 November 2019 

Dan McErlean Bryan McSweeney 12 Werona Street email:[email protected] Sunnybank Qld 4109 Dear Old Boys The Pre-Christmas meeting of our Sub-Branch meeting of the (St Mary’s) Brothers Old Boys’ Association will be held on Friday 22th November 2019 at 12:00 noon in “Harlequin Jacks” Bistro in the Sofitel Hotel situated above Central Station. Access to the Bistro is via the escalator from within the Railway building, just look for the doors directly opposite the front “Go-Card” entry gates to the station platforms. On the 2nd October 1899 St Mary’s College began to accept its first students; 120 were enrolled with the first student named as William McGoldrick. It was staffed by three Christian Brothers – Principal Brother John Hugh Hurley and Brothers Quinlan and O’Donnell. On Saturday evening 19/10/2019 Old Boys, wives and partners, and teachers were welcomed back to their Alma Mater to celebrate our 120th Anniversary. There were welcoming speeches by the Toowoomba (St Mary’s) Old Boys’ Association President Mr Joe Guerrini and College Principal Mr Michael Newman followed by an interview with Ethan Lowe. A musical interlude was provided by the College Showband. Following Dinner there was the launch of the new History Book “Good Old Boys – Conversations with Dan” with an interview of author Felicity McArdle and Dan McErlean by Master of Ceremonies James O’Shea (year 12 – 1999). See Page 8 for photographs from the event. Felicity has written the book with flair and elegance and has selected stories to be included after conversations with Dan that make a striking portrayal of past Old Boys who once graced the grounds of St Mary’s College. It can be purchased for $50 pls postage from the College, phone (07) 4631 7333, or by contacting Dan McErlean.

M.C James O’Shea interviewing our special guest Ethan Lowe (yr 12 2008), the NRL Premiership and World Cup Challenge, and player. A major auction of sporting memorabilia followed where the proceeds went to the College to provide support looking after students whose families struggle with financial difficulties. All guests had the chance to celebrate all of the milestones over the last 120 years of St Mary’s College.

During November, the month of the Holy Souls, please pray in a special way for Old Boys and friends of the College who have passed to Eternal Life; Brian Reginald Scott – husband of Kay and brother of Val (RIP), Shirley, Colleen, Glen, Colin (RIP), and Marie; Bradley Denis Wilson (1953/55 and 1961/62), husband of Bernadette and brother of Lance, Trevor (RIP), Peter (RIP), Paul and Matthew, and children Brad, Mark, and Toni; John Francis Kenafake (1946-1953) husband of Barbara and father of Shaun and Andrea; Matthew Rolland son of Kevin (dec) and Jan, and Val (Scott) McPherson. Darryl James Brennan (1955-1963), husband of Dawn, father of Clayton and Shari.

Bryan McSweeney Dan McErlean Dan Reilly President Secretary Co-Ordinator Mobile: 0420 565 712 (07) 3345 4404 (07) 3395 1813

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T.B.O.B.A. (Brisbane Sub-Branch) Meeting – 20th September 2019

Present Apologies

Bryan McSweeney Michael Murphy Fr Paul Chandler Rolly Griffin (TBOBA Brisbane Sub- Pat Mullins Fr Tyrone Deere John Hagan branch President) Robyn Murphy OAM Br Barry Buckley cfc AM Fred Lincoln Carl Betros Rod McDonald Br Gary Ferguson cfc Jim Long Leigh Brady Dan McErlean Laurie Atzeni (Hon) Phil Long Brian Gagen Justin McErlean John Bagget Dinny Madden Terry Gesch Peter McMahon John Brady Tom Mahon Gene Green John Noonan Greg Butler Jim Mullins Tim Hagan Reg Oliver Nat Chandler Wayne Nuss Peter Kennedy John O’Neill Bernie Collins Jack Parker Barry Kuhnemann Martin O’Sullivan Noel Cronin Pat Stringer Doug Lee Lindsay Reis Jack Davis Kerry Taylor Dick Lynch Errol Ryan Frank Deighton Trevor Taylor Mick Lyons Philip Simpson Brian Dobbyn Peter Upton Leigh Madden Les Duncan Glen Wiedman

Annual Membership Fee ($10.00) for Calendar Year 2020 is now due / or Life Memberships are available (Fee $100.00) Cheques for Membership should be made payable to the “Toowoomba Brothers Old Boy’s Association” * * * Cheques as donations towards the Indoor Sports Complex should be made payable to ‘Br. Baptiste O’Sullivan Building Fund’. They are fully Tax Deductible and will be receipted.

