Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records. Michele used this Booklet as part of her research: The booklet "At Heart With the Young: The Story of the Marist Brothers in Bendigo, 1883–1993" by Breda Phillips tells the story of the establishment and early development of the Marist Brothers in Bendigo. The section provided focuses on the period from 1883 to about 1907, describing how the Brothers founded a Catholic boys' school and built a lasting educational tradition despite limited resources. The booklet opens with a foreword from the Bishop of Sandhurst, who praises the Marist Brothers for their century of dedication to Catholic education and their significant contribution to the religious, educational and social life of Bendigo. He acknowledges their influence on generations of young people and the lasting impact of their work in the diocese. The first chapter, "The Call and the Response", explains how Bishop Martin Crane invited the Marist Brothers to establish a school in Bendigo after recognising the need for Catholic secondary education. Following discussions with Marist leaders in Europe and Australia, the first community of Brothers arrived from Sydney in April 1883 under the leadership of Brother Basil. Schooling began in St Kilian's Hall, where the facilities were simple and overcrowded. Brother Basil quickly developed a reputation as a capable teacher and administrator who expected high standards of discipline, respect and academic effort. The Brothers worked in difficult conditions, often teaching large classes while living in temporary accommodation nearby. Despite these challenges, enrolments steadily increased as parents recognised the quality of the education being offered. As the school grew, efforts were made to improve both the Brothers' living conditions and the school's facilities. In 1893 a permanent residence for the Brothers was completed opposite St Kilian's Hall through generous financial support from local Catholics and church leaders. Although construction delays and transport difficulties briefly interrupted school operations, the community continued to expand and the school established a strong reputation within Bendigo. The second chapter, *Becoming Established*, describes how the school matured during the following decade. Leadership passed through several directors, including Brothers Stanislaus, Kostka Maund and Paulinus McColl, each of whom strengthened academic standards and expanded enrolments. Under their leadership the school became recognised for both educational excellence and strong Catholic formation. Religious life formed an important part of the students' education. Pupils participated in daily prayer, Rosary, First Communion celebrations, church choirs and organisations such as the Sodality of the Children of Mary. The Brothers believed that education should develop students spiritually as well as academically. Academic achievement steadily improved throughout these years. Students earned scholarships, medals and prizes in public examinations, while government inspectors regularly praised the school's discipline, teaching standards and overall quality. Several former students entered the Marist Brothers themselves, while others continued to university or pursued successful professional careers. The booklet also describes continual improvements to the school's buildings and resources. Donations from parishioners funded repairs, equipment, books and classroom furniture. In 1901 a new primary school building replaced the earlier temporary classrooms, providing a more suitable learning environment as enrolments continued to rise. The school library also expanded through generous donations and new purchases. Student life extended well beyond the classroom. Boys participated in football, cricket, gymnastics, marching, music, debating and public competitions. They regularly won awards at local exhibitions and academic competitions, helping to establish the school's reputation throughout Victoria. Sporting achievements, musical performances and community celebrations became important parts of school life. Overall, the booklet presents the early Marist Brothers as dedicated educators who overcame financial hardship, limited facilities and the challenges of establishing a new school. Through strong leadership, commitment to Catholic values and emphasis on academic excellence, they laid the foundations for a respected educational institution that would continue serving the Bendigo community for more than a century. Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - The Marist Brothers in Bendigo This item includes the following document: 8672.29a Photocopy of a booklet by Breda Phillips - At Heart With the Young, the story of the Maris Brothers in Bendigo 13 A4 Pagesbendigo, michele matthews collection, marist brothers, breda phillips

