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

Teacher; born Newry, Ireland, 29 April 1853; died Sydney, 20 June 1942, aged 89.

At an Old Boys dinner of St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 12 August 1916, life-long friend, William T Coyle, proclaimed Gartlan the greatest headmaster NSW had ever seen; only Weigall of the Sydney Grammar School could have been considered his equal. Old Boys of Riverview were generally effusive in acclaiming the greatness of Gartlan who spent 34 years at the college and 16 years as its rector - in two terms. It has been truthfully claimed that after its founder, the college owed more to Gartlan than to any other single man. This claim could truly be made not only because of the length of years he spent at the college, but mainly because of his great affability and talent for public relations.

Gartlan was educated at St Stanislaus' College, Tullamore, Offaly, and entered the Society at Milltown Park, Dublin, 11 January 1871. He studied two years of philosophy at Louvain, 1874-6, and then spent a year of theology at the minor seminary Montalban, south France, 1879-80.

Because of ill health he was sent to Australia in 1880, and was ordained prematurely by Archbishop Vaughan, 22 May 1880, because he was not expected to live long. He was resident at St Ignatius' College, and with its founder, Joseph Dalton, helped implement the early spirit of the college. He responded well to the Australian climate, and showed particular interest in establishing the Riverview Cadet Corps in 1884, and the Riverview Rowing Club in 1885. The first Riverview regatta was held that year. In later years he built the Dalton Memorial Chapel, and strongly urged the continuation of the main school building. Lack of finances prevented this latter project in his time at the college.

Although Irish, Gartlan was extremely patriotic towards the Empire. Vice-royalty were frequent visitors to the college during his terms as rector. His own family was among the Establishment - Lord Russell of Killowen, his cousin, was Chief Justice of England. He believed that good relations with the influential were important for the growth and development of the college.

Gartlan's impact on Riverview was considerable. He was not frightened to spend money, despite the enormous debt, and continually urged Jesuit superiors to improve the living conditions. In 1908, the visiting Irish provincial said that Gartlan, despite his fondness for athletics, was a very suitable person for rector. He enforced discipline, and had great popularity with the citizens of Sydney - which led to the success of the college. This report was made at a time when no other Jesuit college in Australia was free from considerable criticism from Father Conmee.

Gartlan was indeed very partial towards sport at the college and fostered it, even at the expense of academic progress. However, his great friendliness with boys, parents, Great Public School headmasters, and the Sydney establishment made him well known in Sydney. He was most outspoken for Riverview among Jesuits, especially in requesting good teachers from superiors. He was also respected outside the college for his contribution to educational committees, but major educational comments came from his very capable prefects of studies (James Dwyer, Jeremiah Sullivan, Robert Little and Patrick McCurtin).

Gartlan achieved respect and popularity despite the fact that he was not an academic. He had not completed the traditional Jesuit training because of ill health, and was not involved in much teaching during most of his time at the college. Prefects of studies indicated that Gartlan did not always appreciate the importance of regular study periods for the boarders and they complained about absenteeism among students, especially the rowers, from classes and study. Dalton and Gartlan began an important tradition at the college of fostering friendly relations between masters and students - Gartlan must be considered one of the most popular Jesuit schoolmen ever seen in Australia.

The St Ignatius' College Old Boys Union was greatly encouraged by Gartlan. At one gathering of these gentlemen he told them that he believed that the wider community judged the college more by the quality of the Old Boys than by the present students. Furthermore, following Dalton, he believed that the college was so much bound up with the ex-students that it could not be separated from them. It was his wish that ex-students should be true to the principles they imbibed at the college. In response, the Old Boys expressed the idea that they were proud of their old masters that were a factor in their success. They were proud to have been taught to be liberal-minded towards one another, and towards fellow-citizens. Renewed associations with Gartlan and his fellow Jesuits helped renew the spirit they had received at school. At his death some Old Boys remembered him for his cheerfulness and courage, his great kindness, his humour, friendship and wise counsel.

Gartlan's kindliness and spontaneous charity emerged from his own inner happiness and goodness. His knowledge of and devotion to the students, his enthusiasm for every aspect of school life, his approachability and fatherliness won the hearts of those who knew him. He had a great capacity for remembering names, and he was very proud of the success of any Old Ignatian. This was his great strength and major contribution to the development of hundreds of boys he helped educate at Riverview. Knowing he was popular with people probably strengthened him against the just criticisms of Jesuit colleagues. His counted all types of people as his friends.

After he left Riverview in 1919, he worked in the parish of North Sydney until his death in 1942. In his latter years his sight was so bad that he had to say daily the Mass of Our Lady. He lived a long life of dedicated service, and was loved by those he served.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)