Cream of the crop: Celebrating South Australian private schools’ most famous alumni
Where did some of South Australia’s most famous faces get their start in life? Check out part one of our private schools’ most celebrated alumni.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There’s nothing more ‘Adelaide’ than being asked where you went to school.
It’s a question we’ve all faced, but no doubt one that those who have gone on to fame and fortune hear more than the rest of us.
So where did our state’s famous faces — our sporting heroes, entertainment icons and political leaders — get their start in school footy sides, musical casts and debating teams?
The Advertiser enlisted the help of the Education Department and private schools to hit their archives and find out.
We’ve compiled hundreds of names you’re likely to recognise from 20 high-profile private schools. We’ll feature more schools and more amazing South Australians in future instalments in this series.
Schools that have been around a long time, such as St Peter’s College and Prince Alfred College, have truly impressive lists.
But some younger ones have also produced formidable tallies of famous faces.
Culling the submissions schools made was also a challenge, as many put forward amazing achievers in an array of fields, but who aren’t household names. That will be a list for another day.
Delve into the list and see if your old school is featured and which famous faces, contemporary and historic, might have sat in the same classroom or played on the same oval as you did.
**Year in brackets indicates either exact year of graduation or last known record of attendance.
ST PETER’S COLLEGE
Baron Howard Florey OM FRS (1916)
Pharmacologist and pathologist Howard Florey won a Nobel prize in 1945 with Sir Ernst Chain and Sir Alexander Fleming for his role in the development of penicillin.
Sir William Lawrence Bragg CH OBE MC FRS (1905)
William Lawrence Bragg was joint winner with his father, William Henry Bragg, of the Nobel Prize in physics in 1915. He is the youngest Nobel laureate in physics, having received the award at the age of 25.
Sir Edward (Bill) Hayward (1922)
While Bill Hayward was chair and managing director of John Martin’s, he initiated the Christmas Pageant in 1933. His former residence, Carrick Hill, is a well-known museum.
Don Dunstan AC QC (1943)
Arguably SA’s most beloved and progressive political leader, Don Dunstan was Labor premier from 1967-68 and again from 1970-1979.
John Bannon (1961)
John Bannon was Labor premier from 1982-92. As a result of the State Bank collapse, he resigned as premier in 1992, and from Parliament at the 1993 election landslide.
Arthur Blackburn VC CMG CBE (1909)
Arthur Blackburn served with distinction during World War I. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at the Battle of Pozieres in France in 1916. He also served in World War II and ran a successful legal practice in Adelaide.
Andy Thomas AO (1968)
South Australia’s only astronaut, and the first Australian-born professional astronaut to enter space, Dr Andy Thomas made several space flights and worked on both the Mir Space Station and the International Space Station.
Scott Hicks (1969)
Film director and screenwriter Scott Hicks is best known for Shine, the Oscar-winning biopic of pianist David Helfgott.
Keith Conlon OAM (1962)
Media personality Keith Conlon was a breakfast radio host on 5AA and hosted Postcards on Channel 9. He chairs the Crows Foundation for Children in Need.
Gillon McLachlan (1990)
Gillon McLachlan is CEO of the AFL. His brother Hamish, who graduated in 1992, is a well-known sports commentator.
Tom Harley (1995)
Tom Harley is a two-time AFL premiership-winning captain with Geelong. He is currently the CEO of the Sydney Swans and ambassador for anti-violence program Just Think.
Phil Davis (2008)
Phil Davis is the captain of the Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL side after beginning his career with the Adelaide Crows.
Lachie Neale (2010)
Lachlan Neale plays for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL and is one of the favourites for the Brownlow Medal this year.
Grant Burge (1968)
Grant Burge is a fifth-generation Barossa vigneron and winemaker who established Grant Burge Wines.
Dr John Robin Warren AC (1954)
Pathologist Dr John Robin Warren Robin proved that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is the infectious cause of stomach ulcers. With research partner Barry J. Marshall he won a Nobel Prize in 2005 for his work.
WILDERNESS SCHOOL
Annabel Crabb (1989)
Annabel Crabb is the ABC’s chief political writer and presenter of Back in Time for Dinner, The House and the highly acclaimed Kitchen Cabinet series on ABC TV. She is also a regular contributor and presenter on Insiders and The Drum on ABC News on TV. Annabel has worked extensively in newspapers, radio and television. Her intelligent and insightful take on politics has made her one of Australia’s most popular media personalities. Annabel also creates a podcast with 7.30 host Leigh Sales, called Chat 10 Looks 3.
Isobel Bishop (2009)
Isobel Bishop made her Olympic debut in water polo at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She continues to play for the Aussie Stingers and recently competed in the FINA World Cup.
Fiona McCallum (1987)
Author Fiona McCallum has published 11 novels. She graduated from Deakin University with Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing). Her Leap of Faith was named on the Better Reading list of Australia’s Top 100 Favourite Books for 2015. Her most recent release is A Life Of Her Own.
Georgie Parker (2007)
A member of the Hockeyroos team that won silver in the 2014 Women’s Hockey World Cup, Georgie Parker was a gold medal winner at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a member of 2016 Olympics team. She went on to play in the AFLW for Collingwood. She also works in media.
Taylor Pfeiffer (2017)
A 2018 Toyota Star Maker Top 10 Finalist, Taylor Pfeiffer is a singer/songwriter, banjoist, guitarist and yodeller. She has gained airplay on Triple J and screentime on national Australian television shows Spicks & Specks, Weekend Sunrise, The Voice, The Today Show, and Nashville’s Music City Roots aired in the US.
