Student Voice: Dan O’Regan (Class of 2023) Deputy Head Prefect and Boarder
Dan O’Regan (Class of 2023) tells us in his own words about growing up in Scone, and hearing stories of Cranbrook from father Adam (OC 1986).
Mum and Dad never thought I would be able to go to Cranbrook. Growing up just outside of Scone on a small farm was great, about 15 minutes from town, or 12 if Dad took the back roads, in my opinion the perfect upbringing. I had all the urban knowledge from Mum, the love for the beach and Big Smoke contrasted with Dad’s rural roots and the understanding of the benefits of a small country town. Pillars of my small town involved horse riding, primary school, and rugby, all kept me busy and made me strive to be that overachieving child.
Mornings were tough. I’ll admit, I was a pest when it came to getting up to ride my horse ‘Thrifty’, but Dad always got me up, and I think that was so important because if he didn’t put that extra little pressure, I became so used to, then I would’ve settled for a 7am wake up with no memories of riding. Dad wasn’t about settling for second best.
My primary school Scone Grammar was awesome, between the handball and the Year 6 discos, I was flat stick once the 9am bell rang, making many lifelong friends, some who have made the journey to Cranbrook with me, Angus Stanford, one of a kind.
Rugby was another standard Scone activity, and one that helped me transition into almost every new environment I went to. I wasn’t a coach’s son. I wasn’t one of the best players either. At the Scone brumbies, we were the team that would travel four hours to Moree to play and not allow the distance to be a factor for a forfeit, although we tried. A culture set up by the parents and owned by the kids.
I remember hearing about Cranbrook for the first time when I was about 8, not really knowing what this unique and fabulous place was. All that was connected to it was dads’ weird stories, like him sleeping on the balcony in Rawson, or his ‘Prime’ rowing in the 1st VIII. Despite being suspended in his final moments of schooling at Cranbrook, he didn’t say a bad word about it. Once I came in Year 8, I could see why. A fresh outlook, from a GPS centric thinking within Scone, was granted. The boarding house welcomed me with open arms, meeting boarders from England, Hong Kong, Condobolin, and the classic ‘Boarder’ all the way from Point Piper. But all were friendly, all were accepted.
Cranbrook is awesome at accepting, at “Celebrating the Individual”, Mr Farraway told me.
My mixture of activities from theatre sports to pushing for the A’s Rugby – the teachers and boys supported me every step of the way. One of my most favourable memories was walking into the Year 12 College and seeing Dad’s 1986-year photo on the wall. The black and white snapshots of the past around me, standing on the grounds they were taken. This created a real connection and made me realise that a school and an old boy are symbiotic. My Dad was not a consistent glory boy, living in his days of high school, but he understood the importance of Cranbrook in developing his open mindset. Coming from Narrabri and knowing horses and Rugby, Cranbrook triggered Dad to be comfortable about being uncomfortable.
I think I am too; this mindset has encouraged me to apply for a Gap Year in Kenya, working at a boarding school there. No agenda but to experience life beyond Red Leaf and Scone.
Cranbrook was always a privilege growing up, not a plan.
Dan O’Regan (Class of 2023)
Dad experienced Uganda, India, and the UK during and after college. The stories of unforgettable nights in Uganda juxtaposed with his terrifying tales of getting lice and diarrhea in India, which made him buzz cut his head and live off Greek yogurt for three weeks, has created this explorative attitude within me. To not settle and take the easy option after school, challenge myself and create something new for me, beyond the O’Regan name.
From Kenya I will travel around Europe, mimicking and expanding Dads legendary polaroid photo collection I see at home. This will all be done alone, but the attitude of the O’Regan’s is you’re only allowed to be new for one encounter, and from then on you should develop any sort of relationship. My brother running into people who have met my mother once and saying wonderful things about her is so inspiring, as it shows me how far being nice and welcoming will get you. And this trip abroad will test that, test my kindness and hopefully give me international ties and friendships for life.
To be brutally honest, anything beyond the year after school is a fog, the idea of choosing a degree that sets me up for the rest of my life is petrifying. Well, mum and dad had about a dozen jobs between them throughout their 20s and 30s, so I think I’ll dive in and go for gold. Get amongst something that will challenge me and not settle.