DES O'BRIEN - Kyneton Marist Brothers Old Boys Association

Information about the death of Des O’Brien is recorded under ANNUAL REUNION Deceased Old Boys.

We received two itmes of interest from Old Boys who had a bit more information: –

Hello to all at the Marist Old Boys,

Today I read on the web site where a Des O’Brien had passed away tragically in a boating accident in WA. I did not know him, but the story mentioned another Des O’Brien who you believe came from Gisborne.

I believe he was from Woodend where his father, Joe in partnership with his uncle, Frank ran the O’Brien grocery store which was situated in High Street a few doors up from Keatings Hotel.

This Des O’Brien had a brother Gerald (known as Tim) who is/was very involved with the Kyneton Racing Club. From my recollection Des probably attended the Brothers during the period 1954 – 1958.

Tim O’Brien was quite an accomplished athlete and won a distance event at the Stawell Gift carnival.

Regards to all,

Tony Colwell 1951 –1954.

I knew nothing of the recently-deceased Des O’Brien for he was after my time. However, the earlier Des O’Brien was indeed tall. In fact he was the school’s tallest boy during his final year there, i.e.1958. Tall Des hailed from Woodend. His brother, a year or two younger, is officially named Gerard but since those days has been known only as Tim. He has an accountancy firm in the Woodend CBD. I have spoken with him a few times at Kyneton races.

Gerard Danaher 18/8/13

P.S: A stunning announcement:- Deceased past-student Father Ray Beare baptised me at Little River in 1946.

Oct 11, 2018
Born in Melbourne on May 30, 1941 Fr John Hegerty was the son of William, farmer and grazier and Sheila, nee O’Brien. He was the oldest in the family of two sisters and one brother, Anne (dec), Michael and Patricia.
John was educated at Metcalfe State School and Marist Brothers in Kyneton. He completed his final four years of secondary education at Xavier College, Kew in Melbourne.
After working on the family property ‘Summer Hill’ at Redesdale, Victoria John began his studies for the priesthood at St Columban’s in Sassafras in 1965 and St Columban’s College, North Turramurra. He was ordained by Archbishop Knox in St Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne on August 14, 1971. He was initially appointed to Peru where he studied language studies in Lima before becoming Assistant Priest at Resurrected Christ (Ermitano).
From 1978-1988 John was appointed to the Australian and New Zealand Region where he was Director of Spiritual Year at Turramurra for four years. He spent a year in Wernesville, Pennsylvania, USA studying Spirituality.
Upon his return to Peru, he assisted in the parish of Criso Nuestra Vida and was Director of the formation programme for Peruvian Columbans. He was also the Regional Director and Director of the Columban Spiritual Team. From 2006 until present John has assisted in the Parish of Our Lady of the Missions which is in its final stages of transition from being a Columban founded and established communion of twelve communities to being accompanied and administered by clergy of the local diocese.
For many years, John has conducted bible courses for the local people. Each year they study a bible course on the Gospels of the year which helps in the preparation of the Sunday Liturgy. John says, it has proven to be of help to both the priests and the lay ministers who preside at the Sunday liturgies of the Word with Communion.
Fr John has recently been back in Australia for a well earned rest and to catch up with family and friends. He will return to Peru later in the year.

Father John Hegerty