x July 2016 y

Dan McErlean Bryan McSweeney 12 Werona Street email: [email protected] Sunnybank Qld 4109

Dear Old Boys

Our next luncheon of the Brisbane Sub-branch of the T.B.O.B.A. will be held at ‘The Public Service Club’, Level 1 Function Room, 84 William Street (cnr Stephens Lane), Brisbane on Friday 15th July 2016, from 12 noon through until about 2.00 pm; but feel free to drop in anytime from 11.00 am on, as your commitments dictate and join Old Boy mates in convivial fellowship. Future claimer dates are 16th September, & 18th November for Brisbane lunches, and 22nd July 2016 for the Buderim lunch at the Headland Golf Club.

Congratulations to Rev Fr John Quinlan who celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to the Priesthood at a Special Mass and Function at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church, Newtown, on the 3rd July 2016. An Old Boy of St Mary’s College (1949 – 1958), Fr John is Vicar General of the Toowoomba Diocese and member of the St Mary’s College Board.

Our thanks to the following Old Boys who have taken up Life Membership recently: Michael Garrett (1961- 1969), Samuel John Greer (1947/48 & 1953/54), Timothy Charles McSweeney (1968/69), Darel Sterling (1948-1951), Pat Stringer (1953-1960).

Please remember in your prayers a number of Old Boys and Friends of the College recently deceased: Life Members Mick Moloney and Noel Hannant OAM , Joe Mulhall , Kenneth Peter “Ken”Iseppi , aged 88 years, husband of Lorna and father of Peter & Paul who ran the “Newtown Towing & Service Station” for many years, and Doug Mendoza , father of Peter and John, and Jude Lysaght (1942-46) who we understand passed away in May 2015.

There are a number unwell or recovering from surgery including, Doug and Tim Coonan, Kevin Killoran, Pat Seymour, John Keightley, Colin Green, Trevor Muller, John & Tom Hutchinson, Bill McErlean, Reg Taylor, Greg Keen, David Wilkinson, Greg Flynn, Joe Short, Brian Benson, Philip Stephens, Andrew O’Dwyer, and Mrs Pat Peut .

“Coming Events”

27/6/2016- 1/7/2016 Annual Confraternity Rugby League Carnival in Rockhampton

15 th July 2016 - Brisbane TBOBA Sub Branch Meeting – 1 st Floor, Function Room, ‘The Public Service Club’, 11.00am – 2.00pm 84 William Street (cnr Stephens Lane), Brisbane TBOBA Sunshine Coast meeting at the Headland Golf Club on Golf Links Road, Buderim. 22 nd July 2016 Contacts: Bernie Murphy (54780742), Terry Murphy (54564340), or Redmond Byrne (54776705) 1945 – 1954 Class Reunion – Contacts: Justin McErlean (46343625) and John Bagget 27 th – 28 th August 2016 (33579349)

Bryan McSweeney Dan McErlean Dan Reilly President Secretary Co-Ordinator (07) 3278 9682 (07) 3345 4404 (07) 3395 1813

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T.B.O.B.A. (Brisbane‘Coming Sub-Branch) Events’ Meeting – 13/05/16

Present Apologies

Bryan McSweeney Jim Long Fr Paul Chandler Justin McErlean (Brisbane Sub-branch Dick Lynch Fr Tyrone Deere Greg McErlean President) Pat Mullins Brother Barry Buckley (AM) John O’Neill Laurie Atzeni (Hon.) Mick Murphy Bro Kevin Dwyer John Noonan John Bagget Dan McErlean Frank Adamson Keith Pickels Nev Card Paul McErlean Carl Betros Alan Roney Nat Chandler Rod McDonald Greg Butler Reg Taylor Bernie Collins Peter McMahon Noel Cronin Greg Wiedman Frank Deighton Jack Parker Jack Davis (Hon) Maurie Drew Pat Stringer Alan Duncan John Drew Martin O’Sullivan Brian Fagan Les Duncan Errol Ryan Des Franklin Brien Dunne Graham Swenson John Hagan Brian Gagen Kerry Taylor Tim Hagan Terry Gesh Merv Henson Barry Gordon John Hutchinson Rolly Griffin Tom Hutchinson Peter Kennedy Merv Johnstone Barry Kuhnemann Jim Mullins Doug Lee Bernie Murphy Fred Lincoln Terry Murphy

Annual Membership Fee ($10.00) for Calendar Year 201 6 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.

