Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre

In 1861 a nineteen year old girl named Mary MacKillop stepped off the Cobb and Co coach from Melbourne to begin life as a governess at Penola Station.

It was the beginning of a journey, which was to change the very nature of education in Australia.

While working in Penola she met Father Julian Tenison Woods....a Roman Catholic priest...who like Mary was shocked by the poverty of the district and the lack of decent education for many of the children from nearby farms.

Together they planned an education system for Australian conditions.

It was here that they took in children from outlying districts and that Mary - having been ordained as a nun - oversaw the establishment of the Josephite Order.

"Generally speaking the people were poor and her ambition was to be poor like to live the sort of life that poor people live to be able to help them in various ways especially in teaching."

Through this classroom...built in 1867 may seem austere by today's standards....it was certainly a major step up from the old stable where Mary conducted her first lessons.

"So she started here a free school...for anybody that wanted to come....nobody had to pay...now if they could pay a bit they took it. Because these young women...there were only two or three to start with...they had nothing to live on and they were living very poorly, very simply and just providing free education for anyone prepared to come."

In some respects Father Paul Gardiner is a Jesuit detective....charged with uncovering as much detail about Mary's life as possible. In church parlance....he's the Postulator....the person responsible for compiling a full proof case for Mary MacKillopšs ordination as a saint.

Her beatification in 1995 was the first step towards sainthood...now Father Gardiner is preparing a case to show that a "miracle" has occurred since then.

"There's a lot of work to be done on selecting a case that is one of these cures that people say has occurred as a result of praying to Mary MacKillop."

But despite her work with the poor....her pivotal role in the establishment of the Josephite Order...and her unceasing efforts to provide education for all..not everyone was impressed with her work.

At one point...the church hierarchy in Australia...and one Archbishop in particular...moved to have her excommunicated in a battle for control of the Josephite nuns.

"They has this tendency to want to control things they had no control over. So he said dwell you're very welcome here...you'll do great work for me and for God....but you'll have to understand that I'm your boss here. I'm in charge and you want have any more dealings with that women in Adelaide. Well you can't do that....they have taken vows and promises to God to live by this particular rule."

Ultimately none of the conditions for her excommunication were ever fulfilled.

And her small classroom stands as a monument to her tireless efforts for the poor.

The adjacent building officially opened last year offers a true insight into the life and times of these amazing women.

The Julian Tenison Woods Exhibition concentrates on this man's contribution to education and the sciences...in particular the pioneering work he did in the South East, which is recognised to this day.

The Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre is located in Portland St Penola and is open daily 10am - 4pm, admission is $3 for adults and school children are free.

For more information you can email info@postcards.sa.com.au