LORETO COLLEGE
Jessica Adamson (1989)
Jessica Adamson is a presenter and senior reporter for Channel 7 News Adelaide, covering many local, interstate and international news stories, including the Bali 9 drug trials and Beaconsfield Mine disaster. She is now the weekend presenter and is at times a foreign correspondent. Jessica is a Canteen ambassador and an experienced MC.
Marijana Rajcic (2006)
Marijana Rajcic is a premiership player with the AFLW-conquering Adelaide Crows and an All-Australian selection. She is also a former W-League Adelaide United soccer player and is a physical education teacher.
Louisa Mignone (2000)
Actress Louisa Mignone is currently featuring in a production of David Williamson’s The Club at Space Theatre. She has a starring role in the second series of Foxtel’s political thriller Secret City. She has also appeared on TV in Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries and will be seen in the upcoming telemovie Australian Gangster.
Helen McCabe (1985)
Helen McCabe was editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly for seven years before joining Channel 9 in 2016 as head of lifestyle, launching 9 Honey. She is now working on Channel 9’s subscription platform Future Women.
Amelia Mulcahy (2006)
Amelia Mulcahy presents the weather on Channel 7 on weeknights, as well as hosting fashion, sporting and lifestyle events around Adelaide. She is also heard on the Lewis and Lowe breakfast radio show on Nova and was one of the hosts of Hit107’s local weekend breakfast show Amelia, James and Hayesy on Saturday mornings in 2017.
TRINITY COLLEGE
Travis Head (2011)
Batsman Travis Head has been a sensation for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash and has played eight Tests for Australia for an average of 51. He was announced as Australia’s new Test vice-captain in January.
Ryan Harris (1997)
Fast bowler Ryan Harris claimed 113 Test wickets for Australia at an average of 23.52 — including a career best 7/117 against England in 2013 — and 44 ODI wickets at 18.9. He also played for South Australia, Queensland and Sussex.
Wes Carr (1999)
An international award-winning singer/songwriter, Wes Carr won the sixth season of Australian Idol in 2008, then signed a record deal with Sony. His debut single You reached number 1 on the ARIA singles chart and he has since released several albums, most recently Australiana. He has also performed under the name Buffalo Tales.
Wayne Milera (2015)
Wayne Milera was taken by the Adelaide Football Club with pick 11 in the 2015 national draft. He is also the recipient of the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award, recognising the achievements of a first or second-year player under-21 on and off the field.
Brad Symes (2002)
Brad Symes debuted for Port Adelaide in the AFL in 2004 and was traded to Adelaide in 2008. Career highlights included SANFL premierships with Central Districts in 2005 and 2007. In 2012 he was joint winner of the Magarey Medal.
Kristian Rees (1996)
Kristian Rees played in the NSL for Adelaide City and then for Adelaide United. He was a member of the Reds’ minor premiership winning squad of 2005/06 and was in its first Asian Champions League squad. He also played for Wellington Phoenix.
Glenn Docherty (2001)
Glenn Docherty was elected as Playford Council mayor in 2010 and has been re-elected twice. He contested the SA House of Assembly seat of Newland for the Liberal Party at the 2014 state election.
Paul Benz
Paralympian athlete Paul Benz won gold at the 2004 Athens Games in the Men’s 4 × 100m T35-38 event, and bronze in the 100m. He claimed numerous other medals at world championship level.
Tom Wilson (2004)
Tom Wilson is a regular anchor and presenter with Fox Sports News. He formerly was a reporter for Channel 7 in Adelaide.
WALFORD
Jennifer Cashmore AM (1952)
Jennifer Cashmore was elected to the SA House of Assembly in 1977 as Liberal MP for Coles. She was only the third woman to be elected to the Lower House. She became health and tourism minister and retired from politics at the 1993 election.
Hayley Worthington (nee Pearson) (1999)
Hayley Worthington has sustained a high-profile media career as an Adelaide radio star and writer and presenter of segments on The Project, Sunrise and The Morning Show. She now produces the Adelady magazine and TV show.
Jenna McCormick (2013)
Jenna McCormick debuted with Adelaide United in 2012 but switched from soccer to football and was a member of the Adelaide Crows’ 2019 premiership side.
Lindy Powell QC (1968)
Lindy Powell has worked on some of the state’s most controversial court cases. After becoming a barrister in 1991, she raised her profile quickly through the prosecution of accused war criminals, including the committal and trial of Ivan Polyukovich.
Pamela Dunsford (1968)
Trailblazing winemaker Pamela Dunsford was the first woman to be accepted into Roseworthy College to study oenology. She was a pioneer in the industry and smashed the glass ceiling for other women to follow as winemakers.
PEMBROKE SCHOOL
Natasha Stott Despoja AM (1986)
Natasha Stott Despoja served in the Senate for the Australian Democrats from 1995 to 2008. She was first elected at age 26, becoming the youngest woman to sit in Federal Parliament, and rose to lead her party. She was later Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls and founded anti-domestic violence organisation Our Watch.
Vickie Chapman (1974)
Bragg MP Vickie Chapman was first elected in 2002 and is now SA’s deputy premier and attorney-general in the Marshall government.
Wendy Schaeffer OAM (1991)
Wendy Schaeffer won Olympic gold in the equestrian team three-day event in Atlanta in 1996. She was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2002.
