An easy cache in memory of a great Australian!
The cache is located near the former Willunga St Joseph's Catholic School.
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.
Willunga
Saint Joseph's school Willunga was one of Saint Mary's first schools. The schoolroom built in 1867 was constructed of sandstone and cut freestone facings, the floor was baltic pine, the beams of oregon, the trusses of cedar and the roof from local slate. The schoolroom was officially opened in September 1868. Father Tennyson Woods had visited in February, commenting that the schoolroom was in use, but not quite finished. At its opening, there were 40 children attending and the Sisters of St Joseph were teaching the curriculum developed by the Council of Catholic Education in Adelaide. Saint Mary McKillop is reported to have visited this school on several occasions. The school closed in 1882.