St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
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St Gregory's College, Campbelltown
Quae Seminaveris Metes
(What you sow, so shall you reap)
| Established | 3 February 1926 |
|---|---|
| School type | Independent All Boys Private Catholic School |
| Principal | Mr Marshal McMahon |
| Location | Badgally Hill, Campbelltown, NSW Australia |
| Enrolment | Approx. 900 Day students, 200 Boarders |
| Campus | Semi-Rural, 4 km²) |
| Homepage | www.stgregs.nsw.edu.au |
St Gregory's College is a Catholic secondary school in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. The College was founded on 3 February 1926 and has been conducted by the Marist Brothers since 1929.
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[edit] Location
The College is located 3 km from Campbelltown, and approximately 43 km from the Sydney CBD. St. Gregory's is located on Badgally Hill, the highest peak between Sydney and the Great Dividing Range.
[edit] History
[edit] Early days
St Gregory's College commenced operations in 1923, owned by Thomas Donovan and conducted by the Brothers of St Vincent de Paul. Donovan had requested the Brothers run the school as a home for young delinquents. By 1926, dismayed with what he regarded as mismanagement of the enterprise, the school was closed and Donovan invited the Marist Brothers to re-establish it.
St Gregory’s commenced operations as boarding school on 3 February 1926 with five brothers as staff, and two students. By the end of the year the student numbers had climbed to ten.
In 1929 the estate was gifted to the Marist Brothers by Mr Thomas Donovan. Mr Donovan intended that St Gregory's College should exist for poor boys whom he would endow with bursaries. Much of the early infrastructure was also donated by Mr Donovan, for example the Chapel, classrooms and the first dormitory.
The foundation Principal in 1926 was Br Felix. However before the end of the first year he was recalled to his position at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill. Br Laurentius who was on the staff took over the position. Br Laurentius was only 27 years old but suffered from ill health. Enrolments climbed to around 50 students despite the college not having mains electricity or a reliable supply of water.
The Great Depression saw enrolments drop to ten students and the college was threatened with closure. Principal Br Laurentius died in 1933 after a long illness. Br Antoninus was appointed the new principal and led the College during the Depression years.
[edit] Post-Depression era
In 1937 Br William Molloy was appointed. Br Molloy had much experience as a principal as he had been a successful leader in several Marist schools before he came to St Gregory’s.
Br Molloy did much to progress the college. He registered the college as an agricultural high school making it the first Catholic agricultural high school in Australia. Br Molloy also chose the College’s motto: Quae Seminaveris Metes which is translated form Latin to mean ‘What you sow, so shall you reap’.
Enrolments rose steadily but the perceived threat of Japanese invasion of Australia during the Second World War saw numbers rise dramatically. Br Ambrose Payne led the College during the difficult war years and during this time the main building for class rooms and dormitories was constructed.
[edit] Post World War Two era
The period following the war saw Br William Molloy return to lead the college for a few years, followed by Br Valens and then Br Angelus. The College was stretched to its capacity with over 226 boarders. In 1957 the College welcomed back its first old boy principal, Br Coman Sykes. This time saw much growth and development. Ovals were levelled, the swimming pool was started and in 1962 the college chapel was opened. The college chapel was sponsored by old boys after Mr Len Sykes rallied ex-students across New South Wales in a massive fund raising tour.
Br Anselm became Principal in the 1960s. At that time the Campbelltown area was booming with a growth rate of 13% compared to the state average of 2%. The Wyndham Scheme changed the New South Wales schools system to provide for six years of secondary education instead of five. This caused great demand for places at the college. The number of day boys soon challenged those of many boarders.
Br Anselm built a new class room and dormitory block in 1963 began a new project nearly every year. This period was of unprecedented change and growth. Br Anselm contracted cancer and he died in May, 1970.
In the years ahead Br Frederick for one year and then Br Clarence, Br Ernest, Br Geoffrey and Br William followed as Principals. Br Ernest initiated a comprehensive building programme of class rooms, computer rooms and dormitories. When Br William Connell opened the Year 12 boarding house the programme was complete.
