User:Gnangarra/Aquinas
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Aquinas College is a Catholic college for boys in Salter Point, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.
In 1894, the Christian Brothers established Christian Brothers College (CBC) in the centre of Perth (at the present-day site of the Duxton Hotel [1] As Perth's central business district grew, there was growing pressure to relocate, and in 1938 the college split, with boarders and some of the day students moving to the newly established Aquinas College and the remainder staying on at CBC (CBC was closed completely in 1961 when it relocated to the present day Trinity College site.)
Since 1938, Aquinas College has been sited on an elevated 62-hectare property, with over two kilometres of water frontage on the Canning River.
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[edit] Location
Located at exactly (), . Aquinas College is situated in the suburb of Salter Point. The College is situated on 62-hectare property, with over two kilometres of water frontage on the Canning River that includes Mount Henry
[edit] Mt Henry Peninsula
The Mount Henry Peninsula was purchased by the Christian Brothers in 1937 for the college. Since then there has been much work on the peninsula thanks to community service voulunteers and members of the public. Jobs completed include limestone slope restoration, weed reduction, tree planting and the baiting of introduced animals.
Jan King has been the main reason for the point's success. She has been coordinating the program for many years, drastically improving the peninsula.
[edit] History
On the 31 January 1894 the Christian Brothers opened their first school in Western Australia at the corner of St Georges Terrace and Victoria Avenue in Perth. They had come to the new colony at the invitation of Bishop Matthew Gibney who knew of the work of the Brothers in the other States and in England and Ireland.
Initially only day pupils were enrolled. However, population growth in Western Australia during the Goldrush period put pressure on the school to accept boarders, and so the first residential students were enrolled in June 1896. The site and style of accommodation were very limited and as early as 1917 the Headmaster, Br. Paul Nunan, saw the necessity of acquiring a suitable property away from the city centre to resite the whole school.
The Brothers entered into negotiations for the purchase of 20 acres at Point Heathcote on the Swan River but later in 1928 they finished up purchasing 234 acres on the Canning River just east of the Riverton bridge naming it Clune Park. However, plans to develop this site were shelved with the recession of the early 1930's.
In 1936 at the instigation of Br. Paul Keaney, the Superior of nearby Clontarf Orphange, 165 acres were purchased from the Manning family at Mount Henry Peninsula on the Canning River. Early in 1937 the work of clearing the grounds and preparing the site was taken up vigorously with squads of boys from the old college playing a major role.
The foundation stone was laid on 11 July 1937, and the school opened in February 1938 with 160 boarders and 55 day pupils. Br. C.P. Foley was the first Headmaster.
Although several ovals were carved out of the virgin bush, much of the property is still thickly wooded. The main wing was brick, but the College in its early years made extensive use of wood frame, galvanised iron buildings for both dormitories and classrooms in order to cope with steadily growing numbers of pupils.
In 1955, the first major classroom block, 'The Murphy Wing', was opened and then followed the Science Wing in 1962, the Junior School in 1963, the Chapel in 1966, the completion of the main boarding wing in 1967 and the building of the Library in 1976. In 1980 the College embarked on a further expansion which saw the addition, between 1981 and 1983, of the Senior Classroom Block, the Manual Arts building, the Art Centre and finally, the Gymnasium. Because of ever increasing pressure on enrolments in the school and the need to involve married and single lay staff in the care of boarders, the College built new boarding accommodation in 1986 and renovated buildings to provide needed classrooms.
The Archbishop of Perth, Most Rev. Redmond Prendiville, addressed the first Headmaster, Br. Foley, on the 19th November, 1938:
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With the proud traditions of St Georges Terrace to sustain it, and with the additional advantages of new quarters and ideal surroundings, I have no doubt that Aquinas College will achieve still greater results in the moral and intellectual training of good Catholics and good citizens. |
[edit] Coat of Arms
- The Aquinas coat of arms, or College crest, is an adaptation of the Christian Brothers Congregational crest.
- The star and the Celtic cross are the central features of the Aquinas crest
- The star is the symbol of the light of knowledge
- The Celtic cross signifies the College's Irish Catholic heritage.
- The cross is symbolic of the Christian way of life
- The motto Veritas Vincit, literally translated, means Truth Conquers and implies that people who seek the truth will be given the power and the means of overcoming all the challenges and difficulties in living the Christian way of life.
[edit] College structure
The college management structure is seperated into two distinct units. The first part of the srtucture is fundraising, this unit is responsible for aquiring and providing the funds necessary to operate maintain and expand the school. The Second unit is the Board who are responsible for the day to day educational needs of the students, this area includes the school principle and accomodation managers.
[edit] Boarding
When Aquinas opened in 1938 it started with 160 boarders, as of 2006 there are approxiamately 210 boarders from all over the world. There are three residences, which house approximately 70 student each. Accommodation for the Director of the residence and his family together with the shared single assistance residence are provided.
[edit] Tuatha Shield
Aquinas College has eight houses, which compete in a competition between each other to win the Tuatha Shield. The word "Tuatha" derives from the Gaelic language meaning family, community and a sense of belonging. The Tuatha Shield therefore comprises of a diverseity of sporting, cultural, and academic activities that set in opposition House against House for points towards the Tuatha Shield. All activities are inclusive of every student from the Junior, Middle and senior school and include the interhouse swimming, athletics and cross country carnivals, academic points, House Esteddford, debating competitions and other interhouse contests. The more recent winners are:
- 2003 - Clune
- 2004 - Clune
- 2005 - Treacy
- 2006 - Treacy
[edit] College Buildings & Infrastructure
The college is comprised of a number of buildings and sporting facilities necessary for the daya to day education of students. Some of these are of historical significance and list with the heritage council and others are named in tribute to notiable people.
[edit] Sport
- See also: Public Schools Association
Aquinas has been a member of the Public Schools Association (PSA) since 1905, when the PSA was established and Aquinas was known as Christian Brothers College. Within the PSA it competes in interschool sports. Aquinas is also involved in non-PSA sports which include golf and surfing. The junior school also runs sailing, softball and squash programs which are not part of the PSA sporting competition.
[edit] Old Aquinians Association
The Old Aquinians Association or 'Old Boys' is an incorporated organisation representing the former students of Aquinas College. The association has more than 1200 members. The association exists to provide fellowship to former students, and to support the College, especially in the provision of scholarships and financial assistance to families in need. In most cases, the assistance is provided to sons or grandsons of Old Boys.
The current president of the Old Boys Association is Johnathan Murray.
[edit] Old Aquinians Hockey Club
The Old Aquinians Hockey Club was established by Alphonsus Scott in 1932. It is more commonly refferred to as 'reds'. The hockey playing fields were named Kennedy Ovals as a mark of appreciation for what the Kennedy family had done for Aquinas hockey. The Old Aquinians Hockey Club officially opened a new pavillion in 1970, with extensions carried out in 1984. The pavillion was named the Mike Kinsella hockey pavillion in October 1992.
[edit] Notable alumni
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[edit] References
Aquinas College FISH Magazine Winter 2005
| Public Schools Association of Perth |
| Aquinas College | Christ Church Grammar School | Guildford Grammar School | Hale School | Scotch College | Trinity College | Wesley College |