Andrew Sincock OAM (1969)
Fast bowler Andrew Sincock played for South Australia between 1974 and 1982. He later coached the Redbacks and at the AIS Cricket Academy.
Roger Rasheed (1985)
Roger Rasheed is best known for coaching Lleyton Hewitt, as well as several other world top 10 men’s tennis players. He is also a tennis commentator and founded the Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation.
Barnaby French (1992)
Barnaby French played 133 AFL games for Port Adelaide and Carlton from 1999 to 2006. He was a member of Sturt’s 2002 SANFL premiership side. He also represented Australia as a junior rower.
Justin Kurzel (1991)
Film director, screenwriter and composer Justin Kurzel’s feature debut was Snowtown in 2011, for which he won several international awards. His 2015 film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes. In 2016 he directed Assassin’s Creed.
Sam Dixon (1990)
Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer Sam Dixon has written and produced with artists including Adele, Sia, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, Paloma Faith and Jack Soveretti and he has played in the bands of Sia and Adele as a bass guitarist. He has won Grammy and APRA awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Fiona Crombie (1991)
Production and costume designer Fiona Crombie was this year nominated for an Academy Award for her work on The Favourite. She also worked on Top of the Lake (2013) and Macbeth (2015). Her many awards include a BAFTA.
Heather Croall (1983)
Heather Croall is an international festival director and documentary producer, best known for heading the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Basil Hetzel AC (1938 — King’s College, precursor to Pembroke)
Basil Hetzel was a medical researcher who made a major contribution to combating iodine deficiency, a major cause of goitre and cretinism worldwide. As a result of his work, many countries have now legislated that salt for human and animal consumption must be iodised.
ST JOHN’S GRAMMAR
Kassandra Clementi (2008)
Kassandra Clementi starred in Aussie TV shows Home and Away, Offspring and The Underbelly Files: Infiltration. She has since appeared in US shows and films including UnREAL, Becoming Bond and Single Ladies, among others.
Annette Edmondson (2009)
Olympic cyclist Annette Edmondson won gold medals in both the omnium and team pursuit at the 2015 Track World Championships in France. She won gold in the scratch race and silver in the individual pursuit at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She took Olympic bronze in the omnium in London in 2012.
Alex Edmondson (2011)
Annette’s brother Alex Edmondson won silver in the team pursuit at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In 2014 he was world champion in the individual pursuit. He also competed at the 2012 Olympics.
SEYMOUR COLLEGE
Poh Ling Yeow (1991)
Poh Long Yeow was runner-up in MasterChef in 2009. She then launched her own show Poh’s Kitchen in 2010. She has written cookbooks and is also a prolific artist.
Olivia Rogers (2009)
Olivia Rogers was Miss Universe Australia 2017. She has since been the face of advertising campaigns for several major brands. She is a qualified speech pathologist.
Georgina McGuiness (1985)
Georgina McGuiness presented Channel 9’s weekend Adelaide news bulletin from 1989 to 2011. She then became a political speech writer and adviser.
Nancy Cato AM (1934)
Nancy Cato wrote more than 20 books and was best known for All The Rivers Run trilogy, which was made into a TV miniseries in 1983.
Jane Claxton (2010)
Jane Claxton was part of the Hockeyroos side at the 2016 Olympics, two years after winning gold in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In 2018 she was named Hockeyroos player of the year.
Catherine Branson (1965)
Catherine Branson was the first woman to be the permanent head of an SA government department when she led the Attorney-General’s Department. She was also Crown Solicitor of SA, the first Australian woman to hold such a role. She was later a barrister, federal court judge and president of the Australian Human Rights Commission.
CABRA DOMINICAN COLLEGE
Jason Gillespie (1993)
Fast bowler Jason Gillespie played cricket for Australia for a decade, taking 259 wickets in 71 Tests at an average of 26.13. He also took 97 ODI wickets. His 201 not out against Bangladesh in a 2006 Test was the highest score ever made by a nightwatchman. As a coach he has led the Adelaide Strikers to Big Bash League glory.
Brodie Grundy (2011)
Ruckman Brodie Grundy has played more than 100 AFL games for Collingwood and was the club’s joint best and fairest in 2018, as well as being named the Herald Sun Player of the Year.
Abby Bishop (2006)
Abby Bishop won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2010 and won bronze with the Opals at the 2012 London Olympics. She has played for several WNBL clubs including Adelaide Lightning.
Kathryn Harby-Williams (1986)
Kathryn Harby-Williams captained the Australian netball team from 2000-2004 and represented her country 95 times over 12 years, winning two Commonwealth Games gold medals and two World Championships.
Fiona O’Loughlin (1980)
Acclaimed comedian and TV personality Fiona O’Loughlin was Queen of the Jungle in I’m a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here in 2018. She has also written a memoir.
Emily Taheny (1993)
Emily Taheny, Fiona O’Loughlin’s sister, is an actress and comedian known for regular spots on Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell. She has also appeared in Comedy Inc, The Chaser’s War on Everything, It’s a Date, Hamish and Andy’s True Stories, The Jesters, and feature film The Flip Side.
Robyn Layton (1961)
Dr Robyn Layton was the 2012 South Australian of the Year. She was the fourth woman appointed to the Supreme Court and a part of the first all-female Court of Criminal Appeal in SA. In 2002 she produced the enormous Layton Review into child protection.
