Our Houses

Champagnat House is named after our patron Marcellin Champagnat. Born at the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789 to French peasants, it was this background of societal unrest that influenced Marcellin’s path to Sainthood. Marcellin is best known for his education efforts towards young, poor boys in rural France. His motto, “to educate children, first you must love them – love them all equally,” best emphasises his want for education to be available to all. The Marist brothers would later go on to become co-founders of Galen.

Marcellin was a person who had a love of work, with his sleeves rolled up, he led by doing in solidarity with others.

Our patron Saint, Marcellin Champagnat and the Marist Brothers are known for their family spirit and simple Gospel way of being fully present to each other and all people. Marcellin Champagnat also embodies the values of Presence, Simplicity, Family Spirit, Love of Work – In the Way of Mary and we hope that as members of Champagnat, you will strive to uphold these charisms. 

We are navy in colour, which represents faith, loyalty and a strong spirit.

Symbols & Story

Champagnat House Symbol: the Marists were named after the Blessed Virgin Mary and the ‘M’ is representative of them following ‘In the way of Mary’. The cross reflects Marcellin’s mission: to make Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected.

Other symbols associated with Marcellin Champagnat

Lavalla Table: Community – all seated around the same table. The La Valla table has become a symbol of the community that gathered around it. Like all objects connected to real experiences of our own history, this table connects us to stories that have come down to us, and awakens in us a variety of emotions. 

Stone/Rock: If any man deserved to be called a man of rock it was Marcellin Champagnat. The greatest monument to his life and spirit is possibly the Hermitage, the large five-story building which Marcellin built with his own hands and the labour of his Brothers in 1824. The building was the Mother House of the Brothers, and was Marcellin’s home from 1825 till his death. To construct the building, Marcellin had to literally carve into the rock face of the hill.

Nails: In the early years of the brotherhood they prayed, studied and worked together. Their work consisted in making iron nails to earn themselves a living.

Water: River Gier – runs directly through L’Hermitage “Water from the Rock”

Reference: St Marcellin Champagnat

Yorta Yorta Clan

Nurri-Illiim – Wurrung  – this clan represents: community focused, hard workers and looking out for family.

Prominent Aboriginal Person: Geraldine Briggs

Born in 1910 on the Warangesda Aboriginal Mission in New South Wales, Geraldine Briggs was a tireless campaigner for human rights who rose from an activist to a Yorta Yorta Elder. 

After moving to the Cummeragunja Mission on the banks of the Murray River upon marrying, Geraldine noticed the deterioration of the conditions at the Mission as the New South Wales Aborigines Protection Board took greater control. She had often visited there as a child, and would forever recall a once thriving, self-sufficient settlement. 

When she was a child, Geraldine’s sisters, Margaret, May and Evelyn were forcibly removed to the Cootamundra Girls Home. As a young mother, she lost her son to an illness after the Mission manager refused to take the family to Echuca to seek medical help. In 1939, Geraldine’s family was involved in the famous Cummeragunja “walk-off,” where some 200 residents protested by deserting the Mission. All three events would lead to Geraldine’s future activism. 

Geraldine poured her heart and soul into campaigning for equal rights, especially concerning citizenship. When the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) campaigned for a ‘yes’ vote in the 1967 referendum to amend the Australian Constitution and include Aboriginal people in the national census, she rallied support within her community and distributed how-to-vote cards. She went on to become the Victorian State Secretary of FCAATSI in 1970.

In 1970, Geraldine helped establish a Victorian Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Council with other prominent women of the time. Where services for the community were lacking, the council established organisations to fill the void. Geraldine was known for involving herself wherever she could be of use. 

She was never happier than when in the company of family – hers extended far and wide, and took in many unrelated by blood. 

With her pragmatic approach to all she did, her accomplishments delivered results and benefits to the communities of those she campaigned so tirelessly for. Always strong willed, Geraldine possessed a love for her work, her community and the Family Spirit that Marcellin Champagnat possessed. This is why we have chosen her to be Champagnat’s prominent Yorta Yorta person. 

Ref: https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/geraldine-briggs-ao

Charity

Marist Solidarity - Australian Marist Solidarity

Working across Asia and the Pacific, Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) works to ensure that all young people have access to educational opportunities.

