Manorisms: The Manor Lakes P-12 College Podcast

PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded on June 24, 2025, but publishing was delayed because of technical issues...

In January, Tori Mulligan landed his first principal job at our school after building a wealth of experience in leadership roles at Bacchus Marsh Secondary College, Narre Warren South P-12 College and Glen Eira College. In a wide-ranging chat, the father of two young children revealed:

• His vision for our school, covering issues such as student safety, the evolution of our inclusive learning, and a planned makeover of our website.

• The power of goal-setting, and how he continually modifies his five-year plan. A fan of AFL club Richmond, Tori took inspiration from the public goal-setting of ex-Tigers CEO Brendon Gale.

• His start as a PE teacher at South Oakleigh College.

• His eye-opening year of teaching in London.

• The inspiring example of his mother, who captained the Victorian women’s water polo team despite suffering serious injuries in a car accident at 17.

• Meeting cricket legend Viv Richards.

• Details of his own sporting career around Dandenong, including junior sprint records, junior representative basketball, and senior football for Southern league club Doveton...

If there’s someone you think we should interview, please email your nomination and a brief explanation to ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠.

We’d also appreciate it if you gave the show a rating and a review.

Manorisms is hosted by college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins, and until August 2025 it was produced by Josh Ferguson, a former student of our school (Class of 2022) who worked in our IT department.

While living in America in 2015, Jennifer Mair became a foster parent to two teenage brothers from a challenging family situation. And Jenn, a Canadian, took on that responsibility at the busiest time of her life, when she was also teaching at a “tough” school, as well as studying for her masters and planning her wedding – all while still in just her 20s. The foster parenting experience had a profound effect on Jenn, who has been an English teacher in our Secondary school since 2020...  If there’s someone you think we should interview, please email your nomination and a brief explanation to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠... We’d also appreciate it if you gave the show a rating and a review. Thanks in advance... Manorisms is hosted by college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins, and is produced by Josh Ferguson, a former student of our school (Class of 2022) who now works in our IT department.

A creative soul, primary teacher Benjamin Cazaly is the author of a book of poetry, as well as performing a range of roles in local stage productions, and creating various pieces of art. And, yes, football fans will recognise Benjamin’s famous surname: Cazaly. He’s a great-great-great-nephew of the legendary footballer Roy Cazaly, who was immortalised in the iconic footy song Up There Cazaly. And as you’ll discover, Benjamin is also quite a quirky character… If there’s someone you think we should interview, please email your nomination and a brief explanation to ⁠[email protected]⁠... We’d also appreciate it if you gave the show a rating and a review… Thanks in advance... Manorisms is hosted by college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins, and is produced by Josh Ferguson, a former student of our school (Class of 2022) who now works in our IT department.

Dean Lee loves teaching, and he loves football – and in recent years he’s been able to combine these two passions wherever he goes. After a short stint as an accountant, the western suburbs boy turned to teaching, first working at schools in Darwin, where he also served as team manager at the legendary St Mary's Football Club. When Dean returned to Melbourne in 2022 and started at our school, he joined our local VFL club Werribee as the football operations and development assistant… Dean also shares details of an embarrassing yet uplifting experience with Western Bulldogs AFL star Marcus Bontempelli, his avid concert-going, his many travels to various parts of the world, some of which have inspired tattoos, and also reveals some news about his teaching future.… Manorisms is hosted by college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins, and is produced by Josh Ferguson, a former student of our school (Class of 2022) who now works in our IT department… If there’s someone you think we should interview, please email your nominations and a brief explanation to [email protected]... It would also be greatly appreciated if you gave the show a rating and a review… Thanks in advance.

Manorisms is finally back on the air after finding a new producer in former student Josh Ferguson, who now works at our college as an IT technician. A massive thanks, Josh! We hope to release new episodes on a regular basis… Our first guest for the year is one of the most popular people on campus: our VCE Leader, Head of School and comic relief extraordinaire Tara Hyatt. Quick-witted Tara has won a legion of fans in our secondary school with her knowledge, her no-nonsense approach and her sense of humour, which is on display here as she opens up on various matters such as her education in an all-girls Catholic school; her love of netball, chocolate and Taylor Swift; meeting a young Guy Pearce long before he became a Hollywood star; her reluctant horse ownership; and her 12 years at our college, including her hilarious Reply-All mishap… Manorisms is hosted by college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins… If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate it if you gave the show a rating and a review… If there’s someone you think we should interview, please email your nominations and a brief explanation to [email protected]... Thanks in advance.

