John Crowley, the man who led St Patrick's College through one of the most difficult phases in its history, will leave the school to take up the beleaguered position of St Kevin's College headmaster.
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The St Kevin's headmaster Stephen Russell resigned on Wednesday in the wake of a series of damaging reports of the Catholic school's handling of a child grooming case.
Just hours later, it was announced his position would be filled by Mr Crowley, who had been headmaster at St Patrick's since 2014.
Stephen Hill will fill the position of acting principal at St Patrick's for the rest of 2020.
The announcement is understood to have come to as a shock to many at St Patrick's College.
Mr Crowley had only this morning wished good luck to students competing in the college's swimming sports carnival today.
A letter from governing body Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) to St Kevin's community members announced Mr Crowley as the new headmaster.
"John is a very experienced principal and acknowledged leader in Catholic education," the letter read.
"He has extensive experience in educating boys and places a very high emphasis on the academic, wellbeing and spiritual development of students.
"He is very highly regarded in the educational and broader community for his leadership.
"John is also well known as a trusted advocate for victims and survivors of abuse and was a significant contributor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
"John has our full confidence and will be strongly supported in his work of both responding to the challenges that have recently been raised for the College and ensuring that the academic, wellbeing and spiritual care of the students remain a priority."
The Courier has contacted St Patrick's College for comment.
However, it appears unlikely Mr Cowley will be available to speak to any media today due to a sudden family illness.
In a letter to staff, EREA said Mr Hill was well-placed to fill the role.
"I thank Stephen for his willingness to support the College by taking on the significant role of Acting Principal once again. Stephen will be well supported in this work by the National Director (School Engagement), Dr Adam Taylor and the EREA Regional Director, Mr Diarmuid O'Riordan," it read.
"St Patrick's College is blessed to have a hard working and dedicated staff who will continue to support the educational needs of all students in a highly professional and pastoral manner. I remain confident in their capacity to ensure the ongoing success of the College in the Edmund Rice education it offers to its young men."
In a letter issued to parents on Wednesday, the St Kevin's headmaster said students' wellbeing was his biggest priority, and "the current situation means that the best way to achieve this is to resign".
A spokesperson for St Kevin's said Mr Russell's resignation was effective immediately.
Mr Russell said he was grateful to the St Kevin's school community for the "24 years of nurturing" he and his family had received.
"I extend my best wishes and encouragement to the current student body to be 'good people, the way so many who went before them have been across the decades," Mr Russell wrote.
The headmaster praised his colleagues for their hard work, saying, "Their loyalty, diligence and astuteness have allowed us to create the fine school that St Kevin's is today."
Mr Russell thanked his family for their support during his time as headmaster.
"My family's wellbeing and safety and long term happiness have also been factors in my decision," he said in the letter.
Mr Russell was under significant pressure to resign this week after it was revealed by the ABC he provided a character reference to a court for a former volunteer athletics coach who was convicted of grooming a student under the age of 16.