St Edmund's College (known colloquially as Eddies) 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 | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
Australia | |
| Coordinates | 27°36′34″S 152°45′13.4″E / 27.60944°S 152.753722°E |
| 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 |
| Mascot | Wayne the Wolf[2] |
| Affiliation | Associated Independent Colleges |
| Website | www |
The school is a member of the Associated Independent Colleges of the Greater Brisbane region along with Marist College Ashgrove, Iona College, Padua College, Villanova College, St Patrick's College, St Laurence's College and St. Peters Lutheran College.[3]
St Edmund's College accepts students from Years 7 to 12, drawing from a wide area of Ipswich. The total enrollment of the school is projected to be approximately 1,500 students.[citation needed] At the beginning of 2025 the college will reintroduce years 5 and 6.[4]
The original St Edmunds Christian Brothers building is now used by St Mary's Primary School, still located on the corner of Mary & Elizabeth St, Woodend, besides the church. In fact, to this day the heritage listed gate at that stone wall still features the original St Edmunds initials CBC (Christian Brothers College).[citation needed]
Skool 2 Skoolies
The Skool 2 Skoolies initiative began in 2003, when one Year 12 St Edmund's student pledged to cycle 115 km (71 mi) to the Gold Coast on his last day of school. His primary mission was to raise funds for charity.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
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: Chess, Cross Country, Rugby Union, Soccer
- Season 3 July – October: Hockey, Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, Tennis, Rugby League
- Season 4 October – November: Track and Field, Golf
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),[14] soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, hockey, and rugby league. Non-AIC sports include: e-sports, golf, hockey, and orienteering.[citation needed]
AIC premierships
St Edmund's College has won the following AIC premierships.[15]
- 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
Musical and drama productions
Each year, since 2007, a full musical production is conducted, in conjunction with St. Mary's College, Ipswich. The host school alternates every year.[citation needed]
Musicals
- 2023 (SEC) – 'The Addams Family'[16][17]
- 2022 (SMC) – ‘High School Musical – on Stage’[18]
- 2021 (SEC) – 'School of Rock'[19]
- 2019 (SMC) – 'Matilda the musical'[20]
- 2018 (SEC) – 'Rock of Ages 101: High School Edition'[21]
- 2017 (SMC) – 'Hairspray'[22]
- 2016 (SEC) – 'The Wiz'[23]
- 2015 (SMC) – 'Legally Blonde: The Musical'[24]
- 2014 (SEC) – 'West Side Story'[25]
- 2013 (SMC) – 'The Bells of St Mary's'[26]
- 2012 (SEC) – '13'[citation needed]
- 2011 (SMC) – 'Fame'[citation needed]
- 2010 (SEC) – 'Footloose'[citation needed]
- 2009 (SMC) – 'High School Musical'[citation needed]
- 2008 (SEC) – 'Grease'[citation needed]
- 2007 (SMC) – 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'[citation needed]
- 2006 (SEC) – 'Beach Blanket Tempest'
- 2005 (SMC) – 'little Shop of Horrors'
- 2004 (SEC) – 'The Outsiders'
- 2003 (SMC) – 'Now and Then'
- 2002 (SEC) – 'Back to the 80s'
- 2001 (SMC) – 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
- 2000 (SEC) – 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'
- 1999 (SMC) – 'Open Season'
- 1998 (SEC) – 'SherWoodstock'
- 1997 (SMC) – 'Worlds Apart'
- 1996 (SEC) – 'Evita'
- 1995 (SMC) – 'Macbeth – The Rock Opera'
- 1994 (SEC) – 'Bye Bye Birdie'
- 1993 SMC) – 'Half a Sixpence'[citation needed]
- 1992 (SEC) – 'The Pirates of Penzance'[citation needed]
- 1991 (SMC) – '¡Viva México! (El grito de Dolores)'[citation needed]
- 1990 (SEC) – 'Pippin'[citation needed]
- 1989 (SMC) – 'Oklahoma'[citation needed]
Houses
In 1981, Eddies added school houses. These houses, Hogan, Ryles, Carroll and Stevens, were named after previous principals of the school.[citation needed]
| Name | Colour | Name origin |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens | Red
| J.C. Stevens, college principal from 1940–1941. |
| Hogan | Gold
| W.J. Hogan, college principal from 1899–1901 and 1905–1907 |
| Ryall | Green
| G.E. Ryall, college principal from 1952–1954. |
| Carroll | Blue | M.C. Carroll, college principal from 1925–1930. |
In 1995, the four houses at St Edmund’s changed their names, which coincided with the college moving from year levels to a Pastoral System.[citation needed]
- Hogan became Rice (yellow)
- Ryall became Callan (green)
- Carroll became Morgan (blue)
- Stevens became Treacy (red)
In 2003, due to an increase in student numbers, these house were split in half, creating eight houses: Callan 1, Callan 2, Rice 1, Rice 2, Morgan 1, Morgan 2, Treacy 1 and Treacy 2.
