Principal Robert Corboy starts 2018 with strong advice for students

New St Brendan’s College, Mr Robert Corboy, the 15^th Principal in the College’s history has started the year with a new motto for students and the SBC community – Big paddock, strong fences – and with the College’s enormous 300-acre campus it’s one that fits both physically and metaphorically.

Mr Corboy, who arrives at the College after four years as Principal of Abergowrie College near Townsville and previously as Acting Deputy Principal and Head of Boarding at Marist Brothers Ashgrove for 11 years, is a strong believer that as an educator of boys, students need to be given the opportunity to express themselves with clear boundaries in place.

“My firm belief is they should be given the opportunity to express themselves, with space to grow as good young men with strong minds and gentle hearts, while knowing there are clear boundaries in place and high expectations for each student who is a member of the College community,” Mr Corboy said.

“Boys respond very well to the ‘big paddocks’ which allows them to express who they are, yet knowing where the firm boundaries lay, with our fences built on principles of fairness, responsibility and the common good which are the hallmarks of a St Brendan’s College education,” he said.

“I have been aware of St Brendan’s College throughout my career as a wonderful example of social justice in action, with a strong boarding school, and a beautiful spirit and charism and am extremely humbled by the welcome the College and local community have given me since arriving in Yeppoon,” Mr Corboy said.

“I will work to ensure the Edmund Rice charter lays the foundation for all our endeavours at the College – providing a liberating education, inclusive community, gospel spirituality and justice and solidarity.”

“As a College with a strong boarding history I am also humbled by the sacred responsibility that boarding parents bestow on us, when they entrust their child to us for their care, nurturing and education.

“Here at the College we do not replace family, but offer a home away from home, and the brotherhood and belonging of a new St Brendan’s College family when they arrive, and I look forward to supporting this in action.”

“The success of any community is built on relationships, so I look forward to travelling to our rural and regional areas to meet and catch up with our boarding families as soon as I can,” Mr Corboy said.

The College will start the 2018 school year with strong enrolment numbers, reaching more than 200 students in boarding and a day student population in excess of 420.

 "We are in a good enrolment position, and are encouraged particularly by our increasing boarding numbers and the number of students and families who have taken advantage of our new weekly boarding offering.

 “With so many busy, working families and with a significant weekly boarding discount, it has been an attractive option, so students can take full advantage of the academic and extra-curricular offering of the College during the week and return home on weekends; and we’ve had families from Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Gracemere and even further afield take up this option.”