Aquinas College, Perth
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, motto_translation = Truth ConquersMassam, p. 18 , location = Salter Point,
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, Western Australia , country = Australia , patron =
Saint Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known wit ...
, coordinates = , pushpin_map = Australia Perth , pushpin_image = , pushpin_mapsize = 250 , pushpin_map_alt = , pushpin_map_caption = Location in
Perth, Western Australia Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, pushpin_label = , pushpin_label_position = right , type =
Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...
single-sex
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and
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day and boarding school , denomination =
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, religious_affiliation =
Congregation of Christian Brothers The Congregation of Christian Brothers ( la, Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum; abbreviated CFC) is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. Their first school was opened in Waterford, Ireland, ...
, established = Massam, p. 115 , sister_school =
Santa Maria College, Perth , motto_translation = For the Glory of God , established = , type = Independent single-sex primary and secondary day and boarding school , denomination = Roman Catholicism , religious_affiliation = Sisters of Mercy , gender = Girls , ...
, chairman = Michael Hughes , headmaster = David McFadden , staff = ~100 , grades =
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, enrolment = , enrolment_as_of = , colours = Red and black , slogan = , website = , affiliations = , alumni = Old Aquinian Aquinas College, locally abbreviated as Aquinas, is an
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...
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primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Works * ...
and
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day and boarding school for boys, located at Salter Point, a suburb of
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
, Western Australia. Aquinas opened in 1938 when boarders and day students from Christian Brothers College (CBC Perth) moved to the new campus at Salter Point. The history of Aquinas begins with CBC Perth which was founded in 1894 in the
Perth central business district Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is p ...
. Aquinas was the beneficiary of CBC Perth history, honours and achievements for the period 1894–1937.Massam, p. 1 The campus at Aquinas was built on elevated land which is part of the site at Salter Point. The site includes a large area of bushland on the Mount Henry Peninsula with over of water frontage on the
Canning River The Canning River (Djarlgarra in Nyungar) is a major tributary of the Swan River in the South West Land Division of Western Australia. It is home to much wildlife including dolphins, pelicans, swans and many other bird species. Source and ...
. Currently, Aquinas College accepts day students from Years 4 to 12 and boarding as well as day students from Years 7 to 12. Aquinas also has years K – 2 and will add Year 3 in 2018. School fees range from $5,937 for a Kindergarten day student to $46,404 for a Year 12 international boarding student. The campus includes expansive sporting grounds, and boarding facilities for 210 students. The College is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA), the
Junior School Heads Association of Australia The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) formerly Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), is an incorporated body representing the heads of independent primary schools in Australia. Officially established in Septem ...
(JSHAA) and the
Public Schools Association Established in 1905 the Public Schools Association, or the PSA, is an association of seven independent boys schools in Perth, Western Australia. The descriptor 'public school' references the historical usage of the term and the model of the Brit ...
(PSA).


History


Foundation

The Christian Brothers opened Christian Brothers College (CBC Perth), on 31 January 1894. CBC Perth was built on the corner of
St Georges Terrace St Georges Terrace (colloquially known as "The Terrace") is the main street in the city of Perth, Western Australia. It runs parallel to the Swan River and forms the major arterial road through the central business district. Its western e ...
and Victoria Avenue in
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
. The college was also commonly called CBC Terrace.Massam, Katharine (1998).''On High Ground: Images of One Hundred Years at Aquinas College, Western Australia''
University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia (UWA) is a public research university in the Australian state of Western Australia. The university's main campus is in Perth, the state capital, with a secondary campus in Albany, Western Australia, Albany an ...
Press
CBC Perth was the first Christian Brothers school as well as the second oldest high school and the second oldest boarding school in Western Australia. The Brothers were invited to the colony by
Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
Matthew Gibney Matthew Gibney (1 November 1835 in Killeshandra, Cavan, Ireland – 22 June 1925 in Perth, Western Australia), an Australian metropolitan bishop, was the third Roman Catholic Bishop of Perth, serving from 1886 until 1910. Gibney gave Australi ...
who knew of the work of the Brothers in Ireland, England, and in the eastern colonies of Australia.South Perth Municipal Heritage Inventory
(accessed:14-02-2007)
At first, CBC Perth was a day school. However, due to the rapid population growth in Western Australia during the
gold rush A gold rush or gold fever is a discovery of gold—sometimes accompanied by other precious metals and rare-earth minerals—that brings an onrush of miners seeking their fortune. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, New Z ...
, the Christian Brothers were pressured to allow boarders to live in makeshift conditions at the college.Florey, Cecil (2000), Canning Bridge to Clontarf: An Historical Journey Along Manning Road The first boarding students were enrolled in June 1896. Accommodation at the site was very limited and overcrowded. In 1917, Brother Paul Nunan, headmaster of the college, set-about acquiring a larger property away from the city center in order to reside the whole school on a much larger campus.