Orianthi (Orianthi Penny Panagaris)
Musician Orianthi played guitar with Alice Cooper’s band and also worked with Michael Jackson. She has released three albums.
ST ALOYSIUS COLLEGE
Dame Roma Mitchell (1930)
Dame Roma Mitchell was Australia’s first female judge, QC, university chancellor and state governor. The pioneer for women’s rights was made a Supreme Court justice in 1965, Adelaide University chancellor in 1983 and governor of SA in 1991.
Julie Hamilton (1957)
Stage and screen actor Julie Hamilton appeared in films and TV shows such as The Place at the Coast, Packed to the Rafters, The Shiralee and Holy Smoke.
Patrice Newell (1974)
Model, TV presenter, broadcaster and author Patrice Newell had a high-profile career with SBS and Channel 9, for which she co-hosted Today. She switched to farming, wrote books about it, and became a sustainable agriculture advocate.
Sister Janet Mead (1954)
Sister Janet Mead is best known for recording a rock version of The Lord’s Prayer, that reached number three on the Australian Singles Chart in 1974 and number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, and earned her a Grammy nomination. She recorded three albums.
Kate Fitzpatrick (1964)
Stage and screen actor Kate Fitzpatrick played Magenta in the original Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show in 1974. She appeared in many movies and her TV credits include Something in the Air, Blue Heelers, Marshall Law, Always Greener, All Saints and Neighbours.
Emma Rebellato (1995)
Emma Rebellato is an ABC Adelaide television newsreader and journalist.
Justine Mules (2012)
Justine Mules was a member of the Adelaide Crows’ inaugural AFLW premiership team in 2017 and its 2019 premiership side.
PULTENEY GRAMMAR
John Gardner (1995)
Liberal MP John Gardner is SA’s education minister and has been the member for Morialta since 2010.
Stephen Mullighan (1995)
Labor MP Stephen Mullighan was transport and housing minister in the Weatherill government and remains the member for Lee, the seat he first won in 2014.
Ted Mullighan QC (1956)
Ted Mullighan was a Supreme Court judge who helmed the Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry, better known as the Mullighan Inquiry, delivering his report in 2008 revealing countless cases of abuse.
Bruce Abernethy (1979)
Bruce Abernethy won seven SANFL premierships with Port Adelaide and played more than 100 VFL/AFL games for North Melbourne, Collingwood and Adelaide. He went on to a TV career and was inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Michael Aish (1976)
Michael Aish is one of Norwood and the SANFL’s most celebrated players. He won premierships in 1982 and 1984, won the Magarey Medal in 1981, was four-time Norwood best and fairest, and named in Norwood’s team of the century. He was an All-Australian twice and resisted many offers from VFL clubs.
Lloyd Pope (2017)
SA cricketer Lloyd Pope took 7/87 in just his second Sheffield Shield game in October 2018. At age 18, he was the youngest ever to take a seven-wicket haul. He also debuted for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League last season.
Josh Francou (1991)
Josh Francou played 156 AFL games for Port Adelaide from 1997 to 2005 and claimed three Showdown Medals. He won the Magarey Medal playing for North Adelaide in 1996. He is now an assistant coach at the Adelaide Crows and has been a physical education teacher.
Jordan McMahon (2000)
Jordan McMahon began with SANFL club Glenelg before playing 148 AFL games for the Western Bulldogs and Richmond from 2001 to 2010.
Wade Ormsby (1997)
Wade Ormsby is a professional golfer who has played many seasons on the European Tour. He won the Hong Kong Open in 2017 and the Open India tournament in 2013.
Adrian Quist (1928)
Tennis great Adrian Quist was a three-time Australian Championships men’s singles champion in the 1930s and was ranked as high as third in the world. But he is primarily remembered as a doubles player. He won 10 consecutive Australian doubles titles. He held the record for the most Davis Cup wins by any Australian until Lleyton Hewitt surpassed it in 2010. Quist was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.
Gavin Thredgold (1978)
Rower Gavin Thredgold won Olympic bronze as part of the Australian men’s eight team in the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and bronze the previous year in the world championships.
Peter Dawson (1988)
Peter Dawson, bass baritone and songwriter, gained world renown through song recitals and best-selling recordings of arias, oratorio solos and ballads over almost 60 years. In 1984, Dawson was chosen by the Guinness Book of Recorded Sound as one of the top 10 singers on disc of all time.
Harold Thomas (1964)
Harold Thomas designed and copyrighted the Australian Aboriginal flag in 1971 as a symbol of the indigenous land rights movement. The flag was made an official Flag of Australia in 1995.
Jeffrey Smart AO (1936)
Jeffrey Smart was a painter known for his precisionist depictions of urban landscapes. A UniSA building is named after him. He spent much of his life in Italy.
Lewis Fitz-Gerald (1975)
Actor, director and screenwriter Lewis Fitz-Gerald has appeared on film and TV for decades. His credits include Pitch Black, Breaker Morant, The Flying Doctors, The Shiralee and Home Away.
ROSTREVOR COLLEGE
Paul Kelly OAM (1971)
Paul Kelly is one of Australia’s best known and loved singer/songwriters. He has recorded more than 23 albums in a career spanning more than 30 years. He was inducted into the Aria Hall of Fame in 1997.
David David AC (1958)
Professor David David is a world-renowned craniofacial surgeon who founded the Australian Craniofacial Uni and dedicated his working life to treating facial deformities and disfigurements, improving the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. He was the 2018 South Australian of the Year.