Brother Patrick Coman McCarthy cfc passed to Eternal Life on 9/06/2016 aged 94 years. He served as Principal at Warwick from 1959 -1964 and taught at St Mary’s Toowoomba from (1972 -74). In 1980/81 he was at St Joseph’s Toowoomba as a member of the Catholic Education Office.

Congratulations to Ethan Lowe (Yr 12 2008) named 18th man in the State of Origin Team for game two against New South wales. Johnathon Thurston will play his 35th consecutive Origin game.

2 Vale Arthur E (Mick) Moloney (22/4/32 – 5/5/16) Company business in Papua/New Guinea. He was already visiting properties in the Kimberley, around Esperance, in New South Wales, Western Queensland, Mick and his sister Pat the Gulf Country and Cape York. (Mrs Ron Peut) were He was responsible for the sale and installation of children of Ted and Ethel irrigation equipment to water a new polo field for the May (Teys) Moloney. He Sultan of Brunei and because of its success the Sultan was born in Goondiwindi nd ordered a complete fire-fighting scheme to protect his on the 22 April 1932 and new Palace. The pressure on this scheme was so good it received his early blew the tiles off the outside of the Palace. education from the Sisters of Mercy at the local When he retired from Southern Cross in 1992, Mick convent school. took up a consultancy arrangement to sell the company’s products and so he continued to supply When his sister Pat passed products to the rural sector until it changed ownership. Scholarship in 1943 the family moved to Mick Moloney’s steel troughs were a speciality, and Toowoomba so Pat could because of his immense knowledge of Southern Cross attend St Ursula’s and Mick, St Mary’s College. Here windmills, pumps, engines and water reticulation Mick he made lifelong friends with Ian “Ripper” Doyle , was known from Hobart to Darwin, from Perth to Cape Frank Paterson , Frank Murphy and Fred Lincoln , York and in P.N.G and all places in between. It was in just to name a few, between 1944 – 1946. recognition of his long service to the Pastoral Industry, without ever owning a cow, that the Northern Territory When Mick was enrolled at St Mary’s College as an Cattleman’s Association presented Mick with a Life eleven year old from a country school, he had never had Membership Award at their Annual General Meeting in a cricket bat or football in his hands, so it was a big March 2012. learning curve sports-wise and academically. He also learnt on the first day that it wasn’t fun to be disciplined In retirement Edna and Mick had more chances to for fighting in the schoolyard. follow Rugby League and Rugby Union matches and enjoy overseas Wallabies tours and trips to New In 1948 Mick was a member of the All Whites Zealand and the Holy Land. As Old Boy, Joe O’Neill . a Undefeated Junior Minor Rugby League side and went Racing Syndicator can attest, Mick had a lot of fun on to be part of the Club’s 1954 Premiership winning A following horses in his racing syndicates. He loved Grade squad and their 1955 Reserve Grade Premiers gatherings of family and friends and for one T.B.O.B.A. captained by Old Boy, Jim Mullins . function at the Irish Club, he arranged for the presence Mick commenced work as a mail boy and office boy at of all but one of the living members of the famous 1924 Toowoomba Foundry Sales Pty Ltd in January 1947, side that defeated England, but left after 3 months to start an apprenticeship in as well as a number of other former Toowoomba rugby plumbing with Vince O’Neill in Russell Street, league players after a Rugby League Test match. Toowoomba. It was a real lesson – building galvanised Mick and his wife Edna (Jackson) married in the early iron tanks in the middle of a cold and wet Toowoomba 1950’s and have lived at Robertson in Brisbane for winter where his job was to hold the steel “dolly” on the some years. They were blessed with three sons and two inside of the tanks to press against the rivets as they daughters: Peter (retired Principal of Assumption were belted in. Taking parts to tradesmen all over College, Warwick), Gregory , Lyn (Krebs), Julie Toowoomba on a push bike in cold and blustery (Watt), and Michael , 17 grandchildren and 12 great conditions was no fun either, so Mick left and was grandchildren. The three lads were educated at St fortunate to be re-employed by the Foundry in August Lawrence’s College, Peter becoming a teacher, and 1947 under Gordon Chalk, later Sir Gordon Chalk . Gregory and Michael Chartered Accountants. Gregory Early in 1948 he was placed in the Company’s Purchase was a Queensland Rugby Union Representative. & Stock Control Department before being trained in the Mick was a Life Member (No 73) of our Toowoomba Sales Department under Frank Bowdler , as mentor for Brothers Old Boys’ Association and after being 10 formative years. He was transferred as Southern President of our Brisbane Sub Branch, remained a loyal Cross representative to Warwick in 1956 where in 1957 and active stalwart of our Association and the Christian he was the player coach for the East Collegian Rugby Brothers. He was admitted to Greenslopes Hospital at League Club. 1958 saw Mick working the Northern Easter and despite the best efforts of doctors and the Rivers Region of New South Wales and captain/coach nursing staff passed to Eternal Life on the 5 th May 2016. of the Marist Brothers Old Boys’ Football Club, Mick was laid to rest on 12/5/2016 after a Requiem Secretary in 1959, and President in 1960. Mass attended by a large congregation and celebrated In August of 1960 he was moved to Rocklea as Field by Fr John Dobson at St Fabian’s Catholic Church Supervisor in charge of the Company’s team of Field Yeerongpilly. Representatives and later appointed to look after

