Today we celebrated Carroll Day which is a celebration of who we are as a school community but also our namesake, Emeritus Archbishop Francis Carroll, who we know as Father Francis Carroll.

Francis Patrick Carroll was born on 9 September 1930 in Ganmain, NSW. He is the second of seven children and was ordained a priest in 1954 in the town of his birth. Fr Francis Carroll became the fifth Archbishop of Canberra Goulburn in 1983. He chose as his motto: ‘Nova et Vetera’ meaning ‘things both new and old’. Archbishop Carroll retired to Wagga Wagga in 2006 where he lives to this day.

In 1992 when the Task Force entrusted with establishing a new secondary school on the South Coast was looking for a name, they settled on Carroll College. In seeking the Archbishop’s approval for the name of the new school, “the Chairman noted that the Task Force ‘recognised this suggestion as a fitting acknowledgement of your life-long association with, and contribution to, Catholic education, at various times involving all levels: parish, diocese, state, national and international.’ In his reply he wrote: “I confess to being rather embarrassed by the suggested name, ‘Carroll College’, but I am prepared to accede to the Task Force’s request and approve the title.” (N Cook, Learning for Life: The Story of Carroll College).

So today, we celebrate Archbishop Francis Carroll and recognise his extensive and dedicated service to Catholic Education in this region. We hope and trust that this school, named in his honour, is a living example of what it means to serve God and to serve others. We are sure he is very proud of the school we have become over the last 27 years.

Erica Drewsen
Religious Education Coordinator