Monica Gallagher (community worker)

Dame Monica Josephine Gallagher, DBE, DSG (born 1922) is an Australian community worker and church activist.

She has been associated with church and other community groups in her voluntary work. Her positions have included associate member of the New South Wales division of Australian Church Women, member of the advisory committee of the Festival of Light, past chairman of the Appeal Committee, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Sydney, and board member of the Save the Children Fund, New South Wales from 1992-94.

She was chairman of the Friends of St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney from 1983-87 and later from 1998-2000, as well as executive director of the Flower Festival Committee from 1996-1997.

Her husband since 1946, Dr. John Gallagher, was a Willoughby physician, who practised for more than 50 years. The couple married in 1946. In 1976, Dr. Gallagher was awarded a papal knighthood for his services to the aged Catholic community, but he said it is his work in natural family planning that stood out. In 2001 Monica Gallagher was named Dame Commander of St Gregory the Great.

Awards

• The Roman Catholic church acknowledged her work with the award of a Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice papal honour in 1981.
• Good Citizen Award for Outstanding Community Service in 1979
• Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 12 June 1976 for services to the community.

External links

• Profile/biodata, National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW)