Sister Ethel Normoyle, a member of the Little Company of Mary, came to Missionvale eager to share the gospel values of compassion and love with the poor. She set up a school and basic clinic under a tree. A group of concerned business leaders visited the area, resulting in the building of three small rooms for the school and clinic.

Mother Theresa visited the Centre.

Queen Elizabeth visited the Care Centre and in her Christmas message to the Commonwealth, she paid tribute to the wonderful work that Sister Ethel does at the Care Centre.

Opening of the Clothing Warehouse.

Opening of Our Lady of the Wayside Church.

Community Gardens become viable after improved water supply and training are accessed.

Opening of a four-classroom Primary School Building by Mr. Gerard Corr, Irish ambassador.

General Motors sponsors Sister Ethel the use of a car and continues this generosity to this day.

Start of Home Based Care initiative and other projects directly focused on the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Sister Ethel invited as keynote speaker at Rotary International Convention in Copenhagen. The theme was poverty and education.

Missionvale Australia launched, see www.missionvale.com.au.

Launch of Carpentry Unit and start of building operations for The Resource Centre.

Sister Ethel awarded Clare person of the year in Ireland.

January: 164 Irish builders arrive in shifts to complete the building for the Resource Centre including a Hospice.

February: Sister Ethel honoured by President of South Africa at the opening of Parliament for the integrated approach of the Missionvale Care Centre in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

February: Missionvale Care Centre hosts an interfaith celebration and day of thanksgiving in recognition of their 20th Anniversary. On this same day, the new Resource Centre building is officially opened by the Bishop of Port Elizabeth, Bishop Mike Coleman, Bishop Willie Walsh from Ireland with the Irish Ambassador, Mr. Colin Wrafter, in attendance.

May: World Aids Candlight Day is celebrated as the staff and volunteers move into the new Resource Centre to continue work on health and children centred programs.

September: Sister Ethel shares the message of Missionvale in California, USA. She was invited by the Rotary Foundation to be the keynote speaker at their annual Foundation Seminar, 'Making Dreams Real for the Children of the World'.

November: Missionvale Ireland Limited is launched, see www.missionvaleireland.org.

January: 32 Irish volunteers arrive to complete building the Caretakers Cottage project.

Award: Sister Ethel was honoured by President Motlanthe with the Order of the Grand Counsellor of the baobab: Silver, one of South Africa’s top awards, for her excellent service to society.

Award: Missionvale Care Centre's Community Health Practitioners win 1st prize in their first annual Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry Health & Wellsness Awards for work done with HIV/AIDS patients.

Normoyle Primary School becomes Missionvale Care Center Academy with the addition of 6 classrooms.

The Community Health Practitioners receive first prize in the Nelson Mandela Business Chamber Health & Wellness Awards (NGO category) and Dr. Johann Strombeck (volunteer doctor at our Recource Centre) becomes the first ever recipient of the "Wellness Champion" award.