St. Brendan's College

St. Brendans College, Yeppoon
Latin: Ne Dubita Dabitur "Do Not Doubt, It Will Be Given"
Address
139 Adelaide Park Road Yeppoon, Queensland, 4703 Australia
Coordinates	23°07′09″S 150°43′38″E / 23.11917°S 150.72722°E / -23.11917; 150.72722Coordinates: 23°07′09″S 150°43′38″E / 23.11917°S 150.72722°E / -23.11917; 150.72722
Information
Type	Independent, Day & Boarding
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	October 1939
Opened	February 1940 (1940-02)
Founder	Congregation of Christian Brothers
Principal	Nick Scully
Grades	8-12
Gender	Boys
Houses	Duhig Gettons Hayes Tynan
Colour(s)	Green and Gold
Affiliations	Edmund Rice Education Australia Diocese of Rockhampton
Website	www.stbrendans.qld.edu.au

St. Brendan's College (sometimes shortened to SBC) is a Roman Catholic all-boys day and boarding school founded by the Christian Brothers located in Yeppoon, Queensland. The school was officially opened in 1940 with a total of 59 students. The school describes itself as "Australia's Largest Country Boys Boarding School", and has nurtured the growth of several leading National Rugby League players.

History

Groundbreaking for the school started on 8 October 1939 and presided by Romuald Denis Hayes, Bishop of Rockhampton. The school officially opened in February 1940 with 42 boarders and 17 day students. The first headmaster of St Brendan's was Brother Basil Gettons.

The school's spiritual and academic policies are rooted in the traditions of Edmund Ignatius Rice and the school is a member of Edmund Rice Education Australia. The school is named after Saint Brendan the Navigator.

St Ursula's College, Yeppoon, a separate Catholic all-girls day and boarding school located further into the centre of Yeppoon, has shared a close relationship with St Brendan's. Both schools share a relationship with a Catholic primary school in Yeppoon, Sacred Heart.

The college song, Bordered by blue waters splendid, details the rural surrounds of the school near Mary's Mount, as well as confirming strength in faith-based learning.

House system

St. Brendan's College has four houses;^[1]

•      Duhig House named after Most Rev. Sir James Duhig K.C.M.G. D.D. the 3rd Archbishop of Brisbane (1917–65) & the 3rd Bishop of Rockhampton (1905–12); House colour: Yellow
•      Gettons House named after Rev. Bro. J. Basil Gettons c.f.c. founding headmaster of St. Brendan's College (1940–45); House colour: Red
•      Hayes House named after Right Rev. Dr. Romuald Denis Hayes S.S.C. D.D. the 5th Bishop of Rockhampton (1932–45); House colour: Blue
•      Tynan House named after Right Rev. Andrew Gerard Tynan D.D. the 6th Bishop of Rockhampton (1946–60); House colour: Green

Headmasters

The Rector of St. Brendan's College has been a Christian Brother from the foundation of the College until the appointment of the 1st Lay Principal, Mr Simon Dash in 2003.

Student demographics and facilities

Although the school is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, it accepts students of all faiths and backgrounds.

The school hosts the largest rodeo of the CRCA circuit. The rodeo is held annually over the Father's Day weekend (the first in September in Australia). The school also holds a cattle club and stud program. The school allows students to bring their own cattle to prepare for shows.^[2]

Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League

1st XIII Titles

• Confraternity Shield (since 1980): 1982, 83, 85, 96, 2002, 04, 06, 07, 09, 10

2nd XIII Titles

• Bob Linder Trophy (since 1988): 1998
• Confraternity Plate (since 1996): 1996, 2004, 05

Queensland Rugby Union: Ballymore Cup

1st XV Competition

• Championship: none
• Runners-up: none

Under-15 Competition

• Championship: 2012
• Runners-up: 2013

Australasian Christian Brothers Cricket Week

1st XI Titles

• Paul Forrester Shield (since 1977): none
• Bro. David White Plate (since 1995): 2000, 04, 05, 08

Rugby League program

The college runs a schoolboy rugby league program and gym. Many of the students in the 1st XIII graduate with affiliations or contracts with NRL clubs. Several current and former professional players are St. Brendan's alumni.

Despite the school's reluctance to actively recruit students based on sporting potential, the depth of talent attracted to the school allows its second-string team to be competitive with its rival schools top-class teams. St. Brendan's rugby league has experienced a period of dominance in the annual Confraternity Shield Carnival which is run by the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League.^[3]

Australian Schoolboys Rugby League

• Julian O'Neill, 1989
• David Taylor, 2005
• Ben Hunt, 2007
• Ben Ridge, 2007
• Maipele Morseau, 2009

Notable alumni

Politics, public service and the law

• Brendan Butler, AM, SC — chief magistrate, Magistrates Court of Queensland.^[4]
• John Momis, President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, 2010–present^[5]

Business and philanthropy

List currently being compiled

Military and religion

• Brigadier Neil Weekes, AM, MC
• Bro. Terry Kingston CFC — Provincial of St. Francis Xavier Province (Q/NT) 1990–95
• Bro. Steve McLaughlin CFC — Provincial of St. Francis Xavier Province (Q/NT) 1996–2001

Academia, engineering, science and medicine

List currently being compiled

Entertainment, media and the arts

• Gerry Connolly

Sport

Rugby League

Australia (Kangaroos) & Queensland (State of Origin)

• Matthew Scott
• Dave Taylor
• Casey Conway

Queensland (State of Origin)

• Julian O'Neill
• Paul Bowman
• PJ Marsh

Professional bull riders

• Troy Dunn, PBR World Champion ^[6]

Associations

As one of the 27 Christian Brothers Colleges founded throughout Queensland, St. Brendan's College Old Boy's continue to provide Officials, Coaches and Players to this uniquely Queensland Association of Brothers Old Boys Clubs.

• Confraternity of Brothers Clubs (Rugby League) ^[7]
• Brothers Rugby Fraternity (Rugby Union) ^[8]

References

External links

• Official website