Viewpoint

The College was an early adopter of electricity, using its own generator for electricity during the late 1890s and into the early 20th century before connecting to Sydney's municipal grid in the 1900s. Specifically, the college established its own power and lighting plant in 1898 to generate electricity for the campus and the observatory.

The College Observatory is another significant historic facility that is easily overlooked, despite its prominent location above the southern slopes of First Field. Few know its significance as a base for international research in astronomy, seismology and meteorology. The founder of the observatory and perhaps its most famous scientist was the Jesuit Fr Edward Pigot SJ (1858-1929). He set up the observatory in 1907, one of Australia’s earliest and most significant scientific observatories.

Earlier this week, walking back from a meeting through the Arrupe Building and beneath the great iron staircase in the Western stairwell, I was struck again by the story of Fr Edward Francis Pigot SJ and his remarkable pendulum experiment, which he conducted in that space.

Fr Edward Francis Pigot was an Irish-born Australian Jesuit, scientist, astronomer, and seismologist. His life seamlessly united rigorous scientific inquiry with a profound religious vocation. His legacy is woven into the Jesuit tradition of scholarship and into the very identity of Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview. Fr Pigot arrived in Australia in 1888 seeking better health and soon began teaching in Jesuit schools. At Riverview, where he served as science master from 1889, he also taught mathematics and music. He quickly became known for his intelligence, curiosity, and gentle character.

He envisioned Riverview as a centre of scientific excellence. One of his greatest achievements was the creation of the Riverview College Observatory. Meteorological observations began there on 1 January 1908, driven by Pigot’s belief that students should learn science by observing the natural world, not merely reading about it.

^{An aerial shot of the observatory in 1946.}

^{Fr Edward Pigot SJ}

In 1909, he installed Wiechert seismographs, making Riverview one of the first locations in the Southern Hemisphere to record earthquakes. Pigot documented seismic events worldwide and shared his findings with international researchers.

The North Shore Times (October 26, 2017) describes such an encounter. “An amazing coincidence occurred when a famed Japanese seismologist visited Riverview in 1923. Fusakichi Omori was a leader in his field and was visiting the observatory to meet with Father Pigot. While in the vault, the pair saw a violent earthquake being recorded on the seismic equipment. The quake turned out to have destroyed Omori’s home city of Tokyo. More than 140,000 people died in the disaster. The 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area near noon on September 1."

Among his most intriguing contributions was his work with the Foucault Pendulum, a device demonstrating the Earth’s rotation. Between 1915 and 1917, Pigot used a long pendulum to measure the Earth’s rotation, with one experiment conducted in Riverview's western Arrupe stairwell. Working between 1.00 and 4.00 am, he used a light on the end of the pendulum suspended from the ceiling to record the pendulum's movement on photographic paper. Experiments such as this showcased his creativity, precision, and determination to understand the physical world.

Pigot and the designer of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Dr JCC Bradfield, were friends and professional colleagues. They shared a strong connection through the scientific community in Sydney. The two men often collaborated on complex mathematical calculations related to seismology and structural engineering, including for the Harbour Bridge, which was then under construction. Because of their close friendship and mutual respect, Bradfield was listed among the prominent mourners who attended Fr Pigot’s funeral in 1929.

Why does Pigot matter to us today? He stands as a powerful example of the Jesuit ideal: the harmony of faith and reason. His work at Riverview helped lay the foundations of Australia’s early scientific infrastructure, particularly in seismology and astronomy. His pendulum experiments, eclipse expeditions, and solar studies placed Australian science firmly on the global stage. His friend and colleague Professor Sir Edgeworth David, an acclaimed geologist, wrote the following eulogy in the “Catholic Press”:

“By his death Australian science and the science of seismology have sustained a loss that is almost irreparable. He initiated what now ranks among the very best seismological observatories in the world. He was able to secure the best instruments for recording the variations in heat transmitted from the sun to the earth for his solar observatory at Riverview, and to make observations.

It was not only for his profound learning that scientists reverenced him. They could not fail to be attracted by his magnetic personality, for though frail and often in weak health, he ever preserved the same charming and cheerful manner, and was full of eagerness and enthusiasm in discussing plans for the better pursuit of scientific truth. Surely there. never was any scientific man so well beloved as he”.

Fr Pigot’s legacy endures in the Riverview Observatory, which remains active to this day. The large telescope housed under the curved observatory roof was lovingly restored by Mr Bob Marsh, Director of the Observatory for 23 years. The seismographs are fully integrated into national networks, allowing data to be transmitted in real time directly to government servers, such as Geoscience Australia.

