OUR MARIST HERITAGE

As we prepare to farewell our Brothers, we thought it timely, over several editions of the newsletter, to profile some of the Brothers and members of the clergy who have made outstanding contributions to the College. We continue our series with Brother Walter Forde, our principal during World War II, whose name lives on in Walter House. 

Brother Walter (1912–1943), born Gerald Joseph Forde, spent his early years in country NSW before the family moved to Mosman, Sydney, in the early 1920s. He was among the first students to attend the Marist school that opened there in 1922. His father worked as a science teacher in Sydney high schools. In 1929, Gerald entered the novitiate at Mittagong, and after two years of formation, he received the Marist religious habit.

In 1931, he took his vows as a Brother and was given the religious name Br Walter Mary (Mary is a more common male name in parts of Europe). 

Br Walter came to Cairns in January 1942 as director of the community and principal of St Augustine’s College. Immediately on arriving, the government told all schools that they could not open on the coast because of fear of Japanese bombing. The College quickly came to an arrangement with the Curry family to lease their guesthouse and associated buildings at Lake Barrine during 1942 for the 60 boarders. All the desks, beds and other equipment had to be transported to Lake Barrine via the winding Gillies Highway, which operated as one-way traffic – uphill for one hour, then downhill for the next. Brother Borgia Conlon and Brother Birchmans McCarthy kept the College open in Draper street for about 40 day boys during 1942.

During the year there were frequent power failures and occasional outbreaks of illness among the boys, hospitalisations in Atherton, shortages of food and supplies and makeshift teaching arrangements. These difficulties did not prevent serious teaching of all classes in all subjects and the presentation of boys for the Junior and Senior Certificates at the end of the year. The prize-giving, concert and speeches were held in the Yungaburra Hall. Everyone returned to Cairns at the end of 1942 and school resumed in 1943 in Draper Street.

That was to be Br Walter’s second, and last year, as principal of St Augustine’s. In December he developed dengue fever, on 9 December he also contracted pneumonia and was admitted to St Anthony’s, a small private hospital in Cairns. His condition deteriorated during the next two days. Surrounded by the Brothers and friends he suffered heart failure and died peacefully. He was only 31. Br Walter is buried in the Cairns Catholic Cemetery; his grave marked by a traditional Marist iron cross. He is remembered for the quality of his service to the College in the most difficult of times and conditions. He was loved for his goodness, kindness and faith, and his name will live on through the achievements of the students of Walter House.

The Walter crest shows a sunrise, denoting Br Walter’s youth and promise and a hurricane lamp being a reference to hardships he had to endure during 1942 at Lake Barrine when the power was regularly interrupted. The motto also reflects this.  VIRES REBUS ADVERSIS – echoes his perseverance through difficulties. The translation is Strength through adversity – in other word, no pain, no gain.