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St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe

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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]

St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe
Park Parade entrance
Location
Map
Shorncliffe, Brisbane
,
Queensland

Australia
Coordinates27°19′25.82″S 153°4′57.48″E / 27.3238389°S 153.0826333°E / -27.3238389; 153.0826333
Information
TypeIndependent primary and secondary day school
MottoLatin: Certa Bonum Certamen
(Fight the Good Fight)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationCongregation of Christian Brothers
Established1952; 72 years ago (1952)
TrustEdmund Rice Education Australia
PrincipalChris Mayes[1][2]
Years offered5–12
Enrolment1400
CampusSuburban
Colour(s)Green and gold   
AffiliationAssociated Independent Colleges
Websitestpatricks.qld.edu.au

History

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1800s

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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.[5]

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

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Morven during its years as a guesthouse, ca. 1932

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).[11] 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

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Heritage listing of Morven

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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.[5] The building now contains offices for teachers and the administration office.

2010 stabbing of student

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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

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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

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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

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

  • Australian Football[23] – 2020
  • Basketball[24] – 2015
  • Chess[25] – 2020
  • Cricket (2)[26] – 2018, 2020
  • Cross Country (4)[27] – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Rugby Union[28] – 2018
  • Rugby League[29] – 2021
  • Football (2)[30] – 2013, 2015
  • Tennis[31] – 2006
  • Volleyball[32] – 2015

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

Non-AIC sports

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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

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

  • Instrumental and Vocal Music – there are over 20 ensembles ranging from percussion to jazz performing at the college and other events such as the QCMF.[36]
  • Chess
  • Debating
  • Theatresports
  • Art Club
  • Film Crew (and Junior Film Crew)
  • School Musical
  • Senior Drama Production
  • Tech Crew
  • Dance Crew

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

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

  • Coffey (blue) – named after Brother Coffey, the first principal of the college from 1952 to 1957
  • Kennedy (purple) – named after John J. Kennedy, principal of the college from 1995 to 1999
  • Mooney (green) – named after Brother Mooney, principal of the college from 1966 to 1971
  • O'Rourke (yellow) – named after Father Patrick O'Rourke, the college's founder
  • Quane (red) – named after Brother Quane, principal of the college from 1964 to 1965
  • Rice (orange) – named after Edmund Ignatius Rice, the catholic missionary who founded the Congregation of Christian Brothers
  • Ryan (white) – named after Brother Ryan, principal of the college from 1972 to 1977
  • Treacy (teal) – named after Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy, a prominent Christian Brother in the congregation
  • Xavier (maroon) – named after St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Roman Catholic missions