College schism

At first, the brothers entered into negotiations for the purchase of 8 hectares (20 acres) at
Point Heathcote Point Heathcote (Goolugatup in Noongar) is a geographic feature located on the south east part of Melville Water on Swan River. It is located in Applecross, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. History The area was named after George Gage Hea ...
on the Swan River. The negotiations fell through and in 1928 the brothers purchased 95 hectares (234 acres) on the Canning River, just east of the
Riverton Bridge Riverton Bridge is a two-lane road traffic bridge spanning the Canning River at Riverton, in Perth, Western Australia. It was originally built in 1911 and known as the Watts Road Bridge, being renamed to Riverton Bridge in 1916. By the 1930s ...
, and they named the property
Clune Park Clune Park was a football ground in Port Glasgow, Scotland. It was the home ground of Port Glasgow Athletic from 1881 until they folded in 1912, and also of Port Glasgow Athletic Juniors. History Port Glasgow Athletic moved to Clune Park in 18 ...
.City of South Perth Municipal Heritage Inventory (No.1). 1994 The following year the
Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
started and plans to develop this site were shelved.Florey, Cecil (1995), Peninsular City: A Social history of the City of South Perth In 1936, at the instigation of Paul Keaney, the superior of nearby Clontarf Orphanage, 62.4 
hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is a ...
s (154 
acre The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imp ...
s)
were purchased from the Manning family at
Mount Henry Peninsula Mount Henry Peninsula is a land feature and reserve located south of Perth, Western Australia, on the north bank of the Canning River near the Mount Henry Bridge in Salter Point, Western Australia. It covers , and includes both ''Banksia atte ...
on the Canning River at a cost of £9,925.Massam, p. 123 In April 1937, builders Snooks and Sons successfully tendered to build the college at a cost of £21,350. Earlier that year, the work of clearing the grounds and preparing the site was taken up vigorously with squads of boys from the old college playing a major role.Massam, p. 123 In 1937, CBC Perth began to splinter. Boarders and some day boys started moving to the fast developing Aquinas College campus at Salter Point.Westcourt – Christian Brothers WA & SA
(accessed:14-02-2007)
In 1937, the PSA committee agreed to transfer PSA membership and records of CBC Perth to Aquinas. Although CBC Perth continued as a day school until 1961, Aquinas inherited the college colours red and black, as well as the college honour boards, achievements and history for the period 1894–1937. The inheritance was largely due to the driving efforts of Brother C.P. Foley who was headmaster of CBC Perth and the founding headmaster of Aquinas. Brother Foley was steadfast Aquinas was not a new Christian Brothers school. The brothers obeyed and in the ensuring schism the heritage of CBC Perth was removed. CBC Perth was no longer a member of the PSA. The colours of CBC Perth became blue, light blue, and green, and the college raised new honour boards from 1938 onwards. In 1962 CBC Perth moved to the new campus at
Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...
by the Swan River on the East Perth foreshore.


