SAC Principals

Deirdre Jordan came to St Aloysius College as a boarder from Loxton in February 1939. She was twelve years old. An outstanding student, Deirdre went on to become dux of the school and head prefect in 1943. Deirdre received the holy habit on 6 October 1946 and professed on 6 October 1951. Sr Deirdre (Sr Mary Campion Jordan) was appointed Principal of St Aloysius College in 1954 when she was in her mid-twenties. 

During Sr Deirdre’s principalship, heavy emphasis was placed on the education of members of staff, especially in the field of religious education. Teachers, both religious and lay, were given every opportunity to improve their qualifications and to become professional educators. Teaching nuns were given sabbaticals that allowed them the time in which to further their studies, sometimes in universities overseas. 

A professional administrative structure was created at the school that gradually led to the separation of its leadership from the leadership of the Convent. 

The school embarked on an ambitious and innovative building programme that eventuated in the old image of the Convent of Mercy, Angas Street, giving way to that of St Aloysius College, Wakefield Street. The new Campion Jordan Building, named after Sr Deirdre, opened in 1967 with the main school entrance on Wakefield Street.

Sr Deirdre was a strong and influential lobbyist among the Independent Principals in South Australia and was critical to the subsequent changes made to the funding of Independent and Catholic schools. 

Significant numbers of lay teachers were successfully absorbed into the teaching staff of the College, a trend that was to become increasingly more pronounced. 

First class facilities were introduced in many teaching areas. A business course was commenced, one that incorporated the idea of work placement or work experience, a notion completely new to Australia at that time, though commonplace today. 

Under Sr Deirdre’s leadership, St Aloysius became a progressive school and one that valued the independence of its students.