Slavatore Vitale had a distinguished career in Dentistry culminating at the Boston City Hospital where he ran the Diagnostic /Clinical Immunology Labolatory. After suffering a stroke he returned to Australia and recently wrote the following letter to our Association.

Dear Editor,
St Joseph’s College at Nudgee has been a major Catholic school for 115 years. Its success rate in the various public examinations and therefore in the public eye was paramount. Archbishop Duhig wanted Nudgee to be an exemplary college.

Brothers and teachers were amongst the best of educators at secondary levels and with access to University education and beyond. Catholic education certainly has an excellent past.

For example, I was helped immensely by knowing some of the learning wisdom of St Alphonsus de Liguori when embarking on my Doctorate of Philosophy and Research. Such wisdom must never be forgotten and it must be enriched if possible.

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels of education broadly delineate what can be achieved as a function of age and ability. The exceptional person in whatever category is driven to study and to think more. At the top of every category of education there are a small number of people from whom knowledge trickles down to those at lower levels. As a society we depend on people who apply their knowledge well and without these thinkers and researchers we would simply maintain the status quo with little or no room for improvement.

We must always be on the look out for these people. Certainly they should be remembered and honoured. At the very least when honour boards are updated their achievements should be enumerated. Their renown will glorify their Alma Mater.

Sal.

Editor's Note: With the refurbishment of Ryan Hall currently in focus and consideration being given to rationalizing the location, content and current suitability of past recordings on our Honour Boards it is a strange coincidence that Sal should write this letter. It is also appropriate that at a time when we take pride in the improved academic achievements of our Class of 2004 we pause and ask why our Honour Boards fall somewhat short in recognizing the post-secondary academic achievements of our Old Boys.