Christian Brothers’ High School Lewisham

Born in Marrickville Wenham attended CBHS Lewisham before graduating from University of Western Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts (Performing Arts) in 1987. Wenham's television credits include several telemovies, such as his AFI award-winning role in the 1996 telemovie Simone de Beauvoir's Babies; and his role as the outwardly laid back but deeply enigmatic diver Dan Della Bosca in the 1998 and 1999 seasons of the highly successful ABC television series SeaChange. He is known in Hollywood for his roles as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Carl in Van Helsing, Dilios in 300 and its sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, Al Parker in Top of the Lake, and Lieutenant John Scarfield in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. He is quoted as saying “I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my disruptive ways in the classroom. The next Saturday I was acting, and thereafter it became a ritual of my youth to see a show at the Belvoir on Sundays and, if I was lucky, another at the Opera House on Monday after school.”

Born in Sydney, Holman played junior football for Enfield Rovers, youth football for Northern Spirit and made his senior debut for Parramatta Power in 2000. He then moved to the Netherlands, where he played for a number of years before moving to Aston Villa in 2012 to play in the English Premier League. Holman moved to the UAE one year later, before returning to Australia to play for Brisbane Roar between 2016 and 2018. Holman represented Australia over 60 times between 2006 and 2013, scoring eight goals. This included goals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He had previously represented Australia several times at youth level, including travelling to the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship. Holman retired from international football in 2014, and although since 2019 he has been struggling with injury, has not officially announced his retirement from A-grade football. He currently runs the Brett Holman Football Academy in the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland where he offers training programs that cover all areas of football development including skills, techniques, speed and agility to help improve young evolving footballers.

Terrance Sheahan attended CBHS Lewisham before studying at the University of Sydney, receiving a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law in 1969. He worked as a solicitor from 1967 and was called to the bar in 1982. He joined the Willoughby branch of the Labor Party in 1964 and went on to be a member of the Yass, Cootamundra and Gladesville branches. In 1973, Sheahan was elected to the NSW seat of Burrinjuck. He was secretary of the Parliamentary Labor Party from 1976 until his elevation to the ministry in 1980. Over seven years, he served as Minister for Housing and Cooperative Services, Energy and Finance Minister, Planning and Environment Minister, Attorney-General, and Transport Minister. From 1989 to 1997, Sheahan was also the President of the New South Wales Labor Party. He only resigned to accept an appointment as a Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales from which he retired in 2019. Sheahan was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to the Law, the Parliament and the Community (health, care of the aged, human rights and the environment).

Born in Leichhardt, Mackey attended Christian Brothers' High School Lewisham, before enlisting in the Second Australian Imperial Force, falsifying his age to do so. He embarked with the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion in November 1941. Initially posted to Darwin, he served in Syria and in the later operations at El Alamein. He also took part in the New Guinea campaign where his company commander described him as an outstanding junior leader who exhibited moral and physical courage. Promoted to acting corporal in October 1944, he led his battalion in the landing on Tarakan Island, Borneo, the battalion's final campaign. By his exceptional bravery and complete disregard for his own life, Corporal Mackey, 21, was largely responsible for the death of seven enemy soldiers and the elimination of two machine-gun posts before being mortally wounded. His fearless action and outstanding courage were an inspiration to the whole battalion. Mackey was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, and service medals for the Second World War. He is one of only 100 Australians that have been awarded Australia's highest military honour for acts of bravery in wartime.

A national hero, Victor Chang was hailed as “the most prominent doctor in the southern hemisphere”. His revolutionary work in the field of heart transplantation has benefited cardiac patients worldwide. After attending CBHS, Chang studied at the University of Sydney and worked at St Vincent’s Hospital. He travelled to the US and UK for further study before returning to St Vincent’s Hospital in 1972. Dr Chang founded the National Heart Transplant Program at St Vincent’s Hospital, which has since performed thousands of successful transplants. Dr Chang played a key role in developing an artificial heart valve and an artificial heart assist device. In 1986, he was awarded our country’s highest honour, a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and in 2000 was voted Australian of the Century by the people of Australia. A caring surgeon and humanitarian, Dr Chang was passionate about the power of discovery. He had a bold vision to establish a world-class medical research institute, knowing that while he could save hundreds of lives through surgery, he could save thousands more through research. The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute is dedicated to his memory.