50 Years of Special Education
Journey to the Heart
Mater Dei 50 Years 50 Stories
MaterDei embodies this mysterious journey and the stories in this bookreveal something of the accumulated wisdom to be found in this place.They are the stories of those touched by Mater Dei and deserve to beproclaimed, celebrated and shared. They articulate its spirit, itsspecial role, its paradoxes and the effect it has on all who becomeinvolved with it.
The stories span the years 1957-2007. The mostimportant of them can never be told because they are locked deep insidethe thousands of children who, over that period of fifty years, haveattended the school and experienced its classrooms and residential andearly intervention programmes. Sometimes these stories are too deep tofind their way to listeners because of the very nature of intellectualdisability and its heartbreaking effects on the communicative powers ofthe individual. Such untold stories could explain the looks of sheerjoy on the children's faces marking tiny incremental achievements, orthe expressions of bewilderment and loneliness observed at other times.They hold the mystery of human beings who have survived on this planetdespite enormous challenges. It is hoped that Journey to the Heart willexplore the collective memory of Mater Dei, and the school itself willbecome, in a way, the storyteller for and on behalf of its children.
Since1957, Mater Dei, in partnership with parents, has been an advocate,carer and educator of children and young adults with an intellectualdisability. Its spirit and essence has always emanated from thestudents but Mater Dei also encompasses a larger network of principals,teachers and teachers' assistants (both religious and lay); socialeducators in the boarding school and group homes; physiotherapists,speech pathologists and nurses; administrators, benefactors, clergy,directors and members of the school board; recreational officers, busand taxi drivers, cleaners, ground staff and volunteer helpers from thewider community. Some of these people share their own insights ofMater Dei in this book. What is consistently expressed in these storiesis the children's power — though they may not speak themselves — tochange the lives of others through the interaction that occurs at MaterDei. This is the essence of what the stories are about. They tap intothe rich deposit of history, tradition and love, which Mater Deirepresents and holds within it.
The backdrop of the stories willbe the Disability Movement in Australia reflected in governmentlegislation, funding initiatives, research and the creative efforts ofparent lobby groups and professionals. Journey to the Heart shoulddemonstrate to society, all religions and to educational systems thatthey sustain a tremendous void when they ignore and deny theimmeasurable contributions that people with disabilities can make ifthey are allowed to participate in the social and spiritual developmentof our world.
So be prepared ... reading this book will take you on a unique journey!
Sister Jeanie Heininger, sgs
This beautiful 240 page hard cover book is illustrated with photos spanning the history of Mater Dei over the last 50 years.
• To download a copy of the book order form, please click here. Please complete the order form and fax or mail it back to us.
• Alternatively you can send us an email to place your order.
To read more about our history please click here to read our CEO/Principal's article
from the Matters Magazine May 2007.
