Marcellin College Randwick

Marcellin College Randwick
Front corner of Marcellin College facing Alison Road, Randwick
Location
Randwick, South-eastern Sydney, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates 33°54′49″S 151°14′27″E
Information
Type Independent single-sex secondary day school
Motto Latin: Æterna non caduca
(The Eternal, not the Transitory)
Religious affiliation(s) Marist Brothers
Denomination Roman Catholicism
Patron saint(s) Saint Marcellin Champagnat
Established 29 January 1923
Educational authority New South Wales Department of Education
Oversight Catholic Education Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney
Principal Mark Woolford
Staff ~86
Years 7–12
Gender Boys
Enrolment 962 (2013)
Houses
  •   Ignatius
  •   Anselm
  •   Fallen
  •   Bowen
Colour(s) Cerise and blue    
Song Sub Tuum
Athletics Metropolitan Catholic Colleges Sports Association
Affiliations Association of Marist Schools of Australia
Website marcellinrandwick.syd.catholic.edu.au

Marcellin College Randwick is an independent systemic Roman Catholic single-sex secondary day school for boys, located in Randwick in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Conducted by the Marist Brothers and founded in 1923, Marcellin is a school of the Archdiocese of Sydney, and currently caters for approximately 962 students from Years 7 to 12.

The college is affiliated with the Association of Marist Schools of Australia (AMSA) and the Metropolitan Catholic Colleges Sports Association (MCC).

History

Marist Brothers founded the college as part of the worldwide Congregation of Marist Colleges which began in 1816 under the guidance of the French priest, Marcellin Champagnat SM.

Archbishop Kelly visited Randwick in 1921, and pressed for the establishment of a school for boys. Land became available in Alison Rd and on 4 November 1922 Dr Sheehan laid the first stone which now forms part of the College Wall. Dr Cyril Fallon campaigned for funds. Br Walstan Curtin was the first headmaster, and welcomed the first students on 29 January 1923. Originally the brothers traveled from Darlinghurst and Hunters Hill, until Br Aquinas managed to purchase the house adjoining the college, and then it became the living quarters for the Brothers. The Marist Brothers have managed the college ever since.

The College celebrated its 90 Year Anniversary in 2013 with a range of special events, celebrations & functions. A new College Sculpture, named Eternity was erected in 2013 in honour of the college's 90 Year landmark and as part of a major revamp of the college's courtyard. It was commissioned and sculpted by sculptor Col Henry. It was blessed on 17 May 2013 at the college's 90 Year Gala Dinner.

In early 2014, major capital works commenced at Marcellin. Planning for these works had been underway since late 2011. The scope of the works includes:

  • a new library with additional learning spaces and major internal refurbishment
  • a multi-purpose space to replace the Year 7 rooftop playground
  • a new canteen
  • landscaping in the bottom yard
  • Food Technology and Hospitality facilities
  • a Drama performance space
  • alterations to the Marist Centre

The works were completed by the beginning of the 2015 school year.

At the end of the 2014 academic year, Br David Hall concluded his term as Headmaster at Marcellin College. Mr John Hickey was later appointed as his successor, becoming the 24th and first lay Headmaster of the college.

Headmasters

Front of Marcellin College facing Alison Road, Randwick

The following individuals have served as Headmaster of Marcellin College Randwick:

Ordinal Headmaster Term start Term end Time in office Notes
1 Br Walstan Curtin FMS 1923 1925 1–2 years
2 Br Andrew Power FMS 1926 1931 4–5 years
3 Br Ignatius O’Connor FMS 1932 1937 4–5 years
4 Br Damian Willis FMS 1938 1940 1–2 years
5 Br Louis Hughes FMS 1941 1941 0 years
6 Br Albertus Sellenger FMS 1942 1944 1–2 years
7 Br Quentin Duffy FMS 1945 1950 4–5 years
8 Br Edmundus Larkin FMS 1951 1955 3–4 years
9 Br Bede Yates FMS 1956 1956 0 years
10 Br Anselm Saunders FMS 1957 1962 4–5 years
11 Br Wilfrid Quail FMS 1963 1965 1–2 years
12 Br Laurence McKeon FMS 1966 1967 0–1 years
13 Br Demetrius Redford FMS 1968 1973 4–5 years
14 Br Kenneth Sim FMS 1974 1977 2–3 years
15 Br Roger Burke FMS 1978 1983 4–5 years
16 Br Paul Fensom FMS 1984 1984 0 years
17 Br Ernest Houston FMS 1985 1986 0–1 years
18 Br Anthony Robinson FMS 1987 1989 1–2 years
19 Br Robert O’Connor FMS 1990 1994 3–4 years
20 Br Patrick Howlett FMS 1995 2001 5–6 years
21 Br Robert Sutton FMS 2002 2002 0 years
22 Br William Sullivan FMS 2003 March 2010 6–7 years
23 Br David Hall FMS April 2010 2014 3–4 years
24 John Hickey 2015 September 2018 1–2 years
25 Mark Woolford October 2018 incumbent 5–6 years

Academic

Marcellin College has always achieved strong academic results, with students regularly attaining Universities Admission Index (UAI) scores of over 90. In 2005, student Christopher Beshara achieved a UAI 100, the first student in Marcellin College Randwick to achieve a UAI 100 - many other students achieving over UAI 91 annually. Following the release of the 2007 NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) results, The Daily Telegraph ranked Marcellin College 78th in the top 200 best performing schools in New South Wales. In addition to HSC success, the school has achieved in academic pursuits such as debating, oratory and chess.

Sport

Marcellin College is a member of the Metropolitan Catholic Colleges (MCC) sport program. Through this association, the college competes against schools such as Marist College Kogarah, Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham, De La Salle College Ashfield, Marist Catholic College North Shore, Champagnat Catholic College Pagewood, St. Leo's Catholic College and LaSalle Catholic College, Bankstown, in a variety of sports including swimming, athletics, soccer, rugby league, tennis, golf, volleyball, touch football, basketball, squash and cricket. (Also rugby union, but it was disbanded in 2009).

Traditionally, Marcellin College has a strong history in sport (see below) with many students progressing to the elite level in their chosen sport, notably in rugby league, along with swimming.

Notable alumni

Marcellin College Randwick alumni are traditionally known as "Old Boys", with the school's Alumni association called the "Marcellin College Ex-Students Association". Some notable Marcellin Old Boys include:

Business
Clergy and religious
Entertainment, media and the arts
Medicine and science
Politics, public service and the law
Sport

See also