Last week, the dog and I were out and about again in Brisbane. We had a ride on a ‘City Cat’ named the ‘Sr Angela Mary Doyle’. I love that this amazing woman is recognised within the Brisbane community.  I love that, at Shalom, we share something with Sr Angela Mary who is one of Catherine McAuley’s, followers.  Next week we will celebrate the Opening & Blessing of the Coolock Block and our connection with the Sisters of Mercy.  Earlier this year, Sr Angela Mary celebrated her 100th birthday!  Just an amazing milestone.  Her story needs to remembered and celebrated.  Sr Angela Mary is the legendary long term administrator of Brisbane’s Mater Hospital. Angela Mary arrived in Australia from Ireland with 8 other sisters in 1947.  They travelled to Australia from Ireland on a troop ship with Australian soldiers returning from Europe.  She thought she was to become a teacher and for a short time she taught 52 Grade 2 children. Then she was transferred to the Mater Hospital where she spent her entire working life, first training as a nurse and then being thrown in the deep end as administrator of the hospital. 

The Australian public last saw Angela on their national TV screens when she spoke at the funeral of the late governor general Bill Hayden.  She had accompanied him during his late-in-life conversion to Catholicism.  When he was minister for social security, she was instrumental in assisting him with the introduction of Medicare.  While other hospital systems and medical personnel were wary of socialised medicine, Angela Mary immediately had her hospital co-operate with the Medicare initiative so as to provide healthcare for the poorest of the poor.  In the 70’s when the Bjelke-Petersen Government declined any Federal funds to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic, she opened the doors of the Mater during that crisis happily channelling Commonwealth funds to counter the pandemic. The Commonwealth Health Minister described Sr Angela and her fellow Mercies as ‘the most altruistic money launderers’ he’d ever known’!  I hope our young people and especially our young women, will channel something of Sister Angela Mary Doyle and Catherine McAuley.  Neither were women who accepted being told ‘no’ by a man.  Both responded the real needs in front of them and neither waited for someone else to respond.  Both were prepared to be unpopular if it meant living up to the vision put to the world by Jesus of Nazareth.  That story still resonates and we need to remember it, celebrate it and do our part to add to that story.

Leigh Matthews – AFL legend will be at Shalom Thursday next week.  Leigh will speak Thursday evening in our Performing Arts Theatre and will open our AFL field on Friday morning.  Leigh Matthews is an all time great of sport. This is an event, sponsored by our Parents & Friends, FootMotion, RumCity Foods, The Waves Sports Club, RealWay Bundaberg, Brothers Sports Club and Superior Pak that is not to be missed.  Tickets are available -https://www.trybooking.com/DCPOK

Bleached Hair seems to be a bit of a ‘trend’ recently.  Can I remind all that ‘natural colours’ are required for hair styles?  Not sure who, in the NRL or AFL, has started this particular trend but it is not OK for school.  Thank you for your support in this.

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
Daniel_McMahon@rok.catholic.edu.au