Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Hehir, Noel

Teacher, administrator; born Richmond, Melbourne, 20 December 1898; died Christchurch, New Zealand, 10 June 1947, aged 48.

Noel Hehir was a meticulous scholar with a profound respect for humane learning. He was educated by the Christian Brothers, and at Xavier College. He entered the Society, 11 March 1917, studied in Dublin, gaining first class honours in Greek and Latin. He studied philosophy in Louvain, spent a year teaching at Clongowes, and read theology at Milltown Park, Dublin, where he showed a special taste for Greek patrology. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1929. He also gained an MA in classics during this time, specialising in the history of Roman colonisation.

After tertianship at St Beuno's, Wales, Hehir's first appointment was minister of juniors at Loyola, Greenwich and Watsonia, 1931-36. He directed the first group of Australian scholastics who did their humanities studies at home, either internally or at the university. He had very high ideals about the meaning of education, and was very strict in applying the Ratio Studiorum. He strongly fostered the intellectual life, giving the scholastics an appreciation of current Catholic culture. To this end he built up the college library with Catholic literature, and kept the scholastics in contact with the literary side of Catholic Action.

Hehir spent 1937 as prefect of studies at Xavier College before serving two years as rector of St Aloysius' College. He was appointed rector of Riverview, 1940-45. He spent one year, 1946, as a lecturer of fundamental theology at Canisius College, Pymble, as well as a lecturer in scholastic philosophy at St John's and Sancta Sophia Colleges, University of Sydney, before his last appointment as rector of the Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch, NZ, in 1947. He died of cancer that year after a brief illness.

Other Jesuits described Hehir as a good religious, a classical scholar, hard on himself and others, setting an example of Jesuit life as he had experienced it in Ireland and Belgium. His early death was a disappointment to many. He was a highly respected lecturer, teacher, preacher and retreat-giver, as well as administrator and educator. The headmaster of Shore, L.C. Robson, in a tribute in the Sydney Morning Herald wrote of the respect and affection of the Headmasters' Conference for him. He respected Hehir's scholarship and wise counsel, and his influence in education by his 'personal character and outlook' - shown by his 'spiritual quality and resoluteness in standing for his conviction; but not less by his tolerance and breadth of sympathy'. They enjoyed Hehir's company and conversation.

It was while he was rector of the two Sydney colleges that Hehir made his mark in education. He was a very active and influential member of educational organisations. He was instrumental in reviving the Classical Society of NSW, and was its president for two years, being a powerful advocate of the importance of the classics in secondary education. He was prominent on the Catholic Secondary Teachers Association, the NSW Teachers' Guild, and the Headmasters' Conference. His colleagues appreciated his geniality and simplicity, his power of sympathy and his utter unselfishness.

During his short stay at St Aloysius' College, Hehir was totally involved in the life of the college, especially by teaching and coaching sport. He purchased property at East Willoughby for the college sporting ground. As headmaster he was involved with every aspect of the boy's education. He taught senior classes and coached junior boys' sport. Some found him over severe in his discipline procedures and even unjust. He had no secretary, and the administration of the college was generally done late at night. Yet this did not interfere with his strict religious regime. Prayer was very important for him.

Six years at Riverview made it possible for Hehir to influence the college. He was probably the most scholarly-minded rector since Patrick Keating, and combined intellectual gifts with practical wisdom. He coached cricket and football and taught English and arithmetic to the lower grades, and tutored boys privately outside class. The number of day boys at the college increased during these years, and he wiped out the college debt in 1943 - a remarkable achievement.

In educational discourses he stressed the importance of character training and good discipline. He warned students to beware of self-indulgence, and the need to practice self-sacrifice. Hehir wanted education to extend to the wider population, not just to the upper social classes. For this reason he introduced technical and rural subjects into the curriculum at Riverview. He even believed that 'happiness is an essential means for all truly effective education.'

Hehir was a scholar who thought deeply how to make relevant important Christian values and Jesuit ideals. Non-Jesuits praised him for being a good companion, for his charm, goodness and learning. Some Jesuits found him less friendly and even austere, but nevertheless respected him for his qualities of spirit, intellect and hard work. They praised him for his personal charm, his amazing industry, and his great readiness to be of service to anyone at any time. Many priests and religious appreciated him for the zeal and asceticism that he showed in his retreats. Hehir was a sound educationalist who expressed his ideas clearly and forcefully. His style of leadership was fundamentally one of example - he expected people to do as he did. Ultimately, his gifts of nature and grace were considerable, and his influence during his short life was substantial.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)