Shalom College Bundaberg shares tribute to Br Rochford

A loved Christian brother and colourful identity at Shalom College is being remembered for the impact he had on thousands of lives.

The sad passing of popular Shalom College identity Brother Gordon Rochford has sparked an outpouring of tributes.

The Christian Brother was well-known for leading by example when it came to his faith and loving all his students “equally”.

Speaking to the NewsMail, Shalom College assistant principal of staff, Kim O’Shea-Hard, said Br Rochford was the living embodiment of the ‘Catholic ethos’ for those in the school community.

Having known Br Rochford from her time as a student at Shalom, to working alongside him, she reflected on how he was the common thread in just about every Shalom student’s story.

She said he was as enthusiastic at the end of his time at Shalom as he had been in the early foundation days of the school.

She also remembered how Br Rochford made it his mission to wish every student happy birthday when the date came around.

Given the school has more than 1500 students, making a student a personalised birthday card was no small feat but he wanted to make everyone feel special.

The cards would include meaningful quotes and scriptures like ‘there is more happiness in giving than receiving (ACTS 20:25)’.

The birthday card tradition now lives on through the school’s house captains.

Ms O’Shea-Hard said Br Rochford represented “Catholic ethos in action” – caring for others, loving your neighbour and having a sense of community.

She said he also captured memories over the years for the school’s magazine, often photographing students from Year 7–12 and sharing those photos at the Year 12 retreat, showing just how much they had grown.

Br Rochford’s dedication to Shalom and his egalitarian approach was actualised in his Shalom Day shirt: one which was specially made to sport all the different house colours demonstrating how he was for all.

“When someone believes in you, you can believe in yourself and achieve your goals,” Ms O’Shea-Hard said.

Along with taking an interest in students’ lives, Br Rochford had a passion for sport, particularly his Manly Sea Eagles football team.

REMEMBERING BR ROCHFORD: Senior Class of 2017 presenting a Blues jumper to Brother Rochford who loved sport and rugby league. He also loved Manley and was a big supporter of Confraternity Rugby League.

He was also committed to the Edmund Rice camps.

“For decades, he encouraged and accompanied Shalom students to give back their time during the holidays, to provide a holiday experience for young people from the local area who were doing it tough, in the shape of Edmund Rice camps,” Ms O’Shea-Hard said.

“Shalom is presently preparing to hold its annual Edmund Rice camp at Shalom’s Outdoor Education Centre next holiday, where students, past and present return to carry on the traditions Brother Rochford stood for.”

College captain Oliver Collins said Br Rochford found it tough as he grew older to get around to everyone for their birthday, but he made sure no one ever missed out.

“He reminds me that even when times get tough, you must keep going and he embodied the true Shalom Spirit,” Oliver said.

House captain Georgie Tuzes said Br Rochford used to ride his bike to school every day for decades.

“When he could no longer ride, he caught the bus to and from school each day with us students,” Georgie said.

“I always sat by his side and he would share his wisdom.

“I now feel privileged to have had this opportunity.”

House captain Riley Dingle loved how Br Rochford was there to greet the students each morning with ‘Shalom Chaverim’.

“It made us feel welcome and proud of our Shalom motto,” Riley said.

REMEMBERING BR ROCHFORD: Shalom College has a painting of Br Rochford in the reception and his birthday card tradition is now carried out by house captains.

During an interview with the NewsMail for his 70th year as a Christian Brother in 2017, Br Rochford said he joined the Brothers when he was 14.

He recalled the last thing his mother said to him before he joined:

“My mother said ‘if you don’t like it come home’. I guess I liked it,” he said

Br Rochford said he loved everything about his job at Shalom.

“Years ago when I went back to Sydney, I looked up three guys I used to go to school with before the Brotherhood and we were having this meal and one of them was a plumber – he had six kids, the second one was a lawyer – he had eight kids and the third one was a chemist – he has 16 kids,” he said.

“I just worry about people saying to me ‘how many kids do you have?’ Because my answer would be 984 and we might have an extra 30 next year.”

Br Rochford retired from Shalom in 2018, after 31 years at the local school.

The Shalom College Facebook page reads that the Christian Brothers have agreed to have his funeral in Bundaberg, with details to be published at a later date.