Mercy Sister recognised for lifetime of service, leadership

Thursday 23 August 2012

WHEN she trained as a Sister of Mercy in Ireland, Sr Angela Mary Doyle was preparing for a life of teaching. Although on arriving in Australia and being thrust into a health care role, her path changed – and has taken her to meetings with royalty  as well as religious and civic leaders.

Her enduring contribution to the Catholic health and aged care community in Australia was last night recognised when she became the third recipient of the Sr Maria Cunningham Lifetime Contribution Award, at the Catholic Health Australia awards dinner.

Fellow Mercy Sister Helen Monkivitch, the recipient of the award at last year’s CHA awards dinner, read the citiation outlining some of Sr Angela Mary’s many roles with the Mater Hospitals in Queensland.

After completing a diploma of nursing administration in 1964, she was appointed to a position that would be today's equivalent of the CEO of the Mater Hospitals. She served in that capacity for 22 years, also completing a bachelor of business during that period.

Sr Angela Mary later ran the Mater Hospital Trust, which has made a major contribution to the growth of Mater services around Australia, thanks in no small part to Sr Angela Mary making numerous phone calls to seek donations and support.

While in her own version of retirement, Sr Angela Mary continues to write books, conduct interviews and work for social justice. It’s a commitment that has always shaped her life and her way of thinking.

In the 1980s, for example, when many in society – including leading government officials – were shunning those with HIV/Aids, Sr Angela Mary led efforts to provide care to those men. She was named Queenslander of the Year in 1989 for that work.

“The Sisters of Mercy were founded for the poor, the sick and anyone disadvantaged. We knew our time had come to declare our hand,” Sr Angela Mary recalled in 2009, when she was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

Other civic recognitions she has received include the Queensland Premier’s inaugural Queensland Greats award in 2001. She was appointed to the Order of Australia in 1993 and has received honorary doctorates from the Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University.

Catholic Health Australia CEO Martin Laverty said the organisation has been able to recognise three “giants of Catholic health and aged care” since Sr Maria Cunningham was named the first recipient of the lifetime contribution award that bears her name.

“Sr Angela Mary is universally recognised as someone who deeply understands how Jesus cared for the sick, the poor and the marginalised and sees it as her role to continue that ministry in a contemporary setting,” Mr Laverty said.

“She, like Sr Maria and Sr Helen, is a remarkable role model for anyone involved in the provision of health, aged and community care.”

Photo courtesy of Catholic Health Australia