Port Adelaide’s Jack Hombsch helps his old school, Rostrevor College, celebrate 95 years of history – and family tradition
FOR big-hearted Port Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch, there’s not much that trumps family and tradition – and his old school, Rostrevor College, is steeped in both. Here he shares his plans to one day pull on the red and black colours again.
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FOR big-hearted Port Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch, there’s not much that trumps family and tradition – and his old school, Rostrevor College, is steeped in both.
The 25-year-old footballer is named after his old-scholar grandfather Jack Reid, who, sadly, died just months before the third of his 19 grandchildren was born.
Hombsch, who last year won the prestigious Jim Stynes Award for his volunteer work in community football – particularly with the disabled – describes his years as a boarder at Rostrevor as “some of the best” of his life.
He says when his AFL career is over, he plans to once again pull on the red and black colours of Rostrevor, which is this year celebrating its 95th anniversary, to line up as an old collegian alongside his younger cousins who’ve gone to, or are at the school now.
Among those is current Year 9 student, also an eager footballer, Olly Piro.
The 14-year-old third generation Rostrevor student says he’s both proud of his big cousin and to be part of the rich family tradition at the all-boys’ school – he’s the 24th family member to attend the school since the early 1940s.
“When I (first) arrived at Rostrevor I didn’t think it would be cool to tell people Jack was my cousin as it would look like I was showing off (but) my mum knows lots of people and likes to chat, so it wasn’t long before kids knew he was my cousin and everyone seems to really respect him as an AFL player and community worker, so I am proud,” he said.
“Outside of sport, my favourite thing about Rostrevor is our agricultural farm at the back of the school ... we have so many animals to study, a small vineyard, olives, veggies and fruit trees.”
Olly’s dad, managing director of Wingfield business Pelletco SA John Piro, was at Rostrevor in the 1980s and says his old science teacher is now teaching his eldest son – younger son Jules is due to follow in the Rostrevor tradition in 2020.
“It’s nice having my son at the college I attended – already, I can see him having the same experiences I had and making great friends, especially through sport, which I am sure he will have forever,” Mr Piro said.
“I hope my sons’ children will get to come to school here too, and that these beautiful historic buildings will still be here.”
The school’s 95-year history was celebrated at a cocktail event at the Adelaide Town Hall on the weekend – one of several celebrations planned this year.
“(This is a) chance to reflect on the rich history of Rostrevor which has spanned many generations and to celebrate the achievements of its scholars old and current,” Rostrevor principal Brian Schumacher said.
Among those celebrating the school’s milestone is Brother Michael Coughlin, an old scholar and former teacher who taught many of Hombsch’s and Olly’s uncles, and who now volunteers at the school.
Some well-known Rostrevor old scholars
Paul Kelly (singer/song writer)
Anthony LaPaglia (actor)
Jonathan LaPaglia (actor)
Grant Piro (actor)
Ben Hart (former AFL footballer)
Luke Darcy (former AFL footballer)
Tom Jonas (AFL footballer)
Jack Hombsch (AFL footballer)