St. Columban's College, Caboolture
Encyclopedia
St Columban’s College is a Catholic
, co-educational
day school
, catering for approximately 880 students from years 8 to 12.
The College was established in 1928, and is situated on a 12 hectare site at Caboolture
, Queensland
, Australia
.
, as a boys college by the Congregation of Christian Brothers
.
1985 was the last year of the Brothers presence following the decision to hand the administration of the College to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
. Three brothers stayed on teaching during this year. The first lay principal, Mr Peter Crombie, took up his appointment in 1985.
In 1988 and 1989 the intake for Year 8 slowly dropped. Great efforts were made to attract more students but despite these efforts the drop in numbers became steady and continuous. In 1989 number had dropped to 425 students when only 15 years earlier, numbers were at 800. Subsequently, a decision was made some 10 years later to relocate the College to Caboolture and to become a co-educational college.
The College developed a working class identity with strong patronage from the racing fraternity, reaching a maximum enrolment of some 850 boys from Years 5 to 12 during the 1980s. Always supported by an active parental group, the College thrived through the 60s and 70s being associated with some well known Brisbane events including the Colana Carnival. Parents built by hand the College Swimming Pool and worked tirelessly to raise funds for construction of many buildings to add to the opportunities offered to its students.
Throughout its history the College gained a reputation for having a strong identity in sport, with its students being called upon to ‘have a go’. St Columban’s College was a founding member of The Associated Schools
association, established in 1947. In 1985 the Congregation of the Christian Brothers formally handed the College over to the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Shortly after, the primary school was phased out with the College offering secondary education focused between Years 8 to 12.
The work of the second lay Principal, Mr Michael Harkin, was well known for his efforts to stem the loss of enrolments that followed during these ensuing years. Despite his best attempts to maintain adequate student numbers, a decision was made in 1995 to relocate a financially unviable college campus to Caboolture. Preparation commenced for a new co-educational campus with an inventory created of how and what to move from a College in order to preserve its best qualities.
Most Reverend Michael E Putney (Bishop of Townsville)
Business
Cameron McLune (Greyhound Racing Authority)
Sport
Rod McCall
(Australian and Queensland Rugby Union captain)
Anthony Sauer (Australian Rugby 7's Captain, Queensland representative)
Trevor Gillmeister
(Captain of Queensland State of Origin & representative of Australian Rugby League team)
Robert Sibley (Australian Basketball Representative)
Luke Williamson
(Adelaide, Canberra, & Manly NRL representative)
Kevin Hodda (Australian and Queensland Rugby representative)
Brian Ford (Youngest ever Australian rugby representative - 18yrs 90 days - Vs New Zealand 1957)
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, co-educational
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
, catering for approximately 880 students from years 8 to 12.
The College was established in 1928, and is situated on a 12 hectare site at Caboolture
Caboolture, Queensland
Caboolture is an urban centre approximately north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. Caboolture is considered to be the northernmost urban area of the greater Brisbane metropolitan region within South East Queensland, and it marks the end of the Brisbane suburban commuter...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
St. Columban's College was established in 1928, at AlbionAlbion, Queensland
Albion is an inner north-eastern suburb of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.-Geography:Albion is bounded by Wooloowin in the north, Ascot in the east, Newstead in the south, and Windsor to the west, with Breakfast Creek defining the suburb border in its south and south-west...
, as a boys college by the Congregation of Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
.
1985 was the last year of the Brothers presence following the decision to hand the administration of the College to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Brisbane and covering the South East region of Queensland, Australia....
. Three brothers stayed on teaching during this year. The first lay principal, Mr Peter Crombie, took up his appointment in 1985.
In 1988 and 1989 the intake for Year 8 slowly dropped. Great efforts were made to attract more students but despite these efforts the drop in numbers became steady and continuous. In 1989 number had dropped to 425 students when only 15 years earlier, numbers were at 800. Subsequently, a decision was made some 10 years later to relocate the College to Caboolture and to become a co-educational college.
Detailed History
Founded in 1928 on an Albion hilltop site overlooking the city of Brisbane, St Columban’s College commenced as another practical outreach by the Congregation of the Christian Brothers, in providing readily accessible education for young boys.The College developed a working class identity with strong patronage from the racing fraternity, reaching a maximum enrolment of some 850 boys from Years 5 to 12 during the 1980s. Always supported by an active parental group, the College thrived through the 60s and 70s being associated with some well known Brisbane events including the Colana Carnival. Parents built by hand the College Swimming Pool and worked tirelessly to raise funds for construction of many buildings to add to the opportunities offered to its students.
Throughout its history the College gained a reputation for having a strong identity in sport, with its students being called upon to ‘have a go’. St Columban’s College was a founding member of The Associated Schools
The Associated Schools
The Associated Schools is an incorporated body involving fourteen co-educational independent Queensland secondary schools in a variety of sporting and cultural activities established in 1956 following the disbanded Metropolitan Secondary School Sports Association in 1955, which had been...
association, established in 1947. In 1985 the Congregation of the Christian Brothers formally handed the College over to the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Shortly after, the primary school was phased out with the College offering secondary education focused between Years 8 to 12.
The work of the second lay Principal, Mr Michael Harkin, was well known for his efforts to stem the loss of enrolments that followed during these ensuing years. Despite his best attempts to maintain adequate student numbers, a decision was made in 1995 to relocate a financially unviable college campus to Caboolture. Preparation commenced for a new co-educational campus with an inventory created of how and what to move from a College in order to preserve its best qualities.
Notable alumni
ReligionMost Reverend Michael E Putney (Bishop of Townsville)
Business
Cameron McLune (Greyhound Racing Authority)
Sport
Rod McCall
Rod McCall
Roderick James McCall is a former Australian rugby union lock. McCall played for Australia from 1989 to 1995, including winning the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He played 40 times in total for Australia...
(Australian and Queensland Rugby Union captain)
Anthony Sauer (Australian Rugby 7's Captain, Queensland representative)
Trevor Gillmeister
Trevor Gillmeister
Trevor Gillmeister is an Australian former rugby league player who is currently signed on as an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Titans. During his playing days Gillmeister played for the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers and the South Queensland Crushers as well as...
(Captain of Queensland State of Origin & representative of Australian Rugby League team)
Robert Sibley (Australian Basketball Representative)
Luke Williamson
Luke Williamson
Luke Williamson is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Harlequins RL in the European Super League competition. He has previously played for the Adelaide Rams, Canberra Raiders, Northern Eagles and Manly Sea Eagles...
(Adelaide, Canberra, & Manly NRL representative)
Kevin Hodda (Australian and Queensland Rugby representative)
Brian Ford (Youngest ever Australian rugby representative - 18yrs 90 days - Vs New Zealand 1957)