Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See Tim Fischer arrived in Penola to inspect the town's preparations ahead of the October 17 canonisation of Mary MacKillop. Mr Fischer's tour was a little different to the one he expected when his visit was planned weeks ago.
Today he toured the town that was severely impacted by a tornado on Saturday evening.
"I'm very saddened but very relieved that there were not major injuries or casualties, but a lot of damage," Mr Fischer told ABC Radio.
"I salute the fighting spirit, the community spirit of Penola and it'll take a huge effort, but Penola will bounce back by mid-October in time for the canonisation of Mary MacKillop."
Mr Fischer again thanked wineries from the Coonawarra region, who have donated wine to the Vatican and the Sisters of Saint Joseph for official receptions to be held in the Vatican in the lead-up to the canonisation ceremony.
"It'll be used responsibly and respectfully with a direct connection to the life, work and formative place of Mary MacKillop in a practical way," he says.
"It will also help in reducing the cost burdens associated with functions remembering that there are going to be several hundred clergy, well over a hundred Sisters of Saint Joseph, plus 6700 registerant of tickets... who have already made a determination that they want to be in Rome for these activities."
But Mr Fischer not only had thanks, he also had a gift direct from the Vatican.
"I bring from the Vatican, with permission and special purchase, the Vatican, full-sized special flag of the nation city state of the Holy See," he said.
"They realised its purpose, the gesture involved and they were very happy to agree to this."
The only problem is that the section of Penola housing the Mary MacKillop school house and interpretive centre does not have a flag pole, a problem the local council has promised to fix by the canonisation day on October 17.
Meanwhile, repair work on the original Josephite schoolhouse that was damaged by the tornado will begin soon.
The State Government has pleged $100,000 towards the repair work needed in the historic precinct of the town.
A heritage advisor will travel to the town in the coming weeks to provide advice on the work needed to fix the schoolhouse, which was been standing since the 1860s.
SIC: ABCN