At the end of 2006, further change came when these eight houses were folded into six for the following year, with the addition of two new houses, Finn and Ambrose.
In 2013, two more houses were created in preparation of Year 7 returning to St Edmund’s College in 2015. These two house were named Ignatius and Elliott.[citation needed]
| Name | Colour | Crest | Motto | Name origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambrose | Maroon |  | Courage to believe, strength to succeed | Br Desmond Ambrose Purcell (known as 'Br Ambrose') was a Christian Brother who served the community of Ipswich and the last Christian Brother to teach at St Edmund's. |
| Callan | Green | Participation, determination, success | Callan, Ireland was the home town of Edmund Rice | |
| Elliott | Teal |  | Scottish Gaelic: In ár caisleáin togetherness a tógadh – In our togetherness castles are built | Elliott house is named after Mary Elliott the wife of Edmund Rice. She died suddenly a few years after they were married |
| Finn | Orange |  | Fair & Just | Named after Patrick Finn, who was not only one of the founding members of the Christian Brothers but also one of Edmund Rice's closest companions |
| Ignatius | Purple |  | To go where no one else will go | 'Ignatius' was the name Edmund Rice took to mark his new life as a Christian Brother |
| Morgan | Blue |  | In giving we receive | Morgan House derives its name from the first Christian Brother Principal – Brother J Morgan who came to Ipswich in February 1892 and took up residence to establish the school. |
| Rice | Gold |  | Latin: Nihil alienum – Nothing is alien to us | Named after the founder of the Christian Brothers, Edmund Ignatius Rice |
| Treacy | Red |  | Latin: Prorria audax virtute – Bravery in the cause of virtue | Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy (20 October 1834 – 15 August 1913) was the first Christian Brothers' provincial superior of Australia, who established the first permanent Christian Brothers community in Australia in 1868. The Treacy crest and motto was created by the first dean of the house, Mr Paul Begg |
Principals
- Joseph Morgan: 1892–1894[citation needed]
- J.D. O'Donaghe: 1895–1898
- W.J. Hogan: 1899–1901, 1905–1907
- R.X. Butler: 1902–1904
- J.F. O'Brien: 1908–1914, 1931–1936, 1939
- F. Donovan: 1915–1918
- Thomas C. Seery: 1919
- B. O'Ryan: 1920–1924
- M.C. Carroll: 1925–1930
- S.L. Carroll: 1937–1938
- J.C. Stevens: 1940–1941
- H.A. Segrave: 1942
- R.G. McCartney: 1943–1945
- F.C. Walsh: 1946–1948
- N.G. Wigmore: 1949–1951
- G.E. Ryall: 1952–1954
- W.A. Lewis: 1955–1960
- Brian Malachy Shortill: 1961–1966
- K.F. Lynch: 1967–1971
- A.I. Schofield: 1972–1977
- L.E. "Ted" Magee: 1978–1983, 1994–1998
- R.M. Reardon: 1984–1989
- R.O. “Steve” Grundy: 1990–1992[citation needed]
- Jim Lucey: 1999–2004[27]
- Brendan Lawler: 2005–2013[28][29][30][31][32][33]
- Christopher Leadbetter: 2014–2017[34]
- Diarmuid O'Riordan: 2018–2020[35]
- Ray Celegato: 2021–present[36]
Notable alumni
- Entertainment, media and the arts
- John Birmingham[37] – author
- Politics and the law
- Josiah Francis[38] – politician
- Matthew Hickey OAM – barrister and founding member and producer of The Ten Tenors
- Jim Madden[39] – solicitor and Member for Ipswich West
- Sport
- Denis Flannery[40] – rugby league player
- Harley Fox[41] – rugby union player
- Peter Gallagher[42] – rugby league player
- Noel Kelly[42] – rugby league player
- Paul McLean[43] MBE – rugby union player and official
- Peter McMahon OAM – swimmer and businessman
- Heath Ramsay – Olympic swimmer
- James Stannard[44] – rugby union player
- Sam Johnson – rugby union player
