FORMER Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling has been recruited by his old school and will join St Joseph\u2019s College in a full-time role next year.<\/p>\n
The Cats legend and popular media personality will join the community and development team at the Catholic boys\u2019 school he graduated from in 1998.<\/p>\n
Ling said he was thrilled to be returning to the Joeys community in an alumni and philanthropy focussed role that offered a fresh challenge outside the sporting arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something new and something really exciting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a really good place to be and I think the environment will make me feel good and pretty positive about it all.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy and I can\u2019t wait to start next year and get into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ling said he would maintain his football media commitments with ABC Radio and Channel Seven but to a lesser extent than in the past.<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old has stayed involved with Joeys as a regular player with the cricket club and as one of the high-profile alumni featured in last year\u2019s Every Boy, Every Dream fundraising campaign which raised $500,000 for a new gymnasium.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been nice to keep a bit of a connection over the years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few of the old teachers who taught me are still there and going back to speak to the students a couple of times has helped to keep that relationship with the school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ling, a father to three boys aged three, six and seven, said he had watched the school\u2019s development from a distance and was keen to play a part in its future growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m certainly watching Joeys through a father\u2019s eyes now and it\u2019s really positive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom afar I\u2019ve been amazed at how much it\u2019s grown, how much the facilities have grown, the numbers of students, different subjects offered and the diversity of sports, along with everything else that\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ling said he would be keen to draw on his leadership and mentoring experience where it was needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my underlying philosophies that I\u2019ve tried to do in all aspects of my life is to create an environment where young people, in this case young men, can really thrive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo challenge them to be their best, teach them and nurture them, at times give them a push and at times really support and care for them, that\u2019s a passion of mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had that both from my family growing up and also from the coaches I had at Geelong and that\u2019s a big reason why we were a successful group because an environment was put in place where we could be the best people, leaders and players we could be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to help be a part of that at St Joeys.\u201d<\/p>\n
St Joseph\u2019s College principal Tony Paatsch said he was thrilled to welcome Ling as a full-time member of staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re most excited about Cameron because of his capacity to act as a role model to young people here, and not just those currently in the school, but those recent graduates too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a great role model, leader, father, sportsman, business person and supporter of many things in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what excites us most, more so than having a favourite son who is a footballer return.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Paatsch said Ling was an enormously positive person and the school community could benefit from that after what had been a challenging year in many ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe core of the role is looking to make sure that we maintain a strong connection between the past students and what\u2019s happening currently in the college,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving someone who is highly respected like Cameron helps that happen and should help us maintain those connections.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ling, who is an ambassador for many charities including River\u2019s Gift and SecondBite, said he was ready to tackle the next stage in his career on somewhat familiar ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI might just sling the old bag back on the shoulder and think I\u2019m back walking through the gates, head to my locker and put my books away,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it might feel a little strange but I\u2019m genuine when I say I have really good memories of my time there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate the opportunity and I\u2019m really looking forward to meeting everyone, reconnecting with everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really going to enjoy the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FORMER Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling has been recruited by his old school and will join St Joseph\u2019s College in a full-time role next year. The Cats legend and popular media personality will join the community and development team at the Catholic boys\u2019 school he graduated from in 1998. Ling said he was thrilled to […]<\/p>\n