Ben Hart (1991)
Adelaide Crows champion Ben Hart won All-Australian selection in his first season in 1992. The dual premiership player was the first Crow to play 300 games and was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2016.
Paul Cronin (1956)
Paul Cronin played iconic roles in the Australian television series Matlock Police and The Sullivans. He won the Silver Logie five times for his role as Dave Sullivan in the long-running Australian soap opera.
Tom Jonas (2008)
Tom Jonas is co-captain of the Port Adelaide Power and has been part of the club’s leadership group since 2014. He has played more than 125 games.
Vincent Tarzia (2004)
Vincent Tarzia was appointed Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly in May 2018, becoming the youngest person to hold that office. He was elected as Hartley MP in 2014. He defeated Nick Xenophon at the 2018 poll to retain the seat.
Xavier Samuel (2001)
Xavier Samuel is an actor best known for his role as Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. He made his debut on the TV show McLeod’s Daughters in 2003 and starred in the Australian horror movie Road Train. More recently, he featured in Love and Friendship, A Few Best Men and The Death and Life of Otto Bloom.
Luke Darcy (1992)
Luke Darcy played more than 200 AFL games for the Western Bulldogs and is now a TV and radio commentator and media personality. He won the Bulldogs’ best and fairest award in 2001 and was made captain in 2005. In 2002 he was the first player to receive the AFL Players Association’s Most Valuable Player award, alongside Michael Voss.
Jonathon LaPaglia (1984)
Jonathon LaPaglia played the lead role in the Australian TV drama The Slap and appeared in the science fiction series Seven Days. More recently, LaPaglia hosted the revival of Australian Survivor. He was an emergency department doctor before following his brother, Anthony LaPaglia, into acting.
John Aloisi (1991)
John Aloisi’s professional soccer career spanned 20 seasons, 459 league games and 127 goals across Australia and Europe. He was a Socceroo for more than 10 years (55 caps), kicking 27 international goals, and played a key role in the 2006 World Cup campaign. His penalty kick against Uruguay, which secured Australia a place in that World Cup, was voted by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history.
CONCORDIA COLLEGE
Kayla Itsines (2008)
Fitness guru and entrepreneur Kayla Itsines created the Bikini Body Guides ebooks and the Sweat with Kayla app. She can earn $150,000 with a single Instagram post and together with partner Tobi Pearce, has a net worth of around $500 million.
James Aish (2013)
James Aish plays for Collingwood after starting his AFL career with Brisbane, who took him with pick seven in the 2013 AFL draft.
Peter Hooley (2009)
Peter Hooley was a member of Melbourne United’s 2017-18 NBL championship team. That followed a successful US college career with the Albany Great Danes.
Georgia, Ella and Clara Germein (2009, 2008, 2006)
Germein travel the world performing their unique brand of indie pop rock music. Georgia plays guitar/keys, Ella bass/electric cello, and Clara drums/percussion. They have opened shows for Phil Collins, Ronan Keating, Boyzone, and Little Mix.
Jeff Allis (1978)
Jeff Allis co-founded Boost Juice with his wife Janine in 2000. There are now more than 500 Boost Juice stores in 13 countries.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE
Stephan Knoll (2000)
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll was general manager at Barossa Fine Foods and chairman of Flavour SA before entering State Parliament. He has held the seat of Schubert since 2014.
Frank Walsh (1916)
Frank Walsh was the 34th premier of SA from March, 1965 to June, 1967. He was Labor leader from 1960-67. He was premier after Labor finally overcame the ‘Playmander’ at the 1965 election.
Paul Vasileff (2007)
Fashion designer Paul Vasileff was 2017 Young Australian of the Year. He followed his passion to Milan and founded couture label Paolo Sebastian.
Yazeed Daher (2018)
Actor Yazeed Daher has appeared in TV productions including the The Heights, Safe Harbour, ANZAC Girls and Deadline Gallipoli.
Sir Baden Pattinson (c1915)
Sir Baden Pattinson was SA’s education minister from 1953-1965. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1962.
Clarence James (CJ) Dennis (1892)
CJ Dennis was one of Australia’s most famous poets of the early 1900s, along with Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. His work The Sentimental Bloke became a best seller and was published in Australia, England, the US and Canada.
Roy (Mo) Rene (1905)
Roy (Mo) Rene, born Henry van der Sluys, became one of the most successful Australian comedians of the 20th century. Famous for his character Mo McCackie and his style of larrikin comedy, Roy Rene became a hit on the stages of theatres nationally and internationally. A statue of ‘Mo’ is on Hindley St.
John Cahill (1956)
Football legend John Cahill was a 10-time SANFL premiership coach and four-time premiership player with Port Adelaide. He represented SA 29 times and was an All-Australian in 1969. He also coached Collingwood for two seasons. He has been inducted into both the state and national football halls of fame.
John Perin (early 1960s)
John Perin played for Adelaide City in the 1960s and made the Socceroos team for the 1974 World Cup.
Tom Mackenzie (late 1890s)
Tom Mackenzie was the first SANFL player to win the Magarey Medal three times, in 1902, 1905 and 1906, playing for West Torrens and North Adelaide. He was inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Dan Moriarty (early 1900s)
Dan Moriarty won the Magarey Medal playing centre half-back for South Adelaide in the SANFL in 1919, 1920 and 1921. He is in the state and national football halls of fame.
