On Friday 21 June, senior students of St Joseph's Primary School, Numurkah visited Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, where they enthusiastically inspected a statue of the founder of their school, Mary MacKillop of the Cross. Of great interest was a photograph embedded in the statue, writes Dominic Izzard.
By Dominic Izzard
The statue was commissioned to celebrate the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, Australia's first and only saint, who co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph and opened the first Josephite school in Victoria – St Joseph’s Numurkah in 1890.
What makes this statue even more significant and forever connected to the community of St Joseph's Primary School and Numurkah is a photograph etched into the back of it. The photo captures the class of 1924 and was taken outside Rooms 5 and 6 at the school. Both rooms still stand just as they always have and the Josephite charism and spirit which was captured in that photograph are still present in the community today.
It was the first time many of the senior school students had seen the statue and photograph. Year Six students, Cobie Patching and Jemma Davies reflected on the experience. "We were so proud to see the photo of our school on such an important statue outside the Cathedral".
1 July 2024 marked 100 years since that photograph was taken and its historical significance and connection to the school and Numurkah will continue long into the future.
The three-metre high statue of Mary MacKillop by artist Jenny Steiner, was created with bronze and glass, using natural light to illuminate images of school children who were so important to Mary MacKillop.
Dominic Izzard is Deputy Principal of St Joseph’s Primary School, Numurkah.
Unveiling of Saint Mary MacKillop statue at SHC 17 October 2014 can be watched on the Sandhurst YouTube Channel.
To learn more about Mary of the Cross MacKillop go to the Sisters of St Joseph website.
The image above shows the St Joseph's Primary School location where the black and white class photograph which is inside the Mary MacKillop Statue was taken.
