1979 Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan

1979 – PRESENT

Ryan Catholic College was Townsville’s first co-educational Catholic College for children from Preschool to Year 12. The school was named after Bishop Ryan and opened in January 1979 with 74 students in Years 1, 2, 3 and 8. Early newsletters called for parents’ help with tree planting, the first school fair, playground equipment and outdoor seating. It truly was a community effort in establishing the school. The first Principal was Barry Taylor, who led a staff of 5.

Raymond Benjamin was born in Rockhampton in 1925 and educated at Our Lady’s Infant School and at St Joseph’s College, Rockhampton. He studied for the priesthood at Pius XII Provincial Seminary at Banyo, Brisbane and was ordained on 25 July 1949 at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton. Raymond Benjamin served in a number of parishes in the Rockhampton Diocese and then worked as assistant to the Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese. He later became the Administrator of St Joseph’s Cathedral and, after another term as Parish Priest of the Capricornia Coast, was made Vicar General of the Diocese of Rockhampton in 1978. During his time in Rockhampton he was very involved in the Overseas Students Association. Raymond Benjamin was appointed Bishop of Townsville on 11 February 1984 and consecrated Bishop on 9 May the same year. During his time in Townsville Bishop Raymond Benjamin faced the serious problem of the decline in priest numbers but he felt that, that led to a much greater focus on the laity in the Church. Bishop Raymond Benjamin implemented a wide ranging set of adult faith education courses with the Institute of Faith established during his time. He also devoted much of his life to the Aboriginal community. Bishop Raymond Benjamin said at his Golden Jubilee that, “In many ways the Aboriginals have become my family…from all over this diocese, Rocky and other parts of Australia.” He also gave devoted service to Catholic Education through his extensive involvement in the Catholic Colleges at James Cook University and to the schools of the Diocese.