The City of Stirling’s Australia Day Celebrations included a special award for Bro Terry Merchant

BROTHER TERRY MERCHANT

I was privileged be a guest at the City of Stirling’s Australia Day Celebrations. In the audience were many councillors, both Federal and State politicians, other guests and a wide range of people of various nationalities (143 in total) awaiting to be sworn into as new Australians.

The ceremony also included the Community Citizen of the Year Awards. Four Community awards were presented by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Karlo Perkov:  the Community Citizen of the year, the Young Community Citizen of the Year, The Senior Community Citizen of the year and the Active Citizenship Award.

Brother Terry Merchant of the Dianella Circle, (93 years young), was the recipient of the Senior Community Citizen of the Year. This was well received and appreciated by all in attendance.

The  Deputy Mayor proclaimed,  “Terry’s nomination acknowledges his exceptional commitment and outstanding contributions to the community through his involvement with education, academia, public service and much more”.

Terry had invited a few friends to help him share the day and these included Clara Millet from the Notre Dame University and Father Mariusz Grzech, Parish Priest of St Paul’s Church in Mt Lawley who gave the function blessed support.

The main points highlighted by the Deputy Mayor was Terry’s generosity in supporting several charities at the Notre Dame University and other worthy causes in the local community.

Clara Millet has provided the following “ Since 2020, Terry Merchant has created numerous opportunities for students at the University of Notre Dame through several initiatives firstly being the Gerardine Merchant Scholarship in Nursing (in honour of his late wife, who was a nurse and this scholarship ensures that her legacy is preserved by supporting future generations of dedicated caregivers), then the Terry Merchant Practicum Support scheme and the Terry Merchant Grant for re-entry to Practice Nurses.  Together, these three initiatives have benefited over 150 nursing students at the University of Notre Dame in the past five years.”

Congratulations Terry on your well deserved award for your generosity to the University of Notre Dame, the community and for your time and energies spent as a Catenian. 

We salute you and celebrate with you.

Lou Daily