STORY - "A new string to her bow"
When Josephite Sister Beverly Zimmerman was studying at the University of New England in the 1980s she gained a part-time job as assistant to the archivist. Little did she realise that this was ‘work experience’ for the position she would hold in 2004 as Chancellor of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

chancellor n. State or law offi cial of various kinds; non-resident head of a university.

The position is canonically prescribed and the chancellor’s key duties are to legitimise a new bishop’s taking possession of his office, to safeguard diocesan archives and to notarise official documents.

However, as Beverly points out, “Each diocese carves out its own particular role”. She was preceded by Sr Patricia Egan RSJ, the first female chancellor in Australia.

Beverly brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and wisdom to the role of chancellor. Raised in Belmont, she was educated by the Sisters of St Joseph and upon completing her schooling, she entered the convent at Lochinvar. She has always had a love of music and history and taught these disciplines to secondary students for some thirty years.

A love of learning compelled Beverly to pursue opportunities for further study and this culminated in the award of a doctorate in history from the University of New England. Her thesis was published as The Making of a Diocese: Maitland, Its Bishops, Priests and People (1866-1909). She also holds a masters degree in philosophy and religion from Heythrop College, University of London.

A different way of educating was begun when Beverly became editor of Dialogue Australasia, a journal of religious and values education which supports teachers and students of religion in secondary schools throughout Australia.

For many years now, Beverly has been a Religious Education Advisor in diocesan secondary schools, based at the Catholic Schools Office and working in tandem with Sr Dorothy Woodward. Many secondary teachers have been relieved to welcome “Dot and Bev” to their school!

Beverly lives at the House of Hospitality, Adamstown, a Josephite initiative which provides accommodation for the homeless. Currently the House caters for recovering alcoholics and fathers with children. There are also two East Timorese students living there and studying at the University of Newcastle.

For five years, Beverly was a member of the Congregational Leadership Team of the Sisters of St Joseph. She was delighted to become chancellor and sees it “as a very privileged position because you are party to information and decisions which contribute positively to the life of the diocese.”

She belongs to the Executive Team, with Bishop Michael, Fr Jim Saunders, John Carmody and John Feenan. This group is guided by the vision for the diocese articulated by the synod of 1992/93, and seeks ways to animate the vision more effectively. “It challenges my thinking, and I like to challenge the thinking of the group,” said Beverly.

Canon Law requires that “the chancellor must be of good character and above reproach”. The People of God in Maitland-Newcastle need have few concerns on that score.

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