By Tracey Roberts
Outgoing Trustee of St John of God Health Care, Mr Don Good, was recently bestowed with the Benemerenti Medal by his Holiness Pope Francis for his service to the health care ministry in Australia over four decades.
The Benemerenti Medal is a highly regarded honour awarded to clergy and the laity by the Pope, in recognition of service to the Catholic Church.
The medal was last month presented to Mr Good by Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Perth and Chairman of Members of St John of God Australia Ltd, Rev Fr Don Sproxton, in the presence of special guests, including the Sisters of St John of God – Srs Isobel Moran, Eugenia Brennan, Pat Doyle, Assumption Neary and Pauline O’Connor.
Regional Leader of the Congregation of the Sisters of St John of God, Sr Isobel Moran said Mr Good is a man of integrity, trust and generosity.
“He has been willing to share his wisdom and knowledge across the health care sector, as Governor and Director at Notre Dame, and in his roles at HESTA, where he served as a Director for 20 years, and as a highly respected Chairperson from 2005-2006,” Sr Moran said.
“The Sisters regard him as an honourable ‘John of God’.”
Former Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, extended his congratulations to Mr Good for the honour bestowed in recognition of long and faithful service to the Church and to society.
A celebratory dinner at the UWA Club was attended by Mr Good’s wife Sue and their family.
Other guests celebrating a lifetime of service among the guests were St John of God Health Care Chairman of Trustees Eva Skira, Board Chairman Tony Howarth and Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Michael Stanford.