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.

Limestone Coast

I had a very slow start to the day. I got myself organised and then decided that I'd do some washing before I left. I also wanted to have coffee with Gaye and Evelyn so I decided to combine the two. I had a coffee while my clothes washed, then I had another while my clothes dried. The ladies are sisters-in-law, having coffee with strangers while their husbands fished.

Some of this trip was backtracking from the previous week when I was anxious to avoid the heat and settled instead for cold, wet and windy! I stopped first at Millicent - lots of very old buildings and a very modern looking Catholic church, with the photo of Mary MacKillop which I have come to expect in this corner of Australia.

When I'd driven through before, I noticed signs to the Tantanoola caves and was pleased to find them only a hundred metres from the road and almost flat and easy to get around. (I had booked later for the Engelbrecht caves in Mt Gambier thinking that I could probably manage the 147 steps down - but changing my mind later when I considered that I may be feeling fit now but if I can't drive for a week afterwards it may not be a good idea.)

I booked into the Central Caravan Park which was the same price as the 'cheap' parking at the showgrounds - and had hot showers etc. Right in the middle of town is a sunken garden and cave. I had been there during the day but wanted to see the sound and light show of the local indigenous history on the cave wall at night. So I rugged up, tracksuit, coat, hat and gloves and strode off up the street.  There were about 50 people there for the light show so obviously a lot of tourists in town for the school holidays.

In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop

Bayview College Portland which Mary rented
 as a school and boarding school
and where she trained as a teacher

Mary was sacristan at
All Saints Church
in Portland

Stained glass window of
All Saints Church Portland

Christ Church, Hamilton

Christ Church, Hamilton

St Mary icon Christ Church
Anglican church, Hamilton

Tribute to Mary and Alexander MacKillop

Window in St Mary's church, Hamilton
commenorates her time there as part
of that Catholic community

The modern extension of St Mary's

Star of the Sea, Robe

The view from the jetty may be
largely unchanged since
Mary MacKillop's time

Port MacDonnell Jetty

An Exuberant Mary, Penola

Sculpture in the MM
Interpretive Centre, Penola

Father Woods Tree outside Penola

Tree Sculpture Fr Woods Park

Some of the sculptures
telling the Father Woods story



This life size sculpture of a young Mary and her pupils
is outside the Adelaide cathedral. I understand it is to
be done as a smaller model. It is one of the nicest I have seen,
 brimming with energy and joy.