Ideas for settings within the school on the

100th Anniversaryof

Blessed Mary MacKillop’sdeath.

Why we chose the wheel:

  1. When MaryMacKillopSchool celebrated its first 10 years we wanted a symbol that respected the past and looked to the future. We talked about the school completing the first turn of the wheel in its first decade and was now moving into its second decade.
  1. Our school is built on the rich farming land of Birkdale where in the early days produce would have been transported in drays and carts supported by the old wagon wheels.
  1. Mary MacKillop travelled throughoutAustralia and overseas and the old dray wheel would have been a familiar sight to Mary and her sisters.

Each year we add another symbol to our wheel. The Southern Cross has remained part of our School setting and is carried into the church at the beginning of our school celebrations. Last year we added the old school bell and this year the globe for the year of the Planet and the journeys of St Paul.

Plant a Rose:

The Mary MacKillop rose is planted in our peace garden. With very little attention it manages to produce beautiful pink blooms regularly. The rose is given as a gift to Staff who are leaving as a special reminder of their time with us. The Mary MacKillop rose can be purchased from Nursery Traders at Capalaba.

Plant a bottlebrush:

The Mary MacKillop Calistamon or Bottlebrush is a hardy bush with bright red flowers which would be a wonderful Australian native to plant in schools to celebrate Mary MacKillop’s 100th Anniversary. It can be purchased through your local nursery.

Share her words:

We know so much about Mary MacKillop from the letters she wrote to her sisters, her family and friends. Just recently “The Little Brown Book” was published. (Written by Sue and Leo Kane). Somewhere in your reception area, library or other gathering place an old school desk could be arranged with pen, ink and writing paper as well as “The Little Brown Book”. Artwork of Mary MacKillop could complement the sitting. The Little Brown Book can bepurchased from Mary MacKillop Place NorthSydney and should be found in most Catholic book stores.

Create a setting:

Mary MacKillop was a horse woman by necessity and for schools in country areas the hay bale, saddle, oil lamp and Bible could be rich symbols for students who understand the vastness of the outback and the long journeys the sisters made to bring Catholic Education to the children of the bush.

Another item for display in a school setting could be a battered suitcase with the names of the places where Mary set up schools pasted on the side, a large map showing the areas throughout Australia and New Zealand could accompany the suitcase.