# Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne

The Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne (EISM or EIS) are a group of twenty two 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 |
| Alphington Grammar School | Alphington | Dr Vivianne Nikou | 535 | 1989 | Non-Denominational | 1998 |
| Aquinas College | Ringwood | Darren Atkinson | 1,674 | 1961 | Roman Catholic | 1964 |
| Bialik College | Hawthorn East | Jeremy Stowe-Lindner | 877 | 1942 | Jewish | 1996 |
| Billanook College | Mooroolbark | Roger Oates | 704 | 1980 | associated with the Uniting Church | 1982 |
| Donvale Christian College | Donvale | Tim Argall | 1,357 | 1975 | Non-Denominational | 1996 |
| Eltham College | Research | Simon Le Pastrier | 584 | 1973 | Non-Denominational | ? - 1997 and 2010 |
| Emmaus College | Vermont South | Karen Jebb | 1,313 | 1980 | Roman Catholic | 1989 |
| Huntingtower School | Mount Waverley | Andrew Houghton | 711 | 1927 | Christian Science | 1971 |
| Kilvington Grammar School | Ormond | Rob French | 830 | 1923 | Baptist | 2012 |
| The King David School | Armadale | Marc Light | 568 | 1978 | Jewish | 2004 |
| Kingswood College | Box Hill | Elisabeth Lenders | 582 | 1890 | associated with the Uniting Church | 1964 |
| The Knox School | Wantirna South | Nikki Kirkup | 588 | 1982 | Non-Denominational | 1991 |
| Luther College | Croydon | Jacqui Layfield | 1,187 | 1964 | Lutheran | 1964 |
| Mount Lilydale Mercy College | Lilydale | Philip Morison | 1,511 | 1896 | Roman Catholic | 1970 |
| Mount Scopus Memorial College | Burwood | Rabbi James Kennard | 1,289 | 1949 | Jewish | 1989 |
| Nunawading Christian College | Nunawading | Meggan James | 400 | 1964 | Seventh-day Adventist | 2001 |
| Oakleigh Grammar | Oakleigh | Mark Robertson | 728 | 1983 | Eastern Orthodox | 1998 |
| Oxley Christian College | Chirnside Park | Dr Douglas Peck | 832 | 1979 | Non-Denominational | 2008 |
| Plenty Valley Christian College | Doreen | John Metcalfe | 740 | 1981 | Non-Denominational | 1997 |
| Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School | Warranwood | Walter Jefimenko | 446 | 1972 | Non-Denominational | 1997 |
| Tintern Grammar | Ringwood East | Bradley Fry | 812 | 1877 | Anglican | 2003 |

### Former Member Schools

| School | Location | Years Competed |
| John Paul College | Frankston | 1980-1886 |
| Lilydale Adventist Academy | Lilydale | 2001–2010 |
| Loyola College | Watsonia | 1991–1997 |
| Mater Christi College | Belgrave | 1977–? |
| Mazenod College | Mulgrave | 1968–1998 |
| Mt Evelyn Christian School | Mount Evelyn | Associate |
| Our Lady of Sion College | Box Hill | ?–1997 |
| Sacred Heart Girls' College | Oakleigh | 1980s–? |
| Salesian College | Chadstone | 1966–67, 1984–1998 |
| St Bede's College | Mentone | 1987–1997 |
| St John's Regional College | Dandenong | 1983–1986 |
| St Joseph's College | Ferntree Gully | 1966–2016 |
| St Leonard's College | Brighton East | ?–1997 |
| St Leo's College | Box Hill | 1964–1994 |
| St Michael's Grammar School | St Kilda | 1980–1997 |
| St Thomas More College | Forest Hill | 1966–1979 |
| Wesley College | Glen Waverley | Associate |
| Whitefriars College | Donvale | 1964–1998 |
| Westbourne Grammar School | Truganina | ?–1997 |
| Yarra Valley Grammar School | Ringwood | 1967–68, 1987–1997 |

### 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 | School |
| 2012 – 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