The dream of the College Founders was to build a College community that provided access to a quality education for their children in a Christian environment which truly values each and every individual.

On 13 December 1995, the Rector of the Parish of St Mary’s Ballina, Reverend Geoff Smith called together a group of interested people to discuss the possibility of establishing an Anglican School to service the families of the Ballina, Byron and Lismore region. The minutes from the meeting propose ‘the establishment of a double stream school of approximately 700 pupils, Kindergarten to Year 12’.

With this vision in mind, the committed and faithful group, led by Reverend Geoff Smith (Patron of Smith House) set about the process to seek support of the Anglican Diocese, the relevant government authorities and the people of the region to bring their vision to life.

Included in this group of early visionaries were Mr Howard Brockington (Patron of Brockington House), who had been a Secondary principal and district supervisor for the Department of Education.  Also present at the initial gathering was Mr Keith Purcival (Patron of Purvcival House), who had been a long term Primary Principal in the Northern Rivers. Both men providing great advice and support to the process of establishing a high quality educational institution.

Reverend Geoff Smith

Support for the establishment of a school grew quickly and over the next two years, all of the necessary processes were put in place to establish the College. It was determined that the school would be known as Emmanuel Anglican College and in September of 1997, Mr Robert Baker was appointed the inaugural principal.

Planning commenced to open the College in 1998. It was decided that, initially the College would operate at the Anglican Church Retreat Centre known as Gunundi, which was located on the East Ballina Headland. Once the school was up and running, a permanent site would be purchased and the school relocated to this site.

The College then advertised for a suitably qualified, experienced and dedicated teacher to educate the first students of the College. There were more than 70 applications for the position with Mrs Joan Pickup being selected to undertake this most important role.

Mr Lindsay Walker (Patron of Walker House) joined College Council and took a lead role in the process of identifying and investigating proposed sites for the new school. A number of sites were explored and finally the current site was purchased and work commenced on construction of Stage l of the master plan.

The College was officially opened on its current Horizon Drive site on 5 March, 2000 by which time the College enrolment had swelled to 176!

When we look at the incredible facilities and learning opportunities we have today, it is hard to believe the courage of the pioneer families who chose to support the small fledgling school. They gave an enormous amount of their own time to the establishment of the College. They enrolled their children in the College when it had very little in terms of resources, but they were committed to our shared values, a caring community and a common goal to build a great school for their kids.

Each of them gave many volunteers hours as either a member of College Council or as members of the Friends of Emmanuel Anglican College. They spent countless hours involved in working bees, coordinating events such as the Harvest Fair and the Friends Ball. Without these determined, committed, faith filled and courageous people, we would not be here today.

Emmanuel Anglican College is widely renowned for its capacity to care for each student as an individual learner and our ability to support them to achieve their best. At the heart of the culture of Emmanuel Anglican College is a loving acceptance of all students, but never an acceptance of mediocrity; a love of learning and achievement but never a blinded obsession with results; and a desire to encourage students to make the world a better place for all, not just themselves. It would be fair for me to say that the person who has had the single most significant impact on the culture of EAC is our Foundation Teacher, Mrs Joan Pickup, as Joan embodies all that is Emmanuel Anglican College.

To Joan, our Founders and the pioneer families and students we all say a collective ‘Thank You’ and hope that they see the wonderful College we have today as part of their legacy to our community.