Mary Mackillop

By Josh

Interesting facts and early child hood

On January 15, 1842 Mary MacKillop was born of Scottish parents, Alexander MacKillop and Flora MacDonald in Fitzroy, Victoria. This was less than seven years after Fawkner sailed up the Yarra, when Elizabeth Street was a deep gully and Lonsdale Street was still virgin bush. A plaque in the footpath now marks the place of her birth in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.

Mary, the eldest of eight children, was well educated by her father who spent some years studying for the priesthood in Rome but through ill health had returned to his native Scotland until 1835 when he migrated to Australia with his parents. Unfortunately, he lacked financial awareness, so the family was often without a home of their own, depending on friends and relatives and frequently separated from one another.

What contributions did she make to the world

From the age of sixteen, Mary earned her living and greatly supported her family, as a governess, as a clerk for Sands and Kenny (now Sands and MacDougall), and as a teacher at the Portland school. While acting as a governess to her uncle's children at Penola, Mary met father julion tension woods who, with a parish of 22,000 square miles/56,000 square kilometres, needed help in the religious education of children in the outback. At the time Mary's family depended on her income so she was not free to follow her dream. However, in 1866, greatly inspired and encouraged by Father Woods, Mary opened the first Saint Joseph's School in a disused stable in Penola. Marys school was a girls school only.

Why did Mary take this path in her life?

Mary took this path in her life because her family were poor so she tried to earn money for her family so they were not poor. Mary cared about the people who had no one to look after them such as boys and girls who just roamed the streets, children in the country who had no school to go to, people who were old and sick and people who had nowhere to live. Mary wanted more than anything to help these people.

How did mary work make a difference in the world?

She made a difference in this world because she earned money as a teacher to help the people in need. Mary went to work as a teacher in a little country town in South Australia called Penola. There she met Father Julian Tenison Woods who also wanted to do something for the poor children who could not afford to pay the money needed to go to school. Together, in 1866, they began the first St Josephs School in an old stable. Two of Marys younger sisters also taught in the school and other young women came to help them.

websites

http://www.homeschoolingdownunder.com/Unit_study_homeschool_resources/Mary _Mackillop_for_kids.html

photos

Quiz ???

What year was Mary Mackillop born in? A. 1885 C.1842 b.1912 d.1840

How many other siblings did Mary Mackillop have?

A.6 C.7 b.8 d.5