Personal Reflections: 50-Year Reunion,
Class of 1955.

by John Keogh

Resting on the table in front of me is a page with the two ‘First Year Junior University’ class photos from the 1951 College Annual. The faces in those two photos are among the ones I remember most from my sixth year at C.B.C. Perth 54 years ago, because at the end of that year I went to Sydney to the Brothers’ Training College and so lost contact with my former classmates. Since leaving religious life 30 years ago I have been living in Melbourne. Coming together again after so many years, the question that was probably in most of our minds was ‘How much have we all changed over the years and which faces will I recognise?’ Although many of us have begun to show the effects of the aging process, it was amazing just how many in the group were instantly recognisable, looking fit and in good shape.

The Executive Officer of Trinity Old Boys Association, Anna Gingell, suggested I write about my impressions of the reunion. She kindly spent time showing me around the College, which I had not visited in the past thirty years. A niece of mine has a son at Trinity and I am indebted to her for organising this opportunity for the Monday after the reunion. The Technology Centre, rowing equipment, gymnasium and swimming centres are very impressive facilities. But what the College has become through the efforts of staff, students, parents and old boys is even more impressive.

I am grateful to the organisers of the reunion for including me in the Class of ’55 and for inviting me to the reunion. Their task of contacting as many of the group as possible began three years ago and we were soon supplied with lists of names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. I had been looking forward to it for many months and I believe it was a very successful and memorable night. With a little inspirational planning, the Duxton Hotel, on the site of the old C.B.C., was chosen as the venue for our reunion gathering and the date, November 5, was close to the Feast of St. Malachy, who was the patron Saint of the College at its former site.

We were fortunate to have former teachers at the function. Brother Dermot Shortill taught us in Grades 5, 6 and First Year. Besides being a capable class teacher, he was a keen and gifted musician and taught us the many choral pieces we performed at the Brothers’ Annual Eisteddfods. The other teacher I remember well from First Year classes and was at the reunion was Alan O’Neill (whom we remember as the former Br. A.V. O’Neill). Both looked well and thoroughly enjoyed sharing memories with their pupils of fifty years ago.

David Chatel (a classmate from Loreto, Nedlands days) kindly agreed to drive me to the Duxton for the reunion. On the way we picked up Yuri Mencinsky and Zenon Zebrowski, both of whom I had not met, since they migrated to Australia from Europe in 1951 and began their time at C.B.C. the year after I had left. It was interesting to hear their accounts of their experiences as they adapted to life in Australia, established careers and raised families.

Sadly out of a list of 102 names, 7 of our classmates are listed as deceased and approximately 44 could not be contacted. There were 37 members of the class of ’55 able to attend the reunion, 7 of us from interstate. I managed to meet most of those present, but regret I may have missed a few. Each one of us has a lifetime of valuable memories, but in the time available it was not possible to chat with everyone present and share many of the significant events in our lives. I feel privileged to have been a member of the Class of ’55, not only because so many have achieved eminent success in their chosen profession or business career, but because I sense that many of the values and ideals promoted by the College have profoundly influenced our lives and we do share a strong common bond from those days.