John Howard opens two new residential buildings for students

Former Prime Minister John Howard officiated at today’s opening of two new residential halls at Campion College Australia, the first additional constructions in the college’s history.

Mr Howard said that “the need for an organisation such as Campion is greater than ever before.”

Mr Howard, the Chair of the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, established in 2017 through an extraordinary endowment by the late Mr Paul Ramsay AO, said that “if Paul Ramsay had been alive today, he’d be here, and he’d be saying something strongly in support of Campion.”

Mr Howard was joined by Archbishop of Sydney, Rev Anthony Fisher, in unveiling a plaque for one of the buildings, to be named Jordan Hall in honour of the late Fr Gregory Jordan, who passed away in 2015.

Archbishop Fisher said it was fitting that Fr Jordan, a great supporter of Campion and a strong leader in the Australian church, be remembered in this way.

Campion College, Australia’s first Liberal Arts tertiary institution, opened in 2006 at the site of a former Marist seminary in Old Toongabbie, in Sydney’s west.

The college has produced about 200 graduates and achieved the highest result in undergraduate student satisfaction (96 per cent) in the country in the recent QILT survey.

Campion president Dr Paul Morrissey said the buildings represented a new age in Campion’s history.

“These residential halls mean the college is growing, something we hope will continue in the coming years, as more and more young people from around Australia and even overseas discover the beauty and value in a Liberal Arts degree,” Dr Morrissey said.

The new houses accommodate 34 students, in addition to other accommodation on campus.