John Perry (’65)

John Perry’s long association with Aquinas College commenced in 1960 when he came to Aquinas as a boarder from the town of Mandurah. He was a strong all-rounder who figured prominently in many areas of College life including debating, YCS, Holy Name Society and Cadets, oftentimes taking on the role of secretary or treasurer – a precursor to his successful professional life outside of school - matriculating in 1965 with six subjects. A natural leader, he was a Prefect in his leaving year.

In the sporting arena, John’s star shone brightly, with an enviable list of sporting achievements including: Under 16 Athletic Champion in 1963; Under 17 Athletic Champion in 1964; Open Athletic Champion in 1965; Under 17 State Schoolboy Champion Hurdler in 1964; under 19 State Schoolboy Champion Hurdler in 1965; and Vice-captain of the Victorious Inters athletic team in 1965. He rowed from 1962 – 1965, and in his final year at Aquinas rowed in the successful 2^nd VIII, a year in which Aquinas won every race at the Head of The River. From 1961-1965 he played football with honours, representing Aquinas in the 1^st XVIII.

After achieving his Leaving Certificate in 1965, John went on to complete the Real Estate Valuation course at WAIT (now Curtin), eventually returning to Mandurah to manage the family’s real estate firm, H & N Perry Mandurah. John’s enormously successful real estate career spanned many years and many successful projects, including the high-profile land developments at Madora Bay and Florida Beach Estate, Dawesville. Last year, H & N Perry Mandurah celebrated its 70^th anniversary, servicing the Peel Region.

In the years since graduating, John’s involvement with Aquinas College has continued unabated, marrying his beautiful wife Bella at the Aquinas College Chapel in 1971, returning to the College for various events and reunions over the years and supporting the College’s philanthropic endeavours, including our new River Centre.

Now retired, John and Bella are still heavily involved in the Mandurah and Peel Region, supporting groups involved with Health, sport and education, including Peel Health Campus Foundation, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and Mandurah Catholic College (Music Scholarships), with a particular bias towards helping youth.

Mike Scott (’58)

(as spoken by his son)

Dad boarded from the age of 5, including through all of his high school years at Aquinas. He has been part of a long tradition of grabbing boarders and making them row – especially the stronger, or lankier looking ones!

His father Phon (my grandfather) rowed for Aquinas in a winning 4 in the 1927 crew. Dad rowed for Aquinas between 1955 and 1958 – both coxing the Ist IV and rowing in it. Not winning though! He made lifelong mates through-out this time.

He represented the state in Rowing and rowed in the Kings Cup in 1966 and 1967. Which at the time was the premier rowing race between states.

Later he coached rowing at Aquinas, when my brother Mick went through Aquinas (winning 8 – 1989) and then myself (winning 8 – 1994).

In the year I won, Dad coached the winning 2^nd Viii, and my brother Mick coached the winning 3^rd Viii. We won the Champion Cup and the Hamer cup that year.

Coincidentally my cousin Tim was the Cox for my winning 8 that year. There was also my uncle Peter whose crew won in 1965 (coached by Phon!). Herb Elliot was in that crew.

I believe this is the 3^rd boat to be named after a member of the Scott family.

The Phon Scott was first

Then Barbara Scott

And now the Mike Scott.

The Phon Scott was a gift to Aquinas rowing from Dudley and Mike.

Dad has continued with Seniors and Masters rowing locally and internationally through-out, winning many races but also making great mates along the way.

Dad’s achievements in rowing along the way have not been in isolation, and despite his ultra-competitiveness, it has always been a healthy one, driving himself and those around him to do his and their best.

We have seen so much change on a technology front over this time with rowing boats and oars move from handcrafted wood to tailor-made carbon fibre hulls and Clever blades, it’s also fantastic to see the school’s investment in the new River Centre.

We are very grateful as a family that the Aquinas community has named a boat after dad in acknowledgement of his efforts at Aquinas and in the broader rowing community – to make the boat go faster and for the people around him to achieve their best both individually and as team players.

Nick Guidera (‘00)

Nick arrived at Aquinas in 1993 as a Year 5 student and enjoyed 8 years at the College. An all-rounder, he represented the college in a number of sporting and cultural activities as well as achieving academic success. He was an active member of the Music department, a Prefect in his final year, and winner of the Caltex Best All Rounder Award.

Nick represented the College in Swimming & Cross Country, tried his hand at footy, but left it to the future AFL players in his year group, settling instead for the role of Runner for the 1st XVIII. In his final year, he was named Captain of Boats, rowing in the 1st VIII, and receiving the award of Strongest Oarsman. In a season marred by gastro and a closure of the Swan River due to an algae bloom, his crew rose to the challenge, achieving much success throughout the season, but the Head of the Race was not to be theirs.

Post School, Nick has enjoyed a successful 20 years. Relocating to Sydney with his family at 17, he coached rowing at Sydney Church of England Coe-Educational Grammar School for a number of years. In 2006, he graduated from the University of Technology Sydney with a Bachelor of Laws and was then admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW. After 5 years in Industrial Relations Law, he turned his hand to finance, joining Asian Investment Bank CLSA after completing his Masters at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

An amazing post-graduate program sent him to Hong Kong, London and ultimately New York. Now living in Curl Curl, NSW with his wife Nicole and two small children, he has joined the funds management community as a small capital equity specialist – and enjoys surfing and ultra-marathons in his spare time.

Stuart Reside ('95)

Stuart Reside came to Aquinas College in Year 8. He was an all-rounder, a prefect and a house councillor. His athletic achievements were many and varied, including Athletics 1995; Football 2nd XVIII 1994-1995; Swimming Team from 1991-1995, and Volleyball A-Team in 1994. Most notably, Stuart rowed in the winning 1^st VIII in the 1995 Head of the River, a very talented and high calibre crew who were determined to retain the trophy won by the 1994 crew the previous year and more than willing to put in the hard yards. In that year Stuart received honours for rowing and was named as the Best Clubman.

That determination to succeed, instilled during his school years, fuelled Stuart’s post-school life. After winning the Head of The River for Aquinas, Stuart was selected to represent Australia in the Junior World Championships in Poland, and set to row in the double scull, however, he contracted a severe case of Salmonella food poisoning, losing half his body weight. Returning from Poland to train in Bunbury in a state rowing camp, he was then bitten by a mosquito and contracted Ross River fever that left him debilitated for months. Nothing came easy during this period but Stuart refused to let anything hold him back, training like there was no tomorrow. He went on to win the singles scull at the World Junior Rowing Championships the next year, the first and only Australian to do so. From there, his rowing career went from strength to strength – always with the same level of sacrifice and perseverance.

The following year in 1997 Stuart was selected for his first senior Australian Team in the Mens’ Quad Scull. This would lead to Stuart representing Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics where the Men’s Quads team came fourth.

With a view to life after rowing, Stuart took 18 months off to finish his Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University. With unfinished business on the water, however, he picked up the oars again to row in pairs and eights, making the Australian team in 2002, but did not put his hand up. Then, in 2003, he was selected for the Men’s Eight and went on to win bronze at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

One of Stuart’s coaches remembers that: “When he thinks he’s at his limit then he’ll go a bit further and extend himself. And if he reaches that, he’ll try to go further.”

Stuart achievements in rowing make him arguably Aquinas Colleges greatest ever oarsman.