Although Mary was happy in Portland, she longed to be able to become a religious sister. While in Penola Mary and Fr Tennison Woods had dreamed of a new way of living a religious life here in Australia which would be able to meet the needs of a pioneering country. With Mary's brother John and her sister Annie earning, the family was now more settled. Mary at last spoke of her desire to leave home and begin her quest for what she believed was God’s will for her, namely to become a religious sister. The MacKillop family wouldn't hear of it being reliant on the support that Mary's salary provided.

Mary spoke of her wish to leave Portland to be a nun to her friends who were totally against Mary’s leaving them. Also the parents from the school were similarly against Mary leaving the education of their children.

Mary MacKillop’s problem was her popularity. As was her usual custom Mary turned to prayer. Mary was to find a solution to her problem and her prayers about becoming a religious sister were answered but in an unfortunate way.

School inspections were a regular thing and a visit was announced for the Portland School. The inspectorial visits were designed to ascertain that the correct educational standards were being maintained and to allocate finds according to the number of students on roll. Salaries of the teachers were allocated according to standards maintained and attendance. The school principal Mr. John Cusack, proceeded to falsify the records by removing from Mary’s class her well-taught pupils and passing to her his duller students.

On inspection day Mr Cusack stood behind the Inspector with answers hastily written on a slate. Mary's brother, Donald rushed home from school to tell of the events of the day. Mary's father Alexander was outraged and immediately he complained to the parish Priest that such a person as Cusack was morally unfit to teach children.  As a mark of protest he withdrew Annie as a student teacher.  Mary resigned her teaching post and was told by the parish priest she was no longer in charge of duties in the church.

The town joined in this general "fuss", some taking sides. Her father was highly incensed, the priest offended, the townspeople, especially the parents were bewildered. Mary feared forcing her friends to take sides so kept from their company. The only place of comfort was the church where she was used to long periods of prayer. At last Mary was free to leave her family and Portland.
       

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