As a component of the 120th Year Celebrations of St Mary’s history, Dan McErlean was presented with a Blessed Edmund Rice Award at the College assembly on Tuesday 15/10/2019 by Brother Matt McKeon on behalf of the Christian Brothers as recognition for the work he has done in the production of the St Mary’s Old Boys newsletters since 2000. Fr Hal Ranger, six Christian Brothers – Brother Barry Buckley AM, Brother Gary Ferguson, Brother Matt McKeon, Brother Peter Sheldon, Brother Patrick White and Brother Denis Sullivan and a number of Old Boys were welcomed by the Principal Michael Newman.

Brother Barry Buckley AM was College Principal from 1970 to 1972 and again in 1990 & 1991, Brother Gary Ferguson was a College student between 1951 and 1956, Brother Matt McKeon attended College in 1938 as a student, while Brothers Peter Sheldon and Patrick White were College Staff teachers in 1960 and 1957 respectively, Brother Denis Sullivan’s link with St Mary’s College is through his father who was a student at the College from 1915 to 1923. We owe thanks to Mike Fitzpatrick (1952-1955) and (1958-1961) for the successful organisation of the event.

Also please remember in your prayers a number who are unwell or recovering from surgery: John Arndell, Tim Coonan, Lyle Dornbusch, Brien Dunne, Colin Green, Eric Howe, Mike Ledbury, Gail (Rosenthal) Mahon, Margaret Murphy wife of Robin, Wally Nugent, Joe Short, Bob Sullivan, Philip Stephens, Grahame Swenson, Kevin Garrett, Syl Stower, Ted Gill, Jim Hannant, and Bevan Zeller.

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“Coming Events”

1950-1959 Class Reunion Luncheon to be held at the Toowoomba Irish Club at 12noon. 17th November 2019 Please contact Mick Quinlan (0418 465 159), Justin Kunney (0418 700 170) Pat Costigan (0432 583 498) 22nd – 24th November Class of 1979, 40th Year Reunion for any past students who attended the college during 2019 the period 1972-1979 (yrs 5 – 12) Contact Craig Bell email: [email protected] Brisbane TBOBA Sub Branch Meeting at 12 noon – “Harlequin Jack’s Bistro” Central 22nd November 2019 Railway Station TBOBA Sunshine Coast meeting at the Headland Golf Club, Buderim at 12 noon. Please 6th December 2019 contact Terry Murphy (54564340) or Redmond Byrne (54776705) 13th March 2020 Claimer date for the first Brisbane TBOBA Sub Branch Meeting

