- Downlands College
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Downlands Sacred Heart College 
Latin: Fortes in FideStrong in FaithLocation Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia 
Coordinates 27°32′07″S 151°57′27″E / 27.53528°S 151.9575°ECoordinates: 27°32′07″S 151°57′27″E / 27.53528°S 151.9575°E Information Type Private, Secondary, Coeducational, Day & Boarding Denomination Catholic Established 1931 Founder Jules Chevalier founded the MSC Grades 8–12 Enrolment ~900 Colour(s) Royal blue and cardinal red Affiliations Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Website www.downlands.qld.edu.au Downlands College, officially Downlands Sacred Heart College, is a private, secondary, coeducational, day and boarding school in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1931,[1] the College began as a boarding school for boys with a total enrolment of 68.
Downlands is Queensland's only Catholic, coeducational, day and boarding school. The school has an enrolment of approximately 290 boarders from regional Queensland, interstate and overseas, including indigenous students from communities such as Kowanyama and the Tiwi Islands. The school also provides casual boarding to its day students.
Contents
College Badge
The Downlands College Badge consists of a horizontally-divided field in the College colours, royal blue and cardinal red. The upper of the shield carries a gold gryphon, and the lower half bears the Maltese Cross of the State of Queensland. The shield is surmounted by the heart crest with the letters SHC (Sacred Heart College) supported by a ram's horns and ears of wheat, to symbolise the College's setting in the Darling Downs. The college motto Fortes in Fide, meaning Strong in Faith[1] is emblazoned under the crest.
House system
Downlands, like many Australian schools, uses a house system in the College. Students are randomly assigned to one of six houses which compete against each other during swimming and athletics carnivals, as well as a drama festival. The Downlands houses are:
- Cody House – Green and White
- Copas House – Red and Black
- Doyle House – Blue and White
- Dwyer House – Yellow and Black
- Hyland House – Red and White
- Purcell House – Maroon and White
Extracurricular activities
Sport
Downlands has long been recognised as one of the strongest sporting schools in Queensland. Rugby union, football (soccer), netball, cricket, tennis, touch football, softball, Australian rules football, hockey, basketball, athletics and swimming are the main sports played at the College, with a large number of students taking part of organised sport throughout the year. The College's mascot is the Gryphon, who makes appearances at certain inter-school competitions.
Arts
One of the newest facilities at Downlands is its large Performing Arts department, catering for all age groups. The College choirs and musical ensembles, as well as individual students, are regular participants in the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. Downlands runs an annual musical with participation across all grades. Recent musicals have included [High School Musical 2]Footloose (2008), The Wiz (2007), Disco Inferno (2006) and SherWoodstock (2005). The College also enters teams into the Queensland Debating Union, with much success.
Notable alumni
- Sir Gerard Brennan[2] – Chief Justice of Australia 1995–1998
- Sir Walter Campbell[3]
- Wallabies
- Tim Horan[4]
- Hope Brown (Munro) – former Hockeyroo[4]
- Will Power – International Motorsport driver[4]
- Michael Katsidis – boxer[4]
- Vince Lester[4][5]
Principals
Years Principal 1931–1935 Fr R Hyland MSC 1935–1938 Fr H Asprey MSC 1938–1945 Fr J Doyle MSC 1945–1949 Fr R Campbell MSC 1949–1956 Fr V Dwyer MSC 1956–1962 Fr T Kelly MSC 1962–1969 Fr J Mooney MSC 1969–1974 Fr Harold Baker MSC 1975–1981 Fr Val Patterson MSC 1981–1986 Fr James Littleton MSC 1987–1990 Fr Roy O'Neill MSC 1991–1999 Mr D McIntyre 2000–2005 Fr Denis Uhr MSC 2006–2010 Fr John Mulrooney MSC 2011–Present Mr Terry Finan (Acting) [6] References
- ^ a b "Downlands College Toowoomba – Welcome". http://www.downlands.qld.edu.au/. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ "Who’s Who in the Legal Zoo: Sir Gerard Brennan AC, KBE – Former Chief Justice of the High Court". http://epublications.bond.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1156&context=nle&sei-redir=1#search=%22Gerard%20Brennan%20Downlands%20College%22. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ Angus Innes, "Sir Walter Campbell Pt. 2", Shoulder to Shoulder: The Journal of the Society of St. Andrew of Scotland (QLD), (Brisbane: Society of St. Andrew of Scotland, June 2000).
- ^ a b c d e "News of Past Students". Downlands Past Students Union. http://www.downlands.qld.edu.au/default.asp?contentID=203. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Students hand loss to Old Boys". Toowoomba Chronicle. http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2009/11/14/students-hand-loss-to-old-boys/. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Downlands College Toowoomba -Introducing...". http://www.downlands.qld.edu.au/default.asp?contentID=168. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
External links
Categories:- Schools in Toowoomba
- Roman Catholic schools in Australia
- High schools in Queensland
- Private schools in Queensland
- Boarding schools in Queensland
- Educational institutions established in 1931
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