St Patrick's College, Strathfield

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St Patrick's College
St Patrick's College Crest
Motto: Luceat Lux Vestra
'Let Your Light Shine' (Matthew 5:16)
Established 1928
Type Independent all-male secondary
Headmaster Mr. Grahame Smollett (until 2007)
Founder Br Michael Hanrahan
Chairman Mr Peter Tilbrook
Students 1430
Grades 5–12
Location Strathfield, NSW Australia
Campus 19 acres
Colours Blue, Black and Gold
Website www.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).

Contents

[edit] 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.

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.

The school is currently one of the best performing male Catholic schools in Sydney academically while being successful in the Independent Schools Association sporting competition. This has led to success with the school's First XI and Second XI cricket team winning the 2005/2006 cricket competitions and the tennis teams successfully retaining the tennis shield for a run of fourteen years.

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]

[edit] College Life

The college actively seeks to cultivate the balanced Christian young men of the future. There is strong emphasis on sport competing in such sports as rugby union, cricket, soccer, swimming, basketball, athletics and tennis in the ISA competition where it is one of the strongest memebrs. 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 (New South Wales) for the 'Black and Green Sheild' 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.

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.

[edit] Buildings

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)
<right>An aerial view of the school grounds
<right>An aerial view of the school grounds

[edit] 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]

[edit] Business

  • Bob Gould, Owner of renowned Sydney bookshop[5]
  • Peter McKeith, CEO of Gardening Australia, a subsidiary of the ABC
  • Guy Russo, CEO of McDonald's Australia

[edit] Clergy

[edit] Entertainment and the arts

  • Mig Ayesa, actor - notable work: 'Joe' the landlord, on ABC children's serial The Ferals and parts in the London 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

[edit] Politics and Law

[edit] Sport

[edit] 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 h 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]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Members of the Independent Schools Association in Sydney, Australia

Central Coast Grammar School | Chevalier College | Kinross Wolaroi School | Oakhill College | Oxley College
St Andrew's Cathedral School | St Augustine's College | St Patrick's College | St Pius X College | St Spyridon College | St Stanislaus' College
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