WHEN Mulgrave’s Sach Fernando got a call from women’s magazine Cleo saying he had made the short list of their Bachelor of the Year competition, he was sceptical.
The 24-year-old Monash graduate had recently been fooled by a friend into thinking he had won the competition, so he was wary of the good news.
But it all sank in once he received an email confirming his place in the competition’s top50.
Out of the short-list of bachelors, Mr Fernando is the only regular Joe and was voted in by the public to compete against the likes of performer Timomatic and model Nathan Joliffe.
Mr Fernando, who works as a lawyer in Oakleigh, told the Weekly he had been enjoying the whirlwind process.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s something I’m enjoying at the moment. I probably won’t be doing it again, so I’m just embracing every minute of it.”
Although the nomination makes him one of Monash’s most eligible bachelors, he’s not letting his new fame get in the way of his work.
“My job isn’t a glamorous job. It’s about doing a community service and about helping people.”
It was his workmates who nominated him for the title of bachelor of the year.
“I work with a lot of girls here and they suggested I give this a shot.
“I think they must have felt sorry for me. They must have felt sorry that I’ve been single for so long,” he says, laughing.
“I’m sure I won’t meet anyone out of this but I’m always open to meeting new and interesting people. If something wonderful like that happens out of this, then so be it.”
Mr Fernando said locals should vote for him because he represented the regular bloke. “At the end of the day, I’m genuine. I’m easygoing, great to get along with and just a down-to-earth nice guy.”
