From the Archives 

Mr Anthony Kelly & Mrs Caroline Chapman

Tennis at De La Salle and St Ursulas

Tennis was one of the foundation sports for many schools in their early history. Both St Ursula College and De La Salle College which combined in early 1975 to form O'Connor Catholic High School (later College), featured tennis in their options for physical exercise.

St Ursula College

Although there was a distinct focus on the creative arts at St Ursula's College, their prospectus in the early 1970s stated that "Sport is not neglected in the School Programme."

A SPORT TO ENJOY: (BELOW) AN ACTIVITY TO ENJOY IN SUMMER, THIS PHOTOGRAPH FROM 'ECHOES' MAGAZINE. 

                                                                                                     MANY SPORTS TO CHOOSE FROM:                                                                                                      (ABOVE)  THE TENNIS COURT CAN                                                                                                            BE SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND.

De La Salle College 1906-1974

Our College Archives features a great collection of De La Salle memorabilia and tennis again has featured throughout the years at the College. One item of interest is from the Armidale City Jubilee Souvenir book from 1923 has an interesting photograph of a tennis court located at the site opposite Duffy Building where the College Library now stands (previously AG4/5). 

ANYONE FOR TENNIS?: (ABOVE) THE COURT WAS LOCATED JUST BEHIND THE OLD ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE BUILDING. CIRCA 1923. 

PLENTY OF ROOM TO MOVE: THE EARLY DAYS OF THE DE LA SALLE COLLEGE CIRCA 1910.  THE MAIN BUILDING HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY USED AS ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE UNTIL THE PATRICIAN BROTHERS RETURNED TO FRANCE IN 1897.

The new Angela Building was completed in 1926 and the photographs below show the location of the courts following that redevelopment.  The photo below also shows the original court to the right of the photo, behind the two storey building. 

LOOKING NORTH AND SOUTH: (ABOVE) TWO PHOTOS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES WHICH SHOW THE LAYOUT OF THE COLLEGE CIRCA 1935. 

Although some negatives from Solomon's Studios survive and are in the UNE Archives, the early photographic negatives have not survived making photographs from this studio very significant.  We are lucky to have a photo of the courts such as this one which also also features part of the city in the background. 

A RARE PHOTO: A SUPERB PHOTOGRAPH BY SOLOMON'S STUDIOS PRIOR TO THE LA SALLE BUIDLING BEING CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1950s.

ENROLLING FOR 1936: A TYPICAL ADVERT OF THE ERA. AMONG THE FEATURES LISTED ARE 10 TENNIS COURTS.

Jack Crawford Visits De La Salle

JACK CRAWFORD VISITS!: Catholic Freeman's Journal 21.3.1940

In March 1940, the Brothers, teachers and students of De La Salle College were treated to a visit from Jack Crawford. It sounds like he was generous with his time and keen to sign autographs? We wonder if any of those have survived. Might be worth looking through any autograph books which are still in the family.

Tennis in 1950

SENIOR AND JUNIOR TENNIS: (ABOVE) DE LA SALLE PLAYERS IN 1950.

O'Connor Catholic High School 

The tennis tradition continued when the two schools merged and many of the school magazines feature photos of the tennis teams.

TENNIS 1977 STYLE: CAN YOU SEE A FAMILY MEMBER OR YOURSELF? 

O'Connor Catholic College 

The present location of the courts are at the front of Merici. These courts are the only four that remain from previous years when there were ten courts at De La Salle College! (1936 advert above). Tennis is not only part of the PDHPE curriculum but Mr Honeysett also organises for some of our well practiced players to play in inter-school competitions. 

Some photos from 2020. 

GAME, SET, MATCH: SOME OUTDOOR EXERCISE FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS  DURING LAST YEAR'S LOCKDOWN PERIOD.