Retracing footsteps 70 years on

We were delighted to welcome back Old Collegian James Mornane (SPC 1954, PY1956) to the College recently.

James was a boarder from Melbourne and completed his intermediate studies at SPC.

He only stayed in Ballarat for one year and then joined his family interstate, finishing his studies at a Jesuit school in Sydney.

James studied law at Sydney and Melbourne universities and practised as a solicitor in the Crown Law department until he became a magistrate.

As a magistrate, he sat across Victoria and even spent a year in Ballarat, before eventually retiring.

During his visit to SPC, James visited his original classroom in the Waterford Wing, where he was taught by Br Bill O’Malley – for the first time in 70 years!

He also walked around the College library, retracing his steps to find where his bed was once situated against the southern wall in Br Coyne’s dormitory, housing 80 young boarders.

James also recalled the disappointment in the school in 1954 when SPC lost the First XVIII Football title to Ballarat Clarendon College during that year – the first loss in 50 years of undefeated victories.

We thank James for visiting us!