Businesses, babies and living abroad: Where are your school captains now?
From a school captain who returned as a teacher to the president of a Harvard wine club. Here’s what Geelong school captains of the last three decades are up to now.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As schools across Geelong gear up for their 10, 20 and 30 year reunions, we’ve tracked down some of the Geelong region’s past school captains to find out where they are now.
From a captain who returned to teach at the school he led to a prominent Pako cafe owner, these leaders have made strides in various spaces.
North Geelong Secondary School
Duncan Lowe (2004)
After graduating high school in 2004, Duncan Lowe went on to study regenerative agriculture at Southern Cross University, followed by a Bachelor of Applied Science (wine) at Charles Sturt University.
Now, he has returned to the area and after time at Austin’s Wines has settled as a winemaker and vineyard manager at Rowsley Fault Vineyard.
Ben Riddle (1994)
Ben Riddle stayed local to the area after graduation and 30 years on works at Buxton Real Estate directing Geelong’s seven offices as an auctioneer.
The father-of-two said he prided himself on being easily approachable.
“At the end of the day a lot of life is giving it your best shot,” he said.
“Back yourself and trust your gut.”
He said he enjoyed time with his young family and socialising with old school friends and maintaining his keen interest in the racing industry.
“I still live locally and support all things Geelong.” he said.
“I love it down here.”
Lara Secondary College
Isaiah Graham — 2014
A decade since graduating Isaiah Graham has found his way back to his old stomping ground.
After graduating in 2014, Mr Graham studied a double degree in teaching and science and received his first teaching role in 2020.
From a young age, Mr Graham knew that he wanted to be a teacher purely from the impact that his own had on him.
“It was the teachers that I had … they were fantastic,” he said.
Nowadays he teaches maths and science at Lara Secondary College.
Geelong High School
Courtney-Anne Blackhall – 2014
After graduating school, Courtney-Anne Blackhall studied medicine at Western Sydney University.
Part of that study included a 12 month placement in Lismore.
“I really enjoyed living in the area and I met my husband at church there, so moved back after I graduated medical school in 2019,” she said.
After the two married in early 2022, Ms Blackhall and her husband bought a house in Lismore in Northern NSW, and are currently renovating.
Ms Blackhall recently received her fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, but is taking some time off to travel before she settles in back in her new home to work at a local GP clinic.
“My husband Henk is Dutch so I’m trying to learn Dutch as we are hoping to move to the Netherlands for a year next year,” she said.
Ms Blackhall’s parents and two of her sisters are still in Geelong, so she visits a couple times each year, and when she’s home she often bumps into school friends.
Christian College
Liam Nankervis -2014
Since finishing school Liam Nankervis has married his high school sweetheart and built a successful career as a mortgage broker.
After school, Mr Nankervis studied a number of diplomas and a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking,
He now works at Mulcahy and Co.
“Over the last 10 years I’ve attended Bible college, travelled overseas on missions trips, served in my local church and youth ministries, got married and started a family, built homes and found a career as a mortgage broker, winning multiple awards,” Mr Nankervis said.
Mr Nankervis said he would tell his younger self not to worry so much.
“A lot can happen and change over 10 years, including goals, ambitions and everything about who you are,” he said.
Mr Nankervis and his wife welcomed a son in 2022.
Geelong College
Eliza Elliot – 2004
Since 2005 Eliza Elliott has been based in Melbourne.
She studied law and is now working as an experienced insurance litigation lawyer specialising in medical indemnity and health law.
Ms Elliot has worked on a number of high profile cases during her career, including representing a children’s hospital where a neonate received lifesaving surgery for a cardiothoracic birth abnormality, a leading tertiary hospital in a complex and high quantum Supreme Court claim following the death of a baby during labour and an allied health professional in relation to an AHPRA investigation into boundary violations and inappropriate professional conduct.
Geelong Grammar
Billie Hook -2014
A decade after graduation, Billie Hook is based in Melbourne, working as a judge’s associate and living with school friends from Geelong Grammar.
The 2014 school captain studied arts and law at Australian National University in Canberra.
“I boarded at Geelong, so I was ready to go live life somewhere else and get that opportunity for a while,” she said.
