With access to a range of high-quality sporting facilities in our city, St Andrew’s Cathedral School has a long-standing tradition of extending learning beyond the classroom through sports and co-curricular activities.
Gymnastics classes began as early as 1886 and cricket teams date back as far as 1890, with Archbishop Dr Saumurez Smith being invited to play a few overs with the students – and was bowled out for a duck in short order.
Boxing was conducted in Chapter House in the 1950s, with the students facing up against each other using a ring borrowed from the Police Citizens Boys’ Club – the same ring where Jimmy Caruthers won the Bantamweight world championship.
St Andrew’s goes co-ed
As the School welcomed girls in 1999, girls’ sporting teams naturally followed. In our inaugural year of co-education, we fielded girls’ teams in several sports including hockey, netball, water polo, tennis, swimming and athletics.
A rich history of fencing
The School has a long and successful history in the sport of fencing, which dates back as early as 1953. A photoshoot of the fencers was once taken on the rooftop of the ‘new school building’ in 1972 – three years before St Andrew’s House was even built!
Part of our success here was due to the services of ‘Maestro’ Tex Clark, who ran our fencing training for over 27 years.
In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, our fencing students had the honour of competing on the Olympic strip just before the Olympic competition took place. We even had an Old Andrean serving as the Olympic Fencing Competition Manager that year – William (Bill) Ronald (OA 1967). Bill has served our fencing programme for an extensive period and is currently our Head Coach of Fencing, a position he has held for over 10 years.
Interschool sport
Interschool sport has been part of the School’s sporting history since as far back as 1966, with games being organised on a case-by-case basis. Our involvement in more organised interschool sports began in 1996 when St Andrew’s joined the Independent Sporting Association (ISA).
This provides avenues for weekly competition but also pathways for sports not within the competition, such as boys’ hockey and girls’ rugby.
The association is made up of a diverse and eclectic group of 19 schools, ranging from schools of 500 to 3000 students, boys only, co-ed, female student cohorts within co-ed independent schools. They are as far afield as Jindabyne, Orange, Bathurst, Bowral and the Central Coast.
In addition to our involvement with ISA sports, the School has developed alternative competitions for numerous other sports, including activities that promote life-long physical activity through our Fit for Life offering.
Sporting Hall of Fame
Warwick Selvey – OA 1955 – Athletics
One of Australia’s most successful field athletes, Warwick Selvey combined national dominance with Olympic and Commonwealth Games success.
- 18 Australian Athletics Championships (1960-1973)
- Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Discus (1962)
- Olympian (1960, 1964)
- Olympic finalist in Shot Put and Discus
- Australian U16 record holder in Discus and Shot Put
- Two-time Australian Weightlifting Champion
Ronald ‘Graham’ Mills – OA 1961 – Fencing
A leading Australian épée fencer, Graham Mills excelled internationally while helping grow the sport nationally.
- Australian representative for 17 years
- Commonwealth Games Fencer (1970)
- Australian Épée Champion (1972, 1973)
- New Zealand Épée Champion (1976)
- Competed at the World Fencing Championships (1974)
- Pioneer of televised fencing in Australia
Malcolm Page OAM – OA 1989 – Sailing
A dual Olympic champion and seven-time world champion, Malcolm Page is among Australia’s greatest sailors.
- Dual Olympic Gold Medallist (2008, 2012)
- Seven-time World Champion
- Australian Sailing Team Captain (2005-2012)
- Australian Olympic Flag Bearer (2012 Closing Ceremony)
- Australian Yachtsman of the Year (2008, 2012)
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame Inductee
Matthew Levy – OA 2006 – Swimming
One of Australia’s most accomplished Paralympians, Matthew Levy competed at the highest level for almost two decades.
- Five consecutive Paralympic Games (2004-2020)
- Three-time Paralympic Gold Medallist
- Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist (2018, 2022)
- World Champion and multiple World Championship medallist
- World Record Holder
- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Chelsea Pittman – OA 2007 – Netball
An international netball star, Chelsea Pitman achieved the rare distinction of winning major titles for two nations.
- Netball World Champion (2011)
- Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist (2018)
- Netball World Cup Silver Medallist (2023)
- Netball World Cup Bronze Medallist (2019)
- Professional premiership winner across Australia, New Zealand and England
- Head Coach, Nottingham Forest Netball