John Joseph Cahill

Honour - Excellence - Responsibility - Opportunity
T: Telephone02 9669 5118
E: Emailjjcahill-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
J J Cahill Memorial High School was founded in 1961 to provide a comprehensive secondary education to the students of the local community.
Our school was named after John Joseph Cahill, a former Premier of NSW, who was our local State Member of Parliament. He believed that the students of our community deserved a high school nearby. Our school is called J J Cahill Memorial High as a tribute to John Joseph Cahill who died in 1959, before he was able to see his dream fulfilled...a secondary school in the local community so that students did not have to travel long distances to get an education. The Cahill Expressway also bears his name.
Owing to delays in construction at the time, the first few intakes of the new high school were housed at Gardeners Road Public School. When the school was finally ready for use, the students carried their books and furniture to the new school site down the road, an event which was commemorated at the school's 50th anniversary in 2011.
In memory of Cahill's efforts to bring public education to the local area, the school decided that it was to be named in his honour and was officially opened by his widow, Esmey Cahill, on 24 March 1961. The first Principal was L. G. Schmidt.
Our school motto is Virtutis Gratia Virtus which is Latin. When we translate these Latin words into English, it means "Do what is right, because it is right".
This value or quality is synonymous with John Joseph Cahill himself, a man remembered for his personal integrity, his determination to do what he believed to be right for the State of NSW as Premier, and his qualities of leadership which had won him a measure of respect from even his staunchest opponents.
The students strive to live our school motto by doing what is right through their responsibilities that they have towards others and their course work and learning. We take pride in their achievements and are proud not just of those who have achieved academic success at school and in their careers, but all of those who have achieved personal success that has made them valued members of our school community.
1961-1975: Mr Len Schmidt
1975-1979: Mr Keith Cohen
1980-1985: Mr John Nolan
1986-1989: Mr Tom Symonds
1990-1998: Mr Evan MacKenzie
1999-2005: Mr Lim Linton
2006-2016: Mrs Robyn Cowin
2017-Current: Mr Ralph David
address
Sutherland Street
Mascot NSW 2020
telephone 02 9669 5118
We would like to pay our respects and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and also pay respect to Elders both past and present.
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