Flora’s Fear – Grace Reid – singer/songwriter

Flora MacKillop, nee MacDonald (mother of Australia’s first canonised saint, Mary MacKillop) born Fort William 1816 – arrived Port Philip 1837 – Died in a shipwreck 1886 in the Australian Bight sailing from Portland, Melbourne, bound for Penola, South Australia.

Flora met Alexander MacKillop in Melbourne and must have fallen ‘head-over-heels’ in love, as they were married 3 months later. Mary their first-born, was the eldest of eight children. Unfortunately, Alexander was regularly involved in some dispute with somebody, there being no shades of grey in his moral code.

Among other disasters, this trait resulted in him being unable to sustain any form of employment for any length of time.

This song captures the moment when – in front of their family – Flora involuntarily expresses her fear for herself and the younger children should Mary follow her calling and leave home to form a community of Sisters. Her words suddenly reveal to Alexander, her poor opinion of him as provider.

Acknowledgements:
Pamela Freeman – ‘The Black Dress: Mary MacKillop’s Early Years’.
Martyn McLaughlan – article in the Scotsman Newspaper.

Song sample

Flora’s Fear – Lyrics

Chorus
Oh Maria Ellen, gnothach miadhail, sweetheart, old soul child
Your future plans I cannot bless, for if you go who will I depend upon
if Mary takes the Black Dress

That awful moment when all gathered knew that words unbidden, could not be recalled
Horror hung in utter quiet, then a sharp intake of breath
Widened eyes followed the path of truth revealed as it dealt the blow
And illusion died a bitter death

For I who always believed that God would provide, in my heart knew He had
in the form of my Mary

Chorus
Oh Maria Ellen, gnothach miadhail, sweetheart, old soul child
Your future plans I cannot bless for if you go who will I depend upon
if Mary takes the Black Dress

I too – like my namesake – aided a man to hide and flee, but this man from himself
Battles fought for high ideals never kept hunger at bay
Loving hearts to anger do succumb and yet strive to give respect
Even as it slowly ebbs away

Still I who almost despaired knew we would survive, ever true, our rock, my consolation, my Mary

Chorus
Oh Maria Ellen, gnothach miadhail, sweetheart, old soul child
Your future plans I cannot bless, for if you go who will I depend upon
if Mary takes the Black Dress