Three religious sisters have been honoured with Order of Australia medals (OAM) in the 2022 Australia Day honours list.
Sr Barbara McDonough RSM.
Mercy Sister Barbara McDonough RSM was awarded the OAM for her services to education and the church, but the honour has hardly gone to her head.
“I can’t imagine why they think I should have one!” she told The Catholic Weekly. “When I got the email, I thought it was spam! They had to send the email twice because I didn’t answer the first one.”
Sr Barbara served as a school teacher and principal for more than four decades in Mercy Sisters secondary girls’ schools.
Sr Barbara said the award was for the Sisters of Mercy and not for her alone.
“I would never have been in this situation if I hadn’t been a Sister of Mercy.”
Sr Susan Pollard RSJ has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours for service to the Catholic Church of Australia.
Sr Susan Pollard RSJ.
Based in Adelaide, Sr Susan worked in education as a primary school teacher, deputy principal and principal in schools across South Australia and New South Wales for many years. She has a PhD in Psychoanalysis, a Masters in Education and Arts degree in Italian, and is also a registered Clinical Psychologist currently in private practice.
“Encouraged by my family, good friends and the Josephite family, this award belongs to each and all in our communities – as we do our best to attune to … the whisperings of God to (our) own heart”, says Sr Susan in an article published on the Sisters of St Joseph website.
Born in South Africa and raised in Australia, Sr Susan was professed as a Sister of Saint Joseph in 1968.
“The Sisters and Affiliates in the CentreWest Region, along with Susan’s family, celebrate with pride and joy this honour,” says Sr Brigette Sipa, Regional Leader.
“We acknowledge Susan’s commitment and contribution to the people with whom she ministers with passion, courage and resilience, supporting and working with others to make Australia a better place.”
And Sr Anne Hetherington RSM received an Order of Australia Medal for service to the Catholic Church of Australia.
Sr Anne Hetherington RSM.
A Sister of Mercy from Brisbane, Sr Anne was a board member of Mercy Works from 2004 to 2009, chair or the Mercy Heritage board from 2004 to 2010, a board member of Mercy Disability Services from 1999 to 2001, a board member of Mercy Family services from 1996 to 2001, the governing body member of the Mercy Aged Care Services from 1992 to 2013, a member of the Ministry Council from 1993-1998, and a member of the Finance Committee from 1985-1986.
Sr Anne was Principal of All Hallows’ School from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1983 to 1988. She was also secretary of the Hallows’ Past Pupils Association from 1958 to 2017.
As a part of the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society, Sr Anne was a member of the management committee from 2012 to 2021 and the secretary from 2016 to 2021.
She was a member of the Catholic Education Commission from 2000 to 2001, 1983 to 1985, and from 1977 to 1980 and a member of the advisory board for St Vincent’s Youth and Family Centre from 1994 to 1996.
Sr Anne was a member of the Mater Hospital Governing Board from 1994 to 2001 and from 1987 to 1989. She was also president of the association of Catholic Secondary Schools Queensland from 1985 to 1987, and chair of the Mercy Partners Council from 2010 to 2014.