Patron Quotes

1. “In the Way of Mary”
2. “Seated around the same Table” 
3. “Family Spirit”
4. “We are a Marist Family”

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Guide us to treat all those we meet with compassion and to take action to support others.
May we strive to be people of integrity doing good within our community.
Encourage our family spirit to shine, both in our successes and especially in times of need.
May we follow in Marcellin’s example in being generous of heart, constant and persevering in our love of work.
In the Way of Mary, teach us to be good role models, tender, strong, constant in faith and open to God’s calling.
Mary our good mother, pray for us
St Marcellin Champagnat, pray for us
Our wider Marist family, pray for us
And let us always remember, to pray for one another.

Amen

Chisholm House is named after our patron Caroline Chisholm. Caroline Chisholm was born on the 30th of May 1808 in the United Kingdom. She was the 16th child in a very large family. When she was 6 years old her father died, leaving the family with very little money. This no doubt greatly influenced her desire to assist young, single women to get jobs, along with the setting up of homes for immigrant women. Her motto, “to serve all justly and impartially,” best emphasises her want for everyone to be treated equally. 

Did you know that she is also the face of the $5.00 note?
I am inspired by Caroline’s ability to understand when people are in distress and to find a way to assist them. She was a woman of great compassion and care.

Caroline Chisholm embodies the values of Faith, Courage, Tolerance, Compassion, Dignity and Justice, and we hope that as members of Chisholm, you will strive to uphold these charisms. 

We are yellow in colour, which represents happiness, hope and spontaneity.

Symbols & Story

Chisholm House Symbol: The cross symbolises Caroline Chisholm’s devotion to Christ and the Catholic church. The heart is the hallmark of love and compassion.

Other symbols often associated with Caroline Chisholm
Quill & Paper: the quill and paper is often seen in imagery of Caroline Chisholm, reflective of her writing and advocating for the rights of others.
Compass & Ships: the use of ships or a compass signifies navigation, and the guidance Caroline provided to immigrants in accessing new opportunities, opening doors to establish a better life in Australia.

Yorta Yorta Clan: Ulupna

His clan represents creating an environment where everyone feels at home.

Prominent Aboriginal Person: Burnum Burnum

Born on the 10th of January 1936, Burnum Burnum was a Woiworrung and Yorta Yorta sportsman, activist, actor and author. He was born under a sacred gumtree at Mosquito Point on Wallaga Lake Aboriginal Reserve in New South Wales, in 1936. 

Taken from his family as an infant, Burnum Burnum spent his childhood at the United Aboriginal Mission in Bomaderry and the Kinchela Home near Kempsey as Harry Penrith. He would later take the name of his great great grandfather, Burnum Burnum (meaning ‘Great Warrior’) of the Warundjeri people. 

In the 1960’s he began searching for his Aboriginal identity. He ran an Indigenous social tennis club based at Surry Hills, NSW and joined the battle for Aboriginal rights including being part of the historic establishment of the Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972. On the 26th January 1988, the year of the Australian Bicentennial, Burnum Burnum travelled to England and claimed the country on behalf of Aboriginal people. In planting his flag on the White Cliffs of Dover, he read out a declaration, offering a “fresh start” to the European colonists, before listing all that was done to the Aboriginal people upon Australia’s colonisation . 

Burnum Burnum exhibited great courage and passion for the justice and dignity of his peoples, much like Caroline Chisholm did for refugees. This is why we have chosen him to be Chisholm’s prominent Yorta Yorta person. 

Ref:
https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/burnum-burnum-1936
https://www.blakhistorymonth.com/5-july-2020-burnum-burnum

Charity

Centrecare is a well-respected Catholic not-for-profit organisation providing a variety of counselling and professional social services inspired by compassion and respect for human dignity.

Patron Quotes

1. ‘Serving all justly and impartially’
2. ‘Learning is beauty’

Prayer

Dear God,

We pray that we can embody the charisms of our house patron, Caroline Chisholm.
Give us faith, to share Your good news with all.
Give us humility, to serve everyone justly and impartially.
Give us courage, to reach out to all, especially those at the edges.
Give us the strength to lead in your way.

Amen.

