The cache is located near Ss Peter and Paul School which overlooks the beach.
Mary MacKillop was born in Melbourne in 1842. When she was in Penola she met Julian Tenison Woods and together they opened the first St Joseph's School in 1866.
Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods founded the Sisters of St Joseph to continue this work. Over the many following years, the number of Sisters grew as did their schools. Schools were opened as the needs arose: in country towns, mining towns, cities. The Sisters also became involved in other areas of need including setting up a refuge for women in need and orphanages for children, visiting prisons and working with the sick.
History of Saints Peter and Paul School…
Catholic Education has a long history in the Kiama area, beginning when the Sisters of St Joseph who first taught at the Catholic School at Jamberoo. In 1908, St Joseph's School in Kiama was established, at this time lessons were taught in the old Railway School Building. On January 20th, 1952, the present Parish Hall was opened and used for classrooms.
In 1961, part of the eastern classroom block was built and these three rooms were completed in 1963. The brick double storey classroom was completed in 1981. To accommodate increased enrolments, buildings were erected from 1981 to 1994. These included a new Library and four new classrooms which were built on land adjacent to the convent. In 1974 the school's name changed to Ss Peter & Paul thus bringing all Parish buildings under the patronage of the same Saints.
From 1887 to 1990, the Sisters of St Joseph played an essential role in Catholic Education in our Parish. We are grateful for and very proud to acknowledge their work. By 1990, there were no Sisters teaching in the school and their ministry became one of pastoral care in the parish.
Mary MacKillop…
Mary MacKilop's famous saying was "Never see a need without doing something about it"
Well..... there was a need, a geochache in her honour, and something has been done about it!
This is one of many caches placed in significant locations of her story, which included visits to this area.
Mary died on August 8th, 1909.
She was declared Australia’s first Saint in 2012.