Congratulations to recipients of the King’s Birthday Honours Order of Australia Medals (AM & OAM) for their contribution and services to Catholic education, the Church and other community services.
Brigidine Sister Jane Keogh was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community through social welfare and to primary education. A Brigidine sister since the 1960s, Sr Jane has been a human rights advocate for refugees in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Nauru. She was a foundation student of Merici College, Canberra in 1959 and later became a teacher and school principal. She was a past principal of Our Lady of the Rosary, Kellyville; St Brigid’s, Coonamble; and St John’s, Narraweena.
Professor Lisa Kervin is a distinguished academic with a wealth of experience in education and research and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to tertiary education, and to research in early childhood digital literacy. Lisa was an executive teacher for Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong from 1997 – 2004, she now holds the position of Professor in Education within the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities at the University of Wollongong.
Aunty Sue Bulger was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of Tumut. Her teaching career spanned 33 years, starting in 1976 at St Jude’s, Canberra. She taught at a number of schools including Cootamundra, Boorowa, St Brigid’s, Tumut, St Patrick’s, Gundagai and McAuley Central School. Beyond teaching, Aunty Sue served her community for 17 years as a shire councillor, making history as Tumut’s first Indigenous Mayor. She is a much-loved advocate, respected role model, and positive force for her people. Aunty Sue’s substantial impact extends far beyond the classroom, leaving a lasting legacy in Tumut and beyond.
Dominican Sister Helen Merrin was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to special needs education and to the Catholic Church in Australia. Sr Helen has a lifetime of teaching music, including to students at St Lucy’s School, Wahroonga where she has been chaplain since 2002. A sister with the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands since 1965, she is also a member of the Australian Bishops Disability Advisory Council.
Dr Pauline Morgan (not pictured) was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Catholic Church of Australia and to education. She has been a community leader and aged care manager for St Joseph’s Convent in South Australia since 2020. A clinical psychologist she served as a secondary school teacher and student counsellor at Mary MacKillop College, Kensington from 1979 – 1986 before being the clinical psychologist at the Catholic Education Office, South Australia from 1989 – 1991. She was also assistant to the Archbishop of Adelaide from 1981 – 1993.
Sister Janet Woods received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to secondary education and to the Catholic Church in Australia. A sister since 1960 she taught maths and science at both Holy Cross College, Woollahra and St Patrick’s Primary, Blacktown and Parramatta before serving as deputy principal then principal of Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta over a 17-year period. She was also a teacher of English to Sudanese refugees from 2007 – 2020.
L to R: Sr Jane Keogh AM, Prof Lisa Kervin AM, Sr Helen Merrin OAM, Aunty Sue Bulger OAM and Sr Janet Woods OAM. Photos courtesy of Anglicare, University of Wollongong, Catholic Religious Australia, Region Riverina website, and CatholicCare website.