Grand Priory of Australia & New Zealand

The Grand Priory of Australia and New Zealand has a total of 101 Knights and Dames, and consists of:

  • The Grand Priory of Sydney
  • The Grand Priory of Adelaide
  • The Commanderies of Melbourne and New Zealand
HE Chev Dr Samiul Sorrenti BGCSJ, Grand Prior of Australia and New Zealand

Born in Messignadi Commune di Oppido Mamertina (RC), Dr Samiul was invested as a “Knight of Grace” in 2010 for his exemplary service to medicine. He was elevated to the rank of Deputy Grand Prior in 2016. On 23 June 2019 he was officially elevate to the role as the Grand Prior of Australia.

Samiul Sorrenti is the first Italian, Australian trained Orthopaedic Surgeon and the first Orthopaedic Surgeon to do Stem Cell Surgery in Australia. He commenced his clinical practice in 1986, specialising in sports medicine. His Consultant Appointments has been several:

  • 1986 Orthopaedic Surgeon for North Sydney Rugby League Club.
  • In 1989 he was the Consultant Physician and Orthopaedic Surgeon to Marconi Soccer Club,
  • In 1994 he was the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon to Western Reds Foot Ball Team,
  • In 2010 he was the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Parramatta Eels.

His teaching appointments involve post graduate and undergraduate training of medical students, physiotherapist and orthopaedic registrar; Dr and President of Italian Rugby League 2002- 2014 and Dr of Italian Rugby League during World Cup 2017.

His hospital appointments include Mater Misericordia Hospital, North Sydney and The Surgery Centre, Hurstville.

Dr Samiul’s most proud charity endeavour has been his involvement in the building of St James High school Tanzania, built by 20 Australian families which now has over 400 students and is now run by the Catholic Church and St John’s Orphanage in Tanzania which is still maintained by 20 Australian families.

Current Charity Projects

  • Fundraising to support specific needs of Giant Steps School for Children with Autism.
  • Fundraising for St Vincent’s Open Support projects assisting victims of Domestic violence
  • Mary’s House, shelter and practical needs for victims of Domestic violence.
  • Donations of comfort packs and food for the homeless, distributed through Street Heart.

Hospitaller activities

The SHOSJ is an international non-profit Organisation that assists impoverished and displaced people across the globe. In Australia the Knights and Dames are dedicated to raise funds to assist the disadvantaged in the areas of education and medicine, with particular concentration on purchasing urgently needed medical equipment for hospitals and research institutes. Our beneficiaries include the following:

