Page 12 - Catholic Life, February 2015
Death of former CEO director Terry Synan TERRY Synan, the inaugural administrative director of Catholic Education in Gippsland has died from an aggressive melanoma, at Warragul, Victoria, aged 78. Raised at Fish Creek where his Synan grandfather, as an original selector, had cleared forested land in the 1880s, Terry’s world changed with the early death of his father, leaving children who were too young to maintain the family farm. So began Terry’s pursuit of higher education. After completing secondary schooling at St Patrick’s College, Sale, first as a boarder and then as a day student, he became the first of his family to enter Melbourne University, where he graduated Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Education. In 1974, and by then married with six children, he obtained a Master’s degree in Education. Initially bonded to the Education Department of Victoria, Terry taught in Victorian secondary schools, beginning in Wangaratta followed by postings to Morwell, Moe and Yallourn. In 1973 Bishop Arthur Fox, fifth bishop of Sale, appointed him to the newly created position of administrative director of Catholic Education in Gippsland. This was a big gamble for
Terry. He was foregoing the security of a ‘job for life’ with the department for an uncertain professional future. Yet he had discerned how a proposed infusion of Commonwealth funds based on the report of Professor Peter Karmel might make Catholic schools financially secure at a time when religious teaching orders could no longer cope. As a disciple of Karmel, Terry embraced needs-based education funding for his far-flung region stretching from Hallam in the west and Wonthaggi to the south, to Mallacoota and beyond in the east. Through his educational leadership and that of the Catholic Education Office he developed at Warragul, schools would enjoy fiscal security, coeducation became universal, and new schools were built, notably in the growth corridor east of Melbourne. One such school was the multi-campus St Francis Xavier College. This mega secondary college is, perhaps, Terry’s grandest legacy. His foundational role there is remembered in Synan House, and in his title of ‘Living Treasure’ of the college conferred shortly before his death. In addition to his direction of Catholic schools in Gippsland,
Terry served with distinction on the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria in allocating Commonwealth money across Victoria. He also chaired the Catholic Schools Association, 1992-1996, an employers’ industrial group. Terry retired as director in 1996. In recognition of his services to Catholic education he was honored in 1995 by a Papal Knighthood. Other honours followed: a Terry Synan Annual Lecture beginning in 1997: and an Honorary Doctorate of the Australian Catholic University in 2009. In retirement Terry devoted himself to family, the appreciation of classical music, historical research,
Churchill celebrates 50 years CHURCHILL - The town of Churchill will celebrate 50 years since the official proclamation of the town on Sunday March 15 this year and plans are under way for community functions. Among the celebrations to take place on the day is a ecumenical church service involving the Co-operating Churches, Lumen Christi Parish and Churchill Christian Fellowship to be held in the Churchill Town Hall commencing at 10am. Following the service there
will an official unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the 50th anniversary. A community barbecue and family fun day will follow the formalities which will take place in the new town square. Construction of houses in Churchill, formerly known as Hazelwood, began in 1965 and the Lumen Christi Parish comprising Churchill, Yinnar and Boolarra, was established in 1977 with former Bishop Jeremiah Coffey, the first parish priest.
The churches played a significant role in developing the social fabric of Churchill, particularly in the early days when many basic community services were lacking. All former Churchill residents and Lumen Christi parishioners are cordially invited to attend the Churchill 50th Anniversary Combined Churches Service celebrating 50 years of service to God and the community. For further information contact Marion Answerth on 5122 1261.
Consultation on sex abuse THE Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has released a consultation paper on options in relation to redress for victims and possible reforms to civil litigation. The paper identifies possible options including schemes run by individual institutions using a common approach, a national scheme or separate state schemes. Truth Justice and Healing Council chief executive Francis Sullivan said the paper identifies the concept of a national redress scheme with the participation of all Australian governments and institutions responsible for child sexual abuse. The scheme would be independently managed and funded by governments and relevant institutions. “This concept is consistent with a scheme proposed by the TJHC in its submission
on redress to the Royal Commission in August 2014. “It will be crucial that all governments in Australia make it clear now they are willing to participate in such a scheme. “The Commission has now fired the starting gun on developing a new way of providing fair and consistent redress for the survivors of child sexual abuse. “A generous national redress scheme, funded by the institutions responsible for the abuse but led by the Australian Government is now broadly supported as the best option. In the paper the Royal Commission also identified possible reforms to civil litigation systems including: • whether limitation periods for actions relating to child sexual abuse should be removed • whether the states and territories should legislate to ensure that there is always a
proper defendant to sue • whether there should be change to the law to impose a duty on any institution in which child sexual abuse occurs • whether governments and non-government institutions should adopt model litigant approaches for how they will handle civil litigation in relation to child sexual abuse claims. Mr Sullivan said the release of the paper was a major milestone for the Royal Commission and goes to the heart of its work. “Now the Royal Commission is firmly focused on the future – how should survivors be treated, both financially and with practical support by the institutions in which they were abused and how, if a survivor wishes to sue, the legal system should deal with these cases. Written submissions close on March 2 at redress@ childabuseroyalcommission. gov.au
including articles for the diocesan newspaper Catholic Life, to Warragul Probus, and to The University of the Third Age, Baw Baw. He was in demand as a guest speaker, much preferring the overhead projector to a digital PowerPoint presentation. His book, A Journey In Faith: A History of Catholic Education in Gippsland 1850-1981 remains the definitive account of that subject. A special historical inquiry for Terry was World War 2 and particularly the military presence at Wilson’s Promontory. As a small child and from the safety of his parents’ front gate at Yanakie Rd., Fish Creek, he was fascinated by the long convoys of military vehicles making for Tidal River. He knew first hand the horror of war when on Christmas Day 1943, news of the death of his cousin, Corporal Mick Synan, eventually reached Fish Creek, shot by a Japanese sniper in New Guinea. Terry was always a reader and thinker, but equally a doer. In his secondary teaching years he had served on the Central Committee of the Victorian Secondary Teachers’ Association and participated in that union’s sometimes
militant campaigns to improve pay, conditions and status of secondary teachers. When at Yallourn High School, he had battled to save the town from the incursion of coal miners. As a Victorian motorist he had lobbied, and this time successfully, for the introduction of roadworthy certificates. His concern for the marginalised led him to join Morwell and later, Moe Apex Clubs. Compassion for the afflicted drew him to the Ryder-Cheshire Homes Foundation. He became president of its West Gippsland Support Group. The time he spent hosting the visit of Leonard Cheshire, VC, to Gippsland further inspired him. It was appropriate that Terry accessed the Ryder-Cheshire Home in Ivanhoe, Melbourne, when undergoing treatment at Peter McCallum Hospital in 2014. Terry Synan, outstanding advocate and administrator of Catholic Education, is survived by six children and 17 grandchildren. His wife, companion and supporter of 53 years, Gerardine, pre-deceased him in July 2014. • Written by his brother, Peter Synan, with the help of Ann Synan and Terry’s children.
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