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Honour for Director of Catholic Schools Office Broken Bay

 

Br Tony Whelan cfc, Director of Schools in the Broken Bay Diocese, paid tribute to his parents and the Christian Brothers who taught him for his recent recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Br Tony, who this year celebrates 50 years as a Christian Brother, was awarded an AM (Member of the Order of Australia), for service to education through a range of executive and teaching roles in the Catholic education sector, to the promotion of social justice, and to professional standards development.

“I’m very grateful to my parents for instilling in me a commitment to education,” he said.

“They were products of the Depression and World War II and wanted the best for my brother, sister, and me.”

A product of St Mary’s Cathedral College, Br Tony says the Christian Brothers who taught him were “great role models” as Brothers and teachers.

“That explains why I joined the Brothers at age 16,” he said.

“I’m very grateful to the educational opportunities I have had in my working life, which the Brothers promoted.

“I have always had a passion for teaching. I enjoyed 15 years in schools – as a science, mathematics and religious education teacher –becoming Principal at St Patrick’s College, Sutherland, during the 1970s.” 

“Since then, I have undertaken responsibilities at system level.”

During the 1980s, Br Tony was a founding Regional Director of Southern Region in Sydney. For 14 years, he was also a member of the Christian Brothers Provincial Council in NSW-ACT.

Br Tony has been Director of Schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay since 2000.

He was Chairman of the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations from 1997-2001, and has been Commissioner for the Catholic Education Commission of NSW since 2005. Article courtesy Damir Govorcin, the Catholic Weekly.