William (Brien) Mason (SPC 1939-42), possibly our oldest living Old Boy, has passed away.
Brien passed away peacefully at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne surrounded by his family, aged 100 years old, on 9 October 2025.
He was the dearly loved and devoted husband of Valerie, a father of five, grandfather of 15 and great-grandfather of four.
He was remembered as “a gentle man and a true gentleman”.
Brien was a boarder at SPC with his brothers Mervyn OAM (SPC 1939-40) (dec) and John (SPC 1942-45), from McIntyre, north of Dunolly in Victoria.
Brien was a bright student and received several scholastic and school prizes and was involved in many aspects of College life, including Sodality of Our Lady as well as playing football, cricket, tennis and music.
He started his studies in sub-intermediate A and completed his Leaving studies in 1942.
Brien was a member of the 1941 First XVIII Football champions team, as well as the First XI Cricket team.
He was also in the winning football premiership team in the Senior House Competition in 1940, as well as the Premier XI cricket team.
Brien was also a handy athlete and played tennis.
His family remember Brien loving his time at St Pat’s and reminisced constantly about his time there. After leaving SPC, Brien went to university to study engineering and science.
Our deepest condolences to Brien’s extended family.
His daughter Jane recalled the family even returning to the school for Brien’s 80th birthday, and he proudly showing the family his class photograph hanging in the hallway.
“I think we have a photo of Dad as Captain of the first 18s Footy team. Dad studied Engineering at Melbourne University after leaving school and boarded at Newman College.
“He was a wonderful father and we are so proud.”
