Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown

History

The College was founded in 1952 by the Patrician Brothers to serve rural families of Blacktown and its surrounding districts. The school is located in Blacktown, Sydney. Under a restructure, the College saw its last Year 6 class graduate in 1997 and the first Year 11 cohort commence in 1998. This led to a school renovation with the addition of 11 classrooms, a technology block, a library, a school office, and an amphitheatre finished in 2013.

House names

The college names school houses after historical moments:

The Delany Devils (Red), named after Daniel Delany, who founded the Patrician Brothers order at Tullow, Ireland in 1808.

The MacKillop Magpies (Green), named for Mary MacKillop, who was beatified in 1996 by Pope John Paul II and later canonised in 2010.

The Massey Marlins (Gold), after Bernard Massey as the parish priest of Blacktown, who was responsible for the establishment of the college.

The Histon Hounds (Blue), dedicated to Dr. Gerard Histon, the founding principal. Histon died in 2010.

College crest

The college crest consists of a Shield surmounted by a Crown and the motto Christus Regnat, Latin for "Christ Reigns". The Shield represents the Catholic Faith, while the White Star encircled by the Wreath of Laurel represents The Blessed Lady.

The Cross and the Crown represent 'The Crowning Gift of Faith'.

Extracurricular activities

The college takes part in the Metropolitan Catholic Schools (MCS) Competition and Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) Tournaments. The school offers sports such as cricket, basketball, soccer, rugby league, touch football, rugby union, Australian rules football, golf, croquet, and swimming.

During the Arrive Alive Cup in 2007 the Patrician Brothers Blacktown progressed to the grand final. The match was telecast on Channel Nine. The MCS Rugby League Competition declared Patrician Brothers' Blacktown the most successful MCS school.

The college is also known for its results in public speaking and debating. In 2009, the Year 9 Debating Team progressed to the semi-finals of the CSDA Debating Competition. In 2011, the Year 12A Debating Team won the Catholic Schools' Debating Association Trophy, undefeated throughout the competition. In 2013, the senior teams progressed to the finals. In 2019, the Year 9 Debating Team won the Year 9 Metropolitan Champions in Sydney.

Controversies

Former teacher Brother Martin Harmata pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting several boys including students at the school in the 1980s and was jailed for at least 3.5 years on 26 September 2013. Former Patrician Brother novice and relief teacher Alan James Pollock was also arrested on allegations of sexual abuse of students. Other teachers were reported as being 'under investigation'.

A third former teacher, a 57-year-old male, was arrested in February 2013 over offences alleged to have occurred between 1998 and 2002. The teacher has not been named.

On 18 December 2013, a fourth former teacher and brother, Michael Stanton, was arrested. Additional charges were laid against Michael Stanton in May 2014. The alleged offences occurred in 1980 against an 11-year-old boy. Michael Stanton pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2015.

Alan James Pollock pleaded guilty to committing sexual offences against children in September 2014, and was sentenced to eight years gaol in December 2014.

The Catholic Education Office has published statements concerning Alan Pollock, Brother Martin Harmata, and Michael Stanton following their convictions.

Notable alumni

Josh Aloiai, current rugby league footballer for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Samoa and formerly the Wests Tigers

Jake Arthur, current rugby league footballer for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Matt Arthur, current rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels

John Asiata, former professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys and Samoa

Luke Boyd, Australian Olympic boxer

Jamie Buhrer, former rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights and New South Wales

Bryce Cartwright, current rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels

Christian Crichton, former professional rugby league footballer for the Penrith Panthers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Samoa

Stephen Crichton, current rugby league player for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, New South Wales and Samoa

Joshua Curran, current rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Sam Darley, current AFL player for the Western Bulldogs

Brett Delaney, former professional rugby league footballer for the Leeds Rhinos and City Origin

Jarred Farlow, former professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers