Patrician Brothers' College
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| Patrician Brothers' College Fairfield |
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| Motto | Maria Duce 'Mary Leads Us to Jesus' |
| Established | 1953 |
| Type | Catholic Systemic School |
| Principal | Mr. Wayne Marshall |
| Founder | Brothers of St. Patrick |
| Students | 1100 (Secondary) |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Location | Fairfield, NSW Australia |
| Colours | Royal Blue & Sky Blue |
| Website | [www.pbc.fairfield.syd.catholic.edu.au] |
Patrician Brothers' College is a Roman Catholic School in Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia. It has a strong reputation in the sporting and academic field, and other co-curriculum activities such as debating and participating in many sports that brings up the school's name for example winning Channel Seven's It's Academic Competition. The school is currently ranked in the top 150 schools in NSW and one of the top in South West Sydney.
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[edit] History
In August, 1951, the Brothers received a letter from Archbishop O'Brien on behalf of His Eminence Cardinal Gilroy, requesting staff for a new boys' school planned for Fairfield. At this time, Fairfield was an outer and rapidly expanding suburb of Sydney with a large concentration of post war migrants from Europe. Whereas there was a primary convent school at nearby Cabramatta, Smithfield and Villawood, there was no opportunities for senior primary and secondary Catholic Education for boys in Fairfield.
Provincial, Brother Norbert and his Council agreed to the Cardinal's request and Brother Kevin Samuel, Brother Eugene Kelly and Brother Peter Johnson (Superior and Principal) formed the first Patrician Community at Fairfield. The Brothers took up residence in an old weatherboard cottage which was on the 10 hectare property, which had recently been acquired by the Archdiocese as a site for the school.
When Cardinal Gilroy blessed the Monastery and officially opened the school on March 13th, 1953, there were 170 pupils enrolled in Years 4, 5 and 6, in a year, this number almost doubled.
The original classrooms were in brick, and separated by concrete quadrangles with trees everywhere. That pattern of building was retained and was repeated regularly to cope with the expanding enrolment which ten years later had reached almost one thousand.
The grounds in which the school was situated were a disused orchard and vineyard - uneven and ungrassed and abounding in powdery surface soil. In the early sixties, the Brothers, supported by parents and students, embarked on a levelling, grass-planting and tree-planting campaign which was the foundation of the magnificent environment in which today's large complex is situated.
From six classrooms in 1953, the pupil accommodation has grown to over forty classrooms in 1982, as well as a library and assembly hall, science laboratories, a modern manual arts block and various other specialist facilities.
Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield, became the largest single campus enrolment of any Boys' Catholic School in New South Wales. College Early Developments
In the early days, the students were mainly of established Australian background with a strong representation of children of East European parents as well as Maltese and Italians of fairly significant but there is a very large second generation Italian and Maltese group of students now, as well as many students of East European, Middle East, South American and Indo-Chinese background. The great multi-cultural composition of the student population at Fairfield over the years has been an enriching experience for the school, and has helped the student to fit easily into the cosmopolitan character of the Western Suburbs of Sydney.
The year 1956 was the year in which the students sat for the first public examination - the Intermediate - for candidates of present Year 9 age. The Intermediate level was the terminating year in the school until 1961, when the first group of students sat for the Leaving Certificate. This development marked a significant event in the life of the school as the first Leaving Certificate class contained students from Patrician Brothers' Schools at Blacktown, Granville and Liverpool. This intake of students from other Patrician Schools for their final years of secondary schooling continued until these areas gained their own senior secondary school.
In 1993 the Primary section of the College moved across the creek to take up residence. A Brother remained Principal there until 2003. The school is due to close in 2006.
On June the 25th, 2000, several years of construction on the campus came to an end with the official opening and blessing of the new College facilities and classrooms. The old Year 8, 9, 10, and Primary blocks made way for an entirely new complex of buildings including a new library, Science wing, College hall and gymnasium, and Music and Creative Arts centre. The old senior block was completely renovated, what was once the College hall and library became the administration and staff areas. The new millennium brought about yet another most significant development with the leadership of the College being handed over to a new Principal: Mr Michael Krawec, a person with many years of association with the Brothers.
[edit] Facilities
The College consists of :
- Domma room
- Patrician Jubilee Centre
- TAS Block
- Information Technology Centre (Library)
- Year 8 Block/Science Centre
- Visual Arts Centre
- Music Centre
- College Oval
- Year 7 Block
- Years 9&10 Block
- Year 11&12 Block
- Silver Jubilee Centre
- Gym/training facilities within the Patrician Jubilee Centre
[edit] Sport
The college heavily participates in sport. It is involved in the MCS Competitions and it competes against other Catholic Schools in Sydney, and also is involved in the Combined Catholic Colleges, State Competitions and other competitions including the Parramatta Knockout and the Arrive Alive Cup. In 2007, the Under 14's MCS Cricket team were declared Joint-Premiers with St. Dominics College after the Final was washed out.
[edit] The Rosarian
The Rosarian is the college year book which is published annually. It consists of the student highlights of the year, and other information of the past year.
[edit] Lay Leadership
In 2001, the last Patrician Principal of the school, Br. Bernard Bulfin, retired, and was replaced by the school's first lay principal, Mr. Michael Krawec, ending 48 years of leadership by the Brothers of St. Patrick. However, Br. Nicholas Harsas remained as Primary Principal until 2003 when he was replaced by Mr. Warren Loy. Since the mid term of term 1, Mr. Michael Krawec has taken up another position and is replaced by Mr. Wayne Marshall until 2008.
[edit] Primary School Closure
Patrician Brothers' College Primary School is set to close in the end of 2006, due to the decision of the Catholic Education Office after 53 years. Patrician Brothers' Primary is the last primary school to close, which is affiliated with the Patrician brothers. There Last day was spent at Manly Waterworks.This School was by far the best year 5/6 primary boys school in south west of Sydney.
[edit] School Prayer
The Breastplate of St. Patrick
Christ be with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit,
Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me,
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of Christ,
May your salvation, O Lord,
Be ever with us. AMEN.
[edit] Notable Alumni/Old Boys
- Chris Smith - Radio 2GB presenter
- Paul Okon - Former Captain of the Socceroos; Olyroos Squad Barcelona '92; Captain of Newcastle Jets United
- Nick Carle - Former Joey and Olyroo; Now of Newcastle Jets United FC
- David Zdrilic - Former Olyroo; Capped Socceroo; Now of Sydney FC
- Peter Sterling - Former Parramatta Eels Player; Former NSW and Australian representative player; Co-host of the Nine Network Rugby League Footy Show
- Paul Langmack - Former Rugby League player, now coach
- Dean Collis - Wests Tigers in the NRL
- Ben Roberts - Bulldogs in the NRL
- Michael Vella - Parramatta Eels in the NRL
- Mark Zangari - Journalist (Soccer Weekly)
- Peter Sharne - Former Socceroo; 40 appearances for Australia; FFA Hall of Fame Inductee
- Michael Wenden - Australian Swimming Champion and Olympian
- Remo Nogarotto - Newcastle United Jets FC Director of Football
- Professor Tony Richardson - Leading Transport academic and author
- Michael Canturi - International Barista
- Pauline Hanson - Politician and Ex-Fish and Chip shop owner
