Ambrose Treacy College

Ambrose Treacy College (ATC) is an independent Catholic primary, secondary, and high school for boys, located in Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[1] Founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1938 as Nudgee Junior College, the school was initially a boarding college, but became a day school in 1995. The school is a member of Edmund Rice Education Australia association.[2]

Ambrose Treacy College
Ambrose Treacy College, 2019
Location
Indooroopilly
,
Queensland
,
4068

Australia
Coordinates27°30′30″S 152°58′01″E
Information
TypeIndependent primary, secondary, and high school
MottoLatin: Signum Fidei
(Sign of Faith)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationCongregation of Christian Brothers
Established10 July 1938 (1938-07-10)
as Nudgee Junior College, 2015 January 28 (28-01-2015)
as Ambrose Treacy College
TrustEdmund Rice Education Australia
PrincipalChris Ryan
Years offered4 to 12
GenderMale
Colour(s)Blue, White, and Green    
SloganLearning today, Leading tomorrow
NicknameATC
Websitewww.atc.qld.edu.au

History

History of the former Nudgee Junior College

During the Second World War, the school (then Nudgee Junior), was occupied and converted into the 172nd Station Hospital (USA) from 1941 to 1943 and behind the main building the Section D - the Far Eastern Liaison Office (FELO) or Military Propaganda Section of Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) was established.[3] During these 2 years of military occupation, "the 5 Christian Brothers and 100 boys of the college lived and carried out their school duties in a hotel, 2 houses and a hut at Mount Tamborine".[4] The school's motor boat was destroyed during this period as a result of a party, as it was set alight by US personal.[4] Areas created during this occupation, e.g. a morgue, have been converted into rooms for school use with the morgue in question being transformed into a IT consultancy office for staff and students. This office was destroyed by the 2022 floods, but has since been restored to working condition.

History of Ambrose Treacy College
Patrick Ambrose Treacy

The school was established on the 28th of January 2015 as Ambrose Treacy College (named after Patrick Ambrose Treacy, a leading educator within the Christian Brothers who established many church schools in Australia) replacing the former Nudgee Junior College (the junior school for St Joseph's College, Nudgee). Treacy's legacy, along with the Christian brothers that accompanied him,[5] have since become an integral part of the school's culture along with its Irish heritage leading to the 4 provinces of Ireland becoming the school's house system.[6] Homerooms in the senior school each are named after provinces in Ireland with Leinster house having Leinster provinces, Ulster with Ulster provinces, etc. The school's Christian message has also influenced the school and each year the school grades embark on student retreats.

During the 2022 Brisbane flood, the school was inundated with water and the year 4 classrooms (which had also been destroyed by flooding in the 2011 floods) were once again flooded and severely damaged. The site also lost power.[7][8][9] Multiple portable rooms have been set up on site to account for these damages, and before power was restored, a large portable generator on site supplied the school with power.

School structure

The school teaches boys from years 4 to 12 and follows the Edmund Rice Tradition. The school is split up into three categories: years 4 to 6 are in the Junior School, years 7 to 9 are in the Middle School and Years 10 to 12 are in the Senior School.[10] The current principal is Chris Ryan. The former principle of Ambrose Treacy College is Michael Senior, Senior retired from his post as principal in November 2019 after the departure of the school's first graduating class.[11]

Student leadership

For each of the four houses, a House captain and two vice captains are elected via a vote by year 12 students. Furthermore, the school maintains a student leadership team of a School Captain and two vice captains which is voted in by year 12 students which in practice acts as the highest student body. Additionally, there are three music captains who are chosen by Music staff.

Buildings

The Edmund Rice building (containing the main reception and chapel) was built in 1938 to provide additional boarding accommodation for St Joseph's College at Nudgee. It was officially opened and blessed on 10 July 1938 by the then Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, James Duhig. In 1994, all of the boarding was relocated to the Nudgee site and the Indooroopilly site became a day school for junior students. It is listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register as it is an excellent example of Interwar Functionalist architecture with its simple geometric volumes, asymmetrical massing and distinctive Modernist windows.[12] Since 2013, the number of buildings have increased with multiple blocks of classrooms and facilities being built, catering to the middle and senior school primarily. Libraries and sports facilities have also been added.

House system

As an acknowledgement of its Irish Heritage the four Houses of Ambrose Treacy College are named after the four provinces of Ireland: Connacht (green), Leinster (blue), Munster (red) and Ulster (gold).[13] Each house is directly represented by a mascot and crest. Connacht, inspired by the values of Saint Brendan, Leinster, symbolised by the leadership of the Giant, Fionmac Cumhaill, Munster represented by the image of the High King Brian Boru and Ulster by the rebel Cú Chulainn.This system allows for an interactive teaching of Irelands rich history, whilst involving all boys from grades 4 to 12 in regular inter-house and house championship competitions. These competitions take many forms, from sports carnivals to chess tournaments. The Houses also regularly compete internally against each other in individual and team sports.

School culture

Students of the college are encouraged to follow a group of values known at the school as the Pillars. These are Service, Learning, and Leadership.

The School has a mascot called "Eamonn".

Co-curricular activities

Sports

The school runs many sporting opportunities, and the school completes in interschool competitions. The school maintains multiple teams that play Australian rules football, soccer, basketball, tennis, water polo, cricket, volleyball, and swimming, amongst others.

Esports

The school has an esports program that maintains Rainbow Six Siege, Fortnite, and Rocket League teams; however, the number and game specialisation of these teams change often.

Clubs

The school maintains a Model United Nations Club, a "Dungeons and Dragons club", Warhammer 40K club, a debating program, and many other cultural activities.

Music

The school has many musical pathways; these range from private lessons available during school hours to musical ensembles. Once per year the school hosts a "Night of excellence" where students that have achieved certain goals receive awards; Throughout the night the ensembles play a variety of music practised prior to the event. These ensembles often perform at competitions, most commonly QCMF and QYMA.[14]

Notable alumni

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ambrose Treacy College.
  1. "About Us". Ambrose Treacy College. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. "Our Schools – Edmund Rice Education Australia". www.erea.edu.au. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  3. "172nd Station Hospital (US), located at St. Joseph's Nudgee Junior College, Indooroopilly, Brisbane, during WW2". www.ozatwar.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. "St. Joseph's College, Nudgee Junior, Indooroopilly, Brisbane, QLD, commandeered by the Military during WW2". www.ozatwar.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  5. "Memories from the past: Christian Brothers | Celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia". Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  6. "House System". Ambrose Treacy College. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. "Brisbane gets small morning reprieve to inspect damages after 72 hours hard rain". The Catholic Leader. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  8. "Interactive table: Full list of closed Queensland schools". www.9news.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. "Catholic and independent school closures home page". closures.qld.edu.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  10. Ambrose Treacy College Official Website - Home page Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. Ambrose Treacy College. Retrieved on 11 May 2015.
  11. Ambrose Treacy College Official Website - Principal Archived 2015-05-23 at the Wayback Machine. Ambrose Treacy College. Retrieved on 11 May 2015.
  12. "Nudgee Junior College | Heritage Places". heritage.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  13. "House System". Ambrose Treacy College. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  14. "Music is key to shaping student identity". educationhq.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
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