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13 March 2023

The Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) has been saddened to learn of the passing of long-serving Commission Director Dr Alan Druery OAM.

QCEC Acting Executive Director Chris Woolley said Dr Druery had made an enormous contribution to education in Queensland over more than 50 years.

“Alan Druery was a passionate believer in Catholic education and devoted most of his professional life to its service,” Mr Woolley said.

“Dr Druery was integral in forming the Catholic education system we know in Queensland today and in ensuring Catholic schools have professional, well trained staff.

“He led QCEC for 28 years as Director through some major changes in education and in the Catholic Church and left us with a stronger, more resilient Catholic education sector as a result.”

Mr Woolley said Dr Druery’s influence went well beyond Catholic schools.

“Dr Druery’s commitment to high quality teacher training has benefited schools across all sectors and we are grateful for his contribution across all education sectors over his long career.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Druery family at this time as we give thanks for his long and rich service to Catholic education,” Mr Woolley said.

Dr Druery was appointed as Secretary to the Queensland Catholic Education Office shortly after the Commission’s inception in June 1973. He would remain with QCEC until his retirement in 2001.

Alan Druery was born in Cairns and began school at St Francis Xavier Primary School in West Mackay before moving to the Christian Brothers College in Mackay. Following his father’s death in an industrial accident, the family moved to Brisbane when Alan was in his early teens. He completed his schooling at St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane, before heading to the Teachers Training College at Kelvin Grove in Brisbane. Dr Druery graduated in 1955 and for the next 15 years taught in Catholic and government schools. Most of his teaching career was spent back at his old school, St Laurence’s.

Following a few years as an administrator with the Archdiocese of Brisbane Education Council, in 1973 he became the first Secretary of what was then known as the Queensland Catholic Education Office, now the QCEC Secretariat. Dr Druery was integral to the newly formed Commission and its secretariat being able to respond to the demands of a new funding regime as the federal government of the time committed to fund non-government schools. Dr Druery was made QCEC Director in 1983 following the resignation of the inaugural Director, Fr Barney O’Shea.

In his farewell speech in 2001, Dr Druery counted among the Commission’s achievements the reduction in class sizes which had often been in excess of 70 students in the early 1970s, improved pay for teachers in Catholic schools which had long been less than that of teachers in the government sector, and the forging of partnerships with State and Federal governments.

Dr Druery was a strong advocate for the introduction of more lay staff in Catholic schools and from the beginning of his tenure argued that they could and should fill the growing need for teachers and support staff. Through this advocacy and his deep interest in teacher education, he began his connection with McAuley College, now Australian Catholic University (ACU), and negotiated the entry of the first group of lay students there. He retained strong links with ACU and served as an ACU Senate member from 1991-2010. He was made a Doctor of the University in 2011.

In 1997 Dr Druery was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australian for service to education, particularly through the Queensland Catholic Education Commission. In 2001 he received the Centenary Medal, awarded to those who had made a contribution to the Federation of Australia, Australian society and government.

Dr Druery’s significant contribution to education in Queensland is also recognised through the Dr Alan Druery OAM Excellence in Teaching Award, presented each year by the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) as part of its TeachX Awards program. He served for 22 years with the QCT’s predecessor organisations, the Board of Teacher Registration and the Board of Teacher Education.

After retiring from QCEC in 2001, Dr Druery served as Executive Officer to then Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby. He retired from that role in 2004 but continued his work with ACU until 2010.

Dr Druery is survived by his wife Helena and their children and grandchildren.