Delany House was named after our patron Bishop Daniel Delany, who was born in 1747 in Ireland. His family were firm Catholics and they passed on to Daniel the truths of the faith, the richness of his land’s traditions, and a deep thirst for knowledge. Daniel studied to become a priest, in a time when priests were outlawed. Once ordained he set about providing education to people from all walks of life, “rich and poor alike”. To provide this opportunity for education to more people Daniel sought out the assistance of young men and women who were willing to create and run schools, as a result of this he founded the Brigidine Sisters in 1807 and the Patrician Brothers in 1808. The Brigidine Sisters would later go on to become co-founders of Galen. 

Daniel fought for many years to free people and to release their hidden potential which slowly brought about new life and new possibilities, and this is something we hope to do for you throughout your time at Galen.

I am inspired by the fact that Daniel faced many obstacles and difficulties in his lifetime, but never gave up chasing his dreams. Through prayer he found the answers to his obstacles and difficulties.

Being resilient when challenged, valuing education and faith, chasing your dreams and doing everything with a spirit of love are all key qualities of Bishop Delany that all members of the Delany House will strive to uphold at Galen.

Daniel Delany portrays many qualities which I hope will act as an inspiration for our House.

I will leave you with a quote from our House Patron Bishop Daniel Delany.

“By performing the ordinary duties of your day well you will perfect yourself, and your day will be full of merit and good works.” 

We are green in colour, which represents Ireland, peace, hope and growth.

Symbols & Story

Delany House Symbol: The oak leaf represents the oak sapling from Kildare (‘Cill Dara’ Church of the Oak) that Bishop Daniel Delany planted in the grounds of what is now the Brigidine Convent in Tullow, in order to make the link between Brigid’s monastic foundation at Kildare and the newly re-founded Order of St. Brigid (Brigidines) on 1st February 1807.

Traditionally, the oak was the sacred tree of the Druids and later became associated with the Church. It is one of the longest-living native deciduous trees of Ireland. It is from the sacred oak that ‘Cill Dara’ got its name (Church of the Oak). “From the Acorn to the Oak”.

Other symbols often associated with Bishop Daniel Delany:

Reference: Our Symbols

Yorta Yorta Clan: Kwat Kwat

This clan represents: the Spiritual and education for all.

Prominent Aboriginal Person: Hyllus Maris

Born in 1934 on the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve, Hyllus Maris was an activist, an artist, a cultural leader and a philosopher. 

Hyllus lived at Cummeragunja with her mother, Geraldine Briggs, her father, Selwyn Briggs and her nine siblings until she was five years old, when her family walked off the reserve in protest over its management. They settled on the outskirts of Mooroopna, in a makeshift settlement known as the Flats due to the exclusion from mainstream society because of their Aboriginality. Hyllus often drew on her experience growing up as an outsider as a catalyst for her activism. 

From a young age, Hyllus was an artistic soul and a talented musician. She played guitar and sang at local venues in and around Shepparton. In 1956, she married a Malaysian geologist and adopted the surname Maris. She took a keen interest in Aboriginal affairs and supported her parents’ fight against inequality, becoming a member of the Aborigines Advancement League and regularly attending meetings of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). After relocating to Melbourne in 1970, Hyllus became a founding member and liaison officer for the National Council of Aborigal and Islander Women. She undertook various acts of community service within this role, including; visiting incarcerated Aboriginal people whom she would organise bail and representation in court hearings for; helping set up the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1973;  helping set up the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service; and chairing the Victorian Council for Aboriginal Culture. 

In 1977, Hyllus received a scholarship from the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs to study social policy and community development in London with the prominent sociologist, Sir Richard Hauser. During her travels, she became convinced of the need for a holistic approach to Aboriginal education. She returned to Australia determined to build a school that would focus on three key areas; wellbeing, education and culture. To achieve this, she established the non-for-profit Green Hills Foundation to raise funds. After intense lobbying, securing a grant from the Victorian Schools Commission and a purchase of land near Diamond Creek, the first independent Aboriginal school in Victoria opened its doors.

Worawa (meaning ‘eagle) Aboriginal College officially opened in 1983. Extensive consultation went into developing a curriculum that balanced Aboriginal culture with the very best of western education. Scholarships were offered to ensure the widest range of Aboriginal students could attend. 