Primary school PE teacher Connor Thar was one of the hard-luck stories of this year’s VFL Grand Final when he was a late withdrawal from the Werribee team with injury. It was just the latest misfortune for the pocket rocket, who has suffered a few long-term injuries in recent years. At one point Connor even considered quitting football, but he has bounced back with admirable resilience to have a promising future at VFL level… A local Werribee boy who played his junior footy at Werribee Districts, Connor enjoyed a spectacularly successful stint with the Western Jets in the TAC Cup under-18 competition (now known as the Talent League), finishing runner-up in the league best-and-fairest, being selected in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, winning more of the ball than any other player in the competition, and easily winning Western Jets best-and-fairest award – a significant achievement in a team that boasted current AFL players including Port Adelaide star Zak Butters, GWS Giants player Xavier O’Halloran and Western Bulldog Buku Khamis. Despite his hot form, Connor appeared extremely unlucky not to be selected in the Vic Metro under-18 team, and he was later overlooked in the AFL Draft… Although he missed Werribee’s Grand Final this year, Connor had the surreal experience of hanging out with Collingwood star Jordan De Goey during the Magpies’ recent premiership celebrations… Manorisms is co-hosted by college co-captain Ruby Collins and college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins. The show is produced by Jamie Canning. Cover art and music provided by Michael Poke.

Primary school teacher Dwight Farrer has lived in three countries on different continents, for at least nine years each time. He spent his first nine years in India, then almost two decades in Canada, and the past nine years here in Australia where he is now a permanent resident… Dwight is our Grade 3-6 maths learning specialist, and he’s passionate about maths, along with basketball (particularly his hometown NBA team, the Toronto Raptors) and travelling to various parts of the globe… He’s also very proud of the achievements of his family members – his younger brother Stefan is a recording artist in Canada formerly known as Troy The Enigma, and among his cousins are a Bollywood actress (Alisha Farrer) and a fashion model (Shanaya Peters), both of whom have fronted modelling campaigns for high-profile companies… Dwight has also met some famous people outside his own family, including basketball great Dirk Nowitski and current Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins…  This episode of Manorisms was hosted by college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins. (His co-host, college co-captain Ruby Collins, was unavailable.) The show is produced by Jamie Canning. Cover art and music provided by Michael Poke.

Chase Smith-Wood’s acting career is going according to script. At the tender age of just 14, Chase has already appeared in two film productions that have been screened internationally – award-winning short film Bad Beat; and eerie drama The Clearing, an eight-part Disney Plus series in which he appeared in scenes with Aussie stars such as Miranda Otto and Guy Pearce… In a stunning development, the Year 9 student recently signed with big-time agent Christopher Burbidge, who was the first American manager of Australia’s famous Hemsworth brothers. (He's also represented in the US by KMR Talent's Matt Fletcher, who has many young actors on his books.) Chase, too, dreams of making it in Hollywood… On Manorisms he displayed great maturity in his first-ever interview – hopefully the first of many in a long and distinguished acting career… And if acting doesn’t work out for this adventurous country boy, he already has a back-up plan that is far removed from the bright lights of Tinseltown... Manorisms is co-hosted by college co-captain Ruby Collins and college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins. The show is produced by Jamie Canning. Cover art and music provided by Michael Poke.

Our vocational programs leader Kate Goodwin was 19 when she was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – a development that finally provided an explanation for some of her behaviour since she was a young girl. The condition has continued to be a daily battle for Kate, both in her career and as a mother of three young kids. One of her aims is to create more awareness and understanding of adult ADHD, and she's certainly a passionate advocate for the cause... This episode of Manorisms was hosted by college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins. (His co-host, college co-captain Ruby Collins, was unavailable.) The show is produced by Jamie Canning. Cover art and music provided by Michael Poke.

Mark Stewart has been the gentle giant of our primary school since our college opened in 2009. Remarkably, the 50-year-old is still playing football. In fact, on Saturday he will reach an astonishing milestone when he plays his 600th game of open-age footy... The man-mountain ruckman is a local legend around the Geelong district where his long list of achievements include two league best and fairest medals (and runner-up on another occasion), and he has also enjoyed stints at both Geelong and SANFL club West Adelaide... In 1994-95 Mark played for Geelong’s reserves, and performed so well that he was told by a Cats assistant coach that if he'd been on the club's main playing list he would've played at AFL level – and this would’ve been no mean feat in a period where Geelong played off in successive grand finals... Mark shares the terrifying experience of sparring in a boxing ring with Cats superstar Gary Ablett senior, and how he inspired the legendary forward to wear gloves on the field... On top of all that, Mark has represented Australia in gridiron and netball... This popular, genial figure has even dabbled in stand-up comedy, and he gives us a sample of his skills at the end of our chat... He also recalls meeting his music idol, Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder... Manorisms is co-hosted by college co-captain Ruby Collins and college writing mentor, author and former journalist Ben Collins. The show is produced by Jamie Canning. Cover art and music provided by Michael Poke.