Sister Gemma Burke: Powerhouse for education

As International Women’s Day draws to a close for another year, the names of many inspirational women who helped forge the history of Gunnedah come to mind.

One such woman was not a diplomat or a politician, a town leader or a wife and mother, but a Sister of Mercy for more than 60 years.

Sr Gemma Burke was a powerhouse for education in the Catholic Diocese of Armidale, a revolutionary educator and a champion of women and children living in rural areas.

No parliamentarian was unreachable, no task too small or large when it was a matter of justice for people, especially in rural areas.

Sr Gemma was often the voice for many people; her energy was amazing and her commitment to the plight of so many has never been a mountain too big to climb.

She met people in their own space, following the teachings of the Mercy Order foundress Catherine McAuley ‘we go to the people … the poor need help now not next week’.

Born Marie Winifred Burke in Tamworth on June 24, 1923, Sr Gemma recognised her vocation early in life.

She didn’t especially want to be a nun because she was “having too much fun” but she felt God calling her and was 21 when she entered the novitiate at Gunnedah.

The eldest of seven children, Sr Gemma was educated by the Dominican Sisters in Tamworth but after deciding to become a nun, she chose the Sisters of Mercy because she knew she could work exclusively in the Armidale Diocese.

Much to her parents’ anguish and shock Marie Burke announced that she was moving to Gunnedah to join the Mercy Sisters at their convent established in 1879.

Sr Gemma believed that life should not be watched from the balcony. She believed in mingling where the challenges are calling you to help carry life and development forward, in the struggle over human dignity, in the fight against poverty, in the battle for values and in the many battles encountered each day, In going to the edges to people in need.

She joined the Gunnedah congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, on May 27, 1954, and took her final vows in the Convent of Mercy Chapel on February 16, 1957, in front of her family and friends, her fellow sisters and the Catholic Bishop of Armidale Edward Doody.

Sr Gemma’s first appointment to Moree opened her eyes to poverty as she was exposed to the plight of Aboriginal people who lived on the river bank, through the ministry of Sr Mary Francesca Foley.

This fired her desire to bring a better life for people and others enduring discrimination.

In Narrabri she was further exposed to the plight of the real poor through the ministry of Sr Mary Alphonsus O’Hara.

After teaching for two years in Moree and four years at Narrabri, Sr Gemma came to St Mary’s College in 1963.

She taught geography, economics and religion and in 1976 she was appointed principal, a position she held until 1980.

During her time at St Mary’s, Sr Gemma encouraged girls to take on leadership roles and step out of their comfort zone by taking part in public speaking competitions and debating.

She was also a strong advocate for the Gunnedah Eisteddfod and established a girls’ choir as well as coaching students in poetry, prose and individual singing sections.

She was always an enthusiastic, creative teacher encouraging one and all to do their best – not an easy or immediate satisfaction when encouraging young people.

Former students throughout the years recalled her continual expectation to show RESPECT … RESPECT … RESPECT – for yourself, and others, property and environment. Whatever subjects she taught them they remembered because she was an energetic, resourceful, creative teacher who loved the students and the subjects she taught.

During this time Sr Gemma was also administrator of the Convent of Mercy nursing home for frail-aged Sisters.

Her care extended to women in the wider community where she played an important role in the establishment of McAuley Wing, which opened its doors to elderly women from the community.

In 1986, after completing her six-year term as congregation leader of the Sisters of Mercy, Sr Gemma undertook a short renewal course in New Zealand before resuming her teaching career in Inverell.

She said that Gunnedah had always held a special place in her heart as she had taught whole families – sharing her wonderful teaching expertise and her extraordinary gift of faith, hope and charity.

After education, Sr Gemma became involved in pastoral care.

She was parish assistant to Fr Bernie Frize during his time at St Joseph’s, developing a close relationship with parishioners and the wider Gunnedah community.

In the absence of a priest she comforted grieving families, welcomed newborns and instructed youth in their faith.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph’s Bunty Turner in 1985, Sr Gemma “lifted the veil on life in the cloisters”.

Never one to avoid hard questions, Sr Gemma answered candidly when quizzed about the personal and private aspects of living life as a nun.

She emphasised that nuns are still required to take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience but in today’s modern world, it is still not an easy vocation.

She said it is not a life for women who want to ‘run away from life, who hate men or are looking for security’.

She said women who want to be a nun must ‘know who they are and to be whole people – it is not a life for broken people’.

Aside from her commitment to education, Sr Gemma served as provincial congregational leader of the Sisters of Mercy and administrator of Emmanuel, the Armidale Diocesan Pastoral and Spirituality Centre, in Gunnedah.

She presented pre-marriage courses through Centacare and was instrumental in training a team of people to present this course to hundreds of couples in St Joseph’s Parish.

Sr Gemma nurtured her passion for social justice, with her awareness increasing at the time of apartheid in South Africa.

She co-wrote a paper on taxation reform through the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council and her earlier experience of teaching in rural areas inspired her determination to overcome social injustice in rural Australia.

The poverty of rural people, especially during years of drought and low commodity prices, was an important issue for Sr Gemma and she spoke about it on many platforms, including workshops and national and international conferences.’

Sr Gemma did not let age weary her. She was an integral part of St Joseph’s Parish and a wonderful friend to so many.

Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she was one of the original members of the Sing Australia choir in Gunnedah.

In 2011 Sr Gemma Burke received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community and to the Catholic Church and her work in seeking justice for people in rural areas.

Sr Gemma’s first reaction to the news was: ’Why me?’

Sr Gemma was still spreading her care and compassion when a car accident and subsequent health problems forced her to seek a higher level of care at Nazareth House, Tamworth, and it was there surrounded by family and friends that she celebrated her diamond jubilee and her 90th birthday in 2023 just a few months before her life’s journey ended – a woman ahead of her time, but also a woman who made a difference.