Sister Anne-Marie Kinnane 1923 – 2022

Posted on September 6th, 2022

Sister Anne-Marie Kinnane, Sister of Mercy and co-founder of Catholic social service agency CatholicCare Central Queensland, passed away peacefully last week at the age of 99.

Sr Anne-Marie will be remembered as a remarkable social innovator whose brilliant community service work will continue to live on for decades to come through the work of CatholicCare Central Queensland.

As one of CatholicCare Central Queensland’s key founders (formerly known as The Christian Family Centre and CentacareCQ, respectively), Sr Anne-Marie contributed to an incredible number of social and community services within Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Mackay, and their surrounding areas. Sr Anne-Marie’s key focus was on the development of all aspects of social welfare.

The first practising social worker in Rockhampton, Sr Anne-Marie graduated from further studies at the University of Queensland in 1971, with a Bachelor of Social Work (honours). Prior to starting her social work journey, Sr Anne-Marie was a qualified teacher, having taught in Rockhampton’s Diocesan primary schools across Biloela, Mackay, Bundaberg, Barcaldine, and Rockhampton. In all that she did, Sr Anne-Marie strived to meet the needs of her local communities.

Passionate about services that benefited the poor, the rich, the suffering, the aged, the distressed, the destitute and the underprivileged, Sr Anne-Marie was passionate about services that benefited everyone. Through the services she pioneered, Sr Anne-Marie’s legacy will be ever-lasting; continuing to live on within the devout mission of the organisation that she founded, CatholicCare Central Queensland.

Central Queensland is a healthier, more inclusive, and more welcoming place thanks to Sr Anne-Marie’s compassion, vision, outreach, ambition, and lasting commitment to improving social services across our Diocese.

We remember Sr Anne-Marie not only for her kindness and generosity towards those she served but also for her kindness and generosity toward our wider communities.

May you rest in peace, Sr Anne-Marie.