  • Australian Red Cross, Financial Aid.
  • Armenian Refuge Appeal, Financial Aid.
  • Australian Heart & Lung Transplant Association, Financial Aid $2,000.
  • Beafield Centre, Adelaide, Financial Aid $2,250.
  • Boys Town, Financial Aid.
  • CareFlight, Financial Aid $2,000.
  • Camp Quality, Financial Aid $1,000.
  • Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Powered wheelchair $13,000.
  • Child Abuse Prevention Services, Financial Aid $1,000.
  • Children’s Leukaemia & Cancer Institute Australia.
  • Inverted Research Microscope with Camera $10,000, Orbital Shaker $2,000, PCR Thermal Cycler $2,000.
  • Deprived Women’s Upliftment Centre Orphanage, Nepal, Financial Aid $10,000. This is an ongoing project.
  • Dianne Camilleri Appeal, Financial Aid towards facial surgery.
  • Epilepsy Association, Financial Aid.
  • Exodus Foundation, Ashfield, Sports Bags, Caps, Clothing.
  • Giant Steps, school for autistic children, Three Data Projectors $5,000, 2 trampolines $5,000, $33,000 for mini bus. Total donated to date $126,000.
  • Helping Hand, Adelaide, donated a Mini Bus $48,945.
  • The Hutt Street Centre, Adelaide, $2, 500.
  • Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Streets, Financial Aid $1000, Clothing & Blankets, Sports Bags, Caps.
  • Healthcare Outreach, Reconstructive Program, Nepal, Financial Aid for surgical procedures for 16 women $5,000.
  • International Red Cross, Financial Aid $2,000.
  • Lifeline, Financial Aid.
  • Life for Africa Foundation, Medicines worth US$32,000.
  • Living Without Limits, Adelaide, $7,500.
  • Magdalene centre, Adelaide, $5,000.
  • Maltese Elderly Association, Financial Aid $1,000.
  • Matilda Rose Early Intervention Centre, Mental development toys.
  • Melbourne Children’s Hospital, Financial Aid $116,000.
  • Missionaries of the Poor, Philippines, Financial aid $2,000.
  • Motor Neurone Association, Adelaide, $5,595.
  • Nagrizia Missionary Sisters, Central Africa, Heart surgery for 19 year old male, Medicines, Blankets.
  • Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church, Adelaide, building appeal $500.
  • Overseas Specialist Surgeons of Australia Inc, Financial aid.
  • Oz Harvest, Financial Aid $4,400.
  • Prof Christopher O’Brian’s Head, Neck & Brain Research Unit, Financial aid $24,000.
  • Prof David Morris Liver Cancer Research Fund, Financial Aid $5,295.
  • Republic of Honduras, US$20,000 worth of medicines.
  • Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children, Neuro Surgery Dept. Midas Rex Instrument $22,000.
  • Royal North Shore Hospital, Physiotherapy Department, Split Pan, Hydrocolator, Wax Bath $4,000.
  • Royal South Sydney Community Health Complex, Bladder Scan Instrument $8,000.
  • Salvation Army, Financial Aid $1,000.
  • Scalabrini Village Nursing Homes, $4,000.
  • Snow Family, Adelaide, donated $47,962.00 for their son’s cancer treatment.
  • Spastic Centre of New South Wales, Financial Aid $102,000.00, Two Hart Walkers $20,000.
  • SpineCare Village Foundation, Functional Electronic Stimulation Machine $1,200, Adjustable Electronic.
  • Bed $5,500, Biofeedback Unit $600, Walking Frames $600, Canadian Crutches $600.
  • Starlight Children’s Foundation, Financial Aid $1,000.
  • George Hospital, Two Adjustable Beds $10,000.
  • Kanasis Kitchen, Kings Cross, Financial Aid $1,000.
  • St Mary’s Villa, Nursing Home, equipment to the value of $10,000, Brain Trainer for dementia patients $4,495.00.
  • Vincent’s Hospital, Universal Operating Table with X-Ray Radio-Transparent Table Top $41,000,
  • Financial aid to purchase Ambulance.
  • St Vincent’s Blood & Cancer Research Unit, Dual Alfa PCR Tubes for Oncology Research Laboratory,
  • Financial Aid $7,860.
  • St Vincent de Paul Society, Blankets, Cloths, Toys.
  • Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, Sonosite 2 MHZ Curved Array Echo Probe for Sydney Children’s.
  • Hospital $13,080.00Hotline Blood & Fluid Warmer Burns Unit $4,500, A Variable Positive Airway Pressure.
  • Machine $8,000, 3 Wii Fit Games & Console for the Rehabilitation Dept, 2 TVs with Trolleys & Handsets, Daytripper Pram, Bath & Stand for Occupational Therapy, Ultra Cam 80 Shoe Stretcher for Orthotics Dept., Digital Camera, PlayStation Games, Fax Machine for Neuro Oncology Dept., 2 DVD Recorders for Telehealth Dept, 4 Dialysis Machine Trolleys for Nephrology Dept, 4 Portable DVD Players, 10 Plaster hand & foot case sets, books, toys, DVDs, craft activities for Play Therapy Dept, Flat bed surface art for Emergency Dept, Electric Pump/Compressor for Physiotherapy Dept.,Sydney Children’s Hospital, Leukemia Research, Funding Dr David Ziegler’s research $64,000.
  • Sydney City Mission, Youth Initiatives Program, Financial Aid $5,000, Music Supplies, Art Supplies, Clothing & Blankets.
  • Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Research Institute (RPA), Fibre Optic Telescope $9,200, Two Special.
  • Beds $5,000.
  • The New Children’s Hospital, Westmead, Cytocentrofuge for the Hematology Department $14,000, Microscope for the Endocrinology Department $6,000, Portable Oxygen Monitor for the Sleep Unit, Muscle.
  • Protein Analyzer, D-code System, CD player for treatment room of Hunter Baylee Ward, DVD Recorder for the Cleft Palate Research Dept, Doll’s House and Pedal Car for Volunteer’s Dept, 100 caps for the Camperdown Ward, Barbie Aeroplane & Hostess Doll, 100 Teddy Bears, BBQ $500, various gifts for Volunteer’s Dept $500, Financial Aid $5,000.
  • The Smith Family, Financial Aid $2,000.
  • UNICEF, Financial Aid.
  • United Way, Adelaide, Financial Aid $2,500.
  • Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Financial Aid $5,000.
  • Woman for Woman International, Sponsor women affected by war through education. Donated farm equipment, farm animals, grain and clothing items to assist women in their pursuit of feeding and clothing their families.
  • Women’s Refuges: donated household and personal items to women to assist them in a new start in life.
  • The OS J Knitting Group was established in 2019. They have made crocheted and knitted items such as blankets, jumpers, shawls, scarves, slippers, beanies for women and children in need. These items support St Vincent’s Open Support projects for victims of Domestic Violence.
  • Open Support Projects $22,000
  • Street Heart Charity, feeding the displaced in our community $2,000.
  • Cancer Council donation $600.
  • Our Lady of Sacred Heart – Henley SA $500.
  • OSSA SA $2,400.
  • Motor Neurone Disease Research SA $3,595.
  • Hutt St Centre SA $2,500.
  • Beafield Centre SA $2,500.
  • Living Without Limits SA $2,500.
  • Catherine House SA $4,014.
  • Childhood Cancer Research SA $2,500.
  • Assistance for family with terminally ill mother SA $5,085.
  • Giant Steps Function through 2019-2022 SA $186,000.

