St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill Celebrates 50 Years of the Brother Ligouri Resources Centre, with Br Michael Green as MC
St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, held a special celebration last week, marking two significant occasions - the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Brother Ligouri Resources Centre and the launch of Fr Frank Brennan SJ’s new book, Equality, Reconciliation and Social Cohesion: The Inspiration of Sir William Deane. Br Michael Green served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.
The launch of this particular book was an especially fitting way to mark the building’s golden jubilee, says Br Michael Green.
"Brother Ligouri was a man of rare and sharp intellect, clear and uncompromising principle, and a genuine polymath whose scholarship spanned mathematics, literature, church history, French and Latin," said Br Michael. "Most of his life as a Brother was spent at Hunters Hill – as a Junior, later on the Juniorate staff as a young Brother, and then for fifty years at St Joseph’s as a mathematics master of unrivalled success, and mentor and supporter for many Old Boys."
Br Michael pointed out to the gathering that one of Brother Ligouri’s outstanding students in 1946-47 was William Deane, a boarder from Canberra, who achieved As in Maths I and Maths II, both with awarded with first class honours. The two of them were to remain in touch until Ligouri’s death in 1972. Sir William contributed financially to the building named in honour of his former mentor and opened just four years later.
It is noteworthy also that Fr Brennan’s father, Sir Gerard Brennan, and Sir William were good friends. They served together on the High Court, joining to deliver the famous Mabo judgement in 1992 which consigned the flawed concept of terra nullius to the social and legal dustbin. Sir Gerard was soon to become the Chief Justice, and Sir William the Governor General. "Both men contributed significantly to promoting a fairer and more compassionate society in this country," said Br Michael.
Fr Brennan’s book is an edited selection of the writings and speeches of Sir William, principally during his time as Governor General. He has organised these into six themes that reflect the efforts of Sir William, and his wife Lady Helen, to inspire and challenge Australians to be a fairer and more inclusive nation: equality before the law; reconciliation with Indigenous Australians; respect for cultural and religious diversity; compassion for the disadvantaged; commitment to the common good; justice, dignity, and inclusion.
The occasional speakers for the launch were the Attorney General of New South Wales, the Honourable Michael Daley (an ex-student of Marcellin College, Randwick) and the Auxilliary Bishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Anthony Percy (an ex-student of St Joseph’s.) Both men, as also Fr Brennan in his engaging address, expressed their deep admiration for Sir William, and emphasised his enduring relevance today when social cohesion and mutual acceptance are under such attack.
In wrapping up the event, Br Michael spoke of the original vision and planning that led to the Brother Ligouri Resource Centre – as place that might spark the imagination of young men, foster their love of learning, and inspire them to be people with bigness of mind and heart – as Sir William Deane has been. He urged the students, especially, to delve into the wisdom of the book.
Pics credit: St Joseph's College Hunters Hill
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