Honouring good citizens
Local
Past recipients of Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday honours joined other worshippers for the annual Australia Day Mass in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on January 26.
The Mass coordinated by the Therry Society, Catholic Women’s League and Knights of the Southern Cross began with a procession of the Aboriginal and Australian flags and an acknowledgement to country.
It also included the presentation of the John Brewer Scholarship to Year 12 students Pia Piotto from Mary MacKillop College and Julia Clark from St Mary’s College.
Established 25 years ago by the Knights of the Southern Cross, the $1500 scholarship will assist with fees and education expenses during their final year of secondary schooling. The scholarship is named after deceased KSC member John Brewer who gave many years of service to his church, community and the Knights.
Mary Formosa from the Therry Dramatic Society places the Australian flag on the altar.
In this year’s Australia Day honours, former Catholic Development Fund board member Tracey Whiting received an AM for her significant service to the museums and galleries sector.
Ms Whiting has been chair of the Art Gallery of SA since 2014 and a board member since 2008. A non-executive director of Solstice Media, she is a member of the International Women’s Forum Australia and a founding member of Foodbank, SA Chapter.
Sisters of Saint Joseph congregational leader Sr Monica Cavanagh was awarded an OAM for services to the Church.
Lynn Martin with Mayor Bill O’Brien.
Former Xavier College principal Lynn Martin, who stood down from his position last year due to ill health after 16 years of leadership and 43 years of service to Catholic education, was awarded the Light Regional Council Mayor’s Inspiration Award on Australia Day.
Mr Martin oversaw an increase in enrolments from about 600 to more than 1000 students this year but one of his most cherished achievements was the placement of the Salesian charism within the college community, with students encouraged to follow St John Bosco’s belief that they should strive to be ‘good Christians and honest citizens’.
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