Michael Moloney Former long-term staff member
One of the great joys of this part of my life is that I frequently meet ex-students who approach me to introduce themselves and ask how I am going. I often don’t recognise them initially. The little boy I had known has now grown into a mature adult. We sometimes trade stories over a cup of coffee or a meal. Often, I hear inspiring stories of remarkable achievements and sometimes there are sad stories of a life of disappointment. Whatever their circumstances I am always pleased to meet these men. It gives meaning to what I have been doing all my life. My story at St Edmund’s begins in 1960 when I received a letter from Br Landener inviting me to come to teach at St Edmund’s in Canberra. I had been recommended to him by a brother who had taught me at Nudgee College. Somewhat reluctantly I agreed to sever my ties with the Queensland Department of Education and come to Canberra for one year. When I arrived in January 1961 the building was very much smaller than it is today. Fourteen brothers lived in the Brother’s Monastery, on the McMillan Crescent end of the building. Next to the brothers’ kitchen there was a onebedroom flat opening onto McMillan Crescent. This was where I lived for my first few years in Canberra. I got my meals on a tray from the brothers’ kitchen and my board was subtracted from my pay each week. Br Landiner had explained to me when he asked me to come to Canberra that if this
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didn’t happen, he really couldn’t afford to pay me. This arrangement suited me fine, though I must admit I was rather lonely at times. Br Landener was a strict disciplinarian and a hard taskmaster. He was particularly hard on the brothers and had instructed them that they weren’t to socialise with lay people outside school hours. This included me. At the end of that year, desperately lonely, I was ready to return to Queensland when I was persuaded to stay a little longer. I didn’t then realize the impact this decision was to have on my life and the lives of many others. Br Landener’s replacement was Br Jack Darmody. It took me quite a while to adjust to the more relaxed, gentle, and sensitive man. It was during his first year as Headmaster that I met a most wonderful girl and decided to get married. I went to Br Darmody’s office one night to tell him the news and ask if it would be alright if I invite him and a couple of the other Brothers to our wedding the following January. I also wondered if any I invited would be permitted to come. I couldn’t believe it when he replied, “I’m sure there will be a couple of carloads coming down from Gosford.” (The Brothers used to holiday in Gosford in those days). So, I invited them all, and all those who could came. The remarkable Br Owens had, at his own insistence, spent many hours beautifully handwriting and decorating all the place cards for our reception, Br Kerwin had prepared a beautiful boys’ choir to sing at our
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