In our record of the Provincials we come now to Brother Austin O’Connell who many of our readers will remember. Also, many will recognize the names of Brothers who taught them. Remember them in your prayers.

Brother Austin O’Connell, then aged 18, ‘sailed from Ireland on 28 December, 1907 and arrived in Australia on March 4, 1908 [Annals]. It is believed that, accompanied by Brothers Fidelis Downes and Patricius Bergin, he disembarked at Melbourne and proceeded to Sydney by rail. This seems to be the practice of the then Provincial, Brother Stanislaus Bergin.

In June 1908, Brother Austin joined the Redfern Community and taught at Mount Carmel until the end of 1910. In 1911 he was at Ryde until August when he returned to Redfern until July 1915 and then back to Ryde. In June 1917 he again returned to Redfern as Principal at Mount Carmel. In 1918 he was again at Ryde until June and then at Orange until March 1919 when he again returned to Redfern until 1922. In 1923 Bro Austin was Novice Director at Orange, remaining there until he returned to Ryde in 1929 where he remained until 1939.  In 1940 he went to Wahroonga until 1945 when he again returned to Ryde. In 1946, until his return to Ireland in May, Brother Austin was at Granville teaching in the school established under his leadership in 1942.

Following Brother Celsus Daley’s departure for Ireland in February 1931, ‘Brother Austin O’Connell became Acting Provincial until his formal appointment in December. The new Council consisted of Brothers Canice Grimes, Anthony Phelan, Cyril Boland and Aloysius Hannigan. Brother Austin continued to be appointed Provincial until 1946. The following successive Councils were appointed.

1934 Brothers Canice Grimes, Aloysius Hannigan, Cyril Boland and Anthony Phelan.
1938 Brothers Aloysius Hannigan, Canice Grimes, Cyril Boland and Norbert Phelan.
1941 Brothers Serenus Quann, Aloysius Hannigan, Norbert Phelan and Cyril Boland.
1943   Brothers Serenus Quann, Joseph Tierney, Anthony Phelan and Alphonsus Eviston.’

‘Brother Austin inspired feelings of respect, gratitude and affection among the Brothers. The juniors at Wahroonga, feared and respected him, but did not love him, mainly because of his stern treatment of them. His pupils at Ryde, Redfern and Mount Carmel, Waterloo feared him but appreciated his teaching. As a schoolman he had extraordinary discipline; his grave, quiet appearance, his earnestness and sincerity creating an atmosphere approaching awe and inspiring effort to learn. He was an outstanding mathematics teacher to Intermediate level. He also taught French with atrocious pronunciation but fair success and gave impressive short religious lectures. Like Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan he was a born boss. As a superior he was personally exemplary in religious observance, a man of great faith and obvious goodness, kindly and understanding, and a perfect gentleman. Rather shy with strangers, he was not a successful public speaker or a good mixer; but it seemed absolutely appropriate that this good and strong man should be our Provincial in these difficult years of Depression and war. At the end of his long term it was felt he was irreplaceable.’

From Ireland came Brother Rodan Bergin on May 10, 1932. Brother Charles Cody in 1935, Brothers Alphonsus Feeney and Nicholas Duffy in 1938. The vessels have not yet been identified.

The following Brothers joined the Order in NSW; Brothers Paul O’Connor, Patrick Hume, Louis Murphy and Gabriel Lourey (professed in 1936), Brothers Gerard Histon, Xavier McGovern and Vincent Budin (1939), Brothers Peter Johnson and John Thompson (1940).

Brother Austin McGrath [arrived 1888] and Brother Fintan O’Neill [first arrived in 1883] both died in 1932. Brother Basil Cassidy [arrived 1902], Brother Canice Grime and Brother Finian Byrne [both arrived 1911] all died in 1942 and Brother Baptist McGrath [arrived 1888] in 1945. ‘All these Brothers had given long service to the Province, but each left a void.’ 

The following Brothers holidayed in Ireland, in all cases after an undue wait:

1936  Brother Cyril Boland
1938 Brother Anthony Phelan
1939 Brother Basil Cassidy and Brother Serenus Quann.

The following Brothers attended the 1936 General Chapter; Brothers Austin O’Connell, Norbert Phelan and Aloysius Hannigan ? all returned.

During Brother Austin’s provincial-ship eight Brothers returned to the world. The first, in 1932, was Brother Columba Curran at the end of four years of temporary vows. Brother Evangelist Hanratty and Brother Gabriel Lourey followed in 1939. In 1943, Brother Louis Murphy, and in 1944, Brother Patrick Hume suffered a nervous breakdown and left the Congregation. Brother Charles Cody followed him in the same year. In 1945, Brother Francis McDermott also received a dispensation from his vows. For twenty years he had been perhaps the most useful Brother in the Province and his loss was keenly felt. Brother Vincent Budin also received a dispensation from his vows.

