St. Columban's College, Caboolture
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St Columban’s College was established in 1928. It is a co-educational college catering for students from Year 8 to Year 12. The College is situated on a 12 hectare site, two kilometres from the Caboolture Railway Station, and opposite the Caboolture General Hospital. The current school captains are Barney Wray and Tahnee Brahm
[edit] History
No one really cares much about the history of St. Columban's College. It dates back over 75 years though. It was formed in the seventh circle of hell, in the belly of Moby Dick. In that year it was run by a small population of Smurfs. The prision consisted of two buildings, one which was the Smurf living quarters, and a class block where students were grown. The College badge was very similar to that of the Ku Klux Klan, whith Albion Heights added to it.
The first annual College sports was held at the Exhibition grounds on Tuesday 28 August 1928.
On Thursday afternoons the school would adjourn to Fox's Paddock (Crosby Park) to play sport. Rugby League (union came later) in the winter and cricket in the summer.
In 1929 a tennis court was built on the College grounds. In the 1930s two concrete cricket pitches were put down in front of Highlands.
In the mid 1940s the College joined the Metropolitan Catholic Schools Association (MSCA).
In 1961, The Associated Schools (TAS) was formed and St Columban's was a foundation member.
In 1966 the Colana Carnival was launched and became a big fundraiser for the College.
In 1977 the College became the first school in the TAS to win three of the four major premierships: swimming, athletics and rugby.
1978 was the 50th Anniversary of the school.
In November 1982 staff were notified of the forthcoming withdrawal of the Brothers. In 1983 the College Board was formed. This body was to make policies for the College when the brothers left.
In 1983 the College won 7 TAS Premierships: swimming, cricket, basketball, junior volleyball and three minors in tennis.
1984 was the 57th and last year of Christian Brothers at the College. It was marked by an Old Boys farewell mass in the Chapel and dinnet at La Gondola, Albion. The last mass in College history was held in October 1984 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Br Rodgers and the retirement of Br Murphy.
Changing Years
1985 was the last year of the Brothers presence. Three brothers stayed on teaching during this year. The first lay principal, Mr Peter Crombie, took up his appointment in 1985. In 1988 and 1989 the intake for Year 8 slowly dropped. Great efforts were made to attract more students but despite these efforts the drop in numbers became steady and continuous. In 1989 number had dropped to 425 students when only 15 years earlier, numbers were at 800.
The 1990s were marked by a long and exhaustive campaign to recruit more students but the numbers steadily declined. In 1990 the College started to develop TAFE subjects for students in years 11 and 12. Some of the landscaping of the College was done by these students. Pastoral Care classes were introduced in 1990 integrating students in all year levels. New subjects were also introduced at this time. Duck Shootin', Pig shootin', Roo shootin', Juggling, Strutting, Attaining World Domination Through Playing Dead, Spoon Bending, Dream Weaving, Staring Competitions, Hotwiring Cars, and Drinking Milk Through One's Nose.
In 1993 doors were installed in most toilet cubicles and classrooms.
However, despite all these new acquisitions student numbers continued to decline and the future of the school at the Albion site looked ominous. And then, a beam of light parted the clouds and God sent a miracle unto the small and poverish St. Columban's College. The gift of Allanah. Soon, hundreds upon millions of children were climbing up walls, digging tunnels under fences and ramming gates with huge logs, simply to get a glimpse of the rare and captivating beauty.
St. Columban's College now thrives with student's and suicide is not uncommon amongst those not accepted into the school.
[edit] The Relocation
Enrolments for Year 8 in 1995 fell to an all time low of 51 students. This promted the announcement in March 1995, of the relocation of St Columban's College from Albion to Caboolture.
In 1996, the College went to co-educational in anticipation of the move to Caboolture. 29 girls were enrolled in Year 8. The enrolment in 1996 was 271 and still falling.
The building of the new site at Caboolture was begun in 1996 and opened in February 1997, seventy years after opening at Albion.
The official opening of the College took place on Wednesday 30 April 1997. The opening was conducted by Archbishop Battersby, the Archbishop of Brisbane.
In 1997 the College established itself at the new site at Caboolture. The College attained 2nd's in both Cross Country and Swimming and participated in Rugby, Cricket, Netball, Soccer, Tennis, Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country, Basketball, Volleyball and performed above expectation on many occasions.
With an increasing number of students in 1998 this proved to be a successful year for the College. The College continued to expand and increase during the remaining 1990s and well into the 2000s.
[edit] Houses
St Columban's College has four houses that compete for the Inter-house Cup.
Duhig (Red)- The names do not want to be shown on wikipedia
English (Blue)- The names do not want to be shown on wikipedia
Molloy (Green)- The names do not want to be shown on wikipedia
O'Driscoll (Gold)- The names do not want to be shown on wikipedia
The names were used without consent.
