Time for some Newman Nostalgia!
This week, continuing our celebration of some of our amazing high achievers, we shine a light on Mons Charles Cunningham MBE, who was born in 1904 and went to the earliest of our antecedent Schools, St Ildephonsus in New Norcia, from 1920 to 1922.
He studied for the priesthood and was appointed to Bunbury and then St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth.
In 1942 he enlisted in the Second World War and served overseas as a military chaplain until discharged in 1946.
Despite being non-combatant, he saw plenty of action with the 2/1st Battalion after he was posted to that unit at Eora Creek, on the Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, in October 1942. He was the seventh chaplain deployed to this perilous area; three previous chaplains having recently been killed in action, two having been wounded and one out sick.
The battalion was then holding a vital bridge head and the Japanese held high ground in front, from where they constantly rained machine gun and small arms fire, and mortar shells down on them, which caused many casualties and made progress next to impossible.
For seven days, while they were pinned in that position, Father Cunningham could do nothing more than help the wounded, comfort the dying, and bury the dead while evading shell and sniper fire. It was a nightmare, yet he did not sleep for three days.
When the moment came when they could finally evacuate it was at night, and he helped carry the stretchers across the bridge which was then submerged; a feat which took a great deal courage and an equal measure of strength.
This was later known as the Second Battle of Eora Creek - Templeton's Crossing, at the end of which 412 Australians had been killed or wounded, and 244 Japanese.
For his actions and 'exceptional meritorious service' at Eora Creek, Father Cunningham was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire. On his discharge in 1946 he returned to the pulpit of St Mary's Cathedral, Perth.
In 1958 he was appointed Vicar General and Parish Priest of the Catholic Church in Albany, and in 1962 became the inaugural chairman of Villa Maria Homes, established by his sister and brother-in-law, Maud and Jack Ray. Cunningham Nursing Home, in the Ray Village complex, is named in his honour.
In 1975 he won the lottery and donated the entirety to St Michael's Catholic Primary School in Brunswick, so they were then able to buy much-needed equipment and a school bus as well!
This incredible Newmanite died in Busselton in 1982, aged 77.
We hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about Monsignor Cunningham and will feature two more of our high achievers next week!
Father Charles Cunningham during WWII, courtesy the Cunningham family.
Monsignor Charles Cunningham in 1975, after winning the lottery which he donated to St Michael's Primary School so they could buy some much-needed equipment and a school bus. Photo courtesy the Cunningham family.