St Patrick's College, Strathfield

Infobox Aust school private
name = St Patrick's College


motto = " _la. Luceat Lux Vestra"
(:"Let Your Light Shine")
established = 1928
type = Private, Single-sex, Day school
denomination = Roman Catholic, Christian Brothers
slogan =
key_people = Mr. Brian Roberts (Headmaster)
Br Michael Hanrahan (Founder)
Mr Peter Tilbrook (Chairman)
Rev Fr Jack Evans (Chaplain)
fees = AU$3,819–5,139 p.acite web |url=http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/enrolment/fee_structure.php |title= Fees - 2008|accessdate=2007-12-11 |year =2007 |work= Fee Structure|publisher=St Patrick's College]
city = Strathfield
state = New South Wales
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
enrolment = ~1,430 (5–12) [http://www.schoolchoice.com.au/brose_by_region_nsw?cid=12207&pid=1856567 Australian School Choice- St Patrick's College] (accessed:27-06-2007)]
num_employ = ~140cite web |url=http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/community/college_staff.php |title= College Staff|accessdate=2007-12-11 |year =2007 |work= Community|publisher=St Patrick's College]
revenue =
colours = Blue, Black and Gold color box|#0000FFcolor box|#000000color box|#FFCC00
homepage = [http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/ www.spc.nsw.edu.au]

St Patrick's College (also referred to informally as "St Pat's") is an independent, Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Strathfield an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Founded as a Christian Brothers school in the tradition of Edmund Rice in 1928, the college currently caters for approximately 1430 students from Years 5 to 12.

St Patrick's College is a member of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),cite web |url=http://www.ahisa.com.au/Display.aspx?tabid=2230 |title=AHISA Schools|accessdate=2007-12-11 |year =2007 |month =November |work=New South Wales|publisher=Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia] and the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA).cite web |url=http://www.jshaa.asn.au/nsw/directory/index.asp |title=JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members |accessdate=2007-12-11 |year =2007 |work=New South Wales Branch|publisher=Junior School Heads' Association of Australia]

History

The school was founded by a couple of retards. They all fucken suck. I hope you all die. The school was established in 1928 by the Christian Brothers as an affordable school for youth which also provided teaching experience for novice Brothers. The school's founder and first headmaster was Br Michael James Benignus Hanrahan. The headquarters of the Brothers' province was located behind the college ovals and today is the Strathfield campus of Australian Catholic University. Beginning with two science laboratories, this number has swelled to seven. It began with 39 boys, and today has 1,450 students. Acquiring land during the depression of the early thirties provided the College with additional sporting facilities including a gymnasium, swimming pool, practice wickets and four additional sports fields.What began as a single building in 1928 has now grown to more than ten, with an administration centre employing ten people. Eight rooms have become more than fifty, growing with the increased enrollment. In 1960 a school chapel was erected which accommodates 250 people. The College Honour Boards list the names of fifty ex-student priests or Christian Brothers alongside men who have attained distinction in professional fields and public life.

Mr Grahame Smollet became SPC's first lay headmaster in 1993. SPC's student population has continued to grow reaching 1430 in 2006. In 2004, the college purchased part of Edgar Street, a public road, arguing that the safety of students was threatened by traffic. The land was purchased from Strathfield council with agreement that a public 'right of way' would be maintained for residents affected by the privatisation of the road. The building work commenced at the end of 2006 and finished in May 2007. It also purchased a large adjoining residence (formerly 'Kindlin' Respite Centre, part of 'Our Lady of Loreto' Nursing Home, once controlled by St Vincent de Paul Society as homes and services for sick and elderly persons) to be named 'Waterford House'.On 7 August 2007, SPC made a proposition to Strathfield Council to extinguish the right of way along the newly created 'Smollett Place' (the former public road Edgar Street), despite SPC previously agreeing to this condition when the road was sold. His notion failed with a 3-2 vote. Later the next day Grahame Smollet (the then headmaster) released a publication denouncing the council members who "did not allow St Pat's the same rights as a public school".Citequote

In 2008, following the retirement of headmaster Mr. Grahame Smollett, Mr Brian Roberts, (former Headmaster of Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham) was appointed as the Headmaster of SPC.

Headmasters

Co-curriculum

There is an emphasis on sport at St Patrick's College. The school competes in such activities as rugby union, cricket, baseball, soccer, swimming, basketball, softball, golf, athletics and tennis in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) competition. The college annually conducts a musical and drama production as well as being active in terms of bands, debating and mock trial.

The College also competes annually with the nearby Trinity Grammar School for the 'Black and Green Shield' conceived in 2005. It is based on the cumulative results of all winter sports games (rugby and football) between the schools on a designated weekend. The College has taken the shield each year since its inception.

Other annual sporting events include the junior school's tour in Canberra where its rugby and football teams compete against those from St Edmund's College, Canberra, the Christian Brother's Schools Cricket Carnival held during the Christmas holidays at St. Joseph's Nudgee College at Brisbane.

It is also a founding member of the Catholic Schools Debating Association (CSDA) and has experienced marked success in recent years. One of the shields for premiers in named after the current deputy headmaster Michael Robson for his decades of service to the association.

