The Associated Catholic Colleges is a group of twelve independent Catholic boys schools in Victoria, Australia. The Association, formed as the Combined Catholic Schools Association in 1902, and renamed in 1948, provides the basis for interschool sporting and other competitions between member schools.
History
The history of the ACC goes back to the 1890s as Catholic boys schools began to grow and establish themselves in and around Melbourne. The ACC developed from the earlier group called 'The Combined Catholic Schools Association', which involved a number of schools conducted by the Christian Brothers and which held its first athletics meeting in 1902. The College Annual of CBC North Melbourne for 1916 lists four competitions in which that school was involved under the general banner of, 'Combined Secondary Schools'. Member schools took part in an annual athletics meeting, football, handball and tennis competitions. Other member schools included; St Patrick's College, Ballarat, Assumption College, Kilmore, Parade College, and Christian Brothers College, St Kilda. As the competition expanded additional Catholic schools conducted by other male religious orders such as the De La Salle Brothers, Marist Brothers and others also participated in the competition which included cricket by 1928. In the early years the annual athletics carnival, came under the control of the Victorian Amateur Athletics Association, now Athletics Victoria. During the 1920s it was held at the Motordrome, Melbournea site for both amateur athletics and motor sport events built by the Yarra River and now the site of Olympic Park. Events later shifted to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the 1930s then back to Olympic Park. In more modern times at and the Lakeside Stadium.
The aggregate division 1 winners are presented the Old Collegians Shield.
Swimming
The aggregate division 1 winners are presented with the Walsh Shield.
Cross Country
The aggregate division 1 senior winners are presented with the Brother Bouchard Cup. Joe Bouchard was the founding Principal of Chisholm College, and member of the ACC from 1970-1987. The aggregate division 1 intermediate winners are presented with the Martin Hickey Cup. Martin Hickey was a member of the Parade College staff for over 25 years and Hon. Secretary of the ACC for 10 years. The aggregate division 1 junior winners are presented with the James Delahunt Cup. The cup was donated by the Ryan Family in memory of James Delahunt, a Year 7 student at De La Salle College who was killed in an accident in 1981. James was an outstanding athlete who won the U/13 ACC Cross-Country.
Carnivals
Students are given the opportunity to participate in a number of carnivals thought the year including Athletics at Lakeside Stadium, Cross Country, and Swimming at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Academic events
Students can also become involved in events conducted off the field such as Chess, Debating and the Performing Arts.
