing the Golf Academy under Greg McConnell, the boys were ready for a big day. On a hot and sunny day at Northern Golf Club, our students kept their cool and won the title with a great effort across the board.

Coaches Mr Vivian and Mr Gale had high hopes for the group they had selected, and the boys entered the day with plenty of confidence. As a result of the win, the team has now qualified for the State Championships in May at Lonsdale Links.

Congratulations to Year 12 student Jai, who has also qualified for the Individual State Championships following his outstanding score of 69 (-3).

To our entire College community - THANK YOU!

We hoped to reach a fundraising goal of $5000 - and you more than doubled that goal, with the current total standing at $11,169. 

This is a huge contribution towards vital blood cancer research, and will make a tangible difference to affected families and the healthcare workers supporting them.

Over 20 of our students and staff 'braved the shave', as they shaved, cut or dyed their hair in support of the Leukaemia Foundation. It was amazing to see plenty of our students and staff gathering on the O'Brien Forecourt to cheer our team on—making for a truly joyful and meaningful event.

Special congratulations must go to our College Captains and student leaders, who were instrumental in organising the day, kept the vibes high, and did a power of fundraising work in the lead-up.

We look forward to future editions of the World's Greatest Shave!

This week we went all the way back to 1948 for a photo of the College's inaugural Ladies Auxiliary, a volunteer group that has supported the school in countless ways over the years. From event planning and management, to fundraising for scholarships and financial assistance, the Auxiliary are a vital part of our history.

The Ladies Auxiliary has evolved and developed over time, and our Welcoming Community Group now continues the tradition. Some of our best events wouldn't be possible without the work of these fantastic volunteers, including the Mother's Day Breakfast, Year 7 Special Persons Day, Ladies Night and the annual welcome brunch for new families.

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.

Vale notices submitted will be acknowledged in the next edition of the Strand in Term 2 of 2026.

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