Hyllus believed the future to be in the hands of the young, much like Bishop Daniel Delany. This is why we have chosen her to be Delany’s prominent Yorta Yorta person. 

Ref: https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/hyllus-maris

Charity

Opening the-Doors

The Foundation supports the extra costs associated with schooling for Aboriginal students around Victoria.

The Foundation is Aboriginal led and listens to the diverse needs of Victorian Aboriginal families.

Patron Quotes

1. ‘Rich and poor alike’
2. ‘Spirit of love’
3. “We must not be like wheelbarrows,
   Useless unless we are pushed,
   But rather like a gold watch’
   Open-faced, pure gold, quietly busy,
   Full of good works”
4. “Do ordinary things extra-ordinarily well” 
5. “What you are, those who come after you will be”
6. “Love God and live together in peace and charity”

Prayer

Dear Lord,

We pray that you give us faith, courage, and dedication,
Encourage us to welcome and live together in peace and charity,
Help us to spread the spirit of kindness to our families, our friends, and to the stranger.
Guide us to be resilient when challenged,
And let us be grateful for the education we have been gifted with;
To do ordinary things extra-ordinarily well,
And do everything with the spirit of love in the footsteps of Bishop Daniel Delany.

Amen

‍

Our Patron for Glowrey House is Dr Sr Mary Glowrey. Mary was born on the 23rd June 1887 in regional Victoria. She graduated from Melbourne University in 1910 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. 

The improvement of female health worldwide was her lifetime passion. She spent 37 years involved in medical work in Guntur, India, providing care to thousands of patients, most of them poor women. She also trained local women to be compounders, midwives and nurses. Mary was the founder of the Catholic Health Association of India which continues to care for millions of people in India today. What an amazing achievement!

I am inspired by the way Mary embraced new challenges and provided care for those in need. Her motto was “it is up to Him to point the way and for me to follow,” saying that everything she did was in God’s plan. 

The values of Glowrey House are Dedication, Service, Humility, Compassion and Courage and we hope that as members of Glowrey, you will strive to uphold these charisms. 

Finally I would like to extend a huge Glowrey welcome to all the students and families who have been lucky enough to be assigned to the Glowrey House! I look forward to working closely with you all in 2021 and beyond.

We are orange in colour which represents courage, enthusiasm and warmth.

Symbols & Story

Glowrey House Symbol: the stethoscope is the hallmark of a doctor and Dr Sr Mary Glowrey was a doctor of medicine. The cross symbolises Dr Sr Mary Glowrey’s devotion to Christ.

Cross: Crosses are worn as an indication of commitment to the Christian faith.

Religious wear: the white habit identified Mary as a sister of the Catholic religious women’s ‘Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph’.

Reference: Mary Glowrey Museum

Yorta Yorta Clan: Kaitheban

This clan represents taking care of the sick and being dedicated.

Prominent Aboriginal Person: Jack Patten

Born at the Cummeragunja Mission in 1905, Jack Patten was one of the great Aboriginal leaders of the 20th century and set the agenda for the civil rights movement in Australia. 

Jack attended the mission school, followed by state schools in Tumbarumba and West Wyalong. During WWI, he volunteered with the Junior Red Cross, where his natural organisational skills impressed others. Jack’s academic potential was recognised with a scholarship that he hoped to use to pursue a career in the navy, however his application was rejected on racial grounds. He instead took on various labouring jobs.

By 1927, Jack was boxing professionally under the moniker ‘Ironbark.’ Whilst travelling around, he met his future wife Seline Avery, a Bundjalung woman, who would share with him the plight of her people. Upon learning that the community’s children were excluded from the local school, Jack gathered together a group of men and physically relocated the schoolhouse. He only returned it when he was personally reassured that the children would be educated. 

Jack and Selina married in 1931, they would go on to have 7 children. During the Great Depression, they moved to Salt Pan Creek, an Aboriginal camp in south west Sydney.

By 1936, Jack and his family had settled in the Sydney suburb of La Perouse. A persuasive public speaker, Jack addressed crowds at the Domain every Sunday and also became a prolific letter writer on matters concerning Aboriginal rights.