Aquinas

The Aquinas College
foundation stone The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. Over time ...
was laid on 11 July 1937, and the school opened in February 1938 with 160 boarders and 55-day pupils. Brother C.P. Foley was the first headmaster.Curriculum Council of Western Australia
(accessed:18-02-2007)
The Catholic
Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
of Perth,
Redmond Prendiville Count Redmond Garrett Prendiville (11 September 1900 – 28 June 1968) a former Australian metropolitan bishop, was the fifth bishop and second Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Perth. In 1933, at the time of his consecration, age ...
, addressed the headmaster and students on 19 November 1938: "With the proud traditions of St Georges Terrace to sustain it, and with the additional advantages of new quarters and ideal surroundings, I have no doubt that Aquinas College will achieve still greater results in the moral and intellectual training of good
Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
s and good
citizen Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...
s". The Edmund Rice Administration wing was built in 1937. The main wing was
brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...
in the late tradition of Federation Romanesque architecture, similar in style to CBC Perth. In its early years, the college extensively used
wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...
framed and galvanized
iron Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in f ...
clad
buildings A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there's also portable buildings). Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and funct ...
for both
dormitories A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm) is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people such as boarding school, high school, college or university s ...
and
classrooms A classroom or schoolroom is a learning space in which both children and adults learn. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, ranging from preschools to universities, and may also be found in other places where education ...
in order to cope with the steadily growing number of pupils.


1951–1979

In 1951, the college's premier oval, which is overlooked by the Edmund Rice Administration wing was named Memorial Oval to commemorate Aquinians who lost their lives at war. A scoreboard was constructed on the oval and is named after Brother C. P. Foley the first headmaster of Aquinas. The first major classroom block was built in 1955, and named the 'Murphy Wing' in honour of Brother V. I. Murphy who was headmaster of the college from 1951 to 1956. The construction of the McKenna wing, which was named after Brother V. C. McKenna who was the deputy headmaster of the college from 1963 to 1966 was completed in 1962, which was soon followed by the junior school in 1963, the
Chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...
in 1966 and the completion of the main boarding wing in 1967.Aquinas College Brochure. Published by Aquinas College. c1990's In 1975, the swimming pool was constructed, it was one of the first 50-metre swimming pools to be constructed in schools. This was followed by the Redmond Learning centre (library) in 1975, which was named after Brother Redmond who was on staff at Aquinas for over 45 years.


1980–2000

In 1980 the College embarked on a further expansion which saw the addition, between 1981 and 1983, of the senior classroom block, the manual arts building, the
art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...
center and finally, the
gym A gymnasium, also known as a gym, is an indoor location for athletics. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasium". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learning spaces in educational ins ...
nasium. Because of ever increasing pressure on enrolments in the school and the need to involve married and single lay staff in the care of boarders, the college built new boarding accommodation in 1986 and renovated buildings to provide needed classrooms. In 1987, the Aquinas College board was established with the responsibility for the day-to-day educational needs of the students – this area includes all teaching staff, the headmaster and the head of residential facilities.Aquinas College Website
/ref> The major responsibilities of the board include forming policy, planning future developments, and financial management. At first all teachers at Aquinas were Christian Brothers. The brothers were gradually replaced by lay-teachers. By 2011, there were only two Christian Brothers actively teaching at the college. The first lay-headmaster of Aquinas, Robert White, was appointed in 2000.


Recent years

The main entrance of the college was remodelled in 2003, with the cupola from the original Christian Brothers College building on St Georges Terrace as the focal point. The drive has five pillars with dates engraved in them that are significant in the college's history, and a large wall with large brick sections and smaller sections – which symbolise the highs and lows that the college has been through.The Aquinian Newsletter – 2003, Term 2, Week 3 In 2004, the Aquinas College Foundation was established, it exists under the auspices of the Christian Brothers, this unit is responsible for acquiring (through
donations A donation is a gift for charity, humanitarian aid, or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including money, alms, services, or goods such as clothing, toy A toy or plaything is an object that is used primarily to provid ...
) and providing the funds necessary to operate, maintain and expand the school.Aquinas College Website – Foundation Page
(accessed:17-02-2007)
The Foundation operates independently from the Board to ensure a sound financial future for the College, however it does work collaboratively with the College to assist in achieving the College's vision. 2006 saw the college embark on further expansion. Churack Pavilion was constructed on the banks of Memorial Oval and the school canteen was relocated to the farside of the Murphy wing.Aquinas College FISH Magazine – Winter 2007 At the beginning of 2011, the Brother Paull Centre was opened on the south-east side of the school. The state-of-the-art facility includes specialist classrooms and playing arenas for
badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per side) and "doubles" (with two players pe ...
,
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
and
volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
. In late 2016 work started on a fourth boarding house named Brothers' House which was completed in mid-2017. Gibney, Pinder Boor and Nunan are also being refurbished in stages, with the Nunan due to be finished in mid 2018.


