APC History - Queensland
The Federation of Parents and Friends Associations of Catholic Schools in Queensland (FPFCSQ) came into being in 1960 and held its first Annual General Meeting in October 1961. Its first President was Mr W J Roberts formerly of Western Australia. The first Secretary of the FPFCSQ was Mr J J Woodward.
While actively seeking increased government funding for non-government school children, the Queensland parents were conscious that since 1914 a competitive scholarship system for some secondary school pupils had been available from the State Government. The ALP Conference in 1957 in Brisbane interpreted the 1951 ALP Federal Conference decision as meaning "help the scholar not the school". It agreed unanimously with the policy of aid "by way of bursaries, scholarships, exhibitions and benefits of a like nature, payable direct to students."
In the early sixties scholarships became non-competitive and were paid directly to the schools and became the first per pupil grants in Australia for non-government school children.
Discussion at the first meeting of the FPFCSQ and correspondence with the PFFWA showed a desire to explore the feasibility and the necessity of a national parents' organisation. This organisation was envisaged to be a medium for the exchange of ideas, but with the State federations having autonomy of action at the local level.
Early correspondence shows contact with the PFFWA whose President had written to Mr G F R Nicklin, Premier of Queensland in June 1962, congratulating him on his Government's action in making annual payments for children in non-government schools. The letter states "it constitutes a precedent which, it is hoped, will be followed by other State Governments in the near future."
Correspondence also shows the PFFV was circulating its Newsletters regularly to the FPFCSQ who also corresponded with the newly formed NSW Association for Educational Freedom (NSWAEF).
