St Joseph's College, Nudgee

St. Joseph's Nudgee College
Latin: Signum Fidei ("A Sign of Faith")
Location
Boondall, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°27′26″S 153°1′31″E / 27.45722°S 153.02528°E / -27.45722; 153.02528Coordinates: 27°27′26″S 153°1′31″E / 27.45722°S 153.02528°E / -27.45722; 153.02528
Information
Type	Private, Single-sex, Day and Boarding
Denomination	Roman Catholic, Congregation of Christian Brothers
Established	1891
Principal	Graham Fresser
Enrolment	~1,450 (5–12)[1]
Colour(s)	Blue and White
Website	www.nudgee.com

St Joseph's Nudgee College (commonly referred to simply as Nudgee) is a private, Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, located in Boondall, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

In 1891 it was decided by the Congregation of Christian Brothers that because of the large numbers of boarders at St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace and insufficient room to house them that a new school be opened to cater for the boarders at Nudgee. Both schools share St. Joseph's College as part of their name and follow the Edmund Rice tradition. Nudgee currently caters for approximately 1390 students from Years 5 to 12, including 300 boarders. Tuition is offered to boys in Years 5 to 12.

St Joseph's is affiliated with the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA),^[1] the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),^[2] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),^[3] the Combined Independent Colleges (CIC) and is a founding member of the Great Public Schools' Association Inc (GPS).^[4]

History

Established in 1891, as the boarding campus for the Brother's flagship school at Spring Hill, Nudgee is a Catholic boys' school, and caters for both day students and boarders. It is a member of the Queensland GPS Association. The location for the College was selected by Rev. Br. P.A. Treacy, founder of the Australian Province of the Christian Brothers, at the request of the Archbishop of Brisbane at the time, Most Rev. Robert Dunne D.D.. Rev. Br. D.F. Bodkin was appointed first Headmaster.

The main building, whose facade was used in the movie Phar Lap, was completed in 1891. The matching chapel was completed in 1916 and is frequently used for weddings and funerals in addition to school celebrations. In 1993, after refurbishment, it won Royal Australian Institute of Architects Conservation Award ^[5] and Regional Commendation. A second school building was completed in 1919. All 3 buildings were in Italian Renaissance Style. In 1938 Nudgee Junior College was opened at a separate campus in Indooroopilly. Building has continued at Boondall, and the campus now has an array of sporting and academic facilities including 2 swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, a 9 hole golf course, rifle range, full track and field provision, numerous cricket and football ovals as well as an international college, and several halls.

In August 2008, the school was the centre of controversy when a 59 year old man from Richmond, Victoria accused a priest from the college of abusing him and four other students who have since committed suicide due to the abuse. The school denied any wrong doing.^[6]

Battle Of The Colours Legend

In 1991, the following legend was printed in the Centennial Rugby Programme, dubbed - "The Battle of The Colours", for the 100th anniversary of the annual Nudgee vs Terrace rugby match.

Before Nudgee existed, St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace wore the colours Nudgee wears today - Blue and White. A popular story, especially at Nudgee, is that when Nudgee began and had to choose it colours, there was a great debate as to whether the original school, Terrace, or its "extension" school, Nudgee, should have the Blue and White. No amount of debate could solve the dispute so it was decided to rest the colour dispute on the first ever Nudgee-Terrace rugby match. Nudgee won and Terrace then chose colours diametrically opposed. The blue became red and the white became black. ^[7]

The result of the of the Centennial Nudgee vs Terrace rugby match was a 15-all draw.^[8][9]

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Nudgee College Old Boys

See also

• List of schools in Queensland
• List of boarding schools
• Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "St Joseph's Nudgee College". Schools. Australian Boarding Schools' Association. Archived from the original on 2007-11-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20071117110828/http://www.boarding.org.au/site/school_detail.cfm?schID=37. Retrieved 2007-12-27. 
2. ^ "AHISA Schools". Queensland. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. November 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20071102165145/http://www.ahisa.com.au/Display.aspx?tabid=2232. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
3. ^ "JSHAA Queensland Directory of Members". Queensland Branch. Junior School Heads Association of Australia. http://www.jshaa.asn.au/queensland/directory/index.asp. Retrieved 2007-12-27. 
4. ^ "GPS Schools". Sport and Music. Brisbane State High School. http://www.brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au/home/extra1/pages/overview.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-27. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ Awards
6. ^ "Abused student myster". Brisbane Times. 24 August 2008. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/abused-student-mystery/2008/08/24/1219516217900.html. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
7. ^ Nudgee College Centenary Rugby Programme, The Battle Of The Colours, B.D. Honan, 1991.
8. ^ Terrace GPS Rugby Results (1918 - 2008)
9. ^ Terrace News, Vol. 19, No. 25 - 8 August 1991

External links

• St. Joseph's Nudgee College website
• Virtual tour