Whitefriars College
Encyclopedia
Whitefriars College is a Roman Catholic
Independent
school for boys located in the Melbourne
suburb of Donvale
. Established in 1961, the College reflects the tradition of the Carmelites, and is recognised for its uniform's brown blazer with the College Crest appearing on the breast pocket. The school has been a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges
since 1999.
In the school's early years all teachers were Carmelites, under the leadership of the founding Principal, Fr Frank Shortis, O.Carm., and lay teachers were appointed as the need arose. However, as time has transpired, the Carmelites, although retaining a small number of their own members on staff – including, the current Principal – have been far outnumbered by lay staff. The current Carmelites on staff are Fr Paul Cahill O.Carm, Fr Noel Kierce O.Carm and Br Sean Keefe O.Carm.
The school's campus is currently set on 19 hectares at the northern end of a property acquired by the Carmelites in 1937 for a novitiate and seminary
. The original property, of 113 acre (0.45729518 km²), was bounded by Park and Heads Roads and Mullum Mullum Creek and was then largely surrounded by orchards. Part of the monastery
property was subdivided in the 1970s, and the monastery itself was sold to the Coptic Orthodox church in 2002.
Whitefriars College remains the sole Carmelite School in Australia.
, each one named after a Carmelite of note. The houses are:
As there is a vertical pastoral care (more commonly known as homeroom
) system at the College, each house is made up of seven pastoral care groups and each group contains approximately twenty-four students. This change was made in 2005.
, sponsored by the Doncaster-Templestowe Kiwanis
, and Young St. Vinnie's. Both groups work in the school community as well as in the wider community on a number of projects. The Key Club runs a recycling
drive and St Vinnie's runs a weekly blood donation
drive, in which VCE
students are encouraged to give blood.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Independent
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
school for boys located in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Donvale
Donvale, Victoria
Donvale is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham. At the 2006 Census, Donvale had a population of 11,667...
. Established in 1961, the College reflects the tradition of the Carmelites, and is recognised for its uniform's brown blazer with the College Crest appearing on the breast pocket. The school has been a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges
Associated Catholic Colleges
The Associated Catholic Colleges is a group of Catholic boys schools in Victoria, Australia. The Association was formed in 1948. The Combined Catholic Schools Association involving a number of schools conducted by the Christian Brothers held its first athletics meet in 1902 [The Argus 31 October...
since 1999.
History
Whitefriars College was established by the Carmelites in 1961, with a single stream of forty boys.In the school's early years all teachers were Carmelites, under the leadership of the founding Principal, Fr Frank Shortis, O.Carm., and lay teachers were appointed as the need arose. However, as time has transpired, the Carmelites, although retaining a small number of their own members on staff – including, the current Principal – have been far outnumbered by lay staff. The current Carmelites on staff are Fr Paul Cahill O.Carm, Fr Noel Kierce O.Carm and Br Sean Keefe O.Carm.
The school's campus is currently set on 19 hectares at the northern end of a property acquired by the Carmelites in 1937 for a novitiate and seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. The original property, of 113 acre (0.45729518 km²), was bounded by Park and Heads Roads and Mullum Mullum Creek and was then largely surrounded by orchards. Part of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
property was subdivided in the 1970s, and the monastery itself was sold to the Coptic Orthodox church in 2002.
Whitefriars College remains the sole Carmelite School in Australia.
House system
The College has eight housesHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
, each one named after a Carmelite of note. The houses are:
- Avila, named after Saint Teresa of Avila
- Brandsma, named after Blessed Titus BrandsmaTitus BrandsmaBlessed Titus Brandsma was a Dutch Carmelite priest and professor of philosophy. Brandsma was vehemently opposed to Nazi ideology and spoke out against it many times before the Second World War....
- Corsini, named after Saint Andrew Corsini
- Lisieux, named after St. Therese of Lisieux
- Mantua, named after Blessed Baptist Spagnoli of Mantua
- Soreth, named after Saint John Soreth
- Stein, named after Saint Edith SteinEdith SteinSaint Teresia Benedicta of the Cross, sometimes also known as Saint Edith Stein , was a German Roman Catholic philosopher and nun, regarded as a martyr and saint of the Roman Catholic Church...
