Upcoming & Recently Completed Events
Upcoming & Recently Completed Events
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Items for 2025 will be added here when firm details are known. For a list of events from past years and the link to read about them, click here.
Archbishop's Dinner
SPOCA was invited to attend the Archbishop's Dinner at the end of August. It was held at the Moonee Valley Race Club by around 300 people. It is an event which is organized by the Priests Support and Education Fund and has raised significant funding over more than 20 years. Our committee person associated with issues which overlap with Archdiocese interests is Kevin Lane and he appreciated the opportunity to attend. A couple of photos (below) indicate the general tenor of the evening.
With Kevin ...
Dr Clare Johnson, prof Liturgy & Sacraments, Sch of Theology
A/Prof Joël Hodge, Head of Sch of Theology
Janosh Biczok, Dir Advancement, ACU
Coopers Inn (August 2025)
Another very pleasant lunch at chat was enjoyed by a small but prestigious group on Wednesday (20 Aug) as advertised in the July newsletter. The numbers were smaller than last year but nevertheless provided a great opportunity for some detail discussions about nothing important! We were hosted magnificently by the Son of Jock ... Matt O'Kane. He had arranged a number of the old Patrician yearbooks around the upstairs room, plus some photos related to the 'old place'. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Coopers Inn is made of bluestone blocks and was built in ... 1854. There must have been at least some of them that came from the same quarry on the same day as ones which were dropped of in Lansdowne St (a pleasant connection if not a true event!). Matt is keen to host other Patrician gatherings, and not necessarily just ones formally organized as were this one and last year's. If anyone is planning to catch up with a few mates, then consider the conveniently located Coopers. A block from Parliament Station and a number of buses travel down Lonsdale St (a block away). Book in and let Matt know where you're from.
Here's a pic of the friendly crowd on the 20th ...
Astute readers will notice the two non-Patricians present ... one obvious by age (Matt) and the other by gender (Marg Cavanagh) who added some extra life to the party! Other spouses & partners are encouraged to attend future gatherings (last year we enjoyed the company of Darcy Brennan's partner ... Deb. Others within range of Kevin's camera include Kevin (nearest his phone!), Bruce O'Brien, Michael Cav, Jim Smith, Bernie Power, and the current Pres.
AGM 2025
AGM 2025
The SPOCA Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday 27 April at Xavier College. The meeting was preceded by the annual Anzac Commemoration service in the College chapel at 10 am, followed by morning tea in the hall.
Agenda and tentative Minutes can be found on the Committee Meetings page.
ANZAC Commemorative Service
The Xavier College chapel was nearly at capacity, as is usual for this event. SPOCA personnel take part in various parts of the ceremony, including the laying of the wreath (SPOCA President together with Old Xaverians President, Michel Esnault), reading of the roll of Patricians who lost their lives in WW1 and WW2 (read by Gavin Wayland and George Zagon), and assisting in the Prayers of the Faithful (SPOCA and OX Presidents).
Further photos of the Anzac event can be seen below ...
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