St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe Explained

St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe
Motto:Latin: Certa Bonum Certamen
Motto Translation:Fight the Good Fight
Country:Australia
Type:Independent primary and secondary day school
Principal:Chris Mayes[1] [2]
Colours:Green and gold
Enrolment:1400

St Patrick's College is an independent Catholic primary and secondary day school for boys, located on the waterfront in Shorncliffe, north of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. Established by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1952, the college currently enrols approximately 1400 students across eight grades (Years 5 to 12).[3] [4]

History

1800s

In 1862, John McConnel, a pastoralist and member of the Queensland Legislative Council, began construction on a house for his family on Park Parade. McConnel commissioned Benjamin Backhouse, another politician at the time, and his architectural firm to design the property; a single-story timber house facing the waterfront. By 1864, construction was complete. A number of other properties under McConnel's name during the 1870s were built, including the Seaview Hotel built on Kate Street (now Pier Avenue) and Holland House, a boarding home.[5]

In 1879, Moses Ward, a land speculator and chairman of the Redcliffe and Sandgate Steam Ferry Company,[6] purchased the property. Ward sold the property the following year to David Brown of the firm Thomas Brown and Sons located in inner-city Brisbane.[7] [8] The property was named “Morven” after Brown's homeland in Scotland and is still known by that name today. In 1886, architect F.D.G. Stanley renovated the property to a Georgian, two-story mansion and in 1891, further work was performed by the architectural firm Oakden, Addison and Kemp.

Due to the waterfront views the building provides and its lavish[9] upgrade, Morven became a popular residence for Brisbane's wealthy, including the likes of Queensland Governor Henry Wylie Norman.[10]

1900s

In 1910, Edward Goddard Blume purchased Morven and in the following years it was run as a guesthouse by Blume's sister-in-law and her daughters. In 1943, Blume died and the property became derelict. Morven was commonly referred to as a 'haunted house' by locals and was in complete disuse until 1947 where the evangelical Christian movement known for their beach missions, Children's Special Service Mission, made use of the run-down property.[11]

In 1951, the dilapidated Morven building was purchased by the parish priest of Sandgate, Father Patrick O’Rourke, in order to build a Catholic boys' school due to overcrowding at Sacred Heart, a local convent school. St Patrick’s College commenced on 29 January 1952 with Brother Coffey as the principal and 172 enrolled students.[12]

On 22 October 1988, Tony Fitzgerald, an 'old boy' of SPC, talked at a speech night at the college in his first public outing since his appointment as chair of the Fitzgerald Inquiry. The speech focused on the youth and their role in the challenges the inquiry brought to light, saying "the solutions to the problems with which my inquiry is concerned lie with us collectively, with our attitudes and behaviour as a community".[13]

More facilities were built over the decades to accommodate the growing student body, including a tuckshop in 1958, a swimming pool in 1972, and a middle school building for Years 5-6 in 1977 (called the Morrissey Building). In 1992, the college's main sporting fields were built on top of an old rubbish dump on Curlew Street in Sandgate, becoming known as Curlew Park.[14]

2000s

Heritage listing of Morven

In 2004, the Christian Brother's stopped residing in the college after 52 years of living within Morven.[15] It was declared a local heritage place that same year due to its historical and social significance. The building now contains offices for teachers and the administration office.

2010 stabbing of student

On 15 February 2010, twelve-year-old Elliot Fletcher was stabbed in the college's bathroom by a thirteen-year-old classmate before dying upon arrival at hospital. Media reports claimed the alleged offender was a victim of bullying at the college who stabbed Elliot using a knife intended to "scare" his tormentors.[16] After fleeing the college grounds, the attacker was found with minor wounds and taken to hospital by police; he was charged with murder the same day.[17]

A Facebook memorial page was created following the tragedy, seeing hundreds of people paying tribute to Elliot. After a number of graphic images were put up in an effort to vandalise the tribute page, Queensland Police launched an investigation and, in the following months, the man responsible for the defacement was charged with child exploitation offenses.[18]

Elliot's funeral was attended by thousands of mourners, including hundreds of fellow students who formed a guard of honour around the hearse to pay tribute.[19] [20]

Support for LGBTQ+ rights

In 2021, the college organised activities for celebrating IDAHOBIT which involved age-appropriate education surrounding LGBTQ+ issues. This garnered backlash from some in the Catholic community, a Catholic Weekly article penning that the education was "a dangerous institutionalised cave-in hidden beneath the title of pastoral care".[21] A QNews article instead highlighted the "overwhelming response" on social media to their "inclusive approach" to the issue.[22]

Sport

St Patrick's College is one of eight member schools of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) and participates in that association's sporting competitions for high school and junior school students. The college has had success in AIC, winning four aggregate cross country championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), two First XI cricket premierships (2018, 2020) and two First XI football premierships (2013, 2015).

