Iona College Brisbane

Iona College is an independent Roman Catholic single-sex day school for boys, located in the Brisbane suburb of Lindum Queensland, Australia. Iona is operated by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a religious order that was founded in 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod.

Iona College
Location
Brisbane, Queensland

Australia
Coordinates27°26′18″S 153°8′55″E
Information
TypeIndependent single-sex day school
MottoLatin: In Hoc Signo Vinces
(In this sign you will conquer)
Religious affiliation(s)
Established1958 (1958)
RectorMichael Twigg OMI
PrincipalTrevor Goodwin
Years5–12
GenderMale
Enrolment1,740
CampusLindum, Queensland
Colour(s)Black and white    
AffiliationAssociated Independent Colleges
Websitewww.iona.qld.edu.au

Founded in 1958, the College caters for approximately 1,740 students from years 5 to 12[1] on a 25-hectare (62-acre) campus[2] approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of the Brisbane central business district.

History

On 1 October 1957, Father Tim Long and Father Denis McCarthy arrived on the hill at Lindum in an old second-hand Vauxhall, with only five pounds in cash, a gift of blankets, sheets and towels from the Oblate parish of Eagle Junction and a 'Mass Kit' from the Mercy Sisters at All Hallows School. The site, of 32 acres (13 ha), had been given to the Oblates by Archbishop James Duhig to begin a school for boys.[3] With the help of local residents providing resources to help establish the College, it commenced on 28 January 1958 with 58 students and four staff members.[4]

Iona College's name is taken from the Scottish island of Iona, the birthplace of Celtic Christianity in Scotland.[4]

In 1961, Father Tim Long suffered a heart attack in London while making his way back to Ireland at the age of 65.

In 2015, Michael Twigg O.M.I. was appointed rector of the College.

In 2019, the Board and Oblates appointed Trevor Goodwin as the first principal of Iona.

There are two other schools run by the OMI in Australia: Mazenod College, Victoria and Mazenod College, Western Australia.

Arms, motto and colours

The College colours are black and white. The College crest consists of a shield on which is depicted an arm holding a cross, while underneath is the Latin phrase "In Hoc Signo Vinces", which translates to "In This Sign You Will Conquer".

Campus

The college is situated on 63 hectares and the campus includes such facilities as:

  • A performing arts centre (IPAC)
  • 4 basketball courts – indoor and outdoor
  • Indoor Volleyball courts
  • 7 cricket / rugby / soccer / athletics ovals
  • An Olympic sized swimming pool
  • A fully equipped gymnasium and weights room
  • 6 new tennis courts in the Iona Tennis Centre and Barton Family Show Courts
  • Industrial Design and Technology Centre
  • Art Precinct.
  • Indoor Sports Precinct (under construction)

In total the school has 26 different blocks with a chapel, a staff and priests' house.

Iona College has an outdoor education centre called "Glendalough" near Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast. Most year levels visit the camp every year.[5] The site has an area of 19 hectares and Glendalough is close to the southern shores of Lake Weyba, one of the large shallow lakes of the region. Double kayaks are provided for use on the lake. Other nearby activities include climbs of Mt Coolum and Mt Peregian, the environmental walk at Stumer’s Creek Reserve and numerous local patrolled surf beaches.

Performing Arts Centre and cultural activities

The Iona College Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) was opened in 1998, giving the school's cultural activity such as Speech & Drama, Music and Art a venue to display their talents.

Iona has a proud tradition in many cultural activities such as drama, music, art, debating and public speaking, titration and mooting.

Every year The Festival of Music, a statewide competition open to all schools is held in the Iona Performing Arts Center (IPAC). Both state and private schools are allowed to enter this competition. Iona's musical, play and band concerts all are performed here. Music at Iona College maintains a good reputation, such as the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Band receiving great success in their relevant fields of competition.

The school provides over 14 school bands. It can be divided into 6 categories. These include:

  • Concert bands (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, Year 6 Band, Year 5 Band)
  • Sympathy Orchestra
  • String orchestras
  • Vocal ensembles (Iona Singers, Ionian Voices)
  • Jazz ensembles (Jazz Ensembles 1, 2 and 3)
  • Percussion ensembles (Percussion Ensemble 1, 2 and 3)
  • Mass Band
  • Sports Band

These categories can be divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. The bands use IPAC to perform and practice. The school also provides music lessons for students.

