Good Samaritan Sister Anna Warlow was recognised recently for her long-standing commitment to supporting and encouraging women when she was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership of Women and the Australian Church (WATAC).
By Debra Vermeer
Anna received her Life Membership at WATAC’s online annual general meeting on 10 May in recognition of her many years of spiritual leadership and creativity, with special emphasis on inclusion, spirituality teamwork, service to both Indigenous and non-indigenous people in remote communities, and connecting isolated communities to essential services.
WATAC began in 1984 as a nationwide initiative by Australia’s religious women and men, and is dedicated to creating an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming church community that values and upholds the rights of every individual.
WATAC President Andrea Dean said that while the group’s roots were Catholic, the community was open to people of all Christian traditions and other faiths.
“We’re passionate about fostering collaboration, dialogue, and understanding across churches and faiths,” she said.
Anna has been a member of WATAC from its earliest years, along with a number of other Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
Sister Anna Warlow SGS was awarded Honorary Lifetime Membership of Women and the Australian Church.
Andrea said that while Anna’s Life Membership was bestowed during the online AGM, she was accompanied in person by Good Samaritan Sister Anita Brennan, who presented her with the framed certificate.
“It’s a simple little ritual that we do over Zoom,” Andrea said. “We send them a candle with the WATAC logo on it beforehand, along with a certificate of Life Membership, and we give them a gift.
“We try to ensure that at least one other member is with them and, if possible, they can have a little celebration with them afterwards, perhaps an afternoon tea or they might go out for a meal.
“Life Membership not only recognises the contribution of our members, it’s also a way of introducing new members to those significant women in our organisation and its history.”
Anna’s life and ministry has taken her from many years of primary school teaching, teacher training and adult faith education, to a long stint in liturgical and pastoral ministry in Three Springs in rural Western Australia. Along the way she has been active in supporting and developing the Good Samaritan Oblate movement.
Since 1986, the Sisters of the Good Samaritan served in the remote rural areas of Western Australia, supporting the people in their liturgical, spiritual and everyday lives.
Anna was in the Diocese of Geraldton for 18 years, regularly driving huge distances between the communities she served, and was the last of the Good Sams to leave the ministry there in 2022. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2011 for her commitment to the community.
Over the years, the Sisters’ ministry in places like Three Springs and Morawa expanded to include a small team of faith-filled, committed women, including a number of Indigenous women from the local area who stepped up to the challenge of helping to lead not only the liturgical life of these small, isolated communities, but also provide retreats and gatherings for spiritual nourishment.
As Anna accompanied these women with Good Samaritan and Benedictine spirituality, they were drawn more towards it and, over time, they sought to become Good Samaritan Oblates. One of those Oblates, Cathy Jones, was appointed in 2020 as the first lay Pastoral Leader of the Inland Parish in the Diocese of Geraldton, following the departure of Sister Geraldine Boylan SGS.
Sister Anna Warlow SGS. Image: Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
Andrea said that this dedication to supporting women across the life of the Church was reflected in Anna’s long-standing membership of WATAC.
“The Good Sams really were great supporters of WATAC from the beginning, and certainly Anna, with her real commitment to leading prayer and ritual in a creative and meaningful way, was a key figure, especially at our conferences. She has always been great with symbolism and music,” she said.
“She also moved into running some of the early programs, like the Colloquium Program and really powerful retreat programs.
“Anna brought all those skills to the WATAC gatherings, and they were just so fresh and colourful, and I know they really touched people’s hearts. Her contribution was significant.”
Speaking after receiving the Life Membership, Anna said she had always tried to include the philosophy and spirit of WATAC in her ministry, “hopefully strengthening the efforts of faith-filled women to live their discipleship”.
“I think my time in remote rural areas in WA was an opportunity to support women who were the natural leaders of communities,” she said. “Some of these women are now strong leaders within the Good Samaritan Oblate Movement.”
She said that collaborative leadership encouraged inclusivity. “There is a fragility here that requires constant review and support,” she said. “I have always been inspired by so many women from so many backgrounds who persevere with the challenge of inclusivity.”
Andrea said that after the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic years, WATAC was focusing on building its membership and finding new and creative ways for its younger members to continue sharing their gifts, education and enthusiasm.
“Later this year we will also have our first conference for quite a few years. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to have a significant fact-to-face gathering, and that’s really important to us, so we’re looking forward to that.”
WATAC’s National Conference will be held at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney from 14-16 November 2025. The theme is ‘Shining Bright, Living Loud, Standing Together’. The keynote speaker is award-winning journalist and best-selling author Dr Julia Baird. Click here for further details and to register.
