During the months of February, March, and a little of April, Sydney is being visited by what we have dubbed "The Sullivan Seven". This is a family group of six children, all born in England, and their father Australian born-and-bred and ex-Patrician Brother David Sullivan. The children (Joseph, Ben, Carla, Silvia, Monica, and Daniel) ranging in age from eleven to two four year olds. (Photo: The Sullivan family in 2003.)

David's wife and the children's mother Anna died in 2003 from cancer. The trip to Australia was something both David and Anna had started to plan and save for  before she was diagnosed. David decided to go ahead with the trip to honour Anna's desire for it.

David was an extremely popular and energetic and generous Patrician Brother who had a great love of sport as spectator, and as a very successful player and coach of rugby league and cricket - with rugbly league his real forte. David so loved his R.L. that he would even watch Penrith and North Sydney play on TV, and in the early 80s that was quite a dedication to the sport.

He certainly took this love of sport with him when he volunteered to teach in Papua New Guinea.  During his eight years of selfless service in Papua New Guinea (1984 - 1992) he lived very simply and very hard, commiting equal energy to his teaching in the classroom, to his physical work in the school grounds, to his introducing the children of Nuku, Aitape, and Lumi to the many pleaures of sport, especially rugby league and athletics.

That was back in the late 1980s and since leaving the Brothers David has mostly lived in London. But now he is with us for a short time and so very special is David and his band of very merry children that his Sydney family and friends decided to organise a combined prayer and BBQ in their honour and to give as many people as possible a chance meet him and his children.

A special committee was even set up to organise it all. Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield, principal Mr Michael Krawec, very generously volunteered the facilities of the College for the occasion, specifically the College chapel and staff room, as well as volunteering the services of himself and College staff and students in organising and running much of what took place on the day. (David had spent many of his years as a Patrician teaching at Fairfield.)