Honouring one of our greats in inaugural Laurie Larmer Cup

August 30, 2023

 

Members of the jubilant Ryan house, who were winners of the inaugural Laurie Larmer Cup, held in Term 3 2023.

St Patrick’s College has honoured one of its greatest Old Collegians with the staging of the inaugural Laurie Larmer Cup.

Principal Steven O’Connor presents the best on ground award to Jack O’Brien.

Senior students showed great spirit and interest in the inaugural senior interhouse football competition, which was played over several lunchtimes in Term 3 to the delight of spectating students.

SPC house, Ryan, won the coveted cup in convincing fashion over Galvin in the grand final, played on Monday 28 August, following earlier hit-outs against Keniry and Nunan.

The inaugural Laurie Larmer Cup was presented to the winning Ryan team at the College’s 2023 Winter Co-Curricular Assembly on Thursday 31 August.

Ryan’s Jack O’Brien was named best on ground in the grand final.

Members of the VCE VM class who organized the Laurie Larmer Cup, from left, Cobain Tipiloura, Jeht Hart, Jarrod Kelly, Will McCallum, Isaac O’Neill, Daniel Spiteri (Edward Turner and Fletcher Walsh absent).

Driven by the Year 12 VCE Vocational Major (VM) class students, the new football competition was organised in salute to one of the College’s greatest ever war heroes Laurie Larmer (SPC 1935-40), who sadly passed away earlier this year, aged 99 years.

Laurie gained national and worldwide recognition and respect when he used the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II to embark upon a remarkable story of forgiveness and redemption.

A bomber pilot in the RAAF, Laurie wrote letters of forgiveness to the German cities he bombed during World War II expressing his regret for the deaths of innocent civilians caused by his actions.

To his amazement, five of the leaders of these cities replied to Laurie with moving letters of their own and Laurie later made a trip to Germany, where civic receptions were held in his honour.

To read about Laurie’s remarkable story, please click here

Laurie Larmer (SPC 1935-40).

Photos from one of the earlier matches between Galvin and Ryan, and Monday’s grand final. Thanks to Year 12 student Jarrod Kelly for taking some of the photos.

Laurie Larmer Cup final score:

Ryan 5.0 (30) def Galvin 0.4 (4)

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