GUARDIAN Angels’ Primary School, Ashmore, on the Gold Coast, is busy preparing to tell Blessed Mary MacKillop’s story to the wider community.
The school, under the guidance of performing arts teacher Kara Mallory, will dance the life story of Mary MacKillop at this year’s “Wakakirri” Festival.
Wakakirri is a national storytelling festival that gives primary school students the opportunity to tell a story with a positive message either through writing, dance, song or film.
Seventy Guardian Angels’ students will participate in the work titled “Mary Who?”
Mrs Mallory said “Mary Who?” was aimed at making a positive impact on the community and wider audiences by educating, acknowledging and celebrating an inspirational Australian woman. “Guardian Angels’ has chosen to dance her historical story, to show Mary’s courage and determination, and to reveal her as a pioneer of Catholic Education in Australia,” she said.
“The school wants to show the connection and why she will be canonised this year and announced as Australia’s first saint.
“The piece is designed to generate interest and understanding of the worldwide event which will be held in Rome in October.”
Mrs Mallory said all Guardian Angels’ staff were treated to a professional development weekend in Sydney in January when they stayed at The Mary MacKillop Centre and were enlightened with stories about Mary MacKillop, who co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph.
“The holistic experience inspired the teachers to retell the story to their students and focus on the many special attributes of this extraordinary woman. Raising awareness of the importance of this historical Australian figure has firstly come from the teachers by way of passing on an important story and message to the students,” she said.
Mrs Mallory said the story had made such an impact on the school community that they also chose to name its new special education department building “The MacKillop Centre”.
“The qualities, philosophy and courage of this woman are embraced and drawn upon greatly within our school but particularly in this special area of our school.”
Students will have more than one opportunity to showcase their dance, with local parishioners and associated dignitaries also invited to the Ashmore parish church to watch the dance version of “The Mary MacKillop Story”.
Mrs Mallory said all those involved in the production were modelling their daily actions, needs and decisions on the main character of our story.
“We are living, breathing and dancing the story about an extraordinary and inspiring group of people who were practical people; they saw the need and always responded to it,” she said.
“Instead of buying new costumes and making new props, we have sent the word out through our assemblies and newsletters for help and donations of used items that we require.
“We can all use this opportunity to practise and experience how Mary and her friends lived their lives.”