During the 1970s and 80s the College enjoyed the successes in terms of academic results and sporting competitions. It was during this time that the college earned a reputation as the nursery for young National Rugby League (NRL) stars. The college dairy closed in the early 1980s.
[edit] The 1990s and beyond
For much of the 1990s St Gregory's was led by Br Paul Hough who has served the longest term as principal at the college. During this time he built new boarding houses for junior students and the college’s reputation was enhanced through success in public speaking and debating, musicals and agricultural competitions. Br Paul left the college at the end of 2000 to become principal at St Joseph's College Hunters Hill.
In 2001 Mr Marshal McMahon was appointed as the first lay Principal of St Gregory’s. Mr McMahon has initiated several building projects including the Donovan Centre and the road reworks. The implementation of computer technology within the college has increased greatly during this period.
[edit] Past principals
- Br Felix (1926)
- Br Laurentius (1926-1933)
- Br Antoninus (1934-1936)
- Br William Molloy (1937-1942, 1946-1951)
- Br Ambrose Payne (1943-1945)
- Br Valens
- Br Angelus
- Br Coman Sykes (1957-****)
- Br Anselm
- Br Frederick
- Br Clarence
- Br Ernest
- Br Geoffrey
- Br William
- Br Paul (1992-2000)
- Mr Marshal McMahon (2001- )
[edit] Past mottos
- "Manners Maketh Man" 1926 - 1937, Inherited from the Donovan family
- "Quae Seminaveris Metes" (Latin - What you sow, so shall you reap) 1937 - Present, Chosen by the principal at the time, Brother William Molloy.
[edit] Sports
St Gregory's College actively participates in the MCS competition.
- Athletics Coach: Mr. Graeme Cook
- Basketball Coach: Mr. Simon Dent
- Cricket Coach: Mr. Jude Hennessey, Manager Mr. Roy White
- Rugby league Coach: Mr. Michael Grosvenor
- Soccer Coach: Mr. Derek Wales
- Swimming Coach: Miss Kylie Johnson
- Tennis Coach: Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks
- Golf Coach: Mr. Ian Millet
- Australian Rules Coach: Mr. Greg Serone
Since 2003, St Greg's has participated in the GPS competition to replace teams for Sydney Boy's High, who have been unable to make up numbers. The GPS competitions of cricket, basketball, soccer and especially rugby union have subsequently been consistently dominated by St Greg's.
St Gregory's College is famously known as the 'nursery' for NRL players. St Greg's is the most successful school in Rugby League in Australia with 11 grand final appearences with 9 premierships in the national schoolboy tournament now known as the Arrive Alive Cup. They are also the most succesful rugby league school in their own Metropolitan Catholic Schools (MCS) tournament.
As St Greg's is famous for its rugby league, it is also rated as one of the finest cricket schools in Australia. With several Australasian Marist Carnivals, NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Downie Shield and MCS titles to reinforce the schools ability at cricket. In seasons 2000/2001 and 2005/2006 the college won every competition in the MCS 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, Yr 10's and Under 14's.
[edit] Debating and public speaking
Debating and public speaking has had a long history at St Gregory's College.
[edit] Debating co-ordinators
- 1989: Mr Steve Lo Cascio and Mrs Lindell Bailey (Tutors)
- 1990 - 1991: Mr Steve Lo Cascio
- 1992 - 1993: Ms Margaret Burns
- 1994 - 1999: Mr Peter Baz
- 2000 - 2004: Mrs Vivienne Hayle
- 2005 - : Mr Tom Greally
[edit] Debating and public speaking captains
- 2000: Joshua Scott
- 2001: Michael Gleeson
- 2002: Matthew Willis and Pat O'Doherty
- 2003: Robert McCarthy
- 2004: Dayne Kayem and Josh Tipping
- 2005: Denis Hunter (De Facto)
The highlights in recent years have been the year seven A team of 2001, captained by Geoffrey Sykes, winning the CSDA competition undefeated, and Kyle Sheldrick representing his school and state at the National Public Speaking championships in Adelaide, where they won the impromptu section.
