The Marist Alumni Project identifies and celebrates the contribution Marist educated men and women have made to our nation. This project aligns itself with Marcellin Champagnat’s call to all of us, particularly in the education of the young, to ‘form good Christians and virtuous citizens.’
The main outcome of this project is the creation of an Anthology of Outstanding Australian Marist Alumni. The Anthology is a way of recognising those alumni who have made a significant and outstanding contribution to Australian life. All our schools and organisations unquestionably have many, many ex-students who have gone on to became highly productive, influential and honourable citizens of this country. The intent of the Marist Alumni Project is to capture some of those who have truly made their mark on Australian society.
Marist schools are invited to provide further nominations to the Marist Alumni: submit nominees via the online form.
For inquiries related to the Marist Alumni, please email: alumniproject@marists.org.au.
Marcellin College Randwick 1942-1944.
On leaving school, joined the South Sydney rugby league team.
Selected to represent Australia in two tests.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1929.
Selected to the NSW rowing team upon leaving school.
Achieved national honours representing Australia at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
Marist College Canberra 1969-1976.
Well-established local rugby player in the ACT before being chosen for the 1990 Wallabies tour of New Zealand.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
Marist College Canberra 1974-1985.
First selection to senior men’s hockey team in 1985.
Competed in a total of 87 international matches for Australia, including the 1988 Olympics.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1984.
Chosen to represent Australia U21s in Rugby Union, 1987.
Debuted for the Wallabies in 1989.
Played a total of 41 tests for Australia, including selection for Australia at two Rugby World Cups.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
Brothers chosen together in the rowing eight to represent Australia at the 1972 Olympic in Munich, followed by another selection to the World Championships which Australia won.
Bryan attended St Joey’s from 1958-1961.
Richard attended St Joey’s 1962-1964.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1970.
Despite only playing in the Thirds rugby squad at school, debuted for the Wallabies against New Zealand in 1980. Played a total of six tests for Australia.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton and St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill.
Considered by many to be one of greatest fullbacks ever to play rugby for Australia.
Debuted for Australia in 1957, aged 18.
Played 11 tests for Australia, including tours of Britain and New Zealand.
In 1958, at the age of 20, retired from rugby and joined the Marist Brothers, which included impactful teaching posts at Marist Ashgrove and St Joey’s.
Later left the Brothers to pursue a career in law.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1964.
Competed at the 1975 National Championships, coming first with his teams in the Men’s Coxless Four and the Men’s Coxed Four.
Selected to represent Australia at the 1975 World Championships.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill 1934-1935
Joined the North Sydney Bears rugby league team in 1936, playing three seasons.
Selected for representative teams in just his first year of first-grade football, earning a selection to the Kangaroos team that played Great Britain in 1936.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton.
Nicknamed “the footballing priest”, Fr Cootes became the first Roman Catholic priest selected to play rugby league for Australia, playing for the Kangaroos in 1969-1970.
Named NSW Country Rugby League Player of the Year in 1969.
After leaving Ordained Life, he began a chain of furniture stores and commenced a successful career in media as a sports commentator.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
Marcellin College Randwick 1961.
Played professional rugby league for South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs.
Represented Australia in thirteen test matches and first World Cup series, scoring seven tries throughout his international career.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
Mt Maria College Mitchelton.
Pioneer of Women’s Rugby Union in Australia.
Selected to the inaugural Australian Women’s Rugby team, the Walleroos, in 1994, debuting against New Zealand.
Played final test match in 1996.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
Marist College Ashgrove 1969-1977.
A much respected Rugby Union referee.
Selected to run touch in eleven test matches. Received first test match in 1977, refereeing Tonga and Western Samoa.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1911.
Joined Eastern Suburbs rugby club, winning the 1913 Premiership.
That same year, was selected to represent Australia on the Wallaby Tour to New Zealand, playing three tests.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton.
Arguably Australia’s greatest ever (rugby league) fullback, was chosen to represent Australia from 1948-1956, captaining the team on five tours.
The Clive Churchill Medal is awarded every year in his honour to the player of the match in the NRL Grand Final.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1939.
A successful rower at school, but had his career delayed during WWII. Selected in 1952 to represent Australia at the Helsinki Olympics.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
Trinity Catholic College Lismore 1991-1996.
Displayed excellence in soccer, being named the Sportsperson of the Year in 1992 by the NSW North Coast Academy of Sports.
First female AIS scholarship holder to be invited to train with the male AIS team in 1994.
First selected to represent Australia in 1994. Played in Australia’s win against Brazil in 1995, scoring one of Australia’s three goals.
Represented Australia in the 1995 World Cup, scoring Australia’s only goal in a loss to the USA.
During the 1999 Algarve Cup, became the youngest player to be awarded 50 Australian caps, going on to play in all of Australia’s matches at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Joined the University of Portland, playing in the 2000 and 2001 NCAA Final Four.
Selected for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, before retiring at age 22 having played 64 games for the Matildas, scoring 13 goals.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1938.
During school-years, represented the College in rugby, athletics and cricket.
Was selected to the Wallibies for the 1939 rugby tour of the UK, which was aborted due to WWII.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.
St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill 1927
Excelling in athletics in school, earned selection to the Australian athletics squad competing at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games.
Source: Marist College Canberra 1998: Celebrating 125 Years of Sporting Achievement Australia 1872-1997.