A commemorative history titled "O’Neill College 1908 – 1981" published at the time of the amalgamation of O’Neill College with star of the Sea, 1982 (2 copies). The book (64 pages) includes a short history of O’Neill college, reports from Monsignor Lyons, Principal's report and reports from various other sisters from 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Reminiscences from students activities in the 80’s. Many school photographs of staff, class photos, school outings, sporting events and year 9 camp. Date and author unknown.o’ neill college, sister margaret canoll, presentation secondary, nagle avenue, sister mary kavanagh, education committee, sister christine walsh, elsternwick, sister francis muirhead, peart leanne, sister marie therese harold, star of the sea college, collina filomena, gammaldi tony, mcwilliam lorraine, o'neill college mothers auxillary, mcwilliam barry, st. jospeh's school, sister mary claver stone, sister mary de sales mckenna, sister angela johnston, sister bonaventure harrington, cooper sheila, cooper robert, harnett eileen, harnett desmond, beldart dorothy, catholic schools, primary schools, secondary schools, land subdivision, richard o'neill ecclesiastical college, romanesque style, schreiber r.a., architects, diocesan teacher training college, registers, lists, diaries and journals, halls, kindergartens, school concerts, basketball, choirs, festivals and celebrations, fundraising events, sport, harrison bessie, lynch eileen, murray veronica, mullamby kathleen, mullamby mary, mullamby eileen, miller joseph, strachan barry, webster mary, waldam geoffrey, checchi norman, delaney ella, hooper george, cahill john, cooper john, doyle albert, sister catherine walsh, carr archbishop, mother mary peter fitzgerald, couch mary, couch ambrose, checchi thomas, cahill francis, cooper robert, cooper sheila, castieau margot, castieau john, collinson eileen, collinson john, carolan veronica, carolan james, coates emily, coates henry, cato helena, cato herbert, cato yootha, cahill vincent, cleverley ernest, cleverley francis, cleverley maisie, collins dorothy, collins alfred, clark madge, clark william, gough father, ryan father, morris father, sister benedicta, sister anglea, brennan father, o'neill sarah, riddell parade, mother peter fitzgerald, mother mary bernard justice, sister marie bernade, sister kath coury, hoy hubert mrs, dowling mr, dowling mrs, mclaughlin mr, mclaughlin mrs, collis-brown mr, collis-brown mrs, keane tom, smith coral-anne, dwyer coral, lyons monsignor, miller collin henry, sister catherine curtin, sister peter, sister laserian, sister clare, sister fintan, sister cyril, domec-carre inez, murphy eileen, miller joy, guiney leo, tennis, wood joyce, toomey marie, hayes teresa, sister mary chanel, cobern wanda, sister mary gabriel, jeffrey lorna, sister mary genevieve, pitt jean, clark veronica, phipps sheila, sister sheila, youngberry kathleen, sister benedict, lowday dulcie, sister anne-marie, keary brenda, briglia rita, sister immaculata, burns n., brennan b., wright s., baker e., brdawshaw billy, barnes joan, mason patricia, roberts connie, shelton june, murray betty, keane peggy, taylor audrey, feiss margaret, hoy rosemary, sans lydia, smythe victor, hoy agatha, souter bobbie, brennan kathleen, shelton moira, wallman vera, cox s., rogers s., brennan b., wright s., mckeeran k., power e., maloney j., fyfe p., wright e., chambers f., baker e., keary d., lynch maeve, mcilroy j., corrigan p., harris p., gill p., keogh k., hennessy d., garrett j., feiss j., deverall j., langley j., griffin moya, ashton norma, hull fay, linehan mary, murphy eileen, odgers shirley, brennan jean, mahony denise, meyer margaret, mornament ina, cox s., wright s., borelli marie, flanagan c., smythe p., whelan mary, hawkridge v., johnson v., filippina contessa, rawlings a.b., beer letty, sister mary joseph, eisma joan, langley joan, sister raymond, sister aloysius, garrett betty, sister gertrude, sister elizabeth, sister mary hilary, sister marie louis, stratford c., sister james cantwell, dance mrs., mcnamara colleen, share kath, sister adrian, sister patricia carroll, sister rose, sister pius, dunne patricia, sister james, sister sheila, sister jude, dawes pat, sister beatrice, mason june-maree, sister domenica, guatta win, sister marie cline, sister marie de lourdes, hale mrs, sister robert, sister merle, sister philomena, sister francis xavier, sister frances borgia, sister margaret bullock, sister bruna, mother peter, sister genevieve, kendall vern, collette leonie, sister philomena consedine, ashton francine, maher frank, mcgrath brian, van heeswick julie, west liz, ferrier fran, molloy miss, cooney jenny, tkalcevic josephine, sirianni lena, danielis simonetta, simmonds louis, richardson sharon, giannelli irene, carter louise, ettia gie, williamson helene, galli mrs, meagher mrs, fitzgibbon mrs, beveridge cathy, cocciardi bernadette, emmett mr, emmett mrs, brother moore, farrow sandra, warren angela, peters kim, tarcasio rina, tuohy helen, massey jayne, o'sullivan kerrie, killingsworth miss, conheady mrs, gray mrs, clark fiona, ferrier margaret, dotter andrea, muller mary, young samantha, aquilina tania, baker patricia, bean dianne, bouchereau brenda, brohier audrey, curtis debbie, ferrier frances, hynes nerida, jones leanne, krelle brenda, lamanna ann, loiacono chris, morin jackie, musster judy, renshaw susan, stratford margaret, hoareau marlene, clark nicole, o'neill college, williamson helen, victorian congregation of presentation sisters, sister margaret walsh, archbishop carr