Our first 25 years

Since 1998, the Association of Coeducational Schools (ACS) has provided opportunities for students to meet and compete against one another in sports. Excellence, teamwork, fair play, courage, respect and resilience are the values that have underpinned the association since its inception. Discover our shared story through this interactive timeline celebrating our first 25 years.

Geoff Ryan, Principal Westbourne 1990–2010, interview, 2022

Michelle Sheehan, Executive Officer ACS 2001–present, interview, 2022

1997 – Foundation

In May 1997, representatives of St Michael’s Grammar School, Eltham College, Westbourne Grammar School and St Leonard’s College met to discuss the possibility of forming a new sporting association that would meet their collective needs. 

By July, Loyola College had joined the group. The five schools shared similar philosophies and a commitment to the value of school sport. The following principles were agreed upon: a commitment to increasing participation in sport, equal access to sport for boys and girls from years 7 to 12, the provision of quality competition, and a focus on good sportsmanship.

The ACS was officially launched on 3 December at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre by Dr Tim Hawkes, principal of St Leonard’s College (1989–97). Tim was instrumental in the foundation of the ACS and its inaugural chair. The aggregate athletics trophy bears his name.

Established in 1980, Loyola College is a regional Catholic school located in Watsonia on a site donated to the Archdiocese of Melbourne by the Society of Jesus. The college’s ethos is inspired by the spiritual and educational philosophy of St Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556). Characteristics of the Ignatian tradition include an emphasis on actions rather than words, service to others, and a concern for the whole person.

Motto: Justice, Mercy, Faith

Founded in a church hall in 1914 with eight students, St Leonard’s College is now one of Melbourne’s leading coeducational schools. It moved to its current site in South Road, Brighton East, in 1955. St Leonard’s was Victoria’s first authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offered as an alternative pathway to the VCE. The college’s vision is to provide all students with an education for life.

Motto: Nulla dies sine linea – No day without a single line

St Michael’s was founded in 1895 as a primary school for girls by the Community of the Sisters of the Church, a Church of England religious order established by Mother Emily Ayckbowm in England in 1870. After a process of transition in the 1970s, the school became fully coeducational in 1980. St Michael’s is especially renowned for its performing arts program.

Motto: Pro ecclesia dei – Through God’s church

Founded in Williamstown in 1867, and known originally as Williamstown Grammar, the school opened a second, larger campus at Truganina in 1978 and became known as The Westbourne and Williamstown Grammar Schools (later Westbourne Grammar). The school’s values are community, creativity, scholarship and courage.

Motto: Age quod agas – That which you do, do well

Founded by members of the local community who were seeking an education for their children that fostered creativity, initiative and self-confidence, Eltham College commenced classes in 1974. Located on 50 hectares at Research, the school opened an additional Year 9 campus in central Melbourne in 1996.

The five founding principals of the ACS. Left to right: Geoff Ryan (Westbourne Grammar School), Tony Hewison (St Michael's Grammar School), Tim Hawkes (St Leonard's College), John Kennedy (Loyola College) and John Brenan (Eltham College)

Westbourne students with head of sport, Graeme Marcy, and principal, Geoff Ryan, at the ACS launch

Principal of St Leonard's, Tim Hawkes, with students at the ACS launch

Peter Hopwood, Head of Sport St Leonard’s 1996–2001, interview, 2022

Simon Gipson, Principal St Michael’s 2000–17, interview, 2022

Simon Gipson, Principal St Michael’s 2000–17, interview, 2022

Geoff Ryan, Principal Westbourne 1990–2010, interview, 2022

Simon Gipson, Principal St Michael’s 2000–17, interview, 2022

‘Every school activity is an educational experience, and sporting competition must be directed towards teaching teamwork, developing character and inculcating high personal standards of behaviour.’

1998

Students from the five founding schools commenced midweek sporting competitions on Tuesdays for students in years 7 and 8, Thursdays for Year 9, and Wednesdays for students in years 10 to 12.

Summer sports for boys included basketball, cricket, hockey and table tennis plus softball up to Year 10, and, for girls, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Winter sports included football, soccer, tennis and volleyball for boys, and basketball, hockey, netball and table tennis for girls. In each season, the aggregate scores across all sports revealed the champion school. 

The first annual championship carnivals for athletics, cross country and swimming also took place. ACS trophies were presented to winning teams at the conclusion of each season of sport and at championship events.

Peter Hopwood, Head of Sport St Leonard’s 1996–2001, interview, 2022

John Kennedy, Principal Loyola 1979–2008, interview, 2022

Peter Hopwood, Head of Sport St Leonard’s 1996–2001, interview, 2022

At the end of the Association’s first year, Pat Tyrrell thanked all the sport coordinators for their ‘positive, cooperative and enthusiastic spirit’.

