When there is a desperate need for change, it often takes the courage of one exceptional person to stand up and command a need for action. Maude O'Connell was one such exceptional person. Born on the 30th of June, 1884, in Beaufort Victoria, to Catholic parents, Maude's passion for fairness and for family life shone through and influenced her greatest works.

While working as a teacher in Melbourne, Maude became involved in social work with Sister M. Bernardine of St Vincent's Hospital and Sister M. Monica of the Good Shepherd Sisters. To better understand the conditions of those women that she met through her social work, Maude went to work in the factory of the British Australasian Tobacco Company. Maude also became active as a trade unionist, representing tobacco workers on the Trades Hall Council and at Labor Council conferences. Perhaps in an effort to combat her zeal, the British Australasian Tobacco Company offered her an executive position. Her response was: 'I'm not up for sale.' Maude had proved that she was not just someone who stood at the sidelines and observed the injustices occurring around her; she actually put herself in the middle of those same injustices that she was determined to fight.

Maude was also amongst the group of courageous young women who answered Fr Lockington's call in 1916 for Catholic women to use their might power to create a more just society. Maude became the first treasurer of the Catholic Women's Social Guild and joined with Dr Mary Glowrey in arranging accommodation for girls unemployed as a result of strike action. Maude also began nursing training at the Eye and Ear Hospital and during the influenza epidemic of 1919 worked with doctors nursing the sick in their own homes.

During the 1920s, Maude felt increasingly called to go forth and fulfil what she believed was a desperate need for the provision of assistance to mothers and their children in their own homes. During her regular visits to the local hospitals with other members of the Guild, bringing whatever help and comfort to the patients that they could, Maude met Dr. William Michael Collins. He was in charge of St. Francis' Church at the time and also had pastoral care of the Melbourne General Hospital and the Queen Victoria Hospital.

One day Fr. Collins said to Maude: 'Are you prepared, Miss O'Connell to roll up your sleeves and help mothers in the homes?' Maude's ready reply was: 'Yes, and I'll get others to do it too.' From this exchange between Fr Collins and Maude grew the idea and ideal of a unique, Australian-founded, religious congregation−The Company of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Maude's incredible passion for her mission resulted not only in her own action for this cause but a strong desire to draw others to this work.

Popularly known to all as the Grey Sisters, Maude and her fellow sisters became engaged in a wide range of social work. They went into homes cooking, cleaning, shopping and looking after little children and their mothers wherever there was illness or a new baby. The Grey Sister's house in Daylesford, Kewn Kreestha or the Quiet of Christ, provided a home where mothers could rest while their children were cared for. Maude also helped to organize the Unemployed Girls' Relief Movement.

Throughout her life, Maude made an immeasurable difference to the lives of many families through both her work with the Grey Sisters and as a member of the Catholic Women's Social Guild. Maude O'Connell passed away on the 13th of December, 1964, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. Despite this, Maude O'Connell is still very much a presence in the world today, as the Grey Sisters continue to carry out her extraordinary work, and bring hope and help to women and families in need.