AIC premierships

St Patrick's College has won the following AIC premierships as of July 2024:

St Patrick's College also won the Balharry Shield in 2014, an AIC golf tournament.[33]

Non-AIC sports

College esports started in Term 3 2022 with the college's participation and first place finish in the Acer High Schools Cup's annual Rocket League competition.[34]

Culture

St Patrick's College offers a number of cultural programs, including:[35]

The college stages biannual senior and junior musicals with another Catholic secondary school, St John Fisher College, and in collaboration with local community theatre company Brisbane Junior Theatre. The most recent senior school musicals were High School Musical (2017), Grease (2019), The Addams Family (2021) and Shrek The Musical (2023).[37] [38] The college also stages biannual dramatic stage play productions, starting with The Ghost of Morven in 2022, an entirely original play based on local folktale about the college.[39] The students of the college also help organise a yearly "Showcase" event where each house competes in a battle of stage performance.[40]

House system

There are nine houses at St Patrick's College:[41]

Notable alumni

Alumni of St Patrick’s College are called Old Boys and can join the St Patrick’s Old Boys' Association (SPCOBA).[42] Notable Old Boys include:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME. www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au. St. Patrick’s College. 30 May 2017. en.
  2. News: . 30 June 2021. Virus ward worker not vaccinated . 1. The Australian. Canberra. 1 January 2023. limited.
  3. Web site: ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE, SHORNCLIFFE QLD . 15 October 2022 . Private Schools Guide.
  4. Web site: History and Traditions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725013805/https://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/discover-st-patricks/get-to-know-st-patricks/history-and-traditions . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  5. Web site: August 2012 . St Patrick's College . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211128143329/https://heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au/heritage-places/1471 . 28 November 2021 . 22 September 2022 . Brisbane City Council Local Heritage Places.
  6. News: 17 March 1883 . Redcliffe and Sandgate Steam Ferry Company. . 406 . The Queenslander . 22 September 2022.
  7. Web site: 8 January 2014 . Queensland Places - Morven, Shorncliffe . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220226034535/https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/queensland-places-morven-shorncliffe . 26 February 2022 . 22 September 2022 . State Library of Queensland.
  8. News: 4 March 1898 . THOMAS BROWN AND SONS, LIMITED. . 6 . The Brisbane Courier . 22 September 2022.
  9. Web site: 2007 . Lounge room in Morven, a residence in Shorncliffe . 22 September 2022 . State Library of Queensland.
  10. Book: Forrest, Peter . All for Queensland : the governors and the people . Shady Tree . 2009 . 9780980351569 . Darwin, N.T. . 123 . en.
  11. Web site: HISTORICAL TIMELINE . 22 September 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  12. Web site: History and Traditions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517005655/https://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/discover-st-patricks/get-to-know-st-patricks/history-and-traditions . 17 May 2022 . 15 October 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  13. News: Simons . Margaret . 25 October 1988 . An Old Boy gives an in-school warning . 3 . The Age . 15 October 2022.
  14. Web site: THE ESSENTIALS . 22 September 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  15. Web site: 2022 . THE MORVEN OBA MAGAZINE - Gala Special, Issue No.5 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922034131/https://media.digistormhosting.com.au/spc-au-qld-15-website/content/The-Morven-2022-Issue-5.pdf?mtime=20220518115319 . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe - The Essentials - The Morven OBA Magazine.
  16. News: Ironside . Robyn . 16 February 2010 . School stabbing victim revealed - 12-year-old Elliott Fletcher . The Daily Telegraph . 20 September 2022.
  17. Web site: Schoolboy charged with murder - World News . 2022-09-20 . NZ Herald . en-NZ.
  18. Web site: Hurst . Daniel . 2010-06-04 . Man charged with defacing online tributes to dead children . 2022-09-20 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  19. News: Ironside . Robyn . 19 February 2010 . Thousands gather for funeral of stabbed St Patrick's College schoolboy Elliott Fletcher . The Advertiser . 20 September 2022.
  20. News: Smail . Stephanie . 19 February 2010 . IMAGE: Students form an honour guard outside St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe . ABC News Australia . 21 September 2022.
  21. News: Parker . James . 3 June 2021 . Catholic college’s ‘Pride’ days: what’s wrong with this picture? . The Catholic Weekly . live . 3 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230902225003/https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/catholic-colleges-pride-days-whats-wrong-with-this-picture/ . 2 September 2023.
  22. News: James . Michael . 26 May 2021 . Brisbane Catholic school comes out in support of pride for IDAHOBIT . QNews . live . 3 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230902225335/https://qnews.com.au/brisbane-catholic-school-comes-out-in-support-of-pride-for-idahobit/ . 2 September 2023.
