History
On the 4th August 1873 a small group of Sisters of
Mercy, lead by Mother M Vincent Whitty who had founded the first
Queensland Congregation, travelled to Rockhampton from Brisbane
by steamer. Among the first community was Sister M De Sales Gorry,
the first Queensland woman to join the Sisters of Mercy.
In 1882 the Rockhampton Congregation became a separate foundation
of the Sisters of Mercy and established a school at Kent Street,
Rockhampton which was relocated in 1895 to the Athelstane Range
and became the Range College. The Sisters extended their educational
endeavours throughout Central Queensland in the early years of
the century.
In November 1915, the Sisters in continuing their work of ministering
to the sick, opened the Mater Hospital in Rockhampton. In 1927
the Mater Hospital in Mackay was opened, followed by the Bundaberg
Mater in 1946, the Mater Hospital in Yeppoon in 1998 and the Mater
Hospital in Gladstone in 1999.
The Sisters were given a small private hospital in Rockhampton
in 1940 by Bishop Hayes to be used as an aged care facility. Renamed
Bethany in 1941, this facility continues to minister to the needs
of the aged community of Rockhampton today.
The Range Convent was extensively remodelled and opened in 1996
as an aged care facility called McAuley Place. The Sisters also
constructed the beautiful Range Village on this site, which comprises
34 independent living units. In 1997 the Sisters built a third
aged care facility, Leinster Place in North Rockhampton.
The
Sisters have provided care and support to the poor and disadvantaged
in the community, embodying the vision of their Irish Foundress,
Catherine McAuley. The Congregation has a wonderful history of
ministry and has always responded to the needs of the local community.
Since 1915 the Sisters of Mercy in Central Queensland have provided
a range of health care for all stages of life. The Sisters aim,
through their facilities, to continue the healing ministry of
Jesus Christ by providing a high standard of holistic care of
the sick and aged. Today, Mercy Health and Aged Care Central Queensland
Limited continues the long tradition of the Sisters of Mercy and
their mission in caring for the sick and aged in the community.
"God knows that I would rather be cold and hungry than that
the poor ... should be deprived of any consolation in my powers
to afford them."
Catherine McAuley
