Chanel College (Geelong)
Encyclopedia
Chanel College was a Roman Catholic school for boys in Geelong
, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1958, it closed in 1999. The site was later purchased by the Geelong Baptist College
.
in Geelong.
The school's Foundation Rector was Father Stanley Hosie SM. MA STL. Originally a school for day boys, from the start of 1962 the school took in boarders from Australia and Malaysia. Whilst day students were enrolled, the focus of the school was on the boarding students.
The school relocated to a newly built complex at Lovely Banks
, near Geelong, in mid 1963 under the guidance and direction of the second Rector of Chanel the Very Rev Father Stephen Maloney SM BA MACE. Fr Maloney was a very highly regarded and respected teacher at Chanel College.
The Bellpost Hill site (Old Chanel) became a boarding house for the junior boarders. The senior boarders were housed in two boarding houses at Lovely Banks, Braemar (named after the original name of the Lovely Banks property) and Futuna (named after the Island on which Peter Chanel met his death.)
The Marists believed in encouraging their students to become leaders and not mere followers. Partly to this end, a school magazine was commenced in 1965, Champion (Chanel Monthly Publication). Champion was edited and produced by the students and it was a magazine not scared to become involved in somewhat controversial issues, for example the need for the celebration of ANZAC day
. However one area in which attempts at encouraging leadership did not succeed at all, was the Students Representative Council (SRC). The Marists expected thos students on the SRC to be leaders, yet these students were give no training what so ever in leadership and in many cases little or no encouragement to be leaders. The SRC at Chanel was largely a massive waste of time and money with time consuming "class meetings" which achieved nothing but wasted time.
Unique for schools in Australia at the time, Chanel established a science club in 1964. The science club encouraged students to become interested in science
. An annual feature of the science club was the science exhibition, which showcased the study of science
at Chanel. The club met weekly and students gave presentations on various scientific subjects or viewed and discussed films of a scientific nature. From time to time external guest speakers were invited to address the science club.
The science club also sponsored end of term excursions interstate to such places as Perth
, Cairns, Woomera
, Tasmania
and the Snowy Mountains.
In order to encourage and improve public speaking amongst the students, an annual public speaking competition was established. All students had to give a short speech in front of their class. The speech was assessed and the best three speakers gave their speech in front of the whole school. In 1968, at the suggestion of students, a teacher of speechcraft and voice production was employed to further improve the standard of public speaking in the school.
By 1966 enrolments totalled 446 students. However enrolments started to fall after that year. In 1970 around 395 students were at Chanel.
The Marist Fathers withdrew from teaching at the school in 1970. The then rector the Rev Fr Guiren had the unenviable task of announcing and overseeing the withdrawal of the Marists from Chanel. The withdrawal was announced to the students and parents at the annual playnight on 23 June 1970 at the Corio Centennial Hall.
An 'Action Group' of parents lay teachers and other supporters sprang into action in an attempt to save Chanel. This group held around three public meetings at Chanel as well as lobbying hard and pursuing all options.
The reason given for the withdrawal was to provide more Marists for the missions, a shortage of Priests. However a publication by the Marists in 1990 (SM Down Under page 45) gives financial reasons as well as a shortage of Priests as the reasons for the withdrawal of the Marists from Chanel.
After some negotiations the Christian Brothers
took over the running of the College. This change also resulted in the discontinuation of the boarding section of the school.
The first Christian Brother Principal of Chanel was the Rev Brother David Carey BA (Melb) MACE a highly regarded and respected teacher.
Over a number of years the Christian Brothers embarked on a major building program at Chanel, replacing the temporary buildings (the huts) that were a feature at Chanel for a number of years.
The site was later sold and reopened as Geelong Baptist College.
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1958, it closed in 1999. The site was later purchased by the Geelong Baptist College
Geelong Baptist College
Geelong Baptist College is a co-educational college located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 2002, and provides education for years Prep to 12....
.
History
The school was founded in 1958 by the Marist Fathers and established where Pettitt Park is now at Bell Post HillBell Post Hill, Victoria
Bell Post Hill is a residential suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The origin of the suburb's name is thought to be from a lookout or warning bell on a post situated on the hill overlooking Corio Bay...
in Geelong.
