Queensland researcher Dr Maree Ganley’s history of the Queensland Diocese of Rockhampton makes extensive reference to the role of lay people and local Catholic Action movements.
The book, entitled Gidgee Under the Cross, Coal dust and sugar in the blood, will be launched at 2pm on Saturday 2 August at the Kevin Castles Conference Centre, 152 West St, Allenstown, Qld, 4700.
One chapter includes a substantial and little known history of lay Catholic Action Movements of Central Queensland.
Bishop Romuald Hayes (1932-45) introduced the National Catholic Rural Movement into the diocese. His successor, Bishop Andrew Tynan (1946-1960) appointed Fr John Leahy as diocesan chaplain for Catholic Action.
Together with committed young Rockhampton parishioners, Fr Leahy set out to launch the YCW, the National Catholic Girls Movement and the YCS as well as a Cooperative Credit Union.
The history of Catholic Action in Central Queensland is particularly relevant to the national narrative because Fr Leahy had extensive knowledge of international cooperative organisations supported by YCW worldwide. Through his successful implementation of Catholic Action and personal commitment to the Cooperative Union movement, he became a much sought after presenter at Australian national gatherings.
The parish model he established in St Mary’s parish, North Rockhampton, of a Cooperative Credit Union continues to flourish in Central Queensland as the Capricornian Credit Union, with its motto, Walk in like you own the place, because you do!
Book launch details
Date and time: 2pm on Saturday 2 August
Venue: Kevin Castles Conference Centre, 152 West St, Allenstown, Qld, 4700.
Please RSVP by Monday 21 July to: rsvp@rok.catholic.net.au
The book may also be pre-ordered with a signature from the author at:
St Joseph’s Gifts and Books
238 Murray Street, Rockhampton, Qld, 4700
sjgiftsbooks@rok.catholic.net.au
Phone: 07 4921 2170
Dr Maree Ganley
Dr Maree Ganley spent most of her professional career in leadership roles in secondary girls and boys boarding schools in Central and Southeast Queensland. She completed her fulltime working life as Director of Advancement of St Leo’s men’s residential college within the University of Queensland.
Maree majored in Education, Religion and Classics in her academic pursuits. She completed her studies with a PhD which examined the impact of regional boarding schools on the social and cultural development of remote regions of Australia such as Central Western Queensland.
The doctoral research resulted in the production of the book The Long Road to School, Sea Pictures of a Convent Boarding School: St Ursula’s Yeppoon founded in 1917 which captured the life and experiences of staff and students of regional boarding schools from the early 20th century. Australian author and historian, Emeritus Professor Edmund Campion referred to her book as having made a significant contribution to the history of Education in Queensland.
Maree’s ancestors of Irish and German descent arrived in Rockhampton in November 1862, and they lived and worked in many early settlements of the central west.
This history of the Diocese of Rockhampton commissioned by Bishop McCarthy is a culmination of research and data gathering from the people of all ages and callings of the Diocese, from local and diocesan archives and from the conversations conducted around kitchen tables and Catholic community centres.