Remembering Chris O'Brien

On June 4, we remembered Professor Chris O'Brien AO, who died 10 years ago from a malignant brain tumour.

In memory of the much-loved head and neck cancer surgeon and the 1969 School Captain of Parramatta Marist High School, a planned program of events was held at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in RPA to celebrate his unique legacy.

We were privileged to be a part of that celebration with students from Parramatta Marist joining in with song and music. Those assembled were entertained by our String quartet - Julian Carbone, Joshua Kallarackel, Jaymes Formosa and Blake Bano as well as by our singers Liam Viray and Jonathan Pasinos with Josh Dalangin on the guitar and piano.

We were also fortunate to in being entertained by Col Joye beforehand, who stayed to watch our students perform. He was most impressed with them and our students appreciated his support of them.

Liam Duff and Daniel Cooper, our Captain and Vice Captain, spoke eloquently on the life of Chris when he was here at school. The following is a copy of their talk.

Professor Chris O’Brien

Parramatta Marist High School is the oldest Catholic school in Australia and was founded in 1820 under the direction of George Morley and Father John Terry. The pair wished to develop young children and serve the educational needs of those in the local area. This mission continued following 1875 when the school was entrusted to the care of the Marist Brothers.

Despite all of the history present at PMHS, few have left as big of an imprint on the school and evidently on Australia as Professor Chris O’Brien. Chris came to the school in 1961, starting fourth grade at the age of 9. Chris wasted little time displaying his leadership qualities and was named as a Class Captain the following year. Although obviously well known for his intelligence, it appeared Chris had an artistic side to him as well. At the school’s Talent Quest in 1962, Chris and classmate Gary Dorahy placed third with a rendition of the Academy Award winning song, ‘Moon River.’

Chris’ talents were not limited to the academic or artistic arena as he proved himself to be a more than capable sportsman. Chris was the U/12’s age champion at the 1964 School Athletics Carnival, and would win the U/13’s age championship the following year. Chris was a lasting member of PMHS’ athletics squads (representing the school in every year he was at the school), and although perhaps more gifted in the track and field, also represented the school in swimming. Chris was also a prolific member of PMHS’ rugby league teams. He was a key part of the U/13’s team that were undefeated Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) Premiers in 1965. He was a strong defender and was described by coach Noel Pettiford as “making sure the player never got between him and the tryline.” He was also a strong runner and was known as a meter-eater on the field. Chris became accustomed to victory in the sporting arena at PMHS. In 1966, Chris was again part of a rugby league premiership, with the U/14’s team, defeating Wentworthville 23-4 in the Grand Final, with Chris scoring a try in the victory.

Chris continued to be noticed for his caring and compassionate qualities, being elected again as Class Captain in 1967, and sitting on the Student Representative Council alongside future first-grade rugby league player and Australian international Denis Fitzgerald. Chris was an active member of school life at PMHS in almost every facet, sporting, academic and extra-curricular. Indeed, he was the victor of the Year 10 division of the PMHS Oratory in 1967 and during his time at school was renowned for his public speaking abilities. Also in 1967, Chris returned to the rugby league field for a third consecutive premiership at PMHS, with victory in the U/15’s Grand Final over Benedict College Auburn by a score of 10-2. The victory no doubt would’ve been extra special for Chris as he was the captain of the side.

In 1968, Chris was again elected as a Class Captain and sat on the Student Representative Council and continued to represent the school in rugby league co-captaining the U/16’s team.

He led the side on a seven-game winning streak – broken only by a 0-0 draw with Wentworthville. The team won their semi-final against Guilford by a score of 5-2 and defeated Wentworthville in the return fixture in the Grand Final, avenging the earlier draw, winning by a score of 8-3, capping off an undefeated season. For those keeping track, that was Chris’ fourth successive rugby league premiership at PMHS. Despite all of his athletic prowess and pedigree, Chris’ greatest contributions to the school came in 1969, when he was elected as School Captain for the schools 149th year. He made the finals of the ‘Youth Speaks for Australia’ competition and was also the captain of the 1st XIII rugby league team, another prestigious role that has been served in subsequent years by future first-graders such as Chris Warren, Nathan Cayless, Chad Robinson, Jamie Lyon and Paul Gallen. It is fitting then that in his final year, Chris was awarded the Brother Alman Prize for Sportsman of the Year. If it wasn’t fully on display beforehand, Chris’ academic talents shone through in 1969, as he became the Dux of the School, obtained a State Ranking in Latin alongside classmate Chris Nash and was awarded a Commonwealth Secondary Scholarship.

Chris returned to Parramatta Marist in June 2008 after his retirement to address the school. At the forefront of his words were just how important his years at PMHS were to him in his development, ‘The many years at Parramatta Marist were really the years that made me who I am…Marist instilled an enormous sense of unity and school spirit.’ It was in his parting words on that day that Chris truly encapsulated his experiences at Parramatta Marist and the many contributions that he made both at PMHS and beyond: ‘True men, with steel in their backbone, have compassion.’ Chris exemplified and is a testament to the values of Marist: Presence, Simplicity, Family Spirit, Love of Work; and In the Way of Mary. Chris truly spent his life acting with love and compassion, and followed the school motto – Fortior Ito – to go forth with strength. Although it is here today that we commemorate 10 years since Chris’ passing, for PMHS we also celebrate this year as being the 50th anniversary of Chris being named School Captain. He not only is an inspiration to students at the school but is an inspiration to the thousands of Australians that have been affected both directly and indirectly as a result of his tireless efforts towards improving the lives of cancer sufferers. Parramatta Marist will remember Chris as one of the finest young men ever to come out of the school and as one of PMHS’ favourite sons, forever living on as part of the legacy of the school community.