Sister Barnabas Meikle

Mary Jessie Meikle was born at Ararat, Victoria on 25 April 1917, the second of six children born to Leslie and Ida (McCabe) Meikle. Her primary and secondary education was undertaken at St Brigid’s School North Fitzroy.

In 1941 Mary sought admission into the Good Samaritan Novitiate, Pennant Hills, and was given her religious name of Sister Mary Barnabas. She made her first profession of vows on 6 January 1944 and after completing studies at St Scholastica’s Teachers’ College spent the years from 1945 to 1969 teaching at schools in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. At Gwynneville and Forest Lodge Mary Barnabas joined the role of Superior to that of teaching.

In 1969 Mary Barnabas took up the office of Congregation Bursar at St Scholastica’s Glebe Point, a task she carried out until 1980. Upon moving to Queensland she offered her support to the Australian Association for Better Hearing. A letter of appreciation from the President of this Association noted: “Knowing that you can be of service to others can be rewarding and as Sister Barnabas has an understanding of the needs of hard of hearing people through her own handicap her work with us has been most beneficial… not to mention the diligence with which she carries out her responsibilities.”

This same desire to help others led her to attend Victoria College, Burwood campus in 1985 where she obtained a Certificate in Aural Rehabilitation, preparing her for further work in teaching others with hearing impairment. After several years spent in secretarial and general community tasks Mary Barnabas took up residence at Marian House on 13 November 1995.

Failing health prompted her transfer to Villa Maria, Bundoora on 22 July 2000. It was here that she died on 17 October 2002.