The college also has an extensive social justice program, annually raising funds for a Lenten focus charity as well as aiding many causes with practical assistance from the boys. Focus areas include the Saint Vincent de Paul Society 'night patrol', and the financial assistance of Christian Brother's schools serving disabled or economically and socially disadvantaged communities.

College crest

The College's crest was designed in 1938 and is made up of three components:
*The Shield: With its chevrons and bars, it is a symbol of strength and fortitude.
*The Motto: Those who wear the crest pledge fidelity to the College motto 'Luceat Lux Vestra', which is Latin for "Let Your Light Shine".
*The Star: Seen mounting the Crest, it signifies that the College lights the way to knowledge and to the Heavenly Father.

Alumni

St Patrick's Alumni are traditionally known as "Old Boys" [http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/old_boys/ Old boys page on the St Patricks College website] ] , the St Patrick's alumni association being called the "Old Boys' Union".

St Patricks Rugby Club

St Patrick's Rugby Club was established in 1964 as a rugby league club as that was the code of football played at the college at the time. In 1965 the college changed to rugby union, the club followed suit the following year and entered the Western Suburbs Under 20 competition. The club originally played in a white jersey with black collar and now play in a black jumper with a gold collar, as does the college First XV. The club plays in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union and has won four club championships and two first grade premierships. Since its promotion to Kentwell Cup First Division in 1974 is one of only two clubs to never have been relegated. The club plays its home games at Hudson Park, Strathfield. [http://www.stpats-rugby.com St Patrick's Rugby Club website] ]

St Patricks Soccer Club

St Patricks Soccer Club is a club for friends and old boys of St Patricks College, Strathfield. It plays in the NSW Churches Football Association [http://nswcfa.com.au/ NSW Churches Football Association website] ] The home ground is Powells Creek Reserve at the Bicentennial Park end of Victoria Avenue, Concord West.

Notable alumni

;Business
* John Symond, Founder and CEO of Aussie Homeloans (left SPC in Year 10)

;Education
* Christopher Hayes, Headmaster of St Edmund's College, Canberra

;Entertainment, media and the arts
* Mig Ayesa, actor - notable work: 'Joe' the landlord, on ABC children's serial "The Ferals" and parts in the London West End musical productions such as "We Will Rock You" and "Rent" and also a contestant on the series Rockstar:INXS [Ruben V. Nepales, [http://news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.php?index=2&story_id=65846&col=134 "Life after 'Rockstar"'] , news.inq7.net Entertainment Column, February 11th 2006]
* Thomas Kenneally, author [http://www.crikey.com.au/articles/2002/04/28-alumni.html List of alumni for various schools, crikey.com.au] ] [http://www.bloomsbury.com/ARC/detail.asp?entryid=108086&bid=9 Thomas Keneally] ]
* Rob Shehadie, actor in the television show Pizza
* Peter Skrzynecki, poet and writer and lecturer at the University of Western Sydney

;Politics, bureaucracy and the law
* John Brogden, former NSW Liberal Opposition Leader and current CEO of Manchester UnityDamien Murphy, [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-thirst-for-power-but-illequipped-to-bounce-back-from-stupidity/2005/08/29/1125302510909.html?oneclick=true/ "A thirst for power but ill-equipped to bounce back from stupidity"] , Sydney Morning Herald, August 30, 2005]
* Tony Burke, Federal ALP politician; Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry (2007 - present); Member of Parliament for Watson (New South Wales)
* Dr Craig Emerson, Federal ALP politician; Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy in the Federal cabinet (2007 - present); Member of Parliament for Rankin (Queensland)(Labor Party)cite news| first = Paul| last = Bibby| title = St Pat's old boys making their mark| url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-way-they-were/2007/12/11/1197135403086.html| work = National| publisher = Sydney Morning Herald| date = 2007-12-11| accessdate = 2007-12-11]
* Andrew Ferguson former Secretary of the New South Wales Construction and General Division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
* Laurie Ferguson, Federal ALP politician, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs (2007 - present); Member of Parliament for Reid (New South Wales) (Labor Party)
* Martin Ferguson, Federal ALP politician; Minister for Resources and Energy (2007- present); Member of Parliament for Batman (Victoria) (Labor Party); Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy in the Federal cabinet (2007 - present); Member of Parliament for Rankin (Queensland)(Labor Party)
* Paul Lynch, NSW ALP politician
* Paul McLeay, Member for Heathcote, New South Wales Parliament
* Gerard Gleeson AC KCSG, Held a number of high profile positions in bureaucracy and business including leadership of the Royal Australian Institute of Public Administration, the Australian Bicentennial Authority and membership of the Council of the Order of Australia, Chairman of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and as a Director of both the Commonwealth Bank and the St George Foundation.

;Sport
* John Ballesty, 1963 School Captain. Australian Rugby Union International. 1970 transferred to Rugby League and Eastern Suburbs. Current General Manager Canterbury-Bankstown Rugby League Club
* Michael Foley, Australian rugby union player
* Ante Milicic, Australian Football (soccer) player
* Shannon Cole, Australian Football (soccer) player for Sydney FC
* Chris O'Young, rugby union player for the Western Force and Australia 7's
* Tim Pickup, Australian Rugby Union and Rugby League Representative
* Matthew Williams, Rugby Coach

References

See also

* List of non-government schools in New South Wales

External links

* [http://www.spc.nsw.edu.au/ St. Patrick's College website]