Series 19: National Catholic Rural Movement

The National Catholic Rural Movement, a Catholic Action movement, held its was formed at a meeting in February 1940 at a conference convened by B.A. Santamaria, then Assistant Director of the Australian National Secretariat of Catholic Action (see “The Catholic Rural Movement in Australia” in the first file below), who was appointed National Secretary of the N.C.R.M. by its Episcopal Chairman, Bishop Henschke through the Director of National Secretariat of Catholic Action, Frank Maher. (Santamaria; a Memoir, O.U.P., pp.42). Bishop Henschke appears to have become Chairman in 1942. The 21st anniversary of the N.C.R.M. was celebrated in 1960 (National Report, Rural Life, June 1960).

When B.A.S. resigned from this position in 1960 Bishop Henschke appointed W.E. Crowe, who as Assistant Secretary had been carrying out its duties for some time, to replace him. (See letters between Crowe and Henschke in the first file below). When Crowe resigned in 1962, the N.C.R.M. was first run at his suggestion by a Managing Clerk, P.J. Findlay. Early in 1963 Paul Wild, of farming background, active in the N.C.R.M. and with R.A.A.F. service, became General Organizer (later National Secretary).

The N.C.R.M.’s aim “To Restore Christ to the Countryside” was pursued through land settlement proposals including the settlement of Catholic migrants, in particular from Italy, the establishment and fostering of Australian Catholic farming communities, and more generally to support policies favourable to country people. The attempt to settle immigrant communities did not gain government support but local settlements were formed, e.g. Maryknoll in Gippsland and San Isadore near Wagga in N.S.W. The N.C.R.M. established a “Primary Produce Gift Scheme” to assist farmers to buy stock. From 1940 Conventions were held, first in Melbourne but later in country centres, to hear papers on and discuss matters of country interest and recommend policies to the National Executive, proceedings appearing the N.C.R.M. magazine Rural Life. The N.C.R.M. closed down in 1983 after many years of declining support and financial problems.

These files are labelled with the range of years in which they fall but the ranges overlap one another and the contents of individual files are not in chronological order.