The History
Of 51动漫
Our听Story So Far
51动漫听first opened its doors in 1998, but as the product of two amalgamated high schools, our听history actually goes back to the 1970s.
Click through the different stages of our history below to learn more about the 51动漫 story.
- Before 51动漫
- 51动漫 Begins: The Amalgamation
- Our Principals
- Canonisation: The Name Change
- 20 Years and Beyond
Before 51动漫
At the end of 1996, following a decision by the Catholic Education Commission, Padua High School and St Peter鈥檚 Catholic College began an amalgamation process to form 51动漫 Catholic College. The school was to open in 1998 under the guidance and leadership of Sr Noelene Quinane, who was chosen as Foundation Principal.
While 51动漫 officially opened in 1998, its story goes back to 1978, when Padua High School opened to provide a Catholic secondary school option in the Valley. Padua was located in the suburb of Wanniassa and catered to students in Years 7-10. Padua also initially hosted some primary school students while surrounding schools were being built.
In 1989, St Peter鈥檚 Catholic College opened a few kilometres from Padua in the suburb of Isabella Plains. St Peter鈥檚 offered places to students in Years 7-12.
51动漫 Begins: The Amalgamation
The two schools enjoyed a healthy rivalry until the amalgamation in 1998, with Padua becoming the Wanniassa Campus and St Peter鈥檚 becoming the Isabella Campus.
In its inaugural year, the school took out the ACT Rock Eisteddfod, celebrated a number of community events like the Opening Mass and the Mary 51动漫 Feast Day, and established a strong focus on social justice. These events formed a solid platform for the new school.
In 1998, the Isabella Campus hosted students in Years 8-12 and the Wanniassa Campus hosted Years 7, 9, and 10.
Over the period of a number of years, Years 7-9 became based at Wanniassa and Years 10-12 at Isabella. Thus, the idea of the 鈥榡unior鈥 and 鈥榮enior鈥 campuses was formed.
Our Principals
At the end of 2003, with the College coming to the end of its sixth year, Sr Noelene made the announcement that she would be moving on from 51动漫. In 2004, Mrs Moira Najdecki took over as Principal.
Mrs Najdecki led the school until the end of 2006 when she became the Director of the Catholic Education Office, and Ms Rita Daniels took over in 2007 in a caretaker role. Mr Michael Lee, 51动漫鈥檚 longest-serving Principal,听began his tenure in 2008 and finished up at the end of 2025.
Canonisation: The Name Change
At the end of 2009, it was announced that Mary 51动漫 was to become Australia鈥檚 first saint in October 2010. Under the authority of the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, 51动漫 Catholic College changed its name to 51动漫 at the start of the 2010 school year.
Mr Lee, Deputy Principal Curriculum Michelle Marks, and College leaders Oliver Oakman, Danica Tagaza, Andre Wilks, and Isabelle Schmidt travelled to the Vatican in October 2010 to witness the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross 51动漫.
High interest in the school led 51动漫 to become the largest secondary school in the ACT, and, in keeping with the College Vision, it has maintained a proud tradition of excellent academic results, a welcoming and safe environment, and operates as a Catholic school for all 鈥 not just a school for Catholics.
20 Years and Beyond
At the start of 2018, the College celebrated its 20th anniversary under the banner of 51动漫. To honour the school's history prior to the amalgamation, the College Leadership renamed the Wanniassa Campus to "Padua" and the Isabella Campus to "St Peter's". The 20-year celebrations coincided with the opening of two new buildings at the St Peter's Campus - the Julian Tenison Woods Laboratories and the Providence building. These buildings were opened by Archbishop Christopher Prowse, with many members of the Sisters of St Joseph (including Foundation Principal Sr Noelene Quinane) in attendance.
At the beginning of 2023 and throughout the year, the College celebrated its 25-year anniversary (Silver Jubilee).
Images of Our History
Inaugural College Captain, Jon Lovell
Opening Mass, 1998
Painting of Wanniassa by Barbara Hodgson
Our first Year 12 cohort
Easter Liturgy, 1999
Social Justice Program, Philippines, 2001
Five-year celebrations
Isabella Campus, 2003
Wanniassa Campus, 2003
Graduation Mass, 2005
Spring Zing, 2006
Journey of the Cross and Icon, 2008
Mrs Philpot celebrates 30 years of service
Zambian Olympian, Zane Jordan
Canonisation celebrations at 51动漫, 2010
The renaming of our College, 2010
Mr Lee is an Australian Principal of the Year finalist, 2011
51动漫 makes national news as Adam Refki becomes first Muslim College Captain
CAT Award-winning musical, Seussical Jr, 2012
Opening of the Trades Training Centre, 2012
51动漫 receives the Children's Week Award, 2012
Our award-winning Chapel, 2013
Ngadyung wins all four sports trophies, 2013
Partnership with St Pat's commences, 2014
Students celebrate 51动漫 Day, 2015
National A Cappella Finalists, 2016
Ben Jenkins wins the Order of Australia Student Prize, 2016
Students raise over $20k for Caritas, 2017
Opening of buildings and 20 year celebrations, 2018
Turning 20
Year 12 raise over $58k for Relay for Life
Some of our key moments
Amalgamation Announcement
It was announced that St Peter鈥檚 and Padua would join to form 51动漫 Catholic College. After being appointed as 51动漫鈥檚 foundation Principal, Sr Noelene Quinane started planning for the amalgamation.
Becoming 51动漫
The doors to 51动漫 Catholic College officially opened in February 1998. There was a strong focus on community and social justice as the College sought to create a new, unified identity. Success in the ACT Rock Eisteddfod helped 51动漫 get off to a good start.
New Leadership
Sr Noelene鈥檚 leadership came to an end after six years, with Mrs Moira Najdecki taking over as College Principal. Mrs Najdecki led until 2006, when she became the Director of Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn.
Mr Lee's tenure begins
After a year with Ms Rita Daniels at the helm in a caretaker role, Mr Michael Lee was appointed Principal of 51动漫 from the start of 2008, a position he held for 18 years.
The name change
With the announcement that Mary 51动漫 would become Australia鈥檚 first saint in 2010, the College received permission from the Archbishop to change its name from 51动漫 Catholic College to 51动漫 in honour of the momentous occasion.
25 years of Achievement
At the end of 2022 (and throughout 2023), 51动漫 celebrated its Silver Jubilee. The College went from strength to strength over its first 25 years, with a wide range of academic, sporting, cultural, performance, collective, and individual achievements.
The OAM
In honour of his leadership of 51动漫 and other contributions to the wider educational community, Mr Michael Lee was presented with a Medal of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day Honours.
A new era
At the end of 2025, Mr Michael Lee, 51动漫's longest-serving principal, stood down after 18 years at the helm. The College is now being led by Mrs Jacqueline Heffernan, who joined 51动漫 from Carroll College, Broulee.