Br James Athanasius McGlade - 'Athy'
Br James McGlade had a wealth of knowledge and a huge passion for the Strathfield Mount Saint Mary Campus as well as St Patricks College next-door. He engaged with people, he listened to them, he was always definite, he knew his own mind and he would not compromise his own integrity. From 1933 until December 2012, Br McGlade had lived on the Strathfield campuses of Mount St Mary, St Patricks College and Treacey Villa. He loved all elements of Strathfield and helped the community in any way possible.
McGlade taught and lectured at the Catholic Teachers College now called the ACU Strathfield Campus. He was a vivid member of the Christian Brothers in Strathfield in the areas of sport, literature, art, history and music. There was never a person that wouldn't speak highly of Br Athanasius and his ability to communicate his vivid knowledge about the Strathfield community with others.
In August 2012, the Australian Catholic University Art Gallery at Mount St Mary’s Campus, Strathfield, was officially named the McGlade Gallery, in honour of Br James McGlade’s passion for good art and his "weekly exhibitions of copies of the Masters at Mount St Mary’s over a period of 30 years" (Catholic Weekly 2010). He is an extremely cherished man whose legacy will live on. The 'Br Athanasius McGlade Award for First Year English Literature' was established to honour his long and distinguished association with the campus by his friends and admirers. (ACU annual report 2010)
Brother James McGlade checking his Leaving Certificate results in 1942.