A core group of Old Paradians, amongst them elite sportsmen past and present, have shared their unique experiences in a series of interviews conducted by Year 12 students at Parade’s Sports Academy.

Members of the select group generously gave of their time to participate in the interviews, most of them in person, with the students. The interviews were conducted in the Nash Learning Centre by the students as part of their literacy requirements for the Year 12 Sports Academy Senior VCAL Certificate.

One of the literacy tasks involved the preparation, conduct and submission in writing of an interview with an Old Paradian who has excelled in sport. The recorded interviews were either conducted in person or via Zoom so that students could revisit the audio and compile their final works for presentation in article form. Ben Shelton (2000) College Sport Academy teacher coordinated the activity and was thrilled with how it went and again commented on the generosity of Old Paradians in giving back to their old school.

Old Paradians who participated in the interviews involving student groups were:

• Peter Bedford (1964) – the 1970 Brownlow Medalist, five-time South Melbourne Best & Fairest, and Victoria’s Sheffield Shield representative through seven seasons;

• Adam Dale (1986) – Parade College’s only post-World War II Test cricketer, and an Australian rep in 30 one-day internationals;

• Jade Gresham (2015) – the AFL’s No.18 National Draftee of 2015 and now played over 100-games as a St Kilda midfielder

• Gary Honey (1976) – Silver Medalist in the long jump (second to Carl Lewis) at the 1984 Olympiad, and Gold Medalist at both the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games

• Shane Watson (1991) – a 141-game player through nine seasons with Collingwood.

• Massimo Murdocca (2002) - Represented Australia at Under 17, Under 20 and Under 23 Football, combined with over 200 hugely successful games with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City Football Clubs

• Ricky Dyson (2003) - Current Director of the College’s Sport Academy. Drafted at number 44 in the 2003 National Draft went on to play 114 games with Essendon as a midfield running defender. Recently awarded Life Membership of the Club

• Ben Allan - Current staff member and former NBL player at the Sydney Kings and Townsville Crocodiles and US College basketballer