"With that one step you make forward, you are changing a child's life."

These were the words passionately spoken by our special guest and Director of the Ruben Centre Liz Mwangi, as our College gathered to celebrate the feast day of Blessed Edmund Rice and our students prepared for our annual Solidarity Walk.

Liz's words encouraged us to reflect deeply on the purpose of our walk and the power of our community to make an impact, even halfway across the world. She was joined by two other special guests in Br Frank O'Shea and Simon Gregory from the Edmund Rice Foundation, and we were incredibly lucky to welcome them to our community.

After a Mass beautifully led by Fr Bernie Lane, Liz's inspiring address and a cheer of 'Sawubona!', our students were off, embarking on the Solidarity Walk in bright autumn sunshine. Upon returning to school, the afternoon was filled with engaging activities that fostered a sense of camaraderie and joy among students and staff alike. The traditional pink donuts could be spotted everywhere you looked, and 'Eddies Op Shop' saw a steady flow of customers. 

We extend our gratitude to Fr Bernie Lane for celebrating our Mass, to our special guests from the Ruben Centre and Edmund Rice Foundation, our wonderful vendors and sponsors, and our amazing staff, who worked hard to deliver a fantastic event. And finally, to our students and our community—your participation and support made this day truly special. 

Sawubona, Kenya. We see you, and we are honoured to walk with you.

We've kicked off the season, going 3-0 with a magnificent 14-point victory over St Bedes, finishing 8.5 (53 points) to their 4.15 (39 points) in a sensational away game! Sam Ford was immense early with 1 goal and 4 marks in the opening quarter, while Jacques Mirenda showcased his midfield prowess with 5 powerful tackles in Q2 and 4 crucial clearances in Q3. Our ability to control the aerial game, highlighted by an impressive 57 total marks, was a key factor in securing the valuable four points. This commanding performance sets a fantastic tone for the rest of our campaign.

St Bernards College exploded out of the blocks in the first quarter, quickly slotting 4 goals and taking a commanding 20-point lead by the first break. The side then maintained its intensity through a hard-fought second term, impressively holding St Bedes scoreless despite their efforts. We battled hard against increasing pressure from the home team, adding another vital goal to our tally.

By half-time, the team had effectively extended its buffer to a healthy 21 points, leading 11-32. The third quarter saw St Bernards College push even further ahead, building on our strong foundation to lead by a significant 26 points at the final change. Although St Bedes rallied with renewed vigour in the last quarter, the team showcased incredible resilience to withstand their challenge and maintain control.

Josh Rawson stepped up magnificently in the tense final term, gathering 4 crucial marks to help repel repeated attacks. We held firm under immense pressure, ensuring the hard-earned victory was ours despite a late run from our opponent. The final siren confirmed an outstanding performance from the boys, with St Bernards College triumphing 53 points to 39 points after a relentless four-quarter effort. We must continue to build on this fantastic early season form and maintain our strong aerial presence as we look ahead to next week's challenge.

On Friday 1 May, the St Bernard’s College Foundation celebrated its 2026 Gala Dinner at Hyatt Place Essendon Fields, where we proudly inducted three distinguished alumni into the St Bernard’s College Hall of Fame:

⚙️ Mr Pat McCluskey (Class of 1964)

Co-founder of ANCA, a global leader in CNC tool manufacturing, Pat’s pioneering contributions to Australian engineering have been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia. Pat’s passion for the field and belief in supporting the next generation were evident in his address to our assembled guests, and we will forever be thankful to him for establishing the upcoming Pat McCluskey Scholarship to help our graduating students secure engineering degrees.

🦷 Dr Alf Nastri (Class of 1985)

A highly respected oral and maxillofacial surgeon and Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, Alf is known as much for his kindness and friendly nature as he is for his skills and experience. Alf’s heartfelt speech showed his unwavering commitment to his patients, and our community holds him in high regard.

👔 Mr Michael Valastro (Class of 2020)

The recipient of our second Rising Star award, Michael is a driven young entrepreneur and already a founder of two fashion brands—and his career is just getting started. Launching apparel brand ELITE N TITLED from his family home, Michael’s team now spans across Australia and internationally, and he has now launched a jewellery line, Valvero.

Hosted by Hall of Fame member Simon Madden, the evening featured remarks from College Principal Dr Michael Davies, Director of Community Relations Vincent McGuire (representing the Foundation), our College Captain Sam, and SBOCA President Jasper Brettell. Our 2026 captains represented our school wonderfully, and our talented Jazz Band entertained our guests throughout. 🎶🎷

The night concluded with an auction expertly run by our friends at McDonald Upton Real Estate, and a lively raffle, all raising funds to help the Foundation continue their work.

Thank you to our sponsors MNG Lawyers, MKS Group, BMW Essendon, McDonald Upton Real Estate, MKS Lending and Scotchmans Hill, and to all who attended and made this event a joyful and inspiring celebration of our old collegians and community! 🌟

The College continued its support for the 500 Supporters' Group during their annual AFL-themed fundraising lunch at the MCG last Wednesday.

In attendance were our student leaders, Principal Dr Michael Davies, our Assistant Principal Mr Smith and our Dean of Identity Mr Tinsey, who had the privilege of hearing from three footballing champions—former players and premiership captains Trent Cotchin (Richmond) and Joel Selwood (Geelong), and current AFLW star Monique Conti (Richmond). They were joined by esteemed AFL reporter Jay Clark, who offered great insights on season 2026.

The event successfully raised essential funds for the Ruben Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, which provides primary healthcare, education, and social support to those in need. It was an honour to welcome Director of the Ruben Centre Liz Mwangi, as she delivered a heartfelt address about the centre’s impact on local communities.

Well done to the 500 Supporters' Group—we are humbled to play a small part in your amazing work and look forward to continuing our support.