Patron
John Bede Polding (1794 - 1877)
Named for John Bede Polding (1794 - 1877); a native of Liverpool, England he was ordained in 1819. Fr. Polding was appointed the first Catholic Bishop to the new colony of New South Wales, New Holland and Van Dieman’s Land in 1834. He worked in the convict prisons, teaching the Catechsim and attending to the sick and dying. Bishop Polding also founded St John’s College in the University of Sydney in 1858.
Symbol
The main feature of the symbol is the mythical Liver Bird, the emblem of the City of Liverpool. This creature is said to have evolved from the eagle, the symbol of the evangelist John from whose writing Bishop Polding drew heavily. It holds in its beak a sprig of wattle symbolising Australia. The house shares its motto with that of St John’s College in Sydney - Never Doubt The Lord.
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