Wednesday 14 August 2019

In February 1968, I joined a class of five others at the Queensland Institute of Technology (Darling Downs). Through Secondary College, I had an interest in Science and with the newly established Institute in Toowoomba, my enrolment was assured. The lecturers of the course taught us the various strands of Chemistry including Physical, Inorganic, Organic and Analytical. The first year consisted of lectures and lab work for 31 contact hours per week. Each semester, as part of the course there were field excursions which included the Petro- chemical plant at the Port of Brisbane, the Sugar Mill at Beenleigh, the brewery at Milton and many others. Each field excursion was part of the course on Chemical Technology, preparing our class for working in Industry. The visit to the Sugar Research Institute at the City Gates of Mackay last week brought back many memories of those training days in the QIT labs.

Three years ago, our Diocese through its Catholic Education Office purchased the buildings and the land of the Mackay Sugar Research Institute. After 3 years of planning, on Friday 4 August it was announced that the Mackay Sugar Research Institute, at 239 Nebo Road situated at the City Gates of Mackay will become the Diocesan Education Office’s 40^th school when the College opens in 2022. After a presentation on the progress of work which detailed the history of this iconic site, I was given a tour by Michael McCusker and Michael McLaughlin of the Diocese Education Office and the newly appointed Architect team of Stewart Bagley and assistant Andrew. I was fascinated to hear of the town plan of old London being laid out and amazed how the concepts of City Gate, the Common and the Town Square will be used in the design of the College while integrating the beautiful 1953 building known as the Sugar Research Institute. This building accommodated some of the top scientists of this land supporting the cane farmers through new varieties of cane and technical advice and new processes within the mills and production of sugar.

Eventually, the site will become a school for over 1200 students. The building itself, while placed on Nebo Road, is iconic but what it represents is more important. It captures the hard work of the first settlers to this beautiful part of Queensland who farmed the rich soils of Mackay and surrounds, who came from the lands of Europe and including from Italy and Malta. Many of the families of the early settlers’ descendants are still an integral part of the Catholic fabric of Mackay. It excites me that the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton has invested in this property so that the purpose while slightly varied, will continue by teaching the next generation the sciences within this building.

The Diocese’s acquisition of this property continues our commitment to the faith and the education, through Catholic Education, to the people of Mackay and respecting the great tradition of the importance of the sugar Industry which is sown into the fabric of this city and supporting the industry and our farmers.

On my recent visit to Mackay, I caught up with Doug Peterson and Helen Cronin. We met at Bucasia and at the place where Father Pierre Marie Bucas out of his own money had purchased over 2600 areas of land as a place for the local Aborigines and Islanders to call home. He also set up a place for the children of the district whose parents had died or could not support them. The orphanage that Fr Bucas established operated from 1876-1879 and the Sisters of St Joseph assisted in its running followed by the Sisters of Mercy from 1880-1885.  Doug Peterson has put together a history of the site and now is a driver to recognise the children who had died there so that their names will never be forgotten. A memorial on the foreshore of Bucasia Beach will be inaugurated on the 20^th October. It was a great morning meeting Doug who loves local history and ensures that we might not forget of the marvellous people who built up the Catholic Church here in our diocese.

This evening at mass on Sunday at St Mary’s, I announced the new school at the Sugar Research Institute beginning in 2022. Berenice Wright reminded me that her husband Peter, was the Principal Scientist at SRI. This led to a photo opportunity of two retired scientists! Dr Peter Wright was originally trained in Chemical Engineering and oversaw the scientific endeavours of the SRI and proudly remembers the day when it was at the forefront of research.

At this mass also, 38 of our young people were confirmed and received their first Eucharist joining the 500 young people of the Diocese, who this year have completed their Christian initiation through Confirmation and first Holy Communion.

Every Sunday, the priests of Mackay gather for lunch as they have done for years. This Sunday, Fr Barry offers his chicken dish and together with Fathers Alex and Sathish, after a late-night preparation of lasagne, the gathering was complete. It was good to enjoy the company of the priests together with Fathers James, Stephen and Pat who joined in the regular Sunday gathering. The Sunday before, Carmen produced another delicious meal for the priests. I look forward to these Sunday lunches with the priests who gather after a very busy Sunday morning. This time they welcomed Fr Gasper who has joined us from Cochin. We remembered Fr Don who is assisting in the west.

This week we welcomed Father Andrew Hogan back home after spending the last year studying at the Catholic University of Leuven. Father Andrew has completed a Master’s degree in Church, Law and Society. For the next two years, Father Andrew will continue with full time studies working towards a Licentiate in Canon Law while residing in Rockhampton and working with the Tribunal Office here. The Tribunal office is located in the Bishop’s Office in Rockhampton.

We also welcome home this week Father Andrew Chase who has completed a Doctorate in Theology. Father Andrew has been studying at the Gregorian University in Rome.

Remember many years ago when the airlines promoted a ‘Mystery Flight’? To participate one bought a ticket and turned up to the airport. Last Thursday was a bit like that, as I set out from Rockhampton at 6.55 am for Mackay and after circling that airport, the plane landed at Townsville three hours later. The school below in Mackay, St Brendan’s, was waiting for Stage Two to be blessed. Father James stepped in a did a magnificent job. When I first arrived in the Diocese five years ago, St Brendan’s was just beginning with the turning of the first sod and last week at the Confirmations, young Matthew from Grade 4 who dug the first divot asked: ‘are there any more schools to begin?’. I was able to tell him that we announced the new Catholic College at the site of the Sugar Research Institute opening for grade 7 in 2022, so the young people of Mackay who are currently in Grade 4 will be ready to enter Grade 7 in 2022!