Villanova College

Infobox Aust school private
name = Villanova College


motto = "Vincit Veritas"
(Latin:"Truth Conquers")
established = 1948
type = Private, Single-sex, Day school
denomination = Roman Catholic, Augustinians
slogan =
key_people = Fr. Michael Morahan O.S.A. (Rector)
Charlie Fisher (principal)
fees =
city = Coorparoo
state = Queensland
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates = coord|27|29|45|S|153|3|5|E|display=inline,title
enrolment = ~1,096 (5-12)cite web |url=http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/INFO/CommunityReportfor2006.pdf |title=Community Report 2006 |accessdate=2007-09-06 |year =2007 |format=PDF |work=Villanova College ]
num_employ = ~79 (Full & Part-time)
revenue =
colours = Green and Gold color box|#008000color box|#FFD700
homepage = [http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/ www.vnc.qld.edu.au]

Villanova College is a private, Catholic, day school for boys, located in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, Queensland, Australia. Established in 1948 at 'Whinstanes' in Hamilton, by the Augustinian friars, the college takes its name from St. Thomas of Villanova, a revered Catholic saint.

Villanova has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1096 students from years 5 to 12.

The college is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),cite web |url=http://www.ahisa.com.au/Display.aspx?tabid=2232 |title=AHISA Schools: New South Wales |accessdate=2007-09-06 |year =2007 |month =April |work=Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia ] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),cite web |url=http://www.jshaa.asn.au/queensland/directory/index.asp |title=JSHAA Queensland Directory of Members |accessdate=2007-09-06 |year =2007 |work=Junior School Heads' Association of Australia ] Combined Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC).

History

Villanova was first established in 1948 by six Irish Augustinian priests, led by Fr Ben O'Donnell, at 'Whinstanes', a property in Hamilton, on the northern side of the Brisbane River. The schools founders had been welcomed to Brisbane by Archbishop Duhig who had a vision for a College which "offered a classical education and promoted the finer things in life".

In 1954, due to the lack of possibilities for growth at Whinstanes, the school was transferred to its current location at Coorparoo in Brisbane's south-east. This site incorporates 'Langlands', the original house in the area built by Reuben Nicklin in 1884.cite web |url=http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/HISTORY.HTM |title=History |accessdate=2007-09-06 |work=Villanova College ]

Governance

College Council

The Council is the governing body of the school and the board of the not for profit company "Villanova College" which owns and operates the College on behalf of the Order of Saint Augustine. Its aim is to ensure that the College fulfils its educational goals as guided by the educational philosophy of the Order of St Augustine, and thus maintains and develops its Christian, Catholic and Augustinian character. Its members include parents, staff, Augustinians, past students and others selected for their professional expertise.

tudent Council

The School has a student council system where students elect members to represent their year level. The council organises events for the students and community, such as dances, fetes and charity fundraisers. Students are elected on to this board annually, by year 7-12 students, and are assisted by the guidance of school authorities and a year 12 leader.

Curriculum

In 2005, Villanova College ranked third in the state (equal with Anglican Church Grammar School), for year twelve Overall Position (OP) academic results. [Villanova Community Reportsee reporthttp://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/INFO/Commrep2006.pdf] .

Villanova students have also received Australian student prizes from the government for academic excellence and achievement in secondary education, particularly in senior secondary years. The past few years have seen a number of senõr students receive VHA's, a representation of the college's academic excellence.

Co-Curriculum

Music

The college currently has thirty five performing music ensembles comprising of junior, intimate and senior groups with the music program being compulsory between year levels five to seven.

The college hosts Queensland's largest music festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges, Queensland Catholic Schools & College's Music Festival (QCMF). This festival is a three day event in which over seventy-five schools from around Queensland and New Zealand to showcase their talents and receive plaques for particular levels of achievement.

Villanova is home to a very advanced music centre, known as the Augustine Centre. Within this centre is the Hanrahan Theartre, named after the first rector of the college, during its times in Coorparoo.

Debating

Villanova is involved with the Queensland Debating Union (QDU) competition and plays host to schools in the year eleven competition. In 2001, Villanova placed first in the Senior A QDU debating competition. The QDU competition at Villanova involves students from years 8 to 12, who debate against other schools in the district.

Augustinian Youth Ministry

The Augustinian Youth Ministry programme (AYM) at Villanova College, offers students the opportunity to contribute to both local and international communities through service. Students have the opportunity to join these groups and nominate for leadership positions within the ministries. Ministries Villanova offers students to be involved in includes:
*Young Christian Students (YCS) - Helps Students within the college community, settling in of new students and helps improve the overall image of the college.
*St Vincent de Paul Society - Helps people in the local Brisbane community. One major event being Easter Hampers for the needy.
*Amnesty International - Fights to help world wide issues. These issues include Human Rights and Immigration.
*Young Augustinian Youth Ministry - Works for people both locally and world wide. This ministry is run by students from the Middle School.
*Australian Filipino Augustinian Solidarity (AFAS) - Helps fund student in the Philippines and provides fundamental resources.

