St. Brendan's College, Yeppoon


St. Brendan's College is a Roman Catholic all-boys day and boarding school founded by the Christian Brothers located in Yeppoon, Queensland. The school was officially opened in 1940 with a total of 59 students. The school describes itself as "Australia's Largest Country Boys Boarding School", and has nurtured the growth of several leading National Rugby League players.

History

Groundbreaking for the school started on 8 October 1939 and presided by Romuald Denis Hayes, Bishop of Rockhampton. The school officially opened in February 1940 with 42 boarders and 17 day students. The first headmaster of St Brendan's was Brother Basil Gettons.
The school's spiritual and academic policies are rooted in the traditions of Edmund Ignatius Rice and the school is a member of Edmund Rice Education Australia. The school is named after Saint Brendan the Navigator.
St Ursula's College, Yeppoon, a separate Catholic all-girls day and boarding school located further into the centre of Yeppoon, has shared a close relationship with St Brendan's. Both schools share a relationship with a Catholic primary school in Yeppoon, Sacred Heart.
The college song, Bordered by blue waters splendid, details the rural surrounds of the school near Mary's Mount, as well as confirming strength in faith-based learning.

House system

St. Brendan's College has four houses;
The Rector of St. Brendan's College has been a Christian Brother from the foundation of the college until the appointment of the 1st Lay Principal, Simon Dash in 2003.
No.RectorTerm
1Bro. J.B. Gettons c.f.c.1940-1945
2Bro. H.I. Jackson c.f.c.1946-1951
3Bro. J.B. Duffy c.f.c.1952-1957
4Bro. N.B. Gallagher c.f.c.1958-1960
5Bro. P.T. McSweeney c.f.c.1961-1963
6Bro. M.F. Ziesing c.f.c.1964-1969
7Bro. C.S. Wright c.f.c.1970-1975
8Bro. D.F. Murphy c.f.c.1976-1981
9Bro. R.J. White c.f.c.1982-1988
10Bro. N.C. Langan c.f.c.1989-1991
11Bro. D.J. McMahon c.f.c.1992-1997
12Bro. R.S. Grundy c.f.c.1998-2002
13S. Dash2003-2009
14G. McManus2010-2011
15Nick Scully2011 -2017
16Robert Corboy2018–Present

Student demographics and facilities

Although the school is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, it accepts students of all faiths and backgrounds.
The school hosts the largest rodeo of the CRCA circuit. The rodeo is held annually over the Father's Day weekend. The school also holds a cattle club and stud program. The school allows students to bring their own cattle to prepare for shows.

Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League

1st XIII Titles

1st XV Competition

1st XI Titles

The college runs a schoolboy rugby league program and gym. Many of the students in the 1st XIII graduate with affiliations or contracts with NRL clubs. Several current and former professional players are St. Brendan's alumni.
Despite the school's reluctance to actively recruit students based on sporting potential, the depth of talent attracted to the school allows its second-string team to be competitive with its rival schools top-class teams. St. Brendan's rugby league has experienced a period of dominance in the annual Confraternity Shield Carnival which is run by the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League.

Australian Schoolboys Rugby League

Politics, public service and the law

List currently being compiled

Military and religion

List currently being compiled

Entertainment, media and the arts

Rugby League

Australia & Queensland
Queensland
As one of the 27 Christian Brothers Colleges founded throughout Queensland, St. Brendan's College Old Boy's continue to provide Officials, Coaches and Players to this uniquely Queensland Association of Brothers Old Boys Clubs.