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 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.
Helidon
The naming of this street was organised by the Helidon Progress Association and the Regional Council.
The Sisters of St Joseph opened a Catholic School in Helidon in 1874 (now closed). The early Sisters would have traversed to and from the school along this street.
The town takes great pride in the fact that Mary MacKillop visited the Sisters in 1878.
On Railway Street there is a Pictorial History Rotunda where you will read some of the history of Helidon, including the story of the Josephites presence there.
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.
Mary died on August 8th, 1909.
She was declared Australia’s first Saint in 2010.
THANKYOU TO You've Been Bear'd who hid the cache for the series and will attend to maintenance.