Dr Joanne Hack is the new Executive Director of Good Samaritan Education, the ecclesial community established by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in 2011 to carry their charism forward in Catholic education. Joanne took up the position in January this year.
I write this on my 20th day as the Executive Director of Good Samaritan Education (GSE), reflecting that this is my 12th role in Catholic education, as part of what has been a lengthy and life-giving apprenticeship.
With each new role, there is preparation, some deep thinking, probably not enough prayer and a renewed attempt at organisation. Part of my organisation process has been rearranging my bookshelves to ensure that what will have prominence, focus and importance for this next part in my journey is easily accessible. Now I might just need to ensure I’ve actually read these books, and they’re not just neatly arranged on a shelf!
GSE Executive Director Dr Joanne Hack: “Part of my organisation process for this next part in my journey has been rearranging my bookshelves.” Image: Good Samaritan Education.
We all come to the ‘new’ with a sense of our own story and what has led us to this place. I smiled in one of the many generous moments of welcome when someone said to me: “Welcome to the Good Samaritan family.”
As a little girl visiting my grandparents who lived in Despointes Street, Marrickville, my mother would point out the police station, ensuring that I always knew that in an earlier era it had been the Good Samaritan Convent.
She spoke with fondness of the Sisters who had cared for her, and I’ve wondered all my life how it came about that, during the Second World War, the Sisters used their vouchers to help buy my mother’s First Communion dress. There was always a deep abiding affection when she spoke of the Sisters.
As I grew to high school age, geography and circumstance saw me enrolled at St Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove, an education I am proud of and which instilled in me a sense of service and a belief in what women could do and be in the world. My mother had regrets, and wished she could have given me a Good Samaritan education.
Throughout my life there have been persistent and enduring glimpses of the Good Samaritan charism through decades of involvement in St Brigid’s Parish and, ultimately, in my final school role at St Mary, Star of the Sea College, Wollongong. My mother was delighted that I was working in a Good Samaritan school and one of my greatest regrets was that she died before I could take her to see ‘my’ school.
From left: GSE Executive Director Dr Joanne Hack with former GSE Executive Directors Dr Jane Comensoli, Leonie Keaney and Kay Herse. Image: Good Samaritan Education.
While there, I had the opportunity to undertake the Benedictine Pilgrimage, which allowed me to deepen my connections to the richly layered charism. Every day of my 10 years at St Mary’s was a joy. I had the privilege of working with talented, intelligent, creative and committed staff who had the girls at the heart of all the decisions they made.
I was blessed in the exuberance of young women who seized opportunities, took risks and mostly embraced all that they were offered. I remember sitting on the floor during a stint as acting principal, teary because I would need to knock back some enrolments because I couldn’t give a Good Samaritan education to everyone.
For the past four years I have been Head of Curriculum and Inclusive Learning at Catholic Schools NSW. This was a broad role allowing me to deepen my understanding of diverse spheres such as Aboriginal education, diverse learning and vocational education.
In this role I was immersed in curriculum reform, representing the Catholic sector, mindful of the importance of ensuring the development of a contemporary creative curriculum that provides a platform for teachers to support student growth, curiosity and intellectual development. Concurrent to this, I have been a member of the Rosebank College Board.
Now I find myself at the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Congregational Centre in Glebe each day. There is excitement at the prospect of new possibilities. There is also the weighty responsibility of discovering ways to support the Colleges into the future as each community seeks ways to enliven the charism to be dynamic and life changing in their context.
Thankfully, we get to do this work together, guided by the wisdom of the Rule of Benedict and the ongoing challenge the parable of the Good Samaritan places before us, “to go and do likewise”.
I have started this new adventure of my life-long educational journey. I remember well my final day at St Mary’s; it’s always hard to find something meaningful to say to young people when they are bursting to begin the summer holidays. I remember the things I said to the girls that afternoon, which still hold true today: “Kids are good, school is fun and the broader community is proud of your efforts and achievements.”
My final comment had the weightiness of my life experience when I thanked them “for giving me a Good Samaritan education”. I’m sure my mother was smiling then. I hope she’s smiling now.
