By Caroline Smith
Butler’s Irene McCormack Catholic College looked back on its early history last month, with the opening of a sports and performing arts facility – the Paul Rafter Centre – named in honour of its foundation Principal.
The new centre was inaugurated with a blessing by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, who celebrated an opening Mass on 30 June, and with the attendance of current Principal, Robert Marshall, as well as students and parents from the college.
Mr Rafter was also present and delivered a speech to attendees detailing his 13 years as principal at the college.
He described the humble beginnings of the college, recounting the mere 30 enrolments in 2001, limited pool of staff available and scarce resources.
“I was appointed in mid-2001 when there was no school building, no name, no uniform, no vision, no policies,” he said.
“We had temporary residence in a 900-square-metre warehouse with concrete floor and no ceiling, and my desk was in a real estate office next door.
“I used local papers to advertise evening meetings in community halls in the hope of creating interest. Many nights, there would be as few as three parents attend but, gradually, over a six-month period, we managed to attract 37 kids and three staff,” Mr Rafter said.
Mr Rafter went on to speak about the school’s eventual growth in sometimes challenging circumstances – including the presence of the odd snake from nearby sand dunes – and how the school managed to gain a foothold in the Butler community.
“The challenges were many: firstly, establishing a Catholic college in a highly competitive area (there were already three non-Catholic schools in the area), building of some facility every year for the first ten years, and creating a school curriculum and facilities for 100 kids; then re-imagining, re-defining and adjusting every aspect of the school, including buildings and resources every year,” he said.
“Now, after 15 years, there are 1,000 students.”
He added that one of the key sources of inspiration for him were the people themselves – staff, students and parents who all helped to build the college into what it is today.
“This includes the courage of the parents to entrust their children to us when they had nothing to gauge the quality of the education by, the resilience of the kids, most of whom were not Catholic, when they found schooling of any kind quite confronting,” he said.
“Yet they developed a loyalty to the college and the community and supported the Catholic ethos.
“The staff have been amazing! Many times they have been asked to go way beyond their defined roles – and have done so with great commitment and generosity.
“Crucially important for the college has been the regular presence of members of the McCormack family who have given the community a tangible connection to Irene’s life of courage, generosity and commitment.”
The ceremony also included a blessing of a glass artwork, Resurrected Irene II, created by artist Rose Reilly in honour of the college’s namesake, the Sister Irene McCormack, who was killed in Peru in 1991. Ms Reilly had previously created a similar piece, Resurrected Irene I.
Several crosses to be displayed in the centre were created by Design & Technology students, under the guidance of teacher, Trevor Bastow. These students also made gifts for special guests, Mr Rafter and Bishop Sproxton.
The centre will be available for use from term three and has physical and outdoor education, music and dance facilities, a gymnasium, classrooms for music and dance, indoor rock-climbing wall, and an external abseiling facility.