St Patrick's College, Strathfield: Difference between revisions

St Patrick's College (also referred to informally as "St Pat's") is an independent, Roman Catholic, day school for boys' in years 5 to 12.

Founded as a Christian Brothers school in the tradition of Edmund Rice in 1928, it is situated in Strathfield in Sydney's inner-western suburbs. The current headmaster is Graham Smollet. He has been the St Patricks headmaster since 1993. Mr Brian Roberts will take the role next year in 2008.

St Patrick's College is a member of the Independent Schools Association, and the Junior School Heads Association of Australia.

History

The school was established in 1928 by the Christian Brothers as an affordable school for youth which also provided teaching experience for novice Brothers. It began with 39 boys and today has 1450 students. The headquarters of the Brothers' province was located behind the college ovals and today is the Strathfield campus of Australian Catholic University.

File:SPC Early Days.jpg

SPC in the 1930's

From the outset St Patrick's provided a wide curriculum that included the sciences, music, art, drama, woodwork and technical drawing. Beginning with two science laboratories, this number has swelled to seven. Acquiring land during the depression of the early thirties provided the College with expansive sporting facilities which are used for cricket, rugby and athletics. A Gymnasium, swimming pool, practice wickets and four additional sports fields have subsequently been built.

The school has two libraries for juniors and seniors, the latter carrying books and films and housing an extensive archive. Both have modern computer facilities. What began as a single building in 1928 has now grown to more than ten, with an administration centre employing ten people. Eight rooms have become more than fifty, growing with the increased enrollment. In 1960 a school chapel was erected which accommodates 250 people. The College Honour Boards list the names of fifty ex-student priests or Christian Brothers alongside men who have attained distinction in professional fields and public life.

Mr Grahame Smollet became SPC's first lay headmaster in 1993. SPC's student population has continued to grow reaching 1430 in 2006.

File:100 0514.jpg

SPC from Breen Oval

The school is currently one of the best performing male Catholic schools in Sydney academically while being successful in the ISA sporting competition. This has led to success with the school's First XI and Second XI cricket team winning the 2006/2007 cricket competitions and the tennis teams successfully retaining the tennis shield for a run of fourteen years. In 2007 SPC achieved aggregate ISA premierships in cricket, soccer (football), athletics, swimming and cross country.

In 2004 the college purchased part of Edgar Street, a public road, arguing that the safety of students was threatened by traffic. The land was purchased from Strathfield council with agreement that a public 'right of way' would be maintained for residents affected by the privatisation of the road. The building work commenced at the end of 2006 and finished in May 2007. It also purchased a large adjoining residence (formerly a part of a Loreto sisters nursing home) to be named 'Waterford House'.

In April 2005 St Patrick's was the subject of controversy when the school's co-curricular policy prevented a student from playing soccer in the Premier Youth League. The policy states that an enrolled student is obliged to play sport (or another activity) for the school, and if this obligation comes into conflict with another activity, the school activity takes precedence. In the end, the boy's parents decided to withdraw their son from St Patrick's and enrol him at Trinity Grammar School.

In the year 2007, following the shock retirement of current headmaster Mr. Grahame Smollett, the St. Patrick's College Board went in search of a new Headmaser. They have recently announced that Mr Brian Roberts, (current Headmaster of Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham) has signed as the headmaster of the College for a minimum 5 year term.

On the 7th of August 2007, Grahame Smollet made a proposition to Strathfield Council extinguish the right of way along the newly created 'Smollett Place' (the former public road Edgar Street), despite Smollett previously agreeing to this condition when the road was sold. His notion failed with a 3-2 vote. Later the next day he released a publication denouncing the council members who did not allow st pats the same rights as a public school.

