Welcome to the May 2025 CGA – Community News, where we celebrate the achievements, milestones, and stories of our vibrant community. From personal successes to life’s special moments, we take pride in sharing the news that brings us together. In this issue, we spotlight engagements, commemorate alumni, and honour the legacy of past students. Stay connected and enjoy the stories that keep our community strong and thriving!
1/ Class of 1965 – 60 Year Reunion
The Class of 1965 gathered for their 60-Year Reunion on Thursday, 20 March 2025, at Caulfield RSL.
This special event marked a remarkable milestone for the class, bringing together alumni to celebrate the incredible journey of the past six decades. It was a memorable occasion that allowed members of the Class of 1965 to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate their shared history.
2/ Wern Mak (Class of 2017)
Wern Mak has captivated audiences with his standout performance in The Lord of the Rings musical, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga. Known for his talent and stage presence, Mak brings a new depth to his character, earning praise for his emotional range and dynamic portrayal.
The musical, which brings the journey of Frodo and his companions to life, benefits from Mak’s powerful performance, which adds to the excitement and drama of this beloved story. His role marks a significant moment in his career, helping to make this production a memorable experience for fans worldwide.
3/ John Head (Class of 1979)
Congratulations to John who received an OAM on the Kings Birthday Honours awards for services to the Arts and the Community of Shepparton. The Award was bestowed by the Governor of Victoria on Tuesday the 1st April 2025.
4/ Emma Meehan (Class of 2020)
Congratulations to Emma Meehan who in April this year graduated with a double degree Bachelor of Aviation and Bachelor of Business, and, is now a qualified commercial pilot. Only 5 % of the world’s pilots are female. We are so proud of you Emma and the role model you have been to so many other females pursuing an aviation dream.
5/ Belinda Colaneri (Class of 1993)
6/ Karis Oka (Class of 2015)
Congratulations to Karis Oka on being cast as Lydia in Beetlejuice the Musical. This exciting production will run at the iconic Regent Theatre in Melbourne from May 7 to August 3. We’re so proud of Karis and can’t wait to see her shine on stage in this fantastic role!
7/ Murphy Reid (Class of 2024)
Congratulations to Murphy Reid on making his AFL debut for the Fremantle Dockers. Selected with pick 17 in the 2024 AFL Draft, Murphy impressed with his skill and composure, earning a well-deserved AFL Rising Star nomination in Round 6 where he gathered 17 disposals, including a goal. A fantastic start to a promising career — well done, Murphy!
8/ Ashley Blyth (Class of 1985)
Ashley Blyth (1982–85) will travel to Canada in August to caddy for his father, David Blyth AO, who has been selected to represent Australia at the 2025 International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) World Championships. David is one of eight blind and vision-impaired golfers chosen to compete on the world stage, with Ashley proudly taking on the role of guide and caddy. The pair will also take part in the ISPS Handa Canadian Open Blind Golf as part of Team Australia’s preparation.
9/ Tallis Pritchard (Class of 2024)
Congratulations to Tallis Pritchard (WH 12, 2024 graduate) on his signing with Zappi racing for 2025!
Tallis was looking for an opportunity to ride for a European Cycling team and heard that Zappi Racing had released an Expression of Interest. Zappi Racing is a British Cycling team that have an Under 23 development team based near Ravenna, in North Italy (3 hours south of Venice). Under 23 covers ages of 18 years to 21. Zappi helped develop cyclists like Tom Pidcock currently with Ineos Grenadiers. Zappi offered a place on their roster for 2025 and Tallis signed a contract covering 12 months, which will see him in Italy from July to October 2025. As part of his contract he needs to purchase a Factor road bike, and Zappi will host him, train and take him to races. Tallis will be working to raise money for the trip, training hard 3-4 hours on his bike every day and is looking forward to the opportunity. We are thrilled for Tallis and look forward to hearing more about his adventures.
10/ Anna Nguyen (Class of 2024)
Congratulations to Anna Nguyen, a 2024 graduate from Wheelers Hill, who has been accepted into Top Designs 2025 as part of the VCE Season of Excellence.
Anna’s featured work is an original animation promoting SunSmart behaviour to young children. She created engaging characters, wrote a playful script, and incorporated a catchy song inspired by the iconic ‘slip, slop, slap’ campaign to capture her audience’s attention.
We’re incredibly proud of Anna’s creativity and hard work, and we look forward to seeing her animation on display at the Melbourne Museum.
