He is survived by his wife Heidi and children Tom, Jack, Pippa and Ellen. He is also survived by his brothers Michael (SPC 1960-62, PY1963), Bernard (SPC 1965-66, PY1967), Anthony (SPC 1965-68, PY1969) and Gerard (SPC 1969-70), and his sisters Marie, Annette and Gabrielle.

Brendan spent many years as a ranger with National Park Victoria and was well respected in the Kyneton district.  He was buried at Kyneton Cemetery after a service at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Kyneton.

Thanks to Shane McKinley (SPC 1965-67) for assisting with this tribute.

Brian passed away on 6 March, 2026, aged 90 years. A Funeral Mass to celebrate Brian’s life was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mildura on 16 March.

Brian was a prominent community figure in Mildura and primarily known for his instrumental role in establishing the La Trobe University Mildura campus, and his service as a local Mildura Rural City councillor.

Students and alumni of La Trobe’s Mildura campus have Brian to thank for his determination and dedicated campaign to establish a university campus in the regional setting.

He was the founding chair of the La Trobe University Regional Advisory Board, established in 1993, and led the campaign to establish the standalone La Trobe Mildura campus on Benetook Avenue.

The campus’ Brian Grogan Building is named in his honour, serving as a hub for education that houses a lecture theatre, laboratories and the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre.

Brian talked about his determination to establish a regional campus and what it continues to provide for the town and future students on the 20^th anniversary of the Brian Grogan building two years ago in an interview

He also served on local government as a councillor for the Mildura Rural City Council, where he was involved in critical planning decisions, including advocating for developers to fund local infrastructure (roads, drains, parks).

Brian was a vocal advocate for recognising the rapid population growth in Mildura, often urging state and federal governments to better understand the region’s needs, particularly regarding its cross-border nature.

He was recognised as a community champion with a long history of contributing to the development of the region, particularly in education and as a water industry leader.

He received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2007 for his service to the community and water industry in the Mallee region.

In moving tributes following his passing, Brian has been remembered as a “caring person who contributed much to the local community” of Mildura.

Brian started at a SPC in Second Year and was a boarder from Kerang, in north-central Victoria.

He was a bright student and was involved in football, cricket and athletics. He was a member of the College’s First XVIII Football team across two years in 1952 & 53, culminating in a member of the BPS Champion side in 1953.

He was described as having “all the attributes of a good footballer” and “capably held down the responsible position of full-back”.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his sons Sean, Justin, Eugene (dec) and Luke and their extended families.

He was the son of the late Ben and Jean Ward and is survived by siblings, Leo, Mary and Anne, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral mass was celebrated in the chapel at St Joseph’s ÿ�մ�����ַ��ҳ���� on 14 January, 2026.

Br Ward shared his life story with the College back in 2021 in this story here

Br Ward was a student at SPC for three years, departing after completing Leaving class. He was better known to many as ‘Ben’ Ward (after his brother Ben who was there before him). He said his decision to join the Christian Brothers “was built on a long-time desire to give me life to God and life as a religious teacher seemed to fill the bill”.

Mr Ward returned to ÿ�մ�����ַ��ҳ���� on staff and was living on site when the Ballarat community was closed in 2012. He moved to the Edmund Rice Hostel in St Kilda.

Br Ward has been remembered by current staff for his “strong presence of faith”.

James was a member of the junior band and gymnastic club during his time at SPC.

Fern followed in the footsteps of his father Fern (SPC 1926-28) and was the older brother of College Legend David Gallagher (SPC 1965-68), Peter (SPC 1965-69, PY1970) and younger brother of Brian (SPC 1952-58, PY1960).

Fern was a day student from Ballarat North and was a member of the Nunan House premiership team in the St Roch’s football competition in his first year.

Fern completed Form 4 and spent his career as a technician at the Channel Six (BTV6) television station in Ballarat North. Fern spent the majority of his life in Ballarat before retiring to Port Lonsdale.

Fern was also the loving husband of Maree and father of Sean, Dion, Corey and Liam and a grandfather of seven.

A Funeral Mass was held for Fern at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Queenscliff on 18 December 2025.

Don was a boarder and long-time resident from Shepparton, in northern Victoria. He began his studies at SPC in Sub-intermediate B class in 1945 and completed his Leaving studies in 1948.

He enjoyed playing both cricket and football at SPC, and was named the fourth Dux of Class in Sub-Intermediate.

Brian was a boarder from St Arnaud with his brother Kevin (SPC 1950-52, PY1954).  Brian completed three years of study at SPC, starting with his sub-intermediate studies at SPC and repeating his intermediate B studies.

He played in the McCarthy senior shed cricket competition and Treacy shed footy competition. He was also a cox in the fourth rowing crew in 1951.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Brian’s wife Barb and children Jen, Greg and Jane. He was grandfather of seven and great-grandfather of five.

A Requiem Mass was held for Brian on 13 March at the Church of Immaculate Conception at St Arnaud.

We extend our condolences to Peter’s family, including his wife Fran and children, Eileen, Steven (dec), Robyn, Jane, Carolyn, Peter, Kerry, Glenn, Lana and Rod and their extended families.

Peter was a grandfather to 29 and great-grandfather to three. He attended SPC following in the footsteps of his grandfather Pat Moran (SPC 1893-95), who was among SPC’s first intake of students (pictured here)

Peter attended SPC in the 1960s as a day student, starting in first year however he left after second year to follow his love of farming at Waubra.

A Requiem Mass was held for Peter at ÿ�մ�����ַ��ҳ���� Cathedral on 13 February.

Peter or “Pud” was fondly remembered by the Waubra Football Club as a past player, committee member, life member and life-long supporter of their club.

John followed in his father John’s (SPC 1925-31) footsteps to attend SPC. John was a day student along with his younger brother Peter (SPC 1952-62).

John started as a very young boy in 1947 and completed 11 years years of schooling at SPC before completing his matriculation in 1958.

He was a talented and keen student in all aspects of College life. He was a College Prefect in his final year, as well as an under officer in cadets and drum major of the College Band in his Leaving year.

John was a member of the First XVIII Football team, which were co-premiers of the BPS, in 1958. He also shined in the Second XVIII and played in the ruck for the Treacy footy side.

He was a talented runner, placing in the 440-yard race at the SPC Athletics Sports over consecutive years, culminating in his final year, where he won the 440-yard race at the Melbourne Combined Sports at Olympic Park in Melbourne, and was subsequently named SPC’s 440 champion.

John also experienced success on the water, as a bow, finishing second in SPC’s Thirds boat at the 1958 Head of the Lake regatta; first in the Fifth Crew with his brother Peter as cox in 1956; first in the sevenths crew by two lengths in 1954.

John was also a member of the Sodality of Our Lady.

John and fellow classmate Leslie Dickinson (SPC 1955-58) went on to study at Pharmacy College together after completing their studies at SPC.

John was studying pharmacy when he met his future wife Beverley.

Beverley recalled meeting John at an athletics club meet in Ballarat after she hurt her ankle and John was asked to look at her injury. She described John as “an adorable man” and they went on to wed and enjoyed 64 years of married bliss, bringing up four children together.

John was a pharmacist in Ballarat, before he and his family moved to Wedderburn, in northwest Victoria, and then onto the warmer climate of Queensland, buying a pharmacy in Coolum Beach, where they enjoyed their life together.

William passed away back in 2022.

William was the fifth-placed dux in Intermediate A class in 1948 and completed Leaving Class in 1949.

Brien passed away peacefully at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne surrounded by his family, aged 100 years old, on 9 October 2025.

He was the dearly loved and devoted husband of Valerie, a father of five, grandfather of 15 and great-grandfather of four.

He was remembered as “a gentle man and a true gentleman”.

Brien was a boarder at SPC with his brothers Mervyn OAM (SPC 1939-40) (dec) and John (SPC 1942-45), from McIntyre, north of Dunolly in Victoria.

Brien was a bright student and received several scholastic and school prizes and was involved in many aspects of College life, including Sodality of Our Lady as well as playing football, cricket, tennis and music.

He started his studies in sub-intermediate A and completed his Leaving studies in 1942.

Brien was a member of the 1941 First XVIII Football champions team, as well as the First XI Cricket team.

He was also in the winning football premiership team in the Senior House Competition in 1940, as well as the Premier XI cricket team.

Brien was also a handy athlete and played tennis.

His family remember Brien loving his time at St Pat’s and reminisced constantly about his time there. After leaving SPC, Brien went to university to study engineering and science.

Our deepest condolences to Brien’s extended family.

His daughter Jane recalled the family even returning to the school for Brien’s 80^th birthday, and he proudly showing the family his class photograph hanging in the hallway.

“I think we have a photo of Dad as Captain of the first 18s Footy team. Dad studied Engineering at Melbourne University after leaving school and boarded at Newman College.

“He was a wonderful father and we are so proud.”

In numerous tributes, the Ballarat district businessman, farmer, sportsman and community contributor has been remembered for his genuine warmth, integrity, and his dedication which touched everyone who knew him.

Patrick, who was also known to many as Paddy, has been remembered as a “strong leader, a dear friend and a genuine soul”.

His funeral at ÿ�մ�����ַ��ҳ���� Cathedral in Ballarat on 29 January was overflowing, a tribute to the respected father of four.

We extend our deepest condolences to Patrick’s wife Shelley, and their children Molly, Izzie, Matt (SPC 2018-23) and Lily and their extended family.

Patrick grew up on the family farm at Waubra with his parents Des (SPC 1938-39, PY1941) and Carmel, alongside Damien (SPC 1978-80, PY1981), Jacinta, Virgina and Rachel.

He was a day student at SPC, following in the footsteps of his late father Des and grandfather Patrick (SPC 1914-15).

After leaving school, Patrick spent several seasons shearing and working on farms across Victoria, NSW and South Australia, and he studied at Longerenong College.

He also studied accounting and co-founded and co-operated TRG Accountants before pursuing a long-held ambition to establish his own firm, with the founding of Ryan & Co Accountants.

Patrick served on school boards and finance committees including at St Francis Xavier Ballarat, Bungaree Parish Board and Millbrook Community Centre.

He was also a talented footballer, playing junior football at Waubra before senior stints at Murtoa, SMW Rovers, Navarre – becoming a 1999 premiership player – and finally back at Waubra, claiming best and fairest awards at three of those clubs.

He was a long-time volunteer, junior coach, sponsor and five-year treasurer of the Bungaree Football Netball Club, and a valued supporter and sponsor of the Waubra Football Netball Club, and an active supporter of Dunnstown Cricket Club.

In moving tributes, family and friends said Patrick “inspired us to live life to the full” who “fought against the odds with positivity, tenacity and courage”.