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St Patrick's College, Strathfield

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St Patrick's College
St Patrick's College Crest
St Patrick's College Crest
Location
Map
Strathfield
,
NSW

Australia
Information
TypeIndependent all-male secondary and primary
MottoLuceat Lux Vestra
'Let Your Light Shine' (Matthew 5:16)
Established1928
FounderBr Michael Hanrahan
HeadmasterMr. Grahame Smollett (until 2007)
ChairmanMr Peter Tilbrook
Grades5–12
Enrolment1430
Campus19 acres
Colour(s)Blue, Black and Gold
AffiliationsRoman Catholic, Christian Brothers, ISA, CSDA
Websitewww.spc.nsw.edu.au

St Patrick's College is an independent Roman Catholic day school for boys aged 9-19 years. Originally created as a Christian Brothers school in the tradition of Edmund Rice, it is situated in Strathfield in Sydney's inner-west, offering education for years 5 through to 12. Founded in 1928 by Brother Michael Hanrahan, it is a member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA).

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 1400 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.

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 acquired the Edgar St precinct after Strathfield council permission, fulfilling its wish to "unite the two campuses,". The building work comenced at the end of 2006 and is still in construction at the moment. 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.[1] 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.[2]

College Life

The college actively seeks to cultivate the balanced Christian young men of the future. There is strong emphasis on sport. SPC 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.

File:The Game They Play in Heaven.jpg
Rugby at SPC

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 and the Christian Brother's Schools Cricket Carnival held during the Christmas holidays at St. Joseph's Nudgee College at Brisbane.

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 and old boy 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 number of Christian Brother's schools serving disabled or economically and socially disadvantaged communities

College Crest

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’ (Let Your Light Shine); others inspired by your way of life will be helped to find God.

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, light blue shirt, standard college tie, long grey socks, black leather shoes.

Senior School (Years 7- 10) - grey woolen trousers and blazer, light blue shirt, standard 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 college tie with a black crested one in year 12.

Buildings

File:Aerialf3.jpg
An aerial view of the school grounds

The buildings (eg 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)

Notable Alumni

St Patrick's Alumni are traditionally known as "Old Boys"[3], the St Patrick's alumni association being called the "Old Boys' Union". St Patrick's Rugby Club is an activity of St Patrick's alumni. [4][3]

Business

Clergy

Entertainment and the arts

  • Mig Ayesa, actor - notable work: 'Joe' the landlord, on ABC children's serial The Ferals and parts in the London east End musical productions such as We Will Rock You and Rent and also a contestant on the series Rockstar:INXS[6]
  • Thomas Kenneally, author[7][8]
  • Rob Shehadie, actor in the television show Pizza
  • Peter Skrzynecki, Renowned poet and writer and lecturer at the University of Western Sydney

Politics, Bureaucracy and Law

  • John Brogden, former NSW Liberal Opposition Leader and current CEO of Manchester Unity[7][9]
  • Tony Burke, Federal ALP politician, Shadow Minister for Immigration, Integration and Citizenship.
  • 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 [7]
  • Martin Ferguson, Federal ALP politician, Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism [7]
  • Paul Lynch, NSW ALP politician[7]
  • Keiran Prendergast, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs [10]
  • Chris Sidoti, Human Rights Commissioner[7]
  • Chris Murphy - Colourful Sydney Solicitor.
  • Dr Gerald Gleeson AC - has held many positions on prominent government panels and advisory boards including: Secretary and Permanent Head of the NSW Premier's Department (1977-1988), Chairman, NSW Bicentennial Council (1985-1989), Director, Australian Bicentennial Authority (1985-1989), Chairman, Darling Harbour Authority (1995-2000) and Chairman, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (since 1998). He has also held many prominent positions in the business world such as positions on the boards of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (1988-1996), Amalgamated Holdings (1998-2000), St George Foundation (1989-2000) and Transfield (1988-2003). He was also chairman of Catholic College of education (later to become a founding party in the creation of the Australian Catholic University).

Education

Sport

References

  1. ^ "Parents defy weekend ban for a boy's goal"
  2. ^ (Boy's name in Trinity basketball awards)
  3. ^ a b Old boys page on the St Patricks College website
  4. ^ St Patrick's Rugby Club website
  5. ^ Bob Gould, Father Ted Kennedy, Redfern parish priest, email to the <marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu> mailing list, 24 May 2005 23:20:24 +1000
  6. ^ Ruben V. Nepales, Life after 'Rockstar', news.inq7.net Entertainment Column, February 11th 2006
  7. ^ a b c d e f g List of alumni for various schools, crikey.com.au
  8. ^ Thomas Keneally
  9. ^ Damien Murphy, A thirst for power but ill-equipped to bounce back from stupidity, Sydney Morning Herald, August 30, 2005
  10. ^ [1]

See also

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