The 2025 Annual General Meeting for the OIU was held on Thursday 13 November at Cova Cottage. Approximately 50 people attended in person, with another 5-6 joining online. Guests included Greg MacKay (current Chair of the college board), Geraldine Magarey (incoming Chair of the college board), Mark Tannock (current college Principal), Leesa Feiln (current President of the P&F) and Claudia McInerney (incoming President of the P&F). In addition, we were joined by a number of members of the OIU as well as members of staff who support the OIU and current committee members. 

We had a full agenda for the evening, with Greg MacKay giving an update on the college board's priorities and activities for 2025 and Mark Tannock giving an update on key developments and achievements at the college. This was followed by my Presidents report, which set out the wide variety of activities that the OIU ran over the course of 2025. Key highlights included the work around mental health lead by Sam Shephard; the social justice programs we support of St Francis House, the Indigenous Mentor Program and our recent support of St Vincent de Paul's Domestic Violence program; and of course the many events that we support and hold across a range of member interests. Luca de Lorenzo, OIU Treasurer, then presented the financial accounts, demonstrating the strong fiscal management and governance we have put in place to responsibly manage our annual budgets and protect the capital under management that ultimately fund our activities. 

Finally, we presented our annual awards. This year's recipients were: 

• OIU Recognition Award, Greg MacKay for his collaboration with the OIU during his term as Chair 

• Hazaribagh Award, Terry Meagher (OR50) decd. (accepted by his children Andrew, John and Nicki) for his lifelong service to the Jesuit Missions through the Bazaar 

• Man for Others Award, Paul Brogan (OR75) for his extended period of service to the OIU, school and broader community 

• OIU Service Award, Peter Goodman (OR84) for his service in setting up St Francis House post COVID following the closure of Theresa House 

• OIU Service Award, Peter Solomon (OR87) for his role in developing and deploying the new constitution

• OIU Challenge Trophy, Bill Follent (OR74) as winner of the football tipping competition Congratulations to all of these men for their support, service and engagement with the OIU. 

The final agenda item of the night was the voting of the new committee for 2026. The committee for 2026 is: 

Executive Committee 

• President: Brian Shanahan (OR87) 

• Secretary: John Russell (OR94) 

• Treasurer: Luca De Lorenzo (OR2011) 

General Committee 

• Rob Hartman (OR67) 

• Simon Terrell (OR72) 

• Damian 'Ticka' Tynan (OR84) 

• Ben Connolly (OR87) 

• Ben Frawley (OR87) 

• Sean Cunial (OR87) 

• Angelo Maiorana (OR89) 

• Sam Shepherd (OR91) 

• David McKay (OR1989) 

• Simon Thorp (OR84) 

• Andrew McKay (OR90) 

• Julian Timmins (OR94) 

• Tim Brewer (OR94) 

• Hugh Sinclair (2002). 

Thank you for volunteering your time to lead the OIU into the future. The Union would not be able to function without your passion and generosity. 

Special thanks must go to the Committee members retiring this year — James Hewat (OR2016), Andrew McInerney (OR93) and Peter Goodman (OR81). 

Your contributions have been significant and our community is better for your involvement. And finally, thank you to Christine Zimbulis, Cath Moore and Heather Mitchell who do so much to support the OIU and help us work seamlessly with the college. 

On a personal note, it has been an honour being President for the last two years. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during this time, particularly Fr Tom Renshaw, Mark Tannock, Pheobe Loneragan and the team at the Advancement Office and of course all the committee members. I couldn't have done it without you all. 

Congratulations to Brian Shanahan and I look forward to supporting him on his journey through 2026-27.