Jaime Fernandez (1989)
Rower Jaime Fernandez won Olympic silver in the men’s eight in Sydney in 2000. He was a three-time Olympian and five-time world championship competitor.
Benedict Samuel (2005)
Benedict Samuel is best known for playing Jervis Tetch/Mad Hatter in the Fox crime series Gotham. He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Arts and has appeared in films and TV shows including Pimped and The Walking Dead.
Richard Marsland (late 1980s)
Richard Marsland was a comedian, actor, writer and radio personality. He co-hosted AM Adelaide with Anne Wills on Channel 7, worked on many FM radio shows and TV shows including Newstopia, The Glass House and Rove Live. He died in 2008.
ST PETER’S GIRLS
Julie Bishop (1973)
Julie Bishop was deputy leader of the federal Liberal Party from 2007 to 2018. Her ministerial portfolios included foreign affairs. Before politics she was a commercial lawyer.
Katie Sarah (1985)
Katie Sarah was the first SA woman to climb Mt Everest. She is also the first SAS woman to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents. She is the first woman in the world to also conquer the seven highest volcanic summits.
Sarah McLeod (1989)
Sarah McLeod fronted rock band The Superjesus, which won two ARIAS. She released her first solo album in 2005.
Hitaf Rasheed (1986)
Hitaf Rasheed has headed Events SA since 2008 and overseen significant growth in the Tour Down Under, Tasting Australia and Adelaide Fashion Festival.
Olympia Aldersey (2011)
Rower Olympia Aldersey won bronze in the double scull at the 2014 World Championships, after she and Sally Kehoe set a world record in the preliminaries. Aldersey repeated the feat in the same event in 2017. She was also in the women’s eight at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL
Mark Holden (1971)
1970s pop star Mark Holden is also an actor, TV personality, record producer, songwriter and now a barrister. He has been a judge on Australian Idol and X-Factor.
Mike Smithson (1973)
Mike Smithson is one of SA’s best-known TV journalists and news presenters, working for Seven News.
Dan Cullen (2001)
Off-spinner Dan Cullen played first class cricket for SA and Somerset. He played one Test and five ODIs for Australia, all in 2006.
Nick Cullen (2001)
Dan’s brother Nick Cullen is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour of Australasia. He earned his first of several tournaments wins at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open in 2012.
Alina Eacott (2003)
Journalist Alina Eacott has presented the ABC’s 7pm weekend TV bulletin in Adelaide.
Phil Harris (1998)
Phil Harris is the founder of Harris Real Estate. He is also the only South Australian to be recognised as both the REISA Salesperson of the Year and Golden Gavel Auctioneering Champion.
Luca Sardelis (2018)
Luca Sardelis has gained recognition for her film and TV appearances in Nowhere Boys, Sam Fox: Extreme Adventures and Storm Boy.
Seb Tape (2010)
Seb Tape played 40 games for the Gold Coast Suns in the AFL from 2011-16.
Darren Thomas (1990)
Darren Thomas is CEO of Adelaide-based Thomas Foods International, Australia’s largest family-owned agribusiness and a major meat exporter across Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.
SCOTCH COLLEGE
Robert Hill AC (1963)
Robert Hill was a Liberal senator from 1980-2006. In the Howard government, he was leader of the government in the Senate and environment and later defence minister. He then became Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Australia from 2006-2009. He is also a former chancellor of Adelaide University.
Penny Wong (1985)
Penny Wong is leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman. She was first elected to the Senate in 2002 and was a minister in the Gillard and Rudd governments.
Juliet Haslam (1986)
Juliet Haslam played for the Hockeyroos from 1989-2000, and was key to the team winning Olympic gold in 1996 and 2000.
Sarah Snook (2005)
Sarah Snook is known for her roles in the films Sisters of War, Not Suitable for Children, These Final Hours, Predestination, The Dressmaker and Steve Jobs. Last year, she began starring in the HBO comedy series Succession.
Rory Laird (2011)
Drafted in 2011, Rory Laird has played more than 120 games for the Adelaide Crows, winning All-Australian selection in 2017 and 2018. He was also the Crows’ best and fairest last year.
Wayne Phillips (1975)
Wayne Phillips played 27 Tests and 48 ODIs for Australia from 1982-1986 as a batsman and wicketkeeper. He also played for South Australia from 1978-1991.
Thanasi Kokkinakis (2013)
Tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis turned professional in 2013. His best win came last year when he defeated Roger Federer at the Miami Open.
Peter Lehmann AO (1948)
Known as the ‘Baron of the Barossa’ before his passing in 2013, Peter Lehmann was a legendary Australian winemaker who oversaw Peter Lehmann Wines.
Brian Croser AO (1965)
Brian Croser founded Petaluma Wines in 1976. He is a former president of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia and was named Decanter Man of the Year in 2004.
MERCEDES COLLEGE
Peter Malinauskas (1998)
Peter Malinauskas is state opposition leader. In the Weatherill Labor government he held ministerial portfolios of police, correctional services, emergency services, road safety and health. Before that he was secretary of the SA/NT branch of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association.
Teresa Palmer (2003)
Actress Teresa Palmer is best known for her roles in Warm Bodies, Lights Out, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Berlin Syndrome and Hacksaw Ridge. She plays Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne in Ride Like A Girl to be released later this year.
Natalie Medhurst (2001)
Netballer Natalie Medhurst was part of the gold medal-winning team at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. She has also been in three world championship-winning Australian sides. She played for the Adelaide Thunderbirds from 2004-9 and currently with Collingwood.
