Founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph       15 August, 1867

Mary MacKillop, the eldest child of Scottish immigrant parents, was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne on January 15, 1842.

Mary along with her two younger sisters, opened what was to become the first Josephite School in 1866 in Penola, South Australia and began to provide Catholic education to the isolated and the poor.

On August 15, 1867, Mary became the first Sister of Saint Joseph to take the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Today, Mary MacKillop is honoured as Australia's first saint. Her life was lived with great faith in God, whom she never doubted. She displayed courage and strength to stand up for what was believed was right and fair and never wavered from her devotion to the poor and needy.

Mary MacKillop with the support and guidance of Father Woods founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph to teach the poor. The Order of Saint Joseph was open to anyone who felt herself called to the life, regardless of background or education.

Today 1300 sisters, working mainly in Australia and New Zealand, but also singly throughout the world: Ireland, Pakistan, Uganda, Cambodia, Brazil, Samoa, the Philippines and Peru, continue the serve the needs of people particularly the suffering, the deprived and the needy.

Mary MacKillop's cause was to serve the poor. When she began, education was the most pressing problem. Then shelters and refuges became necessary. Today the Sisters of Saint Joseph work where today's needs are, not just in education and in rural areas, but in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, prisons, parishes, among Aboriginal communities, with the homeless, AIDS sufferers and recent arrivals. The range of ministries undertaken and their locations reflect the multitude of needs to be addressed in our present day society.

Mary MacKillop Primary School, in the Diocese of Sale, was granted registration by the Registered Schools Board on January 1. Initially the school was located on the same site as Don Bosco Primary School. Both schools belong to the parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren.

On May 27, 1995, amidst great excitement and enthusiasm, the school moved to its permanent premises at Ernst Wanke Drive, Narre Warren North. The first stage of building included an administration block, library, student amenities and six classrooms. The school was blessed by the Most Reverend Jeremiah Coffey, Bishop of Sale and officially opened by Jacinta Collins Labor Senator for Victoria on the seventeenth of September 1995. Student enrolments in 1995 totalled 169, in the year 2000 the February census total was 473 children coming from 323 families.

Narre Warren is in the City of Casey was the fastest growing municipality in Australia 1996-97. During 1996-97, more than 4000 families moved into the City of Casey, the majority of these people were young families with a newly acquired mortgage.

On December 9, 1997 second stage buildings were officially opened by the Member for LaTrobe, Mr Bob Charles and blessed by the Reverend Father John Allen. Stage Two consisted of three classrooms with a shared wet area, student amenities, a wetlands and oval.

By mid 1998 the school had developed its environment to such an extent that two adventure playgrounds, two ovals, two basketball courts and an amphitheatre were available for students' use.

Stage 3 buildings were completed in 2000. They consist of five classrooms, a uniform shop, PE Store, extensions to existing library store, two meeting rooms and extensions to existing student amenities.

1995

Administration block, library, six classrooms, PE store and student amenities.

1997

Three classrooms, student amenities, wetlands and oval.

2000

Five classrooms, two meeting rooms, extensions to

existing student amenities,  a PE store, extensions to

existing library store and uniform shop.

2001

Multi-purpose hall, renovations and additions to existing

administration block and staff amenities.