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 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.
Sisters of St Joseph
Mary MackIllop never came to the Kimberleys but her sisters continued her legacy.
As a joint venture between the Sisters of St Joseph and the Diocese of Broome, the centre was established in 1986 to provide formation in faith and leadership for the Catholics in Aboriginal communities of the East Kimberley.
Originally the property had consisted of a residence, transportable house and large machinery shed. To accommodate the groups who came for courses, twenty-four additional sleeping units, together with toilets, showers and a laundry, were purchased by the Sisters of St Joseph from Argyle Mining Company. Extra sleeping accommodation for volunteer workers was later added by the Diocese to complete the complex.
Under the direction of its foundress, Sr Clare Ahern rsj, the Centre catered for adult education and faith formation for Aboriginal people of the East Kimberley, mostly on a residential basis. Mirrilingki staff visited communities and carried out some follow-up work. Retreats and workshops were conducted for non-aboriginal people in the region.
Sr Pat Sealey rsj took over as director in 1992, and introduced a Family Drug and Alcohol Awareness and Recovery programme. It was during her period of tenure that the machinery shed was converted into a lecture hall and chapel.
In 1998, Sr Frances Maguire rsj and Sr Nellie Versluys rsj were missioned to Mirrilingki and a Board was appointed by Bishop Christopher Saunders.
The co-ordinating team for 2007, Sr Frances Flemming rsj, Sr Maria Sullivan rsj and Sr Mary Baker rsj, followed in the footsteps of those who had gone before in making Mirrilingki a place of support and empowerment for Aboriginal people.
Over the years, Mirrilingki has continued to expand its services. It serves the Aboriginal communities through a variety of programmes, is a centre for retreats, an in-service centre for teachers in Catholic schools throughout the Kimberley region and a conference centre for Government and non-government agencies dealing with Aboriginal services in keeping with Mirrilingki's vision and mission.
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 The cache will be maintained by Eagle Warmun