Vale Br Bernie Crawford

Vale Brother Bernie Crawford

St Laurence’s College regrets to inform the community of the passing of Brother Bernie Crawford at age 99. 

Br Crawford was a previous Principal of the College, between 1959 and 1962. 

Born in Gympie to the parents of Alexander Crawford and Alice Casserly, Br Crawford was one of eleven siblings and attended the local Convent School and later St Patrick’s Christian Brothers School. It was there that he was inspired by the Christian Brothers, whose example encouraged him to join the Juvenate at Strathfield in January 1940. In July 1944, Br Crawford began his teaching career at Moonee Ponds, Victoria.

Br Crawford’s teaching ministry included roles at Parade College and Cathedral College in Sydney before he was asked to take on leadership positions in various schools. His Principalships included Manly Christian Brothers College, St Laurence’s College and in 1968, St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace.

Br Crawford’s impact on the College cannot be understated. When Br Crawford began at Lauries in 1959, there were 857 boys in the school, up from 520 boys ten years earlier in the same facilities. Br Crawford was accompanied by only nine brothers and five lay staff to run the school. 

Br Crawford was met with a number of challenges during his tenure due to the increased birth rate in the post-war years including overcrowding and waiting lists as well as maintenance and expansion costs. As the 1959 school year began, the school and monastery were repainted, construction of a second oval took place and Brother Crawford began his building fundraising immediately. In order to satisfy the needs of a growing school, Brother Crawford built a new tuckshop over the Christmas vacation at the end of 1959, the pool was finally paid off and all rooms were repainted. On top of this, Brother Crawford implemented the first significant permanent addition to the campus – a two-story building containing six classrooms (the Senior School). Brother Crawford’s tenure also saw the purchase of 12.5 hectares offsite, now our Runcorn playing fields.

Under Br Crawford’s leadership, the exam results were extraordinary and he carried the legacy of holistic education at Lauries, highlighted by Brother Canley’s 1959 comment, 

“The school assemblies for the May and June devotions, the recent musical and vocal school eisteddfod together with successes in various sporting activities are amongst many features in life of the school that go to show that the boys are receiving a complete education.”

Brother Crawford continued the academic progression of the College, adapting the curriculum in order to meet the demands of the changing clientele. This was highlighted by the addition of Technical Drawing and French into the senior curriculum.

Brother Crawford finished four years at Lauries in 1962 and was appointed Master of the Novices at Mt St Joseph’s in Minto, New South Wales (a training College for boys aspiring to become Christian Brothers where they completed the first year novitiate). Brother Crawford began the physical transformation of the College campus but his lasting legacy was his contribution to the spiritual and liturgical life of the school. The prayer and service groups thrived during his time.

Brother Crawford was later replaced by Brother William Flavian Spillane in January 1963. 

Upon retirement, Br Crawford then returned to the College where he served as a carer among the Brothers for seven years. 

In the words of Christian Brothers Oceania Province – QLD/NT Cluster Leadership Team member, Mr Michael Talty cfc,

“Bernie was always the true gentleman who selflessly met the needs of many. His talents, especially as a gifted listener, allowed him to minister and enrich the lives of many. Bernie was truly a Christian Brother who walked in the footsteps of Edmund Rice, providing footprints for others to follow as they took their first steps in Religious life as Brothers. In Community, Bernie was one who saw and heard the needs of others and acted on those needs.”

Our thoughts and prayers remain with Brother Crawford, his family and all the Christian Brothers. 

May Brother Crawford Rest in Peace.