Old Collegians

COLLEGE CREST

The sad passing of George Dore (SKC '47) brings to mind an entertaining story from the archives that George often told.

George was a devoted Kevinian who did anything he could for the school. He missed a handful of Old Collegian Annual Dinners but basically attended more than anyone in their 74 year history. Let us say nearly 60 dinners and the no arguments record holder. He was a brilliant dinner companion, a wonderful raconteur and enthralled all with stories. Not all seemed to be told the same way each year but nobody minded as they invariably had people in fits of laughter.

One such was the liberation of the original school crest (1918), stone carved and affixed high on the wall in Albert Street, East Melbourne. George and some fellows thought the school should have it rather than reside with CBC Victoria Parade. The way George told it, it was that late one night in a scene more suited to a Marx Brothers slapstick movie – including the ladder carried by two where they went either side of a tree. They liberated the crest. George cleverly patched the hole, then and there, to obliterate any sign it ever existed. He was a devout and saintly man and always maintained that he had permission, as a man he took to be a Christian Brother approached the troop, condoned the activity and wished them God’s Blessing.

The crest has little resemblance to the crest we have today but was a common design and motto for Christian Brother’s schools where one just changed the name for each school.

The crest, once liberated, stayed with George, then was forwarded to the school (questions of its origins were not asked) in 1971 where successive nervous Headmasters kept it stored away. In the late 1977 it was installed in the foyer of the Heyington Campus for all to see. Our cultural icon was saved. The school crest had several design reincarnations mostly due to the individual way Brothers drew it for uniform manufacturers, cap badge producers and printers.

By 1920 the Christian Brothers motto changed to Facere et Docere (To Learn and to Teach) so our sandstone crest dates the badge to being between 1918 and 1920. The earliest versions of our current crest start during Br Kearney’s time as Headmaster (1931–1934) and it appears on the first Annual in 1935. The first time our current shield shape appeared using the 13th century "Heater" or "Couche" shape was in 1959 as we entered the APS. The inclusion of the Celtic Cross atop the shield was used at various times to depict our Christian Brothers and Irish heritage.

POSTCARDS FROM ABROAD

It has been wonderful receiving notes for Kevinians living overseas and hearing the rich tapestry of life that has taken them there. We have heard from Europe, Asia, Antarctica and North America – perhaps the continents of South America and Africa could be next.

Bill O’Reilly (SKC '57) lives in Hastings on Hudson in New York State, USA. A short-term move in 1969 for he and his wife (also from Melbourne) turned into a lifelong stay. His children are grown up and giving them lovely grandchildren. Bill’s career has been in management of national charities and foundations and of course more recently they have been caught up in avoiding COVID-19, with great success so far. Bill last visited the school in 2013 and sends his usual best wishes to all Kevinians. His lovely letter is on our Facebook page.

Justin Quirk (SKC '90) sends his best wishes from Northern Ireland where he and his wife Shauna live in County Derry with their four children. Over the years Justin has expanded his Dominos Pizza Stores ownership and has been most successful in business. Justin is well known for his welcoming of Kevinians who journey to the North and keeps in touch with several school mates regularly.

industry. He is in charge of a unit relating to infrastructure project investments. Always keen to have contact with Kevinians to chat travel, Hong Kong and a career so look him up on LinkedIn.

Thomas Horvath (SKC '59) is in retirement now in Mobile Bay, Alabama, having spent a lifetime in the US navy where, as a doctor, he rose to being their senior psychiatrist and running hospitals. At one stage he was on a Presidential Committee pioneering the care for military with PTSD. Thomas ended up there after being a refugee from wartorn Hungary, coming to Melbourne and went from no English at St Kevins to winning the English prize and also went from no concept of the cricket and football he saw to being Captain of Boats. Scholarships at Melbourne University Medicine and training at St Vincents and a marriage to Csilla Oster led to a visit to the US. His successful children fill he and Csilla’s life and with grandchildren a plenty too. The COVID crisis in America concerns Thomas greatly and just one quote from him on the matter is “I admire the selflessness and common sense of Australians that contrasts with the anything goes attitudes here”

The WA sub-chapter in Bunbury send their best wishes to all. Deric Davidson (SKC '54) is a retired geologist who settled west and as you can imagine the west has been a good place for a geologist. Peter Finlayson (SKC '51) lived in Victoria until recently but that was after decades working as an agricultural scientist working in developing countries. Finally, in the trio is John Finlayson (SKC '53) retired from South Africa where his priestly duties saw him ending up the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Johannesburg and was appointed Prelate of Honour by the Pope.

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND EMPLOYMENT

We are not able to post items from Kevinians in need of employment but will place items regarding people that can assist. We suggest Kevinians open Facebook and LinkedIn pages regularly and perhaps also place alerts to send items to your phone Also, it helps us if, in the education part of your own profile on LinkedIn, you enter St Kevin’s College.

ALL CONTACT WITH SKOCA: Please send emails to old-collegians@stkevins. vic.edu.au.

As we move toward not sending items by mail we have to ensure we have your email address. Please send an email with your details. Best to avoid using work emails as they change so often. Add your mobile number as well.

ARCHIVES

Have you unearthed any items St Kevin's archives may like to see or have? Let us know!

GRAND EVENTS

In a year when there are none of the usual grand dinners and events here are some memories of days long gone. The parents may have had theirs but the Old Collegians and the senior boys (run by the Prefects) had some stylish dinners, dinner dances and balls and Note on the tickets the format of the telephone numbers, the price before decimal currency. No selfrespecting organisation ran a dinner dance without a Denis Farrington band and most events were black tie and full of refinery. Look at the grand venues including the glorious Palais de Danse with its exquisite dance floor. Tragedy when Melbourne lost it to fire in 1969. St Kevin’s and the Old Collegians will return to wonderful community events after COVID so when we do, join in the fun.

valete

ARTER, Laurence George (SKC '54) RIP 9/08/2020

COLLOPY, John Anselm (SKC '46) RIP 18/08/2019

DAVIES, Dominic (SKC '78) RIP 12/08/2020

DORE, George William OAM (SKC '47) RIP 15/08/2020

SHEEHAN, Maurice J (SKC '66) RIP 26/08/2020