We are very sad to hear of the passing of one of our wonderful SPC supporters, James (Jim) Farrell (SPC 1941-44).
Jim was an active member of the College community, attending many 每日大赛网址首页进入 Day luncheons and was a regular of The Harp Old Boys Group that gathered for lunches at The Harp of Erin Hotel in Kew.
James Anthony Farrell, or Jim to his family and friends, passed away peacefully at 93 years of age on August 30, 2020.
A boarder from Moyhu, Jim completed his matriculation at SPC and was a member of the Sodality of Our Lady. His family believe Jim鈥檚 time at St Pat鈥檚 provided an invaluable foundation for a lifelong career in education. Upon matriculating, Jim spent a year at Corpus Christi Seminary in Werribee, before studying teaching at Bendigo Teachers College, where he met Bonnie Ryan to whom he was married in 1949.
Just two weeks after cancer had claimed Jim鈥檚 second born David at 16 months, that Jim stepped into the fight of his own life against an aggressive cancer. Following months of unsuccessful treatment, and an increasingly dire prognosis, Jim and Bonnie鈥檚 prayers were answered in the form of an extraordinarily ambitious series of surgeries headed by world renowned Alan 鈥淭he Vicar鈥� Wakefield. In many respects a world first, the cancerous flesh of Jim鈥檚 lower face down to his chest was removed and the area was reconstructed from flesh that was grafted from his torso.
The recovery was extraordinarily gruelling and came with more hurdles. Jim had to learn to speak again through his new mouth and in time he rediscovered his magnificent speaking voice. Jim鈥檚 return to teaching was thwarted when the Education Department advised that his physical appearance might not be fit for the classroom. Eventually Jim was offered a teaching position at East Gippsland outpost, Cabbage Tree Creek.
In addition to holding down senior teaching roles and the demands of an ever-growing family, in his late 30鈥檚 Jim returned to study and qualified as an educational psychologist before a stint lecturing at Melbourne University. Jim went on to have a successful career at Victoria鈥檚 Catholic Education Office, where he held various leadership positions, mainly as an educational consultant, through to his late retirement at 70.
Jim鈥檚 son-in-law Thomas (Tucker) Cunningham boarded at the College in the 50鈥檚, and grandsons Tom and Ben (College Captain 1999) Cunningham boarded in the 90鈥檚. Until his passing, Jim was Peter MacCallum鈥檚 longest surviving cancer patient. For good reason he was a powerful advocate for the vital work of Peter Mac.
Jim is survived by 13 of his 16 children, 44 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren (at last count). We thank Jim鈥檚 son Brendan for assisting with this tribute.
