You will notice that our Office Bearers have taken pride of place in this issue. This is to highlight the news that stalwarts, Eric Leahy and Les McMahon have decided to make way for younger men. Both have given many years to the Committee. Their fellow Committeemen deeply feel the loss of their expertise and companionship.

Some ten years ago Eric and Les together with Noel Sara, who retired to Queensland two years past - President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively - resurrected the Patrician Brothers’ Inner Sydney Schools Alumni. It had been dormant for many years. 

They undertook the first functions with little or no funds. How apt for a Patrician organisation! They encouraged others to join with them and through their efforts and courage – because they exposed themselves to financial risk – we have enjoyed that greatest of delights: the recapture of the joys of our youth. 

Last year, Eric following the passing of his dear wife Marie and not being in the best of health, felt compelled to retire.

Les, our dynamic Secretary, has now advised the Committee that he feels that he should step aside for a younger man. The Committee prevailed on Les to reconsider but he is adamant that the Committee requires new blood. So it is with the deepest regret that we have accepted his resignation.

We owe the activities of the Association over the last ten years to these men. It would not have happened without them. They pass on to us a vibrant Alumni Association.

Fortunately, they are still with us, and will continue to attend and support our functions. Their enthusiasm for the Brothers and the Association still burns brightly.

On behalf of all, we express our sincere thanks to Eric, Les and Noel. For us, it is the passing of an era.

We record our sincere appreciation to Les’ dear wife, Pat, for the many morning teas she prepared over those ten years and her ongoing support to the Association.

We look now to younger Alumni to come forward to assist in maintaining the Association. The duties are not onerous. The most important requirement is enthusiasm. A fresh input to Committee planning will be welcomed. There is a host of fresh faces to be sought to swell our numbers particularly those from 1950s and 1960s. We need alumni of those years.

Please contact: Kevin Hilferty Ph. 9874 5129 or Kevin Scott Ph. 9975 6481.
We look forward to hearing from you.

The winner is Bill Bourke, alumnus of Holy Cross College, Ryde where he was a boarder. The family Bourke then resided at Woy Woy before coming to Glebe. Now in his 92nd year, Bill has been a supporter of the Brothers throughout his life. Past Secretary of the Patrician Brothers Ex-Students and Friends Association, Bill published the first Alumni journal ‘The Patrician’ in 1953.

The answer to the question “Who was the first Principal of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Waterloo school?”

Answer: Brother Alphonsus Eviston.

Generally all that we have known of the Brothers who taught us was their name. When and where were they born? What of the Australians? We have compiled a listing of each and every Brother of the Australian and New Guinea Province who died in the Order. The deaths are also recorded of three ex-Brothers who gave sterling service to the Congregation during the years. This record honours their memory.

Click here to go to the necrology list - which needs to be updated - which has been placed elsewhere on the website.

John Campbell, alumnus of Forest Lodge, recalls the days of the Scout Troop, the Younger Set and the CYO during the years 1939-1946. 

Within those seven years I served with the RAAF from August 1943 to August 1945; but the memories of my friends in the Scout Troop, the Younger Set – forerunner to the Catholic Youth Organisation, more popularly known as ‘the CYO’ are still vivid in my mind. Also, I remember those who served the youth of the times – the Scoutmaster, the Parish Priests and the Spiritual Directors. 

Monsignor Patrick Alphonsus Doherty [1878-1946], Parish Priest of Forest Lodge from August 28, 1935 was a man for the times. In 1939, as society emerged from The Great Depression he, with great courage, commenced a rebuilding program in the parish. The Good Samaritan Sisters’ school for Girls was extended, a new Patrician Brothers’ school for Boys was built adjacent to the Church, and the clay playgrounds were asphalted and the galvanized iron surrounds were replaced by brick fencing.

In 1939 the 6th Glebe (St. James’) Scout Troop was formed under the leadership of ‘the little General’ Eddie Ryan with the blessing of Monsignor Doherty. The Troop paraded in the hall on the ground floor of the Patrician Brothers’ School for Boys then located on the corner of Bridge Road and Rosebank Street, Glebe. At other times part of this area was the 2nd and 3rd Year Classroom. In May 1940, the new School for Boys opened on Woolley Street adjacent to the Church of St. James. 

The Scout Troop now had a home of its own.

These were the times of World War II; fathers and elder brothers were serving overseas. The Catholic families of Forest Lodge and surrounding parishes embraced the importance of the Scout Troop in instilling discipline, providing camping and other skills together with an outlet for youthful exuberance at a small cost. 

On November 15, 1940, the ‘gentle giant’ Father Justin McGlynn came to Forest Lodge as assistant priest and became Spiritual Director to the Scout Troop. 

A number of the Scouts joined the armed forces. One, Brian McCormack, paid the supreme sacrifice: killed in action at Milne Bay, New Guinea.

