2022/23 highlights for the Old Boys Union of Victoria

Introduction

The Old Boys Union of Victoria was established in 1981 and has been going strong for 42 years. The current committee comprising a few dynamic young men follow in the giant footsteps of older Benedictines who have supported the College over the years. Most notable of these contributions was the School Bus donated by the Victorian chapter in the late 1990s.

The mission of St. Benedict's College Old Boys' Union of Victoria Inc. is to foster a strong sense of community and promote the social, cultural, and intellectual well-being of alumni who reside in Victoria, Australia. We uphold the principles of "Religio, Mores, Cultura" (Religion, Morals, and Culture) by supporting underprivileged students, retired teachers, and essential infrastructure projects at our Alma Mater in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Through organizing social events, fundraising, and providing support for current students of the school, we aim to uphold the legacy and mission of St. Benedict's College. Additionally, our organization serves as a platform for networking and sharing experiences, skills, and knowledge among members. By doing so, we strengthen the bonds of the alumni community and contribute to the betterment of society, all while upholding the values of religion, morals, and culture.

Membership

The union had 255 members at the end of 2022 with 27 life members and 37 paid members. There were five new members and three deceased during this period.

Events

In 2022, there were several events that took place including the AGM which coincided with the viewing of the Bens vs Wesley Cricket encounter. Sports events included the La Sallian Trophy, the Black & Gold Basketball Tournament, the Indoor Cricket Championship, and the Saint's Quadrangular Cricket Tournament which our team won against St Peter’s College OBU.

The feast of St Benedict was also another notable event with over a hundred Old Bens and their families commemorating our Alma Mater.

Last year, at the 40th annual dinner dance we had an impressive 620 guests, including distinguished old Bens, their families, and friends. We had 'Voice Print', the Benedictine Alumni A capella band from Sri Lanka, on stage. The dance also featured Melbourne's own 'Redemption', a trending Sri Lankan band that caters to all musical genres.

Fundraising and donations

The Annual Dinner Dance and other fundraisers brought in funds to the Victorian OBU. 2.45 Million LKR was donated towards the clock tower building reconstruction project,  the ‘Namadimu’ project for the welfare of retired Benedictine teachers, and the Best Bowler Trophy for the Bens vs Wesley Cricket encounter. In addition, three cartons of Cereal boxes were donated to the College Athletics team and 1000 AUD was collected to purchase 30 pairs of spikes as a part of a joint team initiative. 

Outreach

The OBU Victoria has a continuous relationship with the Shepherdian OGA spanning many years. We have also established relationships with the Alumni associations of Wesley, De Mazenod, St Peter’s, St Joseph’s, Methodist and numerous other Sri Lankan schools to network and build up a Sri Lankan community.   

Challenges

In July 2022, the OBU tried to organise a felicitation dinner for Old Ben Maheesh Theekshana who was part of the Sri Lanka Cricket Test Squad. Unfortunately, due to SLCB rulings, this event had to be cancelled.

Another challenge facing the committee is recruiting and retaining younger Old Bens in the OBU due to them just starting out life in Australia.

Future Plans

The 41st Annual Dinner Dance featuring Voice Print is on the cards for the 5th of August 2023. All preliminary planning activities are well underway for the biggest fundraiser in the OBU’s calendar year. Most of the proceeds from the event will be utilised to support the 21st Century Learning Project and STEM Program in College. 

Acknowledgments

We thank the OBU Victoria Commitee for 2022/23 for all the hard work carried out last year and the time committed towards the College Alumni. 

We remember our members Sandy Rode, Joe Walles, Mahinda Jeronimus, Niranjan Joseph and Rex Foulston who passed away during this period. May their souls rest in eternal peace!