Joseph Andrew Mulhall (4/3/1940 – 5/6/2016) Noel Hannant O. A. M. “Joe” as he was popularly known A Life Member of our passed to Eternal Life in the early association, Noel attended St hours of Sunday 5 th June 2016 Mary’s College from 1942 – 1948 surrounded by his family at the before spending his working life Regis Nursing Home in Salisbury, with Queensland Rail as a train Brisbane. driver. His parents Paddy and Teresa In 2001 Noel became a founding settled in Home Hill after member and long term President emigrating from Ireland and of The Older Men’s Network became cane farmers. Times were (TOMNET) in response to an tough as it was the Depression alarming rate of suicide among years and economic hardship saw aged and lonely men. The organisation has since become a the couple move to South Street, Toowoomba where their meeting place for older men with a daily drop-in centre home overlooked the City Golf Course. and weekly meetings which attract over one hundred people in Toowoomba. The couple were blessed with five sons – Mick, Nick, Pat, Austin, and Joe and one daughter June (Foote). Joe’s TOMNET has since expanded across south-west early education was at the Home Hill convent and later at Queensland with some 20 branches, testament to the drive St Mary’s Christian Brothers, Toowoomba from 1950 to of the founders like Noel. In the 2013 Australian Day 1955. Aged 15 years he began an Electrical honours list Noel was recognised for his tireless work with Apprenticeship with the South Queensland Electricity TOMNET when awarded with the “Medal of the Order of Board with another school mate and lifelong friend Barry Australia”. Kuhnemann . Later Joe undertook a Bachelor of Education degree and began a teaching career as a tutor at Noel married his wife Joan in 1956 in St. Patrick’s TAFE Colleges and willingly undertook this role in Cathedral and they had five children , Laurie, Peter, Paul country centres like Mt Isa and Weipa when needed. He (RIP), Anne-Maree and Kate . Noel had three brothers, retired in 2005. John (RIP), Vernon (RIP), and Jim who also attended St. Mary’s College and three sisters, Barbara (RIP ), Judy Joe had shown promise as a rugby league player and when (RIP), and Joyce . his brother Austin purchased him a pair of football boots th he joined the Toowoomba Southern Suburbs Club where Noel died on the 29 April 2016 surrounded by his loving Austin had been five-eighth in that clubs 1957 Premiership family in St. Andrew’s Hospital after suffering a heart win. In 1961, Joe and another Old Boy, Kevin Stephen , attack the day after being involved in a traffic accident. were members of the Souths Premiership winning side, (10v7) over Newtown. In 1962 he represented Toowoomba in the team defeated by the touring England • “Another Legend – Noel “Digger” McGowdie side (36v12), and again in the 1963 Toowoomba side, with Memories came flooding back to Old Boys who were another Old Boy Brian Marks , were beaten (22v0) by enrolled at the College in 1957 when they learnt Noel New Zealand. “Digger” McGrowdie had been inducted into the When Joe moved to to play with Brothers he Australian Racing Hall of Fame recently. They recalled was selected in the team, and praised how this Old Boy returned to St Mary’s College after for his sterling efforts, when they beat the touring Great winning the 1957 Melbourne Cup on “Straight Draw”. Britain side (17v15) at the Townsville Sports Reserve on th On hand to receive the award on his behalf were his son 5 June 1966. Joe represented Townsville in their Arch Michael , daughter Ann Louise , grandchildren Cameron, Foley Shield Final defeat by on 18/9/1966. In 1967 Clare and Rachel and great-grandson Andrew . Noel’s he was captain and lock of the Townsville side that wife Marcia passed away in December 2014. defeated Innisfail (16v15) to win the Foley Sheild. Noel McGrowdie was a champion apprentice in Brisbane Joe had several traits. He was loyal to family, friends and before moving to Sydney in 1943. Known as a big-race his church and a very passionate and competitive specialist, he won three Sydney Cups, three Doomben competitor, keen to “keep his eye on the ball”. He had a 10,000’s, two Brisbane Cups, the Doncaster, AJC Derby, diverse library and he encouraged the education of his Epson, Newmarket, Australian Jockey Club Derby, and his family. career highlight, the winning on “Straight Draw” of the Joe and Julie (Purcell) married on the 31 st December 1967 1957 Melbourne Cup. and they were blessed with six children Joanne, Kathy, Having contracted to ride in Singapore and in the Malayan Kerri, John, Christina, and Paul and seven cities of Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, McGrowdie grandchildren. A Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul took his family to Singapore in January 1961. His fifty- of Joe Mulhall was celebrated at the St John Fisher Church th nine victories in his first season—including the Singapore Tarragindi on the 10 June 2016 and all gathered in the St Gold Cup and the Selangor Cup—established him as the John Fisher Hall afterwards to express their sympathy to top jockey on the circuit. He won the Sultan's gold vase at Julie and the family Ipoh in September 1961 and was leading the premiership Julie’s father was Jack Purcell , a QLD Rugby League in his second season when he was killed in a road accident representative from 1923 to 1928. on 9 September 1961.

