Govt honours cardinal, bishops, laity

Sydney
1 June 2003

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Govt honours cardinal, bishops, laity

Archbishop George Pell ... important recognition of contribution of the Catholic community

By Marilyn Rodrigues

The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr George Pell, and his predecessor, Cardinal Edward Clancy, have each received a Centenary Medal - awarded by the Federal Government in recognition of their service to Australian society through the Catholic Church.

Many other clergy, religious and lay faithful are among the 15,500 Australians to receive the medals that were created to commemorate 100 years of federation.

Nominations of people who stand out for their contribution to society in their particular field were sought from the community last year and assessed by a committee chaired by historian Geoffrey Blainey.

Archbishop Pell says he is “deeply honoured” to receive his medal.

“It is a small but important recognition of the contribution that the wider Catholic community makes to Australian society,” he added.

Around 4500 medals have have been awarded to people in NSW alone, including the Bishop of Wagga Wagga, Bishop Gerard Hanna.

They also include Br Robert Wallace, headmaster of Christian Brothers College, Waverley; Fr Terry Bell, national director of Catholic Mission; Salesian Fr Chris Riley, founder of Youth Off The Streets; Dr Brian Pollard, author; Prof Peter Sheehan, vice-chancellor of the Australian Catholic University; Greg Smith, president of NSW Right to Life; Gwen Williams, retired secretary of De La Salle College, Revesby; and Mercy Sr Veronica Gallagher, of Maclean.

Gwen Williams worked at De La Salle College for 25 years, at first unpaid, and was devoted to the school and the brothers, says Leonie Rowe, a current staff member.

John Moore, former national president of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, is among a host of Vinnies members to receive a medal, including Kevin Hennessey, Pat Griffith and Bill Dawson of the Five Dock conference, who have given many decades of voluntary service between them.

Kevin says that he is slightly embarrassed but also pleased to have his 40 years of service to the Society recognised by the government.

“That is a lot of time given when you consider that it is a couple of hours work at least twice a week,” he said.

Parish priests honoured include Mons Kerry Bayada, of Our Lady of Fatima, Caringbah; Fr Terence Goodall, of Mater Dei, Blakehurst, and St Raphael, Hurstville South; Fr Philip Linder, of All Saints, Liverpool; Fr Jude Pirotta, of Our Lady of Victories, Horsley Park; and Fr Leo Donnelly, of Port Macquarie.

Retired parish priests have been honoured, too - Fr Frank Mecham, Fr Timothy Crowley, Fr Denis Callahan, and Fr Joseph Walsh, formerly of St Bernadette’s Church, Castle Hill, and St Michael’s Church, Baulkham Hills, who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours this year for his service to the community through the Catholic Church.

Mons Bayada, a member of The Catholic Weekly board of directors, says he was taken aback when he learnt about his medal, but is very honoured and grateful to receive it.

He said he thought his work as vice-president and now executive member of the Sutherland Shire Suicide Safety Network committee had something to do with him being chosen.

“I believe it is a reflection on my representation of the Catholic Church in the general community as a whole; and I think (as Catholics) our witness to wider society is very important,” he said.

Newspaper columnist Miranda Devine, who is a member of The Catholic Weekly board of directors, received a Centenary Medal for her service as a writer and social commentator.

The medals feature a seven-pointed star to symbolise federation - the six states becoming one.

The Prime Minister, John Howard, says the recipients of the medals represent a cross-section of location and types of service to society.

Many have made important achievements that made a national or international impact through science, research or the arts.

But others have been recognised for having “served selflessly and without regard for personal recognition for lengthy periods on a voluntary basis”, said Mr Howard.

“Australia, by recognising this remarkable group, reminds itself of the values that we as a society hold dear,” he said.

People born in 1901 or earlier who were still living on January 1, 2001, automatically receive a medal.