  23. Web site: AFL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725000427/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-afl/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  24. Web site: BASKETBALL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725001129/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-basketball/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  25. Web site: CHESS PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725001317/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-chess/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  26. Web site: CRICKET PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725001512/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-cricket/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  27. Web site: CROSS COUNTRY PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725001735/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-cross-country/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  28. Web site: RUGBY PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725002620/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-rugby/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  29. Web site: RUGBY LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725002916/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-rugby-league/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  30. Web site: FOOTBALL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725002333/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-football/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  31. Web site: TENNIS PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725003203/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-tennis/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  32. Web site: VOLLEYBALL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725003853/https://aicsport.com.au/premiership-history-volleyball/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . AIC Sport.
  33. Web site: 2014 . The Buzz . https://web.archive.org/web/20181119232758/https://www.marash.qld.edu.au/files/sport/Senior%20Sport/WeeklyNewsletter/The_Buzz_Week_6_Term_4_-_12_11_2014.pdf . 19 November 2018 . Marist College Ashgrove.
  34. Web site: 11 September 2022 . CONGRATULATIONS SPC Rocket League E-Sports team . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725005553/https://www.facebook.com/StPatricksCollegeofficial/posts/586523639678607/ . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . Facebook.
  35. Web site: Cultural Program . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221018160405/https://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/student-life/cultural-program . 18 October 2022 . 19 October 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  36. Web site: Co-Curricular Music Program . 19 October 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  37. Web site: Cultural Activities & Sign-On . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221018162504/https://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/student-life/cultural-program/culture-activities . 18 October 2022 . 19 October 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  38. Web site: Shrek the Musical, St. Patrick's College, Thu 11th May 2023, 7:00 pm - Sat 13th May 2023, 9:30 pm AEST Humanitix . 2023-05-09 . events.humanitix.com . en.
  39. Web site: The Ghost of Morven - Senior Dramatic Production 26 August 2022, Fri 26th Aug 2022, 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm AEST Humanitix . 2023-02-10 . events.humanitix.com . en.
  40. Web site: 2021 Showcase - House Messages and Photo Album . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725010534/https://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/newsletter-articles/st-patricks-college-showcase . 25 July 2024 . 25 July 2024 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.
  41. Web site: 2018 . St Patrick's College 2018 Orientation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922025836/https://emarketing-au.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/85146/42vbZ8PHQBW7I2vnc9hL5Uy6xejm7LzPmG9cjM1oBlI/1880981.pdf . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022.
  42. Web site: OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103014121/https://www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au/the-essentials/past-students-association . 3 January 2023 . 3 January 2023.
  43. Web site: Squad Update: Joe Champness joins on loan. 2021-07-09. Brisbane Roar FC. en.
  44. Web site: JOWIC. 2020-12-03. Spotify. en.
  45. News: 24 February 2015 . Teen to face court over fatal stabbing . SBS News . live . 15 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221015114106/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/teen-to-face-court-over-fatal-stabbing/wys7kfsov . 15 October 2022.
  46. Web site: The Honourable Gerald (Tony) Fitzgerald AC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170219015031/https://www.sclqld.org.au/judicial-papers/judicial-profiles/profiles/gefitzgerald . 19 February 2017 . 20 September 2022 . Supreme Court Library Queensland.
  47. Web site: Tucker . Jim . Grey . Lachlan . 2019-04-28 . St Patrick's College champ thrilled with turnaround . subscription . 2021-07-09 . The Courier-Mail . en.
  48. Web site: Harris . Bret . 20 September 2022 . Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg playing in similar fashion to former Wallabies winger Joe Roff . 20 September 2022 . Fox Sports.
  49. Web site: Garry . Chris . Badel . Peter . 4 October 2013 . Sonny Bill Williams inspires rookie Rooster Dylan Napa . 20 September 2022 . The Daily Telegraph . en.
  50. News: 13 February 2020 . Ryan closing in on Super Reds’ debut . 44 . Caboolture Shire Herald . limited . 3 January 2023.
  51. News: Stannard . Damien . 21 October 2007 . Queensland kids an AFL gem field . The Sunday Mail . limited . 1 January 2023.
  52. News: Pramberg . Bernie . 21 September 2015 . Love of the Game: Wagner family grassroots greats in Aussie rules . Herald Sun . 21 September 2022.
  53. Web site: ADAM WHITE . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120817190909/http://london2012.olympics.com.au/athlete/adam-white . 17 August 2012 . 2012 Australian Olympic Team.
  54. Web site: September 2021 . THE MORVEN OBA MAGAZINE - September 2021, Issue No.3 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220923074710/https://www.flipsnack.com/stpatsofficial/the-morven-september-issue-3/full-view.html . 23 September 2022 . 23 September 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe - The Essentials - The Morven OBA Magazine.
  55. Web site: 12 May 2020 . Brendan Creevey - a different pathway to become a Bull . 20 September 2022 . stump to stump.
  56. News: Dawson . Andrew . 30 May 2021 . Rolls Royce of centres Tim Ryan helps set up AIC premiership decider against St Laurence’s . Courier-Mail . 29 May 2024.
  57. Web site: Mayes . Chris . 27 July 2018 . Calling - Issue 22 - 2018 27 July . 20 September 2022 . St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe.

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