Bradley Denis Wilson (12/4/1945-6/9/2019) of Brisbane Forest Park and spent 10 years Brad was the third of six sons implementing his ideas and identifying suitable plants born to Rupert and Mavis which have made it such a successful project. (O’Leary) Wilson. His siblings While in Brisbane for a short time on a Departmental were Lance, Trevor, Peter, Training Course he met Bernadette (Tasker) while Paul and Matthew. The family travelling on a train to Oxley and the couple married early years were spent in at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Corinda, in 1967. Charleville and when they They were blessed with two sons and a daughter, settled in Toowoomba, Brad, Brad, Mark and Toni and five adored grandchildren like his elder brothers, was – Caleb, Coen, Jess, Shay and Lily. enrolled at St Mary’s College from 1953 to 1955. In Their early married life was spent in Oxley while 1956, as was required by the Diocesan practice at that Brad built what would be their home for forty years time, he had to transfer to the newly opened St on acreage at Colleges Crossing. They had no Joseph’s College until 1960. He returned to St Mary’s reticulated water or electricity until they purchased a for his senior years in 1961 and 1962. diesel generator to provide limited light and power. Brad was a fine athlete as were his brothers and he Eleven and a half years ago Brad and Bernadette and Peter were members of the College Firsts Rugby decided to make a “sea-change” and bought a home in League team in 1962. Buddina on the Sunshine Coast. Many of St Mary’s College Athletic records have Lance and Brad regularly attended our Old Boys’ been lost, due it is thought to metric conversion in the Buderim meetings and it was after being at our 1970’s. At the 1954 Annual Sports, Brad, then under luncheon there on 5th July 2019 that his serious illness 10, equalled the 50 yard Dash record of 6.9 secs that was identified, and his health deteriorated quickly. He had been set by Darcy Owen in 1945. This fact is passed to Eternal Life on the 6th September 2019. confirmed in the 1963 Sports Programme. His large funeral was held in the Mt Gravatt Funeral Brad’s Long Jump record set 57 years ago still is the Chapel, MacGregor, and he was laid to rest in the College record. It was a leap of 6.8 metres set at the adjoining cemetery, Metropolitan Catholic Schools Association Carnival in 1962. At this event he also set two further records. Brian Reginald Scott First, he ran the 880 yard race in 2 mins 5.6 secs and It was sad to learn that Brian then jumped 5ft 9 inches in the High Jump in the Scott had died as a result of a Open age group. car accident on the Warwick At age 17 Brad gained a position with the Forestry – Killarney Road on Department on Fraser Island and took his father’s Thursday 29h August 2019. Bantam Motorcycle over there so he could get He had been driving his around. He continued to gain more senior roles with sister Colleen, wife of Kevin the department before being appointed Chief Ranger. Killoran, home from a Then he was appointed Manager for the development doctor’s appointment in

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Toowoomba when the accident occurred. His wife received the Award for Character and Leadership that Kay was also injured. Brian’s siblings are Val, year. Shirley, Colleen, Glen, Colin and Marie. The boys They were members of the First XV Rugby Union all attended St Mary’s in the late 1940’s and early side, First XI Cricket team and Tennis squad. John 1950’s. was captain of the First XI and set a high standard of Brian worked in New Guinea for some years on batting and bowling. Peter was able to attend the Coffee Plantations and then settled in Murray’s College Assembly on 15/10/2019 with Fr Hal Bridge near Warwick about ten years ago. He devoted Ranger, six Christian Brothers and a number of Old his time to charity works, including Meals on Wheels, Boys when Dan McErlean was presented with the the Killarney and District Historical Society and Blessed Edmund Rice Award. Killarney Memorial Aged Care. He is survived by his John had a career as an Industrial Chemist in the wife Kay, his son and four daughters and the Sugar Industry and Peter was a Civil Engineer with grandchildren he idolised. Local Government Authorities.

MEMBERS STORIES ST. MARY’S CLASSES 1950-1959 REUNION SUNDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2019 IRISH CLUB HOTEL 80 RUSSELL STREET TOOWOOMBA 60 YEARS SINCE 16 OF US COMPLETED SENIOR - 1959 We would like to catch up with those remaining from the classes of 1950 -1959 to hear their stories of the last 69 years. Bring your stories, photographs and memorabilia to our gathering on the 17th.

At our get together in 2017 attendees unanimously voted to hold reunions every year, This year we have set the date for Sunday the 17th November hoping you may be free to join us for an afternoon of fellowship. Venue:- This year we will gather for lunch in the Tara Room of The Irish Club Hotel where will have the room to ourselves. Preliminaries:- We are endeavouring to arrange for a tour of our Alma Mater probably commencing at 10am. We will advise of details closer to the date. Meet and Greet:- Tara Room – The Irish Club Hotel, 80 Russell Street 12pm-1pm. Drinks at own expense. Lunch:- 1pm with a choice from the Bistro Menu – Entrees, Mains and Sweets will be available

according to your wishes – Tea and Coffee available. Getting in early for the 120th Year celebrations were Accommodation:- There isn’t any accommodation some of the 1956 Class catching up on the morning of available at this hotel but if you need accommodation the big event. you will have to find some nearby. Front: Peter Kenny, Second Row: Kev McSweeney, Booking:- In order to facilitate our meal requirements Fr John Quinlan, Third Row: Vince Lester OAM, please advise one of our Committee members by Barry Coonan, Back Row: Dave Robson, Vince email or phone ASAP if you wish to attend. McDonald