The school's Foundation Rector was Father Stanley Hosie SM. MA STL. Originally a school for day boys, from the start of 1962 the school took in boarders from Australia and Malaysia. Whilst day students were enrolled, the focus of the school was on the boarding students.
The school relocated to a newly built complex at Lovely Banks
Lovely Banks, Victoria
Lovely Banks is a northern suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Once an agricultural and rural area, the suburb is quickly developing into a residential area adjoining the Geelong suburbs of Bell Park, Corio and Norlane....
, near Geelong, in mid 1963 under the guidance and direction of the second Rector of Chanel the Very Rev Father Stephen Maloney SM BA MACE. Fr Maloney was a very highly regarded and respected teacher at Chanel College.
The Bellpost Hill site (Old Chanel) became a boarding house for the junior boarders. The senior boarders were housed in two boarding houses at Lovely Banks, Braemar (named after the original name of the Lovely Banks property) and Futuna (named after the Island on which Peter Chanel met his death.)
The Marists believed in encouraging their students to become leaders and not mere followers. Partly to this end, a school magazine was commenced in 1965, Champion (Chanel Monthly Publication). Champion was edited and produced by the students and it was a magazine not scared to become involved in somewhat controversial issues, for example the need for the celebration of ANZAC day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
. However one area in which attempts at encouraging leadership did not succeed at all, was the Students Representative Council (SRC). The Marists expected thos students on the SRC to be leaders, yet these students were give no training what so ever in leadership and in many cases little or no encouragement to be leaders. The SRC at Chanel was largely a massive waste of time and money with time consuming "class meetings" which achieved nothing but wasted time.
Unique for schools in Australia at the time, Chanel established a science club in 1964. The science club encouraged students to become interested in science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
. An annual feature of the science club was the science exhibition, which showcased the study of science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
at Chanel. The club met weekly and students gave presentations on various scientific subjects or viewed and discussed films of a scientific nature. From time to time external guest speakers were invited to address the science club.
The science club also sponsored end of term excursions interstate to such places as Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Cairns, Woomera
Woomera, South Australia
The town, or village, of Woomera is located in the south east corner of the Woomera Prohibited Area ; colloquially known as the Woomera Rocket Range...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and the Snowy Mountains.
In order to encourage and improve public speaking amongst the students, an annual public speaking competition was established. All students had to give a short speech in front of their class. The speech was assessed and the best three speakers gave their speech in front of the whole school. In 1968, at the suggestion of students, a teacher of speechcraft and voice production was employed to further improve the standard of public speaking in the school.
By 1966 enrolments totalled 446 students. However enrolments started to fall after that year. In 1970 around 395 students were at Chanel.
The Marist Fathers withdrew from teaching at the school in 1970. The then rector the Rev Fr Guiren had the unenviable task of announcing and overseeing the withdrawal of the Marists from Chanel. The withdrawal was announced to the students and parents at the annual playnight on 23 June 1970 at the Corio Centennial Hall.
An 'Action Group' of parents lay teachers and other supporters sprang into action in an attempt to save Chanel. This group held around three public meetings at Chanel as well as lobbying hard and pursuing all options.
The reason given for the withdrawal was to provide more Marists for the missions, a shortage of Priests. However a publication by the Marists in 1990 (SM Down Under page 45) gives financial reasons as well as a shortage of Priests as the reasons for the withdrawal of the Marists from Chanel.
After some negotiations the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
took over the running of the College. This change also resulted in the discontinuation of the boarding section of the school.
The first Christian Brother Principal of Chanel was the Rev Brother David Carey BA (Melb) MACE a highly regarded and respected teacher.
Over a number of years the Christian Brothers embarked on a major building program at Chanel, replacing the temporary buildings (the huts) that were a feature at Chanel for a number of years.
Closure
The closure of Chanel College was somewhat controversial. It was stated that due to new schools in the region had led to falling enrolments,and refurbishment was required to a number of buildings. However there was evidence to suggest there had been an increases in enrolments in the years before the closure. This led to a popular belief by students and parents at the time that there were other motives for the sale of the college. The decision to close Chanel College was announced on Wednesday February 18, 1998 by the Christian Brothers. The school closed at the end of 1999.The site was later sold and reopened as Geelong Baptist College.
External links
- [chanelcollegeoldboys@gmail.com Chanel College Old Boys]