Some stories of Daramalan College education and success tales.
For MSC who have worked in the education ministry, there is a great deal of satisfaction in hearing stories of alumni making good. You will notice that the editor of the Alumni Facebook page is an inveterate lover of puns in some of the headings!
WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A ‘BOARDING’ SCHOOL
Ever heard of Slalom Skateboarding? No, me neither, but apparently it’s sorta like ‘normal’ skateboarding after you’ve knocked back a dozen or so beers. You’re all over the road, but in control, and travelling fast.
It’s most impressive; just ask ex-Dara girl Ishy Pang from 2013, who is now an Australian champion.
Ishy, known in the ‘real’ world as Ayesha, along with another Canberra mate, have both been selected to represent Australia at the World Skate Games in Argentine this month. Which is a huge feat as they are also the first women to represent Australia in Slalom Skateboarding, with Ishy only taking up the sport six months ago. It also featured at the Tokyo Olympics for the first time last year.
The girls train at the Mt Stromlo facility where many recent students would remember as the venue for the Dara annual cross-country day.
FANCY BECOMING A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER?
Well, now you can. Read on…
After leaving Dara in 2013, Irena Reedy moved to America to further her acting career. Initially trying her hand in Washington and Chicago for a couple of years, she decided to ‘bite the bullet’ and undertook an acting course at the prestigious Lee Strasburg Institute in New York, which boasts alumni such as Marilyn Monroe, Alec Baldwin, Uma Thurman and Sienna Miller to name just a few.
On completion, she moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to focus on a Hollywood career.
She is now in the final stretch of finishing her latest film called “Another Story”, which touches on how mental health affects relationships and what that can look like in an everyday situation. She said, “This is so close to my heart, as I wrote it from my own experiences and fears, which I have faced in my past relationships”.
Which brings me to how you can become a silver screen bigwig. To finish this current project, Irena is seeking some financial support, and in return, you can be credited as an Executive Producer. All the details are here including a five-minute preview of the production. http://www.indiegogo.com/.../another-story.../x/29311709...
JUDGEMENT DAY IS COMING
On Thursday 21 April to be precise. In the morning.
After 20 years practising as a barrister in Sydney, ex-Dara lad Jeremy Kirk from 1987, (brother of Tim “Clonakilla” fame) has been sworn in as a judge to serve in the NSW Supreme Court, the highest Court in the state. He will sit in the Court of Appeal, described by the Attorney General Mark Speakman as, “the strongest state or territory appellate court in Australia”. Well, what more can you say, except huge congratulations Justice Kirk. Your Honour.
WHEN TWO DARA BOYS PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER…
…it’s usually in a rugby scrum, but in this case, the union has resulted in a great idea. Mick Spencer (2008) and 2019 School Captain Liam Battye have joined forces and signed a multi-million-dollar deal to supply vegan seltzers (no, I don’t know what that is either) to major entertainment and sporting stadiums across NSW, including at the up-coming NRL Grand Final.
Their new product, called Gravity Seltzer, is already on sale in BWS stores, but with over 2.5 million people expected at various venues over the rest of the year, featuring everything from the sporting Finals, to concerts like Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns 'N' Roses, stadium sales are going to be huge.
After leaving Dara, Liam went on to Uni and, looking for a business mentor, approached Mick who already was running the successful ONTHEGO sports clothing company. They decided they could do something different together and consequently came up with the seltzers. With the success they are currently enjoying Liam mentioned that “Although I'm still enrolled at Uni until 2023, I don't think I'll be going back".
Good choice Liam and congratulations to the both of you. Now, I’m off now to BWS to see what a ‘vegan seltzer’ tastes like.
QUEENIE IS ABOUT TO MAKE A SCENE…
Even though Queenie van de Zandt (1988) has been described as a ‘vocal powerhouse’ by the Herald Sun, and filled with ‘awe-inspiring soul and emotion’ by the Sydney Morning Herald, you know they are missing something. Both of those esteemed publications failed to mention that her stellar career started in the Drama Department at Daramalan College. A major oversight!
Queenie is now back in town for one night only appearing at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre this Saturday with her new show called Choose Your Own Adventure. So Comedy? Tick. Cabaret? Tick. Trivia? Tick. Bowl of chicken soup? Ti…Wait, what?
Let’s just say that whatever your tastes, you’ll get to choose the night’s entertainment menu
