Your New Life Starts Here
It was 1953 and we had all just started in Grade 4 at St Laurence's College. Such a change from the nuns at a Catholic convent school.
The photo above is St Patrick's at Strathfield (Sydney) where our teachers were trained.
Our new teacher was Brother Cusack (for some reason, the Irish Christian Brothers were referred to by their family name, rather than the more historical given name). It didn't really matter, as we were instructed to refer to them as "Sir" in both the first person (Excuse me, Sir) and the third person (Sir said...).
So here was our first teacher on our road to becoming men.
Brother Cusack (I subsequently learned that his first name was Stan) was an earnest young fellow of, I'm guessing now, around 20 years of age. He was in control of a class of some 60 or so nine year olds. He had us again in Grade 6.
More on that later. This is just recounting one incident.
More...
Learning Clichés
Amazing though it may seem now, English class included learning clichés.
The textbook, would say
- as weak as... (and guys, the answer was "a kitten" not "piss")
- as proud as... (a peacock)
- as pretty as... (a picture)
- as strong as... (an ox)
- as stubborn as... (a mule)
- and so on.
Well on this occasion, Brother Cusack and the class were in disagreement.
The majority of us answered that it was "As pretty as a picture".
Cusack said that was wrong and invited more input.
We tried, even falling back on tried and true Catholic upbringing with "as pretty as Our Lady", a reference to the Virgin Mary which unfortunately gained no brownie points.
At the end of the lesson, Cusack confided to us that the correct answer was "as pretty as a peacock". We went home mulling over that enlightenment.
Research Pays Off... Sort Of
Several of us researched it that evening (there was no internet and the library was closed, so what that really meant was interrogating our parents) and determined that it was indeed "as pretty as a picture" and "as proud as a peacock".
So, armed with knowledge as opposed to opinion, we took our places in class, waiting for English to start.
First cab off the rank was Brian Goodwin, at the time one of the smallest class members (but who underwent a growth spurt in his late teenage years). Displaying inordinate courage, he shot up his hand and, upon being called on to speak, said "Sir, it's as proud as a peacock".
Cusack went apeshit.
Clearly, he'd also researched it overnight. Which meant he'd intended to take the lead in this discussion. And poor little Brian had just shot him down in flames. I recall the phrase "crossing your bridges before you come to them" featured in his rant.
At only 9 years old, we were pretty taken aback. What had we let ourselves in for over the next 9 years?
Anyone else remember this incident?
Denis Campbell has submitted some additional cliches for which we could have sought Br Cusack’s reaction:
As defiled as a clerk
As braced as a dentist
As delighted as an electrician
As deranged as a cowboy
As decomposed as a musician
As delayed as a prostitute
I seem to remember going home to my mum re ‘the proud as a peacock ‘ bit as she had been aprimary school teacher at Holy Cross Wooloowin and asking her. That is probably why I was game enouhgh to say something. I forever kept my thoughts to myself after that. Everyone should know the teacher is always right even when their wrong.
His name was Brother Stan Cusack. I knew him well during my time at Mount Saint Mary Teachers College, Strathfield where he was Deputy Principal.
And yes, he was a very earnest man.
He later became Doctor Cusack and only died early this year at age 90 ( I think).
He would be “chuffed” that you would remember him.
Thank you so much for this information, Boyd.
I’m 78, so he was 12 years older than me.
We first had Br Cusack in Grade 4, when I was 8 turning 9, so he would have been a young man of 20 or 21 then. We had him again in Grade 6.
I’m still in contact with many of those classmates (the ones who haven’t died yet, anyway lol) and we have a bi-annual lunch in Brisbane, which still attracts a large number.
We remember Stan fondly. He was one of the good guys.
I’ll let the others know by group email and we’ll raise a glass to his memory at our next get-together (probably November).
Thanks again for the information.
Phil Lancaster
Hi Philip
I lived near you at Camp Hill. Yes I remember the incident involving Brian Goodwin. Brian might have lived near us in one of the Avenues near Stanley Rd Camp Hill where we lived. I transferred to Townsville during my working life and got to know Fr Dave Lancini our local Parish priest. Stan Cusack taught Fr Dave up this way somewhere. Stan Cusack paid Fr Dave a visit a couple of years before he passed. He remembered me and Fr Dave bought him to our place for a visit.
He was a tough Rugby coach I remember. Hope all is well with all.
David
Hi David,
Wonderful to see you here and of course I remember you and your twin sister Diane well.
It’s funny how we all seem to recall the Stan Cusack/Brian Goodwin incident. It must have made a profound impression on our young minds!
Great that you could see him again before he died. I wish I’d had that privilege. We could have had some interesting discussions about changing times and attitudes. I first remember Stan as a stuttering, red-faced young man trying desperately to maintain a conversation with my mother but having difficulties simply because she was female.
Are you still in Townsville and do you get invitations to our twice a year luncheons? Am I correct in thinking you were at our 1st reunion in 2001 but we haven’t seen you since? Apologies if I’ve got that wrong, but it would be great to see you again.
