Religious Education

VALE MR NOONAN

It is with a heavy heart that we gathered once again to farewell a beloved member of the St Patrick's community.  Please find below a copy of the tribute to Mr Noonan that was used on Monday afternoon.

Today, we gather to remember and give thanks for someone very special to our school — our former principal Mr Tim Noonan who has passed away after a short illness.

Mr. Noonan was a deeply passionate and caring leader who gave so much of his heart to this school. Many of your teachers remember him with great respect and gratitude. He believed in each student, loved sport—especially footy—and worked hard to make our school a place where everyone could grow, learn, and belong.

This year, we have already experienced the loss of other much-loved members of our school community, Mr Bau and Miss Leanne.  And now, losing Mr. Noonan may bring up feelings of sadness, confusion, or even anger. These are all normal feelings when someone we care about dies. You are not alone in those feelings—our school community is here to support one another.

Mr Noonan was our principal during a time when our school really needed strong leadership. He stepped in with kindness, courage, and a big heart. He helped make St Patrick’s a better place — a place where students felt proud to belong, where teachers felt supported, and where families felt welcome. Thanks to his hard work, our school became stronger, happier, and full of life.

He believed deeply in the power of learning. He loved walking around the school, popping into classrooms, talking to students and staff — always with a big smile, a warm hello, and often a cheeky joke. He made everyone feel seen and valued.

Mr Noonan was also a huge sports fan! He especially loved football — cheering for his teams, Carlton and the West Coast Eagles. He even put football jumpers up on his office walls when he became principal! He took great pride in coaching the boys football team especially when they made it to state finals. Each week during our whole school assemblies he took great pride in acknowledging the weekend sporting achievements of students.

But more than anything, Mr Noonan loved his family. He often talked about his wife Anne and their children Ben and Melanie. He was so proud of them. He even invited Melanie and her university team to come and show us rockets they had designed — something our students never forgot!

Even after he left St Patrick’s, Mr Noonan continued to work in Catholic schools, helping others and sharing his joy, his passion, and his deep faith. He had a big voice, a big laugh, and an even bigger heart. He always believed that schools, and the people in them, could do great things together.

We are very sad that Mr Noonan has passed away after a short illness. But we know he leaves behind a legacy — in the classrooms he visited, in the smiles he shared, and in the spirit of our school that he helped shape.

At our school, we believe in the promise of eternal life, and we trust that Mr. Noonan is now at peace with God. We can take comfort in knowing that his spirit, his humour, and his legacy continue to live on in our hearts and in the good work we do here every day.

Let us now make the sign of the cross and take a moment of silence to remember Mr. Noonan and to pray for his family, friends, and all who are grieving.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…

[Moment of silence]

Loving God,

We thank You for the life of Mr Noonan — for his energy, his kindness, his love for sport, for learning, and for people.Please hold his family — especially his wife Anne, and his children Ben and Melanie — close in Your care.May they feel surrounded by love, and comforted by the joy he brought to so many.Help us to carry on Mr Noonan’s legacy — by working hard, looking after one another, and always believing in the power of community.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,And let perpetual light shine upon him. 

May he rest in peace.

 Amen.

Kathryn Ady

Religious Education Leader