OLOL HISTORY

At the turn of the century the present Sunnybank Parish was a sparsely populated and
largely unheard of area to the southeast of the township of Brisbane. It was not until the
First World War and the establishment of the railway line that a few small crop farmers arrived
to take advantage of the rich volcanic soil.

By the mid 1930's there was a small cluster of homes around the Sunnybank railway station.
The residents asked the priest at Moorooka, of which Sunnybank was then part, for Mass to
be offered in the area. In the years before the Second World War Father Flanagan, the parish
priest of Moorooka, would drive out to Sunnybank on a Saturday morning to say Mass for the
locals in the Sunnybank Library.

By 1938 this small community had built a permanent church on
Mains Road, near where the present front building of the school
stands. This church was to serve the people of Sunnybank until
1961, being extended to accommodate the slowly expanding
community.

Post-war re-settlement and the need for cheap housing saw the
first real influx of people to the Sunnybank area. A barely viable school was established in 1952
with the purchase of an Army hut converted by voluntary labour, to serve as two classrooms.
The Sisters of St. Joseph would travel to Sunnybank each day on the train from Moorooka to
conduct the classes. The Sisters continued to travel daily to Sunnybank until 1958 when a new
brick convent was built to provide a permanent home for the Sisters at Sunnybank.
The convent is an excellent example of the community spirit of this parish, being built entirely by
voluntary labour.

1955 was an important year for our community because Archbishop Duhig decided that
Sunnybank should be separated from its home parish of Moorooka. From the first Sunday in
January 1955 Father James Brosnan was appointed Sunnybank's first Parish Priest. His was a
difficult task. With only minimal resources he began the daunting task of inaugurating a new
parish and in the same year took the major step of purchasing the property on which the
present church, presbytery and complex are now situated.

With the growth in the number of families in the parish came the pressing need for more
classrooms, which necessitated the building of a three-roomed block which is situated directly
behind the convent. In the days before any government funding, this building only became a
reality through the efforts of parishioners who, weekend after weekend, volunteered their
labour and resources so that it could be opened in 1960.

In November 1961 Father Brosnan was transferred to Manly and later to Cleveland
as parish priest. Shortly after his appointment to Cleveland he was forced to enter
hospital. Cancer was diagnosed and he died on January 3, 1966. Father Brosnan
was succeeded at Sunnybank by Father Tom Hegerty.In 1963 our present parish
church was built and over the subsequent years modified to meet the
requirements initiated by the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council.

The mid 1960's saw the start of major suburban development in the Sunnybank
area. The increase in population is reflected in our school numbers which made it
necessary in 1968 to open a two-storey block and Administration Centre. In 1970
the farm house, which had been used as a Presbytery since Father Brosnan
purchased the land in 1956, was replaced by the present brick presbytery as the permanent
home for our priests. The parish continued to struggle to meet the needs of its ever expanding
community.

In 1972 another school block consisting of two triple teaching
areas, withdrawal areas, staff room and office was opened. This
was the first open plan structure in the Catholic Primary
Education System in Queensland. As the years progressed,
existing school buildings were modified and any new buildings
erected were in keeping with this modern team-teaching form
of education.

In 1976 the second double-storey building, which runs parallel to Mains Road at the back of the
premises, was opened and in 1977 a modern air-conditioned school library became a reality.

Years of capital expenditure directed towards the school enabled the parish to accept all
children whose parents wished them to be enrolled. The next major project was the
establishment of the Parish Complex to cater for our entire parish community. It was opened
in 1979 and plays an essential part in our parish community. The next project was the building
in 1985 of our Parish Swimming Pool. An enthusiastic swimming club built the grandstand a
few years later, and in 1990 completed the Gymnasium attached to the pool. In 1991 a smaller
pool was built to cater for the needs of the younger children.

One of the projects of our 1989 Planned Giving Programme was the establishment of an
After-school and Vacation Care Programme. House and land for this facility was purchased by
the parish and the centre is now in operation. During this time too, a new permanent roof was
added to the school library. Early in 1991 the new Parish Office Block was opened, providing
much needed offices for our parish staff and a central meeting area for community groups
with the parish. As well a financial commitment was given to the development of a
family/youth camp at Lake Moogerah. This facility provides parishes and group with an excellent
outdoor resource.

Today Our Lady of Lourdes is a thriving parish. In 2002 the school addressed the need for
updating and modernising the existing school; currently a number of new building structures
are being added, including classrooms being built on top of the library roof. The Sisters of
St. Joseph are no longer in residence and the convent is now used as living quarters for
the Assistant Priests and any visiting priests.

Monday July 10, 2000, was a very sad day in the history of the Parish when the much loved
Parish Priest, the Very Reverend Father Thomas Hegerty passed away while celebrating Mass.
The parish continues to do the work of God under the guidance of the parish priest,
Father Ray Kearney.

FR THOMAS HEGERTY

THOMAS ANTHONY HEGERTY was born on 23rd March 1929 in Brisbane, to parents Stan and Gett Hegerty. He was the eldest of three children, including his sister, Marie, and brother, Leo. The Hegerty family first resided in Moorooka.

Thomas Hegerty attended St Brendan's Convent School at Moorooka and then St Laurence's. He completed his senior studies at the Seminary, after which he began his priestly studies.

Archbishop Duhig ordained Thomas Hegerty on 30th June 1952 in St Stephen's Cathedral. Fr Hegerty began his priestly ministry as Associate Pastor at St Brendan's, Moorooka, where he remained for nine years. He was appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sunnybank, on 14th November 1961.

The Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes is indebted to Fr Hegerty for his vision and dedication in building a vital and life-giving community. Throughout his ministry Fr Hegerty was dedicated to helping anyone in need, from the infants baptised into the faith, to those who were frail and in need of special support.
In a recent publication, Fr Hegerty expressed his pride in what the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes had accomplished. It has come about because of teamwork: a Christian community sharing a vision and working to realise that vision with dedication, generosity, compassion and tireless energy, " he said.
Fr Tom Hegerty, also affectionately known as 'Hegs', will long be remembered by all those whom he faithfully served.

Our Priest, Brother and Friend - Thomas Anthony Hegerty - may you rest in peace.