IP and Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop
22 Oct 2010
At a ceremony in Vatican City on the 17th of October 2010, the Roman Catholic Church recognised the first Australian saint.
The life of Australian Roman Catholic nun Mary MacKillop, rather than placid and meditative as the vocation suggests, was embroiled in the internal politics of the church, leading to excommunication then absolution; her good works in the community only fully recognised after her death.
The campaign to recognise Mary MacKillop as a saint began in 1925. Two devout followers' miraculous recoveries from illness were attributed to their prayers to the nun.
To prevent the inappropriate use of her name for commercial purposes, the Australian Government will amend the Corporations Regulations to disallow use of her name as a company name without the Treasurer's permission. This provides protection similar to the protection applied to Donald Bradman's name.
The Government is satisfied that the proposed changes combined with intellectual property and trade practice laws currently in place will give adequate protection to Mary MacKillop's name and prevent improper use.
Last Updated: 15/9/2012
