‘Lap of honour’ and high 5s all round

Sydney
20 April 2003

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‘Lap of honour’ and high 5s all round

‘Lap of honour’ and high 5s all round

By Damir Govorcin

The students lined the streets to say goodbye to a man they regard as a true Aloysian.

Fr Tony Smith, headmaster at St Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point, was given a send-off befitting a celebrity or head of state.

Accompanied by a police escort, he took a ‘lap of honour’ through the streets of Milsons Point as the 1130-student St Aloysius community sang and cheered, as well as throwing in a Mexican wave and a chant of “no war” for good measure.

It all added to the excitement and colour of the farewell, which had been kept secret from the Jesuit priest for some time.

Although somewhat embarrassed by the attention, Fr Tony happily played along, exchanging ‘high fives’ with the students, who were genuine in showing their appreciation for a man they have come to love and respect.

He has been the longest-serving headmaster in the school’s 124-year history.

Now he is waiting for his next posting, be it in Australia or overseas.

From next term, rector Fr Ross Jones and principal Fr Christopher Middleton will be in charge of running the school, looking to continue the good work of Tony Smith.

Fr Tony, who is admired for his vision, compassion and competence, has helped maintain the college’s strong reputation academically (it was the best performed NSW Catholic boys’ school in last year’s HSC) and on the sporting field.

Sitting down and relaxing with a cup of tea, the retiring headmaster reflected on the past 18 years as a “wonderful time”.

“I’m overwhelmed by all the attention,” he says, “but I must say it’s lovely to see signs of appreciation.

“I had no idea things like walking down the street with the students clapping and cheering would occur, and the school community did a good job keeping it from me.

“One of the greatest acknowledgements in all the tributes that I have received was that I have been a headmaster, but also a priest as well.

“The pastoral aspect has been a very important part of my service here at St Aloysius.”

Tony Smith was educated at St Louis College in Perth and graduated in 1964.

The following year, he joined the Society of Jesus and began his training in Melbourne.

He was ordained in 1977, then spent the next few years teaching at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, where he was also head of boarding.

Fr Tony travelled to the Jesuit University in Fordham, New York, for further study.

Then, in 1985, he was appointed to St Aloysius’ College as chaplain in 1985.

He was appointed deputy headmaster during the second term that year and headmaster the following year.

Under his leadership, the college has undergone a massive capital development program.

This has included the purchase of the former Milsons Point Public School and transforming it into the college junior school (Years 3-6), redeveloping the former junior school into a Year 11 and 12 facility, building an integrated learning centre (library, audio visual, computer centre), renovating the pavilion at the college oval, building a visual arts centre and renovating the administration and staff areas.

Fr Tony, known by his students as Fr Smith, is out-spoken about educational matters, especially boys’ education.

On the eve of the college bicentenary in 1988, he flew the Aboriginal flag from the roof of the college to honour this land’s previous owners.

He is proud of the legacy he will leave St Aloysius’ College, but says he couldn’t have achieved it without the support of the school community.

“One of the special qualities of the school is our smallness,” he says.

“We are a family … we all know one another.

“There are not much more than 900 families here, and I know most of them. Every boy here was born while I have been headmaster.”

Fr Tony says his lasting memories of the school will be the “great sense of family working together in the development of children in a world which they are yet to meet”.

“We have put the school on the way to academic excellence, and that couldn’t have been achieved without the wonderful support of the families,” he says.

For school captain Tom Borger, the departing headmaster has become a father-like figure to him, a mentor, confidant and friend.

Replacing him will be difficult.

“Fr Smith is hard, but fair and has worked hard for the respect he has earned from the school community,” says Tom.

“At the moment, there’s a Year 11 student who has a brain tumour, and Fr Smith has been wonderful in the support he has given the family.

“He looks after people in trouble and is a person I admire and respect.”

Vice-captain Chris Chase acknowledges him as a “true Aloysian”.

“He is a man for others and he serves the people,” says Chris.

“Fr Smith turns up to give our sporting teams support and he has always encouraged the tours made by our rugby and soccer teams.

“I know coming back to school next term something will be different.

“There will be a different vibe about the place because Fr Smith won’t be here.”

Fr Anthony Smith may be gone from St Aloysius’ College, but his legacy will live on.