Our long-time supporter Mary Williams has dedicated her life to education and helping communities on the margins, inspired by her Catholic upbringing and the values of Saint Mary MacKillop. From her early days at Josephite schools in Tasmania to a 42-year teaching career, she has carried these principles into every part of her life.
Growing up in Smithton, North-West Tasmania, Mary attended St Attracta’s parish school and later boarded at St Thomas More’s in Launceston. She trained as a Home Economics teacher and went on to teach at ten government schools across the state. “I tended towards the ‘be fierce for fair’ approach championed by Saint Mary MacKillop, although I didn’t know that caption at the time,” she reflects.
Her support for Mary MacKillop Today reflects her belief in the power of education to create opportunities for all. She chooses to direct her donations to First Nations programs, helping children and communities who face barriers to learning access the resources and support they need. She initially gave larger, irregular donations, but later switched to regular monthly giving to provide a more sustainable impact. “The regular updates from MMT are heart-warming and filled with hope, especially when we are confronted with so much negativity in the media,” she says.
Mary also has a long-standing connection to the Missionary Sisters of Service (MSS). She first encountered the MSS during her time at Teachers College and later joined their Hobart support group, now called Highways and Byways. With MSS donations now redirected to Mary MacKillop Today, the Highways and Byways Small Grants Program continues to support grassroots initiatives that expand access to education and opportunities for communities on the margins.
“I am delighted that these two congregations, which have been so formative in my faith at different stages of my life, have joined forces to continue the MSS’s work and expand the reach of the Sisters of Saint Joseph,” she says.
Mary’s story demonstrates how a lifelong commitment to education, faith, and community can create real change. By choosing regular giving, supporters like Mary help ensure that children and communities facing barriers have access to the tools, programs, and opportunities they need to thrive. You can make a difference too by joining Mary in supporting education that reaches those on the margins.
If you would like to learn more about Regular Giving, please visit our ‘Independent Spirits’ page. Your generosity will help to transform lives.
