De La Salle College ASH FIELD Esto Vir!
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THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY De La Salle College ASH FIELD Esto Vir! 1916 2016 DE L LD A SALLE • ASHFIE 100 Years of Leadership in Boys’ Education ARS YE 100 St John Baptist De La Salle – carved wood sculpture in college foyer ‘Educating young men to reach their full potential’ De La Salle College, ASHFIELD De La Salle College, ASHFIELD 100 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN BOY’S EDUCATION 100 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN BOY’S EDUCATION ne of the many initiatives to commemorate 100 years has been the placement of two BEGINNING statues on College property. One HISTORY Ois of Mary the Mother of God and the other provides a link to a tradition of Catholic Vincentian dream to Lasallian Reality education stretching back more than three Growth and Development centuries to honour the founder of the Order of Brothers who opened the college in 1917: St John Baptist De La Salle, the patron saint of teachers. Born and baptised at Rheims, France century of helping to on 30th April 1651, he became a priest mould many thousands about 200 at the beginning of the had a special understanding of the but renounced his wealth and the office of of young men provides 1920s. religious philosophy of La Sallian Canon of the city’s cathedral and devoted many opportunities for Guided by Principal Br Julian education and believed that the his life to educating children of workmen positive reflections. Lennon FSC and with the contin- spiritual well-being of people is and the poor. He sought to inspire them uing support from the local people often dependent upon obtaining a ToA begin, we have chosen the following with a sense of dignity as people of God and and Vincentian Priests especially decent standard of living, the seeds words from Merv McCormack, heirs to the kingdom of heaven. Fr Macken, the technical school of which he was seeking to provide Executive Director of the DLS Mission The work of his Brothers spread was added in the 1930s. It was for students. Council: throughout France before his death on sought because, unlike today, it was Growth in enrolments was inevi- Students outside original college building, which is still used today “What a journey, from such Good Friday, April 7th 1719 and extended argued at the time that only about table through the years of the “baby humble beginnings. It started out internationally. one percent of students would con- boom” following World War II and as a small three classroom school tinue their education to university and makeshift monastery for the six standard; about another ten per- Brothers entrusted to teach and care cent would undertake office work; for the boys. Today it is a wonderfully Foundation and the majority would make their resourced contemporary College that living by working with their hands. Ashfield’s Parish Priest, Fr Paul Cullen C.M. Original college entrance sits proudly in Ashfield. Ashfield Community Brothers, 1921, left to right – Bros. Julian, Benildus, Jerome (Dtr), Hilarion demolished 1962 “Br Benignus Patrick the first guided the establishment of the College, Principal (1917-1920 and 1924-1925) reflecting that the expanding district Enrolments growth would be very pleased. Little could he needed a boys’ school. A foundation stone VERY FEW CLASSROOMS have realised that his school would, in was unveiled in December 1916 and the and only a small playground on after WWII led due course, not only survive two World Brothers offered classes the following year. rather rough terrain were available Wars, the Great Depression, and “The College stands on the shoulders of as the first sixty students arrived to to expanded countless educational bureaucracies, those pioneer Brothers and many Lasallians begin classes in 1917. Increasing development during how the business of educating youth who succeeded them. Successive Principal enrolments saw an additional two should be done. He would also be very Brothers contributed to its growth and classrooms erected the following the 1960’s The classroom of the 1950s pleased with the many distinguished development and in this centenary year we year through the generosity of the give thanks for them. Old Boys who became Priests, Vincentian Fathers and the people Fr Macken, who proved to be it led to the expanded development “Through its leadership, staff and Brothers, teachers, medicos, lawyers, of Ashfield. Further building con- one of the most generous support- during the 1960s. Early in that Board it has been faithful to the founding View of new Technical School, 1939 politicians, members of the judiciary, tinued as student numbers reached ers and benefactors of the College, decade, the original Monastery was Lasallian charism preserving values that actors, musicians and sportsmen. replaced with a new structure to are integral to a Catholic school in the “I like to think that he would be provide expanded and more com- Lasallian tradition. equally proud of the quiet achievers, fortable accommodation for up to “We congratulate Mr Stephen Kennaugh, or maybe not so much achievers, 17 Brothers. It comprised a Chapel, Principal and the College community on those who struggled with quadratic study, library, sitting room and din- celebrating 100 years of Catholic education equations, who made little sense of ing room, as well as two parlours, in the Lasallian tradition”. Shakespeare or Thucydides but who an office and a printing room, and Brothers Leave Ashfield tried ‘To be the best man you can be’. was another legacy of local parish- Br David Hawke FSC, DLS Provincial ioners, parents, the College auxil- Congratulations to all!” Pictorial Sketch of De La Salle College, Ashfield, 1937 iaries, along with the then Parish Priest, Fr J.K. O’Reilly CM. Those buildings of the 1960s were victims of further progress later in the 20th century, with the construction of a totally new class- PRINCIPALS room block and multi-purpose hall which is capable of hosting Masses, presentation functions, and indoor Br. Edward Joseph Br. Cassina Corbett sporting competitions. It is built 1926-1927 1956-1961 above playground space to provide Br. Thomas Dly Br. Peter McIntosh welcome cover for students. The Brothers’ Monastery has become 1928 1962-1967 the administrative centre for the Br. Leopold Loughran Br. Michael Lynch College, with additions providing a 1929-1930 1968-1971 library and staff facilities. Br. Julian Lennon Mr Peter Donnan 1931-1936 1972-1980 Mr Stephen Kennaugh, Principal Br Peter McIntosh, Former Principal New school begins to rise 1960 While the College was growing, religious vocations were Br. Edward Joseph Mr Allan Coman decreasing and the number of Brothers was reduced to just two in 1975 and 1976 and Ashfield became one of the first Catholic What an honour it is to be able serve Br Peter McIntosh FSC guided the 1937-1938 1981-1987 schools in Australia to pass totally to lay staff the following year. as Principal at De La Salle College, College through celebrations for Br. Victor Aenglus Mr Peter McNamara Br Michael Lynch FSC was the last Brother Principal, while Ashfield. The College is rich in so St John Baptist De La Salle Geoffrey Kennewell FSC and Max Sculley FSC were the final its half-century and established a 1939-1941 1988-1992 many ways and its academic, cultural reputation as a “builder” within the Brothers to remain on permanent staff. and sporting history are all worthy of Order. Br. Benignus Patrick Br. Edward Joseph Mr Patrick O’Connor celebrating at this very special time in Principal for six years from 1917-1920 1942 1993-1996 our history. MILESTONES 1962, he oversaw the demolition Br. Jerome Foley Br. George Benedict Mr Thomas Galea I appreciate our wonderful staff, of an impressive arch which had students and the parent community dominated the entrance for many 1921 1943-1948 1997-2001 who all deliver valuable contributions years and instituted a major building Br. Victor Eviston Br. Baptist Will Mr Michael Barrington towards making it a pleasure to come program to address the demands of 1922 1949-1951 2002-2013 (Term 3) to work each day. The fact that so growing numbers of students and Br. Leopold Loughran 1916 1917 1924 1926 many among our staff and students to expand subject offerings under Br. Aloysius Carmody Mr Philip Gane have been able to gain such positive the Wyndham scheme which also 1917-1923 1951-1953 2013 (Term 4) Fr. Paul Cullen, Ashfield parish Present Boys School opened Pioneer Leaving Certificate First edition of (Signum Fidei) experiences here at DLS Ashfield saw the introduction of the first HSC prest, purchased land for Boys by De La Salles Brothers Class (two students) school magazine pubished is testament to what the College Br. Benignus Patrick Br. Baptist Will Mr Stephen Kennaugh examination in 1967. School continues to stand for. 1924-1925 1954-1955 2014-present He was the second last Brother to Esto Vir! hold the title of Principal. 100 YEARS DE LA SALLE ASHFIELD DE LA SALLE ASHFIELD 100 YEARS De La Salle College, ASHFIELD De La Salle College, ASHFIELD 100 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN BOY’S EDUCATION 100 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN BOY’S EDUCATION School Magazine IDENTITY What makes us uildings have changed Commitment to important curriculum over 100 years have seen and accommodation has spiritual values has assisted the the College expand its offerings to expanded; new courses development of vocations for embrace dance, drama and other have been added and tens students who have become Priests aspects of the performing arts, OLD BOYS of thousands of students have producing well-publicised success B and Brothers, and some lay staff come and gone; the Brothers have also responded to similar calls. Br in the Rock Eisteddfod.