Pat Costigan 0432 583 498 [email protected] Two of our Life Members have been following th Justin Lunney 0418 700 170 [email protected] closely the activities of the College 120 year Michael Quinlan 0418 465 159 Celebrations. They are Life Members of our Old [email protected] Boys’ Association and were seniors in 1947. Peter Sheridan was Dux of the College and John Sedl

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Life Member Mervyn Henson (1946-1951) has From 2016 the Toowoomba Turf Club has honoured advised us that he is now living in Ascot Street, Pat’s memory each year by naming the first two-year- Newtown after a number of moves during his old race run in Australia the “Pat O’Shea Hopeful lifetime. Some of Merv’s favourite memories of his Plate”. Over 1000m the 2019 event, worth $50,000, days at St Mary’s College are the Athletic Carnivals. was held on September 28th. In 1949 his fifth-grade teacher and Sportsmaster, Brother F Ryan told the class that they would have Tony Gollan (Yr 12, 1996) won the 2018/2019 no homework if the Under 13 Relay Team (John Queensland Racing Trainer of the Year award. He has Littleton, John Appleford, Merv and Peter Gagen now won six Brisbane metropolitan premierships and from sixth grade) won the event at the Darling Downs attributes his biggest thrill to training the quinella in School Sports. the 2014 Doomben 10,000 with “Spirit of Boom” and They won, and who do you think were the Class “Temple of Boom”. Heroes for the day? At the 1950 Metropolitan Catholic School Association Athletic Carnival Merv A must-read race book has just been released by The was placed third in the Under 14 - 100 yard race. Courier Mail Racing Journalist, Nathan Exelby. His The love of his life has been the Scout Movement, interest in Racing came from the great passion his firstly as a Scoutmaster while in Victoria in 1964. grandfather Old Boy, Bill Oliver (1944-1947), had Subsequently he has served the Movement on the for this sport writing a ‘Turf Topics’ column in the Gold Coast, at Ipswich and more recently back in South Burnett Times and mentoring callers with their Toowoomba where he is the Darling Downs Regional broadcasts. Nathan’s uncle Reg Oliver (1942-1947) Leader and Manager of the Scout Shop. is a Life Member of our Association and a regular at our Brisbane TBOBA luncheons. Old Boy OAM (Yr 12 – 2000) was amongst eight Queenslanders presented with Peter Kennedy (1945 & 1948-1952) medals by the Queensland Governor Paul De Jersey What do you do if you have a passion for steam AC at an Australian Honours Awards Ceremony in locomotives and Heritage Railways, English Villages on the 23rd September 2019. and their pubs? Well follow Old Boy Peter Kennedy’s Johnathan’s outstanding community service was journey to England in July/August 2019, for England recognised with his appointment as a Member of the has, by far the greatest number of steam Heritage Order of Australia. Railways run by thousands of volunteers from all The retired , Maroon and walks of life. These Heritage Railways were saved Kangaroo legend received the award for from many of the Branch lines closed in the his service to rugby league and as a role model for ‘Beeching’ era of the 1960’s and gradually rebuilt by support programmes in indigenous communities. local volunteers. Johnathan said that “it was proud moment and he was Peter’s first stay was near Clapham Junction Station humbled to have made a difference in the in London, the busiest one in the UK with 18 through community” platforms. He then ventured to the ‘Bluebell Railway’, his first Heritage Railway, and it was a time Old Boys Honoured by Queensland Racing warp back to the 1920-1938 era. Staff were dressed At a special Queensland Racing ceremony in in appropriate smart period uniforms attending Brisbane on the 22nd September 2019 two Old Boys, pristine stations often with flowering garden beds. Pat O’Shea and Tony Gollan were honoured. One could experience the sights, sounds and smells of the steam locomotives hauling heritage trains and The late Darling Downs broadcaster, Pat O’Shea, producing that almost forgotten ‘clickety clack’ was one of five new inductees into the Queensland sound. Racing Hall of Fame. Pat had a true passion for Next stopover was at Dawlish, a pretty seaside village thoroughbred racing and called his first gallops race on the South Coast. A day trip from here takes you to at Tara on Melbourne Cup Day in 1970 and started Paignton from where the heritage railway runs beside calling from Clifford Park in the mid 1980’s, making the beach and over the hill to Dartmouth, home of the 29 Weetwood Handicap calls. British Naval College and a very busy tourist area.