The number of Brothers in the Province remained at about 24.

“In 1934 it was decided to purchase more land at Wahroonga and to build extensions. Two and a half acres were purchased for 2000 Pounds from the Department of Lands. The building, designed by Mr. Doug Gorman, contained a chapel, dining room, science room, classrooms and a dormitory and was constructed in 1935 by Mr E. Lutwych at a cost of 3000 Pounds. The low cost reflected the Depression conditions. It was encouraging to the Brothers and their friends to see this important development. It also was encouraging to see the first novices for over a decade.”

In 1936, the Superior General, Brother Stanislaus Slattery arrived on visitation, followed by Brother Finbarr Downes, sibling of Brother Fidelis, in 1939.

Of the Depression years, Brother Paul O’Connor writes: “Even Holy Cross College, where the roll call dropped to 60, could scarcely pay its way during the Depression. The poorest house was Wahroonga, where the Brothers and the Juniors endured Spartan conditions, at one period having butter only on Sundays. In other houses, Redfern and Forest Lodge, the Brothers never lacked necessities, which were simple. Smokers suffered ? they were allotted two ounces per week, but it was often of inferior quality. The Brothers were indeed poor by present standards, but no poorer than they had been in previous years. The Provincial fund was low, and it is amazing that in 1935 it was possible to purchase land and erect a new building at Wahroonga. The state of Provincial fund is reflected in the fetes organized at Ryde for the novitiate in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and in the Art Union of 1938. In May that year Dr Gilroy gave Brother Austin permission “ to make some form of public appeal for funds to reduce our debt.” This permission extended to the beginning of Advent. Five Hail Marys were recited in each Community and school for the success of the Art Union. About five nights a week Brother Joseph Tierney would drive Brother Austin from Ryde to a meeting at Glebe Town Hall, from which tickets were sent out to Old Boys and friends of the Brothers ? and to hundreds of people with Irish (“Catholic”) names whose addresses were found in electoral rolls. Mr Stephen McCormack, Mayor of Glebe, arranged for the use of the meeting place. Several Old Boys assisted in the work. Mr. Frank Corless, who was associated with the Brothers for 40 years, was the Secretary and Mr. Eddie Lyons his right hand man. 

Among other helpers were Jack Kerwick, Jack Harmey, Laurie Gorman, Bill Beasley, Frank Anderson, Denis Donovan and Jack McGrath. Monsignor Clark was helpful in supplying names and addresses. The first prize was a Ford car and the second prize a suite of furniture supplied by Mr. Dan Hayes ? there were several minor prizes. It was a great success; the net proceeds being about 1700 Pounds. Among those who gave donations was ex-Prime Minister, the Hon. John Scullin.”

Brother Paul O’Connor writes of the effects of World War II. “It is strange that 

“In 1942, the school and house were established at Granville. This was the first school to be opened in the Province since the opening of Sacred Heart College at Dubbo in 1921. The development of Wahroonga and the opening at Granville were the principal material achievements of the era. Father T.J. Pierce and Father Slowey were instrumental in negotiating the opening. Monsignor McGovern, PP of Granville and a close associate of Cardinal Gilroy, who gave his blessing to the opening and encouraged the Brothers by his kind words, invited the Brothers to the Parish.

“The area was a poor, working man’s suburb, with sub-standard housing and amenities. There was no separate building or playground for the boys; and the Brothers had to teach in old, weatherboard classrooms vacated by the Sisters. After a short period during which the Brothers were accommodated in the Presbytery, a house was provided as a Monastery. It was a dilapidated building that had been the residence of Judge Docker. The Brothers shared attic rooms under a corrugated iron roof. An outhouse was converted into a chapel. However, it was a sign of progress in the Province and Brother Joseph Tierney and Brother Anthony Phelan made an enthusiastic canvass before the school opened in 1942.

“Granville was established as a model Community with Brother Joseph Tierney in charge of two scholastics, Brother Gerard Histon and Brother Vincent Budin. The Rule was strictly observed, the school had a deeply religious atmosphere and the clergy were loud in their praise of the work of the Brothers. There was no alcohol, no tobacco and no wireless. The house was regarded by some of the Brothers as a sort of novitiate house; but it was the pride and joy of the Provincial and his Council; here was the return to the pristine state.” 

This era ended on a bright note with the arrival from Ireland of six Brothers in May 1946. They were Brothers Majella Tobin, Pius O’Leary, John Gallagher, Alolysius Delaney, Malachy Corbett and Xavier Comerford. [It seems the Brothers are shown according to age, the eldest first; Editor] They arrived at Sydney on Mothers’ Day, 1946. Below is Brother Malachy Corbett’s recollection of the preparation, voyage and arrival in Australia. It is in Brother Malachy’s own style. Not a word has been altered.

