Sister Mary Comer, Master of Arts
Source: Source: All Hallows Golden Years, 1929-1979
Sr, Mary Comer began at All Hallows in 1952 and went on to St Joseph's College, Perthville. She entered the Sisters of St Joseph in 1957. She studied at Xavier Institute, North Sydney and graduated Master of Arts at Macquarie University in 1979. Mary was elected to the Council of the Sisters of St Joseph in August 1979. She is also in charge of School Counselling in the Diocese of Bathurst.
Source: Source: All Hallows Golden Years, 1929-1979Sr Mary Comer was acknowledged as a 2022 Bathurst Living Legend recipient. Members of the community came together on Sunday, July 31, to acknowledge the recently announced Living Legends. An event held at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) celebrated all the current Living Legends announced since 2020.
Source: Facebook
St Mary Comer received her award, including a Greg Hyde illustration, from Citizen of the Year Libby Loneragan and Mayor of Bathurst Cr. Robert Taylor.
Source: Facebook
Fr Paul, Sr Mary, Paul Toole MP, Robert George (Director Centacare Bathurst)
Source: Facebook
As part of Proclamation Day 2022, Sister Mary Comer was recognised as a Bathurst Living Legend, joining 243 other Bathurstians on the honour roll.
Sr Mary, a sister of the order of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, founded and established Centacare Bathurst in 1988 in order to provide access to support and mental services for disadvantaged persons.
Sr Mary served as the first Centacare Bathurst Director and Psychologist and during her 17 years as Director was instrumental in nurturing and expanding services across the Central West. Sr Mary organised and oversaw a range of seminars, workshops and conferences for Centacare staff and other professionals across the region. She was also instrumental in launching a range of programs in support of many different community groups where she identified specific needs.
Sr Mary's involvement reached beyond Centacare, sitting on boards and management committees including St Vincent's Hospital, NSW Catholic Social Welfare Committee and the National Advisory Council on Suicide Prevention. Sr Mary was the congregational leader of the Sisters of St Joseph (Perthville Josephites) from 2006 to 2011.
In all her varied capacities, Sr Mary's years of service can be viewed as but one aspect of her life as a Sister of St Joseph, in dedicating herself to the service and welfare of others.