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At Dartmouth Peter enjoyed an enjoyable cruise on Good things do end, so it was home again for a the Dart River on the last genuine operating paddle Railway Buff having once again experienced ‘Steam’ steamer in the UK. travel and enjoyed B & B’s, their huge traditional Onwards then to “Minehead” a pretty flower decked breakfasts, old village pubs, bangers and mash or fish holiday beach town on the Bristol Channel which and chips washed down by an odd local ale. features the Dunster Castle, many holiday parks including “Butlin’s” camp. It is also home to the 24 Brother Patrick White who taught Grade 5 at St mile ‘West Somerset Railway’ which provides Steam Mary’s in 1957 has been in contact recently. Brother Heritage services to villages along the beach front recalls there were 100 boys in that class. before it turns inland. This allows passengers to enjoy He recalled that it took ten minutes to call the roll. the sounds of steam locomotives climbing the hills First was Delbert Aldridge, last was Brian while, perhaps, enjoying a cuppa in the ‘Buffet’ car. Zablonski. Other names he remembers include, From ‘Minehead’ it is on to ‘Kidderminster’ on the John Costigan, a Mullins, Chris Shapland, a Severn River and terminus of the ‘Severn Valley Zeller, and that's about it. Railways’. The route is (21) miles long and very busy If any of the students from that year who might be with about ten full trains per day. It follows the interested in contacting Bro White his details are as Severn River to Bridgenorth. Dogs can accompany follows; Ph 0417682457, mail Unit 207/2141 passengers on all National & Heritage Railways Sandgate Road, Boondall, 4034 or email although on some lines a cheap day ticket is essential. [email protected] The next Heritage Railways line was boarded at Llangollen just over the border in Wales. It runs Brett Robinson (1979-1984) and vice-chairman of beside the Dee river and will have a two mile Rugby Australia will step down in April from the extension open next year. Llangollen straddles the Board after serving his maximum three terms, river and high above the town is a canal which gives totalling nine years. tourists barge access across the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct built by Thomas Telford in 1805 and Celebrations towering 126 feet (38 metres) above the river Dee. Life Member Bill Blacka celebrated his 90th Birthday Then onto York with its narrow shopping lanes in an with family and friends on the 26th June 2019. Sadly, area known as the Shambles, much of the remains of Bill’s wife of over sixty years Irene and sons Gary the walled city, the York Railway Museum, and Tony are deceased. His other children are Kevin, ‘Minister’ Cathedral and St Wilfred’s Catholic Bryan, Laurie and daughter Kathryn. Church located almost in the shadow of the huge Bill worked as a Railway Signalman and served as Minster Cathedral. Secretary of both the Toowoomba Railways Cricket The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is the club and the Toowoomba Cricket Association. He busiest of the Heritage Railways carrying over enjoys both golf and lawn bowls. 400,000 passengers annually and appearing in many TV programs. One station on the line is Goathland Life Member Reginald Oliver (1942 – 1947) and his (alias Aidensfield), this Village is as it appears in the wife Averil (Kowitz), a Mt Tyson lass, celebrated series ‘Heartbeat’ and is very popular with tourist their Diamond Wedding Anniversary recently. The visitors. At the ocean end of the NYMR is the Best Man was Bill Oliver and Averil’s bridesmaid, bustling town of Whitby famous as the port from Lynette Mann. Sixty years ago the couple spent their which Captain James Cook sailed on his discovery honeymoon in , Noosa and Redcliffe. They voyage to Australia. now live in Morayfield and have three daughters and The last stop on Peter’s UK holiday was in four grandchildren. Sheringham a village on the East Coast near Norwich and which has a Heritage Railway known as the Two Old Boys celebrated their Birthdays in North Norfolk Railway extending for (8) scenic miles September. Jack Parker (1948-55) enjoyed with the English Channel in view. Here a special celebrations with his wife Jan and family and friends. train, one of those run in various forms, was being run Robin Murphy OAM hosted an enjoyable surprise consisting of 4 ‘Buffet’ cars hauled by a very old evening at his home for his former classmate, Brian locomotive for a wedding reception. Fagan (1947-56) on the 11th September.