• Brother Gary Ferguson cfc Maintenance was another area that he was involved in as well as changeover of cars and so on. Members of the 1951 – 1959 Class Group are pleased to learn that one of their former classmates, Brother Pursuing his interest in cricket, Brother Gary became Gary Ferguson, has been transferred back to an accomplished cricket umpire and for some years Queensland and is now part of the Christian Brothers umpired grade games around Sydney. In 1980 Brother “Viridian” Community at 2141 Sandgate Road, Gary undertook some spiritual renewal through the Nudgee. Brother has been very loyal to the group Kairos programme and he relates how this changed his attending reunions whenever possible. He was able to spirituality. Continuing at Strathfield he became a attend the last Class reunion in Toowoomba in member of the St Vincent de Paul Society involved October 2015. with ministering to the homeless through Night Patrol. He was on the founding committee of the Ozanam Brother Gary was born in 1941 at Surat, a small town Youth Lodge, a member of the NSW State Homeless south west of Roma in Queensland, to Veda Mary and Committee and various other initiatives assisting Colin Peter Ferguson . He was the sixth of their nine homeless youth. children. His father was a shearing contractor who eventually purchased a supermarket. Gary had his By the end of 1989, he accepted an invitation from the early education at the Surat State School and very pastorally minded Bishop Bede Heather to take completed his scholarship at St Mary’s Toowoomba. up prison chaplaincy. Brother Gary lived at On leaving school in 1956, Gary trained as a Chef and communities at Castle Hill and Penrith while worked first in a café in Surat, and then as a shearer’s ministering to inmates of Parramatta Goal, and after cook, which required a lot of travel and working in 1977, he lived with Brother Pat Lynch , also a prison basic conditions. It was seasonal work, so he took on chaplain, at Parklea Caravan Park while being full other work too, such as managing his father’s time Catholic Chaplain for young offenders and their business. In the early 60s Gary’s faith and desire to families. He attended to prisoners spiritual needs, serve the Church directed his thinking towards offered counselling, arranged many funerals for Religious Life and a conversation with a priest helped prisoners who died in prison or took their own lives, his discernment. consoled their families, and visited prisoners in hospital. In 1998 he received a Commissioner’s He wrote to the postulators of various orders Commendation for his outstanding dedication to duty indicating his interest in some non-teaching ministries. at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in Brother Ephrem replied and visited him. As a result providing compassion and assistance to bereaved Gary arrived at Strathfield in January 1962 and joined families of inmates who had committed or attempted his group heading for Minto for their Postulancy and suicide. Novitiate year. After making first vows in 1963 a second novitiate year at Mulgoa followed and then a In 1999 he had a well-earned sabbatical at Sangre De year in Scholasticate – he did selected courses; but Cristo in New Mexico and completed their Human instead of the teacher training component he sampled Development & Personal Spirituality Programme. He various tasks undertaken at St Mary’s Strathfield was interested in taking up an offer to work in New which in those times housed not only the local York with homeless youth, but was needed back in Brothers’ Community, but also the Provincial Council, Sydney where a similar ministry engaged him – the the Juniorate students and the Brothers attending Brothers’ Refuge at Bidwell and Eddy’s Place in University or Teacher Training (the Scholasticate). Wollongong. While continuing to work in this ministry, he was asked in 2004 to take over as Brother Gary stayed on at Strathfield for two years and manager of “Billow View” at Gerringong which was joined two other lay Brothers in the kitchen. His next being used more and more as a retreat centre for two years were at Minto where he was responsible for various small groups. Brother Gary also had a hand in catering for the Novices and Brothers’ Community. In two major renovations of these facilities. 1968 Brother Gary made his final Profession of Vows on Christmas Day. He returned to Strathfield in 1969 2010 saw him appointed manager of “Winbourne” at where he was indispensable during the many changes Mulgoa, the Christian Brothers Retreat and to the place occurring over the next 21 years. Conference Centre. There he was assiduous in maintaining its beautiful setting for the great range of He was the first to hire employees for the Strathfield adult and student groups, many of whom came for kitchen which had been staffed by Brothers. Brother spiritual development through retreats. He was always Gary became responsible not only for catering for all looking for new ways to enhance its facilities. the groups there, but also Jubilee celebrations, professional ceremonies, and other Liturgies. As St Brother Gary’s fifty years with the Christian Brothers Mary’s gradually expanded as part of the Catholic Congregation have been preoccupied with the service Teacher’s College, accepting lay students in increasing of others, a service given with dedication, cheerfulness numbers, Brother Gary had to open and manage a and compassion. He brings his deep, practical canteen to cater for the student’s needs. In addition he spirituality and care for others to community life, and was bursar of the Community and in that capacity was his Brothers appreciate his sense of humour, zest for one of the first Brothers to computerise management life and culinary skills. for the accounts and wages. Brother Brendan Duggan wrote a computer program for him to do this.

