Lewis Derrico (1974), the President of the Old Paradians’ Association since its revival in late 2009, has stood down after ten years at the helm.

Succeeding Lewis as President is Paul Shannon (1985), the Association’s long-serving Vice President. The role of Vice President will now be shared by two fellow committeemen John Abrahams (1982) and Andy Walsh (1971).

Lewis assumed the Presidency at a time when the Old Paradians’ Association effectively existed in name only. Responding to the call of Principal Dr Denis Moore, Lewis’ unbridled passion for the Old Paradians and Parade College made him the perfect candidate.

Through the course of the next ten years, Lewis oversaw the steady re-emergence of the Association. Under his watch, the Association met the primary objective of reconnecting with the College’s alumni, and more recently he drove the Association’s Strategic Plan to engage all Old Paradians with purpose up to and including 2023.

Lewis’ Presidency also took in the Association’s Centenary Celebration at the RACV City Club in 2014 and its tribute to Parade College’s 21 years of Musicals – Encore21 – at The Athenaeum last year.

In a letter to the OPA CEO and fellow committeemen, Lewis wrote in part;

“Working with yourself, Brother Denis, all committee members, members of the Parade Community and more recently Kylie Hannam, it has been a real pleasure and honour.

In retrospect, the changing of the Leadership Team could not have come at a more appropriate time.

We are in sound hands with our new President Paul Shannon and our new Vice Presidents John Abrahams and Andrew Walsh.

Our Committee Members are all engaged and ready to put into practice the wonderful work that Daniel Spitty facilitated and developed with our Strategic Plan.”

The Old Paradians’ Association places on record its eternal gratitude to Lewis for leading the way these past ten years. It extends its sincere best wishes to him, his wife Ana and all members of the Derrico family as together they meet the significant challenges that lay ahead.