Michael Brady: St Patrick’s College Ballarat mourning death of long-term teacher

The family of a a much-loved Ballarat teacher, who is being remembered for his “big heart” and kind nature, have announced details of his funeral this week.

A school community is mourning the loss of a beloved and respected Ballarat teacher who died last month.

Michael Brady, 76, died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 24, after an extended battle with cancer.

Mr Brady was a well-known Ballarat man and member of the St Patrick’s College community, which he both attended as a student and went on to teach at for close to 40 years.

Through his work, including as a long-time Year 7 co-ordinator and maths teacher, he helped to shape the futures of thousands of Ballarat boys that walked through the school corridors.

Mr Brady was also a long-serving coach of the College’s junior footy and cricket teams.

In the year before his retirement in 2014, Mr Brady was awarded the prestigious Facere et Docere award in honour of his “outstanding service to the College”.
With news of his continually declining health, the College earlier this year collated dozens of heartfelt messages for Mr Brady from past Collegians.

The messages poured in from across Australia and while sending best wishes, past students also spoke of the lasting impacts he had on so many young lives trying to navigate a big, new school.

One past student described him as having a “big heart” and that he was “always friendly, accommodating and nothing short of fully supportive”. Others described his enthusiasm and humour.

Another message, from three brothers who boarded at the school in the 1980s, said Mr Brady was “welcoming” and helped to instil confidence in them when they arrived in such a “vast and new environment” from NSW.

Others described how grateful they were for having such a positive influence on their younger, impressionable selves and for his encouragement to chase their dreams.

“I can only hope that Mr Brady and his family are aware of the enormous amount of respect for him from past students I talk to and how much the way he went about introducing us to St Pat’s made an impact for life in such a positive way.”

But while described as a “brilliant teacher and leader of young men”, others also touched on his “amazing talent” of making boys “shake in their boots” if they misbehaved.

“You commanded respect not through being feared, but through feeling like you had our ‘back’ and understood, what we as Year 7s were going through, being the small fish in a big pond,” another said.

Mr Brady leaves behind his wife, Robyn, and daughters Yemimah, Emily and Zara.

His funeral will be held at the St Patrick’s College Chapel in Sturt St, Ballarat from 10.30am on Thursday, August 4. It will be live streamed for those unable to attend.