All the best,
Phil
Thanks Phil
It was great to get a reply. I remember Stan Cusack fondly. After he died another Christian Brother found a letter unposted in his drawer. It was posted to me after his passing. Bro. Stan was trying to keep contact as he said he enjoyed teaching us.
Sadly my twin sister Diane passed 11 years ago.
I moved around the State but retired in Townsville in 2022.
It would be great to catchup with classmates. Maybe i could make it down to Brisbane.
Do you live in Brisbane Phil? I seem to remember you moved south?
Regards
David.
Hi David,
So sorry to hear that Diane is no longer with us. I didn’t know her well, but certainly remember meeting her a couple of times at your place. She must have been what, 69? Far too young.
Great that Stan Cusack was keen on keeping in touch. Two of our teachers, Brian Grenier and Mike Morley, came to a couple of our reunions. Brian died in December 2023 at the age of 89. He was a lovely, gentle man with a great sense of humour and a fierce intellect. He was a devout but not fundamentalist Catholic and we had some great conversations. He respected my opinions as a confirmed atheist, and responded easily to comments such as “you’re an intelligent man, Brian so how can you still believe this superstitious nonsense?”
Our headmaster Bernard Crawford, also passed away last year at the age of 99. He must have had a difficult job, responsible for the finances of an almost broke school, wrangling challenging personalities such as Mick Lloyd and Brendan Powell (both deceased), a powerful boss in Archbishop Duhig (the real estate king of Brisbane) and somehow managing to take Senior science classes as well.
Yes, I moved to Melbourne in 1965 and lived there for the next 40 years. I got married there (twice!) and had my children (3 sons and a daughter) there. Then they had their children (3 daughters and a son) there as well. Two of my children still live in Melbourne with the other two overseas.
What about you? Do you have family? Don’t mean to pry, but I’d love an update.
I now live on the Sunshine Coast and can normally make it to luncheon get-togethers in Brisbane.
These are organised by Denis Campbell. Would you like me to get Denis to add your email to his list, so that you are informed of upcoming stuff? He also frequently sends out interesting and/or amusing emails. As do I, but less frequently and probably not as amusing.
Anyway, great to hear from you again and all the best.
Phil
Hi Phil
Yes, Diane passed at aged 69 from breast cancer. Very sad for us at my 70th celebration. Diane was quite studious and studied journalism and law after leaving All Hallows.. She married Des Binstead from Beaudesert who flew light aircraft and eventually worked in air traffic control. They spent time in New Guinea and other postings in Australia. Diane worked as a Lawyer with ASIC for many years. They had 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. Des passed a month ago at age 82.
I was transferred to Townsville in 1967. In those days we were called Inspectors s of Weights and Measures. Transfers were required for further promotion. Merv. Hazel who was a Customs Officer worked in Townsville at that time and we palled up. Merv. married a local lady and we got together at times. I think Dennis and Clifford Campbell were also Customs Officers?
I met and married my wife Lucia Jadwiga Gomulka, an attractive Polish lady. She worked in accounting with Custom Credit Townsvillet Her parents suffered in the war and after. Tadeusz spent over 5 years in Dachau Concentration Camp. Josefa was captured and placed in a forced labour camp. After the war they met in a displaced people camp in Ingolstadt where Lucy was born. They loved living in Townsville a long way from the horrors they had to endure.
I was transferred to Bundaberg in 1971 where we stayed 17 years. One year in Rockhampton and then we returned to Townsville in 1995 where we decided to retire.
We had 3 boys Matthew, Damien and Paul who have produced 7 grand children. Matthew and family shifted to Toowoomba over a year. Damien went south to Sydney to study. He married a Sydney lady and settled there.
Paul and family live in Townsville. Paul helps us with maintenance where we live in Townsville. I am not allowed on the roof anymore!
Yes, please include me in the email list advising of get togethers. Maybe I can ger
t to one.
I remember Br Lloyd and Br Powell. I have a story about Bro. Powell. When I mentioned his name to Bro Stan Cusack he went quiet. Bro. Crawford was the uncle of Errol Crawford who was in my class. We are still in contact.
All the best.
David
From where we sit now, 69 seems far too young. So many women die from breast cancer. It’s a scourge, along with prostate cancer for guys.
How’s your health? Hopefully OK as long as you keep off the roof!
Most of our classmates are in pretty good shape, all things considered, though we’ve lost a few, of course. The most recent (last year) being John Sullivan. I might suggest to Denis that I put an In Memoriam page up on the website. Hopefully, between a few of us, we can remember at least the ones we know about.
Hey, maybe we could create a Dead Pool, as per Wade Wilson in the movie of the same name. Last man standing takes the lot!
I was interested to hear that Stan Cusack went quiet at your mention of Brendan (Wilbur) Powell. That’s a conversation I would have loved to have. As I said in our private email, plenty of our classmates would have heard me refer to “that cunt Wilbur”.
I too was privileged to have 3 sons, but then managed a daughter some time later. There’s 21 years between my oldest and youngest.
They scatter, don’t they?
I’ve passed your email on to Denis, so you’ll be advised of future lunches.
Cheers
Phil