After Covid derailed her travel plans, she found herself back in Melbourne working at a law firm.
Now, she loves her work at the Supreme Court and is settled for the foreseeable future.
Sam Parsons -2014
During school Sam Parsons said he was an enthusiastic rower, track athlete and debater, graduating as dux from the school’s IB program.
After a year working in a Geelong meat factory, Mr Parsons jetted off and has been mainly been based in the USA, with periods working in Tokyo, London, the Middle East and Canberra.
In 2019, he graduated from Princeton University, where he studied public policy analysis.
He began work as an investment banker with Deutsche Bank in New York.
He then pivoted in his career, working as a strategy analyst for an e-commerce tech start-up in Jakarta, before returning to the United States to attend at Harvard Law School, where he is editor and board member on the Harvard International Law Journal, volunteer mediator in Massachusetts courts, and member of the Harvard Association of Law and Business.
He is also kept busy by his role as president of Harvard law’s wine club, In Vino Veritas, for which he feels totally underqualified, but grateful for his upbringing in the northeastern wine regions of Victoria.
Mr Parsons said he retained a strong love for his home down under, and was nostalgic for afternoons rowing on the Barwon River.
After graduation, Mr Parsons plans to return to New York to begin his legal career as a corporate lawyer, but not before he returns to Australia for his 10 year school reunion.
Sacred Heart
Prue Smith (previously Kenny) – 2004
After leaving school, Prue Smith studied human resources management at Deakin in Geelong, followed by a Master of Law at Melbourne University.
After time a brief internship at the United Nations and time working as a lawyer, she has now settled in New York City where she works as a lawyer for UN Women at the United Nations.
“My family and I moved here in July 2020 and are having a brilliant adventure,” Ms Smith said.
Ms Smith has four children aged up to six, and she has kept in touch with many of her schoolmates.
“I don’t get back to Geelong nearly as much as I’d like to but am very excited for the 20 year reunion this June,” she said.
St Joseph's College
Sam Rotiroti – 2014
In the decade since graduation, Sam Rotiroti studied in Geelong, lived overseas, and then eventually settled in Melbourne, where he works for a $4bn dollar super fund management company, First Super.
“I’m thankful for all of my experiences, the things I learnt in Geelong have helped get me where I am today,” he said.
Mr Rotiroti said he was looking forward to attending his 10 year high school reunion.
“I’ll be going along just simply to see some old friendly faces and rekindle old friendships,” he said.
Jesse Rudd – 2004
Jesse Rudd attended St Joey’s along with his six brothers, including musician Xavier and Ghanda founder Josh.
Mr Rudd studied law before working as a judge’s associate, and joined the bar in 2015.
He still works as a barrister in Melbourne, where he lives with his wife and their three children, and visits family in Geelong regularly.
“I’ve got only fond memories of St Joey’s, great school, great experience,” Mr Rudd said.
”Sitting around at lunch time or in the common room talking rubbish, being nervous for exams.”
“It was a school that taught you to remind yourself of how lucky you are, and that you can try to give back.”
Mr Rudd said he could not believe it had been 20 years already.
Looking back he would tell his younger self not to take life too seriously.
“Life’s a marathon, not a sprint, and they’re more than one way to skin a cat.”
Simon Bryant – 1994
Simon Bryant graduated as school captain 30 years ago, but said after a few years travelling abroad he found Geelong’s vibrant community was not to be taken for granted.
Now, he lives in Geelong with his wife and three kids and runs the Pakington St eatery 63 Degrees.
Mr Bryant said he is still in touch with his school friends, and they are often swapping old stories and sharing new memories.
“We catch up very regularly for dinner monthly,” he said.
“A lot of them have married and stayed in Geelong.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Businesses, babies and living abroad: Where are your school captains now?
Geelong to be ‘utterly central’ to Victorian wind farms
GeelongPort is on track to place Corio Bay at the “centre” of Australia’s offshore wind industry thanks to a $500m offshore wind farm terminal that could be up and running by late 2028.
Rowntree doubles down on ‘stupid’ battery project
Getaway TV presenter and Little River resident Catriona Rowntree has doubled down on her opposition to a proposed battery project in her area, labelling it “stupid”.