The cache is located on William Street - the site of the first founding of the Sisters of St Joseph, Tasmania.
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.
Subsequent diocesan foundations followed at:
- Whanganui, New Zealand, in 1880
- Goulburn, New South Wales, in 1882
- Lochinvar, New South Wales, in 1883
- and then Tasmania on 24th May 1887 at Westbury.
Monsignor Daniel Beechinor, on a visit to Bathurst, called at Perthville and asked for a community of Sisters for Launceston, Tasmania. All volunteered, but the five chosen were Sisters M. Francis McCarthy (Ireland), 37 years; M. Patrick Nolan (Ireland), 60 years; M. Joseph Eather (New South Wales) 27 years; M. Stanislaus Doyle (Ireland), 25 years and M. Teresa Prendergast (Victoria) 21 years.
The intrepid little group, with the permission of the Bishop of Bathurst, Dr Quinn, departed for Tasmania, under the leadership of Sister M. Francis, carrying with them, it is said, nothing but a large statue of the Blessed Virgin. En route, the Sisters stayed at Mount Street Convent where the inimitable Mother Mary MacKillop showed them every hospitality and encouraged them in their mission which seemed so far afield at the time.
When they arrived at Launceston on 24 May, 1887, they were met by the Presentation Sisters. We can only guess at the momentary dismay that lay beneath their calm exterior when they found that the proposed residence was not available. Accordingly Archdeacon Hogan invited them to make their foundation at Westbury, a small country town some thirty miles from Launceston. There he placed a four-roomed cottage at their disposal. This the Sisters called “Emmaus” and rejoiced that here in lowly poverty their mission in Tasmania began. The school, which was also the old weatherboard Church, opened the day after the Sisters’ arrival, with an enrolment of eight pupils.
The Bishop, Dr. Murphy and Father O’Callaghan were present on the historic occasion, and gave their blessing to the new-comers recalling the words of Scripture: “Fear not little flock.” The convent, which was being prepared for the Sisters, was not ready yet for occupation, so Father O’Callaghan, who was relieving Archdeacon Hogan, P.P. whilst he was in Europe, generously vacated his presbytery for the Sisters until their primitive quarters were completed.
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 2012.