A former AFL player and a clinical prosthetist were the two fascinating speakers who rounded out the final Beaconhills College Alumni Breakfast Series event for 2024 – with the theme of Health and Wellbeing.

Matthew Buntine, Class of 2011, Pakenham Campus, was part of the AFL Talent Pathways Programs with the Dandenong Stingrays, Vic Country and the Australian Institute of Sport, which led him to being drafted as pick 5 in the 2011 draft – to the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants Football Club where he enjoyed a 10-year career. Matt is now a Commerce teacher.

Matt spoke about the “light and shade” of his successful AFL career. These included not just the highs, but the low points, such as major injuries and the disappointment of being delisted over a Zoom call during Covid. He said his experiences had taught him the value of being “intentional” is his approach to life and find the best ways to look after himself.

“Now, as an adult, I’m a lot more intentional about what I do,” he said.

“Relationships, exercise and curiosity…these are the core foundations in my life.”

The second speaker, Natalie Templar, graduated from the Pakenham Campus in 2014 and is one of only 400 orthotists/prosthetists in the country with the unique skills needed to help people regain aspects of their lives lost due to amputation.

Natalie spoke about her passion for working in prosthetics, where her patients could range from a toddler just wanting to ride a bike with friends, to a paralympian.

“My days can be very confronting and hard, but can be very rewarding,” she said.

As a student who loved the Beaconhills Running Club, held leadership positions and even won the 39th Battalion Association’s Bould/Young literary award to walk the Kokoda Trail, Natalie’s advice to current students was to “embrace all opportunities” offered at school.

She also recommended that students explore universities’ alternative programs and pathways. Her admission to Latrobe University after graduating was through Latrobe’s Aspire Early Entry Program, which took into account her community service involvement.

MC for the Alumni Breakfast Series event was Head of Wellbeing, Yvonne Ashmore, with introductions and Indigenous Acknowledgment by Berwick Campus Principal Sam Watson.

#BeaconhillsCollege #BeaconhillsAlumniBreakfastSeries #AlumniBreakfastSeriesEvent