The Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne (EISM) are a group of twenty one religious, independent secondary schools in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The schools compete against one another in sporting competitions.

History The first instance of the Independent Schools in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne coming together is in 1964 as the Eastern Independent Schools Association. Initially the competition was for boys only, and the only sport offered was Australian Rules Football. It developed rapidly to include Athletics, Cross-Country and Swimming carnivals, Cricket, Tennis, and Debating. These competitions were held on Saturdays. The 1966 Swimming carnival was held at Croydon Memorial Pool on 5 March. Tennis, Softball and a Swimming carnival were contested for the first time in the 1971 season. The Boys by this stage had included Soccer, Basketball and Table Tennis into their sporting fixtures.

Cultural Component Part of the original intention of the EISM was for it to have a cultural component for the boys. This took the form of a Music Festival. Students from all schools would meet at a central venue and give a performance. The girls also had the opportunity to do this and also participate in a Drama festival which was discontinued in 1982 due to lack of interest.

Amalgamation of EISA & EIGSA In 1978, moves were initiated to combine the boys and girls competitions, with the 2 meeting formally in the middle of Term 2, 1978. After 12 months of joint meetings, the motion That there be an amalgamation of E.I.S.A. with E.I.G.S.A. to form one association was put to the principals' meeting on 8 August 1979. The motion was defeated. An alternative motion was then put which established a committee of principals and sport teachers whose task was to investigate the special needs of schools and also draw up a draft set of rules and regulations. The second draft of this committee had the name of the association as the ESISA, The Eastern Suburban Independent Schools Association. Eventually, the name Association of Eastern Independent Schools was agreed upon in April 1980.

Schools

Current Member Schools School Location Principal Enrolment Founded Denomination Year Entered Competition School Colours Alphington Grammar School Alphington Dr Vivianne Nikou 535 1989 Non-Denominational 1998 Blue, white and black Aquinas College Ringwood David Broadbent 1,674 1961 Roman Catholic 1964 Black, red, gold and green Bialik College Hawthorn East Jeremy Stowe-Lindner 877 1942 Jewish 1996 Navy, royal blue and gold Billanook College Mooroolbark Roger Oates 704 1980 associated with the Uniting Church 1982 Navy, red and white Donvale Christian College Donvale Rebecca Hall 1,357 1975 Non-Denominational 1996 Navy, white and green Eltham College Research Richard Lisle 584 1973 Non-Denominational ? - 1997 and 2010 Sage, cream and cranberry Emmaus College Vermont South Karen Jebb 1,313 1980 Roman Catholic 1989 Royal blue and gold Huntingtower School Mount Waverley Shan Christensen 711 1927 Christian Science 1971 Light and dark blue Kilvington Grammar School Ormond Rob French 830 1923 Baptist 2012 Navy, light blue, gold and magenta The King David School Armadale Marc Light 568 1978 Jewish 2004 Old gold, navy and white Kingswood College Box Hill Chrissy Gamble 582 1890 associated with the Uniting Church 1964 Navy, sky blue and gold The Knox School Wantirna South Nikki Kirkup 588 1982 Non-Denominational 1991 Navy, gold and maroon Luther College Croydon Jacqui Layfield 1,187 1964 Lutheran 1964 Royal blue, red and white Mount Lilydale Mercy College Lilydale Philip Morison 1,511 1896 Roman Catholic 1970 Navy, gold and white Mount Scopus Memorial College Burwood Dan Sztrajt 1,289 1949 Jewish 1989 Navy, sky blue and gold Nunawading Christian College Nunawading Meggan James 400 1964 Seventh-day Adventist 2001 Maroon and navy Oakleigh Grammar Oakleigh Mark Robertson 728 1983 Eastern Orthodox 1998 Maroon, gold and white Oxley Christian College Chirnside Park Michael Bond 832 1979 Non-Denominational 2008 Red, navy and white Plenty Valley Christian College Doreen John Metcalfe 740 1981 Non-Denominational 1997 Navy, green and white Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School Warranwood No Principal 446 1972 Non-Denominational 1997 Royal blue and white Tintern Grammar Ringwood East Bradley Fry 812 1877 Anglican 2003 Navy, green maroon and white

