P A T I E N T I N F O R M A T I O N without the aid of anaesthetic. She was familiar THE MARY POTTER STORY with suffering in other areas: the way forward towards her dreams was at every turn hampered The and Company of Mary” “Calvary” “Little by bureaucracy. She was without support and co- are part of the story of Mary Potter, founder of workers were hard to find. But the vision to the Little Company of Mary. Her story is an establish a group of like-minded women in integral part of our ongoing history. church drove her on despite the opposition from Mary’s world view and social position were every quarter. limited by her sheltered life and limited education, but the misery of the 19th century Mary persevered until in 1877, the first drew her to care for those who were its loneliest foundation of what would become the Little souls. She wished to become as God’s reflection, Company of Mary was formed in Nottingham, to bring to each person she met, an England, in a derelict stocking factory where understanding of their essential beauty and Mary and her sisters slept on straw on benches intrinsic value as part of the human family of in the chapel. From here, the sisters went out to God, worthy of all love and respect. Her the hovels and alleyways to nurse the sick and motivation was to live in spirit with Mary, the dying. Mary wished her sisters to be recognised Mother of Jesus, who stood by her dying son, as professional nurses an ideal that was far Jesus, on the cross of Calvary. This vision ignited – from the accepted one at the time. her dreams. With values so powerful they would not only Mary grew up during a time in England when impact her world but travel on into the future of inequality was prevalent, social life a turmoil and our own day the Little Company of Mary grew poverty a way of life. steadily. The Sisters arrived in Australia in 1885 – Mary’s whole life was ravaged by ill health establishing hospitals, nurses training schools, resulting in long periods of isolation and outreach and other services of care and support inactivity. At one stage she underwent an for those in need, Our hospitals are the present- operation for cancer on the kitchen table day chapter of the Mary Potter story. 9
P A T I E N T I N F O R M A T I O N THE MARY POTTER STORY The “Calvary” and “Little Company of Mary” are part of the story of Mary Potter, founder of the Little Company of Mary. Her story is an integral part of our ongoing history. Mary’s world view and social position were limited by her sheltered life and limited education, but the misery of the 19th century drew her to care for those who were its loneliest souls. She wished to become as God’s reflection, to bring to each person she met, an understanding of their essential beauty and intrinsic value as part of the human family of God, worthy of all love and respect. Her motivation was to live in spirit with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who stood by her dying son, Jesus, on the cross of Calvary. This vision ignited her dreams. Mary grew up during a time in England when inequality was prevalent, social life a turmoil and poverty a way of life. Mary’s whole life was ravaged by ill health resulting in long periods of isolation and inactivity. At one stage she underwent an operation for cancer on the kitchen table without the aid of anaesthetic. She was familiar with suffering in other areas: the way forward towards her dreams was at every turn hampered by bureaucracy. She was without support and co- workers were hard to find. But the vision to establish a group of like-minded women in church drove her on despite the opposition from every quarter. Mary persevered until in 1877, the first foundation of what would become the Little Company of Mary was formed in Nottingham, England, in a derelict stocking factory where Mary and her sisters slept on straw on benches in the chapel. From here, the sisters went out to the hovels and alleyways to nurse the sick and dying. Mary wished her sisters to be recognised as professional nurses – an ideal that was far from the accepted one at the time. With values so powerful they would not only impact her world but travel on into the future of our own day the Little Company of Mary grew steadily. The Sisters arrived in Australia in 1885 – establishing hospitals, nurses training schools, outreach and other services of care and support for those in need, Our hospitals are the present- day chapter of the Mary Potter story. 9
Calvary-Health-Care-Launceston-Resource-2015.docx