St Mary's College Toowoomba celebrates 120 years

A BOOK celebrated the unique spirit of St Mary's College Toowoomba has been launched at the school's 120 year celebrations.

Author Felicity McArdle and St Mary's principal Michael Newman with the book God Old Boys:. Picture: Bev Lacey

IT'S now 120 years old, but that uniquely St Mary's College spirit remains just as strong among today's 850 or so students as it did for the early attendees.

Every one of the many thousands of "old boys" of St Mary's has a plethora of stories from their days at the West St college and now a list of them have been compiled in a book titled Good Old Boys: Conversations with Dan.

Dan refers to proud St Mary's old boy and unofficial school historian Dan McErlean who epitomises that special spirit of the Brothers boys.

"Dan has a remarkable archive of stories and great memories of the school," said the book's author Felicity McArdle.

"And he has a way of making those stories very interesting to more than just those who went to the school.

"Dan was given an award at the school and he was addressing the boys and said 'You boys stand on the shoulders of giants', and that's where the book comes from.

"Michael (school principal Michael Newman) heard that and he wanted Dan's knowledge of the school celebrated."

The school started out as St Mary's Christian Brothers College and was run by the order of Catholic Christian Brothers who had a reputation of turning boys not only into scholars but men.

The brothers also instilled a strong spirit within the school body and the strength of that spirit is evident in the Old Boys Association.

"The Old Boys have been so generous over the years," St Mary's College principal Michael Newman said.

"They've built buildings, ovals, a gymnasium and other structures for the school.

"It really is an amazing Old Boys Association."

As well as a number of captains of industry and community leaders, St Mary's old boys have produced an Australian prime minister, a governor, an archbishop, a plethora of Catholic priests and Christian brothers as well as wealth of sporting greats in a number of codes.

"And it's really important to capture that in a book," Mr Newman said.

"It's a great school and it's a great honour to be a part of this school."

St Mary's College celebrated 120 years with a dinner last night at the school compered by old boy Cr James O'Shea with special guest and fellow old boy South Sydney and Queensland State of Origin star Ethan Lowe.

The book is available for purchase at the school office during school hours.

Originally published as St Mary's College Toowoomba celebrates 120 years