Headmasters

• Rev. Br. M. B. Hanrahan 1928
• Rev. Br. E. S. Crowle 1929 – 1932
• Rev. Br. M. E. Breen 1933 – 1935
• Br. J. V. Coghlan 1939 – 1941
• Rev. Br. B. Quirke 1942 – 1943
• Rev. Br. M. M. O’Connor 1944
• Br. J. V. Coghlan 1945 – 1950
• Rev. Br. R. B. Garvey 1951 – 1952
• Rev. Br. J. A. McGlade 1953 – 1955
• Rev. Br. J. G. Hodda 1956 - 1961
• Rev. Br. J. P. Hannigan 1962 – 1963
• Rev. Br. H. C. Gyar 1964 – 1966
• Rev. Br. T. I. Casey 1967 – 1974
• Rev. Br. W. R. Greening 1975 - 1980
• Br. J. P. O’Shea 1981 – 1987
• Br. J. Giacon 1988 – 1992
• Mr. G. Smollett 1993 - 2007
• Mr. Brian Roberts 2008-

College Life

There is strong emphasis on sport at St Patrick's College. The school competes in such activities as rugby union, cricket, soccer, swimming, basketball, golf, athletics and tennis in the ISA competition where it is one of the strongest members. The college annually conducts a musical and drama production as well as being active in terms of bands, debating and mock trial. The College also competes annually with its local rival, Trinity Grammar School for the 'Black and Green Shield' conceived in 2005. It is based on the cumulative results of all winter sports games (rugby and football) between the schools on a designated weekend. The College has taken the shield each year since its inception.

Other annual sporting events include the junior school's tour in Canberra where its rugby and football teams compete against those from St Edmund's College, Canberra, the Christian Brother's Schools Cricket Carnival held during the Christmas holidays at St. Joseph's Nudgee College at Brisbane and Tri-series golf played with Trinity Grammar School and St Ignatius' College, Riverview.

It is also a founding member of the Catholic Schools Debating Association (CSDA) and has experienced marked success in recent years. One of the shields for premiers in named after the current deputy headmaster Michael Robson for his decades of service to the association.

The college also has an extensive social justice program, annually raising funds for a Lenten focus charity as well as aiding many causes with practical assistance from the boys. Focus areas include the Saint Vincent de Paul Society 'night patrol', and the financial assistance of Christian Brother's schools serving disabled or economically and socially disadvantaged communities.

College Anthem

File:Smollet Place Francis Street.jpg

Smollet Place from the Francis Street Entrance

For God, for Queen and Country,
For Faith and Nation both-
Thats why we strive for victory,
On that we take our oath,
Blue and Black our heraldry,
And Gold of colours best,
The noblest code of chivalry,
We bring to ev'ry test.

First of saints and scholars,
Teach us how to learn from thee;
Zeal in learning, Faith in turning.
Work and play to sanctity
Luceat Lux Vestra
May our motto ever be:
To do and love the right and to let our light
Shine for all to see.
St Patrick, true to thee.

(Words: Br R. C. Hill; Music: Br C. D. Smith)

College Crest

The College's crest was designed in 1938 and is made up of three components:

• The Shield: With its chevrons and bars, it is a symbol of strength and fortitude.
• The Motto: Those who wear the crest pledge fidelity to the College motto ‘Luceat Lux Vestra’, which is Latin for 'Let Your Light Shine'.
• The Star: Seen mounting the Crest, it signifies that the College lights the way to knowledge and to the Heavenly Father.

Uniform

Junior School (Years 5 & 6) - Blue school boy cap, grey woolen shorts and blazer, pale blue shirt, standard striped college tie, long grey socks with garters, black leather shoes.

Senior School (Years 7- 10) - greyish woolen trousers and a blazer, pale blue shirt, standard striped college tie, short black socks, black leather shoes.

Senior School (Years 11 & 12) - same as 7-10 uniform bar the replacement of grey blazer with a black blazer with gold trim in year 11 and the replacement of the standard striped college tie with a black crested version in year 12.

Buildings

The buildings (e.g. the Hanrahan Building) and facilities (the Dean Gymnasium) are named after the following, all of whom taught at the College.

• Brother Michael Benignus Hanrahan, M.A. (1877 - 1953)
• Brother John Vincent Coghlan (1894 - 1987)
• Brother Patrick Ignatius Hickey (1863 - 1927)
• Brother James Gerald Hodda, B.A., B.Sc. (1917 - 1998)
• Brother Graham Eric Raymer (1926 - 1953)
• Brother John P Rewi Crichton, M.B.E. (1894 - 1985)
• Brother James A McGlade, O.B.E., B.A., M.A.C.E. (1914 - )
• Mr Anthony E Good (1918 - 1998)
• Brother Patrick Finian Markwell, B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed. (1923 - 1985)
• Mr T E Healey, B.A. (Q'land) (1907 - 1999)
• Brother Bruce C Dean (1924 - 1999)
• Brother Patrick Leo Duffy (1902 - 1979)
• Brother Bernard Mark Dynes (1916 - 1989)