Notable alumni

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME". www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au. St. Patrick’s College. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Virus ward worker not vaccinated". The Australian. Canberra. 30 June 2021. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  3. ^ "ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE, SHORNCLIFFE QLD". Private Schools Guide. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ^ "History and Traditions". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "St Patrick's College". Brisbane City Council Local Heritage Places. August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Redcliffe and Sandgate Steam Ferry Company". The Queenslander. 17 March 1883. p. 406. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Queensland Places - Morven, Shorncliffe". State Library of Queensland. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  8. ^ "THOMAS BROWN AND SONS, LIMITED". The Brisbane Courier. 4 March 1898. p. 6. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Lounge room in Morven, a residence in Shorncliffe". State Library of Queensland. 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  10. ^ Forrest, Peter (2009). All for Queensland : the governors and the people. Darwin, N.T.: Shady Tree. p. 123. ISBN 9780980351569.
  11. ^ a b "HISTORICAL TIMELINE". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  12. ^ "History and Traditions". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  13. ^ Simons, Margaret (25 October 1988). "An Old Boy gives an in-school warning". The Age. p. 3. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  14. ^ "THE ESSENTIALS". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  15. ^ "THE MORVEN OBA MAGAZINE - Gala Special, Issue No.5" (PDF). St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe - The Essentials - The Morven OBA Magazine. 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  16. ^ Ironside, Robyn (16 February 2010). "School stabbing victim revealed - 12-year-old Elliott Fletcher". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Schoolboy charged with murder - World News". NZ Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  18. ^ Hurst, Daniel (4 June 2010). "Man charged with defacing online tributes to dead children". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  19. ^ Ironside, Robyn (19 February 2010). "Thousands gather for funeral of stabbed St Patrick's College schoolboy Elliott Fletcher". The Advertiser. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  20. ^ Smail, Stephanie (19 February 2010). "IMAGE: Students form an honour guard outside St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe". ABC News Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  21. ^ Parker, James (3 June 2021). "Catholic college's 'Pride' days: what's wrong with this picture?". The Catholic Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  22. ^ James, Michael (26 May 2021). "Brisbane Catholic school comes out in support of pride for IDAHOBIT". QNews. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  23. ^ "AFL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  24. ^ "BASKETBALL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  25. ^ "CHESS PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  26. ^ "CRICKET PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  27. ^ "CROSS COUNTRY PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  28. ^ "RUGBY PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  29. ^ "RUGBY LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  30. ^ "FOOTBALL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  31. ^ "TENNIS PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  32. ^ "VOLLEYBALL PREMIERSHIP HISTORY". AIC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  33. ^ "The Buzz" (PDF). Marist College Ashgrove. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2018.
  34. ^ "CONGRATULATIONS SPC Rocket League E-Sports team". Facebook. 11 September 2022. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  35. ^ "Cultural Program". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Co-Curricular Music Program". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Cultural Activities & Sign-On". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Shrek the Musical, St. Patrick's College, Thu 11th May 2023, 7:00 pm - Sat 13th May 2023, 9:30 pm AEST | Humanitix". events.humanitix.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  39. ^ "The Ghost of Morven - Senior Dramatic Production 26 August 2022, Fri 26th Aug 2022, 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm AEST | Humanitix". events.humanitix.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  40. ^ "2021 Showcase - House Messages and Photo Album". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  41. ^ "St Patrick's College 2018 Orientation" (PDF). 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  42. ^ "OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION". Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  43. ^ a b c d Tucker, Jim; Grey, Lachlan (28 April 2019). "St Patrick's College champ thrilled with turnaround". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  44. ^ "Squad Update: Joe Champness joins on loan". Brisbane Roar FC. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  45. ^ "JOWIC". Spotify. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  46. ^ "Teen to face court over fatal stabbing". SBS News. 24 February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  47. ^ "The Honourable Gerald (Tony) Fitzgerald AC". Supreme Court Library Queensland. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  48. ^ Harris, Bret (20 September 2022). "Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg playing in similar fashion to former Wallabies winger Joe Roff". Fox Sports. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  49. ^ Garry, Chris; Badel, Peter (4 October 2013). "Sonny Bill Williams inspires rookie Rooster Dylan Napa". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  50. ^ "Ryan closing in on Super Reds' debut". Caboolture Shire Herald. 13 February 2020. p. 44. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  51. ^ a b Stannard, Damien (21 October 2007). "Queensland kids an AFL gem field". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  52. ^ a b Pramberg, Bernie (21 September 2015). "Love of the Game: Wagner family grassroots greats in Aussie rules". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  53. ^ "ADAM WHITE". 2012 Australian Olympic Team. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.
  54. ^ "THE MORVEN OBA MAGAZINE - September 2021, Issue No.3". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe - The Essentials - The Morven OBA Magazine. September 2021. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  55. ^ "Brendan Creevey - a different pathway to become a Bull". stump to stump. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  56. ^ Dawson, Andrew (30 May 2021). "Rolls Royce of centres Tim Ryan helps set up AIC premiership decider against St Laurence's". Courier-Mail. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  57. ^ Mayes, Chris (27 July 2018). "Calling - Issue 22 - 2018 27 July". St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
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