St Edmund's College, Ipswich
St Edmund's College is an independent Catholic secondary day school for boys', located in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The school was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1892 and is conducted in the tradition of Edmund Ignatius Rice.
| St Edmund's College Naomh Éamonn Coláiste | |
|---|---|
 College Crest | |
| Location | |
 | |
| , Australia | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent secondary school |
| Motto | Latin: Possunt Quia Posse Videntur (They can because they see they can) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Catholicism |
| Denomination | Congregation of Christian Brothers |
| Established | 1892 |
| Oversight | Edmund Rice Education Australia |
| Principal | Ray Celegato[1] |
| Years offered | 7-12 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Enrollment | c. 1,100 |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Houses |
|
| Colour(s) | Blue and white |
| Affiliation | Associated Independent Colleges |
| Website | www |
The school is member of the Associated Independent Colleges of the Greater Brisbane region along with Marist College Ashgrove, Iona College (Queensland), Padua College, Villanova College, St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe, St Laurence's College and St. Peters Lutheran College.
St Edmund's College accepts students from Years 7 to 12, drawing from a wide area of Ipswich. The total enrolment of the school is projected to be approximately 1,500 students.
Co-curriculum
Tournament of Minds
Year 7 to Year 10 can participate in Tournament of Minds. In 2007 St. Edmund's College, Ipswich was the state representative for the National Championship of the Tournament of Minds Competition. The team who had never before competed in such as event, finished first place, successfully claiming the Tournament of Minds Australian Championship. In 2016 St. Edmund's represented the South Brisbane region in the Tournament of Minds Queensland State Championship.
Music
As offshoots of the Music Program, an Orchestra, Stage Band and a Concert Band have been established which also draw on the talents of St. Mary's students. The College Choir performs at various liturgies and functions throughout the year.
Community programs
Footprints in the Park
St Edmund's College help Footprints in the Parks program where students and teachers of St Edmund's provide a meal and company to homeless persons in the Ipswich community every second Wednesday. This is conducted in Queen's Park, in the centre of Ipswich.
Carols on the green
St Edmund's College, in conjunction with Brothers Leagues Club, hosts an annual carols event on Brothers Main Field. The event raises money for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. In 2014, the 6th annual year, the event raised $20,500.
Musical and drama productions
Each year a full musical production is conducted, in conjunction with St. Mary's College, Ipswich. The host school alternates every year.
Musicals
- 2022 (SMC) - ‘High School Musical - on Stage’
- 2021 (SEC) - 'School of Rock'[2]
- 2019 (SMC) - 'Matilda'
- 2018 (SEC) - 'Rock of Ages'
- 2017 (SMC) - 'Hairspray'
- 2016 (SEC) - 'The Wiz'
- 2015 (SMC) - 'Legally Blonde'
- 2014 (SEC) - 'West Side Story'
- 2013 (SMC) - 'The Belles of St Mary's'
- 2012 (SEC) - '13'
- 2011 (SMC) - 'Fame'
- 2010 (SEC) - 'Footloose'
- 2009 (SMC) - 'High School Musical'
- 2008 (SEC) - 'Grease'
- 2007 (SMC) - 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'
- 1993 (SEC) - 'Half a Sixpence'
- 1992 (SEC) - 'The Pirates of Penzance'
- 1991 (SEC) - 'Viva Mexico'
- 1990 (SEC) - 'Pippin'
- 1989 (SEC) - 'Oklahoma'
Students also participate and perform at various musical and drama evenings and lunch-time theatre and theatre sports groups.
Sport
St. Edmund's is a member of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC).
- Season 1 February - March: Swimming, Cricket, Volleyball, AFL
- Season 2 April - June: Cross Country, Rugby Union, Soccer
- Season 3 July - October: Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, Tennis, Rugby League
- Season 4 October - November: Track and Field
In 2014, for the third year in a row, St Edmund's attained first position in AIC track and field.
In 2014, St. Edmund's 1st XV Rugby Union team went through the season undefeated and claimed their first outright AIC 1st XV Rugby Union premiership.
AIC sports include: Australian rules, basketball, chess, cricket, cross country, rugby union (St Edmund's College Ipswich was selected to represent Australia at the prestigious Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan during 2003.),[3] soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, hockey, and rugby league. Non-AIC sports include: golf, hockey, and orienteering.
AIC premierships
St Edmund's College has won the following AIC premierships.[4]
- Athletics (3) - 2012, 2013, 2014
- Basketball (5) - 2001, 2002, 2006, 2017, 2020
- Rugby (2) - 2011, 2014
- Soccer - 2016
- Tennis - 2005
- Volleyball (5) - 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011
Houses
| Name | Colour | Crest | Motto | Name origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambrose | Maroon |  | Courage to believe, strength to succeed | Br Desmond Ambrose Purcell (known as 'Br Ambrose') was the last of a long line of generous and dedicated Christian Brothers who served the community of Ipswich throughout 113 years. He lived his life in service to others, and openness to what he believed God was asking him. |
| Callan | Green | 156x204px | Participation, determination, success | Callan was the home town in Ireland of Edmund Rice |
| Elliot | Teal |  | In our togetherness castles are built | Mary Elliott was the wife of Edmund Rice |
| Finn | Orange |  | Fair & Just | Patrick Finn was a colleague of Edmund Rice who joined him at the start to teach underprivileged boys |
| Ignatius | Purple |  | To go where no one else will go | 'Ignatius' was the name Edmund Rice took to mark his new life as a religious Brother |
| Morgan | Blue |  | In giving we receive | Br Morgan was the first Christian Brother Principal in Ipswich, Queensland |
| Rice | Gold |  | Latin: Nihil alienum – Nothing is alien to us | Family name of the founder of the Christian Brothers |
| Treacy | Red |  | Latin: Prorria audax virtute – Bravery in the cause of virtue | Br Patrick Ambrose Treacy was the first Christian Brothers' provincial superior of Australia |
Notable alumni
- Entertainment, media and the arts
- John Birmingham – author
- d'Arcy Doyle – artist
- Rhys Lee – artist
- Politics and the law
- Matthew Hickey OAM – barrister and founding member and producer of The Ten Tenors
- Jim Madden – solicitor and Member for Ipswich West
- Henry Palaszczuk – former Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Inala and Beattie Government Minister; father of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
- Paul Pisasale – former Mayor of Ipswich
- Sport
- Denis Flannery – rugby league player
- Peter Gallagher – rugby league player
- Noel Kelly – rugby league player
- Jeff McLean – rugby union player
- Paul McLean MBE – rugby union player and official
- Peter McMahon OAM – swimmer and businessman
- Heath Ramsay – Olympic swimmer
- Grant Sorensen – Olympic volleyball player
- James Stannard – rugby union player
References
- Helenspelitis, By (14 November 2016). "St Edmund's bids goodbye to principal of three years". The Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
- "Newsletter - 18 June 2021". 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "About Associated Independent Colleges". AIC. Retrieved 15 September 2021.