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 begin with Brother Reginald Moore, our founding principal, whose name lives on in Reginald House. 

Brother Reginald (1884-1954) established St Augustine’s College in 1930. The first building was not quite completed for its opening that year as construction was slowed by a severe wet season. Br Reginald had arrived in Cairns, but other staff members were stranded by floods further south which prevented their train from getting through to Cairns.

The opening scene on the afternoon of Sunday 9 February 1930 was described as:

A rather dismal one. The building was unfinished, there were planks laid around the whole area to help people keep out of the mud, and the sky threatened to drench the whole gathering. Bishop Byrne [of Townsville] made light of the adverse conditions and the threat of cyclones and went on to praise Bishop Heavey [of Cairns] and to welcome the Marist Brothers to Cairns.

He made special mention, too, of Fr Phelan, St Joseph’s founding parish priest, and his volunteers who had done so much to help the project. The North Queensland wet had very nearly ruined the opening of the College.

Br Reginald was the only Brother present when 96 students enrolled the next day. The first classes started on the veranda of the Brothers’ House (the present Tolle’s and the floor above). The McLaughlin Theatre was then the parish church, and some students used pews as desks. 

The second staff member, Br Victor, arrived the following day having come by boat from Townsville. These two Brothers struggled on for a week till the third community member, Br Climacus, arrived. By the end of 1931 there were 170 students, including 30 boarders.

This was during the Great Depression – the worst time to start a school and to look after boarders when work was scarce, money tight and supplies uncertain. Some families, presumably, could not afford to pay the full fees, and many boys came to school in bare feet. Br Reginald led the school for its first two difficult years.

He entered the school in sports competitions, and the boys were presented for state examinations. The full round of school activities was begun despite the hardships. A gentle and thoughtful man, Br Reginald was greatly loved and revered by those who knew him. The interhouse sports team named in his honour should be proud to carry his name.

The crest for Reginald shows a cloud with rain – perhaps symbolising the College’s wet and difficult first days. The motto DE AUGUSTUS AD ARAS is translated as Greatness is cultivated. 

The photo below is of the first pupils who enrolled on 10 February 1930. In a Cairns Post article before day one, Br Reginald stated that all pupils were expected to be at school on time in suitable attire for a professional photo to be taken. He mentioned that the boys in the photo will be able to point out in 50 years that they attended the College in its first year.