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• Racing trainer, Tony Gollan (Yr12 – 1996) scored his • 19 year old Matthew Kuhnemann , grandson of third victory with the 3yr old colt “Kamacite” at Margaret & Barry and son of Paul , has earned a few Doomben on Saturday 28/5/2016 just minutes after his man-of-the-match awards while playing for the Bishop 3yr old filly “Dee Nine Elle” had finished second at Stratford Club in the Hertfordshire in England and has Randwick. been invited to bowl to the English Test Cricket team • at Lords. A left arm orthodox spinner and batsman he Thanks go to Michael Quinlan (1950 – 1959) who plays for the Gold Coast in the Brisbane competition coordinated another lunch for our Sydney Old Boys at and is to join the Queensland Bulls squad in the the Castlereagh Club on Friday 27/5/2016. Amongst coming cricket season. those who were present were Fr Michael Gilbert CSsR stationed at Kogarah. Kerry Carmichael • Life member Terry Gesch and his wife Margaret (1951-1958), a champion schoolboy athlete and now (Bender) have just completed a busy few weeks. secretary/treasurer of the Australian Aviation Hall of Firstly flying to Sydney to enjoy a retired bankers tour Fame at Wagga Wagga. Peter Solomon PhD (Law) of the Murray Valley visiting Echuca, Shepparton and M.Sc.et alia, an expert in resource management and Victor Harbour and then returning to Chinchilla for a technical assessment with international credentials and Bender Family Reunion to welcome guests from recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal. Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, and the Sunshine Coast. Gordon John (John) Leis (1948-1949) and brother of Following that event the couple were in Maitland to Harold , served in the Navy for 12 years before joining attend the 67 th Queensland versus New South Wales the Department of Civil Aviation. John Arndell Real Estate Bowls Tournament, won by New South (1946-1950) who travelled down from Ellalong NSW. Wales. Peter Buckley (1967-1974) of Lewisham, Brendan Crotty (1957-1963) of Cammery, Steve Stratigos from Frenchs Forest and Brother Michael Dredge • “The Way We Were”- 1949 All Whites Premiers stationed at Marsfield. • Old Boys celebrating birthdays recently have included Bill Blacka, John H Pobar, Ron Roney, Les Duncan, Doug Lee, John Saffrey, Laurie Walsh, Bill and Justin McErlean, Terry and Bernie Murphy, Colin Huddy and Tom Long . • Life member, Doug Lee , has recently enjoyed four weeks holiday at Coolangatta and met up with well- known Toowoomba couple, Mick and Melody Pember . Mick was the Toowoomba rugby league half back who scored a try which he converted, and also converted two other tries and kicked two penalty goals, a total of eleven points, to defeat Sydney club Balmain (17v14) on 27 th September 1948. The match, the last for the year, was attended by the largest crowd of the season, and played at the Toowoomba showgrounds. Well known Old Boy hooker Kev Boshammer and fullback Bill Sullivan played in this representative side.

