| St. Joseph's College Melbourne | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent all-male secondary |
| Motto | Luceat Lux Vestra (Latin: 'Let Your Light Shine') |
| Established | 1903 |
| Founder | Christian Brothers |
| Closed | December 2010 |
| Chairman | Don Walkley |
| Headmaster | Mr Ted Javernik |
| Chaplain | Father Justin Woodford |
| Grades | Year 7 - 12 |
| Enrolment | c.120 (2010) |
| Colour(s) | Purple, White, Gold & Blue |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic, Christian Brothers, ACC |
| Website | www.sjcmelb.catholic.edu.au . |
St Joseph's College Melbourne opened in 1903 and closed in 2010. As a Roman Catholic secondary college, it was part of the Association of Edmund Rice schools, founded and run in the tradition of the Christian Brothers. Between 2000 and 2009 it operated two campuses, one located in Queensberry Street North Melbourne and the other in Brearley Parade Pascoe Vale South.
The school allowed students, from a wide variety of cultural and economic backgrounds, an opportunity to enter a range of careers. Over its long history, many pupils went on to become respected members in their chosen fields which included the financial and business sectors, the medical profession, industry, sporting and religious communities.
While the campuses lacked the open playing fields of its wealthier cousins, students had access to a range of local facilities. The Senior Campus in North Melbourne for example, located on the cities doorstep, was within walking distance of world class universities, libraries, historical and athletic venues as well as theatres.
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Apart from its involvement in the Associated Catholic Colleges, or ACC, since 1951, St. Joseph's College students also became members of one of the Colleges sporting houses or teams. These houses, named after four early headmasters of the college, are: Hogan (green), McSweeney (gold), Kelly (royal blue), Geoghegan (red).
At the time of amalgamation in 2000 a new logo was developed to represent the College. This logo, comprising a variety of visual elements, includes the words, "Luceat Lux Vestra".
A large outer shield, based on a simple heraldic design, provides a frame for the many elements of the logo. Within this frame are a Gryphon and a smaller shield, all of which sit upon a heraldic ribbon.
The Gryphon (Griffin) is a mythological creature whose role is the guardianship of hidden treasures. Long been used in institutes of learning, it represents the treasures of knowledge, wisdom and is a symbol of vigilance.[1]In our logo the Gryphon, half lion half eagle, is in the rampant posture with the claw protectively spread over the inner shield.
A smaller, traditionally shaped inner shield, symbolizing strength and unity, echoes the theme of the College motto "Let your Light Shine" encompassing the entire Community. The Bethlehem star reminds us of our search for truth and light on our Life journey. Bathed in the light of the star is the Southern Cross representing the College Community, the Christian Brothers and the State of Victoria.
The local Primary schools included:
The feeder schools for entry into Year 11 included:
The College opened in 1903 with approximately 40 students and three Christian Brothers as staff. The first Principal was Br. William J Hogan, followed by Br. Francis A Kelly in 1904 and Br. Matthew A Geoghegan in 1908. The first football team, featuring a large white star on its guernsey, was formed around 1906 and began a long tradition of involvement in a variety of sports. This school was to be known as St. Joseph's CBC North Melbourne, or more simply "North", for more than fifty years.
In 1913 the North Old Boys Association was formed to assist the school in serving its expanding school population and the increasing need for finances as the period after the First World War was an economically difficult one. In the early years both Primary and Secondary school classes were conducted on the site. However, between 1918 and 1941, students studying for their Leaving Certificate had to do so at St. Kevin's College in East Melbourne. By 1921 the enrollment had grown to 174 and handball had become the leading sport as demonstrated by the construction of a concrete handball court which was considered to be of championship standard.
By 1940 the school had expanded to the point where it was able to offer night classes in Accountancy and hundreds of young men attended there into the 1960s. 1951 saw the first Matriculation class of 23 students graduate from the College which meant that it had attained full secondary school status. During the Golden Jubilee year of 1953, 122 boys were members of the College Cadet unit and provided a martial spectacle as they paraded before visiting dignitaries. Arthur Calwell, a prominent politician and old boy, was a guest speaker on one occasion.
During the 1950's the growing school population, due partly to the post War migration boom, forced the college to purchase land and eventually build a second school in the suburb of Pascoe Vale. In 1956 the Preparatory College, as it was then known, opened under the principalship of Br. Ernest S Crowle, who was himself an old boy of the College. Traditionally students completed their "junior" studies (Grades 7 to 10) at Pascoe Vale and then transferred to the "senior" campus in North Melbourne. During the 1970's, 80's and into the 1990's, the site at Pascoe Vale took on a more independent identity, having a separate administration, Principal, School Board, registration number and logo.
The year 2000 saw the two sites formally amalgamated under a new name and banner to become the one College. It retained the College colours of purple and white and the College motto, Luceat Lux Vestra.
By 2008 the decision had been made by Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) and the Christian Brothers to begin a phased closure of the College. At the end of 2009 the Pascoe Vale campus closed and the remaining students were offered places at other Catholic schools for the continuation of their studies. In 2010 extensive refurbishment work was carried out on the Pascoe Vale site by its new owners and later reopened as Saint Joseph Campus of Antonine College, a college belonging to the Maronite Catholic Order. At the end of the 2010 academic year the North Melbourne campus closed with a final Commemorative Mass and a range of ceremonies attended by current and past students and staff. In 2011 the site was temporarily mothballed prior to decisions being made about its future as a possible alternative education complex.