St Columba Anglican School is a co-educational school serving the Hastings region of the NSW Mid North Coast.
St Columba admitted its first pupils in February 2002. We now offer the option of a continuous education from birth to Year 12 on one campus.
The establishment of St Columba Anglican School marked the return of Anglican Education to the Hastings after a break of more than 150 years. The last Church of England School operated in the 1840s from St Thomas' Church in Horton Street Port Macquarie.
In 1999, following a meeting that identified that there was sufficient interest in the establishment of an Anglican School in the Port Macquarie area, an Interim School Council was formed and a Feasibility Report prepared and presented to Bishop Philip Huggins of the Grafton Diocese. Earthworks on the site off Major Innes Road commenced in August and construction of Stage 1 buildings in September 2001.
In June 2001 the School Council interviewed candidates for the position of Foundation Principal and appointed Mr Chris Pitt BEd MA as Foundation Principal of St Columba Anglican School.
Our school is named to honour St Columba. Columba was born in the wilds of Donegal in Northern Ireland in 521. The Irish word “Colum” means “dove” and his name proved to be well chosen; he is known as the man who converted most of Scotland to Christianity.
The school is sited off Major Innes Road, Innes having come from north-east Scotland and served as commandant of the penal colony. It seemed appropriate to name the school “St Columba Anglican School” to acknowledge Port Macquarie’s Scottish heritage.
The School crest draws its design from the Celtic cross that stands outside “St Columba’s Shrine” on the island of Iona. Many Celtic crosses still stand elsewhere in Ireland and Scotland today but this particular design is significant as it is closely associated with the Abbey founded by the saint.
The school’s motto “Faith . Hope . Truth . Love” reflects the core tenets of the Gospel which form the foundation values underpinning life within the St Columba Anglican School community.