Last Thursday evening Mary Hemmings spoke about Australia’s first saint Mary MacKillop’s early years in which she stated “my life as a child was one of sorrow, my home, when I had it, a most unhappy one…” due to a dysfunctional family. Her father Alexander was impetuous, volatile and improvident (even though well educated and articulate). Her mother had deep faith, but there were long separations between parents and Mary and her siblings.
Coupled with poverty, debt, dependence on relatives and constant home instability, Mary (as the eldest) took on the principal care of her siblings from the age of 16-25yo.
Born in 1842 in Melbourne to Scottish immigrant parents. In 1860, Mary moved to Penola to became a governess. In 1866 Mary, with Father Julian Tenison Woods, established the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart- a new order of nuns dedicated to teaching poor children. Mary and the sisters started the first Josephite School in Penola with more schools flourishing throughout South Australia over the next six years or so and taught by the Josephite nuns.
Mary MacKillop faced opposition from bishops who disagreed with her vision for a self-governing order not tied to specific dioceses; which led to her excommunication in 1871 (though she was reinstated by Bishop Sheil a few month later). MacKillop travelled to Rome to seek Pope Pius IX’s approval for the order’s constitution which granted it independence under papal authority.
Later in life, Mary suffered a stroke in 1901 which left her with permanent body disabilities though her mind remained active. In 1995, Pope John Paul II beatified her and in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI canonized her as St Mary of the Cross.
If you intend to walk in the Rotary D9510 “Walk for Respect” (Rotary says No to Domestic Violence) event, please let Ian Delaere or Rob McLennan know so that you can gather together at the start point in Victoria Square. Four or five of our members will be helping Rob McLennan at the end point of the walk (this year at the Festival Plaza), so Ian would like to know if other members will be joining him for the actual walk down King William Street.
For the next five weeks, Rob McLennan will be the Acting President.
Best wishes and have a great week. Yvette, President.
An educational walk offering our South Australian community a chance to connect and gain an insight into key signs of Domestic Violence & Coercive Control that surround us.
Saturday 11 October 2025
From 9am - Meet in Victoria Square
From 10am - the 1.2km walk starts along King William Street
10.30am - Arrive at Festival Plaza, Festival Theatre (please note revised finish venue)
From 10.30 to 11am - Inspirational presentations
11am to Noon - Mingle | Coffee | Food | Displays
Visit www.WalkForRespect.au to learn more and connect with survivors of Domestic Violence and local support groups.
Register to walk - FREE
The two guest speakers at the Walk on Sat. 11th Oct are the Hon Katrine Hildyard the Minister for Child Protection and The Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence who will be speaking about the recent Royal Commission.
Then Professor Leah Bromfield, SA Australian of the Year 2025.
On the day, choose the group you want to walk with when you arrive in Victoria Square.
Register your attendance at above link (https://www.adelaiderotary.com.au/index.php/events/find-and-book-an-event/events/rotary-picnic-october-25). The link directs you to the Rotary Adelaide events webpage.
Date and time: The picnic is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, at Bonython Park, from 12-3 pm.
Car parking: To access the park, enter through the gate opposite Phillip St on Port Road. There are traffic lights for easy access from either direction. Follow the road to the car park, where there is free four-hour parking. Additionally, there is free parking at Old Adelaide Gaol. To get there, continue from the car park and follow the signs. There is a path from the Gaol car park to Bonython Park, about 400 meters. Drop-off and unloading parking are available by the kiosk.
Games: Bocce, Beanbag Toss, Badminton. Feel free to bring additional games if you like.
Kiosk: It operates seven days a week and should be open as usual on Sunday, October 19.
Plan B (if weather is bad): We will move to Plant 4 Bowden, which is indoors. By having people register, we can notify them in advance via email if plans change. .
Bring;
- own picnic blankets and chairs, food and drinks.
United in the spirit of Service we value truth, fairness and friendship; and we welcome the opportunity that Rotary gives us to contribute our talents and resources in support of others.
Rotary Club of Adelaide Light Mission Statement
To have fun and engage interest from new members and friends as we use our strengths for a better world here and abroad - a welcoming, flexible group having fun doing hands-on activities for positive impact.
I was traveling to the train station the other day by taxi and as we approached I tapped him on the shoulder to tell him where to drop me out.
He screamed loudly, lost complete control of the car, almost ran over an old lady as the cab mounted the footpath, stopping inches away from a lamp post.
"Don't ever do that again" said the driver.
I apologised saying that I didn't realise that a tiny tap on the shoulder would frighten him to the extent it had.
"It's not really your fault I suppose" the taxi driver lamented. "It's my first day as a taxi driver: I've spent the last fifteen years driving a funeral van."