- Trinity, named after Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
As there is a vertical pastoral care (more commonly known as homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom or advisory is the classroom session in which a teacher records attendance and makes announcements. It can also be called Registration or Planning Period...
) system at the College, each house is made up of seven pastoral care groups and each group contains approximately twenty-four students. This change was made in 2005.
Community service
The school has two student-run community service organisations, the Key ClubKey Club
Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
, sponsored by the Doncaster-Templestowe Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
, and Young St. Vinnie's. Both groups work in the school community as well as in the wider community on a number of projects. The Key Club runs a recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
drive and St Vinnie's runs a weekly blood donation
Blood donation
A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation....
drive, in which VCE
Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...
students are encouraged to give blood.
Notable alumni
- Pat CashPat CashPatrick Hart "Pat" Cash is a retired Australian professional tennis player who won the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1987.-Early career:...
- 1987 WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
Champion - Marc MurphyMarc MurphyMarc Murphy is an Australian rules footballer, recruited at number one in the 2005 AFL Draft by the Carlton Football Club.-Early life and junior career:...
(2005) - CarltonCarlton Football ClubThe Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
Footballer and No. 1 AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
Draft Pick - David MorrisDavid Morris (Australian aerial skier)David John Morris was born on the 31st of August 1984 in Melbourne, Australia. He is an Australian Aerial/Freestyle Skier. He is currently the only male on the Australian Aerial Skiing Team, and therefore ranked #1 in Australia...
- Australian Aerial Skier - Paul van der HaarPaul Van Der HaarPaul Vander Haar is a former Australian rules footballer who played 201 games with Essendon in the Victorian Football League . As a boy he attended Whitefriars College in Donvale...
- Essendon Football ClubEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
Footballer - 1984 / 1985 Premiership Winners - Essendon Team of the Century - Andy OttenAndy OttenAndy Otten is an Australian rules football player for the Adelaide Football Club. The tall midfielder was Adelaide’s second selection in the 2007 National Draft, taken at pick 27, and recorded strong results at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp ranking in the top 2% for the vertical leap , top ten for...
(2007) - Adelaide Football Club and #27 draft pick 2007 - Max OttenMax OttenMax Otten is a professional Australian rules football player who was listed as a rookie for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League Max Otten (born 10 November 1992) is a professional Australian rules football player who was listed as a rookie for the Sydney Swans in the Australian...
- Sydney SwansSydney SwansThe Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
and #21 rookie draft pick 2011 - Stephen GilhamStephen GilhamStephen Gilham is an Australian rules football player with the Hawthorn Football Club.Gilham's junior career was distinguished, playing for Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup and in 2002 he was chosen to captain the Victoria Metro under 18 side in the national carnival...
- Hawthorn Football ClubHawthorn Football ClubThe Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
Player and 2008 premiership player - John BlakeyJohn BlakeyJohn Blakey is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Recruited from East Doncaster, Victoria, Blakey debuted for the Fitzroy Football Club in 1985, and went on to be used in a variety of midfield positions. He went on to play 135 games with the Fitzroy Lions until...
- North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football ClubThe North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
Player and premiership player - Brad GotchBrad GotchBradley Gotch is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy and St. Kilda in the Victorian Football LeagueGotch was one of smallest players of his era at 165cm and possessed an accurate left foot pass. Debuting in 1982 for Fitzroy, Gotch played thirty games in his first three years...
- VFL footballer (Fitzroy, St Kilda), AFL assistant coach (Collingwood 2000-2007, Western Bulldogs 2008-2009) - Ben GriffithsBen GriffithsBen Griffiths is an Australian rules footballer who was drafted by Richmond in the second round of the 2009 AFL Draft. He made his debut in Richmond's first win of the season, against Port Adelaide in round 10 of 2010 season.-External links:...
- Richmond Tigers Football Club- #19 2009 NAB AFL Draft - Anton De IonnoAnton De IonnoAnton De Ionno is a Melbourne based radio presenter and writer. He presents weekly late-night shows nationally on Triple J as well as filling in for various daytime presenters.He began radio and TV work on SYN FM before moving to Triple J in 2007...
- Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
radio presenter
See also
- List of schools in Victoria
- List of high schools in Victoria
- Victorian Certificate of EducationVictorian Certificate of EducationThe Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...