What is now known as Greystanes was once home to the Cennemegal or Weymaly clan who belonged to the Darug people. In Darug culture, you had an obligation to care for plant and animal life in the area that you had been conceived or born. As Catholics, we are also called to care for our environment as outlined in Laudato si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home in 2015.
Colonisation saw much change to the simplicity of life in the area. The British and Irish farmed the land, followed by an influx in 1910 by Europeans, particularly the Maltese settlers. The sudden growth created a change to the parish boundaries, from Greystanes being under the Parramatta Parish to Wentworthville Parish in 1946.
Archbishop Cardinal Gilroy appointed the Carmelite priests to care for the Wentworthville Parish. Finding that a local school was in need, Fr Camilleri along with many of the locals who were predominantly Maltese, helped raise funds towards the purchase of land. In 1955, Fr Knuppel, parish priest of Wentworthville, purchased the land from a local farmer, choosing this land as it sat on one of the highest hills in the area. The church now stands tall on this same hill.
Greystanes parish started small, with schooling in a corrugated shed/garage run by a lay teacher Miss M McGibbon. The playground was filled with dams, machinery and several farm animals such as chickens. Two years later, in September 1957, the foundation stone of the school/church was blessed by Archbishop Cardinal Gilroy. The following year, the building (now known as the St George Preca Centre) was completed by a local developer Mr Frank Cefai and was then known as St Simon Stock. Schooling took place during the week, then the building would be transformed into the church for Sunday Mass and back again into classrooms.
By 1958, two Mercy Sisters came to teach the younger children for the next five years before the Dominican Sisters of Malta took over this role until 1988. The crest of the Dominican sisters is seen still today on Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School’s crest.
As land became available, parish land expanded, increasing the school buildings to keep up with the growing community. Before long, a boy’s high school, St Simon Stock Boys’ High, was built, opening in 1962, run by two lay teachers and administered by the Carmelite priests.
Much progress took place over the coming years. In 1966, we saw the convent building completed, and the Dominican Sisters now had a home to move into. In the same year, Our Lady’s statue, which is currently placed in reverence within the church, was purchased and transported from Rome thanks to the tireless fundraising activities of the local Maltese parishioners. The Primary school, St Simon Stock, had its first building completed in 1970. New parish boundaries were set, and Greystanes Parish was established by Archbishop Cardinal Freemen, along with our first parish priest Fr Terry Duggan (1972 – 1973).
In 1973, Fr Roland Darmenia (1973 – 1975) was appointed parish priest. During his time, and, with the help once again of Fr Camilleri and the older Maltese parishioners, Fr Darmenia went door-knocking to raise funds for the construction of the church building. Mr Frank Cefai oversaw the construction of the church, keeping costs down. The church was completed by 1975 debt-free, thanks to an unknown benefactor who gave Fr Darmenia a blank cheque to complete the final building costs.
The church was first to be named after Our Lady of Victories, who saved Malta from invasion during WWI & WWII. After much contemplation, the Maltese community, being in a country of much peace, voted for the name `Our Lady Queen of Peace’.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Priests
Fr Brian Gallwey (1975 – 1984)
Fr John Sweeney (1984 – 1994)
Fr Gerry Iverson (1994 – 2010)
Fr Robert Bossini (2011 – 2014)
Fr Paul Marshall (2014 – 2020)
Fr Paul Roberts (2020 – present)
NP: Dates may be slightly out due to inconsistency of historical records.