The aggregate cross country trophy is named for John Kennedy, principal of Loyola College (1979-2008). He is pictured here with Loyola students at the ACS Launch in 1997.

Twelve former students of the five schools were nominated as foundation inductees into an ACS Hall of Fame.

  • Jenny Altermatt

    St Leonard’s – skiing

  • Marjorie Bennett (McQuade)

    St Michael’s – swimming

  • Joanna Cameron (Hughes)

    St Leonard’s – gymnastics

  • Shannon Corcoran

    Westbourne – AFL

  • Marne Fechner (James)

    Westbourne – netball

  • Gordon Fode

    St Leonard’s – AFL

  • Faith Leech

    St Michael’s – swimming

  • Chelsea Morley

    Westbourne – lacrosse

  • Frances Newson

    St Michael’s – hockey

  • Geoff Ogilvy

    St Leonard’s – golf

  • Kendall Taylor

    St Leonard’s – skiing

  • Mariklud Silic (Viduka)

    Loyola – triple jump

1998 Champion Schools

Scroll over the icon to reveal champion school

1999

In the second year of competition, some adjustments were made and problems resolved. This included extending softball competition for boys to the senior levels, ensuring that competitors wore correct uniform, and discussing options for encouraging more students to choose cricket. The length of the matches meant a late finish, which was a disincentive for some. Some schools did not have sufficient numbers of students to field teams in all year levels, and this promoted discussion about moving students from lower year levels up into senior teams. It was also decided that a student could not play in two teams on the same day.

Peter Hopwood, Head of Sport St Leonard’s 1996–2001, interview, 2022

Simon Gipson, Principal St Michael’s 2000–17, interview, 2022

John Kennedy, Principal Loyola 1979–2008, interview, 2022

  • Shelley Gorman

    Loyola – basketball

  • Alesha Sayner

    Westbourne – discus

  • Sean Simpson

    Loyola – athletics

Cross country senior boys medallists

Girls long distance race, athletics carnival

St Leonard's cross country captains accepting the winning trophies

Girls competing in the cross country carnival

1999 Champion Schools

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‘The question was asked – are all sports of equal value? Is softball (boys) equal to cricket? If so, then maybe have only one senior cricket side and two extra softball sides.’

2000

The ACS discussed the possibility of adopting a fixed central venue for grand finals, to avoid a home-ground advantage, but this was rejected on the basis of practicality. It was agreed that grand finals would continue to be rotated around member schools. The decision was also made that larger schools would supply extra teams to ensure competition across all year levels. In tennis and table tennis, A and B teams were eliminated in favour of one team at all year levels, comprising up to eight players.

An idea was proposed, but ultimately rejected, to follow a model of three seasons of sport rather than two, by removing sport from term four.

St Michael’s and Eltham’s senior cricket teams were declared joint premiers after the second day of the grand final was abandoned because the ground was underwater.

Pat Tyrrell, Executive Officer ACS 1997–2000, interview, 2022

Simon Gipson, Principal
St Michael’s 2000–17,
interview, 2022

Geoff Ryan, Principal Westbourne 1990–2010, interview, 2022

2000 Champion Schools

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2001

The first mixed-gender sport, badminton, was trialled and introduced into the senior sports program, fostering the ACS’s commitment to promoting the principles of coeducation through sport. In April, a team of ACS swimmers competed at the Victorian All Schools Swimming Championships for the first time, and a number of them qualified to compete for Victoria at the national championships in Perth.

In personnel changes, Michelle Sheehan replaced Pat Tyrrell as Executive Officer. Two key contributors to the ACS were farewelled: Peter Hopwood, head of PE and health at St Leonard’s who was a driving force in the establishment of the ACS; and Steve Raftellis, director of sport at St Michael’s, who developed and managed the computer result recording programs used at ACS carnivals.

Sarah Sansonetti, Loyola College graduate 2019 and ACS All Star, interview, 2022

Michelle Sheehan, Executive Officer ACS 2001–present, interview, 2022

John Kennedy, Principal Loyola 1979–2008, interview, 2022

Michelle Sheehan, Executive Officer ACS 2001–present, interview, 2022

St Leonard's v. Loyola girls soccer

Athletics premiers St Leonard's with head of PE, Peter Hopwood and head of sport, Tamsin Visick

Pat Tyrrell, pictured here at the ACS launch in 1997, was the inaugural executive secretary of the ACS and an experienced swimming coach. The aggregate swimming trophy bears his name.

2001 Champion Schools

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'A level of tradition is being born in the ACS and friendly rivalries are being established among schools in certain sports.'