Principal's Report 

Dear Parents,

Last week we celebrated our Australian Saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. We were delighted to share in her feast day, highlighting her inspiring life as a guiding light for our school community.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1842. She supported her family from an early age, working as a shopgirl, governess and teacher. In 1866, alongside Father Julian Tenison Woods, she co‑founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, affectionately known as the “Josephites” Australia’s first order of nuns. Mary was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 and later canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 17 October 2010, becoming Australia’s first saint.

Mary believed deeply in equitable education - insisting that “every child should have access to quality education, no matter their circumstances.” Her schools, orphanages and refuges supported children and families across Australia and New Zealand. Her guiding motto - “Never see a need without doing something about it.” 

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s famous motto, “Never see a need without doing something about it” was a theme throughout Fr John’s homily last week and as a congregation we were asked how we could action this in our daily lives at St Leonard’s. This message strongly resonates within our primary school community, where students are encouraged to show kindness, lend a helping hand and actively support those in need both in the classroom and in the playground.

This week also marked Bullying No Way Week, Australia’s major anti-bullying initiative running from 11th to 15th August 2025. This year's theme “Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.” - echoes St Mary’s own message, encouraging courage, kindness and community responsibility.

May we continue to walk with courage, faith, and hope, joyfully embracing Mary MacKillop’s spirit by always doing something when we see a need.

Kind regards,

Alyce Lowther