Earlier this week I attended the funeral of my former St Bede’s Headmaster, Br Bill Firman, at St Patrick’s Mentone. A huge crowd gathered to farewell the great man, such that, having arrived at 11.15am for an 11.30am start, Kilbreda great Sr Reba and I missed out on a booklet. Fortunately, we knew all the hymns and prayers.

Br Bill was educated by the Brigidines at Malvern from Prep to Grade 2. He had been visiting Tasmania and ended up in hospital in Launceston where he died, quite unexpectedly. A wonderful leader, having been in charge at St Bede’s from the age of 33 from 1975-87, Br Bill was later Headmaster at De La Salle, Malvern and Provincial. During his time at St Bede’s, he worked alongside several Kilbreda Principals. He features in our history A View from the Tower at a speech night in 1979, sitting alongside Sisters Rosemarie Joyce, Mary Lacey, Kieran Mongan and Margaret Duffy. In 1986, our debutantes were presented to Sister Mary Dalton and Br Bill.

Following many years in leadership in school and at Boystown in Beaudesert, Queensland, Br Bill was approached to lead a group of religious responding to the drastic situation in South Sudan. He formed the organisation Solidarity with South Sudan (SwSS), where he remained, despite civil war, when many other groups left. “Builder Bill” as he became known, oversaw the building of wonderful facilities including a library and classrooms at the Solidarity Teacher Training College in Yambio.

Fr Jim Greene, a former director of SwSS, said of him, “he was a cornerstone of our organisation. He will be deeply missed and remembered for his profound generosity, his passionate commitment and steadfast attention to the needy; his dedication and life were a testament to compassion and service”.

Br Bill loved a quote. So do I. So why not finish with a quote from the great soul himself. “Enjoy each day as a gift and light your faith lamp at each new obstacle that obstructs your way. Continue to live and to love God and others. It is never enough merely to exist. May we be faithful to who we are meant to be, for as long as we enjoy the gift”.

Damian Smith

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