Former Member Schools

School Location PrincipalEnrolmentFoundedDenomination Years CompetedColours John Paul College Frankston John Visentin11941979Roman Catholic 1980-1986Navy and old gold Lilydale Adventist Academy Lilydale Tanya Pascoe1964 2001–2010Navy and sky blue Loyola College Watsonia Alison Leutchford (acting principal)1,3331980Roman Catholic 1991–1997Royal blue, white and maroon Mater Christi College Belgrave Maria Haggett8501963Roman Catholic 1977–?Navy, sky blue and white Mazenod College Mulgrave Dr Paul Shannon1,4691967OMI 1968–1998Black, white and blue Mt Evelyn Christian School MontroseMichelle Dempsey6931973Non-Denominational AssociateTeal, white and navy Our Lady of Sion College Box Hill Tina Apostolopoulos9501928Roman Catholic ?–1997Cherry, black and white Sacred Heart Girls' College Oakleigh Christopher Dalton10001957Roman Catholic 1980s–?Navy, red and white Salesian College Chadstone Mark Ashmore9821957Salesian 1966–67, 1984–1998Navy, red and grey St Bede's College Mentone Deborah Frizza1,8821938Lasallian 1987–1997Blue, red and gold St John's Regional College Dandenong Tim Hogan6501958Roman Catholic 1983–1986Navy, green and gold St Joseph's College Ferntree Gully Catherine Livingstone9911965Salesian 1966–2016Navy and yellow St Leonard's College Brighton East Peter Clague1,4261914Uniting Church ?–1997Navy and green St Leo's College Box Hill DefunctRoman Catholic 1964–1994Royal blue and white St Michael's Grammar School St Kilda Gerard Houlihan1,2041895Anglican 1980–1997Navy, red and white St Thomas More College Forest Hill DefunctRoman Catholic 1966–1979 Wesley College Glen Waverley Nicholas Evans3,4001866Associated with the Uniting Church AssociatePurple and gold Whitefriars College Donvale Mark Murphy1,0551961Carmelite 1964–1998Brown, gold and navy Westbourne Grammar School Truganina Adrian Camm1,4791867Non-Denominational ?–1997Navy, green and gold Yarra Valley Grammar School Ringwood Dr. Mark Merry1,2681966Anglican 1967–68, 1987–1997Red, gold and black

Eastern Independent Girls Schools Association (1970–1980) There was a push for girls to have access to inter-school sport, and after extensive meetings in 1970 the following schools formed the EIGSA: School Years Competed Aquinas College 1970–1977 Chavoin College 1970–1979 Huntingtower School 1970–1980 Luther College 1970–1980 Kingwood College 1978 Mater Christi College 1977 Mt Lilydale Mercy College 1970–? Mount Scopus Memorial College 1970–? Our Lady of Sion College 1970–?

Carnivals Swimming – Division 1 School No. Championships Huntingtower 13 (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 (c), 1999 (c) ) St Michael's 10 (1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1988, 1987, 1986) Mount Scopus 7 (1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979) Tintern 5 (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004) Billanook 2 (2000 (e), 1998) Aquinas 1 (1999 (e) ) Eltham College 1 (1989) (c) Central Division (e) Eastern Division

Athletics – Division 1 School No. Championships Aquinas College 17 (2008, 2007, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983) Luther College 12 (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003) St Leonard's College 3 (1997, 1996, 1993) Kingswood College 2 (2000, 1999) Yarra Valley Grammar School 1 (1998) Mount Lilydale Mercy College 1 (1995)

Cross Country Note that schools are divided into three separate divisions which are determined by student population rather than level of ability. Eastern Division (1990–present) Central Division (1998–present) Southern Division (2013–present)

School Division No. Championships Huntingtower School Central 15 (2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999) Luther College Eastern 13 (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001) Aquinas College Eastern 10 (2008, 2007, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1992, 1991, 1990) Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School Southern 3 (2016, 2015, 2014) Donvale Christian College Central 3 (2016, 2002, 1998) Oxley Christian College Central 2 (2014, 2010) Mount Lilydale Mercy College Central 2 (1994, 1993) St Leonard's College Eastern 2 (1997, 1996) Alphington Grammar School Southern 1 (2013)

Presidents of the Association Term President School2012 – 2014 Mr Sholto Bowen Huntingtower School 2014 – 2016 Mr Mark Robertson Oakleigh Grammar School

Sports Students from Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne participate in a wide range of sporting activities including: Weekly sports Badminton Basketball Cricket Football Hockey Indoor cricket Indoor soccer Lawn bowls Netball Soccer Softball Table tennis Tennis Touch football Ultimate frisbee Volleyball

Carnivals Swimming Track and field Cross country

See also List of schools in Victoria, Australia

References

External links EISM Website