The very first Mater People Awards were held last week with 49 finalists and 15 winners from right across Queensland coming together to celebrate some of Mater's finest who have achieved excellence in serving the community and embodied the Mater values.
Across a particularly challenging year, these inaugural awards came at a fitting time to recognise those who have gone above and beyond in support of the Mater Mission and served as an opportunity to reward excellence across Mater's state-wide network and honour the outstanding contributions of a wide variety of Mater People.
The awards ceremony saw Mater Board Executive Chair Mr Francis Sullivan AO, Mater CEO Dr Peter Steer and members of the Executive team host around 120 invited guests from across the state at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
They were joined by special guests Sisters of Mercy Congregation Leader, Sister Catherine Reuter, and Mr Leslie Jones, representing Mercy Partners Council in an evening of celebration featuring TV presenter, Sofie Formica as Master of Ceremonies.
Mater CEO Dr Peter Steer said there was no better time to pay tribute to the extraordinary efforts of Mater People.
"As our first Mater People awards ceremony, I am delighted to welcome and congratulate all our finalists from Central, North and South East Queensland," Dr Steer said on the night.
"Through your collective commitment and expertise, you have continued the legacy of our founders, the Sisters of Mercy, and delivered transforming and healing care across Queensland. Thank you for all you do for Mater and our community and for your unwavering dedication to our shared Mission and Values."
While the number of guests who could gather was limited due to social distancing measures, the level of enthusiasm and praise for the extraordinary achievements of our 49 finalists across 10 award categories was abundant.
“The calibre of nominations was so impressive that the Mater Executive team and I couldn’t pick just one winner in each category,” Dr Peter Steer told guests.
In fact, two winners were named in both the Mercy in Action Individual award category and the Contribution to Clinical Excellence award category, while three were named in the Mercy in Action Team award.
Dr Steer also announced an additional, discretionary award, the Mater Lifetime Contribution Award – to be known as The Catherine McAuley Medallion. This award was made outside of the nomination process, honouring an employee, past or present, who like Catherine McAuley, devoted their lives to Mater’s Mission and Values, serving in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy.
That honour went to Trudy Clarke (pictured), who retired last year after 17 years of service at Mater Private Hospital Townsville, initially in Pastoral Care before taking on the role of the region’s first Director of Mission.
Trudy was recognised for her significant contribution to fostering an understanding of Mission not only in Townsville, but in the wider Catholic Health community across North and Central Queensland.
“Through steadfast commitment, you have shown us how to embrace the practical, living legacy of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy, ensuring their wonderful legacy lives on,” Mater Board Executive Chair, Francis Sullivan said in presenting the award to Trudy.
In his closing remarks, Mr Sullivan said he looked forward to the Mater People Awards becoming an annual tradition for our new state-wide Mater ministry.
“Tonight’s winners, finalists and indeed, all nominees, are testament to the many acts of great kindness, compassion and self-sacrifice that are the hallmarks of Mater’s service,” he said.
“The diverse ways in which you have contributed show us that excellence and inspired service can come from every corner of this vast Mater network.”
The winners of Mater's very first Mater People Awards:
- Mercy in Action (Individual)—Katherine Jackamn, Mater Education, South-East Queensland
- Mercy in Action (Individual)—Jenny Murphy, Mater Health, South-East Queensland
- Mercy in Action (Team)—Aged Care Team, Mater Health, Central Queensland
- Mercy in Action (Team)—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Team, Mater, South-East Queensland
- Mercy in Action (Team)—Pastoral Care (Women's Services) Team, Mater Health, North Queensland
- Mater Consumer Experience—Amanda Merchant, Mater Health, South-East Queensland
- Mater Volunteer of the Year—Lyndall Beattie, Mater, South-East Queensland
- Mater Support of the Year—Anthony Wilson, Mater, South-East Queensland
- Mater Innovator of the Year—Pattie Maughan, Mater Health, South-East Queensland
- Mater Contribution to Clinical Excellence—Dr Adam Bush, Mater Health, South-East Queensland
- Mater Contribution to Clinical Excellence—Andrea Aubrey, Mater Health, North Queensland
- Mater Teaching Excellence—Jan Jones, Mater Education, South-East Queensland
- Mater Research Excellence—Prof. Sailesh Kumar, Mater Research, South-East Queensland
- Mater Leadership - Emerging Leader—Siona Hardy, Mater Health, South-East Queensland
- Mater Leadership - Leadership Excellence—A/Prof Paul Griffin, Mater Health, South-East Queensland