Tenison Woods College student Patrick McCourt is celebrating after winning the prestigious Tenison Woods College Flyers Award. Patrick received his award at an assembly late last year, with students participating in a prayer dedicated to remembering those who died or suffered during Australia’s involvement in all wars and armed conflicts.
During the assembly, Mount Gambier RSL President Bob Sandow shared with the students the brief stories of four old scholars of Marist Brothers Agricultural College, Anthony Casadio, John Friedricks, Reginald Van Leuven and Errol Kavanagh.
Not only were they all old scholars of Marist Brothers Agricultural College, they were all pilots and tragically, all four men died while flying. Mr Sandow, who is the brainchild behind the Flyers Award, approached the college about five years ago to create a scholarship in their honour.
“This scholarship values the values of Tenison Woods College. The aim of the scholarship is to reward a student who has had a go, not the most scholastic,” he said. “The Tenison Flyers Award came together after finding out there were four old scholars, who all died flying.
“For some reason, the history about Anthony Casadio and what he accomplished in his short life basically got into my heart. “Over the years I have gathered whatever I could about him.”
Mr Sandow said this had opened up an enormous response. “I am so pleased that people have faith in me to do the right thing with any information given which eventually goes into the RSL museum here in Mount Gambier,” he said.
“After my research on Anthony Casadio, I then heard about Errol Kavanagh RAN who was also a Marist Brothers boy. “What a hero Errol turned out to be! “John David Friedrich was next, hiding in plain sight.
“After a discussion a connection was made to family of John’s and I was able to speak to a Wing Commander of the day, a Roulette leader. “He was happy to speak to me and I was able to put him in touch with family.
“Then I heard about Reg Van Leuven from Naracoorte, another Marist Brothers old scholar. “Here was a bloke who had a pilot’s licence before he could drive a motor vehicle. The Naracoorte Airfield is named after Reg.”
Mr Sandow said, except for Tony, all of the men survived Vietnam then died doing what they had always wanted to do – that is fly. “Tenison Woods College/ Marist Brothers Agricultural College gave them their wings and the Defence Force taught them to fly,” he said.
“My wife and I fund the award on behalf of the Mount Gambier Community RSL and will continue to do so as long as we can. “The Tenison Woods College Flyers Award honours the sacrifice and service of those men and women who served their country in a variety of military capacities and seeks to acknowledge a senior school student who has demonstrated their ability to go beyond what is generally expected of them, put others before themselves and has a strong sense of comradeship.
“Their service to the college community and beyond is an honour to themselves, their families and the college.” Mr Sandow said Patrick received the award for being a positive, caring and hard-working young man. “He is a loyal friend and one that could always be relied upon to help if needed,” he said.
“Through his involvement in cadets for the past four years, Patrick has grown in his leadership skills and passion for mentoring, even being asked to speak to principals and Army staff members from across our state. “He is part of a family with a strong sense of social justice.
“They are committed to supporting the college community, particularly with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen program. “Patrick has been dedicated to helping in the garden as well, working at his part-time job and volunteering at other agencies such as at the Sunset Kitchen and ac.care where he makes sandwiches and delivers food.
“He also recently shaved his head for leukaemia, raising $1000.” Patrick said he was shocked and honoured to receive the award. “I was a bit shocked, I was not expecting it,” he said. “It came as a surprise to me. “I was very happy about winning the award, I took a lot of pride in it and the things that I have achieved and receiving the award.
“I feel as though the Tenison Woods College Flyers were great people that showed a lot of courage and they are a role model to students within the school, to show them what bravery, courage and respect looks like.”