Jack played a key role in the famous Cummeragunja walk-off in 1939. Having returned to the old mission in 1938, he was dismayed by its poor management and food shortages. Despite appeals to the government, the situation deteriorated and Jack encouraged the residents to leave. Around 200 people followed him in his protest and the event resulted in his arrest. 

Prior to WWII, military regulations officially excluded Aboriginal people from enlisting in Australia’s armed forces. Whilst many still served during WWI, they often either concealed their Aboriginal heritage or had to prove their whiteness. In 1939, Jack successfully campaigned to have the rules changed, before enlisting in the army himself. He went on to serve in Palestine and Egypt as a Private. Discharged in 1942 after a piece of shrapnel damaged his knee, Jack joined the Civil Construction Corps. 

Jack Patten was incredibly dedicated to his country and his peoples. He wanted nothing more than to serve, much like Dr. Sr. Mary Glowrey. This is why we have chosen him to be Glowrey’s prominent Yorta Yorta person. 

Ref: https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/jack-patten

Charity

Catholic Mission, as the Australian agency of the Pontifical Mission Society contributes funding and provides project support to critical church-run initiatives in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America as well as remote dioceses within Australia.

Patron Quotes

1. ‘Energy and daring’
2. ‘Hearts of Christ’
3. ‘Doing this for Him’
4. ‘Following Him (Jesus)’

Prayer

Merciful and loving father,
You sent Your only Son, Jesus to heal the world.
In Your loving compassion, You chose Sr. Dr. Mary Glowrey, to follow in Your Son’s healing ministry.
As a model of care to the sick, destitute, and impoverished, she spread Your message of love and healing.
May we have the courage to walk the unbeaten path of Sr. Dr. Mary Glowrey as we continue Your healing ministry.
May we grow in unity, through Mary’s example of selfless love, hard work and concern for the poor.
Through your mercy, we ask that you grant favours to those in need of Christ’s physical, mental, social and spiritual healing.

Amen.

MacKillop House is named after our patron Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Born in January 1842, Mary was an educator, a pioneer and a leader. She had compassion for others regardless of their situation or circumstance.

She worked hardest for those who were poor and marginalized and helped these people realise their full potential through education and learning life skills. Ten years ago, on the 17th Oct, Mary was canonized and recognized as a Saint for her work with others. Since then people from many cultures, from different faiths and traditions and all walks of life have been inspired by her examples of faith, service and love for all.

I am inspired by Mary’s values of forgiveness, respect, courage and leadership. Her motto was – “never see a need without doing something about it”. These are important values that we can be inspired by and take into our own lives as we travel on our learning journey.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop embodies the values of courage, justice and work for the poor and we hope that as members of MacKillop, you will strive to uphold these charisms. 

We are red in colour, which represents energy, passion and courage.

Symbols & Story

MacKillop House Symbol: resembles the ‘Josephite’ Cross worn by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephite Emblem) has its origin in tradition, and is symbolic of the devotions that were special to Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods.

In the early days, the Sisters wore a monogram of blue braid on the front of their brown habits. The shape of the monogram was the A of ‘Ave’ and the M of ‘Maria’ (a popular prayer to Mary the Mother of God). The Cross: Mary called herself ‘Mary of the Cross’ and was called on to bear the cross many times throughout her life.

Other symbols often associated with Mary MacKillop

Scapular/Rosary: the word scapular indicates a form of clothing which monks wore when they were working. With the passage of time, people began to give symbolic meaning to it: the cross to be borne every day as disciples and followers of Christ. Rosary beads are used to help Catholics count their prayers. Catholics often pray the rosary to make a request to God, some to thank God for blessings received or for requesting a special favour, for example if someone is sick to help them recover. 

Religious wear: distinctive brown Josephite habit

Yorta Yorta Clan: Wollithica

This clan represents integrity, courage and faith in family.

Prominent Aboriginal Person: Sir Douglas Nicholls

Born on the Cummeragunja Mission on the New South Wales banks of the Murray River in 1906, Sir Douglas Nicholls’ multi-faceted athletic prowess was his ticket out of there. In 1927, he moved to Melbourne, hoping to play football. Initially recruited by Carlton, Douglas left after hearing derogatory remarks from his teammates. He went on to star at Northcote, drawing large crowds and helping his team win the 1929 premiership. At the same time, he continued to excel as an athlete and a boxer. 

