St. Brendan's College

"This article is about the school in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia. For the school in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, please see St Brendan's, Killarney

St. Brendan's College (sometimes shortened to SBC) is a Roman Catholic all-boys day and boarding school located in Yeppoon, Queensland. The school was officially opened in 1940 with a total of 61 students. The school describes itself as "Australia's Largest Country Boys Boarding School", and has nurtured the growth of several leading National Rugby League players.

History

Groundbreaking for the school started on October 8th, 1939 and presided by Bishop Romuald Denis Hayes of Rockhampton. The school officially opened in February 1940 with 42 boarders and 17 day students. The first headmaster of St Brendan's was Br. J. B. Gettons.

The school's spiritual and academic policies are rooted in the traditions of Edmund Ignatius Rice. The school is named after Saint Brendan the Navigator.

St Ursula's College, a separate Catholic all-girls day and boarding school located further into the centre of Yeppoon, has shared a close relationship with St Brendan's. Both schools share a relationship with the town's Catholic primary school, Sacred Heart.

The college song, "Bordered by blue waters splendid", details the rural surrounds of the school near Mary's Mount, as well as confirming strength in faith-based learning.

Students are placed amongst four houses, Duhig (Gold/Yellow), Gettons (Red), Hayes (Blue), and Tynan (Green), named after Bishops of note and the schools first headmaster.

tudent demographics and facilities

Although the school is affiliated with the Catholic church, it accepts students of all faiths and backgrounds.

The school hosts the largest rodeo of the CRCA circuit. The rodeo is held annually over the Father's Day weekend (the first in September in Australia). The school's cattle club and stud program has also garnered a good name for itself. The school allows students to bring their own cattle to prepare for shows. [{Citation| last = Tuite | first = Kerry | year = 2000 | title = St Brendan's College, Yeppoon | series = Submission for the Federal Government Inquiry into the Education of Boys | url = http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/edt/eofb/subs/sub96.pdf | accessdate = 24-08-2008]

St Brendan's also has a strong reputation as a rugby league breeding ground.

Rugby League program

The college boasts an impressive schoolboy rugby league program, with an experienced strength and conditioning coach and well equipped gym. Many of the students in the 1st XIII graduate with affiliations or contracts with NRL clubs. Several current and former professional players are St. Brendan's alumni.

Despite the school's reluctance to actively recruit students based on sporting potential, the depth of talent attracted to the school allows its second-string team to be competitive with its rival schools top-class teams. St. Brendan's rugby league has experienced a period of dominance in the annual Confraternity Carnival of Queensland independent schools. [QISSRL History]

Notable Alumni

;Professional rugby league players
*Paul Bowman
*Jamie Simpson
*Matthew Scott
*Tom Hewitt
*Julian O'Neill
*Shane Martenee
*PJ Marsh
*Dave Taylor

;Professional Bullriders
*Troy Dunn

References

External links

* [http://www.sbc.qld.edu.au/ St. Brendan's College official website]