 “On Easter Tuesday, April 10, 1945 I was notified of my transfer to Australia with five other Brothers, one of whom, Br. Aloysius Delaney, was then a student with myself at University College, Galway. World War II had still had about a month to run in Europe and up to August 15 in the Pacific. Our likely departure date was completely unknown due to the difficulty of securing post-war passage.

So it was not till 8.00am on the morning of April 1, 1946 that we left Dublin by boat to Holyhead and then by train to London, followed by night-train to Southampton. We had a pleasant two-hour break in London thanks to Jim Tobin, Br. Majella’s brother, who took us home for a quick cup of tea ? and it was only later we realised what an awful dent we must have put in his severely rationed food supply. (Comparative wartime rationing in Ireland was much easier).

Southampton still looked almost a shambles due to bombing and we were housed for a couple of nights in what was obviously a temporary structure. By happy coincidence during our stay we met the local parish priest and his assistant, both Patrician ex-students from Ireland. Fr. O’Byrne, the parish priest, had gone to the Brothers in Tullow while Father O’Donovan was an ex-student of the Patrician Academy, Mallow (Co. Cork). Fr. O’Donovan was a superb baritone and I can still almost hear his beautiful rendition of the wartime ‘United States Marines’.

Anyway, by April 4, it was all aboard the Aircraft Carrier Indomitable ? a totally male passenger list consisting of Australian and N.Z. returning servicemen plus the first post-war English Rugby League team to visit Australia and eagerly awaited. (Clem Kennedy, for instance, will likely recall the “Indomitables”!).

We also had on board three priests en route to Queensland.  We were all referred to by the ship’s personnel as “Padres” and as Padres we were given honorary Officer status “upstairs” as distinct from the other indomitables “downstairs” (including the footballers!). The ships officers were initially a little distant but very courteous and later became very friendly with the padres.

Our brief ports of call on the four-week voyage were Valetta (Malta), another urban war-wreck; Aden with its blistering heat; Colombo (Sri Lanka), likewise and finally Fremantle. With three priests aboard we had daily another urban war-wreck; Aden with its blistering heat; Colombo (Sri Lanka), likewise and finally Fremantle. With three priests aboard we had daily Mass of course plus ceremonies for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The first week felt a bit boring but the magnificent flight-deck of the Indomitable, itself the size of a mini football field gave ample scope for walks and later became the launching pad of the padres’ sporting prowess.

The ship’s personnel organised a deck-hockey competition and cordially asked if we would like to enter a team. Tho’ we knew little about the game we said “of course” and the organisers immediately christened us The Sky Pilots. Our team consisted of five Brothers and two priests. Believe it or not for the first trial we were drawn out of the hat to play The Black’ n’ Tans! (The organising officer was later very apologetic about the mishap). With the trials over our first competition match was against seven ships’ officers and even already we could detect some quiet Aussie/N.Z. support. The officers scored early and then we were down 2-0 before we got back a goal early in the second half. For the next ten minutes our superb defence kept it 2-1 and the barrackers were hoarse. In the final seconds as the referee raised his whistle to blow full-time Br. Majella slotted in the equaliser. The resulting cheer could be heard many miles away and from there on the Padres/Sky Pilots were a privileged

We knew nothing of Rugby League but once they knew we were human it was a pleasure meeting Joe Egan, Fred Hughes, Frank Whitcombe, the Ward brothers, the great lock Ike Owens and a few others. In fact when Joe returned with the 1950 English team he and three team-mates called out to Holy Cross with a distinguished Old Boy, Mr. Jack Renshaw, much to the delight of all the students, particularly the country boys.

I myself was particularly looking forward to Fremantle. My sister, Sister Majella, had arrived there nine years previously on her way to the St. John of God Convent at Subiaco, Perth. But when I rang the convent and asked for her I got a bit of a shock as did the Sister who answered the ‘phone. “But”, she said, “Sister Majella is in Kalgoorlie for some weeks”. Her first letter from Kalgoorlie had not arrived home before I left Ireland and of course we had no forwarding address en route.

Anyway, within twenty-four hours came the second surprise. A ship-load of war brides from Sydney to London ran into trouble in the Australian Bight and had to dock finally in Fremantle. The Indomitable was commandeered to continue with the war brides and with little fuss we were told that we would continue by train to Sydney. Then came surprise number three for me. At our stop in Kalgoorlie there was Sister Majella with two other nuns who took Br. Pius and myself out to lunch at the convent ? while the other passengers changed trains! (Sister Majella passed away at Perth, August 14, 1995, over 58 years after she first arrived there).

