Nudgee College Old Boys' Association

By Lawrie Cusack

In 1762, twenty five years prior to the arrival of the first fleet in Sydney Cove, there was born in County Kilkenny Ireland, a man whose spiritual sons were destined to have a significant influence on the development of Australia.

That man was Edmund Rice. His family was on the land. They were prosperous farmers, somewhat better off than their neighbours and apparently self sufficient even to the extent of spinning and weaving their cloth for the family clothes. They were renowned for their generosity and with deep Christian charity they shared their goods with those less fortunate than themselves.

Edmund received his education in Kilkenny and at age 17 joined his uncle, Michael Rice, who was a successful merchant in Waterford. Later, Edmund inherited the entire business, which was considerable. He married but was widowed by the time he was 27.

In 1802 – he was 40 – he set up a school in a stable for boys of poor families. He was assisted by 2 companions and they lived monastic lives.

The small community grew and in spite of vicissitudes and misunderstandings it continued to flourish.

In 1808 Edmund was granted permission by his Bishop to adopt the Rule of the Presentation Sisters and on 15th August that year he and 7 companions made the first annual vows. The small community continued to grow and in 1820 application was made to Rome for permission to set up a Congregation of men. The Holy Father gave approval and thus was established , with Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice as Superior General, the Congregation of Christian Brothers - C.F.C. – Congregatio Fratrum Christianovan and the motto we know so well – “to do and to teach”

Briefly, that is the background to the formation of the Christian Brothers without whom there would not have been Nudgee College, as with such great affection we now know it.

The Australian Province of the Christian Brothers was established in 1868 by Brother Tracey.

The Brothers arrived in Brisbane in 1875 and opened at St Stephen, then at Gregory Terrace. To provide boarding accommodation for country boys Br Tracey purchased the site now proudly occupied by our Alma Mater. In 1891 Nudgee became a reality under the patronage of St Joseph and the direction of Brother Bodkin, the first principal. Hence the name St Joseph’s Nudgee College.

What was the vision Brother Bodkin saw in the early days of Nudgee? Did he see a school that, in less than 120 years, would rank proudly amongst the top education establishments in the Country? Did he see a school that boasted amongst its alumni, men of standing, men of integrity, men of purpose in every avenue of human endeavour – the Church as priests or religious, Public Life, the Professions, be it Medicine, the Law, Science and Technology, Teaching, Industry, Commerce, Farming, Champion Sportsmen, skilled tradesmen, guides of trade.

I think he saw them all. I think he saw also that in 120 years the student body would be comprised of young gentleman inbred with the Spirit of Nudgee, the Spirit that had filled those who preceded them and determined, in their turn, to bring to the world at large, those qualities of Christian Citizenship, integrity, scholarship and simple honesty of purpose that have been and are the hallmark of Nudgee Men.

He saw also, I think, Nudgee as a monument to the Christian principles that permeated the lives of those dedicated Christian Brothers that founded it and those who carried on their work through the years. I know he can rest in peace with his visions accomplished.

Without the Christian Brothers and St Joseph’s Nudgee College there would not have been the Nudgee College Old Boys’ Association of which we stand so proud.

In 1922 there were nearly 3000 Old Boys scattered over the vast areas of Queensland and beyond. They shared a special experience and already sons of Old Boys were appearing on the College Register. There was a Nudgee way of life and an organisation was needed to foster it. It was time for a Nudgee College Old Boys’ Association. Brother Conlon, Nudgee’s tenth Headmaster, invited prospective members to a meeting at which a constitution was drafted.

At a General Meeting on 22nd October 1922, the Constitution was adopted. Its objects were stated:

• To foster a bond of friendship amongst old Boys,
• To promote the interests of the College.

A number of Annual Events were planned:-
A Memorial Mass to celebrate the lives of deceased Christian Brothers and deceased Old Boys; Reunion Dinner; Ball; Cricket match; Annual General Meeting to be held in February each year.

Fr Leo P Carlton (1911-14), John E Ross (1908 – 74) and Pat J Moriarty (1906 – 11) were prominent among the many Old Boys who promoted the establishment of the Nudgee College Old Boys’ Association and each was elected to the Foundation Committee as President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

John Elliott Ross and Patrick Joseph Moriarty are names synonymous with St Joseph’s Nudgee College and the Nudgee College Old Boys’ Association.

Jack Ross came to Nudgee from Winton as a 14year old in 1908 and served the College for the next 66 years as Teacher, Sports Master and friend to all Nudgee men. Jack breathed Nudgee, lived Nudgee, thought Nudgee. He was Secretary of the Old Boys’ Association from 1922 to 1969 and a Teacher at the College from 1913.

The spirit of the Old Boys’ Association, founded in 1922 by these men and others, lives on as evidenced by the attendance of Old Boys at the various Reunions – there are as many as 14 annually – arranged by the Association, at the College for major sporting events and by the number of Sons, Grandsons and Relatives of Old Boys who are Old Boys or who are 1922 to 1972 he used every endeavour to promote the Association. Pat Moriarty came to Nudgee from Clermont as a 12 year old in 1906 and completed his Senior in 1911. He served as Treasurer of the Old Boys’.

From its earliest days and through the years the Nudgee College Old Boys’ Association has steadfastly and without fanfare supported the College and the Christian Brothers. As Nudgee Old Boys “We are the Tradition” and we recognise our responsibilities to continue to uphold the Traditions of the Christian Brothers, the Spirit of Nudgee, and the Philosophy of our Association to ensure that each is fittingly recognised and celebrated in a fashion worthy of this great school of ours.

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