In 2007 3 new structures were created on the campus:

• Waterford House - a hospitality centre named after the birthplace of Edmund Rice.
• The Powell Pavillion - Changerooms, BBQ facilities and multi-purpose ampitheatre, named after long serving brother Brother Chanel Powell.
• Smollett Place - the refurbishment of what was formally Edgar Street, named after current headmaster Mr Grahame Smollett (1993-2007)

Notable Alumni

St Patrick's Alumni are traditionally known as "Old Boys", the St Patrick's alumni association being called the "Old Boys' Union".

St Patricks Rugby Club

St Patrick's Rugby Club was established in 1964 as a rugby league club as that was the code of football played at the college at the time. In 1965 the college changed to rugby union, the club followed suit the following year and entered the Western Suburbs Under 20 competition. The club originally played in a white jersey with black collar and now play in a black jumper with a gold collar, as does the college First XV. The club plays in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union and has won four club championships and two first grade premierships. Since its promotion to Kentwell Cup First Division in 1974 is one of only two clubs to never have been relegated. The club plays its home games at Hudson Park, Strathfield.

St Patricks Soccer Club

St Patricks Soccer Club is a club for friends and old boys of St Patricks College, Strathfield. It plays in the NSW Churches Football Association The home gound is Powells Creek Reserve at the Bicentennial Park end of Victoria Avenue, Concord West.

Business

• Bob Gould, Owner of renowned Sydney bookshop
• John Symond, Founder and CEO of Aussie Homeloans (left SPC in Year 10).

Education

• Christopher Hayes headmaster of St Edmund's College, Canberra
• Professor Peter Sheehan AO, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University
• Professor Gerard Sutton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong

Entertainment and the arts

• Mig Ayesa, actor - notable work: 'Joe' the landlord, on ABC children's serial The Ferals and parts in the London West End musical productions such as We Will Rock You and Rent and also a contestant on the series Rockstar:INXS
• Thomas Kenneally, author
• Rob Shehadie, actor in the television show Pizza
• Peter Skrzynecki, Renowned poet and writer and lecturer at the University of Western Sydney
• Rodney Neville, Artist, Winner of the Mackenzie Award for Young Artist of The Year 2001
• David Fernandez, Musician, Vocalist of Spanish Black Metal band's Cryfemal and Crystal Moors

Politics, Bureaucracy and Law

• John Brogden, former NSW Liberal Opposition Leader and current CEO of Manchester Unity
• Tony Burke, Federal ALP politician, Shadow Minister for Immigration, Integration and Citizenship.
• Dr Craig Emerson, Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy in the Federal cabinet (2007 - present); Labor Party member of the Federal Parliament for Rankin (Queensland).,ref> Paul Bibby, St Pet's old boys making their mark, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 December 2007; http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/member.asp?id=83V
• Andrew Ferguson, Secretary of the New South Wales Construction and General Division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
• Laurie Ferguson, Federal ALP politician, Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs; Population Health and Health Regulation
• Martin Ferguson, Federal ALP politician, Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism
• Paul Lynch, NSW ALP politician
• Paul McLeay, Member for Heathcote, New South Wales Parliament
• Gerard Gleeson AC KCSG, Held a number of high profile positions in bureaucracy and business including leadership of the Royal Australian Institute of Public Administration, the Australian Bicentennial Authority and membership of the Council of the Order of Australia, Chairman of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and as a Director of both the Commonwealth Bank and the St George Foundation.

Sport

• Michael Foley, Australian rugby union player
• Ante Milicic, Australian Football (soccer) player for the Queensland Roar
• Chris O'Young, rugby union player for the Western Force and Australia 7's
• Tim Pickup, Australian Rugby Union and Rugby League Representative

See also

• List of Non-Government schools in New South Wales
• List of Christian Brothers schools
• Independent Schools Association

External links

• St. Patrick's College website
• St. Patricks College, Strathfield - Memorial Chapel and Honour Roll
• Br Peter O'Loughlin
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award
• School Fundraising
• Bede Vincent Heather
• Kieran Prendergast
• George Ayoub
• Fr John Browne
• Reference from 1967
• Dr Paul O'Shea
• St Patrick's Rugby Club
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