In 1932, Sir Douglas moved to play for the Fitzroy Football Club, where he would remain until he retired from playing. It was here in Fitzroy that one of the most important Aboriginal rights movements would arise, with Douglas as one of the main forces behind it.

After his mother’s death in 1935, Douglas became a pastor and led the church services from Fitzroy’s Gore Street Mission. He was chosen to give the first Aboriginal Day of Mourning speech in 1938, during which he expressed that “”Aboriginal people are the skeleton in the cupboard of Australia’s national life…outcasts in our own land.”” It was a powerful line that, for the first time, made many sit up and take notice.

Douglas enlisted in the Second World War, but was recalled from service at special request in 1942, in order to continue addressing the social problems that plagued his community. The same year, he married his wife Gladys. 

In 1957, Douglas helped found the Aboriginal Advancement League which would go on to take a leading role in lobbying a government on Indigenous issues, including during the 1967 referendum that saw Indigenous people counted in the national census – a symbolic win.

The success of the organisation gave rise to the national Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. At the same time, he continued to serve his community by setting up hostels and helping find employment for young people newly arrived in Melbourne. 

In 1962, Douglas was awarded a Member  of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) and was named Victoria’s Father of the Year. This was followed by an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1968 and then a Knighthood in 1972. He was appointed the inaugural chairman of the National Aboriginal Sports Foundation and enjoyed the audience of the Queen and the Pope. 

Sir Douglas Nicholls never shied away from exposing the realities of prejudice and inequality, much like St. Mary MacKillop. This is why we have chosen him to be MacKillop’s prominent Yorta Yorta person. 

Ref: https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/sir-douglas-nicholls-kcvo-obe-jp

Charity

CatholicCare

From mental illness to marriage breakdown, financial stress to family violence, drug abuse to disputes over custody arrangements – we can support individuals and families to get their life back on track.

Patron Quotes

1. ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’
2. ‘Find happiness in making others happy’
3. ‘Eager in desires, humbly patient’
4. ‘Taught by example’

Prayer

Dear God,

In Mackillop, we aim to serve our community;
With kindness, faith and integrity.
Bless the bonds of our friendships that unite us together,
To guide and comfort our peers who may be struggling,
Respecting each other’s qualities and embracing Galen’s culture of life-long learning.
Help us to go through challenges with courage.
Open our eyes and ears, our hands and hearts to find the gifts in each other.
May our thoughts and words be for the better of this community.

Amen

Patrick House is named after St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and whose name was taken in the naming of our local church. St Patrick was born in the fourth century AD and played an important role in converting the native Irish to Christianity, travelling around the country performing baptisms and confirmations. 

His motto, “may the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God protect us. Be always ours this day and for evermore,,” best emphasises his faith driven journey. 

St Patrick is also surrounded by various myths and legends, and I look forward to you learning more about his interesting life and the spiritual impact it has had on us. I am very excited to be associated with Patrick House and I am looking forward to us creating a house culture whereby we are inclusive and that we always care, respect and support each other.

St. Patrick embodies the values of Faith, Devotion, Strength and Conviction, and we hope that as members of Patrick, you will strive to uphold these charisms. 

We are light blue in colour, the official colour of Saint Patrick. Blue represents reliability, understanding and wisdom.

Symbols & Story

Patrick House Symbol: Irish legend has it that the shamrock (three-leaf clover) was a symbol that St. Patrick used to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) to the pre-Christian Irish. The three leaves are also said to stand for faith, hope and love.

Other symbols often associated with Saint Patrick

Snakes: According to legend, St Patrick, drenched in green attire, stood on a hilltop and waved his staff to herd all the slithering creatures into the sea, expelling them from the Emerald Isle. The legend says there hasn’t been a snake seen in Ireland since 461 AD.

This folklore is a myth and, according to historians, not meant to be taken literally.

Historians say some believe that the snakes often symbolize evil in literature, so when Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, that meant he rid Ireland of “evil” paganism and brought Christianity to the green isle.

Yorta Yorta Clan: Pangerang

This clan represents the parish of Wangaratta as does St Patrick.

