ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE STRATHFIELD LUMEN 2024 INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY 084 As we approach our Centenary, it is more important than ever to capture the oral histories of our Old Boys, particularly the senior members of our community, whose memories of their school days remain sharp. One such group is the Class of 1949, whose remaining members recently returned to their alma mater. These men embody the values the College strives to instil in its graduates: faith, integrity, and goodness. Though they have enjoyed successful careers, it is not their achievements that make them remarkable, but the qualities they carry; values instilled in them by the Christian Brothers all those years ago. Terry O’Brien, 1949 College Captain, shared his memories with us during their recent visit: “We are the ’49ers. Unlike the old coal carriers from Hexham to Cabarita, only nine of us remain, still floating on life’s uncertain platform 75 years after we graduated from SPC. We entered St Pat’s while the war was still raging in the Pacific. As I nervously stepped into First Year (now Year 7) in my brandnew uniform, my biggest worry was how angry mum would be if a Japanese air raid siren sounded and I had to scramble into the muddy trenches just outside the classroom door. At the time, we didn’t fully appreciate the impact of men like ‘Crich,’ ‘Mick,’ ‘Marz,’ ‘Dick,’ ‘Moose,’ ‘Basher,’ ‘Jim,’ ‘Ming,’ and especially Brother H.H. Whittig. Each Brother left an indelible mark on us, shaping who we became as adults. These superheroes didn’t need a telephone box to transform from ordinary to extraordinary. They simply followed the example of their founder, Edmund Ignatius Rice, and helped shape us from nervous boys into young men ready to face the world. I remember Brother McGlade, later Provincial of the Order, instilling in many of us a love of English literature. I also recall an incident involving Brother ‘Jim,’ who walked into a scene where our smallest classmate, Brian McCowage, was stuck headfirst in a wastepaper basket. ‘Jim,’ ever the character, simply asked, “What’s going on here?” Brian later made us all proud by becoming the College’s only Olympic representative in fencing. Brother ‘Jim’ had other qualities that impressed us, such as his remarkable memory. He could recall names, faces and even siblings. His unique voice was recorded for our oral history, now part of the College’s archives. Then there was Brother Coghlan, nicknamed ‘Ming the Merciless,’ who, despite his tough reputation, showed kindness and clever negotiation skills. He successfully convinced the Dominican Sisters to allow senior girls from Santa to attend our dance. Many of us later married former Santa girls, and we lived happily ever after. We all remember Brother John Rewi Crichton, or ‘Crich,’ our resident superhero. At 21, he served in the AIF in France during World War I and claimed to have shot down the Red Baron. At his funeral, Brother O’Shea reminded us that ‘Crich’ was a simple, humble man who, despite his strength, shone with the light of faith. Brother ‘Moose’ Molloy taught us how to roll our own cigarettes during lunch breaks, and our Mathematics teacher, Brother ‘Dick’ English, with his blunt approach, encouraged us through tough love. His harsh words led to a remarkable outcome: by the end of the year, many in our class achieved First-Class Honours, with several ranking high in the state. Today, through reading the weekly newsletter, The Especean, I’m heartened to see the current generation of boys receiving the same values we did. It reminds me that the bonds we formed decades ago continue to grow strong. We are grateful every day that the Good Lord has not called us home yet, and we give thanks for the 44 of our mates who have passed so far. COLLEGE HISTORY - FROM LITTLE THINGS, BIG THINGS GROW Still Going Strong! Br Brian Berg, Reg Maher, Laurie Glendenning, Don McBean, Terry O’Brien & Ron Natoli During Their Visit To The College
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1