Gavin Macrae

“There were so many opportunities for you to find your way at Yarra.”

Gavin arrived at Yarra in Year 7 from a small local primary school. His love of sport, particularly cricket, introduced him to a new friendship group and sport continued to be an important part of his entire life at Yarra.

“I remember being impressed by the great expanse of ovals – there was grass as far as the eye could see. I was in my element!”

While Gavin tried his hand at athletics, footy and soccer, cricket was his passion and it was where he showed most prowess.

In Year 9 he was tried out for the First XI cricket team, despite a broken finger.

“We had a couple of practice matches and I broke my finger when I opened the batting. Mum thought that was it but I went to the next practice match wearing a silver guard on my broken finger and I could still bowl. I took five wickets and the coach was impressed.”

The following year Gavin joined a Yarra cricket tour of England and Wales where they played 15 matches in 30 days.

“I remember playing at a pitch in Wales and sheep wandered on to the ground. It was a great opportunity and I was lucky to be part of that.”

In the classroom Gavin was particularly interested in Maths and creative writing. During Year 7 or 8 he remembers writing a script that won him a school award.

Gavin also remembers his Year 12 Prefects muck-up assembly where he appeared on stage to perform a rendition of Knocking on Heaven’s Door – changing the lyrics to Knocking on Uni’s Door.

“I was a cross between Meatloaf, Elvis and Axl Rose!” he says.

Gavin studied hard enough to get a place studying Commerce Law at Deakin University after leaving Yarra.

After initially missing out on a position in a commercial law firm, he spent a year with an accounting firm before then getting a job at the law firm where he is now a partner.

“The first time I was knocked back I was pretty upset but you have to pick yourself up and say ‘what now?’ There are many pathways that you can take to your endpoint. I learned that you shouldn’t let a setback define you.”

Gavin is still inspired by Yarra’s motto, too.

“For me it means not just focusing on yourself or what is in front of you. Look to tomorrow and remember that when the sun comes up, it’s a new day.”