Thanks to Old Collegian Eugene Sexton (SPC 1966-69) for his recent donation to the College archives. Eugene donated his school cap and scarf as well as his prized Prefect and cadet pins.
He remembers heading to Myer in Ballarat with his parents to buy his school uniform.
Eugene, now aged 72, arrived at St Patrick’s College from a dairy farm in Camperdown, after deciding at a young age that he wanted to become a priest.
St Pat’s wider range of subjects, including Latin (which was necessary for entering the seminary at the time) than schools closer to home necessitated the move, while his brother ended up going to St Joey’s in Geelong.
Eugene was young, and only 16 when he completed his matric, but he was a good scholar. He was named a Prefect in 1969, was awarded several mathematics prizes and was named Dux of Intermediate A in 1967.
As a boarder, Eugene was involved in all facets of College life, including football, cricket, secretary of the St Vincent de Paul Society, and a member of the St Peter’s Minor Seminary.
After graduating with a Junior Government scholarship, Eugene followed his heart and entered the seminary at Werribee, whilst also completing an Arts course at Monash University, majoring in philosophy.
Eugene left the seminary after five years and still interested in pastoral care, he trained to become a nurse.
Eugene said he enjoyed a career spanning 40 years as a nurse at St John of God Hospital and Lakeside Hospital. He taught nursing at the Australian Catholic University and for 26 years preceding his retirement, he worked as an anaesthetic nurse in the operating theatres at Ballarat Base Hospital.
He also married and has four children.
He said he enjoyed his time at SPC and was proud to be named a Prefect in his matric year. Prefects wore a special pin on their school blazer and it turns out that Eugene was among the last group of Prefects named at the College, with the introduction of the Student Council the year after, in 1970.
Eugene also recalled wearing his cadet badge on his slouch hat after joining the Cadet Band in his first year.
“I played the side drum and advanced to the bass drum,” he said. Eugene remembers proudly taking part in Anzac Day marches along Sturt St, as well as the annual school Passing Out Parade.