Headmasters


Campus

Aquinas College is located on a property with of water frontage along the north bank of the Canning River. The land, which falls within the Manning ward of the
City of South Perth The City of South Perth is a local government area in the inner southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth about south of Perth's central business district. The City covers an area of , maintains of roads and a lit ...
, is valued at A$1.2 billion. All of the land belongs to the school which manages and funds the area – including the
Mount Henry Peninsula Mount Henry Peninsula is a land feature and reserve located south of Perth, Western Australia, on the north bank of the Canning River near the Mount Henry Bridge in Salter Point, Western Australia. It covers , and includes both ''Banksia atte ...
. The campus comprises a number of buildings and sporting facilities necessary for the day-to-day educational needs of the students. Two of these buildings are of historical significance, the Edmund Rice Administration Wing and the
Chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...
, which are listed with the
Heritage Council of Western Australia The Heritage Council of Western Australia is the Government of Western Australia agency created to identify, conserve and promote places of cultural heritage significance in the state. Prior to its creation, considerable variance in policy and ...
. Mount Henry Peninsula is a land feature and reserve located south of Perth, which is owned by the Christian Brothers as part of the Aquinas property. The region is recognised as a
Bush Forever Bush Forever is a Western Australian government initiative and plan, aimed at preserving a "comprehensive, adequate and representative" 10 percent of each vegetation complex on the Swan Coastal Plain within the Perth metropolitan region. Introduced ...
site and is listed on the
Register of the National Estate The Register of the National Estate was a heritage register that listed natural and cultural heritage places in Australia that was closed in 2007. Phasing out began in 2003, when the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritag ...
. The land is managed as a
reserve Reserve or reserves may refer to: Places * Reserve, Kansas, a US city * Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish * Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County * Reserve, New Mexico, a US vi ...
with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Swan River Trust,
National Heritage Trust The National Trust of Australia, officially the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), is the Australian national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's Ind ...
and the City of South Perth for heritage conservation, education and passive recreation values. The college works collaboratively with the Swan River Trust and the City of South Perth on projects relating to the Mount Henry Peninsula including the Mount Henry Peninsula management plan.


Memorial Oval

The decision to commemorate the oval to the servicemen of Aquinas by building a war memorial oval at the front of the main building was undertaken in by the Old Aquinians association in 1940. An appeal to fund the war memorial oval raised £5000, Memorial Oval was subsequently opened on 11 November 1951 as a tribute to the servicemen among the Old Aquinians.Massam, p. 155 Outside of the school's usage the ground is used for first-class women's cricket matches between the
Western Fury The Western Australia Women cricket team, previously known as Western Fury, is the women's representative cricket team for the Australian State of Western Australia. They play their home games at WACA West Ground, Perth. They compete in the Wome ...
and other state teams.


Boarding

When Aquinas opened in 1938, it started with 173 boarders; there are currently 216 boarders residing at the college. In 2007, international students were required to pay an extra $4,903 in lieu of government subsidies and extra administration costs, which brought fees for international students at Aquinas to $29,435.Massam, p. 116 All boarders live in one of the four boarding residences on the property.Massam, pp. 215–217


