Marist College Kogarah

For other schools with the same name, see Marist College (disambiguation).
For other Marist Brothers schools, see List of Marist Brothers schools.

Marist College Kogarah is a systemic Catholic College for boys from Years 7 to 12, located in Bexley, New South Wales, Australia.

The College was founded in 1908, and has a tradition based on the teachings of the French educator Saint Marcellin Champagnat. The school offers education to approximately 1000 students in the St George area of Sydney.

History

Marist College Kogarah was established in 1908 as the Kogarah Boys’ School, a primary school for boys. The Marist Brothers agreed to establish the school after requests by Fr John O'Driscoll, parish priest of the new parish of Kogarah. During 1908 a hundred pupils were enrolled, it then being the only Catholic boys school in New South Wales south west of Newtown. As demand for secondary education grew in the region, junior secondary classes were added to the school in the late 1920s. By 1938 it was a full secondary school, presenting pupils for the Leaving Certificate. By the 1940s it was the largest Catholic School in Australia. In the 1960s, the school became part of the new Archdiocesan system of schools and this had important consequences for Kogarah. Parish schools were preferred for primary education and so in 1982 primary classes ended at Marist Brothers Kogarah. From 1984, senior girls were enrolled in Years 11 and 12. This was however short-lived due to the establishment of Bethany College in 1993.

School crest and motto

File:Marist College Kogarah Crest.png

Kogarah Marist College Crest

Over the years the school has had three crest designs. They all have in common a red cross dividing a shield into four fields. Above the shield is the school motto Finis Coronat Opus, meaning "The End Crowns the Work"; below is the school name. The redesigns were required after the school's name was altered. The crest's symbols were also rearranged after the first redesign. The fields contain the following symbols:

• The Marist symbol.
• The Southern Cross, the symbol of Australia
• The Waratah, the symbol of New South Wales
• An open book to symbolise learning

House system

The present School house system has been operating since 2000. As each new student begins at the school, he is allocated to a house and its colour. The school has five houses that have been named after people that have made a lasting impact on the school. Students are involved in House Competitions which include Sporting, Cultural and Academic events. The four houses are:

• Cooper: Named after Alfred Cooper, a benefactor of the school.
• Gonzaga: Named for the first Principal of the school.
• Shithouse: Named after the school.
• Gilroy : Named for Cardinal Gilroy of Sydney, who was enrolled in the school on the first day of lessons in 1909.
• Lindwall : Named for Ray Lindwall, a famous St George rugby league footballer and cricketer who represented Australia in cricket at Test cricket level.

Tuition

Kogarah Marist College

Subjects offered for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) include English Standard, English Advanced, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, General Mathematics, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Engineering Studies, Studies of Religion 1, Studies of Religion 2, Geography,Modern History, Ancient History, History Extension, Economics, Business Studies, Italian Beginners, Italian Continuers, Music 1, Music 2, Visual Arts, PDHPE, Industrial Technology, Design and Technology, Information Processes and Technology, and Software Design and Development. For those who do not wish to study Studies of Religion in Years 11 and 12, a School Based Religious Education program is followed, entitles "Catholic Studies".

In 2008 all subjects scored above state average expect Catholic Studies and Studies of Religion 1 & 2 Units

Principals

• ? - 1987: Brother John O'Brien
• 1988 - 1992: Brother Patrick Foley
• 1992 - 1996: Mr. Peter McNamara
• 1996 - 2000: Mr. Brian Roberts
• 2001 - Term 3 2007: Mr Patrick O'Connor
• Term 4, 2007: Mr Angelo Scali (relieving Principal)
• 2008: Mr. Damian Millar
• 2009 - 2010: Mr. John Riordan

Notable alumni

Academic

• Glyn Davis – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne; awarded the Order of Australia (AC) for services to Public Administration in 2002
• Peter O'Halloran OAM – Mathematician; Professor at the University of Canberra; Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1983

Clergy

• Brother Kelvin Canavan – Notable educator; awarded Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for services to education in 1997
• Norman Thomas Gilroy – First Australian Cardinal; Australian of the Year 1971
• Bishop Edward Kelly – Former Bishop of Toowoomba
• Monsignor John Slowey – Director of the Sydney Catholic Education Office; co-founder of the Australian Catholic University

Entertainment, media and the arts

• Warren Fahey AM - Australian Folklorist, founder of Folkways Music and Larrikin Records, former Deputy Managing Director Festival Mushroom Group.
• Dan Ginnane – Broadcaster on Triple M Radio and ESPN Television
• John Hargreaves – Actor; only actor to receive the Byron Kennedy Award
• Chris Holland- former College Vice-Captain, now a member of Australian band Operator Please
• Geoff Plummer- (1954-2006) founding member, drummer and singer of multiple platinum record winning 1970s fifties revival band "Ol'55" who made numerous appearances of Countdown.
• Paul Merciadez- Member of Justice Dance Crew who won Australia's Got Talent in 2010.

Military

• Kerry Marin (R.A.N) – Sub lieutenant on HMAS Voyager which was sunk in a collision with the Flag Ship of the Navy HMAS Melbourne (killed)

Politics, public service and the law

• John Ajaka – Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
• Kevin Greene – Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
• Gavin Bell – Chief Executive Officer/Managing Partner of Freehills; an Australian–based international commercial law firm

Sport

• Peter Armstrong – St. George Dragons Hooker (1957–1964)
• Jim Bailey – Olympian (Melbourne 1956) – Athletics
• George Carstairs – St. George Dragons (1921–29) and Australian representative (1921–22)
• Keith Galloway – current Rugby League player for the Wests Tigers and formerly with the Cronulla Sharks
• Ray Lindwall – Cricketer; considered one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time
• Daryl Millard – current Rugby League player for the St George Illawarra Dragons and Canterbury Bulldogs
• Kerry O'Keefe – Australian cricketer and commentator.
• Jason Stevens – Rugby League player for the Cronulla Sharks, Australian Kangaroo's and NSW Blues
• Robert Stone – Rugby League player for the St. George Dragons and NSW Blues
• Robert Windle – Olympic gold edallist in the 1500 m freestyle (Tokyo 1964) – Swimming
• George Ndaira – current Rugby League player for the Newcastle Knights (formerly with the St George Illawarra Dragons and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
• Michael Korkidas – former Rugby League player for the Sydney Roosters. Currently playing in the English Super League.
• Blagoj Janev, professional basketball player.

See also

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales

External links

• Marist College Kogarah Website
• Marist College Kogarah Centenary Website