Term 1, Week 2

AIC Ecumenical Service

This week, accompanied by College Captains and Prefects, Mr Heshusius and I attended the annual AIC Ecumenical Service. The service celebrated the start of the AIC sports season and acknowledges the camaraderie between the member and associate Colleges. 

During the Liturgy, Mr Paul Begg, Principal of Villanova College and the 2025 host school Principal (Paul is an St Laurence's College Old Boy and former St Laurence's College School Advisory Council Chairperson), reminded all in attendance that while our schools offer different lenses to view the Gospel, that ultimately, we share commonality rather than disparity. This is a view I wholeheartedly agree with.

At Lauries, regardless of the occasion or event, it is the Lauries way to offer welcome and inclusivity. After our first full week of school, it is pleasing to hear stories of welcome from our new Year 5 and 7 students, from our Transport Buddies program and new staff.

Each week we welcome other AIC schools into our own community, as we will be welcomed into theirs. My AIC hope as we begin another school year is that despite the need for healthy competition, we remember that being a Lauries gentlemen means offering welcome and conducting yourself with a sense of courtesy and respect. 

STEM Building Update

At 7am on Monday morning of this week, the College came alive with the sounds of fire alarms and evacuation sirens. In what was thought to initially be an accidental trip of the alarm system in the Sports Hall, it would be quickly discovered that a fire had started in the roof of the HPE staffroom.

After an external audit from insurers, we now know that the fire started because of a mechanical fault in the air conditioning systems above the office. While the fire was contained to a small area of the ceiling, thanks to the fire safety systems, the black smoke as a result of the fire travelled throughout some of the building.

This week the College has closed the STEM building to ensure safe practices can occur around cleaning and reviewing the building.  The College Leadership Team has been working with the insurers and the remediation team to ensure the building is fully cleaned and in working order before it opens to staff and students.

While it was hoped that the sports Hall would be returned to working use by today, for this week’s round of AIC sports, unfortunately this is not to be the case. My sincere thanks goes to Trevor Goodwin as the principal of Iona College and his Sports Department for allowing Lauries the use of one of Oblate Hall tomorrow, to host our junior volleyball this weekend.

Over the coming days the insurers will continue to manage the deep clean of the entire building as we aim to have learning returned to the classrooms as soon as possible.

Throughout this week, many people have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our students and their surrounds, remains our paramount concern, while trying to reinstate learning in the building as quickly as possible. This was highlighted by the impeccable evacuation process and subsequent response on Monday and the following days. I sincerely think all staff involved but would particularly like to thank Dr Herbert, Mr Nick Lieschke, Ms Michelle Gyde and Ms Kirsten Wardrop for the ongoing coordination. We are looking forward to returning to normal functions within the building as soon as possible.

110 Year Celebrations: Did you know?

On 11 July 1914, the foundation stone for St Laurence’s College was officially laid.

Contrary to modern building times, in less than 12 months, St Laurence’s College was officially blessed and opened on Sunday, 11 April 1915.

A grand ceremony led by Archbishop Duhig. Accompanied by the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society, Rev Brother McCarthy of the Christian Brothers, Brother McGee from Nudgee College, and Brother Hogan, the first Principal of St Laurence’s, the Archbishop arrived in procession up Grahams Road to open the College. A choir of 100 boys from Nudgee and St James Colleges sang "Hail Glorious St Patrick" as the group entered the courtyard. Before the ceremony, visitors toured the new classrooms, praising the location as ideal for a school. Much like they do on our modern day Principals tours.

At the opening, from the balcony, Archbishop Duhig delivered a moving speech inspired by the gospel passage Matthew 17:4, Duhig pronounced, “It is good for us to be here.” As part of his speech, he emphasised the importance of providing boys with the best educational opportunities.

Brothers Hogan, Brennan, O’Connell and Doran made up our First Brothers community. Classes began the next day, Monday, 12 April 1915, with 270 students across various grades: 68 in Year 2, 86 in Year 3, 57 in Year 4, 43 in Scholarship, and 25 in the University class. 

So with all that in mind, It’s good to be here!

MR BEN LOWRIE

College Principal