St Mary of the Cross MacKillop joins fellow Australian luminaries like Bob Hawke, William Arnott and Captain Moonlight in the latest series of Dead Famous.
Narrated by Ray Martin, Dead Famous is a special series dedicated to honouring individuals who have found their final resting place at Metropolitan Memorial Parks – like Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery at St Leonards, Sydney.
Mary MacKillop features in the series as she was initially buried at Gore Hill following her death on 8 August 1909. The Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel was then built in Mount Street, North Sydney in 1913 and it was to there that Mary’s remains were brought from Gore Hill to be re-interred on 27 January 1914.
As authors of the booklet – In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop: A Pilgrimage to Gore Hill Cemetery – Mary MacKillop’s Original Burial Site – Sr Jeanette Foxe and Sr Lyn Raftery were interviewed for the Dead Famous series, providing insights into the life of Mary MacKillop and the congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
“It was a surprise to learn about the Dead Famous project and to be asked to contribute to it,” says Sr Jeanette. “Although I have talked to many groups about Mary and led many pilgrimages, being videoed and interviewed was totally new for me. I just hoped that the many years of research, writing and presenting on Mary would help me get her story across.
“The video process was detailed and there were several edits to make the information both brief and accurate. The finished product is a wonderful testimony to the videographer, Damien Comerford, and the crew.
“I was so honoured to be involved and so humbled to be given this opportunity. It is a wonderful way of continuing the aim of the original Pilgrimage booklet which is to ensure the story of Mary MacKillop is not lost to succeeding generations.”
Sr Lyn also felt it was an honour and privilege to be part of the Dead Famous project.
“It provided another opportunity for the story of Mary MacKillop to be shared with a wider audience,” says Sr Lyn. “The interview was a challenge because I am usually on the other end of the camera and feel more comfortable in that position. I found that my commitment as a daughter of Mary MacKillop and a love of history meant that none of the questions were in the too hard basket.
“I am sure that the video will ensure more people get to know the story of Mary MacKillop and the contribution she made to Australian society.”
View the Mary MacKillop Dead Famous video on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwoUXXtd6LU
