This is the second part of Br Noel's story. Read how his unwavering dedication to the Marist charism transcended borders and transformed countless lives.
Going to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea
After nearly 40 years of teaching across Victoria, Br Noel was invited to assist with the Marist mission in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands. True to his Marist calling, he didn’t hesitate - he simply said, “Yes.”
In 1983, he moved to Port Moresby, PNG to teach with the De La Salle Brothers. The following year, from 1984 to 1987, he taught at the National High School in Wewak, PNG.
“There were just two of us Brothers there, teaching science. I spent four years in PNG, then moved to the Solomon Islands to teach at a school there for another four years,” Br Noel recalls.
True to his Marist calling, he didn’t hesitate - he simply said, “Yes.”
“After my time in the Solomons, my superiors asked if I would take on secretarial work in Port Moresby, and I did that for six years. Then, I returned to Australia for a year to do a course in teaching English as a second language. After that, I went back to the Solomon Islands. I was teaching again, but this time, working with young men who were considering joining the Brothers. That lasted two years.”
Between 1983 and 2002, Br Noel alternated between PNG and the Solomon Islands. From 1988 to 1991, he worked in the Solomon Islands before returning to Port Moresby, where he stayed from 1991 to 1997. In 1993, he briefly travelled to Rome to complete a two-month course. Later, he returned to Tenaru (Laumanasa community), Solomons, where he served as Superior with special duties and as the School Bursar at St Joseph’s community from 2001 to early 2002.
His years in the islands were also marked by significant unrest. Both countries experienced intense ethnic conflict, some even exacerbated by government actions.
"The students were good… very good. But both PNG and the Solomons had their share of troubles. Ethnic conflicts disrupted everything. In PNG, the civil war was raging while I was there. The Bougainville copper mine issue was a major problem for the country. In the Solomons, tensions arose due to labour disputes in the palm oil industry. Employment opportunities were concentrated among certain groups, leading to overcrowding and disputes over land. Workers, along with their families, began settling in areas not designated for them, creating strain on local communities. Eventually, intense conflicts broke out between the two groups,” he explains.
"The students were good… very good. But both PNG and the Solomons had their share of troubles. Ethnic conflicts disrupted everything."
The unrest made daily life unpredictable. “It became dangerous. Several times, when the situation worsened, we were forced to shut the school down and send the boarders home. Eventually, the tensions settled, but it was a difficult time,” says Br Noel.
"I found teaching there very rewarding, especially in the Solomon Islands."
Despite these hardships, Br Noel recalls his time in the islands with great fondness. “I found teaching there very rewarding, especially in the Solomon Islands. Teaching science there was fascinating because the students weren’t used to the practical side of things. It was new to them, and I enjoyed introducing them to that hands-on learning,” he adds.
“I made friends there, of course, but keeping in contact was not easy. I am in touch with a few of my former students, not many, though. I suppose I have outlasted most of them,” he says with a chuckle.
When asked about a particularly memorable experience from his time teaching, Br Noel pauses to consider. “I suppose there were many,” he says. “But it wasn’t so much the moments themselves, but the journey that unfolded that was most memorable.”
"It wasn’t so much the moments themselves, but the journey that unfolded that was most memorable."
He continues, “I was meant to be a math teacher, but often there were already enough math teachers, so I ended up teaching other subjects - mostly science. I also taught French because we learned French in secondary school. There was an old French Brother who had come to Australia in 1903. He was French-born, of course, so we learned it properly. Latin, too. Just because it was needed at the time. I had studied it at school and took one year of it at university, so I could teach it when required.”
Coming back home
After almost 20 years in PNG and the Solomons, Br Noel retuned to Australia in 2002 as the Bursar at Churchlands, Western Australia and eventually transitioned to taking on more volunteer opportunities.
"For ten years, I visited patients in the Head Trauma Unit at Shenton Park each week."
