St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace

St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace is a Catholic boys' school in Brisbane, Australia. It is commonly referred to simply as 'Terrace' after its location, at Gregory Terrace in Spring Hill. Brisbane Grammar School and Brisbane Girls Grammar School are also located in this area. Founded on July 5, 1875, it follows the Edmund Rice tradition. Its school motto is "To serve God is to be wise."

History

The Congregation of Christian Brothers took up residence in the new building on Gregory Terrace in the early 1900s and school facilities were provided in a large room — and for several years two schools functioned at Terrace and St Stephen's. In 1879 a single-storey stone building was completed facing Rogers Street, and the school at St Stephen's was closed. The west wing of the Residence was completed in 1887 to provide accommodation for boarders, and the school building was extended the following year by the addition of a second floor, thus completing what is known today as College Hall. The photos of all students since 1924 are displayed on its walls. By 1891 there was insufficient room for the numbers to board and the boarding school was transferred to a country property along Sandgate Road to begin St Joseph's College, Nudgee (Nudgee College).

Terrace undertook further expansion in 1918-19 when the Science Hall was built and opened. A third storey was added 20 years later. A three-storey teaching block which linked this building with the Residence was built in 1954.

Thus the land that Dan McSweeney had given the Christian Brothers almost 80 years earlier had been effectively built out. By the early 1960's, with increasing numbers of students and with changing trends in education it became imperative that Terrace expand further. Under Br J S Campbell's guiding influence, Terrace began to absorb residential land in Billet Street opposite the existing school. The first block was bought in 1961 and the foundation stone for a new Senior school was blessed by the College's most distinguished Old Boy the Archbishop of Brisbane, Sir James Duhig, in 1963. The new school including a chapel and library was opened in 1964. Gradually, the school development spread down Billet and Victoria Streets, with the Reidy Block completed in l971, the Centenary Building in 1975, the Manual Arts building constructed in two stages in 1981 and 1984, the completion of Centenary Hall and the construction of the Swimming Pool (now known as the Campbell Centre) in 1987 and the Religious Centre and Chapel, Mt Sion, in 1989. Billet Street itself was merged into the school grounds, linking the new and old portions of the College.

Terrace also spread beyond its Spring Hill campus. In 1958, the Rowing shed was built on riverfront land at New Farm which had been donated by Archbishop Duhig. In 1961, the Brothers purchased farmland at Tennyson and began to develop its magnificent playing fields. In the 1970's, Terrace established an Outdoor Education Centre on the banks of Lake Maroon, near Boonah. A tunnel was constructed under Gregory Terrace to provide students with safe access to Victoria Park and the training fields and Tennis courts.

Major building changes occurred in 1995, marking 120 years of Catholic Education in Brisbane, the GT120 Project. These included the Science/Music building; elevated walkways linking the Junior School to the 1964 wing; extensions to the Library; Drama Centre (old Junior School Library); Film and Television Room; conversion of Mt Sion to Main Administration offices (whilst retaining the Chapel/Prayer Centre); new offices for House Deans, Heads of Faculty; refurbishment of Staff Workroom to include interview room and Senior Teacher's office; also the shade area on Duhig Place, a project of the Parents and Friends. These recent developments have been made possible by the generosity of the Terrace Family in supporting the Gregory Terrace Foundation.

The strong academic tradition of Terrace continues today with the great majority of students aiming for some form of higher education. Since 1875, more than 195 past students have entered the priesthood or religious life, including the late Archbishop Sir James Duhig and Archbishop Francis Rush retired Archbishop of Brisbane, Bishop John Torpie retired Bishop of Cairns and Bishop Bill Morris Bishop of Toowoomba. Terrace is proud of its seventeen Rhodes Scholars from Professor James Mahoney (1929) to Robert Dann (1996), Ben Juratowich (2003) and the newest Rhodes Scholar from Gregory Terrace, Simon Quinn (2005).

The House system is used at terrace and generally disadvantages most houses. The houses are Kearney, Windsor, Barret, Reidy, Treacy and Barrett. Reidy is generally regarded as the best house, whilst (although not for lack of trying) other houses aspire to 'take on' the role of alpha-house, dominating almost every inter-house sporting or cultural competition.

The sporting curriculum caters for as many students as possible through both GPS involvement and intra-mural games. The cultural curriculum, including Debating, Chess and Music attracts many students.

