YOG News - March 2026

Welcome to our latest edition of YOG News.

On Friday 24 April, we’re returning to the Patterson, and you’re invited!

If you’ve ever worn the black, red and yellow or cheered from the sidelines, you’re invited to gather again at the place where so many great moments were made.

Join us to watch Yarra take on PEGS in the opening match of the 2026 season, with refreshments in the Brooke Nicholas Pavilion at half time.

The more familiar faces we have there, the better it will be, so please spread the word and gather your former teammates and friends. Feel free to forward this invitation.

For catering purposes, please register your interest HERE

Looking forward to seeing you there! #GoYarra

We are seeking YOG volunteers who are established in their careers and able to spare an hour to help inspire Yarra’s Year 10 students. 

On Friday 27 March, from 8.35 am to 9.35 am, we will be running YOG Speed Careering, with YOGs invited to arrive from 8.00 am.

What is Speed Careering?
Speed Careering is a fast‑paced and engaging session where YOGs meet with small groups of Year 10 students to share their career journeys since leaving Yarra. Across four rotations of 12 minutes each, students gain insight into a wide range of pathways and learn about the many possibilities their futures could hold.

This event is consistently a highlight for both students and YOGs, and we would be delighted to have you participate.

If you are able to join us, please email yog@yvg.vic.edu.au 

As part of celebrating 60 Years of Music at Yarra, we warmly invite musical YOGs to join the YVG Choir for the combined opening number at Food, Wine and Music on Saturday 21 March.

The featured work is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Ennio Morricone, from the 1966 film of the same name - a fitting choice given it is the very year the School was founded.

If you ever sang at Yarra – in chapel, on stage, on tour, or simply in the music wing corridors - this is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with those shared musical memories.

This is intended as an inclusive invitation. We are looking more for vocal commitment than vocal perfection. Music and rehearsal recordings will be provided in advance to make preparation straightforward.

Rehearsals
The following short rehearsals have been scheduled:
Friday 13 March – 4.00 to 4.45 pm
Friday 20 March – 4.00 to 4.45 pm

This will be a special chance for YOGs to sing alongside our combined choirs and 70‑piece Symphony Orchestra and to contribute to a meaningful sense of legacy and continuity.

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information, please contact us at yog@yvg.vic.edu.au

At the YOG AGM on Tuesday 24 February, we were delighted to welcome three new nominees to the YOG Committee.

Sarah‑Louise Heather (YOG 2019)
Deakin LLB student, Monash BA graduate in Human Rights.
“I appreciate the value of community & look forward to encouraging engagement from all alumni.”

Hannah Brodribb (YOG 2019)
Deakin Law graduate, Monash Criminology graduate, Master of Laws student at Monash, Legal Assistant and Business Owner.
“My time at Yarra played a significant role in shaping who I am today and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support initiatives that strengthen our alumni network.”

Cassidy Coetzee (YOG 2025)
Monash University Biomedical Science student.
“I am so grateful for the many opportunities Yarra has provided, and I am looking forward to giving back to the Yarra community through the YOG Committee.”

We also acknowledge and thank the continuing members of the Committee:

Elise Olsen (YOG 2017) – President
Jeremy Irvine (YOG 1992) – Vice President
Martin Watson (YOG 1984) – Treasurer
Will Solano (YOG 2024) – Secretary
Andrew Gaythorpe (YOG 1982)
Rod Penaluna (YOG 1990)
Tim Pottage (YOG 2004)

Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to Emma Rose Parsons (YOG 1998), who has stepped down from the Committee. Emma has made a significant contribution to YOG over many years. Her time, effort and dedication have made a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful.

A new YOG initiative, YOG NextGen, saw a fantastic group of young YOGs getting together to share ideas on how we can better connect, support and engage with the younger alumni community. From social, arts and sporting event ideas to social media engagement and fresh approaches for connecting with younger YOGs, the room was full of energy and creativity. A sensational start! Thank you to everyone who joined us. 

Keep an eye on YOG socials for updates as these ideas take shape and as we continue building YOG NextGen throughout 2026. If you are interested in joining the group please email us at yog@yvg.vic.edu.au. #GoYarra #YOGNextGen

Our 2026 YOG Annual Golf Day is coming up quickly on Wednesday 1 April at the stunning Victoria Golf Club. Please note we only have very limited tickets available. If you or your team miss out, please add yourself to the waitlist via the bookings link as we occasionally have last minute shuffles before the day. 

Price:

• YOG: $200
• 6 – 10 Year Out YOG: $150
• 1 – 5 Year Out YOG: $100
• General adult: $370

Inclusions: Green fees, light lunch, post-match drinks and dinner

Bookings and more information: https://www.trybooking.com/DHLRD

We hope to see you there!

The Old Yarra Cobras continue to flourish in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, fielding competitive men’s and women’s teams and playing an exciting, high‑quality brand of Australian Rules football. 

The club warmly welcomes players of all abilities, with Yarra past students especially encouraged to get involved. This year we’re pleased to welcome Michael Fung (YOG 1991) as our new President, succeeding Tim Pottage (YOG 2004) after his outstanding leadership. To learn more or get involved follow these links:

Instagram: @oldyarracobras
Facebook: facebook.com/OldYarraCobras
Email: president@oycfc.com.au

A vibrant community and a great season await. #StrikeFirst #GoYarra

Every year on 8 February we celebrate Yarra Foundation Day, marking the anniversary of the first day of school in 1966 at Yarra Valley Grammar. In 2026, our celebrations were held at School on Friday 6 February and continued in the city at St Paul’s Cathedral on Yarra Foundation Day itself, Sunday 8 February.

At School, the day included a special assembly, morning tea, tours, the YOG v First XI Cricket Match, a Past Staff Reunion, and appreciation activities and gifts for all staff and students. The YOG cricket team were presented with a special YOG cap, which helped spur them on to victory.

We will pause every year to Appreciate (our past), Celebrate (our Yarra Spirit) and Aspire (to the future). The day celebrates the foundation of the School and the Yarra Foundation which continues to fundraise for the future of the School.

If you would like to view the photo gallery from our Yarra Foundation Day celebrations, including events at the School and at St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as our specially created story picture book, please visit www.yvg.vic.edu.au/yarra-foundation-day 

Our Admissions department have started the process for Year 7, 2028 enrolments.  We encourage you to apply for a place if you are not already on the list, as there is limited availability due to huge interest in the school. We value our YOGs and love seeing second and third generations of families at Yarra. 

We want you to stay connected! Recent updates to the YOG Rules mean we need all YOGs to confirm their membership. Receiving this eNews does NOT guarantee you are a YOG – the school is kindly distributing this for us.

Why opt in? Stay part of a vibrant community with access to YOG sport, career networking and social events - including the chance to inspire current students by sharing your journey.

If you haven’t opted in yet (or simply can’t remember if you have!), it’s easy - just send an email to: yog@yvg.vic.edu.au with: “Yes, I would like to opt in” or follow the QR code above to update your details AND opt-in!

There’s no cost to stay involved. Just connection, opportunity and impact.