Alumni Spotlight: Ben Brennan (Class of 1994)

Thirty plus years on, I have so many great memories from my time at Servite, but one that really sticks with me was the Swim Team Camp to Contos Beach, Boranup. That was the beginning of my lifelong passion for camping and the outdoors. Our year group was very tight, but the Swim Team had a special bond, forged in the sub-artic waters of the Tuart Hill swimming pool. These days I love nothing more than getting outdoors and camping under the stars.

Since leaving Servite, I have built a career in advertising, marketing and print. This line of work has kept me closely linked to Servite, who I am fortunate to call one on my clients. I print the Servite Yearbook each year, along with other bits and pieces. A funny story about the Servite Yearbook came to me in more recent years. In my (other) life as an artist, I sold a painting to a lady who had taught at Servite. She asked me if I had seen my picture in the yearbook, to which I replied ‘yes, of course’. She then produced a copy of the 1994 yearbook, turned to the back and showed me a picture of a pretty young girl. Beneath was the caption ‘Ben Brennan – Servite Art Award Winner’. Proof to the fact that I never read a thing, I just looked at the pictures.

As well as my working life, I have had a parallel career as a visual artist and painter. This very important part of my life was nurtured by the Art Department at Servite. It was Gen Baker (and in earlier years Michael Paige), who identified this in me. With their encouragement and direction, I supplemented my Year 11 and 12 studies by doing Art and Design at night school. Today, I am quite prolific with my art practice. I have won numerous awards, exhibit often and have had several solo exhibitions. I still keep in close contact with Gen Baker, who has followed my art journey closely. Last week in fact, she contacted me regarding one of my recent paintings with some opinions and advice, which I was very grateful to receive.

A couple of years ago, I was asked to come in and run a painting workshop with the Servite College Fine Art students. This was a great honour and something I enjoyed immensely.
I compliment my work and artist life with a strong family life, weekly indoor cricket and lots of golf.

Now is a nice time to look back and be grateful for the things life has given me. Thirty years on from leaving Servite, my ties remain strong. My older two children have gone through Servite (including my 16-year-old son, currently in Year 11) and with my youngest boy only in Year 1, there will be many more Servite-years to come.