The three-day trek across the Nullarbor to Adelaide was cramped to put it mildly ? nine of us in a compartment for eight seated and sleep as best you could. Meals were in the open during stoppages. At Adelaide the Bishop’s secretary welcomed us and took us to the Presbytery for a meal.

It was there I also got a glimpse of Aussie humour. As our new train moved off at dusk a gentleman opposite me casually said, “They have the best lighted-up cemetery in the world here”. “Oh!” I said, “where is it”? as I looked out the window. With a grin he said, “Nobody moves here after dark” (probably a Sydney-sider).

And so on to Melbourne for a few hours break on Saturday and then over-night to Sydney. Brothers Anthony Phelan and Norbert Phelan met us at Central Station and took us to Holy Cross College, Ryde where there were many more of the Brothers to greet us.

I still recall walking up the College steps and in the main door with the clock on the stairway showing some minutes after 1.00pm on Sunday May 12, Mother’s Day 1946.”

Bro. Malachy 

Brother Malachy Corbett, of the Ryde community, died on May 26, 1999 in his 76th year

We add to the above chronicle a letter from Bro John Gallagher (RIP) received following Brother Malachy’s passing. Again, not a word has been altered.

Dear Kevin,

Greetings, Graces and Blessing from the Emerald Isle and John. 

Bro. Philip forwarded your letter to me. I reach 80 years in September next, so you can’t expect too much from me. But surprisingly enough I have very clear recollections of that famous trip in 1946.

Let me fill you in ? on a few details not mentioned by Malachy (RIP). The six of us travelled on the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable as officers of His Majesty’s Navy ? Free, Gratis and for nothing. 

This occurred because of the new Australian Ambassador to London early in 1946. He was an ex-Patrician pupil of Redfern and obviously had not forgotten it. Bro. Oliver Healy taught him and the Ambassador arranged the trip for us from Davenport. I think the three priests were also free. We had the privileges of officers and were decked out in tropical clothes in Aden.

Now to the priests and the Skypilots. The three priests were Fr. Bree (Sligo) Fr. Arthurs (Belfast) and Fr Sheerin (from ?) I am not dead sure of him. Bree and Sheerin were in the deck-hockey team with Majella, Pius, Malachy, Xavier, Aloysius Delaney in goal. You have all the details of the games. 

Another thing omitted by Malachy is our stay in Fremantle after abandoning the Indomitable. We moved  to a Navy camp for about five days ? still officers and transport laid on. We had whale of a time and met many Irish people there and in Perth. Finally we were issued with panniken, knife, spoon, plate and fork for use on the troop-train. It was pretty rough living. The train stopped at particular times (anywhere). All out ? up to the engine and got the meal. 

The ‘aborigines’ eventually arrived everytime ? selling carved items, boomerangs, etc., etc. They cost 2 bob or one cigarette! Pius bought a boomerang and enquired at the next stop from the ‘aborigines’. They replied, “No bloody good ? kill rabbits!”

The whole experience was unforgettable!

Hope these few notes may be useful to you. I celebrated my Diamond Jubilee last August and as part of it I hope to visit Auzzie Land in October or November next if fit. 

Cheers, God Bless and every good wish

Bro. John Gallagher.

Yes. Brother John did make his trip to Auzzie Land. 

Brother John Gallagher of the Newbridge community, Co. Kildare, died at Galway, while fishing, on August 22, 2001 in his 83rd year. 

On May 14, 1946, just two days following the arrival of the six Brothers, Brother Austin O’Connell, Brother Oliver Healy and Brother Rodan Bergin sailed from Sydney to attend the General Chapter. Brother Austin O’Connell and Brother Oliver Healy were retained in Ireland, never to return to Australia.

Brother Austin David O’Connell died at Tullow, Co. Carlow, Ireland on July 30, 1967 in his 79th year.

In memory of all the departed mentioned in the above.
Requiescant in pace.

Explanatory Note: The above article is drawn from the writings of Brother Paul O’Connor (RIP) and personal records held by the writer. 

Over the past nine years a great deal of information has been collected and published. In coming issues we will write of the record of Provincials Brother Norbert Phelan and Brother Rodan Bergin. 

This will bring us to the close of the Patrician Brothers’ Inner Sydney Schools. Our story will end. But it begins another chapter of the history of the Patricians Brothers’ Schools in the outer western and south-western suburbs of Sydney that began at Granville in 1942. 

The need for the Patricians in Inner Sydney had passed. They answered the call to the newly developing suburbs and the needs of the Catholic families far from the inner suburbs of Sydney.