Our History

ACPPA History

Through the hard work of members over the past forty years, the Australian Catholic Primary Principals' Association has evolved and developed. As the educational landscape has changed, so has ACPPA, responding to the needs of members around the country. The ACPPA Board is made up of Directors, who have full time roles as a Catholic Primary School Principal. We acknowledge the time these Directors have given through the development of ACPPA since 1984

HISTORY

An informal meeting of Catholic Primary School Principals in 1979 was the catalyst for a more formal meeting which was arranged, for Catholic Principals enroute to the 1982 APPA Conference in Tasmania. The major outcome from this meeting was a decision to meet prior to the 1983 APPA Conference in Sydney to decide if Catholic primary school principals would form an association.

Sister Marlene Monahan, from Victoria, chaired this meeting. It was decided to form an association to be called the Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Association (ACPPA) and the Queensland Catholic Primary Principals’ Association was asked to organise the first ACPPA Conference in Brisbane eleven months later.

This resulted in the Inaugural Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Conference being held 27-29 June 1984. It was attended by 109 principals representing each state and territory. The ACPPA name was formally adopted, the Constitution presented and accepted and the ACPPA badge approved. Frank Hennessy was elected the inaugural president.

From 1984 until 1992 each state and territory hosted at least one ACPPA Conference. These conferences were held prior to the APPA Conferences. In 1993 it was decided to combine the ACPPA conference with the APPA conference. In many ways this was a sound move, although the very Catholic content of the previous conferences was no longer possible. At the same time, ACPPA went through a major restructure which brought into play an elected secretariat no longer tied to the conference roster and an Executive comprising one representative from each state and territory association.

Following a constitutional review in 2013, the Association focused on the development and implementation of organisational structures and a financial model that would support the advocacy and representative work undertaken by the Association. This included meeting as a National Executive Council that included two members from every state and territory association, one of whom also represents their State Catholic Primary Principals’ Association on APPA. 

In 2016, after a long period of consultation, a new governance model evolved. This model included the role of Executive Officer. This now means that in addition to a President and 16 State and Territory representatives, we also have an Operations Manager and Executive Officer as part of the Management Team, who now have greater capacity to deliver on our strategic plan.

The ACPPA Logo

The logo reflects a contemporary association that places Jesus at the centre of all we do as leaders in Catholic communities. It places our faith in the centre of this beautiful country of ours, while honouring the natural elements of this great land; the blue of the ocean, the red of the outback and the green of the bush and rainforests.
 
The design visually shows that the association represents Primary Principals’ across Australia. The cross at the centre speaks of the Catholic ethos and values of ACPPA. The friendly, warm, engaging colours of Australia spread across all regions - including urban, rural and remote.
 

We thank the previous ACPPA Presidents and Vice Presidents, with support of ACPPA staff, for their guidance and leadership.

Year

President

Vice Presidents/Treasurer

2023 - 2024

Peter Cutrona (WA)

Phil Schultz (SA) Michael Gray (VIC)

Karyn Prior (Operations Manager) Gez Mulvahil (Executive Officer)

2022

Peter Cutrona (WA)

Gez Mulvahil (NT) Phil Schultz (SA)

Karyn Prior (Operations Manager) Paul Colyer (Executive Officer)

2021

Brad Gaynor (ACT)

Peter Cutrona (WA) Gez Mulvahil (NT)

Karyn Prior (Operations Manager) Paul Colyer (Executive Officer)

2020

Brad Gaynor (ACT)

Peter Cutrona (WA)

Karyn Prior (Operations Manager) Paul Colyer (Executive Officer)

2019

Brad Gaynor (ACT)

Peter Cutrona (WA) Ros Oates (SA)

Karyn Prior (Operations Manager) Paul Colyer (Executive Officer)

2018

Brad Gaynor (ACT)

Ros Oates (SA) Anthony Hockey (NT)

Karyn Prior (Operations Manager) Paul Colyer (Executive Officer)

2017

Mark Mowbray (NSW)

Brad Gaynor (ACT) Ros Oates (SA)

Karyn Prior (Operations Manager) Paul Colyer (Executive Officer)

2016

Mark Mowbray (NSW)

Brad Gaynor (ACT) Ros Oates (SA) Karyn Prior (Executive Assistant)

2015

Dave Edwards (SA)

Mark Mowbray (NSW) James Danaher (WA) Karyn Prior (Executive Assistant)

2013 - 2014

Dave Edwards (SA)

John Vance (ACT) James Danaher (WA) Karyn Prior (Executive Assistant)

2012

Peggy Saab (NSW)

Anne Nunn/ Karyn Prior (Executive Assistant)

2008 - 2011

Bruno Benci (SA)

Phil Holmes (Secretary) Christine Comas-Preece (Treasurer)

2004 - 2007

Brian Lacey (NSW)

Ted Langford (Secretary) Trish Haynes (Treasurer)

2001 - 2003

Russell Sinclair (QLD)

Vera Zappala (Secretary) Pat Coughlan (Treasurer)

1999 - 2000

Peter Blundell (QLD)

Maureen Whiting (Secretary) Russell Sinclair (Treasurer)

1996 - 1998

Kathy Campbell (NSW)

 Sean Gordon (Secretary) Di Wilson (Treasurer)

1993 - 1995

Jim Green (WA)

Greg Wyss (Secretary) John Last (Treasurer)

1992 - 1993

Frank Hennessy (QLD)

David Greig (Secretary) Nev McDonald (Treasurer)

1991 - 1992 

Jennifer Fraser (NSW)

Margaret Ivany (Secretary) Jacqueline Hughes (Treasurer)

1990 - 1991 

Margaret Moore (TAS) 

Elaine Askey-Coran (Secretary) Tony Webb (Treasurer)

1988 - 1990

Joy Bresser (ACT)

Patrick Mockler (Secretary) Meg Clark (Treasurer)

1987 - 1988 

Jeff Somers (VIC)

Jane Flannery (Secretary) Anne Stephenson (Treasurer)

1986 - 1987

Jim Hewitt (SA)

Mary Mercer (Secretary) Brigette Sipa (Treasurer)

1985 - 1986

John Willett (WA)

Michael Smith (Secretary) Elizabeth McKenna (Treasurer)

1984-1985

Frank Hennessy (QLD)

Bernadette Ahearn (Secretary) Phil Cash (Treasurer)

ACPPA Delegates Sydney 1991

Our History and Timeline

In 2024, the Australian Catholic Primary Principals' Association celebrates 40 years.  Many people have contributed to the development and evolution of the association over this time.

1974

Formation of the Australian Primary Principals’ Association (APPA)

1979

Discussion and commitment to form the Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Association (ACPPA)

1984

ACPPA name formally adopted and logo and Constitution approved.  Frank Hennessy was elected the inaugural president.

2013

Constitution revision and an additional member from each State and Territory to be included in national meetings.

1993

Restructure of ACPPA and decision made to have one representative from each State and Territory

2016

Executive Officer employed

2018

ACPPA becomes a Company Limited by Guarantee

2020

New logo approved

The new logo places our faith in the centre of this beautiful country of ours, while honouring the natural elements of this great land; the blue of the ocean, the red of the outback and the green of the bush and rainforests.
 
The design visually shows that the association represents Primary Principals’ across Australia. The cross at the centre speaks of the Catholic ethos and values of ACPPA. The friendly, warm, engaging colours of Australia spread across all regions - including urban, rural and remote.