Brother James Anselm Kearney was one of the many Irish Christian Brothers who were destined to spend nearly all their teaching lives in Australia. After a Christian Brothers education in Ireland, Brother Kearney came to Australia in 1911 and from then until his death in 1964 he served as teacher and headmaster throughout Australia. He was a Master of Arts at a time when Masters' degrees were quite uncommon. His M.A. thesis was concerned with English literature, particularly comedy, but he taught Latin and French as well, had a good knowledge of Greek, was fond of teaching singing and was an accomplished pianist.

The Provincial Council appointed him to numerous superiorships, including Terrace on two occasions, from 1925 until 1930 and from 1935 to 1937. It was during his time here at Terrace that he taught many of our distinguished old boys, specially from the Mahoney and Windsor families. During his time here the swimming pool was built. It was quite unusual for a day school to have one in 1927. Wishing Terrace to have a school song he chose the stirring melody of Men of Harlech and himself composed the lyrics which we still sing, more than sixty years after it was first sung at Speech Night, 1929.

It was said of him that his discipline was his affection, and that this was returned by his students. His name and his life have set a high standard for both students and staff of Kearney house to emulate. Let us hope that all of us endeavour to do this.