Cultural/Spiritual

Villanova runs musical productions in conjunction with Loreto College every two years. Recent productions have been "Back to the Eighties" (2006) and "Pimpernel" (2004), and lately, "The Wiz".

Students of Chinese language studies have the opportunity to visit China every second year.

The music department holds a Music Tour for all students in the colleges Senior Ensembles every two years, the most recent tours being to New Zealand in 2003 and Melbourne in 2005. The next tour will be held in June 2007 and is to the city of Sydney where the students will be perform at the Sydney Opera House.

AFAS members can visit impoverished students in the Philippines and assist in developing their communities, also every two years. Other activities include Environment Group & Airwatch, Creative Writing Group, Eucharistic Ministry and the Music Stage and Technical (tech) Crew.

Villanova also conducts a tour with St Augustines College in Brookvale, Sydney, alternating as hosts.

port

As a foundation member of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) Villanova competes against Marist College Ashgrove, St Edmund's College, St Patrick's College, Iona College, Padua College, St Laurence's College and St. Peters Lutheran College in a wide selection of sports including rugby union, soccer, cricket, basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, chess and athletics. Villanova has sporting fields and facilities on a campus located in Tingalpa, in Brisbanes eastern suburbs. A recent addition to this campus is the Cor Unum Centre, used to host various functions/events.

Notable alumni

Former students of Villanova College are known as 'Old Boys' and may elect to join the 'Villanova Old Boys Association Incorporated' (VOBAI).cite web |url=http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/OLDBOYS.HTM |title=The Villanova Old Boys' Association |accessdate=2007-09-06 |work=Villanova College ] Some notable 'Old Boys' include:

;Arts
*Liam Ferney - Poet, author of Popular Mechanics.

;Law
*George Brandis, a trade practices barrister and Australian Senator.

;Politics
*Ross Vasta - former Federal Liberal Member for Bonner, and Member of the House of Representatives .
*George Brandis - Federal Liberal Party Senator .
*Kerry Shine - Queensland Attorney General and Minister for Justice; State Member for Toowoomba North ('66).
*Paul Lucas - Queensland Parliamentarian and Cabinet Minister for Transport and Mainroads .
*Gordon Nuttall - Queensland Parliamentarian and Former Minister.

;Sport
*Chris Simpson - current captain of the Queensland Bulls.
*Brad Meyers- Rugby League player for the Brisbane Broncos (1998-2004) and Gold Coast Titans (2008- ).
*Andrew Slack - former Wallaby 39 caps (Captain 1984-1987) and Reds player (133 games for Queensland).
*Michael Zullo, current member of the Queensland Roar.
* Joel Lindner - A ATP ranked tennis player.
*Benjamin Jarrett, - Queensland Indoor Cricket Development Sqaud member

;Media and entertainment
*Chris Reason - Journalist and Co-Host of Channel Seven's Sunday Sunrise [Sunday Sunrise...After graduating in 1983 from Villanova College in Brisbane...http://seven.com.au/sundaysunrise/about_040201_chrisreason] .
*Andrew Slack - Head of Sports for Channel 9 News Brisbane [Rugby League Heaven Website...Nine's head of sport in Brisbane was former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack...http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/01/27/1138319452960.html] .
*Dan Feuerriegel - Appeared in the Australian TV production McLeod's Daughters [Episode World Website...Daniel Feuerriegel as Leo Coombes...http://www.episodeworld.com/episode/194055] .
*Matt Zeremes - Actor: All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane among others. Song and dance man.

Associated schools

Villanova's 'brother college' is St. Augustine's College, Brookvale in Sydney, New South Wales.cite news| first = John| last = Davidson| title = 5 out of 6 record for Brookvale boys| url = http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=3&subclassID=27&articleID=1915&class=Features&subclass=Sport| work = Sport| publisher = The Catholic Weekly| date = 2006-05-14| accessdate = 2007-09-06]

References

* Arneil, Stan; "Out Where the Dead Men Lie" (The Augustinians in Australia 1838 -1992) Augustinian Press Brookvale (1992) ISBN 0-949826-03-0
*Villanova College Website [http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au]
*Stories & Traditions -> Villanova College Text

External links

* [http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au College website]
* [http://www.osanet.org Order of St Augustine, International Homepage]
* [http://www.augustinians.org.au Order of St Augustine, Australian Homepage]
* [http://www.augnet.org/ Augnet] International Cooperative Web Site for Schools in the Tradition of St. Augustine
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1534/ruleaug.html Text of the Rule of St. Augustine]
* [http://www.qcmf.com.au Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival]