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Employment
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Thursday, 20 March marked the first St Bernard’s College business lunch of the year, celebrating our partnership with the Essendon FC Academy. The event was masterfully hosted by old collegian and ex-Essendon champion Simon Madden, who was joined by an impressive panel of speakers including ex-Essendon captain Dyson Heppell, former Bomber premiership players Scott Lucas and Steve Alessio, as well as Essendon FC Strategy and Growth Lead Kristen Bull and Player Development and Welfare Manager Chris Byrne.
Kristen Bull provided valuable insights into the various courses available to St Bernard’s students through the Essendon Education Academy in partnership with RMIT, located at the Hangar at Essendon FC headquarters. The Academy offers a Football Development Program and encourages students to explore the parallels between sport, business, and leadership.
Dyson Heppell shared his passion for raising awareness and funds for Scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease affecting young Bomber fan Harrison. Dyson and Harrison have launched a new clothing label called "Haych," featuring Harrison's artwork and designs. All proceeds go towards fulfilling Harrison's dream bucket list and supporting Scleroderma research.
Simon Madden entertained the audience with anecdotes from his playing days at Essendon, while Scott Lucas discussed his role in player management, helping players transition into AFL football and navigate the often challenging shift into retirement and new careers.
Chris Byrne provided an in-depth look at the many obstacles young draftees face as they enter the world of AFL, including intense training loads, diet, and club commitments with fan and sponsor engagement.
The event concluded on a humorous note when Simon Madden asked Steve Alessio to recount a funny story about coach Kevin Sheedy giving him a 'huge spray' in a review after a poor performance. Steve humorously revealed that Sheedy had made a mistake, as he wasn't even in the side that day! Steve's genial nature had everyone laughing.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our special guests for their time and insights, to the community for their unwavering support, and to everyone involved in organising the lunch. Your contributions made this event a resounding success, highlighting the strong partnership between St Bernard's College and the Essendon FC Academy and the exciting opportunities it offers our students.
