St Patrick's College, Goulburn
| St. Patrick's College | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Goulburn, New South Wales Australia | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent, boys' |
| Motto |
Latin: Age Quod Agis ("If you do something, do it well") |
| Denomination |
Roman Catholic Congregation of Christian Brothers |
| Patron saint(s) | Saint Patrick |
| Established | 1874 |
| Status | Closed |
| Closed | 2000 |
| Colour(s) | Maroon and Blue |
Collectable Australian school Cigarette card featuring the St Patrick's colours & crest, c. 1920's.
St Patrick's College, Goulburn was an independent, Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys located in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. It was one of the earliest schools established by the Christian Brothers in Australia. It is also a school which has a significant Rugby Union tradition. The college had been operated by the Christian Brothers since 1874. The school ceased to exist in its present form in 2000 when it amalgamated with Marian College for girls in Goulburn to become Trinity Catholic College, Goulburn.
The brothers continued to operate the boy's boarding residence but due to a lack of resources this responsibility was transferred to the Catholic Education Office in 2006.
It was for a period in the late 19th and early 20th century a member of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales, being admitted in 1892.
The amalgamation was essentially due to declining enrolments, linked in part to Goulburn's decline in population and importance as a regional centre, a process which has been occurring gradually over the past century, particularly after the founding of Canberra in 1913.
After the amalgamation, the teacher and professional historian Dr Bollen published a history of the college.[1]
Notable alumni
- Michael Durack and John Durack, son of Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine, their stories are told in the book King's in Grass Castles
- Right Reverend Joseph Dwyer - Bishop of Wagga Wagga 1918-1939[2]
- John Hannaford - Attorney General of NSW
- Joseph Lamaro - Attorney General of NSW
- William Sheahan - Attorney General of NSW
- Patrick Hartigan, priest and poet collected, notably, in Around the Boree Log, published under the pseudonym John O'Brien
- Bill O'Reilly, former Australian Test Cricketer
- Bruce Devlin, former Australian golfer
- Simon Poidevin, former Australian rugby representative
- Reg Downing, former Australian parliamentarian and NSW Attorney General
- Jack Tully, former Australian parliamentarian
- Neale Daniher, former Essendon VFL footballer and later coach of the Melbourne Demons
Notable staff
- Jim Roxburgh, teacher and former Australian rugby union representative. One of the six Wallabies whose refusal to take to field to play the touring South African Springboks in 1971 precipitated huge demonstrations against the apartheid system the tourists represented. These demonstrations lead to Australia's new policy in 1972 to refuse to engage in cultural and sporting activities with South Africa until its political system changed.
- Francis Daniel "Brother Dan" Marzorini CFC AM (1918 - 2006). President of SPC from 1956 to 1961 and from 1975 to 1986. Marzorini's aim was to impart a broad education following the best traditional of the "muscular Christianity" practised by the Christian Brothers. Under his rule the boarders did a vast amount of care and improvement of the school grounds, the parents constructed the 25m swimming pool themselves, boys had to join a Australian Army cadet unit and participate in outdoor activities, and typical Australian private school sports such as rugby union football were played with deep intent. Classes were organised along the "chalk and talk" lines typical of the age, with classroom management resolved using corporal punishment. In his book Bolen is critical of Marzorini for his aim of producing solid members of society rather than aiming for academic excellence; Marzorini would well have accepted the statement but see it as a strength rather than a criticism. In his later years Marzorini was bitterly disappointed by the closure of SPC and the revelation that so many of his fellow Christian Brothers had betrayed him and his boys by abusing the boys in their care.
The following former staff are currently before the courts:
- William Peter "Brother David" Standen CFC (born 1949), teacher, supervisor of boarders, provincial superior; later principal of St Mary's Cathedral School, Sydney. He was arrested at Sydney Airport by NSW Police of "Strike Force Charish" on 19 August 2014 and charged at Mascot police staton with indecent assault concerning eight 12 year-old boys between 1978 and 1980. The charges were before Waverley Local Court for a bail hearing on 20 August 2014 and before Goulburn Local Court for various mentions on 17 September 2014, 15 October 2014, 12 November 2014, 10 December 2014. During these mentions the number of complainants has increased to a total of 17 boys, resulting in 31 current charges. The case was set for plea or mention on 11 February 2015, at which no plea was entered and a delay was sought for a subpoena of material held by NSW Police to be completed. A hearing is was scheduled for 23 March 2015 but this was vacated with the agreement of the DPP and Standen's solicitor when the number of complainants increased to 18 boys, resulting in 32 charges. The matter is now set for mention on 13 May 2015. Standen's lawyer stated to the court on 17 September 2014 that Standen was likely to plead guilty, but the number of charges has increased since that hearing and no formal plea has been lodged. Standen remains on bail.
- "Brother" Peter Nicholas Lennox CFC (born 1939), teacher and supervisor of boarders. He was arrested at Cootamundra by NSW Police on 10 November 2014 and charged with indecent assault of boys at the-then Christian Brothers College Manly between 1973 and 1976. Lennox later taught at St Patrick's College Goulburn. The arrest was prompted by evidence before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The charges were been before Cootamundra Local Court for mention on 1 December 2014 and before Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court for mention on 17 December 2014. During this hearing the number of complainants increased to five: three at Christian Brothers College Manly and two at St Patrick's College Goulburn. The case was set for mention on 5 February 2015 and is again set for mention on 26 March 2015. Lennox remains on bail. NSW Police have asked people with information to contact Dee Why detectives or the CrimeStoppers telephone service (1800 333 000).
- William John "Brother Dominic" Obbens CFC (born 1945), teacher and supervisor of boarders between 1986 and 1989. He was arrested in Balmain by NSW Police of "Strike Force Charish" on 12 December 2014 and charged with the indecent assault of a 13 year old boy. The charges were before Goulburn Local Court for mention on 22 December 2014 and on 11 February 2015. At this appearance the number of complainants increased to a total of two, resulting in four charges. The case is set for further mention on 18 March 2015. Obbens remains on bail. NSW Police have asked people with information to contact Goulburn detectives or the CrimeStoppers telephone service (1800 333 000), even if the information refers to matters long ago.
- Christopher Rafferty CFC (born 1952), teacher and supervisor of boarders; later teacher at Pius X College, Chatswood. He was arrested by NSW Police on 4 March 2015 and charged with indecent assault, committing an indecency, and homosexual intercourse with a 13 year old boy between 1984 and 1987. The charges will be before Goulburn Local Court for mention on 15 April 2015.
Standen, Lennox and Obbens are currently all represented before the court by solicitor Greg Walsh of Oatley, a Sydney suburb.
See also
References
- ↑ Bollen, David (2008), Up on the hill. A history of St Patrick's College, Goulburn., UNSW Press, ISBN 978-0-86840-967-2
- ↑ McMinn, W.G (1981). "Dwyer, Joseph Wilfrid (1869 - 1939)". Australian Dictionary of Biography 8 (Online ed.). Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. pp. 387–389. Retrieved 2007-08-07.