A Sacred Restoration: Mary Returns to Her Rightful Glory on Kirriri
There is a quiet, renewed presence on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Kirriri Campus: a gentle reminder of faith, tradition, and the enduring strength of the community. After decades of standing watch over generations of children, the statue of Mary Immaculate, long a symbol of love and devotion on the school grounds, has been lovingly restored to its original beauty.
Nestled now in a prominent place in the schoolyard, the statue has long been part of the spiritual and historical fabric of both the school and the Kirriri community. Originally located in the convent yard near the steps to the old Our Lady of the Sacred Heart convent, the statue journeyed with the school through years of change, including war-time evacuations, the school rebuilding, and leadership shifts. Oral history suggests it may have arrived with the first French Daughters of the Sacred Heart, lovingly brought from the earliest days of the Mission.
The recent restoration was led by well-known artist and educator Francoise Nozaic, whose connection to sacred art spans continents. A graduate of the Sorbonne and trained in art restoration at the Louvre, Francoise once held Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in her hands — a moment that returned to her mind as she carefully repainted Mary’s face.
“When I was painting the facial features of the Virgin Mary on Kirriri Island, the soft and gentle smile of La Joconde came back to me,” she reflected. “It has been my privilege and honour to restore the statue.”
The restoration began during the wet season, with Mrs Nozaic working through extreme heat, torrential rain, and challenging conditions. Despite these setbacks, her dedication and care ensured the project was completed, reflecting the resilience and commitment of the school community to restore this sacred piece of history.
Francoise’s story is deeply entwined with Catholic Education in the Far North. After completing her teaching qualifications in Australia, she served in schools across the Diocese of Cairns, including St Mary’s Catholic College, Woree.
“Mary has always been close to me,” she shared. “Even at St Mary’s, I created a large wall hanging of Mary titled Mary of the Southern Cross. I truly believe the Holy Spirit has been guiding this journey.”
Principal David Graham, who envisioned and championed the restoration project, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the work and the legacy it honours.
“This is more than a restoration of paint and stone,” he said. “It’s a restoration of story, connection, and sacred heritage. It is wonderful to restore a piece of history to how it should be, not just to look at, but to pray with, honour, and remember.”
Parish Priest Fr Michael Symanski also shared his thoughts on the statue’s significance.
“This is a beautiful statue of Our Lady, lovingly restored not just in form but in purpose,” he said. “My prayer is that the students and families of this community will be drawn to her gentle presence to pause, pray, and seek the intercession of the Mother of God. May she watch over Kirriri for generations to come.”
Assistant Principal Religious Education and former Hammond Island teacher Hannah Coburn reflected on the journey that led to the restoration.
“This project has been a long time coming, and it brings such joy to the school and wider community that we were finally able to bring it to life,” she said. “It’s significant that we could do so using the skillset of such a fantastic artist, someone who understands not only the art but the sacred story behind it.”
The statue itself holds layers of meaning for the community. Former student and long-time resident of Kirriri, Cecilia O’Brien, remembers it from their childhood days at the old St Joseph’s School. When their family was the first to return to Hammond Island after the war, her father helped clean up the convent site. He planted brown orchids around the statue’s base. “It has always been there,” she recalled. “It stood for peace, for strength. It stood for Mary.”
Though the base carries no plaque, the statue’s presence speaks volumes. Once the spiritual heart of the convent garden, it now stands again as a beacon for prayer, reflection, and reverence at the heart of our campus.
In many ways, this restoration reflects the enduring flame of the Holy Spirit, a flame symbolised on our diocesan logo, which was also lovingly created by Mrs Nozaic. Mary’s gentle smile, refreshed yet eternal, reminds us of the love and care that continues to guide our journey.