The Morgans of Rose Bay
Pictured above, L-R: Ruth Hobbs (nee Morgan), Shane, Peter, Claire, Dominic, Anne, Simon, Anthony and Leo.
In 1952 when Claire Travers said ‘I do’ in Adelaide to old-St Pat’s boy Joe Morgan*, little did she know the impact they would have on St Virgil’s – and Tasmania, even the country.
Now 93, Mrs Morgan reflects that all six of her sons went through the College while her daughters went to Mt Carmel. So where are they now?
Peter Morgan (ASM) left the College in 1971, and is now a retired paramedic, having finished his career managing Ambulance Tasmania’s aeromedical and medical retrieval units. (He was the Ambulance commander for the Port Arthur incident.) He’s very active in Rotary as well as volunteering as part of the Motor Launch Egeria crew. He also sent his son Tom to the school. Peter married Robyn (nee Ward), a retired Senior Lactation consultant and midwife in government and private practice. Their daughters Dr Alice and Lucy went to St Mary’s.
Dr Anne Morgan is an award-winning author and poet, and Coordinator of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Tasmania. She and her partner, John Warren, recently relocated from a farm on Bruny Island to Hobart. Anne continues her deep connection with First Nations Australians after having taught on the Tiwi Islands and in Arnhem Land. Her son Nick, attended Taroona High and Hobart College. Her daughter Miranda (Dec) attended Shenton College in Perth, WA.
Shane Morgan has retired to his holiday home at Orford. He was previously Chief Radiographer at the RHH’s Radiology Department. Shane is married to Jill (nee Wright), the former Head Prefect of St Mary’s, later Principal of Sacred Heart College then Head of Mission and Educational Services at the Catholic Education Office. Their three sons, Daniel (a former SVC Board Member), Joseph and Ben attended the college and Joe’s boys Eddie and Harry are currently enrolled.
Leo Morgan is a semi-retired IT coach and is the State President of Rostrum, the public speaking club which has helped thousands of people improve confidence in public speaking, including migrants and refugees. It also hosts the Voice of Youth competition.
Anthony Morgan has returned to the classroom two days a week at Glenora District School, where he used to be Principal, after a career in Education administration. He was Deputy (and Acting) Director of Catholic Education in Tasmania, a ministerial adviser in Education, Director of Catholic Education for the diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes in NSW and CEO of International Education Agency PNG Ltd, a company that owns 18 schools and a TAFE. His children Sam and Hannah went to MacKillop and Jake to Sacred Heart. Both Hannah and Jake attended Guilford Young. He is married to Julie (nee Forsyth) who works for the Health Department at the RHH.
Ruth Hobbs (nee Morgan) is a former RAAF Nursing Officer and the mother of four, living in Melbourne. Her husband Martin Hobbs is a 787 Dreamliner Captain for Qantas and is a decorated former Air Force pilot. Their sons Alex and Chris went to Xavier College and her daughters, Dr Eleanor, and Dr Maddy, to MLC.
Simon Morgan is now an academic at Melbourne’s Swinburne University. He has had an international career in corporate communications. He was commissioned in the army reserve before marrying journalist Louise Maher. Their son Dr Evan went to Xavier College and daughter Ella to Genazzano FCJ College.
Dr Dominic Morgan (ASM) left the college in 1984 and is now Commissioner and Chief Executive of Ambulance NSW, an Adjunct Professor at UTS Sydney and a registered paramedic. He was previously Chief Executive of Ambulance Tasmania. He is married to Dominique (nee Marmont), who works in a medical practice. Their son Dr Jon Morgan briefly attended the College and daughter Sarah briefly attended St Mary’s.
Mrs Morgan commented that as well as her direct family, her brothers-in-law Arthur and Don Morgan and her sister-in-law Eileen Cook (nee Morgan) also sent their sons to St Virgil’s.
*Joe Morgan passed away aged 89 in 2008.