St Bernard’s College Old Collegians Association

On Friday, 19 October, The St Bernard's Old Collegian Association was able to host the annual SBOCA Chris Lane Cup Golf Day, after a long hiatus due to COVID

It was a fantastic day of golfing with Old Collegians from many different eras of the College, Adding a real sense of community across different eras of the College

Thank you to Medway Golf Club for their hospitality on the day and, thank you to our sponsors - the support they provide makes days like this possible.

MNG Lawyers, Scotchman's Hill, Bendigo Bank Strathmore, Arthur Reed Photography, Metro Printing, Winestar, Ascot Vale Hotel, Moonee Ponds Club, TOTE Bar

Congratulations to our 2022 Champions Jack Curran, Chris Smith, Nathan Wilson & Shane Reddaway!

A massive congratulations to Steven Alessio for his appointment as the new Senior Coach for 2023.

Steven brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we have no doubt success is on the cards in 2023!

A great interview from an Old Collegian in a particularly interesting job

Social Media Specialist, Basil Zoccali – class of 2011

What work do you do?

I am the social media specialist for The Walt Disney Company; Marvel, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic.

Do you like your job?

I love my job! Not only do I get to work for one of the top 5 ranked media and entertainment companies, but I also get to share this experience with amazing people who I work alongside with. They say that when you get excited to wake up for work, that’s when you know that you’ve found the right job.

What does that role involve?

I work alongside our Integrated Marketing team to ensure that the strategy and content we create is shared and managed on Disney’s social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram for Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic Australia & New Zealand.

Tell us some of the greatest challenges you face at work.

Given the large scale of each brand and they all have different objectives, sometimes having to work with multiple at the same time is a challenge, however, I am learning more about them every day and enjoy it quite a lot.

What sort of rewards do you have in your role?

The greatest reward of this role is the reactions from fans. Social media provides a fast way to interact with people. I love being able to create content and see the fans engaged positively with it. Reading their stories through comments about what a certain movie/ television series means to them and how just sharing a piece of content can make somebody laugh and excited for a release.

What skills do you need as a Social Media Specialist?

You need a strong understanding of all social media platforms, advertising, proficient organisational skills to stay on top of all the brands and their key objectives, data analytics, content strategy, and using programs such as photoshop and video editing.

How did you land this job?

I worked very hard and made sure I learned as much as possible during my time with Essendon FC, Channel 10, and Bupa – but I had always made it my goal to work at The Walt Disney Company. So, I ensured that my personal brand was of reach to recruiters through networking and LinkedIn. Through this, I was able to showcase my abilities and was invited for an interview for what is now my current role.

What does a typical day look like?

Not one day is the same at Disney, so a typical one generally involves checking emails to see if anything has come through overnight from America, going to meetings regarding certain projects, and then making sure the social media accounts and strategies are up to date.

What’s most interesting about your work?

Being able to be creative with content and learn what the fans enjoy seeing on social media. I also enjoy data analytics – dissecting information to work out exactly how I can progress my work but also make it better.

What did you learn about your job only once you got there?!

My expectations of social media would probably be the same as everyone reading this: “All you do is post on Facebook and Instagram!” Once I got into the role, I learned very quickly that to be successful you had to bring skills such as strategic thinking, planning, and creativity – skills that I was able to learn through experience and working with experts around me.

Outside of technical skills or knowledge, what personal qualities and attributes help you in your work?

I like to talk a lot! Because of this, I’m able to communicate and bring people along the journey with me. I am also a very creative person and that spark helped me in my job to want to do more, be more fun and interact with our audience.

What are your stand-out memories of SBC?

I did the school musical from year eight to year-12 and loved every moment of it. Another one was Santa Monica camp which was such a great experience to do. I have also made many lifelong friends from SBC.

Who has helped you in your career journey?

There are a few people, firstly my parents have always trusted my decision and supported me. My partner is someone who I use as a soundboard, and she provides me the confidence to know I am making the right choices. Finally, my friends who I have grown up with through high school and now in our respective workplaces, being able to celebrate our milestones and face challenges together is something I am very grateful for.

If there’s something you could say to your 17-year-old self, what would it be?

Carpe Diem! Every obstacle that may come your way is a learning and it will only make you a better person in the end.