Paul Gallagher

Paul died this morning at Molloy House, St Gregory’s College Campbelltown

Paul Chanel Gallagher was born to James Laurence Gallagher and Alice Beatrice (nee Kelly) on 25 February 1930. His father, an industrial chemist, died unexpectedly when Paul was just four years old. His mother was left alone to raise a family of nine children, aged between fourteen and one. From the results of her labour and love, she was obviously a very special person who worked hard to provide for her children, despite the difficulties of Depression and pre-War Sydney. Paul’s.

From the ages of 7 to 11 he was a boarder at OLSH Bowral and then transferred to St Joseph’s Hunters Hill for his secondary years. Andrew Power once commented to him “…and to think you were nearly refused entry to the Juniorate”. This was something of a surprise to Paul who started at Mittagong in January 1945 and settled very quickly. After successfully completing the Leaving Certificate, he commenced the Postulancy in January 1947, received the habit and the Religious name, Rogatus, and professed his first vows twelve months later on 2 July 1948. He made perpetual profession at Mittagong in January 1954 and took the vow of stability at St Joseph’s in 1967.

From completion of the novitiate, he had 24 different moves over 74 years. The longest of these was from 1959-1969 when he was on the staff of his old school, where he was fully engaged in all the activities that were expected of a Brother in a boarding school of the time. He had eight years in Grafton, five years in Hamilton and shorter periods at Randwick, Maitland, Mosman, Bondi Beach, Lismore and Auburn. In all these places he was a diligent and kindly teacher.

1985 brought a significant change to Paul’s life; one that was to mark it for the next twenty years. In this year he accepted an appointment to Papua New Guinea. For six years he was the Superior of the Community and the District Secretary. His careful, methodical approach to administrative matters was of great assistance to Jeff Crowe and Des Howard who were the District Leaders at the time. He volunteered to return to Melanesia but was instead offered an appointment to the Novitiate in Zimbabwe. He was there for over two years and contributed a great deal to the programme and community.

After an eighteen-month respite in Sydney, he accepted an invitation to support the Novices and Staff at the Tudella Novitiate in Sri Lanka.