Year 7 Mother and Son Mass and Dinner

On Sunday, 14 June, we celebrated the Year 7 Mother and Son Mass, followed by a shared dinner. It was a truly special evening dedicated to honouring our Year 7 mothers and celebrating the unique relationships they share with their sons. Many people contributed to making the event a success, including Christine Zimbulis, Heather Mitchell and Christine Moriarty, whose efforts were greatly appreciated.

A heartfelt thank you to our P&F President, Claudia McInerney and our wonderful MC Melissa Hartmann, who is also a Year 7 mother. Their leadership and warmth set the tone for a memorable night.

The evening featured a Mother–Son Reflection delivered by Sarah and George Wormwell, our College Captain of Day Boys. They shared humorous and heartfelt memories of their time at the College. One message stood out: “There are so many opportunities here – take them!” A powerful reminder for all our Year 7 families.

Riverview is my son’s school – but it has also been where I have learned some great lessons on how to be a mother. I thought I would pass on some of the best advice I have been given over the years. Some of it I learned on the sidelines at Saturday sport or at the house events or in the group chats – some of the best insights have come from functions like these.

One lesson came from a mother of eight. She gave the City Country mothers' address in 2021 and as a mother of seven boys you can imagine she knew a thing or two.

Her speech was very funny. So many great anecdotes – celebrating the joy her boys had found at Riverview. But then it took a more serious turn. She is a doctor and sees first-hand the very real struggles that teenagers can face. She said that for every child that loves their time at Riverview, there will be those that find it hard – and that we must always be on the look-out for those boys. Riverview is not always perfect – no bureaucracy or institution is. But it tries very hard she said. I wholeheartedly agree! And I can honestly say it has been almost perfect for my boys and me. I hope it is for you too.

We also extend our gratitude to the Year 7 and 8 Year Group Coordinators for their work in helping organise the Mass, preparing the photo slideshow, and coordinating volunteers on the night. Their dedication ensured the event ran smoothly and was enjoyed by all.

‘ShakespeaRealism’

On Friday 12 June I attended a student drama performance of ShakespeaRealism.

New creative heights were reached this year as students not only took to the stage but they also stepped confidently into the Director’s chair(s). It was the first ever student-led drama performance at our College. I commend all involved including the Directors (Year 10) – Oliver Schmid and Harry Johnston and starring Bede Mercer, Jimmy Fitzgibbon, Yalyal Hick, Oliver Nesbitt and Angus Allen. Thank you also to Ms Arnott’s guidance of the boys.

The student-led approach brought a fresh energy to the performance, showcasing their ability to collaborate, problem-solve, and shape a compelling story from start to finish.

It was a testament to what young artists can achieve when given the freedom to lead.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart

Last week, we united as a College to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart is celebrated on the Friday after the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, which places it in June each year.

At its core, the Feast of the Sacred Heart honours the totality of Christ’s love - His humanity, His suffering, and His divine mercy, symbolised by His Heart. The “Heart of Jesus” is understood as the centre of His person, the place where divine and human love meet. This devotion reflects the belief that Jesus’ Heart continues to pour out grace, compassion, and forgiveness for all people.

In my homily, I spoke of how each of us is uniquely loved by God and uniquely gifted.

“Each of you has specific God-given gifts and talents. Often needing development and discovery. Sometimes we don’t discover our gifts until we are older, or we meet a friend or teacher who has observed gifts of which we were unaware. When you use these gifts, you are doing what you were made to do, and this gives God pleasure”.

A response to God’s unique gifts is illustrated by the story of Eric Liddell, a British athlete who competed in the 1921 Paris Olympics.

The film “Chariots of Fire” was released to great acclaim in 1981. It is the heart-warming story of a Chinese missionary and Olympic runner, Eric Liddell. There are many memorable moments in the film, but my favorite is when Eric is trying to explain to his sister Jenny why he continues to run of which she doesn’t approve. She wants him to go engage in missionary work in China, and not run in the Olympics. He says this to Jenny: “I believe God made me for a purpose: for China. But He also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure.” When we exercise our special gifts and talents, we give God praise and can feel his pleasure.

Our society sometimes judges those who appear to have few gifts or nothing to offer. Perhaps we come across others whose life appears to be challenging, such as the homeless, those in poverty, the lonely or the anxious. But each person has gifts, a story, a name, and when we engage, we find we are blessed through the encounter.