Guidance, nurture and support the key to boarding lifestyle

The boarding facility at St Joseph’s Nudgee College has four houses existing in harmony bound together by a large communal courtyard

The dinning area has a white table and chairs with hanging lamp covered with bamboo or rattan decorative nest over the ornamental items on the table. Kitchen is next to the table with white ceramic counter top and huge wall cabinets and pantry cupboards around oven and refrigerator, lights are turned on to illuminate the whole house

The boarding facility at St Joseph’s Nudgee College has four houses existing in harmony bound together by a large communal courtyard

WITH a focus on holistic education, personal development and the continued wellbeing of each student, the boarders at St Joseph’s Nudgee College are united in both their environment, with adjoined houses at the centre of campus, and in the way they forge lifelong friendships with their ‘brothers’.

Established in 1891, the college is one of the oldest Catholic boys’ boarding schools in Australia and educates more than 1580 young men from Years 5 to 12. Among the student cohort, there are writers, athletes, artists, performers, science enthusiasts, maths fanatics, leaders, builders, dreamers, all-rounders, and everything in between.

The diversity that can be found across the school cohort is mirrored throughout the team of dedicated staff members. Every day students are taught, cared for and challenged by teachers who want to bring out the best in all of their students - they want to help them find their strengths.

With world-class facilities set across a sprawling 136ha campus, the boys are nurtured to develop their talents by passionate teaches who each bring their own skill sets and unique experiences to the role.

At the heart of the Nudgee College, a leading Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition, is the Bathersby Boarding Village. Here, four boarding houses exist in harmony and are bound together with a large communal courtyard in the centre. The boys also have a space to call their own, each having a separate room with a single bed, desk and chair, lockable areas, wireless internet, ceiling fans and a window with natural light.

Recently redeveloped in 2015, the village has been architecturally-designed to feature lounge spaces and common areas with 6m ceilings to give a sense of space and openness. Similarly, bathroom spaces have been modernised and open to vertical gardens offering natural air circulation and air quality.

The Boarding Village consists of one junior house for Years 5 to 9, O’Brien, and three senior houses for Years 10 to 12, Cotter, Hodda and Murphy. The college’s on-campus health centre provides 24-hour care ensuring boarders get the proper attention they need day or night.

Whether it’s a spontaneous barbecue, a gathering in one of the lounges to watch a sporting match or instigating a table tennis tournament, the boys have many opportunities to share a laugh with their fellow boarders in the various common spaces they’re provided.

As 2018 College Captain, Angus McDonald says, the college’s real success lies in the relationships that the boys build while they are at school and the opportunities they have to interact and learn from people from every path of life.

“The relationships formed can provide a home away from home, a happy place to learn, and a sense of community that lasts a lifetime. In addition, the diversity of boys at the college allows us to learn so much from each other,” he says.

“Through the personal narratives we share, we can catch glimpses of life in Far North Queensland, out west, interstate, Papua New Guinea, and indeed, all corners of the globe.”

Dean of Boarding Christian Oneto, who lives on campus with his family, says from the bonds of brotherhood that form among the boys, to the nurture and guidance provided by house mums and supervisors, the Boarding Village is a home where each boy is supported in all aspects of their daily life.

Meanwhile, the college also prides itself on being able to offer a healthy and wide range of sports, social and cultural activities for its boys to get involved in. These include cricket, debating, rowing, swimming, volleyball, cross country, athletics, football, tennis, basketball, chess and rugby.

Many other clubs and teams are available for students to enjoy including theatre sports, audio visual club, STEAM and robotics club, various music ensembles and bands, and cattle club. Mr Oneto says no matter what students are interested in, there is an activity, and a place, for everyone.

Originally published as Guidance, nurture and support the key to boarding lifestyle