Prominent Aboriginal Person: Dr. Mary Atkinson

Born in Condobolin, New South Wales, in 1937, Dr. Mary Atkinson was a Wiradjuri and Bpangerang elder who dedicated her life to the pursuit of equality for Aboriginal people, particularly in the area of education, which she saw as fundamental to changing lives for the better. 

She grew up in Narrandera and Leeton with her 13 siblings, leaving school at a young age to find work to help support her family. Even as a teenager, Mary was devoted to fighting the disadvantage experienced by her people; she was only 17 when she and her sisters organised a concert to raise money for Aboriginal children attending school in Leeton. 

At 19, Mary married Kevin Atkinson. The couple would go on to have five biological children and foster two more. Inspired by the work of their parents, all of her children would go on to be involved in Aboriginal affairs. 

Mary and her husband lived at Cummeragunja between 1965 and 1977, during which they campaigned to have the land returned to the residents of the old mission. She was an active member of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) and lobbied for the 1967 referendum that saw Indigenous Australians counted in the national census for the first time. Mary also helped found the Cummeragunja Day Care Centre in 1968. 

After moving to Shepparton, Mary continued to be involved in Aboriginal affairs. Mary believed that all Aboriginal children had the right to quality education. She became one of the first regional members of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Consultative Group in 1978, and founded a local branch the very same year. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Mary helped establish a variety of educational services to support Indigenous people, such as; the Lidje Child Care Centre, Minimbah Aboriginal Adult Education Program, Manega Aboriginal School Annexe, Batdja Aboriginal Pre-school, and the Koorie Intern Teacher Program. She was also amongst the group of respected Elders whose experience and advice was crucial to the establishment of the Institute of Koorie Education at Deakin University in 1986 and she played a key role in shaping its content and was chair of the Institute’s board from 1988 to 2000. 

In 1990, Mary was elected the President of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Associated Incorporated, in which she achieved a formal partnership between the Aboriginal community and the Victorian Department of Education to ensure collaboration and consultation in all education-related policy. 

In 2000, Mary and her husband returned to Cummeragunja to live. That same year she received an honorary doctorate from Ballarat University in recognition of her contribution to Indigenous education. She was named Indigenous Elder of the Year and was elected a patron of the NAIDOC program in Victoria. In 2001, she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll for Women.

Dr. Mary Atkinson was completely and utterly devoted to her life’s work, displaying a similar devotion that St. Patrick has. This is why we have chosen her to be Patrick’s prominent Yorta Yorta person. 

Ref: https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/mary-atkinson

Charity

ACRATH, Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans. ACRATH began in 2005 and has established a strong presence across 5 states and the ACT in the space of countering human trafficking and slavery in Australia. ACRATH has skills and experience across many sectors: accompanying and advocating for people who have been trafficked or exploited in Australia.

Patron Quotes

1. ‘Living life for God’
2. ‘Holy youth’
3. ‘Opened in understanding’

Prayer

Lord our Father,

Saint Patrick was chosen by you to preach your glory to the people of Ireland.
By the help of his prayers, he followed Your Son’s devotion of trust in God and has been a source of inspiration for Christians across the world.
As a humble, pious and gentle man, he spreads Your message of faith and strength through his teachings of Christ.
May we gain the values of devotion and strength, just as Saint Patrick, to continue to believe in you God and each other.
May we follow the footsteps of Saint Patrick to strive for loyalty and hope towards you.
We ask you Lord, through mercy, grant conviction for those in need of Christ’s guidance for faith.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever. 

Amen

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Vincent House is named after our patron St. Vincent de Paul. Born on April 24, 1581, St. Vincent de Paul was educated by the Franciscans at Dax, France and was ordained in 1600. As a young man he ministered to the wealthy and powerful. However, an appointment as a chaplain to a poor parish, inspired him to a vocation of working with those most disadvantaged and powerless.

St. Vincent de Paul is best known for his charity and compassion for the poor. His motto, “charity is the cement which binds communities to God and persons to one another,” best emphasises this. The St Vincent de Paul Society was named after St Vincent and follows his teachings and compassion for people in need. Galen has a long association of working with this charity through the Winter Appeal, Op shop and the Vinnies Food Van in Melbourne.

I am inspired by St Vincent’s compassion, modesty and generosity. Let’s embrace this new opportunity to create a sense of group identity by drawing on the qualities and values of our Patron. 

St. Vincent de Paul embodies the values of charity, service, care, humility and advocacy and we hope that as members of Vincent, you will strive to uphold these charisms. 

We are purple in colour, which represents strength, peace and compassion.

Symbols & Story

Vincent House Symbol: is represented by a cross in the palm of a hand. The hand symbolically represents the hand of love offering “a hand up” to people in need. The cross reflects the church’s mission to live the gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.

Yorta Yorta Clan: Yalaba Yalaba

This clan represents the spirit of love and advocacy.

Prominent Aboriginal Person: Margaret Wirrpanda 

Born in 1939 on the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve in New South Wales, Margaret ‘Dharrul’ Wirrpanda was an avid campaigner for the rights of Aboriginal people, the empowerment of women and children, the revival of traditional culture and support of native title. 

Margaret grew up in Shepparton with her eight siblings, her mother, Geraldine Briggs, and her father, Selwyn Briggs. Both of her parents were heavily involved in the Aboriginal rights movement, her mother, in particular, dedicated her life to improving the lives of others and was an influential role model to Margaret. From an early age, Margaret would visit Aboriginal families alongside her mother and hear their stories of struggle. 

At the beginning of the 1960s, Margaret became involved with the Federal Council of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI), campaigning alongside her mother and sister Hyllus on issues sicu as equal ages and land rights. Their efforts contributed to the success of the 1967 Referendum, however, Margaret always viewed the referendum as just one small step in a long journey. 

Though Margaret received no formal high school education, she could more than hold her own in meetings with senior figures across government and the private sector. She and other Aboriginal women saw how mainstream services were failing their people and therefore, established community-run, culturally appropriate alternatives. 

After marrying David Wirrpanda, a Yolngu Djapu man from north east Arnhem Land, Margaret and her children divided their time between the Northern Territory and Victoria. She learnt to speak fluent Gumatji, a local dialect, and connected with the Elders, who added to her knowledge of Aboriginal culture. Back in Victoria, Margaret was a proud supporter of the Worawa Aboriginal College, which she helped her sister Hyllus to establish in 1983. She played an important role in running the school for many years, reminding the students that it was “character not colour” that counted. 

A fervent campaigner for Aboriginal land rights, Margaret was integral to an early claim lodged by the Yorta Yorta Tribal Council in 1984 for traditional ownership over Barmah Forest. She went on to become a plaintiff in the long-fought Yorta Yorta native title claim heard by the Federal Court, attending every proceeding and appeal between 1996 and 2002. After the Victorian Government signed a ground-breaking co-operative land management agreement with the Yorta Yorta people in 2004, Margaret sat on the committee that handled water issues. She was devoted to her country her entire life. 

Margaret always held her hand out to anyone who needed help in standing up for themselves, she is remembered for her advocacy and her care much like St. Vincent de Paul. This is why we have chosen her to be Vincent’s prominent Yorta Yorta person. 

Ref:

‍https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/margaret-dharrul-wirrpanda

Charity

The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia has more than 60,000 members and volunteers, who work hard to assist people in need and combat social injustice across Australia. Internationally, the Society operates in 153 countries and has over 800,000 members.

Patron Quotes

1. ‘Sharing in the good’
2. ‘Light and strength’
3. ‘For charity’
4. ‘Simple and humble’
5. ‘Charity towards the neighbour’

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Give us the strength You gave to Your servant St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Vincentians and Daughters of Charity.
Through his dedication to the welfare of the vulnerable, may we feel inspired to live as selflessly as he did.
Like St. Vincent, may we always be doing good works among those whom society has abandoned, enslaved, or forgotten.
Inspire us to feed the hungry, provide care to the sick, shelter to the homeless, and clothe those whose garments are threadbare.
May our community continue to embody St. Vincent’s charisms of compassion, humility and generosity.

Amen

Chant

Come on Vincent
This is our thing
Let’s all stand and loudly sing
Vincent Fast
Vincent Strong
This is Vincent’s winning song
Put on your shoes and have a dance
Come on Vincent
This is our chance.