Sport

In 1905, CBC Perth (Aquinas) was a founding member with The Church of England Grammar School (
Guildford Grammar School Guildford Grammar School, informally known as Guildford Grammar, Guildford or GGS, is an independent Anglican coeducational primary and secondary day and boarding school, located in Guildford, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Initia ...
), The High School (
Hale School Hale School is an independent, Anglican day and boarding school for boys, located in Wembley Downs, a western suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Named after the school founded by Bishop Mathew Blagden Hale in 1858, Hale School claims to b ...
), and The Alexander Scotch College ( Scotch College) of the
Public Schools Association Established in 1905 the Public Schools Association, or the PSA, is an association of seven independent boys schools in Perth, Western Australia. The descriptor 'public school' references the historical usage of the term and the model of the Brit ...
of Western Australia. In the early years of the PSA, rivalry between the four schools was increasingly competitive. The honour of each school was closely linked with performance on the sporting field. Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian sectarianism had a huge cultural impact, and the Christian Brothers and students of CBC Perth perceived themselves as underdogs who had to work hard to build traditions at the school:Massam, p. 193
... we had no traditions to speak of. They had yet to be made – but the builders were even then stripping to the waist. We were late comers into the arena ale School was established in 1858, and were despised, an object of scorn and derision, for we had hardly a scholastic attainment, or a single athletic performance to our credit. The stream of prosperity on which you now float so magnificently was not won without labour and effort. – Jack Savage, 1938Massam, p. 63
When Aquinas opened in 1938, the brothers and students who made the move from the city also took the sporting records, achievements, and PSA membership of CBC Perth. Accessed at
J S Battye Library The J S Battye Library (more properly known as the J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History) is an arm of the State Library of Western Australia. It stores much of the state's historical records and original publications including books, ...
In 1962, CBC Perth moved from St Georges Terrace to the riverside of
East Perth East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sunrise, Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from ...
and became Trinity College. When Trinity joined the PSA in 1968 the two schools immediately became arch-rivals with each school claiming the heritage of CBC Perth from 1894–1937. Meanwhile, there were no doubts in the minds of Aquinas students when the crowds at PSA inter-school athletics meetings shouted, "Kill the Micks", they meant Aquinas and not Trinity, given the overwhelming dominance of Aquinas over the rest of the PSA competition.Massam, p. 195 Aquinas competes in seasonal PSA inter-school sports, as well as one day PSA events which include golf, sailing and surfing. The junior school participates in sailing, softball and squash programs outside the PSA sporting competition.


PSA premierships

Aquinas has won the following PSA premierships. Premierships won prior to 1938 were done so by Christian Brothers College (CBC Perth).


Community service

The
service-learning Service-learning is an educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service in order to provide a pragmatic, progressive learning experience while meeting societal needs. Service-learning involves students in service proje ...
program at Aquinas was implemented in 1997. Social justice has been part of the religious education program since the mid-1980s.Massam, pp. 204–205 The college's students were the first to participate in the
Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...
soup patrol, the Adult Migrant conversational English program, and the Kindred Family support program. The college won Volunteering WA's difference award in 1998 and 2001 for innovative and outstanding service to the community. In 2002, the college became the first school in Australia to implement a graduate requirement of
community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. Community service can be distinct from volunteering, since it is not always performed ...
for senior students.


Drama and the arts

Aquinas has a strong arts program which has grown over recent years. The majority of these activities take place in the Mary Kerr building, named after a long serving former music teacher. Each year, there is a visual arts exhibition, displaying work from arts students, whilst there are many evenings throughout the year where bands and choirs perform. The highlight of the Drama calendar at Aquinas is the senior school production. This annual event sees students from year 10 to 12 perform a well known musical, presented in the college gymnasium. The production runs over 3 to 4 nights, from Wednesday to Saturday.


