It’s been a week…as we celebrated the Feast Day of Edmund Rice, we also lost two Christian Brothers who have contributed much to our EREA schools. Brother Paul Conn will not be known to many in the Ipswich Community. As Principal of Ignatius Park in Townsville and Christian Brothers College Lewisham in Sydney, there will be many in these colleges who remember him fondly.
For us and for our part we also lost a treasure of our story, a man influential and pivotal in the journey of countless individuals, Brother Ted Magee. Personally I have a very vivid memory of Ted as the Principal who in the course a sleepless night created a vertical pastoral care system, the House System.
Arriving at school one morning he’d already thought the entire thing through; names of houses; Barrett, Kearney, Mahoney, Reidy, Treacy, Windsor; colours of houses, Dark Blue, Yellow, Light Blue, Green, Orange and Grey. Additionally, he’d thought through who would be his founding House Deans. It was my very great privilege to be seen by him as a viable proposition for this position. And so, I was, a reasonably inexperienced teacher, appointed as the founding Dean of Reidy House, Colours Red, White and Green, because according to Ted “Ray…you’re Italian”, so why not?
There is so much to say and so many stories to tell. As a deeply humble man I’m sure Ted would wonder what all the fuss is about, but there are multitudes of memories, stories and myths, authentic or apocryphal, they are best shared with friends and face to face.
However, as part of Ted’s outward story I leave you with the words of Brother Michael Talty on behalf of the Leadership Team of Christian Brothers Oceania Province.
Dear Brothers and Friends
It is with heartfelt sorrow that I inform you of the passing of Br Lionel Davis Edward 'Ted' Magee at his home in Bundaberg sometime during the night of Sunday, April 27th. Ted, as he was known by many, had finished his evening watching television and was found the following morning by his sister, silent and slumped, with the television still on.
Lionel was born in Bundaberg on January 26, 1944, to Lionel Magee and Muriel Donovon. He was the Brother of Sheelagh, Jan, and Gayle. Lionel grew up in Gooburrum, a locality near Bundaberg, on the family cane farm, where he enjoyed a simple life full of family and experiences that shaped his future. For the Magee family, faith was important. Lionel completed his Junior Certificate at Christian Brothers College Bundaberg, where he first encountered the Brothers who inspired him to enter St Enda’s Juniorate in Strathfield.
After completing the NSW Leaving Certificate, Lionel entered the Novitiate and was given the religious name Edward, or “Ted”. In 1965, Ted began teaching in NSW at Albury, Wagga Wagga, and Waverly. He returned to Queensland in 1968 to teach at Aquinas, Southport, and Nudgee College. In 1972, Ted moved to Ipswich, where he served as Deputy and later led the college community until 1985, when he became Principal of Shalom College Bundaberg. Ted later led St Joseph Gregory Terrace, the Christian Brothers Education Team, and returned to St Edmund’s, Ipswich as Leader from 1994 to 1998. In 1999, Ted began the SHORE program at Kingston. The following year, he enjoyed a Sabbatical in Chicago and became Principal of Cathedral College Rockhampton in April.
Ted's leadership journey took a significant turn in 2002 when he was elected to the St Francis Xavier Province Leadership Team (PLT). From then on, Ted served the Christian Brothers he dearly loved as a member of the Province Leadership Team, Cluster Leadership, and Formation Teams. After his years in Congregational Leadership, Ted returned to his hometown of Bundaberg in 2021, where he loyally served Holy Rosary Parish as Stewardship Coordinator.
Our Brother Ted lived his life dedicated to the service of students, colleagues, friends, and fellow Christian Brothers. He was indeed a loyal follower of Edmund Rice. Ted’s leadership inspired people with confidence for he was passionate and practical in his vision and communicated clearly what needed to be done. Graciousness, gratitude, and generosity were the qualities that Ted consistently embodied throughout his life and leadership.
Ted used the talents that God had gifted him with, and we, with gratitude in our hearts, say thank you for the life he lovingly shared with us as a Brother. May Ted now be welcomed into the presence of the Lord he served so well and faithfully.
May our beloved Brother Ted Rest in Peace.
