# St Edmund's College, Ipswich

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.
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.
St Edmund's College accepts students from Years 7 to 12, drawing from a wide area of Ipswich. At the beginning of 2025 the college will reintroduce years 5 and 6.

## History

In 1891, the first foundation stone for the Brothers' residence was laid, and in February 1892 after a grand opening by the Archbishop Robert Dunne the Christian Brothers moved in.
The original St Edmunds Christian Brothers building was used until 1961, and 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).
On the 21st of February, 1965, the foundation stone for the new building was blessed by Reverend Sir James Duhig and laid by the then current mayor of Ipswich, Alderman J. T. Finimore. This was the time the name was of the College was changed from Christian Brothers' College to St Edmund's Christian Brothers' College.
In 1998, Br Ted Magee was the last Christian Brother principal to serve the college.
In 2006, Br Ambrose Purcell was the last Christian Brother to serve as a member of staff, moving back to Sudan to continue his mission work.

## 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.

## 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), soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, hockey, and rugby league. Non-AIC sports include: e-sports, golf and hockey.

### AIC premierships

St Edmund's College has won the following AIC premierships.
* Athletics (3) – 2012, 2013, 2014
* Basketball (5) – 2001, 2002, 2006, 2017, 2020
* Chess (2) - 2011, 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.

### Musicals

* 2025 (SEC) – 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'
* 2024 (SMC) - 'Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical'
* 2023 (SEC) – 'The Addams Family'
* 2022 (SMC) – ‘High School Musical on Stage!’
* 2021 (SEC) – 'School of Rock'
* 2019 (SMC) – 'Matilda the musical'
* 2018 (SEC) – 'Rock of Ages 101: High School Edition'
* 2017 (SMC) – 'Hairspray'
* 2016 (SEC) – 'The Wiz'
* 2015 (SMC) – 'Legally Blonde: The Musical'
* 2014 (SEC) – 'West Side Story'
* 2013 (SMC) – 'The Bells 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'
* 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 Technicolor 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'
* 1992 (SEC) – 'The Pirates of Penzance'
* 1991 (SMC) – '¡Viva México! (El grito de Dolores)'
* 1990 (SEC) – 'Pippin'
* 1989 (SMC) – 'Oklahoma'

## Houses

In 1981, Eddies added school houses. These houses, Hogan, Ryles, Carroll and Stevens, were named after previous principals of the school.
| 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.
* 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.
| Name | Colour | 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 was 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
* 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
* Jim Lucey: 1999–2004
* Brendan Lawler: 2005–2013
* Christopher Leadbetter: 2014–2017
* Diarmuid O'Riordan: 2018–2019
* Ray Celegato: 2020–present

## Notable alumni
### Entertainment, media and the arts

* John Birmingham – author
* d'Arcy Doyle – artist
* Nathan Kneen – singer and former member of The Ten Tenors
* Rhys Lee – artist

### Politics and the law

* Josiah Francis – politician
* Matthew Hickey OAM – barrister and founding member and producer of The Ten Tenors
* Jim Madden – solicitor and former Member for Ipswich West
* John Nugent – former Chairman of the Moreton Shire Council and former mayor of Ipswich
* Henry Palaszczuk – former Labor member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
* Paul Pisasale – former mayor of Ipswich

### Sport

* Denis Flannery – rugby league player
* Harley Fox – rugby union player
* Peter Gallagher – rugby league player
* Doug McLean Jr. – rugby union and rugby league player
* Sam Johnson – rugby union player
* Noel Kelly – rugby league player
* Paul McLean MBE – rugby union player and official
* Peter McMahon OAM – swimmer and businessman
* Joe Ofahengaue – rugby league player
* Heath Ramsay – Olympic swimmer
* Grant Sorensen – Olympic volleyball player
* James Stannard – rugby union player