St Edmund's College, Ipswich

St Edmund's College (known colloquially as Eddies) is an independent Catholic secondary day school for boys, located in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The school was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1892 and is conducted in the tradition of Edmund Ignatius Rice.

The school is a member of the Associated Independent Colleges of the Greater Brisbane region along with Marist College Ashgrove, Iona College, Padua College, Villanova College, St Patrick's College, St Laurence's College and St. Peters Lutheran College.

St Edmund's College accepts students from Years 7 to 12, drawing from a wide area of Ipswich. The total enrollment of the school is projected to be approximately 1,500 students. At the beginning of 2025 the college will reintroduce years 5 and 6.

History
In 1891, the first foundation stone for the Brothers' residence was laid, and in February 1892 after a grand opening by the Archbishop Robert Dunne the Christian Brothers moved in.

The original St Edmunds Christian Brothers building was used until 1961, and is now used by St Mary's Primary School, still located on the corner of Mary & Elizabeth St, Woodend, besides the church. In fact, to this day the heritage listed gate at that stone wall still features the original St Edmunds initials CBC (Christian Brothers College).

On the 21st of February, 1965, the foundation stone for the new building was blessed by Reverend Sir James Duhig and laid by the then current Mayor of Ipswich, Alderman J. T. Finimore. This was the time the name was of the College was changed from Christian Brothers' College to St Edmund's Christian Brothers' College.

In 1998, Br Ted Magee was the last Christian Brother principal to serve the college.

In 2006, Br Ambrose Purcell was the last Christian Brother to serve as a member of staff, moving back to Sudan to continue his mission work.

Skool 2 Skoolies
The Skool 2 Skoolies initiative began in 2003, when one Year 12 St Edmund's student pledged to cycle 115 km to the Gold Coast on his last day of school. His primary mission was to raise funds for charity.

Sport
St. Edmund's is a member of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC).
 * Season 1 February – March: Swimming, Cricket, Volleyball, AFL
 * Season 2 April – June: Chess, Cross Country, Rugby Union, Soccer
 * Season 3 July – October: Hockey, Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, Tennis, Rugby League
 * Season 4 October – November: Track and Field, Golf

AIC sports include: Australian rules, basketball, chess, cricket, cross country, rugby union (St Edmund's College Ipswich was selected to represent Australia at the prestigious Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan during 2003), soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, hockey, and rugby league. Non-AIC sports include: e-sports, golf and hockey.

AIC premierships
St Edmund's College has won the following AIC premierships.


 * Athletics (3) – 2012, 2013, 2014
 * Basketball (5) – 2001, 2002, 2006, 2017, 2020
 * Chess (2) - 2011, 2020
 * Rugby (2) – 2011, 2014
 * Soccer – 2016
 * Tennis – 2005
 * Volleyball (5) – 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011

Musical and drama productions
Each year, since 2007, a full musical production is conducted, in conjunction with St. Mary's College, Ipswich. The host school alternates every year.

Musicals

 * 2024 (SMC) - 'Mary Poppins the Broadway Musical'
 * 2023 (SEC) – 'The Addams Family'
 * 2022 (SMC) – ‘High School Musical on Stage!’
 * 2021 (SEC) – 'School of Rock'
 * 2019 (SMC) – 'Matilda the musical'
 * 2018 (SEC) – 'Rock of Ages 101: High School Edition'
 * 2017 (SMC) – 'Hairspray'
 * 2016 (SEC) – 'The Wiz'
 * 2015 (SMC) – 'Legally Blonde: The Musical'
 * 2014 (SEC) – 'West Side Story'
 * 2013 (SMC) – 'The Bells of St Mary's'
 * 2012 (SEC) – '13'
 * 2011 (SMC) – 'Fame'
 * 2010 (SEC) – 'Footloose'
 * 2009 (SMC) – 'High School Musical'
 * 2008 (SEC) – 'Grease'
 * 2007 (SMC) – 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'
 * 2006 (SEC) – 'Beach Blanket Tempest'
 * 2005 (SMC) – 'Little Shop of Horrors'
 * 2004 (SEC) – 'The Outsiders'
 * 2003 (SMC) – 'Now and Then'
 * 2002 (SEC) – 'Back to the 80s'
 * 2001 (SMC) – 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
 * 2000 (SEC) – 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'
 * 1999 (SMC) – 'Open Season'
 * 1998 (SEC) – 'SherWoodstock'
 * 1997 (SMC) – 'Worlds Apart'
 * 1996 (SEC) – 'Evita'
 * 1995 (SMC) – 'Macbeth – The Rock Opera'
 * 1994 (SEC) – 'Bye Bye Birdie'
 * 1993 SMC) – 'Half a Sixpence'
 * 1992 (SEC) – 'The Pirates of Penzance'
 * 1991 (SMC) – '¡Viva México! (El grito de Dolores)'
 * 1990 (SEC) – 'Pippin'
 * 1989 (SMC) – 'Oklahoma'

