Earlier this year the staff of Damascus College came together to celebrate 60 years of an amazing woman’s dedication to Mercy. No one person embodies the Mercy tradition quite like Sr Veronica Lawson, a powerhouse of energy and light whose life over the past 60 years has been one of great action.

Veronica’s association with Damascus began as a student in the boarding house of Sacred Heart College in 1955, where she remained until graduating in 1958. After joining the Ballarat East Convent of Mercy, Veronica taught at St Martin’s in the Pines until she was asked to step up into the position of Principal upon the illness of then Principal Sr Genevieve McDonald. Veronica led the school for two years from 1977 to 1978. During her time at St Martin’s Veronica held many roles – principal, deputy principal, teacher and boarding house supervisor to name a few.

Veronica was the leader of her congregation for seven years and, in 1988, she became the first woman to be elected to the role of president of the Australian Catholic Biblical Association. Not just an educator of others, Veronica has never stopped learning herself. She has studied scripture at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem, and at Trinity College in Dublin. She has also lectured in Biblical Studies at ACU and led many Holy Land Biblical Tours while on summer break. Veronica has amassed a global readership with her ongoing weekly commentaries on the Sunday Gospel readings and is a passionate warrior for social justice and the environment as well as a vocal advocate for refugees and asylum seekers. Her connection with Damascus remains strong to this day, having spent time as co-governor she is a frequent and very welcome visitor to the campus. A font of information, Veronica is one of the go-to people for any questions staff have regarding the history and the many connections of the college. Damascus College warmly congratulates Veronica on the wonderful occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.