Vincent
Malachy Doran was born in Gosford NSW in 1910. He was educated at the Christian
Brothers’ College in Burwood, Sydney, and he joined the Christian Brothers in
1926. In 1934 he read of a place called Abergowrie in the Sydney Mail
newspaper, where it was reported that a mailman had had his packhorse taken by
a crocodile while swimming the Herbert River. A little later Br Doran received
directions, with two other Christian Brothers, to go to Abergowrie, where
they were to establish an agricultural
boarding school at the request of Bishop Maguire.
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| St Teresa's College, Abergowrie. Photograph of an original painting by Barbara Saxton |
Life
at the school was primitive. Clearing still needed to be done, there was no
power or refrigeration, and transport was a huge problem. Classes were
conducted in an outdoor classroom with twelve students.
In
1938 Br Doran was transferred to Melbourne, and then to Sydney. In 1954 he was
the founding principal of an agricultural boarding school at Goulburn, NSW. In
1958 he was transferred back to the place he loved most, Abergowrie. By then
the college was a successful secondary boarding school with an enrolment of
120. Ill health caused him to return to Sydney, and then to the Brothers’
community house at Stanwell Park where he was manager and caretaker.
In
1978 he was invited back to Abergowrie to set up a welding shop for the
students. He stayed for six months, and from then on he tried to return each
winter. He would take part in school activities such as camps and gymkhanas
even when he was in his eighties. He shared his knowledge of the history of the
college and the district, and he wrote historical articles for the college
jubilee magazines.
In
the 1980’s however, he suffered a spinal cancer, lost the use of his legs and
was confined to hospital and then a wheelchair. He was extremely disappointed
that he was unable to participate in the Bicentennial Trail Ride which followed
the original packhorse route from Abergowrie to Valley of Lagoons. However he
made a miraculous recovery, and was able to return to Abergowrie again. He
resumed driving, and in 1993 he rode a horse 50 kilometres on a trail ride over
the original Dalrymple track from Abergowrie to Cardwell. In 1994 he
participated in another 50 kilometre trail ride from Abergowrie to Wallaman
Falls.
Br
Doran died at the age of 88. His courtesy, his sense of humour, his endurance
and his wonderful memory were an inspiration to everyone who knew him.
SOURCE: Doran, V.M. A History of Abergowrie. Compiled by Christopher and Vivienne Parry.