Houses
In 1981, Eddies added school houses. These houses, Hogan, Ryles, Carroll and Stevens, were named after previous principals of the school. In 1995, the four houses at St Edmund’s changed their names, which coincided with the college moving from year levels to a Pastoral System.
 * Hogan became Rice (yellow)
 * Ryall became Callan (green)
 * Carroll became Morgan (blue)
 * Stevens became Treacy (red)

In 2003, due to an increase in student numbers, these house were split in half, creating eight houses: Callan 1, Callan 2, Rice 1, Rice 2, Morgan 1, Morgan 2, Treacy 1 and Treacy 2.

At the end of 2006, further change came when these eight houses were folded into six for the following year, with the addition of two new houses, Finn and Ambrose.

In 2013, two more houses were created in preparation of Year 7 returning to St Edmund’s College in 2015. These two house were named Ignatius and Elliott.

Principals

 * Joseph Morgan: 1892–1894
 * J.D. O'Donaghe: 1895–1898
 * W.J. Hogan: 1899–1901, 1905–1907
 * R.X. Butler: 1902–1904
 * J.F. O'Brien: 1908–1914, 1931–1936, 1939
 * F. Donovan: 1915–1918
 * Thomas C. Seery: 1919
 * B. O'Ryan: 1920–1924
 * M.C. Carroll: 1925–1930
 * S.L. Carroll: 1937–1938
 * J.C. Stevens: 1940–1941
 * H.A. Segrave: 1942
 * R.G. McCartney: 1943–1945
 * F.C. Walsh: 1946–1948
 * N.G. Wigmore: 1949–1951
 * G.E. Ryall: 1952–1954
 * W.A. Lewis: 1955–1960
 * Brian Malachy Shortill: 1961–1966
 * K.F. Lynch: 1967–1971
 * A.I. Schofield: 1972–1977
 * L.E. "Ted" Magee: 1978–1983, 1994–1998
 * R.M. Reardon: 1984–1989
 * R.O. “Steve” Grundy: 1990–1992
 * Jim Lucey: 1999–2004
 * Brendan Lawler: 2005–2013
 * Christopher Leadbetter: 2014–2017
 * Diarmuid O'Riordan: 2018–2020
 * Ray Celegato: 2021–present

Notable alumni

 * Entertainment, media and the arts
 * John Birmingham author
 * d'Arcy Doyle – artist
 * Nathan Kneen – singer and former member of The Ten Tenors
 * Rhys Lee – artist


 * Politics and the law
 * Josiah Francis – politician
 * Matthew Hickey barrister and founding member and producer of The Ten Tenors
 * Jim Madden solicitor and Member for Ipswich West
 * John Nugent – former Chairman of the Moreton Shire Council and former Mayor of Ipswich
 * Henry Palaszczuk – former Labor member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
 * Paul Pisasale – former Mayor of Ipswich


 * Sport
 * Denis Flannery rugby league player
 * Harley Fox – rugby union player
 * Peter Gallagher rugby league player
 * Doug McLean Jr. – rugby union and rugby league player
 * Sam Johnsonrugby union player
 * Noel Kelly rugby league player


 * Paul McLean rugby union player and official
 * Peter McMahon swimmer and businessman
 * Joe Ofahengaue – rugby league player
 * Heath RamsayOlympic swimmer
 * Grant Sorensen – Olympic volleyball player
 * James Stannard rugby union player