Hannan House

Hannan House is named after Sr Lois Hannan, the founding Principal of Sacred Heart College Sorrento. 

Sr Lois dedicated her life to working with Aboriginal communities, particularly supporting women and children. She had a long association with Catholic Aboriginal Ministry and in 1986 opened the first day shelter for Aboriginal women and their children in Perth.

 Sr Lois had great empathy for the marginalised and oppressed and was not afraid to speak up on their behalf. 

The Hannan crest is made up of four elements surrounding the RNDM cross.  

• Open book – represents Sr Lois as an educator. She taught English and Religion and was fluent in German. She also loved to write and was a keen poet. 
• Virture (V) and Knowledge (K) – taken from the Sacred Heart College crest 
• Aboriginal symbols for women and children – representing Sr Lois’ work with Aboriginal communities 
• Crown – taken from the Sacred Heart College crest as a reminder of the rewards to be gained by doing good for the sake of goodness itself 
• Dove – links to St Augustine of Hippo and St Thomas Aquinas, whom Sr Lois had a strong connection with. Sr Lois took her final vows on the feast day of St Augustine, who is a special saint in the RNDM Order, and Sr Lois took the religious name Sr Mary Aquinas. 

Hannan’s House Totems, Emu and Kangaroo Paw, show endurance and respect for the land. Hannan can care for their totem by being strong, patient and respectful.