News
Old Collegians
Br John Wayne De Bock (former staff)
We are very saddened to announce the passing of Br John Wayne De Bock, who was a respected member of the St Patrick’s College staff between 1986-2006. Br De Bock passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, aged 80. Br De Bock was on staff at SPC for two decades…
William (Bill) Cushing (SPC 1954-57)
Old Collegian Bill Cushing (SPC 1954-57) sadly passed away just shy of his 80th birthday on August 19, 2020. His career as a senior public servant and his later retirement years have been fondly remembered as epitomising the values that underpin a strong public service. Bill was born on December 27, 1940 in Deniliquin, NSW,…
Michael (Mick) Purcell (SPC 1955-56)
We pass on our deepest sympathy to the family of Michael (Mick) Purcell (SPC 1955-56), who passed away peacefully on St Patrick’s Day (March 17, 2020), aged 76 years, in Maryborough after a short illness surrounded by his family. Michael, or Mick to those who knew him well, was the dearly loved husband of Marilyn,…
Laurence (Laurie) James Erwin (SPC 1949-53)
We were notified of the passing of Old Collegian Laurence (Laurie) James Erwin (SPC 1949-53), who sadly passed away on August 8, 2020 aged 85 years. Laurie was born in Geelong and lived most of his life in Malua Bay and then on a farm at Young, in New South Wales. Laurie was a boarder…
Damian van der Linden (SPC 1978-82)
We express our deepest sympathy to the family of Damian van der Linden (SPC 1978-82) who sadly passed away on September 10, 2020. A Requiem Mass was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Ballarat and the service conducted by Father James Kerr (SPC 2000-05). Damian was a day student from Sulky, near Creswick. He was…
Gavan Connell (SPC 1961-68)
We are very sad to hear of the passing of Old Collegian Gavan Connell (SPC 1961-68), aged 70, who died of a heart attack on October 9 in Mexico, where Gavan has lived with his wife Lorenna in Merida, Yacatan, for the last 20 years. The couple have a 14-year-old daughter Alexandra together and Gavan…
John Colbert (SPC 1944-47)
We extend our deepest sympathy to the extended family of Old Collegian John Colbert (SPC 1944-47) who passed away peacefully on October 27, 2020 aged 90. John came to St Patrick’s on a scholarship from the family farm at Watchem with his brothers Patrick (SPC 1945-48, PY1950) and Vincent (SPC 1951-55). John helped celebrate the…
Jim Mather (SPC 1999-2002)
The College received the horrific news that Old Collegian Jim Mather (SPC 1999-2002) and his wife, Sabine, were killed in a car accident on November 1, 2020 on the Bussell Highway near Capel in Western Australia. They had been in Margaret River to celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary. The couple leave behind a family of…
John Sharry (SPC 1944-46, PY1948)
John Sharry (SPC 1944-46, PY1948) sadly passed away on November 17 in Ballarat, aged 89 years. Tributes from family and friends said they would miss John’s sense of humour and kind and caring nature and he was described as a “truly compassionate and generous gentleman”. John was a boarder at SPC from Horsham. He attended…
Michael (Mick) Maher (SPC 1961-68)
We pass on our condolences to the family and friends of former boarder Michael (Mick) Maher (SPC 1961-68) who died on January 5 following a battle with cancer. Michael attended SPC along with his two older brothers Xavier (SPC 1961-67) and Damien (SPC 1960-62, PY1964,) and younger brother Francis (Sonny) (SPC 1964-72). Michael and his…
