Penola

One of the reasons I came to South Australia was to do the Mary MacKillop pilgrim trail, which of course starts and finishes in Penola. All through this corner of the state, maps and street signs direct people to places of interest and everyone I've met has at least some knowledge of the Josephite story.

I have photos for the Mary MacKillop blog but took so many I can post some here as well. Mary had long term connections to Penola as her uncle Alexander Cameron was the first settler in the area and, canny Scot that he was, set up the Royal Oak, the first hotel in town. Mary was governess to his children before the schoolhouse was set up.

Canonisation Photos

Stained Glass Window
Church, Penola

The Schoolhouse

Father Julian Tenison Wood is better known here than in some other parts of Australia. He was a noted scientist as well as Catholic priest. He was responsible for Catholic education in South Australia for more than ten years and his support of Mary MacKillop and her small group of nuns allowed him to expand the school system with the methods that Mary had developed. I have photos of the Father Julian Tenison Woods park in the MM blog.