David Sinclair

“There’s a humbleness to the Yarra Spirit.”

David Sinclair joined Yarra in Prep and spent his entire school life at the school. Not only did that time set firm foundations for his future, David also married fellow student and School Captain, Meredith Knox (YOG 2004).

The couple met in the 2003 school play “Ashgirl”, which was a take on the Cinderella story. Meredith was cast as Cinderella and David the Prince!

David recalls early years at Yarra and wearing the light grey knee-high socks that were part of school uniform.

“I remember copping some flak for those at the station on the way home,” he says.

As well as enjoying drama and being a key member of the school snow sports team, David also favoured humanities subjects like philosophy in the classroom.

David went on to study politics and international studies at Monash University. After graduating, he took a gap year working at a ski school in Breckenridge, Colorado and in a hotel on Nantucket Island off the east coast of the US.

“I tried lots of things. I didn’t know my career path then but I think it’s important not to put too much pressure on your future. If you try different things, eventually you find a way forward.”

Growing up in the Yarra Valley, David always held a keen interest in hospitality which eventually led him to his current role as a franchisee and venue manager at The Sporting Globe in Chirnside Park.

“Business has been challenging during COVID but we’re part of a community that has been very supportive. I don’t think my teachers from Yarra would be surprised that I’m in hospitality because I was a chatterbox,” he says.

David has retained solid friendships with many of the people he went to school with.

“There was a sense of community spirit and connection. Yarra instils in you that need to take care of others and as you grow in life you learn that the most satisfaction comes from helping others,” says David.

“When I was in Year 12, I remember sitting with my friends and saying ‘how lucky are we to be able to come here to school and hang out with each other five days a week’.

“Once you leave school that becomes harder to do as people move to different places and you have work and family commitments too. I always appreciated how lucky I was to be at Yarra with my best mates.”

To share your Inspired by Yarra story email Rosie Brown, Director of Development on rosie.brown@yvg.vic.edu.au