A life of dedication, caring and unselfish love
Obituaries
Helen Mary McPhee (born February 22 1944, died October 6 2024).
Helen was lovingly welcomed into the world by Annie and Gordon McPhee, whose Scottish heritage was represented at her funeral Mass by the McPhee tartan. She grew up in Henley Street, Torrensville.
When Helen was four, her father passed away suddenly after a short but severe illness and the extended family wrapped their love around Annie and her daughter.
Helen’s education commenced at Star of the Sea Primary School, Henley Beach, but soon relocated to St Dominic’s Priory College, North Adelaide, a connection with the Dominican Sisters that would shape the rest of her life.
When Annie remarried in 1951, James Macnamara happily became a father figure to Helen. The arrival of baby brother Michael in 1958 was met with much excitement.
When Helen completed high school she entered the Dominican order. While training and undertaking further learning in Sydney and Canberra, her mentors and peers remarked on her dedication to her vocation, her care and regard for others, and her abilities as a singer and guitarist.
A long career as an educator began, resulting in the development and leadership of an ‘Open Learning Space’ school structure as principal of Our Lady of the Manger School, Findon, which was her final appointment in the convent before taking on a secular life at the end of 1979. She continued a life-long commitment of service to education in schools and remote and Indigenous communities in the Far North with the Education Department of SA, based in Port Pirie.
These experiences prepared her well for her life in Catholic education, which saw her undertake the co-ordination of the National Equity Program for schools through the Disadvantaged Schools Program. This project sought to support communities where students encountered various cultural and financial challenges in achieving learning outcomes – aligned to Helen’s belief that culture or postcode shouldn’t determine your future.
There are common themes to many of the conversations we have had over time, and the recollections of many others who have known Helen over the years – a faith-filled, warm hearted, generous supporter of others in need.
She would take on some roles at short notice; leadership of the Catholic Education Office in the Port Pirie Diocese and later becoming principal in Clare when one was needed quickly for a time.
She was always prepared to help those experiencing difficulties or step up to assist in any way, from a long-time friend whose business was failing which resulted in her becoming the licensee of a country pub to ensuring new arrival or refugee families’ children were assisted to access quality education for a better future. These are just some of the many stories perhaps known only to Helen and the people she served.
In 2009 Helen was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in recognition of her work with the marginalised and disadvantaged in our community. During the process of relocating her belongings a while ago, I came across the presentation box containing her medals in a bottom of a drawer under some other folders and papers. Although she was grateful for the recognition, the work she did to earn it was more important to her than the award itself.
Helen was also known as a great organiser and planner for projects about which she was passionate.
Helen Mary McPhee
When Mary MacKillop was beatified in 1995 her team booked Football Park at West Lakes for a day of celebration to mark the event.
Her coordination of the Jubilee Mass at Adelaide Oval in 2000 involved more than 110 trains, 440 buses and a couple of planes as well as liaising with people from SAPOL, Serco and Les Burdett, curator at the oval who finally agreed that the altar could go ‘OVER the pitch – just not ON it’.
That same enthusiasm was harnessed some years later when as pastoral associate at St Margaret Mary’s where she led a team which supported the youth of the parish to journey to Sydney for the papal visit celebrating World Youth Day in Australia.
She was devoted to family; her nieces were called her ‘princesses’ and knew no end of her love and support in all of their endeavours.
There was always an abundance of Christmas and birthday gifts each year which always included the best of the current selection of books at each age level, such was the value she placed on literacy.
This generosity continued with the arrival of two precious grand-nieces and Helen would always manage to have a bag containing the best of early childhood classic literature in the corner of her unit.
Members of her extended family and many friends have each recalled their special moments with Helen at various events and gatherings over the years and the support she offered whenever it was needed.
Her kindness extended to all God’s creatures, not the least of which have been a succession of cats who strayed into Helen’s yard one day and ended up living their best life being pampered by her.
Helen’s life was punctuated by a number of illnesses – a stroke, heart attack, three bouts of cancer and diabetes – but each time she showed great courage and resilience and bounced back to ‘soldier on’.
In the last few years, additional health challenges took their toll until finally this year she became a resident of Southern Cross Care, Bucklands. The family is grateful for the care and support that the staff and community at Bucklands and the medical and nursing staff of the RAH for their compassionate and professional support in her final hours.
Fr Maurice Shinnick, Fr Charles Lukati and Fr Long Hai Nguyen celebrated Helen’s funeral Mass in her beloved St Margaret Mary’s Church, Croydon Park.
- Taken from the eulogy by Michael Macnamara.
Jump to next article
