An Outstanding Contribution to Catholic Education

Tony O’Byrne attended St Virgil’s College from 1957 to 1964. Post-school, he joined the Christian Brothers, where he commenced his teacher training and worked in their schools for several years before opting to leave the Congregation. Altogether, Tony contributed 50 years to Catholic education.

He was only 23 when appointed Year 9 Coordinator at St Bernard’s in Essendon and was to fill leadership positions from that point on. He became Principal of St Leo’s College, Box Hill, and was Director of St Augustine’s Boys Home, Highton, Geelong, when he chose to leave the Brothers in 1987. He then became Principal at Aquinas College, Ringwood, a position he was to hold for the ensuing 25 years (1989-2013).

In 2006, the Australian Council of Educational Leadership honoured Tony by presenting him with the Hedley Beare Educator of the Year Award, and he was also awarded the School Library Association's (SLAV) Principal of the Year. In 2007, the Herald Sun newspaper selected Tony as their Principal of the Year.

During the 2016 Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) Conference in Sydney, Tony O'Byrne was awarded an ACEL Fellowship for his committed and passionate teaching and leadership in Catholic education.

Since his time at Aquinas College, Tony spent time as a Principal Consultant for Melbourne’s western region and also served as the inaugural Independent Chair of Catholic School Parents Australia. He is currently a Trustee of Dominican Education Australia, which conducts Catholic schools across three Australian states. He is married to Andrea, and they have three adult children. The family are passionate Hawks supporters and live in Croydon in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.