The cache is located near Our Lady Help of Christians School in Hendra
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 and Julian Tenison Woods 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.
Our Lady Help of Christians School in Hendra
Our Lady Help of Christians was established 80 years ago, in a time when the locals took the train to shop at TC Beirne Emporium in the Valley
Originally called German Station, the name Hendra was chosen because of the proximity to Eagle Farm Racecourse, and its links to the English racing district. Racehorses in the streets were a common site, especially early in the mornings when they were taken for training. In fact, most streets had 3-4 racing stables interspersed between the houses.
In 1929, the Catholic Church bought an old rambling residence belonging to the Bowmans on 3 acres of land which became a temporary church. It was the whole block Manson, Derby, Burilda and Bowman. It was a magnificent residence, but in very poor condition. It was so large, that by 1937 it became used as a church and school as well as accommodation for the Parish Priest and the housekeeper. It was used as a church and school until 1946. Mass was said in part of the school, so school desks and church seats had to be interchanged each weekend.
Two of Brisbane’s leading citizens played an important role in the establishment of the parish and school: TC Beirne and FJ Mc Donnell. The parish priest of Hendra was invited to be the racing chaplain, a tradition which still stands today. Monsignor Lynch, the first parish priest, had a keen interest in racing and often offered great tips to his churchgoers.
OLHC School opened in 1937, with the sisters travelling each day from the convent in Nundah. Sister Michael was Principal, assisted by Sisters Olive, Owen and Phillip. Conditions were primitive, partitions dividing up the classrooms, and buckets catching water when it rained. Long wooden desks and stools seated 6 pupils each, and slates and sponges, lead pencils, copybooks and inkwells were used.
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.
Many thanks to local cacher -nikid1- who has hidden the cache for the series and will maintain.