International Hospitaller Activities

The SHOSJ members worldwide collectively raise funds to assist the impoverished and displaced people across the globe. In recent years the members have assisted in raising funds to purchase and distribute urgently required medicines and medical equipment for many global humanitarian organizations, including the following:

  • Missionaries of the Poor, Sisters in the Philippines: USS13 million in medicines.
  • Republic of Honduras: US$6 million in medicines.
  • Life for Africa Foundation: US$320,000 in medicines.
  • Global Outreach Foundation of the Bahamas: US$54,000 in medicines.
  • Haiti earthquake appeal – Various Local Organizations: US$2,000,000 in medicines.
  • Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaounde, Cameroon: Construction of a water well on the University grounds is a joint venture project with our Royal Protector’s “Flame of Peace Foundation”. The sum of €18,000 has been raised to build and maintain a water well to service 5,000 university students and 70,000 people in the surrounding villages.
  • Ukraine Orphanage Appeal, The Grand Priories collectively raised €25,000 to assist our Ukrainian Knights & Dames to continue their humanitarian work under the most difficult and trying circumstances in war torn areas. Many children in the Ukraine have been left homeless and orphaned. The Order is currently organising a shipment of cloths, bandages, non-perishable food items, and essential daily items to be distributed in orphanages throughout the Ukraine. This is an ongoing project.

Other notable work or information

The Order is proud of the ongoing charity endeavours our members achieve in their collaboration to assist those in need worldwide in the following areas:

  • Support local Churches.
  • Support Women’s Refuges.
  • Support National Orphanages.
  • Assist those with disabilities.
  • Volunteers in aged care facilities.
  • Distribute food & clothing to the homeless.
  • Support Aged Care facilities.
  • Support flying doctor services.
  • Support troubled teens through education.
  • Fund Cancer & Leukaemia research.
  • Assist women & children affected by abuse.
  • Supply basic necessities to the misplaced & refugees.
  • Support families & sponsor women affected by war.
  • Purchase medication & medical equipment.
  • Assist those affected by drug & alcohol abuse.
  • Support local youth in religious education.
  • Finance the building of schools in remote areas of Africa.
  • Physical & financial aid to those affected by bushfires, flood, earthquake & other natural disasters.

News from the Grand Priory of Australia