Kelli Underwood (1994)
Commentator Kelli Underwood was the first woman to call an AFL game on radio and TV. She currently calls AFL games on ABC radio. She has also covered netball, tennis and horse racing.
Amos Gill (2008)
Comedian Amos Gill co-hosted the Hit 107 breakfast show before leaving radio to pursue stand-up comedy in the US.
Hannah Davis (2002)
Kayaker Hannah Davis won bronze at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 in the K4 event.
Victoria Hill (1988)
Actor Victoria Hill has appeared in films including Dead End, Modern Love, Hunt Angels, Boy Town, December Boys, Macbeth and First Reformed.
SACRED HEART COLLEGE
Bart Cummings AM (1942)
Legendary horse trainer Bart Cummings was known as the Cups King for his record 12 Melbourne Cup victories. He was named an Australian Living Legend by public vote in 1997 and was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2001. He died in 2015.
Rob Kerin (1971)
Rob Kerin was briefly Liberal premier of SA in 2001-2, then opposition leader until the 2006 state election. He left Parliament in 2009. He is now executive chairman of Primary Producers SA.
Shaun Micallef (1979)
The TV comedian is the star of Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell. His previous shows include Full Frontal, The Micallef P(r)ogram(me), Welcher & Welcher, Micallef Tonight, Newstopia, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation and Mr and Mrs Murder.
John Fitzgerald (1977)
John Fitzgerald won six single titles (highest ranking 25) and 30 doubles titles including seven grand slams. He reached the world number one doubles ranking in 1991. He was in Australia’s winning Davis Cup teams in 1983 and 1986.
Darren Cahill (1976)
Darren Cahill reached the US Open tennis semi-finals in 1988. He won three singles titles (highest ranking 22) and 13 doubles titles. He later coached Lleyton Hewitt to become the youngest male player ever to be ranked world number one, and Andre Agassi to become the oldest ever world number one.
Rob Chapman (1980)
Rob Chapman is chairman of the Adelaide Crows and Adelaide Airport. He previously headed Bank SA and St George Bank.
Anthony Lehmann (Lehmo)
Comedian Anthony Lehmann has hosted multiple FM radio shows. On TV he has starred in Utopia and co-hosted Before The Game and The Footy Show.
David Sincock (1960)
Spin bowler David Sincock played three Tests and 46 first-class games for SA in the 1960s.
James Gleeson (1938)
James Gleeson was Catholic Archbisop of Adelaide from 1971 to 1985. Gleeson College is named after him.
Leonard Faulkner (1941)
Leonard Faulker replaced James Gleeson as Catholic Archbisop of Adelaide and held the position from 1985 to 2001.
Stephen Kenny (1971)
Stephen Kenny was the original lawyer for Guantánamo Bay detainee David Hicks. In the 1990s he acted for the Ngarrindjeri people during the Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy.
Sergio Melta (1975)
Sergio Melta played a staggering 445 NSL games for Adelaide City, was crowned the league’s best player in 1984, won three NSL titles and two NSL Cups. The top player each year in the National Premier Leagues SA, the top flight state league, is awarded the Sergio Melta Medal.
Matthew Pavlich (2009)
Matthew Pavlich played 353 AFL games for Fremantle. He was captain from 2007-15 and the club’s leading goalkicker eight times (700 career goals). He was All-Australian six times.
Chad Cornes (1996)
Chad Cornes played 239 AFL games for Port Adelaide and 16 for GWS. He was in Port’s 2004 premiership side and was All-Australian twice.
Kane Cornes (2000)
Kane Cornes played 300 AFL games for Port Adelaide, won a premiership in 2004 and was twice All-Australian and four times Port’s best and fairest.
Simon Tregenza (1987)
Simon Tregenza was a four-time SANFL premiership player with Port Adelaide. He also played more than 100 AFL games for the Adelaide Crows in the 1990s.
Matthew Liptak (1986)
Matthew Liptak played 116 AFL games for the Adelaide Crows and became an orthopaedic surgeon.
Hamish Hartlett (2007)
Hamish Hartlett has played more than 150 AFL games for Port Adelaide.
Andrew Mackie (2002)
Andrew Mackie was a three-time AFL premiership player with Geelong in 2007, 2009 and 2011. He was All-Australian in 2013.
Jason Porplyzia (2002)
Jason Porplyzia played 130 games for the Adelaide Crows from 2006-14. He was the club’s leading goalkicker (57) in 2009.
Ryan Burton (2014)
Ryan Burton played 47 AFL games for Hawthorn before moving to Port Adelaide in 2019. He was a Rising Star nominee in 2017.
PRINCE ALFRED COLLEGE
Greg, Ian and Trevor Chappell (1965, 1960, 1971)
Australia’s first family of cricket, the Chappell brothers all played for their country. Greg and Ian were both Test captains. Greg averaged 53.86 with the bat in 87 Tests. Ian averaged 42.42 in 75 Tests.
Robert Gerard AO (1960)
Businessman and philanthropist Robert Gerrard chaired Gerrard Industries, taking charge in 1976 and expanding worldwide.
Sir Edward Holden (1901)
Sir Edward Holden partnered with General Motors to create General Motors-Holden’s Ltd, diversifying his family’s carriage and saddlery business, Holden & Frost, into Australia’s first car manufacturer.
