Whatever you call it, the combination of all the right elements unrolling together at the right time in history set forth in motion the beginnings of the Catholic Development Fund in 1956.

There was the enthusiastic young priest who remained a teacher at heart and lifelong champion of Catholic education. Father Jim Wall was his name. There were the commercial banks which were short on capital and reluctant to lend funds for Catholic projects.

There were the parents, many of whom were “new Australians” who were high on optimism, hopes and dreams and convinced that a Catholic education would give their children the best start in life.

There were the parishioners, tempered by depression and war, caught up in shortages and waiting lists; people who placed the highest value on Catholic Faith and practice. And there was a desperate need for classrooms!

The priest, the parents and the parishioners were a powerful force.

“We’ll take our money out of the banks,” they said, “and lend it to the parish.” And the priest encouraged them saying, “then we can build our own classrooms.”

And so it happened. The CDF was born.