CentacareCQ Founders Celebrate Birthday

Posted on June 5th, 2020

CentacareCQ’s staff would like to wish our founders a happy birthday!

Sister Anne Marie Kinnane will be 97 and Father Francis Gilbert will be 89, both sharing the same birthday, on Friday, 5th June.

CentacareCQ began in Rockhampton in 1974 with these two forward-thinking members of the Catholic Church.

Sr Kinnane was a teacher in Rockhampton who went on to study social work in Brisbane. She returned with the results of a survey she helped to complete, indicating the people of Rockhampton needed a more organised and holistic approach to social services. Sr Kinnane approached local priest, Fr Gilbert, for assistance and together they created an agency to deliver family and social services to the wider community.

Today CentacareCQ is the longest running, local social services organisation in Central Queensland – serving thousands of people annually and employing more than 300 staff across the Diocese of Rockhampton.

Over the years, our services have grown to include care for the elderly and people living with disability, community transport, counselling for individuals and families, family services, help for those involved in domestic and family violence, mental health support, and a wide range of advocacy and community education.

The official social services agency of the Catholic Church, CentacareCQis one of more than 30 Centacare organisations around Australia – all working to enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish both Sr Kinnane and Father Gilbert a very happy birthday. We remain eternally grateful and thankful for your hard work and foresight in founding our organisation.