David Shepherd

David Shepherd’s record at Brighton Grammar School is outstanding: Captain of the School 1974; Captain of Cricket and Football 1973 and 1974; Captain of the BGS Football Team of the Century; and member of the BGS Cricket Team of the Century. In 1974, David was awarded the School’s prestigious Selwyn Noall Memorial Rhodes Prize.

On leaving BGS, David obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons), a Diploma of Education and a Master of Educational Studies from Monash University. While studying, he won the St Kilda Football Club’s Under 19s Best and Fairest and played several games for the St Kilda First XVIII. He also represented the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

As a cricketer, David represented Victoria on two occasions in 1983, and played 145 First XI games with the Melbourne Cricket Club from 1975-1989, captaining the team from 1984 until 1987. From 1989 to 1992, he was Captain Coach of Brighton Cricket Club.

In 1997, David was appointed Principal of Ballarat Clarendon College. The school has experienced a remarkable transformation under his leadership. Student numbers have grown significantly (from 584 to in excess of 1500) and, from 2003 to 2018, the College has been ranked among Victoria’s top-performing schools in VCE. Based on NAPLAN testing, the College was the highest ranked non-selective co-educational school in Australia 2016–17 and the highest ranked country school 2013–2017.

In 2011, David was recognised as Senior Educator of the Year by the Australian College of Educators. In 2012, he received the John Laing Professional Development Award from the Principals Australia Institute. He remains motivated by his commitment “to support hundreds of young women and men to pursue their hearts’ desire”.