House List

 

Adams House - Blue

Walter Adams (1830-1892) was a prominent member of the Bundaberg community. Mr Adams served as Mayor of Bundaberg. Walter Adams was a generous man and used his wealth for others. He donated a large portion of land to the Catholic Church and it is on this land that Shalom was built. He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery adjacent to Shalom College.

Chisholm House - Lime Green

Caroline Chisholm came to Australia with her soldier husband in 1838. In the new colony she discovered that women immigrants were among the poorest of the poor. Caroline put great energy into helping women gain useful employment. She also assisted families who wanted to migrate to Australia working especially with families of convicts. She had enormous compassion for the poor and especially women.

Damien House - Pink

Saint Damien of Molokai grew up on a farm in Belgium as the youngest of seven children. In 1860, he became a priest, and in 1873, was sent to a Leper Colony in Hawaii to spiritually guide the people of the settlement. He led them to build houses, a school, and eventually a parish church. Saint Damien of Molokai was canonised a Saint on October 11 2009, by Pope Benedict XVI. Damien became a symbol of consolation and support, who gave a voice to the voiceless, regardless of race or religion.

Hogan House - Red

Brother Joseph Hogan was the first Principal of Christian Brothers' College in Woondooma St Bundaberg which opened in 1918. Br Joseph Hogan and the initial community of Christian Brothers offered Catholic Education for the young men of Bundaberg from Primary through to Year 12. In 1983 girls were enrolled at CBC for Year 11 and in 1984 with the closure of CBC and Loyola College for girls the new Shalom Catholic College began. Hogan House recognises the legacy of Br Joseph Hogan and the many Christian Brothers who worked in Bundaberg.

Lingiari House - Orange

Vincent Lingiari was an aboriginal man who worked on Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory which was owned by a British company. In 1966 Vincent Lingiari led a 'walk off' by aboriginal workers who demanded better pay and conditions. The strike lasted eight years. This was an early step in the process of land rights and equality for the traditional owners of the land. In 1976 Lingiari was given an 'Order of Australia' Award for his services to the Indigenous community. He died in 1988. His story was made famous by the Paul Kelly song, 'From Little Things, Big Things Grow'.

MacKillop House - Purple

Mary MacKillop is Australia's first Saint. Mary saw that education was a real need for young people in Outback Australia. Mary overcame enormous obstacles to achieve her goals. Some of that opposition came from within the Catholic community. Young women joined her in this work and the Sisters of St Joseph or 'the Brown Joey's' was formed.

McAuley House - Forest Green

Catherine McAuley was born in Ireland in 1788. She was born to a well off family although her father died early and from that point on her family was broken up. Catherine recognized that poor young women had no access to education. Her life's work centred on offering opportunity to those most in need. In the process Catherine began the Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy were responsible for Loyola College in Bundaberg which merged with CBC Bundaberg to form Shalom.

McCormack House - Teal 

Sister Irene McCormack was born in Western Australia in 1938. She attended boarding school at Santa Maria College where her passion for serving others was cultivated. McCormack went on to teach for 30 years, before serving as a missionary in Peru where she was executed for helping the impoverished. At Shalom, we aim to live out the message of Sister Irene McCormack by standing in solidarity with others, especially the least, the lost, and the lonely.

Rice House - Yellow

Edmund Rice founded the Christian Brothers in Ireland in the early 1800's. Edmund was born in an Ireland where education was reserved only for the wealthy. Edmund saw that the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty for the young was education. Edmund reached out to the most disadvantaged boys of Ireland. The Congregation of Christian Brothers reached Australia in the 1870's and Bundaberg in 1919.

Walsh House - Maroon

Fr Paddy Walsh was Parish Priest of Bundaberg from 1955 - 1965. As a young priest in the Rockhampton Diocese when World War II broke out, Paddy joined the AIF and was sent with the Australian Division to defend Singapore from the Japanese. When the Allied forces surrendered to the Japanese, Fr Paddy was sent to Changi prison. Fr Paddy earned the lifelong respect of the surviving prisoners for the support and compassion he showed the men as they were sick and died – regardless of religion or colour.