Notable alumni

Alumni of Aquinas College are called an Old Aquinians. Alumni may elect to join the Old Aquinians Association, an incorporated organisation that represents the former students of the College. The association exists to provide fellowship to former students, and to support the College in the provision of scholarships and financial assistance to families in need.Massam, p. 7 Aquinas has had many athletes among its alumni, including inaugural
Fremantle Football Club The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Dockers, is a professional Australian rules football club competing in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's elite competition. The team was founded in 1994 to represent the port city of ...
captain Ben Allan, Brownlow medallist
Simon Black Simon Black (born 3 April 1979) is a former Australian rules football player and current assistant coach, who played his whole career with the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). Black was a midfielder with a reputation fo ...
, Brownlow medallist
Nathan Fyfe Nathan Fyfe (born 18 September 1991) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He has served as Fremantle captain since the 2017 season. Fyfe is a dual Brown ...
, eight-time Olympian Tom HoadMassam, p. 7 and former
test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
cricketers
Justin Langer Justin Lee Langer (21 November 1970) is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer. He is the former coach of the Australia men's national team, having been appointed to the role in May 2018 and leaving in February 2022. A left-handed ba ...
and
Terry Alderman Terence Michael Alderman (born 12 June 1956) is a former Australia cricket team, Australian international cricketer who played primarily as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He began his first-class cricket career in 1974 with Western Australia i ...
. It has also educated businessman Trevor Flugge, and the leader of the WA Coffin Cheaters motorcycle club, Eddie Withnell. The Aquinas campus has produced four
Rhodes scholars The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...
: P. D. Durack (1949), M. C. Cullity (1958), W. G. Jack (1987) and John McAnearney (2009). Notable Old Aquinians include: *
Terry Alderman Terence Michael Alderman (born 12 June 1956) is a former Australia cricket team, Australian international cricketer who played primarily as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. He began his first-class cricket career in 1974 with Western Australia i ...
– Australian test cricketer * Ben Allan – AFL footballer *
Cameron Bancroft Cameron Timothy Bancroft (born 19 November 1992) is an Australian cricketer contracted to Western Australia in Australian first class cricket, Durham in English first class cricket, and the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. He made his T ...
– Australian test cricketer * Peter Bell – AFL footballer *
Simon Black Simon Black (born 3 April 1979) is a former Australian rules football player and current assistant coach, who played his whole career with the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). Black was a midfielder with a reputation fo ...
– AFL footballer and Brownlow Medal winner * Fred Chaney Jr – Cabinet minister * John Chaney – Justice of the Supreme Court of WA *
Michael Chaney Michael Alfred Chaney (born 15 April 1950) is an Australian businessman and former chancellor of the University of Western Australia. Early life Chaney was born in Perth on 15 April 1950. He was the third-youngest of seven children born to F ...
– Chairman of
Woodside Energy Woodside Energy Group Ltd (formerly Woodside Petroleum Ltd) is an Australian petroleum exploration and production company. Woodside is the operator of oil and gas production in Australia and also Australia's largest independent dedicated oil an ...
and
Wesfarmers Wesfarmers Limited is an Australian conglomerate, headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. It has interests predominantly in Australia and New Zealand, operating in retail, chemical, fertiliser, industrial and safety products. With revenue o ...
*
Nathan Coulter-Nile Nathan Mitchell Coulter-Nile (born 11 October 1987) is an Australian cricketer who has played at One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International level for the Australian national side. Domestically, he is contracted to Western Australi ...
– Australian cricketer *
Patrick Cripps Patrick Cripps (born 18 March 1995) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Cripps won the Leigh Matthews Trophy in 2019 and the Brownlow Medal in 2022, and ...
– AFL footballer and Brownlow Medal winner * Paul Duffield – AFL footballer *
Peter Durack Peter Drew Durack, QC (20 October 1926– 13 July 2008) was an Australian politician, representing the Liberal Party. He rose to become Attorney-General of Australia. He served in the Senate from 1 July 1971 to 30 June 1993. From 1987 to 19 ...
– Attorney-General of Australia *
Herb Elliott Herbert James Elliott (born 25 February 1938) is a former Australian athlete and arguably the world's greatest middle distance runner of his era. In August 1958 he set the List of world records in athletics, world record in the mile run, clock ...
, AC – Olympic athlete, world records holder, and businessman *
Nathan Fyfe Nathan Fyfe (born 18 September 1991) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He has served as Fremantle captain since the 2017 season. Fyfe is a dual Brown ...
– AFL footballer and two time Brownlow Medal winner *
Eric Heenan Eric Michael Heenan is a former justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, the highest ranking court in the Australian state of Western Australia. Education He was educated at Aquinas College (class of 1962), and the University of ...
– Justice of the Supreme Court of WA * Tom Hoad – Olympic water polo player *
Brad Hogg George Bradley Hogg (born 6 February 1971) is a former Australian cricketer who played all formats of the game. He was a left-arm wrist spin bowler, and a lower-order left-handed batsman. His earlier international career was revitalised by S ...
– Australian test cricketer * Zack Holmes – rugby union player *
Daniel Kerr Daniel Alan Kerr (born 16 May 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played 220 games for the club between 2001 and 2013, as a hard-running inside midfie ...
– AFL footballer *
Peter Klinken Svend Peter Klinken (born 30 July 1953 in Singapore) is an Australian medical researcher and academic. He is currently the Chief Scientist of Western Australia. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the June 2017 Queen ...
- scientist *
Justin Langer Justin Lee Langer (21 November 1970) is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer. He is the former coach of the Australia men's national team, having been appointed to the role in May 2018 and leaving in February 2022. A left-handed ba ...
– Australian Test Cricketer * Rene Le Miere – Justice of the Supreme Court of WA *
Sean L'Estrange Sean Kimberley L'Estrange (born 19 September 1967) is a former Australian politician. He was the Member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Churchlands from 2013 until 2021. He was the Minister for Finance; Minister for Mi ...
– Cabinet Minister, Mines & Petroleum; Finance; Small Business *
Paul Lockyer Paul James Lockyer (27 April 1950 – 18 August 2011) was an Australian television journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Nine Network who was known for his reporting on rural and regional Australia. Lockyer and two colle ...
– reporter of news *
Quinten Lynch Quinten Peter Lynch (born 24 January 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Collingwood Football Club and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from Grass Patch, a rural farming co ...
– AFL footballer * Mark Priestley – actor * John Quigley – legislator and barrister *
Peter Smedley Peter Smedley (2 February 1943 – 11 April 2019) was an Australian businessman who held senior roles with several Australian Securities Exchange listed companies. Early years Smedley was born on 2 January 1943 in Perth, Western Australia w ...
– CEO of Colonial Mutual * Ben Wyatt – WA Treasurer *
Cedric Wyatt Cedric Wyatt (7 April 1940 – 25 September 2014) was an Australian public servant and indigenous rights advocate. A cousin of Ken Wyatt and the father of Ben Wyatt, both elected politicians, Wyatt worked in senior positions for Western Australi ...
– Aboriginal rights activist * Elliot Yeo – AFL footballer * Aran Zalewski – Australian hockey player *Simon Mackin - Western Australian Cricketer * Liam Baker - AFL footballer * Logan McDonald - AFL footballer *
Deven Robertson Deven Robertson (born 30 June 2001) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). Early life Robertson grew up in Northam, Western Australia. He played junior football for ...
- AFL footballer


