JUNE 6 and 7 were emotional days for members of the Marist College, Rosalie, community.
Coinciding with the feast of Marist Brothers founder St Marcellin Champagnat, the 80-year-old school held its first official closing-down celebrations.
Hundreds of past and present staff, students and families attended the events to honour the school and show their continued allegiances.
On the Friday, a Mass was held for the 54 students and 27 staff who now make up the school. Those forced to leave in 2006 – when the closure was first announced – were also invited.
Campus minister James Hodge said a barbeque lunch was enjoyed and the boys performed the traditional “Rosa Dash'” – a race through the school grounds, which dates back to the 1940s.
“The boys who left were really pleased to be back and they were saying it was so good to feel the Rosa spirit again,” he said.
“It was nice for us to have them here too, it felt like a bit of a school again.”
Celebrations continued the following day, when more than 400 people walked through the college for its last official open day.
Much reminiscing took place in a “mini-museum”, displaying various historical items including a collection of photos from the 1930s and ’40s and a book containing written pieces about the school from as early as 1928.
Mr Hodge said despite a nostalgic feeling, the mood was generally positive.
“We were overwhelmed by the amount of people coming through the doors,” he said.
“There was a real sense of being pleased to see people and everyone was saying how glad they were to have been part of such a rich history.
“It brought back memories for people – some happy, some sad – but overall the feeling was very sentimental.”
One past student, Dennis Donaldson, whose father, brothers, cousins and sons all attended Marist Rosalie, said he “wouldn’t have missed it for the world”.
And upon browsing the many artefacts Mr Donaldson discovered a trophy, which his deceased father had donated to the school for an under-12 athletics champion.
“Finding that trophy was the highlight of our day, but it’s always great to go back to your old school,” Mr Donaldson said.
That evening, more than 200, including 12 Marist Brothers from around NSW and Queensland, attended a college dinner at the Greek Club and Convention Centre, South Brisbane.
Events still to be held before the college closes at the end of the year include a family picnic day at the La Valla playing fields in Fig Tree Pocket on September 14 and a final college Mass on November 30.