As time went on many Scouts joined the Younger Set and the CYO. The Spiritual Directors found themselves with a thriving group of young people. 

The old School hall and stage together with the upstairs classrooms would also become the mecca for the activities of rugby league, boxing, snooker, billiards, tennis, table tennis, basketball, dances and concerts. Many happy marriages eventuated and perhaps also the odd heart was broken. They were glorious years.

The amazing sight of Father Tom Fennell, weighing all of eight stone, sparring with our boxers – ten stone and up – and stretching them to their utmost was something to see. He was reputed to have held boxing Championships in Ireland. Father Fennell is now in retirement at Cronulla.

Father Alan Robinson possessed a small flatbed printing press from which flowed the Good Samaritan Sisters’ favourite prayer of the month, event tickets of all sorts – dances, launch picnics, theatre parties, and CYO Ball programs. All the printing was done with the assistance of the ‘printer’s devils’ Cliff Purcell and myself. Father Robinson went on to become PP at Kiama.

Monsignor Doherty died on June 3, 1946 and on July 18 following that most affable and kindly Monsignor Gerald Bartlett, PP of Rozelle was appointed to Forest Lodge. Born in Manly, he was ordained in 1916 by Archbishop Michael Kelly at St. Mary’s Cathedral. In 1918 the then Father Gerald Bartlett had served at Forest Lodge as assistant priest. 

Again, the Parish of Forest Lodge had a PP for the times. The CYO flourished under the Spiritual Directorship of Father Bill Clements.

Monsignor Bartlett died on November 15, 1952. Father Clements passed away on January 4, 1994.

I look back fondly to those earlier days when financial resources were much less but the group’s creativity was immense giving us all those most enjoyable days of our youth.
                                                                                                                                               - John Campbell
 
 

President                         Gerald Dwyer                   Jack McManus                        Kevin Gale
 
Vice Presidents      Frank Walsh, Patrick Small   Keith Cupitt, Des Booler       Des Booler, Jack McManus 

Secretaries           Bernie Marshall, Shirley Miles  Shirley Miles, Joan Miles     Keith Boiden, Don MacRae 

Treasurer                          Don MacRae                     Joan Nakkan                         Joan Nakkan

Committee           Colleen Lee, Joan Nakkan    Jack Donnelly, Len Donnelly     Joan Miles, Dorothy Walsh
                       Cecily Burton, Patricia Cruise  Elaine Passmore, Kevin Gale    Keith Cupitt, Jack Donnelly, 
                                      Jack McManus                      Noel Davis                          Len Donnelly

Social Committee                                                                                        Bernie Freeman, Ray Malavy,
                                                                                                                    Frank Gulazzo, Noel Davis 
 

Brother Celsus Daly arrived in Sydney aboard the SS Ceramic on September 9, 1913 [SRNSW Reel 2074] and was a member of the Ryde Community until May 1920 when he transferred to Bathurst where he remained until the end of 1922. He then went to Orange until May 1925. Brother Celsus returned to Ryde in 1926 until May 1929.

On date unrecorded, but probably some date prior to February 7, 1929, Brother Celsus Daly was appointed Provincial with Brothers Austin O’Connell, Canice Grimes, Aloysius Hannigan and Anthony Phelan, Councillors.

At the time of Brother Celsus’ appointment the Patricians had three Communities in Australia; Ryde, Redfern and Forest Lodge, comprising 24 Brothers.

Approaches to the Passionists to open a new school at Marrickville were unsuccessful.

Brother Celsus and his Council decided to develop a (new) Novitiate. At a meeting on April 6, 1929, they decided to purchase a property (at Wahroonga) then in the district of Pymble. The plans of Brother Raphael Phelan to build at Ryde were discarded. Father John Kelly, PP of Pymble cordially agreed to the establishment of the novitiate. 

“In May 1929, the Council decided to purchase the ‘Glenwood’ property of Mr. George Wright and in June the purchase, on terms, was effected for 5500 Pounds.  Brother Celsus Daly and Brother Anthony Phelan took up residence.”

In 1930, Brother Canice Grimes was appointed Superior at Wahroonga with Brothers Celsus Daly and Anthony Phelan as Community. 

During this period the following changes in Brothers took place.

1929 Brother Clement Richard Howlin died at Ryde, on February 7, 1929 in his 55th year.
Brothers Macartan Keegan and Macartan Ryan arrived from Ireland. Vessel not yet identified.

At the beginning of 1931, Brothers Celsus Daly and Bernard Ryan were elected delegates to the General Chapter and sailed aboard the SS Moreton Bay on date unrecorded. Both were retained in Ireland, never to return.

Brother Celsus Daly died at Mallow, Co. Cork, Ireland on May 15, 1951 in his 63rd year.

In memory of all those mentioned in the above

Requiescant in pace.

Explanatory Note: The above article is drawn from the writings of Brother Paul O’Connor (RIP) and Shipping Lists CGS 13278 held in the State Records of NSW.