Completed 2004 programme.

8 February

Annual General Meeting (at St Mary's Cathedral)

The President, John Luttrell, gave his Report in which he reviewed the programme of the previous year and thanked the members and Council for their support and interest over the year. Three new Councillors were elected: Helen Barrie as Secretary, Peter Quinn as Treasurer and Councillor Lesley Hughes. Thanks were extended to Brian McAteer and Ann Prendergast for their service as Councillors and to Rae Wales and Mike Skennar for their long contributions as Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Sr Mary Hugh Smith sgs then gave a paper on the Motor Mission by which by various religious Sisters brought religious education and preparation for the sacraments to children in government schools. She related particularly her early experiences as a Missioner on the Manly peninsula in the 1960s and the gradual evolution of the work as the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and the Society of St Vincent de Paul became involved.

14 March (Cathedral)

Bishop Torreggiani and the Diocese of Armidale

Fresh from the Armidale launch of his biography of Bishop Elzear Torreggiani, Fr Patrick Colbourne ofm cap developed the background to Torreggiani's appointment and expanded on the biography by portraying the careers of the band of seven Capuchins who served with the bishop just over a century ago. A revised version of his paper is in the 2004 Journal.

18 April

Visit to Loreto Kirribilli 

Loreto Kirribilli has grown around the original property Elamana, to which the college moved in 1907. The Society's visit, hosted by the Loreto Archivist, Sr Genevieve Davey ibvm, and her colleagues, included Mass in the 1930 chapel, an inspection of the archives, a presentation on the history of the College, and a tour which showed the heritage features along with progressive development of the College to 2004.

16 May (Cathedral)

That other State Aid question: assistance to Charitable Homes

In tracing the history of government assistance to Charitable Homes for Children from the 1830s to the 1980s, Peter Quinn showed that governments refused subsidies and that sectarianism played a role in this. This lack of government help was most pronounced in NSW. However, the thaw began in the 1960s, as it did for non-government schools.

13 June (Cathedral)

Some Catholics in the Australian Dictionary of Biography 

Dr Chris Cunneen described the development of the Australian Dictionary of Biography as an ongoing institution in Australia and explained the criteria for inclusion of subjects. He then gave examples of entries of particular relevance to Australian Catholic history.

11 July (Cathedral)

Serving the Australian Bishops in their promotion of social justice and human rights: 1987-2004

Dr Michael Costigan presented this paper at the conclusion of his 17 years as Executive Secretary of the Bishops' Committee for Justice, Development, Ecology and Peace. Michael traced the controversial origin of the Committee and its main reports and projects, including those of its three subsidiary commissions, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Caritas Australia and Catholic Earthcare Australia.

8 August (Cathedral)

History of the Matthew Talbot Hostel in the Archdiocese of Sydney

This Gavin Cashman Memorial Lecture was delivered by Pat O'Flynn in the 150th year of the St Vincent de Paul Society. He outlined the 1838 beginning of the Matt Talbot Hostel in Kent Street, Sydney, as a haven for homeless men, and then its various moves until the present site in Woolloomooloo. He sketched the nature of the services provided by the hostel in the early decades. A review of the work in 1991 led to major changes and new approaches to serve the needs of the homeless.

12 September

(Cathedral) The reception of Vatican II in Australia: then and now

How the Australian Church has received the Second Vatican Council was the subject of Dr Richard Lennan's paper. He portrayed a 1962 Church only partially aware of what a Council might mean. He then took us through the phases of reception: initial enthusiasm after 1965, disappointment at the results from the 1980s and suggested that now is the time for realistic acknowledgement of and engagement with the Council.

10 October

Excursion to St Michael's Church, Wollombi

Forty-six members travelled by coach to Wollombi on the original Great North Road where the first St Michael's Church was built in the 1840s. The present 1893 Church has been purchased and restored beautifully by the Friends of St Michael's. Laurie and Joan Tumminello of the Friends were the main hosts. The day included Mass, an inspection of the church, picnic lunch and a talk by local historian, Carl Hoipo, on the history of Wollombi and particularly the part played by Catholics.

14 November

(Cathedral) Australia's Fenian Scare: the attempted assassination of the Duke of Edinburgh, 1868.

This assassination attempt led to an intense scare of a Fenian terrorist conspiracy in Australia. After relating these developments Dr Keith Amos examined the personality and motivation of the assailant, Henry O'Farrell, the exploitation of the events by colonial politicians and the heightened sectarianism that followed. He concluded that O'Farrell acted alone.

12 December

(Cathedral) Christmas function

We concluded the year with Mass, celebrated by Fr Anthony Robbie, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of St Mary's Cathedral. This was followed by luncheon in the Cathedral College hall. Our speaker, Errol Lea-Scarlett, reflected on his understanding and experience of the writing of parish history. 'Earthquake, wind and fire' as the title of his paper signalled the likely reception of quality local history. The paper is published in this issue.