Iona has been very successful in public speaking with various regional, state and national representatives. The Carter Shield is an annual public speaking competition between Moreton Bay College and Iona College. 2006 celebrated the tenth year of this competition and in 2015, Iona College won the Shield for the twelfth time.

Sport

Iona College is a member of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC). The College offers a variety of sports including: rugby union, soccer, water polo, cricket, Australian rules football, chess, volleyball, tennis, basketball, sailing, swimming, athletics, cross country, touch football, and mountain biking. Iona College has a reputation of winning the AIC Cross Country, Athletics and Volleyball aggregates.

AIC premierships

Iona College has won the following AIC premierships.[6]

  • Athletics (9) - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Basketball (5) - 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
  • Cricket (8) - 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2022
  • Cross Country (8) - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016
  • Rugby (4) - 2000, 2009, 2013, 2018
  • Soccer (3) - 2015, 2017, 2018
  • Swimming (2) - 2003, 2004
  • Volleyball (2) - 2018, 2019
  • Rugby League (1) - 2022

House system

As with most Australian schools, Iona College utilises a house system. Iona currently has ten houses, many of which are named after famous oblates. They are:

  • Albini (gold) – named after Charles Albini
  • Anthony (mauve) – named after Brother Anthony Kowalczyk
  • Cebula (dark blue) – named after Jozef Cebula
  • Charlebois (orange) – named after Ovide Charlebois
  • Gérard (green) – named after Joseph Gérard
  • Grandin (red) – named after Vital-Justin Grandin
  • Long (blue tartan) − named after Fr Tim Long
  • Mackillop (maroon) – named after Mary MacKillop
  • Mazenod (light blue) – named after Eugène de Mazenod
  • McAuley (grey) − named after Catherine McAuley

Many inter-house competitions are held throughout the year, such as swimming, athletics and cross-country. Although inter-house sport is an important aspect of inter-house activities, it is by no means the only area. Houses also compete in the arts and academic arenas. The winner of each competition receives points which contribute towards the Oblate Trophy.

Notable alumni

Order of Australia recipients

Sport

Politics

Entrepreneurs

Entertainment

See also

References
  1. "IONA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2021" (PDF). Iona College. 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. "College Campus". Iona College Website. Archived from the original on 9 September 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  3. "History". Iona College Website. Archived from the original on 9 September 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  4. "History of Iona College". Iona College. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  5. "Iona College page on Glendalough's facilities". Archived from the original on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2006.
  6. "About Associated Independent Colleges". AIC. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. "iSwim". Iona College. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  8. Bugden, Peter (1 April 2021). "Paul Stevenson, the Australian psychologist who blew whistle on Nauru: It's worse than prison". The Catholic Leader. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  9. Westlake, Michael (15 May 2018). "Private schools look to the future and it's game on". The Courier-Mail. p. 52. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  10. Stannard, Damien (30 June 2013). "Talented Iona boys are premier class". The Sunday Mail. p. 79. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  11. Tucker, Jim; Grey, Lachlan (2 May 2019). "WHERE JOEYS TURN INTO WALLABIES". The Courier-Mail. p. 30. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  12. Garry, Chris (27 September 2013). "JARED COMES LONG WAY FROM IONA". The Courier-Mail. p. 110. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  13. "Representative Sport". Iona College. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  14. Grey, Lachlan (8 August 2019). "McKenna reckons league will edge union in private schools". The Courier-Mail. p. 61. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  15. O'Connor, Mike (12 April 2006). "Weight on his shoulders: 1 First With The News Edition". The Courier-Mail. p. 20. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  16. Balym, Todd (2 October 2014). "Brisbane-bred Rabbitoh Dave Tyrrell revealed as NRL's unsung hero". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  17. "Speech By Don Brown - Member for Capalaba - Maiden Speech" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. 19 May 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  18. "Speech By Anthony Lynham - Member for Stafford - Member's Statement" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. 7 August 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  19. Shearer, Geoff (6 December 2011). "Learning ropes on soaps". The Courier-Mail. p. 50. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
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