Road to Penola ...

We left Tantanoola mid morning, in the rain, and drove around the wind farm scenic drive, back through Millicent and headed towards Mount Gambier. Mt Gambier was founded in 1853, and is today a large city. We stopped for lunch and had a drive around Blue Lake. Beautiful. The Blue Lake is a large crater lake located in a dormant volcanic maar. It is one of many crater lakes in the area. One can walk around the crater and the water changes colour with the different light. It is believed to be an average of 72 metres depth.

We drove past some lovely buildings, but no caravan parking and not a lot of time, so “on the list” to come back to. About 50km along the Riddock Highway we came to Greenwise Lake and planned to stay the night, and ended up staying for two. It is just outside of Penola, and is quiet and peaceful, with little highway noise. There are BBQ's and a shelter but no water available and toilets are the other side of the reserve.

Even though it is called a lake, and there are boating rules listed near the 'boat ramp', there is no water in the lake, only sheep grazing. The weather while we were there was English type of weather – grey and drizzling.

On the third day, with the weather clearing, we went for a walk around an old section of Penola, before heading toward Victoria. In 1860, at the age of 18 years, Mary Mackillop - Australia's first saint - moved to Penola and we started our walk at the school Mary Mackillop had built.

We walked down Petticoat Lane – so named because of the number of females born in the lane. It is like walking down a street from the 1850's and 60's. There is even a few houses open to walk around and read the history. The oldest is a two roomed blackwood slab cottage built by Christopher Sharam in 1850. There are stone cottages and a lavender farm. A herb and vegetable garden that is maintained by volunteers and a what will be a beautiful rose garden of hybrid and heritage roses. This street alone is worth stopping to look at.

Yet another place to come back to. Penola is where Saint Mary Mackillop started her first school. Of Scottish descent, Mary was born in 1842 in Melbourne and moved to Penola to be a Governess to her uncle's children in 1860. Her uncle was one of the first settlers in the area, and the town was known as a 'private' town. This is the second town that we have visited this trip that started as a private town. Mary was inspired by priest Father Julian Woods, and she went on to encourage and assist the education of children. She established many schools and helped to established the order of The Sisters of St Joseph, who continued her work. The story of Mary Mackillop is an interesting one. Mary Mackillop died August 8, 1909 and became a Saint in 2010. August 8 is the Feast Day of Saint Mary Mackillop.