"Back home, I took on a quieter role," he reflects. "I spent some years with the Newman College’s Education Support team. For ten years, I would also spend two hours each week visiting patients in the Head Trauma Unit at Shenton Park. Many had suffered accidents like falling off the roofs, being in car crashes. I got involved because they were looking for volunteers," he explains.
"It meant visiting once a week, just talking to people who had been injured. Sometimes, it felt like I wasn’t doing much," he admits with characteristic modesty, "but I think it was good for the patients to have someone there."
When the Unit moved to a place further away, it became too hard for Br Noel to travel, so he decided to let it go.
A Calling in Archives
With the Head Trauma Unit relocating, Br Noel found himself with unexpected free time. For decades, he had been a science teacher, but in retirement, his focus shifted to a different subject – history. Drawn to the idea of preserving the past, he gravitated toward archival work, a fitting pursuit for someone with a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for knowledge.
"I had a computer with me and suddenly more time on my hands," he says. "So, I just started working on the archives. That’s how it all began - I thought, why not help out?"
His role primarily involved identifying individuals in old photographs, ensuring their names and faces would not fade into obscurity. "I worked on the archives at Newman, alongside a very skilled archivist," he says. "She was much better at it than I was - I just helped where I could."
"I had a computer with me and suddenly more time on my hands. So, I just started working on the archives. I thought, why not help out?"
Speaking about his process, Br Noel adds, “I didn’t use any scientific research methods. I just happen to have a good memory for names and faces. I spent a lot of time identifying people in photos from the formation of the Sydney and Melbourne provinces in 1948. That was a big project for me."
Br Noel’s interest in history extended beyond the Brothers - he was also deeply curious about his own family’s past.
"I do what I can. I have a lot of information to pass on - to make sure it’s not lost."
As he delved into his family’s records, he uncovered numerous interesting stories. "One of my uncles was killed in the first World War. A cousin too died in the second World War. Canberra has excellent records," he notes. "They make it easy to find information."
"I don’t do much of that anymore," he admits with a small laugh. "Using the computer is difficult now." Still, he remains engaged in his own way. "I do what I can," he said. "I have a lot of information to pass on - to make sure it’s not lost."
Br Noel continues to be extremely close to his family, especially his 20 grandnieces and grandnephews. "We get together for Christmas and Easter, and there’s a big celebration coming up for my birthday!"
Advice for New Brothers
As the centenarian approaches his milestone birthday, it is remarkable to reflect on his more than 80 years as a Marist Brother - a journey that has spanned decades, witnessed profound global and national upheavals, and taken him through many challenging missions. Over such a long and eventful path, has he ever experienced doubts about his vocation or any regrets?
"I imagine most people experience doubt at some point," he admits. "You wonder - was this really a sensible decision? But I never reached the point of saying, 'I have had enough of this.' It was never a decision I felt I needed to reconsider. I was always happy with what I was doing,” he shares.
"I never reached the point of saying, 'I have had enough of this.' It was never a decision I felt I needed to reconsider. I was always happy with what I was doing."
To the many young Brothers joining the order across the Province, he has this advice to give, “Discuss everything openly - don’t hide anything. Everyone faces difficulties, but it’s important to talk about them. Even if they are not serious problems, sharing them makes a difference."
"Be honest about struggles. Don’t keep things bottled up."
"Be honest about struggles. Don’t keep things bottled up."
Now, as he celebrates his 100th year, Br Noel’s legacy is not just in the years he has lived but in the countless lives he has empowered. From a boy growing up in turbulent times to guiding young minds in challenging circumstances, he has remained steadfast in his vocation, meeting each challenge with humility and unwavering commitment. As he reaches this extraordinary milestone, he continues to inspire with his wisdom, humour, and humility. His journey is a reminder that a life of purpose, lived in service to others, is a life truly well lived.
Happy Birthday, Br Noel!
Special thanks to Brothers John Furlong, Community Leader of Western Australia, and Michael Flanagan, Archivist of the Star of the Sea Province, for sharing these photographs.
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