Luther College (Victoria)

Luther College is a co-educational independent secondary school of the Lutheran Church of Australia located in the outer-eastern suburb of Croydon Hills in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It maintains a close relationship with the Outer Eastern Lutheran Church parish of the Lutheran Church of Australia, which congregates in the school's chapel facilities. It provides education for years 7–12.

History
Opened in 1964, Luther College is a school of the Lutheran Church of Australia, named for the father of the Lutheran Church, Dr. Martin Luther, a 16th-century German theologian.

Beginning as a boarding school with students from remote regional areas of Victoria making up a large percentage of its enrolment, the school grew to become popular with International students. However, after a decline in International enrolments and worries about the growth of the student body in relation to the school's facilities, the boarding program ended at the end of 2002, with the boarding house facilities being demolished or adapted into classrooms.

Religious education
As a school of the Lutheran Church of Australia, Luther College students participate in mandatory religious education classes in all years.

All students from all year levels attend a chapel service in the school's chapel three days out of the week, with one year level assembly and one day being an extended homegroup.

The school's campus contains a special Ministry Centre which contains the offices of the school's two chaplains as well as the school counsellor.

Involvement with Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School
Both Luther College and The Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School are private schools, as well as schools of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Both their campuses are located in Croydon Hills, separated by two sporting ovals.

The schools share many of their facilities, including the sporting ovals, as well as the Luther College chapel which is used by the primary school for special occasions. The schools have very similar uniforms, and until 2004 their physical education uniforms were almost identical.

As many as 80% of Good Shepherd students attend Luther College after the completion of year 6, due to the school's close proximity and affordable fees. Due to this, students of the schools share a close relationship. Many collegiates undertake work experience or voluntary service placements at Good Shepherd, and both schools often present chapel services for each other.

There has been speculation since Good Shepherd's inception that the schools will one day join to become one college that provides education for all students years prep-12, as other private church schools including Methodist Ladies' College and Yarra Valley Grammar have successfully done, but there has been no official acknowledgement of this proposal from either school at any time.

Sport
Luther is a member of the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne.

Houses
Luther College has six houses allocated by the school to each student upon entry. Each house is allocated into multiple homegroups, in which students are to attend every morning. These houses participate in sporting events such as cross country and athletics day and other social events such as public speaking.

EISM premierships
Luther has won the following EISM senior premierships.

Combined:


 * Athletics (16) – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
 * Cross Country (16) – 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Boys:


 * Athletics (9) – 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2021
 * Basketball (7) – 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 2004
 * Cricket (7) – 1971, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2013, 2014, 2018
 * Cross Country (16) – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
 * Football – 1976
 * Handball – 2002
 * Hockey (6) – 1992, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2006
 * Indoor Soccer – 2008
 * Soccer (3) – 1987, 1995, 2002
 * Table Tennis (4) – 1978, 1982, 1984, 2015
 * Tennis (5) – 1972, 1974, 1994, 1999, 2001
 * Touch Rugby (4) – 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
 * Volleyball (7) – 1977, 1979, 1980, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2016

Girls:


 * Athletics (15) – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
 * Basketball (3) – 1977, 1978, 1986
 * Bowling (2) – 2005, 2006
 * Cricket – 2009
 * Cross Country (17) – 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
 * Indoor Cricket – 2014
 * Softball (2) – 1971, 1977
 * Swimming (7) – 2000, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021
 * Tennis (9) – 1971, 1972, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2012
 * Touch Rugby - 2022
 * Volleyball (11) – 1977, 1989, 1992, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2016, 2017

Luther Year 9 EISM Premierships

Year 9 Boys:
 * Badminton (3) - 2014, 2016, 2017
 * Basketball (2) - 2014, 2019
 * Football (2) - 2010, 2011
 * Hockey (3) - 2013, 2014, 2017
 * Indoor Cricket - 2017
 * Lawn Bowls (4) - 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018
 * Netball (4) - 2010, 2011, 2013, 2022
 * Table Tennis (4) - 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019
 * Touch Rugby (3) - 2011, 2014, 2016
 * Soccer (3) - 2016, 2019, 2022
 * Softball (3) - 2016, 2017, 2019
 * Volleyball (6) - 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019

Year 9 Girls:
 * Badminton - 2015
 * Basketball (2) - 2013, 2016
 * Football (2) - 2012, 2018
 * Hockey (4) - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
 * Indoor Cricket (5) - 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
 * Indoor Soccer - 2021
 * Lawn Bowls (3) - 2016, 2017, 2018
 * Netball - 2014
 * Table Tennis (2) - 2016, 2017
 * Tennis (6) - 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020
 * Touch Rugby (5) - 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
 * Soccer - 2015
 * Softball - 2013
 * Ultimate Frisbee (2) - 2015, 2017
 * Volleyball (6) - 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017

Notable alumni

 * 360 (Matthew Colwell) – hip hop artist
 * Sarah Blanck – sailor
 * Tom Boyd – former AFL player for the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants
 * Greig Fraser – Oscar winning, Emmy Award–winning cinematographer
 * Ash Grunwald – blues and roots artist
 * Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy – Paralympian (bronze medal, basketball, Beijing 2008)
 * Dan McStay, AFL footballer