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OLD HALEIANS
Mitchell Thompson
(2016-21)
The West Australian Pulse exhibition (previously known as
Year 12 Perspectives) showcases the artwork of Western
Australia’s talented young artists. In 2022 the exhibition
celebrated 30 years and featured 49 works by 2021 Year 12
Visual Arts graduates from 32 schools across WA. Mitchell’s
work, titled ‘Wildfire’, was selected to feature in the exhibition
displayed at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
The 2019 bushfires that ripped through the Stirling Ranges
near Mitchell’s family farm inspired him to create the multi-
media work with environmental commentary. The oil on
canvas features the outline of a mallee fowl within smoke,
symbolising endangered species. The metallic sculpture of
the non-indigenous fox made from bits of scrap metal found
on his property, and the bushfire depicted on the canvas both
symbolise the threats to the native flora and fauna.
Mitchell enjoyed taking part in the exhibition and is looking
forward to exploring opportunities to further enhance and
develop his artistic endeavours.
visiting students particularly enjoyed
talking with three Young Haleians – Jay
Thornton (2013-18), Noah Fleming
(2013-18) and Harry Saggers (2014-
19) – who all joined the firm as part of
the GeersSullivan Trainee Accountant
program. The program provides
introductory roles within the firm to
university students with an Accounting
major, whilst highly-experienced
directors and senior managers actively
mentor them through the completion
of their degree through to promotion
as qualified accountants with
GeersSullivan.
Piers Kirk
19 years ago is evident today. He is
Andrew Sullivan Chair of the Ronald McDonald House (2010-19)
(1987-91) Charities Western Australia and Piers is currently completing his final
After completing his Bachelor of GeersSullivan continues to give back year of his Bachelor of Commerce –
Commerce, Accounting degree at Curtin to the community with all staff actively majoring in Accounting and Finance at
University in 1996, Andrew started involved in volunteering opportunities the University of Western Australia. In
his financial career in Perth before including sponsorship of Ronald addition to studying, Piers has also been
relocating to London. Upon returning to McDonald House. working at ANZ in retail banking and
Perth, Andrew was eager to make an Passionate about knowledge transfer recently accepted a role to work in the
impact, not only for his clients but also and continuing his involvement with the audit team of KPMG as a part of their
for his employees and the community School beyond being a parent at Hale, graduate program commencing in 2023.
at large. With that in mind, rather than Andrew has been a participant at Hale This year Piers joined the Young
joining an established local firm to ‘work School Career Investigation evenings Haleians Committee and looks forward
his way up the corporate ladder’, in 2003 and in September, he welcomed our to supporting our recent graduates and
he co-founded boutique accounting Year 12 Business Management and providing them with opportunities for
practice, GeersSullivan. Enterprise students on excursion to reconnecting.
The impact Andrew envisioned making GeersSullivan to see firsthand the inner
through starting his own business workings of an accounting firm. The
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