Time for some Newman Nostalgia!
This is the Examination Shield presented to St Ildephonsus College, New Norcia, on its opening in 1913. It was a gift from Marist Old Boys from the eastern states then living in Western Australia.
Judging from the photos, this Shield was magnificent, and Old Boys of St Ildephonsus still describe the awe with which they viewed it in person.
But today there is a wistfulness about them, whenever the Shield is mentioned.
… because, you see, the Shield has been missing for decades.
It was presumably brought from St Ildephonsus when the Marist Brothers left New Norcia in 1964 and moved down to Churchlands, and it was stored at either the Marist Junior campus in Subiaco, or the Marist Senior campus in Churchlands.
What happened to it, is a mystery we’d love solved!
The 1913 Yearbook reports, "The shield is of jarrah, one of West Australia's most valuable woods, which belongs to the Eucalyptus family... In colour it resembles deep rose-wood, and is susceptible of the highest polish. The shield itself is within an oval framing, and is surmounted by the swan. On the upper portion is the College, carved in relief.”
"...The outer rim holds eight small silver shields, on which the names of the most distinguished of the College students will be annually inscribed...”
"Mr W Howitt deserves highest praise for both the design and its execution. The symbolism is perfect, for the spray of eucalyptus entwined around the shield, bearing bud, bloom and berry, makes of this precious gift a memorial of the past, a joy of the present, and a pledge of the future.”
We are still researching the names which were inscribed on the Shield and have found one so far - Joseph Halpin’s name was inscribed in 1915, for his outstanding results in the Junior.
Originally from Sandstone, he came to SIC in 1913 from Geraldton’s Presentation College, where he also distinguished himself in primary years, and sat his Leaving in 1917. In early 1918 he sailed for New South Wales where he entered St Patrick’s College in Manly, to study for the priesthood. After further study in Rome, Rev Joseph Halpin returned to the Cue-Meekatharra diocese in early 1925.
The search continues, so if you have any information, please comment below, tag or email archives@newman.wa.edu.au. We’d love to know what happened to it!
Photo courtesy Peter Hocking and the New Norcia Archives.