See also

* List of boarding schools in Australia *
List of schools in the Perth metropolitan area This is a list of schools in the city of Perth, Western Australia. The Western Australian education system traditionally consists of primary schools, which accommodate students from kindergarten to Year 6, and high schools, which accommodate st ...
*
Catholic education in Australia Catholic education in Australia refers to the education services provided by the Roman Catholic Church in Australia within the Australian education system. From 18th century foundations, the Catholic education system has grown to be the ...


References


Bibliography

* Carigg, Roger (1961). Christian Brothers' College, Perth : transference of an historic college of the institute in Western Australia. * Massam, Katharine (1998). On High Ground: Images of One Hundred Years at Aquinas College, Western Australia. Perth, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. * Paull, Kevin (2001). Beyond dreams in stone: a history of the Christian Brothers' colleges in Western Australia, 1894–2000. Perth, Western Australia: Trustees of the Christian Brothers in WA Inc. * Pollard, Robert James (196-). A history of C.B.C. Perth from its beginning to the present Trinity College. * Taylor, Greg (1959). The history of the Christian Brothers' College, St. George's Terrace, Perth (1894–1958). * Unknown Author (2000). Canning Bridge School – History of Aquinas and Canning Bridge schools opened in 1936.


External links

* * * {{Authority control Boarding schools in Western Australia Boys' schools in Western Australia Catholic boarding schools in Australia Congregation of Christian Brothers secondary schools in Australia Educational institutions established in 1938 Junior School Heads Association of Australia Member Schools in Western Australia Catholic secondary schools in Perth, Western Australia Public Schools Association (Western Australia) Catholic primary schools in Perth, Western Australia Congregation of Christian Brothers primary schools in Australia State Register of Heritage Places in the City of South Perth 1938 establishments in Australia