THE iconic St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon tower and cross may have to be demolished after a fire ripped through the central Queensland school last weekend.
The fire will also have an impact on the college’s 2009 school year as the uniform and stationery shops and health centre were also destroyed.
The blaze, which broke out in the school’s oldest building last Sunday around 11am, destroyed a number of residences, including that of the principal Simon Dash.
Mr Dash, his wife Clare and four children discovered the fire after returning from Mass on Sunday morning.
Sixteen Fire and Rescue crews, comprising 45 firefighters, battled the large fire into the night.
They succeeded in saving the Hogan building’s chapel but little else.
The Dashs’ home was destroyed as were the units of boarding supervisors Peter and Karen Hayes, Terry Horton and co-ordinator of the college’s Old Boys’ Association Christian Brother Kevin Smith.
St Brendan’s deputy principal Geoff McManus said it was a blessing that the fire had not broken out in the night.
“Given that all accommodation was at the top of the building, I dread to think what the outcome might have been,” he said.
Mr McManus said it was possible that the Hogan building’s “iconic tower and cross” which is a Yeppoon landmark would have to be demolished due to structural instability caused by the fire.
The Hogan building, constructed in 1940, has been an integral part of St Brendan’s.
Mr McManus said the Yeppoon business community had been “absolutely marvellous” in rallying behind the devastated college.
“Local businesses provided food and drinks to the firefighters and have continued to do so to those families who lost everything in the fire,” he said.
“A local motel chain has put the Dash family up for the moment.”
