St Paul’s College Traralgon

St. Paul's College in Traralgon, Victoria was founded in 1956 by the Marist Fathers as an all-boys school. In 1962, the Marist Brothers took over the administration of the School with the Brigidine Sisters establishing in the same year an all-girls school by the name of Kildare College.

In 1979 a new mini system of three schools was created based on the following:

  • Kildare College and St Paul's College would accommodate Year 7-10 students; and

  • Lourdes College (newly established) would accommodate Years 11 and 12.

In 1989, the Brigidine Sisters withdrew its participation in the administration of the system leading to the three colleges becoming one co-educational school under the name of Catholic Regional College.

In 2001, Catholic Regional College amalgamated with Presentation College Newborough creating Lavalla Catholic College. In 2005, the School appointed its first ever lay principal in Erica Pregorer, with the Marist Brothers leaving the College in October 2010 after 48 years of service.

St Paul’s College is situated within the Catholic Diocese of Sale which according to data released by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has double the national average of priests accused of child sexual abuse between 1950 to 2010. During that period, 15.1 per cent of priest in the Diocese of Sale were accused of child sexual abuse, compared to 7 per cent of priests nationally.

It is reported that one of the worst offenders at the School was Marist Brother Gerard Joseph McNamara. Brother McNamara worked as headmaster and sports master at St Paul’s Catholic College where students nicknamed him “The Rat”. In 2020, Brother McNamara was sentenced in the Victorian County Court to 35 months in prison, with 28 months suspended, after pleading guilty to four charges of indecent assault and one count of common assault. Brother McNamara indecently assaulted more than 15 students at St Paul’s between 1970 and 1975.

Moody Law has in the past represented and is still representing clients who were sexually abused by members of the Marist Brothers at various institutions.

We invite former victims, students, teachers, and parents to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.