WHEN the Knights of the Southern Cross formed in Queensland a century ago – in October 1921 – the prospects for a Catholic working man were very different.
A scan of the Courier Mail from a century ago shows that job advertisements regularly appeared with the acronym CNNA (Catholics Need Not Apply).
“A lot of Catholics were discriminated against at that time – especially as far as employment was concerned,” current Knights state chairman, Eddie Radke, said.
“The Protestants and Catholics were skeptical of each other in those days.
“I think a lot of it was ignorance on both sides.”
The early 1920s was a tough and uncertain time for many Catholics.
Soldiers had returned after the horrors of war in Europe and found it hard to readjust to “civie” life, the Spanish Flu had caused havoc, and finding a job was a difficult prospect for many.
The Knights were formed in an effort by committed Catholic laymen to end discrimination, bigotry and injustice.
On October 29, 1921, the order’s first Queensland meeting was held across from Brisbane’s St Stephen’s Cathedral at St Stephen’s School, now known as Mercy House.
“These men were prepared to step forward to sacrifice their time, talent and their hard-earned cash to build ‘a better world for their families and for ‘us’,” Mr Radke said.
Guided by the Catholic faith and the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance, the Knights took on the mission of serving the wider community and supporting those in need.
“They faced many difficulties, trials and tribulations, but they also had many successes,” Mr Radke said.
“They had to operate in secret often with their good works unrecognised.
The Knights were at the forefront of efforts to break down discrimination against Catholics in the public service and business.
It took decades, but by the 1950s Catholics enjoyed much better working prospects.
When Labor premier Edward Hanlon died on 15 January 1952, his deputy Vince Gair was elected by the party caucus to the top job.
Gair was a Catholic and a member of the Knights of the Southern Cross and this signalled a significant religious breakthrough. Seven members of his cabinet were Knights.
Under his premiership reforms were carried out in worker’s compensation, sick leave, and annual leave.
Long-service leave was also introduced, while the government’s price controls enabled workers in Queensland to enjoy the highest real wages in Australia.
Over the decades, Mr Radke said the Order has contributed significantly to Queensland communities.
The Order has sought to fulfil its objects by aiding Catholic schools, through many charitable projects, assistance in finding employment and accommodation and advocacy for life and social justice issues.
The Order has advocated for state aid to Catholic schools, and was instrumental in the formation of P and F Associations, and purchased its own building in Charlotte Street in Brisbane’s CBD.
The Knights were instrumental in the formation of the Brisbane’s Archdiocesan Development Fund, set up in 1969.
The idea was to offer interest-paying investments for parishes, organisations and individuals. The ADF created loan funds to be used for expanding Church works.
Then Archbishop O’Donnell encouraged Catholics with sizable investments in commercial institutions to transfer their investments to an organisation that would provide certainty, security and a role in the Church’s Mission.
Investors were promised that the fund would provide “more parish schools, more Archdiocesan colleges, more education projects and more parish developments”.
After its first decade, the ADF had enabled the building of 24 Archdiocesan schools, 26 churches, 10 presbyteries and 10 convents.
Perhaps the Knights best-known venture is Southern Cross Care, started in 1970, with the opening of the Archbishop Duhig Nursing Home for the Aged.
Over 50 years, SCC has grown to include 11 aged care facilities, five retirement villages and home care across the state.
The organisation is now an independent entity in its own right and is known as Southern Cross Care Limited.
“All of these [projects] were due to Knights coming together to collectively work to achieve these goals,” Mr Radke said.
“The Gospel of Mark tells us to love God, love thy neighbour,” Mr Radke said.
“And as far as I’m concerned neighbour means everyone.”
Over the years, the Knights have taken on many international development projects.
Between 2012 and 2015 Townsville branches of KSCQ raised $31,000 to build a Maternity Ward for the people of Minova in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
With the assistance of Caritas, the money was transferred to Minova and the Maternity Ward was built in 2013.
For this year’s centenary, Queensland Knights have put time and fundraising to support 80 disable children and young adults in an orphanage in Tanzania run by the Sisters of our Lady of Kilimanjaro.
Because of prevailing superstitions these disable children are sometimes considered a curse and are cast out and abandoned by their families.
The Knights raise funds by various means. They contribute personally, they raffle meat trays in pubs and run Bunnings barbeque and sausage sizzles.
Today there are more than 500 members of the Knights in 25 branches across Queensland.
A lot of members are aged over 65 and the Order is keen to recruit new members.
Even during COVID-19 the branches have stayed connected through Zoom meetings.