Sixty-one past students have represented Australia in international sporting competitions with thirty-five of these in Rugby Union. Recent years have seen up to five past students in the one Australian Rugby squad. The Gregory Terrace Old Boys' Association is an active body which meets regularly at the College and does much to maintain contact with alumni through reunions and other various functions.

The school community is supported by the active involvement of many parents, particularly through the Parents and Friends' Association, the Ladies Group and Support Committees associated with sporting and cultural activities. Other groups have given invaluable assistance in planning and supervising its various building projects.

Terrace has a long and distinguished list of past Headmasters and Principals, taking its first lay Principal in 1993.

The college is centred on Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill, with its sporting fields at Tennyson and Outdoor Education Centre at Lake Maroon, near the Queensland-New South Wales border.

House System

The House System at Terrace provides a pastoral network that enables all students to develop holistically in a safe caring environment. Each student is in one of the College's six Houses, Barrett, Kearney, Mahoney, Reidy, Treacy or Windsor.

Each House is divided into 11 or 12 smaller groups that are vertical, meaning there are students of various ages in these groups who are led by a staff member who is referred to as a tutor. These "Tutor Groups" meet for 14 minutes in the morning and again for 7 minutes in the afternoon. Tutors are often in a position to see and solve a problem, provide advice, tell good jokes, give guidance and encouragement to boys in their care. The tutor's role as advisor and mentor extends to each student's personal life. Tutors attempt to help the students and fill the role of a significant adult that gives him support and monitors his progress.

Throughout the year, Interhouse Competitions are held between each of the Houses. These events include Soccer, Swimming, Cross Country, Debating, Theatre Sports, House Choir and Athletics. These events are aimed at building House spirit, forming a sense of community and building a rapport between staff and students. Points are awarded according to standing in these competitions, the winning House being awarded the House Shield at the end of the year.

Academia

Terrace has produced 17 Rhodes Scholars as well as consistent OP 1's. Many other students attend Nudgee College. Nudgee was the creation of Terrace as all the boarders were moved, in those days, to Nudgee.There were 17 OP 1 students at the college last year.

Extra-Curricular Activity

Terrace has won tenGPS rugby titles with the last being the underfeated side of 2004 as well as two cricketlast title in 2004 and four cross-country titles in the past few years. It has also won numerous swimming and rowing titles, however, it has not yet won a soccer or track and field title. It has also proven quite successful at Volleyball and Basketball, winning a few titles.

The school has also sent various student orchestras on international tours and to competitions through the music department. Terrace also won a string of QDU and GPS debating titles around the early 2000s with the college tieing for the prestigious GPS Debating title last year with Brisbane Grammar School

Terrace also participates in extra-curricular academic programs including Queensland University of Technology's Q-Start program, the Siemens Science Experience and Tournament of the Minds. Many OP 1's are the result of hard working, young gentlemen with a zest for tradition

Other Information

The Word 'Mer' has become a popular phrase at Gregory Terrace. It is used by all students at least once a day, and on weekends at sports games when students sing "Terrace to the Merr". The phrase is known to have its origins from a very old book, found in some very old place, however has been made popularised by the likes of student Jeremy Poxon. There are some unusual people who reside at gregory terrace, the likes of which include Michael Cashman and Elliot Esler. Both of these people smoke alot of weed and have a very retarded view on life, the universe and everything. Jeremy Poxon might think that he was the one who coined the word 'Mer' but he didnt and everyone at terrace knows this fact, he recieved a serious beating for claiming to have coined the word, and now lives in the west texus mental institution with Jay Goolsbey. Anthony McBride befriended Jay whilst he attended terrace, they partook in such things as star gazing and rainbow drawing. They where lifetime members of the Brisbane Society For Teddy-Bear Loving Teenagers, both of them have a whole room dedicated to this hobby. Jay and Anthony are experts in the field of 'Furries' and other various stupid conceptions of Nublettes. LOLZZZZZZZZZZ ha ha peace out the l33t 5upa H4x0r Str1ke5 aga1n

The Golden Snitch

The "Golden Snitch" is a popular reference to one of the students at Gregory Terrace who was forced into "bus duty" by the Principal and various other concerned bus drivers due to the behaviour on one of the council buses. Although he did not snitch on anyone, it is a common misconception that he has.