Sr Angela Mary Doyle was born in Cranny, County Clare Ireland. In 1947, at the age of 21, she journeyed to Australia to join the Brisbane Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. Her early work was in teaching, but within 1 year of arriving in Brisbane she had commenced nursing at the Mater Hospitals in Brisbane.
In 1966, Sister Angela Mary was appointed Administrator of three Mater Public Hospitals in Brisbane - a position she held for 21 years. This period covered some of the most shaping years in the Mater's 92 year history. The Mater has grown from a small group of private and public hospitals to a major health care provider in Queensland. Through the years there have been many struggles - for funding, for recognition and to preserve independence - and the 1960s, 70s and 80s saw many challenges and difficult times come the Mater's way.
Sister Angela Mary was a leader for these times and helped steward the Mater Hospitals to the position of strength, growth and excellence it enjoys today. Her resolute and visionary guidance helped ensure that the mission of the Sisters of Mercy in bringing health care to those who needed it most remained alive and healthy in Brisbane.
During the period of her Administration of the Mater Hospitals, Sister Angela Mary became a recognised and highly respected public figure. This enabled her influence, and the influence of the Sisters of Mercy, to reach many sectors of the community.
In 1966, Sister Angela Mary was appointed Administrator of three Mater Public Hospitals in Brisbane - a position she held for 21 years. This period covered some of the most shaping years in the Mater's 92 year history. The Mater has grown from a small group of private and public hospitals to a major health care provider in Queensland. Through the years there have been many struggles - for funding, for recognition and to preserve independence - and the 1960s, 70s and 80s saw many challenges and difficult times come the Mater's way.
Sister Angela Mary was a leader for these times and helped steward the Mater Hospitals to the position of strength, growth and excellence it enjoys today. Her resolute and visionary guidance helped ensure that the mission of the Sisters of Mercy in bringing health care to those who needed it most remained alive and healthy in Brisbane.
During the period of her Administration of the Mater Hospitals, Sister Angela Mary became a recognised and highly respected public figure. This enabled her influence, and the influence of the Sisters of Mercy, to reach many sectors of the community.
Sr Angela's Diary
"We believed we would never see Ireland, our homes, our families again....."
Sr Angela Mary kept a diary for her five week voyage "which began at Lettercollum, Co. Cork on Monday 19 May 1947 and ended at All Hallows' Convent, Brisbane on Wednesday 25 June 1947."
Sr Angela Mary can be contacted via the website administrator.
Sr Angela Mary kept a diary for her five week voyage "which began at Lettercollum, Co. Cork on Monday 19 May 1947 and ended at All Hallows' Convent, Brisbane on Wednesday 25 June 1947."
Sr Angela Mary can be contacted via the website administrator.
Even today, more than 10 years after stepping down from the role of Administrator, Sister Angela Mary remains very much the visible link between the Mater and the community. Over this time she continued to be an active and integral member of the Mater community, first as Senior Director of Health Services (until 1993) for the Mater complex, then as Executive Director of the Mater Hospitals' Trust (until 1997), and more recently (March 2003) as a Board Member of the Mater Hospitals' Trust.
Through her roles with the Mater Hospitals, Sister Angela Mary has also been active in Professional, Academic, Government and Community arenas, in Queensland and nationally. She has also travelled internationally, to gain and share knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the Mater and health care generally. As well as championing the Mater, Sister Angela Mary has also taken a leading role in championing social justice and community accord on other fronts.
These include her pioneering work in establishing support and care for people with HIV AIDS in 1987 - in the face of staunch disapproval from the Government of the day; her fostering of relations with the Taiwanese community in Brisbane and in particular the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation who have become outstanding supporters of the Mater Hospitals; and her continuing interest in and advocacy for the health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Sister Angela Mary's outstanding contribution to the Mater and the Queensland and Australian communities have been recognised in many ways, most notably:
Through her roles with the Mater Hospitals, Sister Angela Mary has also been active in Professional, Academic, Government and Community arenas, in Queensland and nationally. She has also travelled internationally, to gain and share knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the Mater and health care generally. As well as championing the Mater, Sister Angela Mary has also taken a leading role in championing social justice and community accord on other fronts.
These include her pioneering work in establishing support and care for people with HIV AIDS in 1987 - in the face of staunch disapproval from the Government of the day; her fostering of relations with the Taiwanese community in Brisbane and in particular the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation who have become outstanding supporters of the Mater Hospitals; and her continuing interest in and advocacy for the health and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Sister Angela Mary's outstanding contribution to the Mater and the Queensland and Australian communities have been recognised in many ways, most notably:
- the Australian Medical Association - Queensland Branch 'AMA Award of Distinction' in 1989
- Queenslander of the Year in 1989
- Australian Achiever Award, presented by the Prime Minister of Australia in 1990
- The Awarding of an Order of Australia (AO) for service to the community, in 1993
- Degree of Doctor of the Griffith University in 1991
- Degree of Doctor of the Queensland University of Technology in 1997
- Premier's Millenium Award for Excellence in Charity/Welfare
- Premier's Queensland Greats Award in 2001
But the most significant recognition of Sister Angela Mary's work and achievements is the way in which she continues to be embraced with affection and esteem by people from all walks of life - people with whom she has worked and many more she has never met. Together they regard the contribution she has made to the lives of others as the hallmark of a truly great Australian, and outstanding ambassador of County Clare, Ireland.
(Sister Angela Mary was at pains to point out that she didn't write the above! - Website Administrator).