Prayers dashed: Neighbours crush street renaming for Grammy-nominated nun
Hopes an Adelaide city street would pay tribute to a singing nun – who narrowly lost a Grammy to Elvis Presley and tirelessly helped the homeless – are shattered.
Adelaide City Council has dropped its plan to rename Queen Street in the CBD to Sister Janet Mead Street following backlash from nearby businesses and residents.
At a March council meeting, Adelaide Day Centre coordinator Joyce van der Sman put forward a proposal calling on the council to rename a portion of Queen Street, which sits between Carrington Street and Angas Street in the CBD, after the beloved nun.
Sister Mead, who died in 2022 at age 84, founded the Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons on Queen Street in 1985 and was named South Australian Person of the Year in 2005 for her work supporting the homeless community.
One supporter of changing the street said “The number of homeless people has increased and Janet would be really angry about that. She had a voice for the poor, and she could roar like a lion for them.”
All city councillors supported the plan to investigate a street renaming giving hope to Mead’s friends and family who had spend years lobbying for the tribute.
But now a City of Adelaide spokesperson has confirmed the renaming would not be going ahead.
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“After considering all feedback, council at its meeting on 11 August 2026 resolved not to proceed with the renaming of Queen Street,” the spokesperson said.
“In reaching this decision, council particularly noted the views of directly affected residents and businesses who did not wish to see a name change.
“Council greatly appreciates the contributions received throughout the consultation process, during which community members shared a range of perspectives.”
Adelaide City Council held community consultation from late March through to May 21, where several Queen Street residents raised concerns about confusion with mailing operations and issues with utility services.
Speaking with InDaily, van der Sman said she was “surprised and disappointed” that the street naming was not approved, but would continue to focus on Sister Mead’s “legacy of goodness and community building”.
“When it emerged that some of the neighbours didn’t feel at one with that idea to honour Sister Janet Mead, my thought was we don’t want bad neighbourhood feelings and we don’t want any division in the neighbourhood if we can avoid it,” van der Sman said.
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“Our main legacy and honour in Janet’s name is continuing her work. It’s for her. It was never about names and attention, it was more about serving homeless people, and so that has stayed the same.”
Apart from her tireless work to support the homeless, Sister Mead was an Australian Catholic nun and musician who rose to prominence in 1973 following the release of her Grammy Award nominated hit single ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.
The single became an instant success, selling more than a million copies in the US and winning gold records in both Australia and the US. She was then nominated at the 1974 annual Grammy Awards, the most prestigious US music industry title.
Mead lost the Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance (Non-classical) to the “king of rock’n’roll” Elvis Presley, who won for his live rendition of How Great Thou Art on his Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis album.
van der Sman said everyone who was in Sister Mead’s presence “was a better person because of her” and was proud to continue her legacy of supporting the “growing issue” of homelessness in Adelaide.
“As an icon from the 70s with a gold record, Janet used her fame in a practical way through shelter and support for Adelaide’s marginalised communities,” she said.
“For me and all of us here at the Adelaide Day Centre, the way we honour her life and work and legacy is the ongoing and growing community service that we do.
“We’re very happy that we’re able to welcome volunteers, and that is something that’s got a great life of its own.”
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