Sacred Heart College Auckland

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 150, 26 June 1937, Page 1 (Supplement)

Sacred Heart College Auckland

IT was In the year 1884 that Dr. Luck, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, made application to the Provincial of the Marist Brothers in Australia for teachers to staff a school in Auckland. The Provincial at the time pleaded the lack of necessary men, but the pood bishop carried too many guns. In an audience with the Pope shortly after this he lamented the need of religious W^Vfi"*. 1 " 3 dioce \ e " As a result of the interview, a letter, dated Z7Z . Vil t '^ as , received by the Superior General of the Marist Brothers wo»M ? 6 i R It in l- : Secretar >' of st *te, stating how pleased His Holiness nvnr« ' * bishop's wish could be complied with. Delighted at the r-n.roi T • *ptV; ol ' atlon T on the part of the Pope himself, the Superior ohSl ass "r* d t ßl^ h °P fuck, who interviewed him personally, that all obstacles to the staflmg of the school would be overcome. corned ofPi.T's? J ? r ' ™^ tcmh er 7, the Sacred Heart School at the LeonLrv H V CCt f nd " ell,n ?t on was formally opened. Soon a artme t nt wa * added, and accommodation provided for further afielH l6^' P™ exceedingly, and the need for expansion further afield soon became urgent, as the Pitt Street site did not permit d relr e inTs^ e r enSi ° nS \ ThUS * W * S that Brother B"iT who wTsTh director in 1898 became active m the endeavour to secure a larger area of ground elsewhere. H,s efforts were successful, and in June 1903 the ne».foundation in Richmond Road was opened. Much work still remained to be done, especially as there were fourteen acres of gorse land to clear hearts" Ar™ P hY Vl, : g fi f , B . Ut the WOrk ™* into with stout hearts. Meanwhile numbers both as to boarders and dav students rapidly increased, until to-day the college roll stands at 410 - luucll[ s rapiaij Not that there was sunshine all the way. There were those fateful years 1914-18, when the echoes of war reached -New Zealand, and the old boys responded so, nobly to the call to arms, that, although at the time they numbered considerably less than 500 '(including those too young for military service), over 250 went away and 46 made the supreme sacrifice.

In the meantime, the old school in Pitt Street still stands, a memorial to the pioneers who laboured there under such adverse conditions, and to the splendid body of old boys It produced—old boys who have since taken their place in every walk of life and acquitted themselves with credit.

That the old hoys of the college, and the community in general, are appreciative of the work accomplished by the school since its inception was evidenced in 1935, when the Golden Jubilee of that small beginning in 1885 was marked by celebrations that were the occasion of a unique demon, stration of loyalty and gratitude. The jubilee functions were fittingly presided over by Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, an old boy of whom the college is justly proud, and who has shed great lustre on his "Alma Mater."

The ultimate test of any school is the type of manhood it produces. As regards Sacred Heart College, pride

Light blue and dark blue. Try. boys—ne'll try. boxs. Ihe colours of our school. To keep them pure 'and Heart true and hand true proud; Well make those colours High, boy's— on high. boys. Tule - We'll lift their praises loud.

of place must be given to those ■who haie embraced the priesthood and the relisious life, and whose number is rapidly approaching the half century mark. A ready calculation reveals nearly TO in the medical, dental and legal professions, while a host of others occupy responsible in the commercial world. Among those who have gained dis-

tinction in the scholastic world mention must be made of three Rhodes Scholars. In 1925 Wilfred Kalaugher, M.A., was chosen for the coveted honour. While at Oxford, he signalised his entry into English University sports by winning the high jump and the 120 yards hurdles. In consequence of this he was awarded his full ''blue'' as first string against Cambridge. Further successes in these events and the long jump resulted in his being invited to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games. Here, however, he failed to produce form. A second old boy of the college was chosen as Rhodes Scholar in 1928 in the person of Dr. Ernest Bailey. LL.M. While at Oxford he distinguished himself as a debater, and was chosen as official representative of the students on the occasion of a visit from the Prime Minister of England. It was fitting that still another old boy should be chosen as Rhodes Scholar for the jubilee year of the school, 1935. Daniel Davin. was the successful candidate from the Otago University, where his career was a most brilliant one. Other old boys who have been nominated by the various university colleges of New Zealand for the Rhodes Scholarship are P. Soljak. G. McLeod. J. Farrell. and E. Mahoner. In the University Scholarship Examination t/e college has always given a good accour.t of itself, and in 1030 four students were successful, while M". K. Joseph dow lecturer at the Auckland University College, wis awarded first place among all comtjmfll K __ pet'tors in New Zealand. In tLe realm of sport th« record of the college is outstanding, it La» produced an All Black captain, a Xew Zealand cricket captain, an Olympic Games representative, and national champions and recordholders in almost every phase of New Zealand sport. Rugby football naturally takes pride of place in the college's list of sporting activitiesHence it is not surprising to find well over fifty old boys attaining national and provincial representative honours. Most famous of her All Blacks is undoubtedly Maurice Brownlie. who, as a member of the college first XV. in 1909, foreshadowed his subsequent rise in football fame. He made his initial international appearance in 1922 when he toured Australia, and he represented Xew Zealand for the following six years. Like his brother Cyril, who was athletic champion at the college in 1912, he represented Xew Zealand in the United Kingdom and France with the invincible 1924 All Blacks, in Australia in 1926, and in South Africa in 1925, in which year he was captain. Laurie, a third brother, claimed by critics to be the greatest of the three, also hails fro*Sacred Heart College.

(Continued on page 349.)