Christian Brothers College, Adelaide

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Christian Brothers College

Ante faciem domini (Before the face of the lord)
Established	1878
School type	Independent
Principal/ Headmaster	{{{principal}}}
Location	{{{city}}}, South Australia, Australia
Campus	Urban
Enrollment	approx. 800
School colours	Purple and white
Homepage	http://www.cbc.sa.edu.au

Christian Brothers College (CBC) is an independent Catholic school in the CBD of Adelaide, South Australia. It was founded by a group of Irish Christian Brothers in 1878, and it is now one of three Christian Brothers schools in the state.

CBC is predominantly a secondary school, although it has a primary school campus, with a combined student population of approximately 800.

This school has strict uniform requirements, like most private schools in Adelaide. Students can be recognised by their purple blazers in winter. The college allows students to participate in a range of sports and co-curricula activities.

History

The Foundation Stone was laid by Bishop (later Archbishop) C.A. Reynolds, fourth bishop of Adelaide, on 15 August 1878. Classes began on 20 January 1879. The main building, facing Wakefield Street, is still standing, but the classroom block built along Ackland (now Frome) Street was demolished in 1961 to allow for the widening of the street

In 1897 the Gymnasium Wing, now called the E.P. Hurley Wing, was built to make better provision for the boarders. There were boarders at the College from 1881 till 1923, when they were transferred to the newly founded Rostrevor College. The science building, now called the E.G. Smith Wing, was opened in 1956, and the administration block (J.V. Bourke Building) in 1962. The Junior School on the corner of Wakefield Street and East Terrace was built in 1963.

Another major development was the extensive F.T. O'Brien Building, 1972, which contains classrooms, science laboratories, the F.C. Walsh lecture theatre, the Paul McGuire library and the canteen. During the eighties, the Edmund Rice Art/Craft centre, along the eastern boundary of the property, the multi-purpose Centenary gymnasium, and a staffroom, were built.

After a fire in 1983, the gymnasium building was rebuilt, with three storeys instead of two. Today it houses the Old Gym Theatre, a sports store, several classrooms, a computer room, and a school chapel. Additions were made to the Junior School in 1987. These provided an entrance from Wakefield Street to the administration area and library. Upstairs are rooms for science, art and computing. In 1991 external stairs and walkways were added in several places in the senior school to facilitate movement around the buildings. The re-modelling of the eastern courtyard (pictured above) was completed in 1996.

In 1998, the CBC Sports Centre and Educational Facilities (pictured below) were opened. This included a new artificial surface sportsfield (the size of eight basketball courts) above the new car park, along with a new observatory, Performing Arts Centre, and swimming pool. Extensive rennovations were carried out to the existing school library as well as a significant upgrade of class room facilities. All students have access to these and must observe the rules of use.

In December 1989 the Provincial of the Holy Spirit Province of the Christian Brothers formally inaugurated the College Board. Board members are appointed by the Provincial "on the basis of their commitment to College aims and ideals, and their ability to contribute to its welfare". Membership includes the Principal of the College, another Christian Brother, and up to eight others, at least three of whom are current parents of boys at the College. Much of the Board's responsibility is in the area of overseeing the financial management of the College.

The Parents and Friends Association is also an important association in the College. All parents are members of this Association and are expected to attend the Annual General Meeting, at which a Committee is elected. The role of the Association is to promote community spirit, and parents are urged to support functions organised by the Committee.

The Founder of the Christian Brothers, the Blessed Edmund Rice, put before his followers the ideal of being a gentleman, a saint and a scholar. Christian Brothers College provides a programme that has education in the Catholic faith as a major and vital part of the total curriculum. The curriculum attempts to appreciate different cultures and strives to cater for students with a wide range of abilities, interests and backgrounds. The Pastoral Care programme aims to strengthen and monitor the personal growth of individuals. Building personal relationships, and a sense of belonging, are important as we attempt to make all members of our community feel at home. This ethos is further strengthened by the contribution of our Special Education and ESL staff.

The Religious Education Programme seeks to develop faith in an environment where important issues in the students' lives can be addressed and presented in a Christian context, and in tune with what is happening in the home and the parish. Liturgical celebrations feature prominently at CBC.

After leaving the College, students are encouraged to retain contact through the Old Collegians Association, which sponsors sporting clubs as well as social functions. Each year the Old Collegians offer a scholarship to a student who would not otherwise be able to attend CBC.

Christian Brothers College has a long and proud tradition in the education of boys in South Australia.

Sport

Once a sporting nursery, the school has since lost focus in this area – Aussie Rules, Rowing, Hockey and Soccer were all sports that at one time CBC were forces.

Since the boarding house was moved to Rostrevor much lower student numbers have made it hard for CBC to compete in the team sports with high numbers of players. Naturally no sport has suffered more than Aussie Rules. An interesting fact is that 9 of the first 20 Magerey Medallists were from CBC – the school has not produced an AFL level player for more than 20 years, although Hugh Reimers was on both the Adelaide and Footscray Football Clubs playing list no report of him ever playing a game can be found.

From the 50’s to the mid 90’s CBC Rowing was hugely successful. A number of head of the river victory’s including a few 1st VIII, several schoolboy premierships, state champs and countless old boys making state and national teams highlighted this era. Its said that over this period CBC produced more Australian team memebers that any other SA school. The 80’s and early 90’s saw a string of bad luck for CBC rowing. Several strong First VIII’s suffered injury or accident only days before the main regatta leaving the question of what could have been.

The mid 90’s saw a performance killing change in the management of the CBC Rowing Club – the club has never recovered from this. The loss of Roy 'Slim' Lawrence as Head Coach and his fleet of coaches hit the club very hard. Since Slim's depature CBC rowing has gone form being a top three finisher in just about every event to hardly haveing a crew in the finals come Head of the River.

CBC Hockey was also very strong for parts of the 80’s and 90’s. In fact, most school boy state teams of the late 80’s were flooded with CBC boys.

Notable Alumina (old boys)

C.J. Dennis - poet famous for his humorous poems, especially "The Sentimental Bloke"

Joseph Peter Gardiner - Labor MP

Jamie Fenadez - Olympian (rowing)

John Cahill - SANFL and AFL legend

Kevin Crease - Adelaide news reader

Anthony Byrne - Labor MP

Paul McGuire - Writer

Richard Marsland - Radio and TV host

Frank Walsh - State Premier