Sir Alexander Lyell McEwin KBE (1911)
Farmer Lyell McEwin sat in the SA Legislative Council from 1934 until 1975. He was in successive Playford Cabinets. Lyell McEwin Hospital is named after the former health and mines minister.
Sir Robert Helpmann CBE (1923)
Sir Robert Helpmann was an acclaimed ballet dancer, actor, theatre director and choreographer. On-screen he played the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and the Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1972). He died in 1986 and was given a state funeral in Sydney.
Sir Donald Dunstan AC KBE (1939)
Lieutenant General Sir Donald Beaumont Dunstan was Governor of South Australia from 1982-1991. The career officer served in the Pacific in World War II and later in Vietnam, and from 1977 to 1982 held the position of Chief of the General Staff. He died in 2011 and was given a state funeral.
Robert Hannaford AM (1961)
Portraitist Robert Hannaford is also known for his landscapes, still lifes, nudes, and sculptures. He has won the People’s Choice Award at the Archibald Prize three times. His sculptures include the bronze of Sir Donald Bradman outside Adelaide Oval. In 2014 he received the Premier’s Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Ruby Awards.
Bob Francis (1957)
Bob Francis was a radio presenter on 5AA from 1985 to 2013, and in the 1960s and ‘70s on 5AD. As a radio DJ in 1964 he gathered an 80,000-signature petition to successfully bring The Beatles to Adelaide. In 2005, Francis was inducted into the Australian Radio Hall of Fame. He died in 2016.
Duncan Chessell (1987)
Duncan Chessell is an explorer, mountain guide, geologist and photographer who has reached the seven highest summits on each of the world’s seven continents.
Dr Bill Griggs (1974)
2009 South Australian of the Year Dr Bill Griggs is a trauma and retrieval specialist who has been deployed to disaster and war zones and terrorism sites across the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Nick Xenophon (1975)
Nick Xenophon was an independent MLC on a No Pokies policy platform from 1997-2007. He then switched to federal politics and was an SA senator for a decade. He led the Nick Xenophon Team (now Centre Alliance) federally and Nick Xenophon’s SA Best party in SA, for which he ran unsuccessfully for a lower house seat in the 2018 state election.
Cory Bernardi (1986)
Cory Bernardi has been a senator since 2006, first for the Liberal Party, which he left in 2017 to form his own Australian Conservatives party. The party was deregistered in June.
Lionel Logue (1896)
A pioneer in his field, Lionel Logue was speech therapist to King George VI and subject of the 2010 movie The King’s Speech.
Wayne Jackson (1961)
Wayne Jackson was the AFL’s CEO from 1996 to 2003. He played for West Torrens in the SANFL before embarking on a career in football administration.
Rick Davies (1968)
The ‘Jumbo Prince’ Rick Davies was a Sturt premiership player in 1974 and 1976. He was club best and fairest seven times, kicked 151 goals in the 1983 season, and was named in Sturt’s Team of the Century. He played 20 state games for SA and is in the state and national football halls of fame.
Adam Liaw (1994)
Adam Liaw was a lawyer for Disney in Japan before returning to Australia to win the second series of MasterChef in 2010.
Rodney Maynard (1983)
Rodney Maynard was in the Adelaide Crows’ first side in 1991, going on to play 81 games. He was the first Crow to reach 50 games.
David Pittman (1986)
David Pittman was a dual premiership player with the Adelaide Crows in 1997 and 1998. He retired after the 1999 season having played 131 AFL games and five State of Origin contests.
Jack Trengove (2009)
Jack Trengrove was taken by Melbourne with the number two pick in the 2009 AFL draft. In 2012 he became the youngest captain in VFL/AFL history. After 86 games and great injury problems he was delisted in 2017 but then picked up by Port Adelaide as a free agent.
Bernie Vince (2003)
Bernie Vince played 129 AFL games for Adelaide from 2006-13 and has since reached the 100-game milestone for Melbourne as well.
Tim Weatherald (1994)
Tim Weatherald played more than 300 SANFL games, mostly for Sturt but also Norwood. He was a Sturt premiership player in 2002 and was joint Magarey Medal winner that year.
Sam Day (2010)
Sam Day has played more than 100 AFL games for the Gold Coast Suns since 2011. He was taken with pick three in the 2010 draft, after turning down US college baseball and basketball offers.
Greg Blewett (1988)
Greg Blewett scored 2552 runs in 46 Tests. He made a century on debut against England at Adelaide Oval in 1995. His highest score was 214 against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Clem Hill (1893)
Batsman Clem Hill played 49 Tests from 1896 to 1912. He scored 3412 Test runs, a world record at the time of his retirement. In 1902 he was the first Test player to make 1000 runs in a calendar year. He was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2005.
Tim May (1978)
Off-spinner Tim May took 75 wickets in 24 Tests and formed a renowned spin partnership with Shane Warne. His best figures of 5/9 came against the West Indies at Adelaide Oval in the 1992-93 series. In 1997, May became the inaugural CEO of the Australian Cricketers’ Association.
Thanks for reading! We’ll be considering your suggestions of names and schools not appearing here for future versions of this list.
If you’d like to suggest a school or famous South Australian you think deserves recognition, submit the details here.
Battle to save animals on the brink at Outback reserve
Conservationists are battling to save animals at an Outback reserve from the effects of the worst drought in recent memory, and have received a funding boost to redouble their efforts.
Country tradie to face court over incomplete work
A country tradesman will face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court over allegations he was not licenced and refused to refund money to clients.