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News has reached us that Alf Zeller (1948-57) has This year Alwyn Rix was recognised for his 40 years moved down from Yungaburra to Alligator Creek, teaching service during which he has spent the past 36 Townville. Alf was Manager of the Yungaburra Hotel years as an outstanding educator at St Mary’s College. for four and a half years having taken up the role for, Pictured here are staff at St as he thought at the time, 3 months; but he found it Mary’s who received Long difficult to leave such an idyllic location. Service Awards during the week; Back – Alwyn Rix 40 years, Kickboxing Phillip Cutler 35 years, Brian Kickboxer trainer Leon Spain Steer 30 years, has two fighters contesting Title Front; - Principal Michael events overseas. His 19 year-old Newman 30 years, and Frank son Brandon, who completed Strachotta 20 years. Year 12 at St Mary’s College in 2016 won the ISKA lightweight title in June and will head to Kris Glass who was a College student from 1998 Japan in November to compete (Year 4) to 2005 (Year 12) is now in his second year in the K-1 World GP as the first as a member of the Teaching Staff at St Mary’s Australian to be invited to fight in the 57.5 kg College. In Year 12 Kris was the Rice House captain division at the prestigious event. Brandon will fight in and a member of the College cricket firsts and the an eight-man eliminator tournament – needing to win AFL side while he and Craig Smith represented three fights in one night to secure the Title. Queensland in the Under 19 Cricket Team. He now coaches the College Hockey and Open Cricket sides. Leon is also the coach of 13 year-old Holly Nguyen, daughter of David Nguyen (year 12 – 1998). Holly Two St Mary’s students are amongst the fifty best won gold at the Australian Junior Championships and young footballers in the State, named by the Courier then another Gold medal when she competed in the Mail after analyses of games in the Langer Cup, GPS 46-48 kg division at the recent IF-MA Youth Rugby and A J C Rugby League series: Championships in Turkey. Xavier Va’a played for St Mary’s in the Langer Cup.

He has come through the Queensland junior program, COLLEGE NEWS captaining the Maroon’s Under 15 team last year. Regarded as a player of enormous promise, Xavier has been placed on the Brisbane Development program. Brayden Paix is the younger brother of Broncos fringe player Corey (Year 12 – 2017). Brayden showed plenty of class in a difficult season with St Mary’s in the Langer Cup. His combination with schoolmate and fellow development Bronco Shaun Packer is silky smooth. As they have done for the past 60 years students from St Mary’s College paraded their College colours during the College Year 12 2018 graduate and Player of 2018 Grand Central Flower Parade through the City streets for Confraternity Carnival and Player of that Final, 17 the annual Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers procession to year-old Jake Simkin, played with Wynnum Manly the tunes of the College Marching Band. Seagulls this year. Jake has also represented Catholic Education Week Queensland at junior levels. Catholic Education Week provides the opportunity to The highly regarded No.9 will be joining West recognise educators who have spent their lives teaching Tigers, having signed a (3) year deal and will be part and working in Catholic Schools. of their development squad in 2020. Jake will be unable to play 1st Grade until after Round 16 in 2020 and will join that Club’s NRL squad in 2021.

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St Mary’s College 120 Year Celebrations Old Boy’s Dinner

120 Year Old Boys Dinner “Good Old Boys – Conversations with Dan”

Ethan Lowe and James O’Shea Dan McErlean and Felicity McArdle

Auction Items Old Boys, Partners and Family members

The College Band The College Band

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