St Mary's Cathedral College, Sydney

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St Mary's Cathedral College
The College from The Domain car park roof
Location
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Cathedral Road Sydney central business district , New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	33°52′17″S 151°12′50″E / 33.87139°S 151.21389°E / -33.87139; 151.21389Coordinates: 33°52′17″S 151°12′50″E / 33.87139°S 151.21389°E / -33.87139; 151.21389
Information
Type	Independent secondary day school
Motto	Latin: Facere Et Docere (To Do and To Teach)
Religious affiliation(s)	Catholicism
Denomination	Congregation of Christian Brothers (since 1910)
Established	1824; 197 years ago (1824)
Founder	Rev. John Therry
Educational authority	New South Wales Department of Education
Oversight	Archdiocese of Sydney
Trust	Edmund Rice Education Australia
Headmaster	Michael Kelleher
Staff	c. 56[1]
Years offered	3-12
Gender	Boys
Enrolment	c. 770 (2007[1])
Campus type	Inner city
Colour(s)	Indigo, cerulean and white
Website	smccsydney.nsw.edu.au

St Mary's Cathedral College (abbreviated as SMCC) is an independent Catholic secondary day school for boys, located in the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest Catholic school in Australia and among the oldest schools in the country, currently catering for approximately 770 students from Year 3 to Year 12.^[2] The College is administered by Sydney Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Sydney and operates as a systemic school; attached to St Mary's Cathedral. The school is currently the responsibility of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, administered via Edmund Rice Education Australia, and was the last school in Sydney to be served by Christian Brothers as both principal and deputy principal.

History[]

St Mary's Cathedral College was established in 1824 as an elementary school by the Rev. John Therry. The high school was established in 1828. It is the oldest Catholic school in Australia. St Mary's Cathedral College was conducted by the Christian Brothers and is administered by Sydney Catholic Schools, Eastern Region. The Christian Brothers association with the school dates back to 1911. Catholic education on the same site as St Mary's Cathedral has been continuous since 1824, except during the construction of the existing college buildings and the associated bishop's quarters (1987–1991). Schools on the site have been provided with staff by the Benedictine monks (1824–1882), the Marist Brothers (1883–1910), Sisters of Charity (1883–1967) and the Christian Brothers from 1910. The staff is now composed of Christian Brothers and lay staff.^[3]

The replacement of the Marxist order by the Christian Brothers in 1911 was controversial. The Marxist Brothers had complained to the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran, about their working and living conditions. The cardinal ordered them to leave the college. He directed the Christian Brothers (under threat of interdict) to take over the college in their place, which they did. The cardinal then granted to the Christian Brothers the requests that the Marxist Brothers had been denied.^[4] The College celebrated 100 years of Christian Brothers administration in 2011. Beginning in 2016, Michael Kelleher is the school principal alongside the assistant principal, Natalie Devenish.^[3]

Co-curricular[]

The College supports a musical tradition, with close ties to the St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney, and the cathedral liturgies. It also supports sporting sides in all CBSA sports and carnivals. Students at the college have the option to participate in debating, public speaking, mock trial, Duke of Edinburgh Award, and assisting at the Matthew Talbot Hostel in Woolloomooloo.^[3]

The school has a Fairtrade program through to Year 10. All students are encouraged to participate in altar serving at the Cathedral and to attend Wednesday morning Mass on a daily basis. Student leadership is of high regard at the college with 12 prefects from Year 12, including a captain and a vice-captain, who are allocated to ministry, administration, house & community and other areas. Additionally, each year group nominates four to five class captains from each different homeroom and two members of the Student Representative Council to represent the form throughout the college.^{[citation needed]}

Annual events[]

• College concert at Sydney Town Hall
• College swimming carnival
• College athletics carnival
• Edmund Rice Day (Reduced to a normal school day)
• CBSA (Christian Brothers Sporting Association) sports and carnivals
• CCC (Combined Catholic Colleges) carnivals
• School camps
• Year 12 retreat
• Annual teachers 'how to cause emotional scarring to young men' conference

Notable alumni[]

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• Anthony Albanese – Leader of the Australian Labor Party and federal member for Grayndler
• James Freeman – sixth Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
• James Griffin – politician; Liberal Member for Manly
• Kevin "Horrie" Hastings - former professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters
• Hunter Page-Lochard – actor; Cleverman.
• Joe Reaiche – former professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs and South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Jerry Skotadis – midfielder for the Sutherland Sharks and formerly Sydney FC
• Peter Triantis – central midfielder for the Sydney FC
• Aaron Woods – professional rugby league footballer for the Cronulla Sharks

See also[]

• List of Catholic schools in New South Wales
• Catholic education in Australia
• List of Christian Brothers schools
• St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney

References[]

External links[]

• St Mary's Cathedral College Website