SIXTY-five years ago St Edmund’s College was the first Catholic secondary boys’ college in the region and now it’s making history again by appointing its first female chair.

Queanbeyan-based author and social historian, Nichole Overall was selected for the role after chair of four years, Michael Cooney, stepped down.

“It is a great honour, but I don’t think it’s that unusual,” Nichole says.

“The school has always had strong female role models.

“Former head of middle school Patricia Doyle [was] an intrinsic part of [the college’s] fabric for almost 40 years… and retains her involvement as patron of the Old Boys’ Association.

“Then there’s our mums and sisters and grandmothers, positively participating in and to the life of the school in so many ways.

“Half the college leadership team is female and we also have four women on a board of eight.”

St Edmund’s principal Joe Zavone says the decision was to put the best person in as chair and the best person happened to be a woman.

“Whilst we’re always looking for a good balance on the board, we weren’t specifically looking for a female board chair,” he says.

“The decision was made in consultation with the board members.”

Joe believes Nichole, a mother of two former St Edmund’s students and someone who has been on the board for two three-year terms, will bring a fresh perspective to the role.

Nichole’s older son started at St Edmund’s in 2009 and she was invited by a past principal to join the board in 2012. Her youngest son graduated in 2017.

“I think it’s a great honour to be able to serve the school in such a capacity and I also know how important the school was to my sons,” Nichole says.

“They loved the school, so I felt it was important and I felt motivated to give back.”

While Nichole’s appointment is historic for the school and while there have  always been strong women figures present in the school, Joe says the school isn’t looking at becoming co-educational and believes single-sex schools such as St Edmund’s are still relevant.

“Schools have to suit certain individuals. Some boys thrive and flourish in a co-ed environment, others in an all-boys environment,” he says.

“I think the education world has to provide good alternatives for parents and their children.”

In Nichole’s case, it was her sons who made the decision to attend St Edmund’s.

Nichole’s oldest son was about to finish his primary schooling at St Greg’s in Queanbeyan when, as a family, they checked out every school in the area.

“He said this was the school that he felt a connection to,” she says.

And while the decision was ultimately Nichole and her husband Tim’s choice, she was glad her son participated in a decision that was so influential on his life.

“I had gone to a co-ed school myself so I had my reservations, but in a really short amount of time I was proved completely wrong,” she says.

While at St Eddie’s, Nichole’s oldest son was the vice captain and was awarded the school’s top award and her youngest son was a house captain.

“It’s a reflection of their commitment to the school and they still continue to talk about the influence of this school on their lives,” she says.

“I attended a Catholic school when I was young, but the bond of the community here is something I’ve never experienced before.”

As a historian, Nichole was also drawn to the historic element of the school.

Opened in 1954, St Edmund’s War Memorial College was built in memory of all the Christian Brothers’ students around Australia who had given their lives in the two World Wars.

“We’ve been a part of the landscape of the Canberra area for six-and-a-half decades, and over such a period, there’s evolution and some challenges,” she says.

“Our continued focus is on connections, relationships and helping nurture fine young men, and I’m keen to do what I can to help further encourage all of these aspects.”

With about a third of St Edmund’s students coming from Queanbeyan, Joe says it’s also great for them to see one of their locals in the role.