• Deacon Peter Devenish-Mears In the 1949 Rugby League Grand Final this All Whites Peter attended the College between 1976 team defeated Valleys by 11 points to 8. It was and 1980 works full time as the State captained by Brian McSweeney , father of Brisbane Chaplin at Mission Australia and is an Sub-Branch President, Bryan McSweeney . Also in the Army padre. Peter is now doing applied side is Tim McSweeney and the ball boy is Kevin doctoral research in workplace pastoral McSweeney, Bryan’s two uncles. care and mid-life. • Michael McNab (Yr12-1981) The team is (back row, from the left), F Kearney, W Managing Director of McNAb Sullivan, K Kennedy, C Ryan, B Nuttall, D Construction building “The Village McGovern, P Pobar ; (third row), C Byrne, J Hehir, Coorparoo” on Cavendish Road T McSweeney, K Murray, K Boshammer, B Brisbane, reports that the project Harding, J Ferguson, W Davidson ; (second row), K won two of the most prestigious Doyle (Treasurer), R Brown (Coach), J Lee development awards in Australia (President), B McSweeney (Captain), K Gleeson last year – the U.D.I.A. 2015 Best (Secretary), R Hanrahan (Manager), B Hudson Seniors Living Award and the (Masseur); (front) K McSweeney (ball-boy). overall President’s Award. Sixty assisted living units being constructed next year will complete the project.

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