This Friday morning September 25 when the State funeral for Hon John Fahey AC takes place at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, the college he graduated from 58 years ago will remember him also.
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John Fahey AC won a bursary to attend Chevalier College in the Southern Highlands, enrolling in 1958 and graduating in 1962.
From humble beginnings, John developed his potential and often credited the college with being a critical element in the formation of his character, his moral values and principles.
In his leaving year John was a prefect, a leader in the college's Young Catholic Society, captain of the First XI cricket team and a member of a much-acclaimed First XV rugby team.
As it turns out, this Friday morning will see the awards assembly for the Chevalier Class of 2020 commence at the same time as the state funeral for John.
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Principal Chris McDermott said that as well as acknowledging the moment at the awards assembly, all 42 of the college's home rooms will dedicate their prayers that morning to John and his family.
A candle will also be lit in his memory and placed inside the original 1885 Riversdale Chapel, that was used by the boarding students for early morning Mass during the time John was a student at Chevalier.
Waratahs - the NSW state flower- that grow on the college campus nearby John's junior dormitory in Bosco House will also be included in the floral arrangements at the Cathedral and on his casket for the burial.
"In consultation with the family, our intention is to host a large memorial event here at the college, probably in 2021 once the COVID-restrictions allow for significant public gatherings," College principal Chris McDermott said.
"Such an event can draw people together from the many different threads of John's career and also the communities he worked with over those decades, especially those in the Southern Highlands and Macarthur regions.
"We are particularly mindful that John's daughter Melanie, herself a Chevalier Past Student from the Class of 1990, is currently in the USA and probably won't be able to travel back to Australia until next year for that memorial event.
"Chevalier College has also consulted with the Fahey family and received its blessing on plans to create a scholarship in honour of John Fahey to help a student in the same way as John was helped by a competitive bursary to study here.
"We are able to commit to offering that scholarship commencing in 2022, 60 years after John graduated.
"The inaugural scholarship will be financially underwritten by the college but we shall be inviting public support to sustain and grow an endowment fund in John Fahey's memory to ensure the scholarship can be perpetual in nature."
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